The 2014 Orioles are the 20th team in club history to win at least 90 games. A win tonight gives the Orioles their ninth American League East title. They've clinched at home only twice, in 1979 and 1969. They clinched in Washington in 1970, New York in 1971, Milwaukee in 1973, Detroit in 1974 and Milwaukee again in 1983 and 1997. The Orioles have clinched four of their 11 playoff series wins in Baltimore - the 1997 Division Series, 1970 Championship Series, 1970 World Series and 1966 World Series. Anyone here attend all four? It's possible that the Orioles could clinch on Thursday's off day, similar to finding out they made the playoffs in 2012 while on the team charter. They'd much rather celebrate with their fans and inside their own clubhouse. "My daughter told me it might happen on the off day," said manager Buck Showalter. "How would that work? I was thinking I'd make everybody come in, or meet at my house or something. Because I'm going to dunk somebody, by God." Earlier today, Showalter talked about the increased sense of urgency as the schedule winds down. It's a different game. Setting yourself up to be consistent later, even if you are forced into moves that aren't necessarily the best "pure way to win" that night, ceases to be an option.

"That goes away," Showalter said. "You've got to do whatever it takes to win this game. It's a different game. I've said many times, you grind like heck for six, seven, eight months - whatever it is - to have a chance to roll the dice in October, and it's a day-to-day roll the dice. I'm hoping tonight or the near future we can get on with that part of the equation. "It's a journey. You've got to finish the mission. I have two or three things I keep on my desk and that's one of them. "You've got to be careful with stuff like that that has some military connotation, because this is not the military, this is not fighting a war, OK? It's taking way too many liberties with that. But it is a challenge that not many people get to go through baseball-wise." Showalter later thanked majority owner Peter G. Angelos for his continued support. "We try to talk once a homestand or every other homestand," Showalter said. "I try to go over there. Not because he asks me. But he's been extremely supportive through thick and thin. There's nothing we've really asked for that he hasn't said, 'OK.' We're not paupers. We get what we need. He's eliminated a lot of excuses. "He wouldn't admit it, but I know what this would mean to him and his family, which is part of us, too. I understand it's been a tough row. I get it. If I know Peter, he'll move right on to the next challenge. "I'm not so knowing or smug to think I know what owning a club is about and all that. There's things I don't know about and I try to stay in my box, but I know the passion that he has for the Orioles and the city and the fans. I hear always about what's best ... let's not do that because it's not best as far as the fans are concerned. I hear that. I know the pecking order of how it works. "He knows what's going on. He's connected. I hope that things work out the day that he's here." Update: Ubaldo Jimenez threw 30 pitches in the first inning and fell behind 1-0. Jimenez struck out Adam Lind and Dioner Navarro after walking Jose Bautista with one out and surrendering a RBI double to Edwin Encarnacion. He ran the count full to the first three batters, but he only allowed one run. The nightly starter doing damage control in a troublesome inning. Update II: Jays starter Drew Hutchison didn't minimize the damage. Steve Pearce hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first after Nick Markakis led off with a single and Nelson Cruz singled with two outs. Pearce has 18 home runs this season. His latest sent the crowd into a frenzy. It's not a sellout, but it's awfully loud and orange here. Update III: Jimenez gave up another run in the top of the second and has thrown 60 pitches, but Jimmy Paredes led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to give the Orioles a 4-2 lead. Are the Orioles trying to outscore Jimenez? T.J. McFarland was warming in the second.