BALTIMORE -- If Gunnar Henderson had gotten around the tag of Corey Seager at second base, Camden Yards might still be shaking.

Henderson’s leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth set the stage for some late heroics, but the young Orioles star was thrown out by Rangers catcher Jonah Heim trying to steal second base soon after. Texas’ dugout roared as Heim took a few steps toward them, celebrating, and four pitches later the Rangers won Game 1 of the ALDS, 3-2 on Saturday.

Henderson did not get a good jump, and as he broke for second, he looked back over his left shoulder, the entire operation not looking smooth. The tag at second wasn’t particularly close, either, with Henderson having to attempt a swim move wide around Seager’s glove. 

“A little miscommunication there,” said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde after the game.

What the plan was, exactly, remains unclear following the Orioles’ loss. Was a steal signaled? Or was it a hit-and-run? Henderson did not just run on his own, saying after the game that the call came from the dugout. But what call? At some point, there was a disconnect between what was called, what was signaled and what was received by Henderson.

“I was just out there trying to play hard,” Henderson said, “and I felt like we had a good chance to do it. We had some long times at the plate, so it was a good opportunity right there.”

Whether the Orioles’ communications were right or wrong or came via carrier pigeon, the result isn’t changing. That caught stealing was a major moment late in the game, and it sucked the momentum out of a stadium that was raucous throughout, a sold-out crowd basking in its first home playoff game since 2014.

Across the diamond, you can replace the frustration with elation. 

This Rangers’ bullpen has earned a reputation for blowing late leads, which is why Henderson’s leadoff base hit felt like a case of “here we go again …”. Instead, this flipped the momentum of the game and set up José Leclerc for his first career postseason save. 

“I wasn't [expecting it],” Leclerc said, “but I said that was the best play of my life. I feel that was the key for me because I got more confidence, and then I could just go and try to get the next guy out."

Henderson might not have been the runner you expected to see breaking in that situation. He stole 10 bags this year and was caught three times, but like he said, the Orioles felt this was a good situation to run in against Leclerc and Heim. Heim isn’t an easy catcher to run on, either. He ranked eighth in MLB with +5 Catcher’s Caught Stealing Above Average.

If it had worked, we’re talking about one of the biggest plays in a game that potentially looks much different. 

Instead, the Rangers won their third straight road game to open the postseason. And the Orioles, fresh off a 101-win season, need a big win Sunday behind Grayson Rodriguez to avoid flying to Texas in a fight for their playoff lives. 

“When you can come into a packed house and take Game 1, it sets the tone for the whole series,” Heim said. “We knew that coming in and we had a good game plan, and I was just trying to do my part and do whatever I could do to help the team win. Luckily, that was the play."

A 3-2 game wasn’t what many expected in Game 1, either. The Rangers ranked third in the Majors in runs scored, while the Orioles ranked seventh, with both clubs known for throwing haymakers more than winning the tight, low-scoring games. 

When those games do come, and they inevitably will in the postseason, there’s always one small play that makes -- or could have made -- the difference. In Game 1, the Rangers won that play.