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Walk-off bunts are nothing new in Baltimore

Adam Jones' two-out bunt single against the Mariners in the bottom of the 11th inning on Monday night set off a round of "Holy S---"s on Camden Chat. MASN broadcaster Jim Hunter may have said the same thing off the air, but during the broadcast he instead enthused about the play and stated that Jones may start a trend of walk-off bunts. Actually, Jones was only continuing a trend.

Earlier this season Howie Kendrick's ninth inning, two-out bunt single earned the Angels a 4-3 victory over the Indians and none-too-appreciative pitcher Chris Perez who said: "It was a bad baseball play that happened to work out ... I don't want to say it was bush league, but you never see that ... a stupid play that just happened to work."

Kendrick got the green light from Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke, younger brother of former Oriole Gary Roenicke, who was filling in for Mike Scioscia. You can see Kendrick's bunt single to second base here.

Meanwhile, the most recent two-out, walk-off bunt in extra innings came from Melvin Mora. Mora's bases-loaded bunt single in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sept. 28, 2007, gave the Orioles a 10-9 victory over the Yankees.

You can see Mora's effort (featuring post-game fireworks!) here.

Star-divide

Monday night's game-ending rally started with a lead-off double by Nick Markakis. Back in 2007, Tike Redman - yes, Tike Redman - hit a one-out double and moved to third on a passed ball. Intentional walks to Markakis and Miguel Tejada put Kevin Millar in a position to "Cowboy Up" for the O's. Instead, he struck out looking and left Mora to be the hero.

Mora bunted toward Wilson Betemit at third, reached base without a throw, and continued running down the first-base line. Dan Connolly noted in his game story that Mora "nearly ran to Eutaw Street in celebration."

"In my career, what I've had success on is bunting for base hits," Mora said afterward. "When I saw the third baseman way back, I just made my mind up before everything was going to happen. We just want one. We didn't need a grand slam."

The Orioles' collective 10-run, 20-hit effort against the team Camden Chatters hate most left fans with plenty of reason to celebrate despite the Birds' 69-91 record at the time.

-The O's throttled former teammate Mike Mussina for 11 hits and six runs in five innings.

-Oriole Magic was in full effect even before Mora's hit, and it just so happened against one of the greatest closers in baseball history. Mariano Rivera suffered a blown save after the Birds scored three runs on three hits against him in the ninth inning. The Orioles caused Rivera's only two blown saves after April 20th during the 2007 season.

-With the win the Orioles denied the Yankees their 10th consecutive A.L. East title. The division title instead went to the Red Sox, who watched the game from their clubhouse at Fenway following a 5-2 victory over the Twins. Prior to Mora's walk-off Red Sox infielder Alex Cora called out "He's going to bunt."

Mora's 2007 effort wouldn't have been possible were it not for the clutch hitting of former Red Sox player Jay Payton, whose bases-loaded triple against Rivera tied the game an inning earlier. The reaction in the Boston clubhouse was similar to the one on Camden Chat Monday night. According to the Boston Herald, multiple players responded to Payton's hit by yelling "Holy S----."

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Comments

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that is my all-time favorite picture of Melvin Mora.

Every time I see it I have to smile. I believe it’s from the day Nolan Reimold hit the walk off HR against the Blue Jays.

Melvin did love his bunts, didn’t he?

by Stacey on Aug 19, 2010 2:55 PM EDT reply actions  

He sure did love his bunts

I’ll always remember the quote Melvin offered during the unveiling of the Baltimore road jerseys where he said he planned to hit 130 RBI during the upcoming season.

by Roarfrom34 on Aug 19, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

hahaah

He was so frustrating sometimes with his sulking and some of his comments, but then he says things like that and I have to love him. I looked up his HR log to see if he ever had any walk off HR for the Orioles. He did not. Only walk off bunts. But his first career HR was a walk-off, how about that? Put into the game in the top of the 10th inning as part of a double-switch, hit a walk off in the bottom of the 10th.

by Stacey on Aug 19, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's some solid research

More walk-off bunts with the O’s than walk-off HR. Wow.

by Roarfrom34 on Aug 19, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Isn't Baseball Reference amazing?

I love their search function so much. He’s had four walk off hits ever. HRs for the Mets and Rockies, two singles (one of the bunt variety) for the Orioles.

by Stacey on Aug 19, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hold on

I can’t read.

He did hit a walk off HR for the O’s in 2009, which I totally remember now. He hasn’t had a walk off for the Rockies.

Sorry for disrespecting you, Melvin!

by Stacey on Aug 19, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

I kind of miss Melmo sometimes.

I know the way things played out at the end of last season, we had to part ways with him. We certainly wouldn’t have been able to trade him this year like we did with Miggi, and I doubt he would have been happy sliding to the bench to give Bell a shot. But he gave us some good memories in some dark years. Orioles HOF material for sure.

It's as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay. - John Waters

by Eat More Esskay on Aug 19, 2010 3:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Melmo always has a specila place in my heart

On MVP Baseball 04, which I played a ton of before I had the PlayStation, Melmo was the O’s best hitter and and best power threat.

Buck Showalter clearly isn't interested in having Anthony Rendon as a member of the Orioles.

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Aug 19, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Bo Jackson will always have a special place in my heart

because of NES Tecmo Bowl.

Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns.

by birdman on Aug 19, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

I found a website that has all the NES games on it, including Tecmo Bowl

i think one time I rushed 395 yards with Bo.

Buck Showalter clearly isn't interested in having Anthony Rendon as a member of the Orioles.

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Aug 19, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

on one play?

Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns.

by birdman on Aug 19, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

pitcher Chris Perez who said: “It was a bad baseball play that happened to work out … I don’t want to say it was bush league, but you never see that … a stupid play that just happened to work.”

Who are you? Buck Showalter? Just give props to the opposition and move on. It’s a completely legitimate and smart play.

Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns.

by birdman on Aug 19, 2010 4:05 PM EDT reply actions  

Right?

I have a feeling guys no longer understand what constitutes “bush league” any more. It wasn’t like the Orioles were stealing bases and such up 10 runs in the 7th inning. If being succesful is now “stupid”, I want us to be the dumbest team in the league.

by TerroristFistJab on Aug 19, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

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