Missed ‘moment’ helped O’s to 15-inning triumph

Wilkerson optioned after hometown hit; Hart rejoins bullpen

ATLANTA – Lost in the frenzy of the combined 10 runs scored in Friday’s ninth inning was a critical at-bat that, in theory, was six years in the making.

With the go-ahead run at third base in the form of

and on the mound, Orioles manager elected to walk and avert the much-anticipated matchup between two players whose clubhouse antics with each other was a charming internal piece of the Orioles’ run of success this decade.

“For years, they’ve been talking about the chance to settle it on the field,” Showalter said. “I knew that the potential was coming.

“We’re all human beings. We know that. I hear enough through the clubhouse. I knew that it was a potential moment, but the moment I was more interested in was us winning the game. I love Ryan. Everybody loves Ryan. He was a great contributor here, and he’s doing well over there.”

Flaherty, the longtime Orioles utility infielder who was beloved in the clubhouse, and O’Day, the veteran reliever, spent most of their time in the clubhouse together ribbing each other in one form or another. It would inevitably lead to who would win a showdown like the one set up Friday.

“We’ve talked and joked about it for a while, but I understood the situation, too,” Flaherty said. “It would have been tough to keep a straight face, facing him.”

Showalter’s gambit worked after O’Day got to fly out to right field to send the game into extra innings — a game the Orioles won in 15 innings. Speaking of the decision a day later, Flaherty acknowledged his focus was on the Braves winning, not settling old friendly rivalries.

But the question lingers — would he have gotten Markakis in off O’Day?

“I can’t make any guarantees,” Flaherty said. “He always said he was going to break my bat and all this stuff. He might have. Who knows?”

“There will be another day — maybe today,” Showalter said. Orioles Wilkerson down, Hart up: rookie infielder

got the unique opportunity to collect his first major league hit against his hometown Atlanta Braves on Friday night before the team’s roster situation bit him and he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk so the club could add reliever

Wilkerson’s ninth-inning, pinch-hit single drove in a run as part of the Orioles’ six-run inning, and he made a pair of impressive defensive plays to keep the game going in extra innings. Even if his return to the minors after three games with the Orioles came in a series when he had around 100 family and friends in the stands to watch, he’s glad those who were at SunTrust Park on Friday got to see his first hit after the rain delay Wednesday in Washington meant they couldn’t see his debut in the ninth inning of that game.

“It was really cool,” Wilkerson said. “D.C. was a little bit interesting of a scenario for that game, getting the rain delay, and they had to take off. But coming back here last night and getting the hit in front of my family and friends was really special.”

Showalter said Wilkerson’s assignment back to the Tides was a result of circumstance, and nothing he did really contributed to that. The Orioles used and for eight combined innings of relief in Friday’s 10-7, 15-inning win. Hart has a 1.35 ERA in the majors over six appearances in his first four stints on the roster this season, with a 2.55 ERA for the Tides. O’Day, Mancini out again: Despite pinch-hitting in the eighth inning of Friday’s win, left fielder

was left out of the starting lineup Saturday for a third straight game with neck soreness.

Showalter said Mancini didn’t necessarily need another day, but could use one to get back to close to full health.

“He’s close,” Showalter said. “He’s available. A National League game made it a little tough, but I thought one more game would get him back to 100 percent.” Around the horn: The Orioles announced this week that they’ve signed the following draft picks: left-hander (fourth round), left-hander (sixth round), righthander

(eighth round), outfielder (14th round), left-hander (15th round), infielder (17th round), outfielder (19th round), left-hander (21st round), outfielder (28th round) and (31st round). infielder