For Sox, it’s tough to watch
Orioles clinch AL East title with a shutout
BALTIMORE — When pandemonium reached Camden Yards Thursday evening, manager Alex Cora stood on the top step of the visitors’ dugout. He leaned over the rail, peering through the celebratory fireworks and smoke that took over one of baseball’s most beloved ballparks.
Not too far away was Rafael Devers, who sat on the bench and watched the Orioles players, front-office personnel, and onfield staff embrace, all of whom played a part in the remarkable organizational upgrade from the cellar to the penthouse.
Trevor Story remained seated in the dugout, too, then he moved to the clubhouse, and was in his black, sleeveless drifit shirt, slouched in his chair. Story was still, facing his locker as he scrolled through his phone.
The Orioles had just clinched the American League East in the first game of a fourgame set against the Red Sox. It was their first divisional crown since 2014. Spearheaded by young talent, the Orioles played impactful and meaningful baseball, delivering their first 100-win season in more than four decades.
The Red Sox have been out of contention for a while, but Thursday’s loss felt a bit different. The Orioles sported orange, short-sleeve shirts adorned with AL East champs after defeating the Red Sox, 2-0, one more reminder of the Sox’ failure this season. Moreover, the celebration is a sign that the Red Sox’ path to success won’t be easy.
The team that used to get bullied is now on the top of the heap.
“That’s the goal that we set for ourselves,” Story said after the game. “And it was realized by them.”
Orioles fans realized the moment and couldn’t stay seated.
They knew it from the first inning. Years of disappointment and misery were behind them. The bottom of the American League East was for their opponents, not them.
The sea of red that descended upon this ballpark in years past turned back to black and orange. So Orioles fans stood, and they didn’t stop celebrating and clapping on a brisk fall night, a precursor to postseason baseball.
“It’s never a good taste,” Story said as he ripped athletic tape off his wrists with a look of pain on his face. “But it’s part of it. You see them do it and for me, it’s motivation. It’s what I draw from.”
“That’s why only a few teams out of the 30 advance to the playoffs,” said Devers.
The Red Sox have invested a combined $450 million in Devers and Story, and Story has struggled to stay on the field since inking his deal prior to the 2022 season.
Since returning from elbow injury in August, Story has flashed the leather at shortstop, but his bat hasn’t caught up, with a .197 average after his 1-for-4 showing Thursday.
Though Devers’s numbers are there — .272 with an .857 OPS, 33 homers, and 98 RBIs — it hasn’t felt like a typical Devers season, where he strikes fear in his opponents.
The Orioles, who lost 110 games just two years ago, now have a winner in every facet of the sport.
“As a baseball fan, it’s fun to watch,” Cora said. “As a team in the AL East, it’s not fun. They do a lot of things right. Their pitching program is legit. It’s real. I said it before the game and I’ll keep saying it, the last few years here and in ‘21 I was like, ‘Something’s going to happen here.’ ”
The Sox had just three hits and struck out 10 times, marking the 14th time this season they have had 10-plus strikeouts. It overshadowed an outing from Chris Sale in which the lefthander went five innings, yielding just a run on an Anthony Santander solo shot in the first.
Sale should go into next season healthy, a positive step. But the ultimate prize is winning.
“You never like seeing other teams [celebrate],” said Sale. “We had our time in the sun here and it’s time to get back to that. It’s never fun coming in last place or near the bottom. This is Boston. We’re the Red Sox. We’ve got to find a way to compete and we’ve got to find a way to get back on top.”
Baltimore’s celebration moved outside the stadium. Long after the fireworks and smoke cleared, from afar, you could hear “Sweet Caroline” echo through Camden Yards.