Oakland win ties A's with Orioles in AL wild-card race

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Not only did the Orioles’ 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays drop them a game behind the Yankees for first place in the American League East, but the O’s also lost a game on the Oakland Athletics in the AL wild-card race.

The A’s clinched their first playoff spot since 2006 with a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers, tying the Orioles for the No. 1 wild-card spot with identical 92-68 records.

Like the Orioles, the A’s still have a shot at their respective division crown. Oakland enters the second-to-last game of the regular season one game behind the division-leading Rangers as the two teams play head to head in the final two games of the season.

If the Orioles and A’s end the regular season with the same record as the wild-card teams, the Orioles would have to travel to Oakland to play the AL wild-card game Friday because the A’s won the head-to-head season series with the Orioles, 5-4.

Needless to say, the Orioles' loss was costly. They went from being able to completely control their own fate for a division title to needing help to prevent becoming the No. 2 wild-card team.