Orioles get swept out of the playoffs in their only series for a second consecutive year

BALTIMORE (AP) — Things went so poorly for the Baltimore Orioles in the playoffs that even when they had the bases loaded and a hit by pitch scores a run, Colton Cowser swung at a ball thrown right at him, missed and broke his left hand in the process.

They did not score in that situation and did not score much at all in getting swept by the Kansas City Royals in their AL Wild Card Series. Losses of 1-0 and 2-1 sent the Orioles out in a sweep in their only postseason series for a second consecutive year.

“I thought we battled as well as we possibly could,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We persevered. We got into the postseason. We hosted a wild card. We just had a tough time offensively these two games against a really good pitching staff and a scrappy team.”

Baltimore a season ago won the AL East but was swept in a best-of-five Division Series by eventual World Series champion Texas. Hyde said this one hurt differently because his team was in each of the winnable games and fell short.