ATLANTA – Davey Martinez laughed as he recalled his one and only playing experience against Randy Johnson.

On May 24, 1998, the inaugural Devil Rays franchise faced the Mariners at the Kingdome, with the Big Unit on the mound for Seattle. Tampa Bay’s regular lineup featured two Hall of Famers in Fred McGriff and Wade Boggs. Neither of whom played that day, because of the particular challenge left-handed hitters faced against Johnson, who had the ability to screw up a good hitter for weeks with one dominant start.

The only lefty in the lineup that day: Martinez, who batted second. And then proceeded to strike out four times.

Some 26 years later, Martinez was thinking about that scenario as he planned his lineup for tonight’s series opener against Chris Sale. Which explains why CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. are sitting against the Braves’ left-handed ace and Cy Young Award favorite.

“It’s funny, because when I was looking at how good Chris has been this year, it reminds me a lot of Randy Johnson, where all the lefties sat,” Martinez said. “He’s been really good, so it’ll be a lot of righties in there, and see if we can beat him that way.”

The wait is over.

For the last magic number to hit zero. For the first American League East championship since 2014. For the Rays to accept their wild card fate.

Pop those corks again.

Anthony Santander homered in the first inning, his fly ball traveling 405 feet to left field and clearing the wall. The crowd roared. Dean Kremer tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Pinch-hitter Heston Kjerstad dumped a double into left field that scored Adam Frazier in the eighth.

The ballpark kept getting louder, reaching its peak volume when Trevor Story grounded out against Tyler Wells to seal the Orioles’ 2-0 victory over the Red Sox before an announced crowd of 27,543. The 11^th shutout of the season. The latest reason for the city to embrace its team and not let go.

The Orioles will take the field tonight at Camden Yards to open a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox. They need one win to clinch their 10th American League East division championship and first since the 2014 season.

The Orioles (99-59) can also become the sixth team in club history and first since 1980 to win 100 games.

Last night the club improved to 40 games over the .500 mark for the first time since the end of the 1997 season when they were 102-57.

Baltimore's 5-1 win over Washington Wednesday night was its fourth win in a row. The O's have gone through a stretch where they lost four straight, then won four straight, lost three in a row and have now won four in a row.

During the four-game win streak, Baltimore pitchers have allowed just 15 hits and three runs with four walks and 23 strikeouts. The team ERA is 0.75 in this span.

A win tonight gives the Orioles their 10^th division title and first since 2014. It’s that simple.

The magic number is one and the Orioles are entering a four-game series against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. A 100^th victory would match their total in 1980.

Ryan Mountcastle returns to the lineup and is playing first base. He was reinstated from the 10-day injured list yesterday after dealing with left AC joint inflammation.

Austin Hays stays in the leadoff spot after reaching base four times last night. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter again.

Aaron Hicks is the center fielder. 

BOSTON – Aaron Hicks is in center field this afternoon against the Red Sox and James McCann is catching. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter.

Austin Hays is the cleanup hitter. Jordan Westburg is at second base and Gunnar Henderson is at third.

Jack Flaherty has posted a 6.66 ERA and 1.521 WHIP in five starts with the Orioles. He struck out seven batters in 4 2/3 innings in Arizona but gave up four runs and six hits.

Flaherty has never faced the Red Sox.

The Orioles have won six games in a row and 12 of 15 and are 89-51 overall, 47-25 on the road. They’ve scored 34 runs this season in four games at Fenway Park.

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