It had to happen eventually...the Orioles hadn't lost a game this season when leading after eight innings. On Friday night, the A's scored six times in the ninth inning off Jim Johnson and won the game 14-9.
It was Johnson's first loss of the season, but it couldn't have come at a worse time. The Birds had battled back all game, coming back from an early 5-0 deficit to take a 6-5 lead in the fifth after Adam Jones blasted a three-run bomb. The A's came right back, but the O's scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to go ahead 9-8. Three outs to go...bring in the All-Star closer and take Game 1. That was the plan, at least.
Johnson struggled and was charged with six runs on five hits and a walk in just 1/3 of an inning, and that was it for the Birds. There was no comeback left after that shocker.
The O's needed this one, considering they are fighting Oakland for the second wild card spot. They'll send Tommy Hunter to the mound on Saturday night.
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