masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNEW YORK – Regulation can’t hold these two teams.

Darren O’Day induced a ground ball from pinch hitter Raul Ibanez to send Game 4 of the American League Division Series into extra innings. He also got rid of a royal pain for the Orioles.

The Orioles are 16-3 in extras, with all three losses coming against the Yankees. They dropped two in April, and Ibanez hit a walk-off home run in the 12th last night.

Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop are the only true relievers left in the Orioles’ bullpen….NEW YORK – Regulation can’t hold these two teams.

Darren O’Day induced a ground ball from pinch hitter Raul Ibanez to send Game 4 of the American League Division Series into extra innings. He also got rid of a royal pain for the Orioles.

The Orioles are 16-3 in extras, with all three losses coming against the Yankees. They dropped two in April, and Ibanez hit a walk-off home run in the 12th last night.

Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop are the only true relievers left in the Orioles’ bullpen. Chris Tillman is available, and Showalter could tab another starter or two out of desperation.

Chris Davis, anyone?

The Orioles didn’t have a hit after Nate McLouth’s home run in the fifth inning until Jim Thome was given a gift single in the ninth. Shortstop Jayson Nix should have been charged with an error. Thirteen straight Orioles were retired.

Lew Ford pinch-ran for Thome and was picked off.

Would it shock anyone if he homered later?

The teams are a combined 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position and have stranded 14.

J.J. Hardy, Davis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Thome and Mark Reynolds are a combined 2-for-23 with eight strikeouts. The two singles came on Hardy’s bunt and Thome’s generously scored infield hit.

Update: Strop tossed two scoreless innings and is in line for the win, as the Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 13th on doubles by Manny Machado and Hardy.

The Orioles didn’t have a runner in scoring position since the fourth inning. They’re now 1-for-9 with RISP.

Machado led off with a double to right-center field off David Phelps and scored with one out on Hardy’s double to left-center.

Phelps has allowed nine earned runs in 15 innings against the Orioles.

Strop also worked two scoreless innings May 4 and 6 in Boston. He hadn’t reached that total again until tonight.

The Orioles are playing their eighth game of 13 innings or more. They’ve won the first seven.

Johnson will pitch the bottom of the 13th, looking for the save, redemption and Game 5 Friday afternoon.

Update II: Johnson retired the Yankees in order and the Orioles forced Game 5 with a 2-1, 13-inning victory over the Yankees.

Mark Teixeira struck out looking, Robinson Cano lined to left and Eric Chavez – pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez – lined to third.

The Orioles are 17-3 in extra innings and 8-0 in games that last 13 innings or longer.

Jason Hammel vs. CC Sabathia on Friday. The winner advances to the American League Championship Series.

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