Walk-Off Wednesday: Orioles defeat the Royals in 10 innings

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles are known for magical walk-off moments each season in Camden Yards. The 2014 season was no exception to this. With Nick Markakis heading to Atlanta to play for the Braves, I thought it would be a good idea to honor him and make him this week’s featured “hero.” Despite what the result of the ALCS was this year, the Baltimore Orioles did beat the Kansas City Royals in 2014.

On April 26th, the Orioles defeated the Royals, 3-2, for the first time in 2014 on a walk-off RBI single from Markakis.

Wei-Yin Chen squared off against the former Oriole, Jeremy Guthrie. Chen went seven strong innings, allowing just two runs off of nine hits and struck out six batters.

The Orioles “struck” first in the bottom half of the first inning. With two runners on and no outs, Markakis, who was making a surprise appearance playing at first base, stepped up to the plate and drove the ball into right center field for an RBI single plating DH Jemile Weeks.

With the score 2-1 Baltimore, the Royals knotted up the game at 2-a-piece in the top of the sixth inning with a bloop single into shallow center field. The score would remain 2-2 through the top half of the 10th inning thanks to a strong Orioles bullpen that pitched three complete innings and only allowed two hits.

In the bottom half of the inning, Danny Duffy came into the game for the Royals having never of given up a run in the 2014 season (8 1/3 innings pitched).

After hitting Jonathan Schoop in the hand, Duffy faced David Lough who laid a bunt down with intentions of advancing the runner into scoring position. Duffy fielded the ball and turned to make the throw to second base to get the lead-off runner out. However, an errand throw into center field gave the Orioles runners on first and second with no outs.

The next batter, Jemile Weeks laid down another bunt that Duffy fielded. This time he tried to get the out at first base, but made another inaccurate throw that almost went into the first row of seats at Camden Yards. After Nelson Cruz struck out, Nick Markakis stepped up to the plate with the bases still loaded and one out.

After working the count to 2-2, Markakis made contact on a pitch low and out of the strike zone. He lifted the ball down the third base line. The ball was out of left fielder Alex Gordon’s reach and the only question was: Will the ball stay fair?

In a game of inches, the ball snuck inside the line for an RBI single to win the game 3-2, putting the Orioles one game above .500.

After the game, Markakis was getting interviewed by the MASN broadcasters and everyone waited for him to get the traditional pie to the face. However, many were pleasantly shocked when J.J. Hardy emerged out of the dugout and offered Markakis a bite of the pie.

When Hardy went back down into the clubhouse, many fans thought there would be no pie to the face that night. Adam Jones had other plans for them.