ALITTLE BIT EXTRA
O’s earn another marathon victory on Trumbo’s walk-off hit in 12th
Obviously, Sunday’s marathon 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays could have gone the other way at a number of junctures in the game, but it didn’t.
That’s what’s important heading into a big three-game home series against the American League wild-card-leading New York Yankees. The Orioles staged a ninthinning comeback, then toughed out a 12-inning victory less than 48 hours after needing 13 innings to score the only run Friday night at Camden Yards.
It’s September, and losing either of those games would have been both painful and counter-playoff-productive. The fact that Welington Castillo saved the day in The Orioles have the major leagues’ best record in extra-inning games this season at 12-2. Here are the five best teams in extras this season, according to winning percentage: Team Orioles Red Sox Dodgers D-backs Cubs Rec. 12-2 11-3 8-3 8-3 4-2 Win. % .857 .786 .727 .727 .667 the ninth inning Sunday with his second home run of the game — off closer Roberto Osuna, no less — showed that the O’s are a stubborn group. The fact that Mark Trumbo shook off a couple of disappointing late-inning at-bats with runners in scoring position to deliver the walk-off hit with two outs showed the resilience that the O’s have displayed as they have fought their way back into very realistic playoff contention.
When Jonathan Schoop crossed the plate and touched off a crazy celebration around Trumbo at second base, they inched back to within 11⁄ games of the second AL wild-card slot when the Minnesota Twins lost a one-run game to the Kansas City Royals.