First Yanks, now Rays: Another walk-off HR for O's
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BALTIMORE -- Pick the reason for jubilation. You’re probably excited by the Orioles’ second walk-off homer in as many days, which Rougned Odor accomplished against the Rays on Friday night at Camden Yards, his walk-off two-run blast in the 13th inning following Anthony Santander’s heroics against the Yankees a day prior.
But then consider the backdrop: Baltimore, with a marathon 8-6 victory over Tampa Bay, ended its 15-game losing streak to its division rival, keeping its name off of an inauspicious page of the record book.
Two days, two walk-off homers against the top two teams in the division.
All it took was nearly 4 1/2 hours to do it.
“That’s a lot of emotion right there,” Odor said.
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“I think he looks for that big moment,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “I know he cherishes it.”
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The Orioles had waited more than 1,000 days for Santander’s walk-off blast in Thursday's 9-6 win, their first since Rio Ruiz homered the Astros out of town on Aug. 11, 2019. Then came Odor, and history had to be stretched back further: The last time Baltimore won back-to-back games on walk-off homers came thanks to Manny Machado and Chris Davis on Aug. 14-15, 2015.
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Odor was a fitting hero on Friday. Partly, because he provided the temporary go-ahead pinch-hit swing against the Yankees on Thursday. But it’s also because he has been the proprietor of the Orioles’ good vibes this season, the man fueling their on-base celebrations and their Home Run Chain theatrics -- all in spite of his struggles to date.
“Rougie has been an unbelievable guy, he's been an unbelievable leader,” said starter Tyler Wells. “… The clubhouse environment has been electric. A lot of that is because of him.”
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“I'm just trying to be the same guy I am everywhere,” Odor said. “I like to win, I like to have fun and I like to play hard. That's what I tried to tell everybody on this team.”
As for a third reason for excitement: How about that Nick Vespi’s Major League debut, coming in the 12th inning, netted him career win No. 1?
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This one -- marked by showers of food from Vespi’s teammates -- ensured the O’s avoided their 16th consecutive loss to the Rays dating back to last season. That would have tied for the Majors’ fourth-longest losing streak to one team in the Divisional Era (1969).
“I'm super excited,” Vespi said. “Still numb.”
Vespi, the Orioles’ 18th-round Draft pick in 2015, envisioned this moment. Maybe not the circumstances, entering a tie game in the 12th inning with an automatic runner already on base (the fourth Oriole to debut in the 12th frame or later), but at least the playing surface it came on.
(The last pitcher to debut in the 12th inning or later? That’d be Ralph Garza Jr. … who conceded the walk-off blast to Odor. He did it with the Astros on May 29, 2021.)
Even though he was left unprotected before this past Rule 5 Draft (which was ultimately canceled), Vespi remained firm that his desire was to make his debut in an Orioles jersey.
When he got his chance, he provided two scoreless innings and the first three strikeouts of his career.
Odor’s blast made it so he attained his biggest milestone of the night.
“Look at you!” Wells exclaimed to Vespi in the clubhouse, footage of his postgame interview scrum broadcast on the televisions overhead.
“You’re on TV!” fellow callup Logan Gillaspie exclaimed.