Major League Baseball

O's flight makes unscheduled landing

Published Sep. 30, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Talk about a good news/bad news kind of night.

The Baltimore Orioles clinched their first postseason berth in 15 years Sunday night … right around the time their charter flight made an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Orioles had defeated the Boston Red Sox, 6-3, at home Sunday afternoon and were traveling to St. Petersburg, Fla., in advance of their Monday series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays when “a minor incident” occurred in the galley, according to a statement issued by the team. Reportedly, there was smoke in the galley.

“This unscheduled landing was done with an abundance of caution and at no time was anyone on the flight in danger,” the team said.

Around the time the aircraft was being inspected in Jacksonville, the Texas Rangers secured an 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, Texas, ensuring the Orioles of at least one of the American League’s two wild card spots.

The surprising Orioles and New York Yankees are tied for the American League East lead with three games to play. Because of baseball’s new playoff format — the wild card teams play a single-elimination game to begin the postseason — winning the division has assumed a greater importance than before. The Orioles-Yankees race is certain to be one of the most closely followed stories in baseball this week; after Sunday, the Orioles probably feel fortunate to be playing the games at all.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball