The Orioles were running out of excuses, and running out of time. If anyone was going to save their playoff chances, and reverse a slide as sudden as it was stupefying, they had to do it themselves.
It’s hard to say that the major league leaders hitting three home runs late to avoid defeat is improbable, but it was. The Orioles were dead for most of eight innings Friday, and erased a late deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-2, in 12 innings.
The deciding run came on right fielder Mark Trumbo’s league-leading 44th home run of the season to open the 12th inning, saving a game that the Orioles were trailing until the ninth inning.