With today's win, the Orioles achieved the following: a series sweep, a return to .500 baseball, and a five-game win streak, their longest of the season. Too bad it took them twelve innings on getaway day to do so.
Jeremy Guthrie wasn't at his best, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits, but he did go seven innings, which proved to be quite valuable given the length of the game. Four of those five runs came in the second inning when Guthrie gave up four hits, all singles, and was hurt by his catcher as the newly called up Craig Tatum interfered with Alex Gordon's swing, sending Gordon to first.
The bullpen today was very effective, pitching five innings and giving up just two hits and two walks (both walks and one of the hits were courtesy of Kevin Gregg, naturally). Jeremy Accardo and Koji Uehara were especially impressive, with Koji striking out three in 1.2 innings and Accardo pitching two perfect innings to end the game. He was awarded the win.
After Kansas City's four-run top of the second, the O's got one back on a home run by Nolan Reimold, the beginning of a huge day for the left fielder. In the bottom of the third, the O's took the lead with four more runs. Robert Andino and Adam Jones singled, then with two outs Mark Reynolds knocked in Andino. That put two runners on board for Reimold, who promptly hit his second home run of the game. Nolan Reimold, where have you been all my life? (I know, Norfolk)
Guthrie couldn't hold the lead, though, as back-to-back doubles in the top of the fourth by Chris Getz and Gordon tied the game at five, where it would remain until the bottom of the twelfth inning.
The Orioles had a golden opportunity in the eleventh inning, loading the bases with zero outs, but they couldn't score even one run. Luke Scott grounded into a force play where the runner was thrown out at home, then pinch hitter Matt Wieters hit into a double play. No good, guys.
Andino doubled to start things off in the bottom of the twelfth and Jones tried to bunt him over. He failed, popping up to the catcher instead. After the Royals intentionally walked Nick Markakis, Vladimir Guerrero hit a ball up the middle the bounced approximately forty-seven times before scooting past the second baseman and into center field for a single. Andino scored on the play, giving the Orioles their second walk-off win of the series.