nate mclouth

The similarity of photos from 1996 and 2012 cues memories of Oriole magic.

When the Orioles acquired Jim Thome on July 1, they did so hoping the 41-year-old had enough hits left in his bat to help them reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years.

The Baltimore Orioles won their 14th consecutive extra-inning game on Wednesday morning, 4-2, in the 18th inning over the Seattle Mariners.

In the 10 months or so that executive vice president Dan Duquette has been on the job there¿s been a couple areas he has stressed more than anything else.

Now the Orioles step into a stretch in which they have to dominate. Their next dozen games are against sub.500 teams. That span (of 13) started Monday, when they pounded the Seattle Mariners, 10-4.

If there's one thing that separates the Oakland A's and the Orioles, the American League¿s two upstarts, it¿s that the A¿s young pitching has been a tick better this season. On Saturday, in Oakland's 5-2 victory, A's 23-year-old right-hander Jarrod Parker was a whole lot better than 24-year-old lefty Zach Britton.

For years, any big-picture assessment of the Baltimore Orioles has included a reminder of its growing streak of losing seasons. The number was 14 going into this year, a run of futility stretching all the way back to 1997. It won't hit 15.

In the top of the ninth inning last night, with the Tampa Bay Rays threatening to break a 2-2 tie, rookie Manny Machado made a sparkling play at third base to help closer Jim Johnson get the Orioles out of a jam. And after the game, ESPN gave Machado a little love.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

Every time the Orioles arrive at what I like to call a "critical juncture" in the season, they seem to do something that reinforces the notion that they are on a special mission to change the face of baseball in Baltimore.

A look at the top news stories of the morning

Manny Machado's key defensive play and Nate McLouth's walk-off single gave the Orioles a thrilling victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

Steve Johnson (3-0) won again for the Orioles on Tuesday night, entering the game in the fourth with little warning after Jason Hammel had to leave due to a knee injury.

Here's a roundup of what other media outlets are saying about the Orioles:

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

Chris Davis is well aware of how his offensive numbers plummeted when he played right field in June and July.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Nick Markakis was flying Monday to Sarasota, Fla., where he is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday morning that is expected to accelerate his recovery time.

Before Sunday's series finale against New York, Showalter admitted it was wishful thinking. A series of tests over the next two days will give the Orioles a definitive answer whether Markakis will need surgery that would most certainly end his 2012 season regardless of the Orioles' future.

With the season-ending injury to Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis on Saturday night, Buck Showalter had to "shuffle the cards" as he says.

The Orioles lead the season series with the Yankees, 9-8 with one game to play Sunday.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Markakis broke his thumb and is expected to be out a minimum of six weeks.

Former Oriole back at Camden Yards with New York after bouncing from team to team this season

Despite the Orioles' 8-5 loss to the Yankees Friday night at Camden Yards, McLouth again showed flashes of what made him one of the most exciting players in the game during his career year of 2008.

The last five games between the Orioles and the Yankees have been greatly impacted by the longball. In that span, the teams have combined for 25 extra-base hits, and 21 of them have been home runs.

Joe Saunders held the Blue Jays scoreless for 5 2/3 innings Monday afternoon, helping the Orioles to a 4-0 shutout win over Toronto, snapping a four-game losing streak for the O¿s at the Rogers Centre.

First, the Orioles took the out ¿ and the air ¿ out of Yankees Stadium, jumping on the hosts to take a quick three-run lead Saturday afternoon. But knowing the way the Yankees play here in the Bronx, no lead is safe.

The Orioles spent the first half of the season committing fielding errors at an astronomical pace, but as they close in on the Yankees in the AL East race, their improved defense is one factor that's allowed them to compete.

Our view: Resurgent Orioles are in an exciting pennant chase, so where are the fans?

The TV cameras made it look even worse. With the red-hot Orioles on their way to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, MASN cameras revealed vast stretches of empty green seats at Camden Yards all night.

It is just four days until the calendar turns to September and your team is just 3 1/2 games out of first-place in the American League East, their smallest deficit in th division since June 24. If they remain steady this week against the Chicago White Sox, they can chip into that lead even more this weekend in the Bronx.