Baltimore Orioles: Top 5 Games of the 2022 season

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 11: Members of the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles listen to the national anthem before the start of Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 11, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 11: Members of the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles listen to the national anthem before the start of Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 11, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Birds Watcher ranks the five best games of the 2022 Baltimore Orioles season.

When the season ends, baseball fans love to reflect and talk about the remarkable moments of the past year.  Now, we’ll take some time to remember the best five games of the 2022 Baltimore Orioles’ season. I believe that #1 will be a consensus.

Without further hesitation, the top 5!

#5 – The Comeback at Boston (5/27/22)

BOSTON, MA – MAY 27: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates his 2-run home run against the Boston Red Sox with teammate Rougned Odor #12 as he receives a huge chain in the dugout during the seventh inning at Fenway Park on May 27, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 27: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates his 2-run home run against the Boston Red Sox with teammate Rougned Odor #12 as he receives a huge chain in the dugout during the seventh inning at Fenway Park on May 27, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /

The first ever Orioles’ game on Apple+, the newest streaming partner for MLB games on Fridays. Kyle Bradish struggled again and Boston had a 6-0 lead after two innings. In the seventh, the Orioles trailed 8-2 against the Red Sox. In other years, this meant game over and focus on the next game. But not this day!

Baltimore scored 10 unanswered runs in the last three innings. Jorge Mateo and Austin Hays homered. Ramon Urias drove in another run and the efforts by Anthony Santander (not the first time in 2022) gave the Orioles a win in one of the best games of the year.

#4 – No losing season at Yankees (9/30/22)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: Adley Rutschman #35 and DL Hall #49 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate the win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: Adley Rutschman #35 and DL Hall #49 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate the win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The final stretch from Baltimore wasn’t good. The best months from June to August didn’t repeat and the team struggled. Yet, one goal was accomplished: the first .500 season (two days later, the first winning season) since 2016.

In the Bronx, New York had a mission: Home Run #62 by Aaron Judge, to break Roger Maris’ AL record that had stood since 1961. The Orioles executed an excellent plan to not be a footnote in history and that Friday night finished with a remarkable 2-1 victory and the first MLB save by D.L. Hall.

#3 – Like a Game 7 vs Blue Jays (9/6/22)

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from the dugout against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 06, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from the dugout against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 06, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

In a pivotal series against the rival Blue Jays, Baltimore needed to keep their AL Wild Card hopes alive. Toronto swept the doubleheader a day before and Brandon Hyde treated this matchup like a ‘Game 7’.

He used all the bullpen to secure that victory and the effort payoff with a huge win, 9-6. The Orioles survived a tough game and like the old school rivarlies, we had a benches cleared after Bryan Baker, a former Jays, taunting Teoscar Hernandez after an inning. A playoff atmosphere, for sure.

#2 – With a help from an old friend vs Rays (7/28/22)

BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 28: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles beats the tag by Rene Pinto for an inside the park home in the eight inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 28, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 28: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles beats the tag by Rene Pinto for an inside the park home in the eight inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 28, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

With the trade deadline fast approaching, Baltimore played the last home game with guys like Jorge Lopez (the 2022 Orioles All-Star) and Trey Mancini, one of the most beloved players in recent history. Mancini hit a walkoff 20 days before against LA Angels (during the 10-game winning streak) but the baseball gods had a special moment for him.

July 28th is the Mo Gaba’s Day. A tribute for the Orioles and Ravens superfan who lost his battle against cancer in that day in 2020. Our 10th man, from the skies, helped the Orioles and his best friend, Mancini, with a inside-the-park Home Run in last Mancini’s hit at OPACY in an Orioles uniform. A moment for the ages. Baltimore won, 3-0.

#1 – A new era vs Rays (5/21/22)

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 21: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles takes the field in the first inning for the first time in his Major League debut against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 21, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 21: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles takes the field in the first inning for the first time in his Major League debut against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 21, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

A day like no other in recent years in Birdland. On Saturday morning, Baltimore announced that Adley Rutschman, who suffered an triceps injury before Spring Training, was called up for his MLB debut, one game after Rougned Odor’s walkoff on extras. In this series, and the best moments for 2022 season, this the only game who ended in the loss column (TB won, 6-1).

All the eyes were on Adley, and his moment looking across the Oriole Park and realized: I’m a MLB player, was magnificent. In his debut, Adley followed the steps by the former high-regard Orioles prospects like Matt Wieters and Manny Machado: his first major-league hit was a triple. For more Adley’s moments, click here.

Honorable mentions

CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 31: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a solo home run off Triston McKenzie of the Cleveland Guardians for his first career hit during the fourth inning of his Major League debut at Progressive Field on August 31, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 31: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a solo home run off Triston McKenzie of the Cleveland Guardians for his first career hit during the fourth inning of his Major League debut at Progressive Field on August 31, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /

2022 Opening Day: the first sellout after pandemic and a special victory on home opener against Milwaukee with the same score from the first ever Oriole Park game 30 years ago (2-0)

Anthony Santander walkoff: against New York left with an even more special taste, courtesy by Slamtander! O’s beat the Yankees, 9-6

On national TV: Orioles played their first game on Sunday Night Baseball since 2018 in the Little League Classic against Boston. Mateo was the hero in a 5-3 victory

Another rising star: at Cleveland, Gunnar Henderson made his MLB debut in late August. He hits his first Home Run on second at-bat. Let the hair flow, kid. O’s won, 4-0

A remarkable Homer: down by one and one strike away to end the game, rookie Kyle Stowers, against one of the most reliable relievers in the majors, Liam Hendriks, hit his first Home Run in a epic moment. Baltimore walked off against the White Sox in extras, 4-3

In 2023, may the Orioles create even more special moments!

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