Teagarden’s run-scoring single helps Orioles outlast M’s in marathon

Seattle, WA, United States (4E Sports) – The Orioles reclaimed division lead with the help of Taylor Teagarden who hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the 18th inning to lift Baltimore to a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in the second of three games in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Safeco Field.

It moved the O’s into a tie with the Yankees atop the AL East standings.

Baltimore, which took the opener of this series Monday with a three-run burst in the first and added a four-run explosion in the second inning for its fifth win in seven games, rallied in the ninth inning Tuesday to erase Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez’s shutout bid.

Erasmo, who cruised through eight innings, had allowed just two hits and sitting on a 2-0 advantage entering the ninth.

Nate McLouth, who scored the go-ahead run then led off the 18th with a walk issued by Mariners reliever Lucas Luetge (2-2) before J.J. Hardy followed with a single to put runners on the corners.

Reserve catcher Teagarden followed with a bloop single down the right-field line to score McLouth and give the Orioles the lead in the 18th, marking the first time either club had scored since the ninth frame.

The O’s then added another run on a fielder’s choice, with a groundout by Mark Reynolds providing the insurance run. Jim Johnson closed it out for his 44th save of the season.

Tommy Hunter (5-8) picked up the victory after stranding a runner in scoring position in both the 16th and 17th innings.

Wei-Yin Chen, who became the fourth Orioles rookie since 1954 to register 30 or more starts in his first season, went 5 1-3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. The 27-year-old lefty walked two and struck out two.

McLouth, who accounted for three of the O’s total 10 hits, now has seven multi-hit contests in September. Teagarden has seven hits this season including three game winners.

It was the third straight win for Baltimore, which has captured 14 straight in extra frames after losing the first two of the season.

Tuesday’s drawn-out tilt of five hours and 44 minutes was the fourth time the O’s have played 18 frames in their history. It was also the first since consecutive 18-inning contests on Aug. 24 and 25, 1969.

It was also the second longest contest in Safeco Field history.

Chen’s counterpart, Ramirez, struck out six and did not issue a walk.

It was the fifth setback in the last eight games for the Mariners, who will pin their hopes on Felix Hernandez (13-8, 2.92) to get back track in Wednesday night’s finale.

The Orioles will counter with Joe Saunders (2-2, 4.30), who will be making his fifth start for the team since being acquired from the Diamondbacks.

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