By Jim Moyes
Local Sports Journal

It’s a good thing I’m retired, but even this dedicated baseball nut called it a night about 2 a.m. in the Baltimore Orioles’ marathon victory over Seattle on Tuesday night.

Nate McLouth

The Birds were down 2-0 as they headed into the top of the ninth. Seattle pitcher Enrico Rodriquez had given up just two hits, both off the bat of former Whitehall shortstop Nate McLouth.

Pinch hitter Ryan Flaherty led off the ninth with a base hit that brought McLouth to the plate. Nate ripped a sure double into the left field gap, but the leadoff hitter was confused and stopped at second base, an ominous sign for the Orioles.

However, after a sacrifice bunt by JJ Hardy moved the runners into scoring position, Chris Davis knocked in Flaherty and McLouth to tie up the game with a ‘seeing eye’ ground ball just out of the reach of Mariner second basemen Dustin Ackley.

After they had played 14 innings, this 71-year-old body had to go to bed but I was sure to set my DVR to catch the finish on Wednesday morning.

McLouth, a whopping six hits to his credit in the first two games of the series, led off the 18th inning with a walk and eventually scored the winning run, scoring on the bloop single to right off the bat of pinch hitter (didn’t Buck Showater push all the right buttons?) Taylor Tergarden.

The win moves the Orioles into a tie with the Yankees in the AL East.

Unfortunately, the Birds must face Felix Hernandez in the finale of this three-game series before taking the day off Thursday to fly to Boston.

Reportedly, the Orioles have called up rookie phenom Dylan Bundy, who is probably on his way to Seattle, to be available for tonight’s game.