It began to feel as if the wait for win No. 82 was taking 15 years. Three days after clinching at least their first .500 season since 1997, the Orioles got over the mark with a 9-5 win against the Athletics Sunday.

In addition to moving to 82-64 this season, the Orioles remained one game behind American League East leader New York. The Yankees beat the increasingly fading Rays, 6-4, Sunday.

Matt Wieters homered twice for the Orioles -- they came in the second and fourth innings -- and scored three times. Everyone in the Orioles lineup, except for Nate McLouth and Mark Reynolds, got a hit. McLouth walked once, while Reynolds walked three times and scored once.

The Orioles badly needed an offensive breakout after struggling during the first two games of this series. The Athletics hold the first wild-card slot in the American League, while the Birds currently have the second.

Orioles starter Randy Wolf went four innings and gave up six hits and two runs. Left-hander Brian Matusz got the win out of the bullpen. Matusz threw two scoreless and hitless innings and continues to be an inspired choice as a middle-relief man. In six innings of work this September, he's given up one run and one hit while striking out eight batters. Since returning to the club from Triple-A Norfolk in August, Matusz has allowed just three hits and two runs in 9.1 innings.

Jim Johnson entered Sunday's game with two outs in the ninth and got his 43rd save, tied for the most in the majors.

Posted Sept. 16, 2012