"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Battle of the Beltways and the 1997 ALDS

As we prepare to enter 2018 and get that much closer to pitchers and catchers reporting to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, we're going to relive some of our "Orioles Classics" on MASN in groups this week as part of our Throwback Thursday series.

One of these groups is the Battle of the Beltways. Here at MASN, we're fortunate enough to bring fans wall-to-wall coverage of not just one, but two major league teams, and it's always fun when the Orioles and Nationals meet in each team's respective ballpark.

This year, the Orioles swept the two games at Camden Yards against their mid-Atlantic rivals. In the first game on May 8, the Birds jumped out to an early lead as Joey Rickard, Mark Trumbo and Trey Mancini homered in the first inning, and held on for a 6-4 victory.

On the following night, the Birds overcame a dominant performance by Nationals starter Max Scherzer and extended the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, with Trumbo walking it off for a 5-4 win.

Check out the remaining "Orioles Classics" of 2017 and the first to air in the new year, all of which are from the 1997 American League Division Series against the Mariners, other Battle of the Beltway games, the Memorial Stadium finale and more:

Thursday, Dec. 28, 9 a.m. - The Orioles defeated the top-seeded Mariners in the 1997 ALDS 3-1 to advance to the American League Championship Series against the Indians. Starting with Game 1 at 9 a.m., catch all four games from that series on MASN, with Game 2 at noon, Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. and Game 4 at 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 29, noon and 7 p.m. - The Orioles have won some classic games against the Nationals, as the rivalry between the two teams has heated up over recent years. At noon, watch Chris Davis and Ryan Zimmerman put on their own home derby at Camden Yards on May 29, 2013, combining for five longballs in the O's 9-6 victory. Then, at 7 p.m., catch Jonathan Schoop's walk-off homer to beat the Nats 3-2 on July 10, 2015.

Saturday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. - Keep that Christmas spirit by celebrating Clinchmas from Sept. 16, 2014! The Orioles crushed the Blue Jays 8-2 in Baltimore to secure their first AL East title since 1997.

Sunday, Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m. - As you prepare to ring in the new year, watch Nolan Reimold ring the victory bell with pinch-hit walk-off home run to complete a sweep of the Indians on July 24, 2016.

Tuesday, Jan. 2, 9 a.m. - Before Camden Yards forever changed baseball, the Orioles closed the doors on historic Memorial Stadium on Oct. 6, 1991 against the Tigers.