Each teams' starters went nine scoreless innings, but it was Zach Britton's Birds that came out on top with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in 12 innings on Thursday night.
Britton and Jason Vargas each swapped zeroes through nine innings, with Britton allowing just three hits and no walks while fanning five in his best performance to date. The starters yielded to the bullpens, and both faltered in the 12th inning...Seattle went up 1-0 after scoring on Jim Johnson, but the O's battled back in the bottom half of the frame.
Derrek Lee singled to lead-off, and both Vladimir Guerrero and Adam Jones were hit by pitches to load the bases with none out. Matt Wieters stepped to the plate and had a shot at another extra-inning walk-off win (it was Wieters that won the 13-inning contest between these two teams just two nights ago). Wieters lined out before J.J. Hardy smacked a two-run single right up the middle to give the Birds a thrilling victory in front of an elated crowd at Camden Yards.
Hardy seems to be the missing link with this club...the Birds started the season 6-1 and dropped eight straight when Hardy was out of the lineup and placed on the DL. The team had dropped four straight before Hardy returned, and have now won three straight with him back at short...
The Orioles (17-19) are now in third-place in the AL East and head to Tampa to take on the first-place Rays (22-15) for a three-game set. Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound for the Birds...here's hoping the bats can give him a little help on Friday night.
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