Baltimore Orioles hit 100 losses for first time since 1988

What has been inevitable for some time became official on Friday night: The Baltimore Orioles lost their 100th game. 

The defeat that sent them into triple digits for the first time in 30 years was a ghastly 14-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, one that featured 15 strikeouts by Orioles batters and four homers against, including a grand slam.  

Despite a recent 14-season losing streak, this is just the third time the Orioles have hit the 100-loss mark in the franchise’s 64 years in Baltimore. The 1988 season and the 1954 season – the team’s first in Baltimore after moving from St. Louis – were the only others.  

And sadly for Orioles fans, this third 100-loss squad has hit the mark faster than any other in team history. 

Now 41-100, the Orioles have 21 games remaining (including back-to-back-to-back series against the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros to end the year) to try to avoid the team record of 107 losses set in that 1988 season. That year, of course, is infamous for the team’s 0-21 start.