NEW YORK — At 10:35 p.m. ET on Tuesday, 14 minutes after the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees, a cheer erupted in the visitors' locker room at Yankee Stadium. The Minnesota Twins lost to the Miami Marlins, giving the Orioles a playoff berth for the second consecutive year.

It was time to celebrate.

Players, coaches and staff gathered in the middle of the room to shower each other with champagne and beer. In one corner, members of the franchise's ownership group celebrated the success. In another corner, a beverage station was set up for 20-year-old rookie Jackson Holliday, with a small tub full of ice, bottles of “Baby Bird Bath Water,” a toddler-sized Holliday jersey with the number 7 on it and a letter board reading “Baby's First Clinchmas 2024.”

“We're so happy to be back,” said Anthony Santander, the Orioles' All-Star right fielder, with goggles on his head and puddles of alcohol at his feet.

The road back was very different. Last year, the Orioles were an up-and-coming team that defied all expectations to win 101 games and win the American League East title. This year, they had to make the playoffs two years in a row for the first time since 1996 and 1997.

“I think there's a sense of relief today,” said Orioles general manager Mike Elias.

Baltimore (87-70) began the season with high expectations and lived up to them, building a three-game lead in the division by July 9. Then came the midseason slump. Injuries ravaged their roster, first the starting lineup before spreading to other departments. The collapse of closer Craig Kimbrel destabilized the bullpen and led to his firing. And the offense, while loaded with talent that made the Orioles the envy of other organizations, sputtered at times, with Gunnar Henderson and Santander the only reliable contributors.

The result has been a mediocre 30-36 record since they built that three-game lead in July while the Yankees built a significant lead.

“It's been a rough couple of months, man,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Every game we win is (rough), that's what it feels like. It just hasn't been easy. And hopefully that's what tested us. With the injuries we've had and also just bad luck a lot of nights. We just haven't had a lot of lucky moments in the second half. And I feel like that can change.”

The Orioles, even after Tuesday's win, are just 9-11 in September. They have lost key players for the season — including infielder Jorge Mateo and starters John Means and Kyle Bradish. Grayson Rodríguez, another starter, may not pitch again this season as he continues to deal with a latissimus injury.

And yet the Orioles have become more complete in recent days than they have been in recent months. Since early September, Baltimore has returned eight players from the injured list who are expected to play roles in October: Zach Eflin (shoulder), Ramon Urias (ankle), Heston Kjerstad (concussion), Jacob Webb (elbow), Ryan Mountcastle (wrist), Danny Coulombe (elbow) and All-Star Jordan Westburg (hand).

“We're trying to get some momentum, and this is a great momentum for us,” said Rutschman, an All-Star this season who has a .183 batting average with four home runs and a .557 OPS in 67 games since June 29.

Mathematically, it's still possible to win the division title. The Orioles have to win their last five games and the Yankees have to lose theirs. That's probably not going to happen. The Orioles know that. And they know firsthand that it doesn't matter.

This 101-win team last year didn't win a single game in the playoffs, turning a wild-card bye into an ALDS win over the Texas Rangers, the eventual World Series champions.

However, in the wildcard round, they are very likely to have home court advantage, as they are four games ahead of the next two teams in the standings. That is something that will be at stake in the final five days of the regular season. Next week, they will have a lot more at stake again.

“Maybe we can go into the playoffs with a little more calm attitude,” Elias said, “considering how we got there this year.”