Walk-Off Wednesday (A Day Late): Orioles defeat Yankees in a thriller

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. On July 11th, in Brian Roberts’ first game played in Camden Yards not in an Orioles uniform, fans were treated to an extra inning thriller as the Orioles took down the Yankees 3-2 in 10 innings.

Miguel Gonzalez was on the mound for the Orioles and Hiroki Kuroda started for the visiting Yankees.

In Roberts’ first at-bat as a visitor of Camden Yards, he swung at the first pitch he saw and drove the ball up and over the scoreboard out in right field to give the Yankees the early 1-0 lead in the second inning.

The next inning Kelly Johnson, who would later join the Orioles further into the season, also drove the ball up and over the fence in right field to extend New York’s lead to 2-0.

Not to be outdone, Baltimore quickly responded. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Adam Jones stepped up to the plate with a runner on first base and nobody out. Jones hit an infamous “Baltimore chop” back up the center of the infield. Yankees captain Derek Jeter looked as though he had a play on the ball, but Jeter closed his glove too early and the ball bounced off his mitt into center field allowing for the runner on first to advance all the way to third.

Nelson Cruz came up to bat next. With a 2-1 count, Kuroda threw a wild pitch that went all the way to the backstop, allowing Steve Pearce on third base to score easily and put the Orioles on the board for the first time in the game.

Two batters later, with one out and Jones on third base, Chris Davis hit a long fly ball to left field which let Jones tag up and score the tying run.

The score remained 2-2 through the 9th inning with both starting pitchers settling down and pitching lights-out baseball.

Gonzalez went eight complete innings, allowed six hits, two earned runs and struck out five batters.

Kuroda went seven complete innings, allowed three hits, two earned runs and struck out three batters.

After the Orioles’ bullpen came in and pitched two scoreless innings of relief, the Orioles were up to bat in the bottom of the tenth inning with the score still knotted at 2-2.

Manny Machado led off the inning with a line-drive double down the right field line. After Ryan Flaherty struck out swinging on three pitches, Nick Hundley came up to bat. After working the count to 2-2, he hit a line-drive into center field.

Machado rounded third as fast as he could and although the Yankees’ center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury tried to make a play at the plate, his throw was not in time as Machado slid across home plate to give the Orioles the 3-2 walk-off victory.

Hundley was soon-after mobbed at first base by his teammates and then quickly hit with pie from Jones during his post-game interview. If you want to see what the flavor of the pie was, watch the video HERE.