One that got away: O's lose lead, critical game at New York

They had an early three-run lead and looked to be moving closer toward clinching a wild card spot. But looks can be deceiving.

The Orioles blew a lead and a game today and now we wait to find out just how damaging it all was. The Yankees rallied for a 7-3 win today and the Orioles can't clinch a postseason berth tonight.

This loss now opens the door for Toronto to once again tie them for the first wild card which would give the Blue Jays the wild card home game if they are tied for that spot after 162 games.

Left-hander Wade Miley was pitching a strong game but then allowed single runs in the fifth and sixth to cut the O's lead to 3-2. At 99 pitches it seemed unlikely he would start the bottom of the seventh. But he did and leadoff batter Tyler Austin hit a game-tying homer on a 3-2 pitch to make it 3-3. Orioles manager Buck Showalter pushed Miley one batter too far.

In the bottom of the eighth, Brad Brach allowed a walk and a double with one out to put runners on second and third. Then Austin Romine looped a two-run single into left and the Yankees had their first lead of the day at 5-3. When Brett Gardner followed with a two-run double off Oliver Drake the New York lead grew to 7-3. All four runs were charged to Brach.

This one hurt. The Orioles had won six of seven games. They were 10-4 in their last 14 road games. They were two wins from 90.

Now they will take an 88-73 record into the last day of their regular season. Before that, Toronto plays at Boston tonight and Detroit is at Atlanta. The Blue Jays would tie the Orioles with a win and Detroit would be a half-game back of both with a victory tonight. There is also still a chance for a four-way tie at 88-74 with the Orioles, Blue Jays, Tigers and Mariners.

For the moment the biggest game of the year just became the Blue Jays and Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park.

The drama that is the 2016 season is heading into the final day.