Hundley Delivers Walk-Off Win for Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees Friday night at Camden Yards on walk-off single by Nick Hundley in the bottom of the 10th inning. The Oriole catcher entered the game hitting .313 (10 for 32) in his previous nine games.
Miguel Gonzalez followed up a stellar performance in his last outing against the Boston Red Sox (8IP, 1 ER, 6 K’s), with another great start Friday night. The 30-year-old pitcher threw eight strong innings, only giving up two runs and recording five strikeouts. While Gonzo has endured an up and down season so far, the righty has only given up more than three runs once over his last 10 starts for the Birds.
New York was able to get on the board with two outs in the top of the 2nd inning, as former Oriole Brian Roberts smashed a solo home run in his first at bat (the first pitch he saw) against the Orioles at Camden Yards. Roberts spent the previous 13 seasons in Baltimore before signing with the Yankees prior to the start of this season.
The 3rd inning was almost a carbon copy as the 2nd inning for Gonzalez. Kelly Johnson led off the top of the 3rd with a long home run to deep right field. The two homers gave the Yankees an early 2-0 lead in the game.
Despite hitting a few hard balls in the first few innings, Baltimore was finally able to get their first base hit in the game with two outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, as Hundley singled through the left side of the infield. The single by Hundley extended the catcher’s hitting streak to eight games.
Brian McCann gave the Yankees another leadoff hit in the top of the 4th inning, with a single into the right field corner. Ichiro followed up the single with a double into the gap in right-center field. McCann did not score on the double, however, as the veteran catcher was practically limping around the base paths. With two outs in the inning, Gonzalez was able to get Johnson to fly out to end the threat.
Steve Pearce reached base by being hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the 4th inning. Pearce was able to advance to third base one a single up the middle by Adam Jones. Jones hit a chopper towards Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter; however, the legendary Yankee could not come up with the ball and Jones was safe at first.
The Orioles were able to get on the board in the 4th inning to make it a 2-1 game following a wild pitch from New York starter Hiroki Kuroda. Jones later scored the game-tying run following another wild pitch (on a ball that never touched the catcher), and then a sacrifice fly to left field by Chris Davis.
The Yankees get a leadoff runner on base in the top of the 9th inning, as McCann singles over the head of Baltimore second baseman Ryan Flaherty. While Roberts attempted a sacrifice bunt to move the runner over the second base, Davis had different plans. The Oriole first baseman collected the bunt and fired a strike to Hardy at second base to record the first out of the inning.
Following an Ichiro strikeout by Orioles reliever Zach Britton, the lefty closer walked Yangervis Solarte to give New York runners on first and second with two outs in the frame. Former Oriole farmhand Zelous Wheeler grounded out to end the inning and keep the game tied at 2-2.
Manny Machado picked up his 10th double of the season leading off the bottom of the 10th inning. Following a Flaherty strikeout, Hundley delivered the game-winning hit to score Machado from second base, and give the Orioles the 3-2 victory.
The East Division foes will play game two of the three-game set Saturday afternoon at 4:05 pm. Chris Tillman (7-4, 4.11 ERA) will take the mound for the Orioles, while Shane Greene (1-0, 2.84 ERA) will try to contain the Baltimore offense.
