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A dense, gray fog draped over Baltimore on Tuesday morning, shrouding the city in mist. For the Orioles, it initially seemed like an auspicious sign. A team that had embraced water-related rituals and motifs over the last year and a half found themselves greeted by a downpour on the day of their first postseason game—a fitting scenario. 4x Your Football Profits with this Orioles’ Water-Themed Culture Water had become a key part of the Orioles' identity. Players mimicked faucets after singles, spit streams of water after doubles and celebrated home runs with a repurposed beer funnel known as “the hydration station.” In left-center-field, the “Birdbath” section was regularly doused with water whenever the Orioles recorded an extra-base hit, courtesy of Mr. Splash, a character donned in floaties and goggles. Yet, perhaps the sudden stoppage of the drizzle before the first pitch was a warning. Even though ace Corbin Burnes put on an outstanding playoff performance, the offense of Baltimore struggled to score. Kansas City starter Cole Ragans flummoxed the Orioles for six innings, deploying a barrage of precision fastballs before a calf injury forced his exit. The Royals' bullpen shut the door, tossing three scoreless frames and ensuring Baltimore never crossed home plate. Royals Strike Just Once, But It’s Enough Kansas City capitalized on their only opportunity, scoring a lone run on a two-out RBI single from star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Earlier in the inning, third baseman Maikel Garcia’s stolen base proved critical, enabling him to scamper home and give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Royals veteran outfielder Tommy Pham made a humorous observation, saying, “Whenever you hold the opposing team to zero runs, you have a 99.999999 percent chance to win.” Witt’s clutch performance was hardly a surprise. The 24-year-old phenom had spent the regular season cementing his status as one of baseball’s elite players. His stellar statistics—32 home runs, 31 steals, and a .332 batting average—coupled with impeccable defense would have made him an MVP contender in many seasons. Witt’s immense skill is matched only by his boundless enthusiasm, embodying a childlike joy for the game. Orioles’ Bats Falter Under Pressure Unfortunately for Baltimore, their hitters did not rise to the occasion. Despite Burnes’ brilliance, the Orioles' offense was lifeless. The team’s top five hitters—Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle, and Adley Rutschman—combined for a dismal 1-for-18 performance against Royals pitching. Though Ragans was outstanding, the Orioles contributed to their own demise by squandering prime opportunities early in the game. Catcher James McCann recorded two important strikeouts during the game. The first occurred in the third inning, with a runner on second base and no outs. The second strikeout took place in the fifth inning, with runners on first and third base. Both times, Baltimore failed to capitalize, and those missed chances were as close as they would get. Déjà Vu for Baltimore? The Orioles’ playoff struggles were eerily reminiscent of last year’s postseason woes. After winning 101 games in 2023, they entered the playoffs brimming with confidence, only to be swept by the Texas Rangers in the ALDS. The sting of that collapse lingered, but Baltimore believed their tough late-season stretch in 2024 would steel them for October’s pressures. However, Tuesday’s game told a different story. Once again, the Orioles’ bats fell silent when it mattered most, and Burnes’ stellar outing went to waste. Burnes Delivers, But Orioles Fail to Capitalize Burnes, who was taken out of the game after allowing a single at the start of the ninth inning, made history as the first pitcher since Stephen Strasburg in the 2019 World Series to take the mound in the ninth inning of a playoff game.. His performance was memorable, and only seven other starting pitchers have reached that point in a postseason game in the past ten years. Regrettably, Burnes experienced a fate similar to that of Matt Harvey, who also suffered a 1-0 loss in a playoff game against the Royals in 2015. Burnes’ presence on the Orioles roster is itself a significant development. Baltimore acquired him from Milwaukee in a bold offseason trade that signaled their readiness to contend. In exchange for two top prospects, the Orioles landed Burnes, a pending free agent, in hopes of bolstering their championship aspirations. The Missed Opportunity Looms Large However, the energetic and youthful group of batters in Baltimore did not perform as expected. The team’s inability to convert key chances left Burnes’ playoff gem unrewarded. As the Orioles' ace sat silently in the locker room postgame, scrolling through his phone, his teammates offered half-hearted congratulations, part apology for the missed opportunity. Burnes’ future in Baltimore is uncertain. He is expected to command a massive free-agent contract north of $200 million, a price tag the Orioles—known for their frugal spending—may not be willing to meet. If Baltimore’s season ends prematurely, Burnes’ time in Charm City will be remembered as a fleeting, yet significant, missed opportunity. 4x Your Football Profits with this