O’s get “Eaton up” in Arizona

Some days you win, some days you lose, and some days it rains. That’s the phrase that pays from Bull Durham at least, although if it rains in a place like Arizona the game won’t be canceled due to it being an indoor stadium. Nevertheless, the some days you lose part resonates for the Baltimore Orioles this morning after Adam Eaton hit a walk off homer in the last of the ninth to defeat them last night. In a back-and-forth affair like last night’s game, often it comes down to who bats last (and it’s always the home team). Scott Feldman pitched a decent game while he was in, but his pitch count was elevated. Feldman’s line: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K.

Courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Feldman had a 1-0 lead before he even set foot on the field when Nick Markakis came into score on a wild pitch. The Orioles would extend that lead to 2-0 when Brian Roberts would plate J.J. Hardy with an RBI-single, however Arizona would tie the game at two in the last of the inning (thanks in part to Aaron Hill‘s solo homer). This was a back-and-forth affair all night, but the O’s appeared to take a halfway decent lead when Matt Wieters homered in the sixth to put the score at 4-2. However Arizona’s three-run seventh gave them the lead. Gregorius’ scored on Adam Eaton’s RBI-single (after getting on due to being hit by a pitch), and Martin Prado and Aaron Hill would also follow with RBI-singles. However the Orioles are rarely out of games with their lineup, and Chris Davis sent his major league-leading 43rd home run over the fence in the eighth to tie the game at five.

Of course, Wil Nieves of Arizona picked the last of the inning to hit his first homer of the season, taking a 6-5 lead for Arizona. However the Orioles tied the game again in the top of the ninth with Nick Markakis hitting a sacrifice fly that scored Alexi Casilla. The Orioles were hoping to be able to take a lead in the inning, however Manny Machado popped out to end the inning, which set up Eaton’s heroics on the first pitch he saw from Darren O’Day in the last of the ninth.

Some days it rains I suppose, even when the games are played indoors. The Orioles unfortunately last a half game both to Tampa and Boston since they were idle. They now sit five games back of Boston, and two of Tampa in the AL East. They’re also two full games back of Tampa for the final wild card spot. Boston plays Toronto this week, which is a team that for all intents and purposes has probably given up on the year. Tampa plays host to Seattle, which as the O’s found out is a team who’s season is over but is still battling. The Orioles will look to even the series tonight when Miguel Gonzalez takes to the mound in game two against Arizona. He’ll be opposed by Randall Delgado.