In what's become a formality when he enters games, Zach Britton came in for the ninth inning Sunday at Camden Yards and closed down a 4-2 win for the Orioles. He is now a perfect 27-for-27 in save chances this year.
Britton, who took over the Orioles' closer role in early 2014, now has 100 career saves, tied with Stu Miller for fourth place in club history.
"That's a nice little number, but like I said, I think it's more of a credit to the last few years, how well Darren [O'Day] and Brad [Brach] have thrown in front of me, and a lot of other guys too, to put me in a situation to be successful," Britton said.
Britton's latest outing came after starter Chris Tillman pitched seven innings of one-run ball and Brach followed by allowing an unearned run in the eighth. Britton gave up a leadoff single to the Los Angeles Angels' Andrelton Simmons but retired the next three hitters.
He now leads the big leagues in saves and boasts a 0.72 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
"There's a real professional, competitive approach about it," manager Buck Showalter said of Britton and Brach. "I talk to pitchers all the time about your presentation to hitters, and they present a very confident front to guys. It's been fun to watch guys like Brad and Zach and Jonathan [Schoop] and Manny [Machado]. You see them kind of take their experiences and play up to their ability."