Orioles 5, Mariners 4: Walk off bunts are Birdland

I'll be honest, this game took so long I can't even remember what happened in the beginning. Bergy was just ok, the Orioles got fisted, yadda yadda yadda, 3-3 in the sixth inning, Bergy is in real trouble, having loaded the bases with just one out. Buck pulled him for Mark Hendrickson and Hendo put some Birdland onto the Mariners. He got Ichiro to line out to first and struck out Chone Figgins to end the inning. 

Hendo then got the first out in the seventh before being relieved by Koji, who was Birdland as all get out. He struck out two Mariners to end the inning, and had a gutsy 8th inning. Casey Kotchman led off with a double and then Adam Moore got lucky on a bunt and ended up on first. Runners on the corners and none out in a tie game, and Koji struck out the next two. Mike Gonzalez came in to face Ichiro and struck him out as well. Gonzo pitched well into the 9th and was relieved by Alfredo Simon, who finished the inning.  

Top of the 10th, Alfredo Simon did what Alfredo Simon does: he gave up a HR. That put the O's down 4-3, but they came back in the bottom of the 10th. Luke Scott singled to start the inning, then James F lost $1 to me by betting that Adam wouldn't walk. Runners on first and second with none out and Felix Pie laid down a gorgeous bunt up the third base side. He beat it out! Bases loaded none down! OH WAIT, the ump blew the call. Instead, runners on second and third with one out, leading to an IBB of Matt Wieters. Izzy grounded into a force out at the plate, and then Julio Lugo took a walk to bring in the tying run. 

So now, bases loaded, two outs, Brian Roberts at the plate, and a wild pitcher. Brian works at 3-2 count, and then he SWUNG at ball four! No Brian! Don't swing at ball four! It was a close play at first and Brian caused all kinds of hand wringing across Birdland by sliding into first, but he would have been out even if he'd stayed on his feet. 

So we head to the 11th! Matt Albers came on to pitch and other than a walk to Russell Branyan and a wild pitch, wasn't bad at all. Good job, Phat Albers. 

Nick Markakis led off the bottom of the 11th and did was Nicky does: hit a double. With the winning run at 2nd and none out, Ty Wigginton grounded out, moving Nick to third with one out. Corey Patterson came to the plate, having pinch run for Luke Scott earlier. He grounded out to shortstop and Nick couldn't score. 

Two outs, winning run at third, Adam Jones steps to the plate. Before we go any further, I want to remind the old timers and inform the new timers of just how Birdland came to be the rally cry here at Camden Chat. It was April 6, 2008. Erik Bedard was scheduled to pitch against the Orioles for the first time since being traded to the Mariners, but at the last minute he was scratched due to a pulled butt. Instead, the Orioles got to see King Felix, who dominated the O's for 8 innings. The Orioles went into the ninth inning down 2-0 and the Mariners sent in Eric O'Flaherty to finish the job. What happened next was Birdland as the Orioles charged back for three runs in the 9th, including a walk off hit by Lil' Luis Hernandez. See the magic post game here.

Back to the action. Two outs, winning run at third, Adam Jones steps to the plate. Adam, who looked so bad earlier this year, Adam, who has been cursed on this very website, Adam, who took a walk his last time at the plate. What does Adam do? DROPS AN EFFING BUNT DOWN THE THIRD BASE LINE. Nicky races in from third, Jose Lopez races in to field the bunt, he can't pick it up! Adam is safe, Nicky scores, O's win!

And that, my friends, is Birdland. Thanks to the Mariners for participating yet again.