Does Bautista get chance to close tonight?

Orioles closer Zack Britton earned the save in the American League’s 4-2 win in the 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego, with teammate Matt Wieters catching him in the ninth inning.

Could Félix Bautista be next tonight, with Adley Rutschman setting the target for him?

Bautista became the full-time closer last summer after Jorge López was traded to the Twins, but he already had two saves in a May series in St. Louis. López was on the bereavement list.

The series is referenced a lot when the subject turns to the moment that the Orioles knew they could be a winning team, though they went to Detroit and were swept. The May 12 game was special because the bench was depleted due to injuries, Bryan Baker started in a bullpen game, and the conditions were miserable.

Bautista got the four-out save in a 3-2 win. Jorge Mateo ran down a popup with his back to the infield, spun and doubled off Tyler O’Neill at first base to end the game. Anthony Bemboom received a rare start against a left-hander, Steven Matz – the Cardinals were slow to reveal their starter - and he hit a rare home run in the seventh inning.

Manager Brandon Hyde doesn’t paint a pretty picture except for the final score.

“It was a day game in St. Louis, it was 175 degrees, and we had a bullpen day and I had one pitcher left and it was Bautista,” Hyde recalled. “Baker started. And we won a series in St. Louis. (Bautista) was the last guy. We had a one-run lead and he went 1-2-3. Mateo made the catch, the popup at shortstop. Boomer hit a left-on-left homer.

“Bautista, to be able to close that out, and we had one guy on the bench and it was (Robinson) Chirinos, and we had one pitcher left and it was Bautista, that’s when I thought he was special.”

The city has embraced Bautista and the organization knows how to market and promote him. The relationship has blossomed.

“It’s honestly been super great and I’m honestly thankful for all the support that the fans continue to give me and our team time and time again,” Bautista said via interpreter Brandon Quinones after his selection. “I really appreciate that a ton.”

* Yennier Cano knew which All-Star he wanted to meet. Had his answer ready on the day of his selection.

“I would love to say ‘hi’ to (Shohei) Ohtani,” he said via Quinones. “I think we all recognize how great of a player he is, one of the best players in the bigs right now. I’ve played against him, but now I’d love to meet him and get to say ‘hi.’”

* Does the Bautista/Cano combo remind anyone of Randy Myers and Armando Benitez in 1997?

Ignore that Myers was left-handed.

Myers went 45-for-46 in save opportunities and registered a 1.51 ERA in 61 games, one of the most dominant performances by a reliever in franchise history. Benitez had nine saves but was the primary setup man with the blazing fastball, 2.45 ERA in 71 games and 106 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings.

Benitez had some control (43 walks) and maturity issues, but the backend of the bullpen was a monster.

If I asked which reliever ranked third on the club in saves and you knew Rule 5 pick Mike Johnson with two, I’d tip my proverbial hat to you.

Johnson was traded to the Expos on July 31 for … I’ll tell you later. The club couldn’t stash him in the ‘pen while going wire-to-wire. He left with a 7.94 ERA and 1.714 WHIP in 14 games, including five starts.

OK, the Orioles got a player to be named later who turned into reliever Everett Stull. He never pitched for them.

* Austin Hays is in center field and batting seventh tonight.

An Oriole hasn’t been chosen Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game since Miguel Tejada in 2005 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Cal Ripken Jr. was honored in 1991 in Toronto and again in 2001 in Seattle, the year that he retired.

The man always could seize a moment.

Tonight’s game is in Seattle. Perhaps it’s a sign.