NEW YORK (AP) — Just maybe the Baltimore Orioles' remarkable run into October is not so improbable after all.
Seventeen wins in extra innings, 31 victories in one-run games. Staving off elimination from the postseason twice already.
They've done all that, and might not be done yet.
Bouncing back from a demoralizing defeat, the Orioles beat the New York Yankees 2-1 in, yep, 13 innings on J.J. Hardy's double in Game 4 of the division series Thursday night.
Now they get a chance to prove one more time that they're unflappable, in a winner-take-all Game 5 Friday.
"All these extra-inning games, all these close games. Obviously, it's fitting with the types of games we played all year," closer Jim Johnson said.
On Thursday they played past midnight, winning a test of wills with the high-priced Yankees for a chance at a spot in the AL championship series against Detroit.
Game 1 winner CC Sabathia was set to pitch the deciding game for the Yankees against Jason Hammel.
"It's time to go," Sabathia said. "This is a one-game playoff, and this is what we play for. We're here in the Bronx at home, and like I said, I'll be excited and ready to go."