BALTIMORE - The last-place Baltimore Orioles won't get to the postseason this year, yet they could determine who does.
Their third consecutive victory, 8-3 over Los Angeles on Friday, stung the Angels' playoff hopes. Baltimore took two of three from wild-card hopeful Tampa Bay before handling the Angels, who had won eight of 11.
Baltimore needs two wins to avoid the third 100-loss season since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954, but the Orioles' incentive goes beyond that.
"There's a lot to do in 12 games," said center fielder Adam Jones, who's been sidelined because of a sore thumb. "We've got seven against the Red Sox. We can be a very significant part of how everything finishes out."
The Orioles certainly made an impression on the Angels. "A lot of things they did on the field better than we did," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said.
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