It’s not easy to quantify what J.J. Hardy means to the Orioles, but maybe what happened after he had to leave Sunday’s extra-inning game for a pinch runner illustrated the challenge manager Buck Showalter faces in trying to replace him while he’s on the disabled list.
Hardy, who was supposed to be resting a sore left groin, had to enter the game defensively in the ninth inning after Matt Wieters pinch hit for utility infielder Ryan Flaherty. Hardy left the game for a pinch runner in the 11th, and that would end up being the key move in another very frustrating come-from-ahead loss.