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Baltimore Orioles lose to Fla. community college

Shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) of the Baltimore Orioles (seen in this file photo) homered but the Orioles still could not beat the State College of Florida Manatees. Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images

(CBS News) Last week the sports world debated whether the talent-laden Kentucky Wildcats could beat the NBA's Washington Wizards. Apparently the hypothetical question should have been: Could the State College of Florida Manatees actually beat the Baltimore Orioles?

The answer is yes. But with slightly altered rules.

On Tuesday, the community college beat the lowly Orioles 2-1 in an exhibition game in Sarasota. To be fair, the game was somewhat rigged. The Manatees had actual Orioles pitchers and catchers playing for them - and most of the Baltimore starters were pulled by the fifth inning.

The Orioles lost 93 games last year and are picked by many to finish last in the AL East again this year. Still, this is a major league team who on Tuesday started everyday players like J.J. Hardy (whose homer accounted for the Orioles' only run) and Adam Jones.

SCF's Orlando Rivera, who scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the fourth inning, told the Bradenton Herald that despite the game's controlled scrimmage atmosphere, the victory was legit.

"A 'W' is a 'W'," he said. "Even though we didn't have our own pitchers, a 'W' is a 'W' ... You gotta take the 'W'."

In fact, it's the college team's second "W" over a major league team in three years. The Herald notes that in 2009, when the school was known as the Manatee Community College Lancers, the program beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4. The Pirates would go on to lose 99 games that season.

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