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Baltimore Fans Catch Orioles Fever

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A hot start for the home team. Orioles fans are sporting the orange and black to cheer on baseball's first place team.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the excitement from Camden Yards.

Despite a loss Monday night to the Rangers, O's fans say this is the biggest thrill ride they've seen in a while.

The O's excitement is spreading like wildfire.

"What is it, May 7 today and we're first place in the entire MLB," said Orioles fan Zach Crespo.

Fans are hoping this could be the season they've waited for.

"I do feel like a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon right now," said Orioles fan Kevin Kurtz.

And it's not just the Orioles scoring big. Businesses all around the stadium are booming. A packed pre-game crowd means big bucks at Pickles Pub.

"More people are interested, not just here. You see it all over the city," said Kyle Keesler, Pickles Pub.

More fans are scouting out the orange and black as the stadium starts to fill up.

"Obviously that's great for bars, it's great for restaurants, it's great for parking, it's great for hotels," said Tom Noonan, Visit Baltimore.

But O's fans would like even more seats filled, and the team agrees.

"Buck Showalter said that when the Red Sox and Yankees are in town, if there are more Orioles fans than fans for those teams, then he'll know they've really made some progress," said WJZ sports director Mark Viviano.

Just seven years ago, the O's had a similar start to the season but they fell apart and wound up in fourth place.

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