The Baltimore Orioles sent a conveyor stream of youthful talent to Camden Yards, fortified where they needed, and won more games than all but one big league team for more than two years.
Mike Elias, the Orioles' executive vice president and general manager, stripped the team to the studs and established a sustainable and enviable organisational structure, culminating in a 101-win season last year.
The mood at Camden Yards has been gloomy as a club that was once adored for its youthful energy has struggled for three months. Just 11 games remain, likely not enough to catch the Yankees by four games.
Baseball's never-ending season offers opportunities, and Tuesday, the Orioles from the front office to the clubhouse celebrated leaving the rut.
The entire roster changed its walk-up music, but All-Star Gunnar Henderson's choice from Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" to 50 Cent's "Magic Stick" was noticeable given his singalong style.
Blake Snell struck out 12 in six innings of one-hit ball against the Orioles. Baltimore lost 10-0 for the ninth time in 11 games while allowing three runs.
The playoffs are capricious, as the Orioles learnt last year after winning the division for the first time since 2014. Baltimore lost to a Texas Rangers wild-card entry that won its first seven playoff road games and its first World Series.
“That’s challenged every step of the way,” says centre fielder Cedric Mullins, who has had a second-half revival as his teammates have struggled. It's been a year or two since we've had such success and regularity.
“This last little bit has been kind of weird,” admits Henderson. “Out of sync. We know we did it. Newcomers are great players. Not getting through it is weird, but you must keep going.