Orioles clinch home-field advantage in AL wild-card series with 7-2 win over Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — Playoff baseball is coming back to Baltimore.

Camden Yards went eight years without a playoff game. Now, it will host at least two for a second consecutive season.

After clinching a playoff berth Tuesday, the Orioles set their sights on the next goal: Securing the American League’s top wild-card spot and home-field advantage through the first round of the postseason. Friday night, they did just that — and they didn’t need anyone else’s help.

Cade Povich twirled a stellar start against the team that drafted him, Ryan O’Hearn and Colton Cowser blasted home runs and the Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins, 7-2, to give Baltimore fans the chance to pack Camden Yards next week.

Claiming the AL’s No. 4 seed could’ve happened days ago, but the Detroit Tigers haven’t lost all week as the Orioles’ most likely first-round opponent continues its magical second-half surge. A Tigers loss Thursday or earlier in the evening Friday would’ve done the trick, but the Orioles made sure this question didn’t bleed further into the weekend.

Home-field advantage in the best-of-three AL wild-card series is critical since every game is hosted by the higher seed. It will mark the first time Oriole Park has hosted a playoff contest in back-to-back seasons since 1996-97 — the last time Baltimore made the postseason in consecutive years. Game 1 will be Tuesday at a time to be determined.

After play Friday, the Orioles are locked into the No. 4 seed, while the Tigers have a one-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the No. 5 seed. The Orioles eliminated the Twins from playoff contention, while Minnesota’s loss clinched the Royals a playoff spot.

The Orioles’ win is their 89th this season after totaling 101 victories last year. The last time Baltimore won at least 89 games in consecutive seasons was 1982 and 1983, the latter year the franchise’s most recent World Series.