With concern over their closer the O's pull out another one, extend AL East lead

The anticipation was high and the crowd was roaring. The Orioles were one strike away from their 80th win and Félix Bautista - their All-Star closer - was one away from his 34th save.

This was usually where he blows a fastball by someone or buries a split for a swinging third strike to send Camden Yards into a frenzy.

But this time the game did not end, but Bautista's outing did as Camden Yards went from very loud to very quiet in a very short span.

So for now we wait for further word on Bautista and his arm discomfort. We await word on the tests manager Brandon Hyde said they would do to further examine Bautista.

Before the pitch that put a damper on an otherwise good night, the Orioles did a lot right late in the game to pull out their 80th win.

One more victory this season will give the club its first back-to-back seasons of .500 or better ball since 2015 (81-81) and 2016 (89-73).

In the last of the eighth, Gunnar Henderson electrified the ballpark with a line shot, a two-run homer to right. It turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead and the ballpark was rocking.

It was the latest reminder that Henderson is a top contender for the club's first AL Rookie of the Year Award since 1989.

He got a hanging slider from lefty Brent Suter and didn't miss it. He drilled the ball on a line and hit it 107.3 mph driving it 374 feet into the Baltimore night for a one-run lead. It was his 22nd homer and the Orioles' third of the night.

It was Henderson's third career go-ahead homer in the seventh inning or later this year. And his first since one he hit in the eighth inning on June 8 at Milwaukee.

Henderson now has a 10-game hitting streak after a 2-for-3 night with three RBIs. During the streak he is 17-for-43 and batting .395/.413/.744/.1.157 with eight extra base hits to include four doubles, a triple, three homers and 13 RBIs.

"It was really awesome," Henderson said. "Just real happy to be able to help the team come back in a way like that. It's what you dream of as a kid is to hit a homer like that. It's pretty cool.

"I felt like I got it good enough but it had a little top spin, so that was the only thing I had to worry about. But I was glad to see that it got out."

With Tampa Bay's loss by 6-2 to the Yankees, the Orioles extended their AL East lead to three games over the Rays. Baltimore has won three in a row, six of seven, nine of 12, 17 of 24 and 31 of the last 44 games.

The Orioles continue to sport an amazing record in the close games. They are 23-11 in one-run games and 16-7 in two-run games. That is a combined 39-18 (.684) in games decided by two or fewer runs.

They have now gone a remarkable 81 straight series without being swept.

But now they also have concerns over Bautista's situation until they know more and get further word. A pitcher who was an All-Star and is currently 8-2 with 33 saves and a 1.48 ERA in 56 appearances. 

"He's been our closer all year, he's been electric for us," said Friday starter Cole Irvin. "I know the fans love him, and you want one of your best guys to still be pitching for you. So, hopefully it's nothing negative and maybe he just needs a little bit of time. But don't know what's going to happen, don't know what to expect, so just praying for him. That's the biggest thing and all we can do right now. He's been huge for us. And honestly, he'd have my Cy Young vote. He's been that good. It's been a lot of fun to have him, so hopefully he comes back solid."

The Orioles are 32 games over the .500 mark for the first time since Sept. 24, 2014.

That was the last year where they won the AL East championship.