Machado's Walk-Off Home Run Gives Orioles 7-6 Win
The Baltimore Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels on a walk-off home run by Manny Machado in the bottom half of the 12th inning. The Orioles are now 12-3 in extra-inning games this season and the victory keeps the Orioles lead atop the East Division at 2 ½ games.
Despite the win, Orioles starter Chris Tillman failed to pick up his fifth straight quality start on the night. The big righty pitched 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, and struck out 6 batters. While Tillman has been pitching well as of late (eight quality starts out of his last 10 games and had not allowed more than three runs in a game since June 5th), he was relieved after the 5th inning and only threw 79 pitches in the game.
Tillman’s first-inning troubles continued Tuesday night, as the righty issued a one-out walk to Mike Trout in the top of the 1st inning. Albert Pujols followed with an opposite field ground rule double to give the Angels runners on second and third with just one out. Josh Hamilton gave the visitors the early lead, as the veteran designated hitter/outfielder hit an RBI grounder to first base.
Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st inning to tie the game at 1-1. The home run for Jones was his 20th on the season, and his league leading 10th first inning home run. The Orioles were able to add another run in the 1st frame with three straight Baltimore hitters reaching base following the two-out home run by Jones. Nelson Cruz walked, and Delmon Young and J.J. Hardy singled (Hardy brought in Cruz on an RBI single into left field).
Howie Kendrick led off the top of the 2nd inning with a double over the head of Jones in center field. After Kendrick advanced to third base on a fielder’s choice, LA’s second baseman scored following a throwing error by Tillman. The Orioles starter fielded a grounder and fired to Nick Hundley at the plate, but the ball sailed wide of the mark and the Angels tied the game at 2-2. Kole Calhoun later gave the visitors the lead in the inning on an RBI double into the left field corner.
The offensive onslaught continued into the bottom of the 2nd inning, as Machado drilled an opposite field RBI double to score Nick Hundley from first base (and tie the game once again). Hundley reached base earlier in the inning on a walk issued by Angels starter Jered Weaver. The inning later ended because Machado was picked off second base by Weaver.
Kendrick collected his second lead-off hit of the game, with a single up the middle in the top of the 4th inning. Efren Navarro followed the single with a single of his own to give the Angels runners at first and second with no outs in the frame. Both runners were later able to advance due to a wild pitch by Tillman. With one out in the inning, the Angels took the 4-3 lead on a sacrifice fly by Hank Conger.
The Orioles would soon regain the lead due to a three-run homer off of the right field foul pole by Nick Markakis in the bottom of the 4th inning. Ryan Flaherty (reached on a fielder’s choice) and Hundley (walked on a borderline call) both scored on the home run. Markakis entered Tuesday night’s game in a 3 for 24 (.125) slump.
While Tillman had a relatively quick 5th inning of work (the starter only threw eight pitches in the frame), Hamilton hit a solo home run deep to center field to cut the Oriole lead to 6-5.
Delmon Young picked up his third hit on the night in the bottom of the 5th inning, as the designated hitter smacked a leadoff single just past the outstretched Erick Aybar at shortstop. The veteran hitter came into the game going 8 for 24 (.333) in his last 10 games for the Orioles.
Baltimore reliever Brad Brach pitched a perfect 6th inning, but hit Trout and gave up a single to Pujols with two outs in the top of the 7th inning. Brian Matusz entered the game in the frame to pitch to the left-handed Hamilton with two runners on base. Hamilton was 0 for 11 with 7 K’s against the lefty entering Tuesday night; however, the veteran hitter reached base on an RBI infield single. The single was fielded by Hardy, but the shortstop could not flip the ball to second base (due to Flaherty not being at the bag) and Hamilton beat out the throw to first base. The miscue allowed the game-tying run to score.
Both team’s offenses would slow down considerably in the latter part of the game. Neither team would score following the 7th inning miscue until Machado hit the walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Baltimore the victory.
The two powerhouse clubs will play game two of the three-game set in Baltimore Wednesday night. Garrett Richards (11-3, 2.62 ERA) will take the mound for the Angels, and Kevin Gausman (4-3, 3.67 ERA) will try to keep his solid season going against the strong Angels offense.
