Rajai Davis’ incredible throw helps Blue Jays snap Orioles 17-game extra-inning win streak (Big League Stew)

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It was an improbable winning streak that I think would be best compared to winning a coin toss 17 times in a row. It just doesn’t seem possible, but the Baltimore Orioles accomplished it by winning 16 consecutive extra inning games to close out their wild card clinching 2012 campaign and adding another on Matt Wieters’ walkoff grand slam against the Rays on April 18 .
Seventeen coin flips in a row. Or at least baseball’s version of a coin flip.
Of course the odds had to catch up with Baltimore eventually. Four games short of tying the Pittsburgh Pirates record of 21 consecutive extra inning wins set back in 1959-60, they finally did as the Orioles fell 6-5 to the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon.
The manner in which they ultimately lost was equal parts astonishing and head-scratching. Orioles closer Jim Johnson retired the first two batters in the deciding 11th inning before allowing singles to J.P. Arencibia and Munenori Kawaski. He then plunked Brett Lawrie to load the bases and walked No. 9 hitter Maicer Izturis on four pitches to plate the winning run.