Orioles knock out 2-time AL champion Rangers 5-1

By Stephen Hawkins

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Oct. 5 2012 10:05 p.m. MDT

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Baltimore Orioles second baseman Ryan Flaherty can't stop a single by Texas Rangers' Michael Young during the fourth inning of an American League wild-card playoff baseball game Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 in Arlington, Texas.

Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

Summary

Joe Saunders pitched effectively into the sixth inning, Adam Jones hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and the Baltimore Orioles beat the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers 5-1 in the wild-card game playoff Friday night.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Joe Saunders pitched effectively into the sixth inning, Adam Jones hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and the Baltimore Orioles beat the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers 5-1 in the wild-card game playoff Friday night.

Nate McLouth scored in the first and drove in two runs after that for manager Buck Showalter's surprising Orioles, who made their first postseason appearance in 15 years.

Baltimore advances to play the New York Yankees in the best-of-five division series. Game 1 is Sunday at Camden Yards.

The Rangers, who lost the AL West crown by dropping nine of their last 13 regular-season games, are done after a game when they had Yu Darvish on the mound.

Texas loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before David Murphy flied out.

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