The Baltimore Orioles were the most pleasant surprise in baseball this year, as the long-suffering franchise won 101 games and rekindled memories of the team’s glory days.
The only surprise the Orioles brought in the ALDS was unpleasant, as the team fell to the Texas Rangers in a three-game sweep.
Texas finished off the demolition Tuesday night with a 7-1 win. Rangers slugger Adolis García provided the back-breaking blow in the second inning with a three-run homer that gave Texas a 6-0 lead and chased O’s starter Dean Kremer.
WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN 🎸
ADOLIS GARCIA 3-RUN HOMER 💥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/RlT7EWJiEL
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 11, 2023
So what happened to the Orioles, who entered the AL playoffs as the No. 1 seed? Not to take anything away from the Rangers, who scored the third-most runs in MLB this season, but no one expected the Orioles to get swept, and rather easily at that.
The Orioles will be contenders next year and likely for years to come given their nucleus of dynamic young players. That will have to be enough to comfort O’s fans after the disappointing ALDS.
Social media had plenty of thoughts on Baltimore’s ALDS collapse.
John Smoltz: If the Rangers win 3 straight it’s gonna look like they dominated the Orioles. They didn’t.
Meanwhile: Texas Rangers lead Baltimore Orioles 6-0 in the 3rd inning of game 3. Win and in. Won game 2 11-8 after leading 10-5 going into the 9th.
No domination here. 🙄
— Steve Shadman (@shadmansteve) October 11, 2023
Is anyone really surprised the Orioles are about to fizzle out of the playoffs? Young team. Will be around for awhile in contention. But the pitching was a problem. #MLBPlayoffs
— Tony Koch (@TKoch8) October 11, 2023
The AL East is so overrated 😂😂
— Bustaaa14 (@MatthewBusta) October 11, 2023
the 5 day layoff causing problems is “definitely a thing” because the dodgers are struggling? and orioles starters couldn’t make it through 4 if their lives depended on it? oh, and the braves win last night doesn’t count. they’re still lost. pleeeease this is so tired
— ali (@alisonrae22) October 11, 2023
i kinda hate this for the orioles but at the same time i can see them being a huge problem for a few years, so i don’t feel too bad.
— megan (@3×5) October 11, 2023
AL East, dominant division during the regular season. During the postseason… an actual embarrassment.
This will likely be the first time since 2011, that the ALCS will not feature an AL East team. Texas Rangers are crushing the Baltimore Orioles and are cruising through Game 3.
— Orel Fargas (@OrelFargas) October 11, 2023
Since the Baltimore Orioles are the most liked team in the MLB, does this mean the Texas Rangers are now the most hated?
— DarkHorseXF (@DarkHorseXF) October 11, 2023
