2012 Baltimore Orioles

2012 Baltimore Orioles / Franchise: Baltimore Orioles / BR Team Page

Record: 93-69, Finished 2nd in AL Eastern Division (2012 AL) Wild Card

• Clinched Wild Card: September 30, 2012, vs. Boston Red Sox

Managed by Buck Showalter

Coaches: Rick Adair, Bill Castro, DeMarlo Hale, Wayne Kirby, Jim Presley, and John Russell

Ballpark: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

History, Comments, Contributions

On May 10, the 2012 Baltimore Orioles became the first American League team to lead off a game with three straight homers (it had been done three times in the National League). Rookie Ryan Flaherty took Colby Lewis deep for his first major league homer, and J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis followed. The Orioles won the game 6-5, belting five homers and getting no other hits off Lewis and his successors on the mound.

The Orioles were unbeaten in extra-inning games during the season, going 15-0. Their outstanding record in close games explains to a large extent how the team was able to keep pace with the New York Yankees - a much stronger club on paper - all season, only losing the division title in the last two days of the season. They did clinch one of the two wild card spots in the American League, however, and defeated the Texas Rangers on the road in the first American League Wild Card Game to move to the ALDS, where they met the Yankees. The Yankees came out on top in five games after a closely-fought, low-scoring series.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Jim Johnson, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters
• AL Rolaids Relief Award: Jim Johnson
• AL Gold Glove Award: J.J. Hardy (SS), Adam Jones (CF) and Matt Wieters (C)

Further Reading

• Eduardo A. Encina: "Orioles clinch first postseason berth in 15 years", Baltimore Sun, September 30, 2012

2012 MLB season by team