- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Bullpen’s sweet relief sets stage for clutch blasts
- Updated: September 24, 2016
BALTIMORE — The Orioles are playing meaningful baseball in late September thanks in large part to their penchant for home runs and one of the game’s most reliable bullpens.
Both came through on Friday as the Orioles erased a two-run,eighth-inning deficit in a 3-2, 12-inning win over the D-backs. With the win, the Orioles avoided a season-high fifth straight loss and remained one-half game behind Detroit for the American League’s second Wild Card.
“I think this was a game where we knew it didn’t matter what the situation was, what we were down by, we were going to have to find a way to win this game,” said Matt Wieters, who tied the game with a solo homer to lead off the ninth. “It was actually really fun to play like that. It was sort of quiet, understated, we’re going to find a way to do this.”
The Orioles rallied with three solo homers, starting with a two-out blast from Pedro Alvarez in the eighth that snapped the Orioles’ 14-inning scoreless drought. Wieters then went deep to lead off the ninth, before Mark Trumbo walked off with his league-leading 44th homer in the last of the 12th.
The …
