A few quick takes on a season-ending loss for the Orioles

The Orioles have lost yet another close postseason game to the Kansas City Royals. Swept four straight in the 2014 American League Championship Series by six total runs, they lost a pair of one-run games to K.C. in this AL Wild Card round.

They lose 2-1 today and scored just one run in the series. The Royals advance to play the No. 1 seed Yankees in a series that begins on Saturday in the Bronx. 

The Orioles are now 0-6 all-time in the playoffs versus the Royals by eight total runs.

After a 91-71 regular season and a second-place AL East finish, the season ends again in early October.

The O’s have lost 10 straight in the postseason.

A few other quick thoughts on Game 2:

Different for him this time around: Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins went 0-for-12 last year in the American League Division Series. He struggled late last season, was still dealing with leg issues that sent him to the IL twice and he went hitless versus the Rangers in the playoffs.

But when he homered to tie this game 1-1 in the last of the fifth today, he was, to that point, 3-for-5 in this series. Mullins’ solo shot off Royals starter Seth Lugo, tied this game 1-1 and was his first career postseason homer. He hit a 3-2 fastball 398 feet to right center.

Mullins went 3-for-6 in this series.

But they could not cash in after that: The Orioles had a big chance to get their first lead of this series after Mullins’ homer. They loaded the bases with no outs on a bloop hit, a walk and an error. But Anthony Santander popped out, Colton Cowser struck out (on a ball that actually hit him) and Adley Rutschman grounded out to the hole at short.

Through the fifth, the game was tied 1-1 and the Orioles were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position this day and 1-for-13 this series.

Bullpen parade: The O’s were bringing in relievers in a fast and furious manner after they pulled starter Zach Eflin after four innings and 75 pitches.

He was pitching well, although not dominant. He gave up a first-inning run but nothing else and allowed four hits and one run through the fourth.

Was there a physical issue or just the skipper’s decision? Either way it meant the O’s sometimes shaky bullpen was going to have to cover a lot of innings today and that they got just 12 outs from their No. 2 starter.

The lead for K.C.: The Royals pushed across a run to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth on Bobby Witt Jr.'s RBI infield hit.

K.C. didn't cash in many of its chances today, going 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and leaving 12 men on base.

The crowd: Today’s attendance, also not a sellout, was 38,698. The crowd was great again and waiting for something to cheer about. For most of these two games, it was not forthcoming.

Next up: For the Orioles, the offseason has arrived much earlier than anyone on the team or in the town wanted. Birdland has another playoff disappointment to ponder over the next few months.

Next game for the Orioles that counts - the 2025 season opener on March 27 at Toronto.