Top 10 from 2012 – #1

Published by Jake English at January 15, 2013

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The very best the Orioles had to offer in 2012 was the May 6 game against the Boston Red Sox. When we compiled our list, elements of that game came up so many times that it became obvious that this game stood head and shoulders above the rest. Consider:

The Orioles beat the Red Sox in a 17-inning game that lasted 6:07. The win represented the first sweep in Boston since 1994, and moved the Orioles into first place (7.5 ahead of Boston).

A total of 18 pitchers were used in the game, including one position player for each team.The pitchers of record were both position players – this hasn’t happened since 1902.

J.J. Hardy hit 5 hits (including 2 home runs).

The Orioles took a commanding lead early, but the Sox battled back in the 5th and again in the 8th. How many of us were taken back to the Mother’s Day Massacre? This time, they tore up the usual script, and wrote a new ending. Back in May, we didn’t realize the season was going to be special. Games like these made the difference. Instead of losing in heart-breaking fashion, the O’s found ways to stay alive long enough to come out on top.

OK, let’s cut the crap – here’s what made this game an instant classic:

5. It’s not just us.

Buck Showalter recently shared a story on Wall To Wall Baseball that he caught a replay of the game, and couldn’t stop watching. The game was an instant classic – even for those involved. A guy like Showalter has been around the game, and seen it all. Not this.

4. Adam Jones’ decisive HR.

Adam Jones hits a 3-run jack to take a 9-6 in the top of the 17th. Despite the madness that had preceded it, Jones’ homer seemingly put the game out of reach. Sure, he hit it off a position player, but that didn’t make watching it clear the Monster any less sweet.

3. Chris Davis pitched.

After using all his relievers, Showalter sent his DH out to the bullpen to warm up. The move was comical, and having seen everything else in this game, we thought “sure, why not?” Davis had gone 0-7 with 5 strike-outs to that point in the game.

And you know what? He wasn’t bad. Davis hadn’t pitched since high school, but he had every appearance of a man who remembered the craft. His first pitch was a strike, at what Jim Palmer called “an easy 89.” He even had a breaking pitch (more on that later)!

2. The Relay.

This play saved the game for the Orioles. In the bottom of the 16th, with Chris Davis on the mound, Mike Aviles doubled with Marlon Byrd on base. It looked like a sure-fire game winner, until Jones/Hardy/Wieters performed a textbook relay. Byrd barreled into Wieters only to have the catcher flash the ball to the umpire with a little smirk.

1. Chris Davis struck out Adrian Gonzalez.

What haven’t we said about this at-bat? The Red Sox got men on base, and Jones’ homer suddenly looked like it might not hold up. Instead, Davis threw a “split finger” and put Gonzalez away. You can watch that pitch a million times, and never have it get old.