O's take L in Tampa, prep for playoffs

Though the Orioles lost their final game of the year to Tampa and finished the season winning only one game in the series with the Rays, the team’s last three games will still arguably be among the most memorable for die-hard fans this season.

The Orioles lost to the Rays 4-1 in a game that was highlighted by three Evan Longoria home runs.

The Orioles guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs during last week’s series with Boston as they swept the Red Sox in three games. Wednesday’s loss pushed them out of contention for the AL East title, but had no effect on the team’s appearance in the postseason.

According to the latest information provided by officials with the MLB, the Orioles will face the Texas Rangers in Texas Friday. The Orioles were paired with the Rangers after they fell to the Oakland Athletics 12-5 in a game that gave Oakland the AL West title.

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The Yankees take the AL East title, two games ahead of the Orioles.

The official start of the MLB playoffs will be on Friday as the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals visit Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves in the winner-take-all NL wild-card matchup.

Check back with ABC2 News as we continue to develop this story.

* The Associated Press contributed to this report.