The streak of losing records has consumed seven managers and six front-office regimes. Only Pittsburgh, where the Pirates are struggling to stay above .500, has waited longer for a winner. If the Pirates join the Orioles and break their losing string at 19, the Kansas City Royals, on their way to a ninth straight losing season, would be next in line.
Thoughts of such streaks seemed distant for the Orioles after Thursday's marathon win. The playoffs loomed far larger.
"There's a bigger goal in mind," said manager Buck Showalter. "We've been watching other teams for years and saying, 'We want to do what they're doing. We'd like to get a chair at the dance.'"
