O's slugfest ends in heartbreak as playoff chances dim

BALTIMORE -- Two realities could have played out for the Orioles on Saturday night. The first was euphoric in nature, a feeling in Camden Yards’ grasp when Anthony Santander hammered a go-ahead homer in the eighth for his second long ball of the night. Had that lead held, the O’s would have won another series against the paragon of the American League to keep themselves within respectful striking distance in the postseason chase.

But then, there’s the reality that played out.

The Orioles ultimately lost Saturday’s slugfest against the Astros, 11-10, in a game that saw six lead changes, a combined 29 hits and a rare stumble from closer Félix Bautista, conceding a four-run ninth inning that put another damper on Baltimore’s October hopes.

Heroes were born to only be washed away, and a night that seemed destined for glory must instead be forgotten promptly.

“I think no matter the circumstance, that game was the hardest one of the year right there,” said outfielder Austin Hays, “just because I think that was the hardest we fought. Unfortunate we couldn't come out on the winning side of it tonight.

“... But at some point, got to give credit to the other team. They just wouldn't go away. That was a tough one to swallow for us tonight.”

A win would have kept the Orioles three games back of the Mariners for the third and final AL Wild Card spot. But with Seattle winning on Saturday night, Baltimore’s deficit grew to four back with a meager 11 games to make up the difference.

And truthfully, that deficit is five games; since the Mariners hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Orioles would have to finish with a better record to make the playoffs. That holds true as well should Baltimore finish tied with Tampa Bay, which is 4 1/2 games ahead. The O’s tiebreaker with the Blue Jays will be determined by the final series of the year.

“Every game we lose right now hurts,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We've got to rebound. We got a day game tomorrow; we'll try to win a series tomorrow.”

The Orioles have made their name on short memories, for their penchant for the comeback and the flair. A loss at this juncture merely compounds the difficulties going forward and worries that heartache will linger.

At least in some fashion, Saturday will carry forward. With Bautista throwing a career-high 33 pitches in only his second blown save of the season, he’s almost assuredly going to be unavailable for Sunday’s finale.

Saturday broke a string of 13 consecutive saves converted by Bautista, who suffered his first blown save since becoming the full-time closer following the trade of Jorge López. Had a two-strike splitter to Kyle Tucker in the ninth been placed a little bit more down, it could have been 14 straight -- and another marquee moment.

“It's difficult, for sure. I couldn't go out there and complete the job,” Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “... It was a complicated outing. The hitters just started to pick up on my pitches and what I wanted to do out there, so it started to get a bit complicated, and I couldn't execute the way I wanted to. So it was just a really rough outing overall.”

Bautista has been held back already this second half, avoided for five games earlier this month as he battled arm fatigue stemming from a two-inning save he converted against Toronto on Sept. 6. He reports standard tiring at this juncture of the season, but he was the Orioles’ best option after a brief outing from spot starter Mike Baumann.

The O’s believe Saturday night was their best being beaten by the Astros’ best.

“That’s a hiccup,” Hyde said. “[Bautista’s] numbers the last five months, four months have been unbelievable. You tip your hat a little bit.”

So call Saturday a missed opportunity -- of wasting Santander’s two-homer night, of losing a chance to prove you can hang with the best in the AL and, most importantly, keeping the flame fully burning for postseason hopes.

Call it what you want. Whatever you call Sunday afternoon will be more crucial.

“I think that was our hardest-fought game of the year. Just so many lead changes, bouncing back, [being] able to continue to put runs on the board,” Hays said. “... We just couldn't get enough runs late in the game right there.”