Aug 5 (The Sports Xchange) - After Chris Davis was called
out on strikes on a full-count earlier in the game, the last
thing the Baltimore Orioles first baseman was going to do on a
3-2 pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th inning on Wednesday
was go down looking.
So he swung, and then he watched.
Davis belted reliever Arnold Leon's full-count pitch over
the 388-foot sign in left-center field for a grand slam,
delivering the Orioles a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
"In that situation right there, you know you can be
careful," Davis said of batting with the bases loaded and one
out. "I waited him out."
Catcher Caleb Joseph opened the 10th with his second hit of
the game, a single against Leon (0-1), the fifth A's pitcher.
Third baseman Manny Machado sent Joseph to third with a
single, after which Oakland manager Bob Melvin chose to
intentionally walk right fielder Gerardo Parra to load the
bases.
The strategy initially worked as Orioles center fielder Adam
Jones popped out for the first out.
However, Davis bombed Leon's sixth pitch of the at-bat for
his 28th homer of the season.
"I was trying to be patient," Davis said, "but at the same
time, know I had to protect."
Davis, who began the day third in the American League in
RBIs, increased his total to 79. He now has nine home runs in
his past 16 games.
"The guy knows what the team needs, and he brings it,"
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
"We're getting people out there, though. You can't hit a
grand slam with no one on."
Zach Britton (2-0), the fourth Orioles pitcher, got the win
with two innings of one-hit relief.
Davis, Joseph and shortstop J.J. Hardy had two hits apiece
for the Orioles.
"Big win," Davis said. "This is a tough place to play. These
guys always play us tough."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)