Baltimore Orioles defeat Cincinnati Reds 5-4 in nail-biting 12 inning encounter – MLB Update
The Baltimore Orioles overcame a tough clash against the Cincinnati Reds and defeated them 5-4 in a match that lasted for 12 innings at the Camden Yards, Baltimore on June 24.
The Orioles established a solid foundation scoring four runs off the first four innings with the Reds failing to score in this time. Derrek Lee and Matt Wieters scored one run each in the second innings before Adam Jones smashed one out of the park for his
12th home-run of the season and the third run for the Baltimore side in the third inning. Wieters had the better of the Reds’ pitchers and added the fourth run in the fourth innings to take the score to 4-0.
The Reds rose to the challenge with valour and their hitters didn’t stay quiet for long. The fifth innings was big for Cincinnati and the game lit up when Ramon Hernandez, Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips added one run each, taking the score to 4-3 to put
pressure on the Orioles. Jonny Gomes continued with the momentum the Reds had gained and added the fourth run in the sixth innings to level the score.
It was a pitchers game from there on and handling pressure was the name of the game. With the starting pitchers not impressing from both sides, teams had to quickly revert to relief pitchers. Edinson Volquez leaked seven hits and four runs for the Reds in
4.1 innings at an expensive 5.77 ERA. Chris Jakubauskas was no blessing for the Orioles either as he slipped away five hits and three runs in five innings with an ERA almost matching Volquez’s at 5.18.
The relief pitchers came in good for both franchises save one for the Reds. Not a single run was scored between the bottom of the sixth inning and the top of the 12th inning before the deadlock finally broke with Derrek Lee’s massive hit under
immense pressure. It was all that was needed for the Orioles to take the game.
Mike Gonzalez for the Orioles and Jose Arredondo for the Reds came head-to-head to pitch in the 12th inning. Gonzalez handled pressure, or was more fortunate of the two and avoided a run. He was awarded a win, his first of the season. Arredondo’s
misfortunes this season continued and he recorded his third loss with no wins this season.
The Orioles are now 34-39 for the season heading into the second game of the season scheduled for Saturday, June 25. The Reds, playing for the first time in Baltimore since the 1970 World Series, will need to regroup quickly and make a mark and improve their
39-38 record for the season.
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