It took the Orioles three pitches in the 13th inning to get a runner to third base.
Hardy’s clutch double gives Orioles 2-1 lead in the 12th
With David Phelps on the mound, 20-year-old rookie Manny Machado drove Phelps' second pitch on a line into right-center, and slide safely into second base. Showalter didn't put the bunt on, but Nate McLouth shot a ground ball to second baseman Robinson Cano, enough to push Machado to third.
That brought the Yankees' infield in, with J.J. Hardy just looking for something that would get Machado home.
At that point, both teams were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position (a key ingredient in a 1-1 score after 12 innings).
Make that 1 for 9. Because Hardy got something and more ...
That made it 2-1, of course. But that's not exactly a safe lead and everybody kept playing. With lefty slugger Chris Davis coming up, Joe Girardi called upon lefty relief Clay Rapada, who got Davis on a grounder, with Hardy going to third. With righty hitter Adam Jones coming up, Girardi replaced Rapada with righty Derek Lowe, and Lowe got Jones on a little comebacker.
So here we go to the bottom of the 12th. Jim Johnson will get one more shot. And so will Alex Rodriguez, who's due third in the lineup. Ho boy.
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