Showalter speaks after 5-3 win

Nolan Reimold hit a home run today with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning that did the following:

* Gave the Orioles a 5-3 walk-off victory over the Indians before 37,821 at Camden Yards.

* Gave the Orioles their second three-game sweep of the Indians in Baltimore in two seasons.

* Produced the Orioles' first pinch-hit walk-off homer since Chris Davis on June 23, 2014 versus the White Sox.

* Produced Reimold's third career walk-off home run and his first since Aug. 10, 2011 versus the White Sox. Also his fourth career walk-off hit.

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* Gave Reimold his first home run since May 29 off the Indians' Tommy Hunter.

* Gave the Orioles their fourth walk-off victory.

* Ended Reimold's slumps of 0-for-16 and 3-for-23.

* Made a winner of reliever Darren O'Day, who struck out the side in the top of the ninth in his first game since June 1.

* Gave the Orioles the best record in the American League at 57-40 while also improving their home record to 36-14.

Indians reliever Cody Allen threw two knuckle curveballs to fall behind 2-0, tried to blow a 93 mph fastball past Reimold and walked off the field with the loss.

Pedro Alvarez led off the inning by reaching after he struck out. The ball got past catcher Roberto Perez, whose throw to first base hit Alvarez. Ryan Flaherty laid down a sacrifice bunt, Caleb Joseph struck out and Reimold pinch-hit for Julio Borbon.

"I was going to save him and normally would have used him to pinch-run for Pete there," said manager Buck Showalter. "If Caleb had walked, we would have stayed with Borbon, make sure we stay out of the double play and try to get the at-bat to Adam (Jones). But Nolan works hard at it.

"I know the hitting coaches said they've been working on a couple things the last couple days and think he's real close. I think the key to it was laying off two breaking balls where you get into a hitter's count and get a fastball."

Reimold must hear the trade rumors like everyone else. The Orioles are talking to the Padres about Melvin Upton Jr. Reimold's spot on the roster never seems secure. But Showalter doesn't feel the need to talk to him about any of it or check his mindset.

"Depends on who it is," Showalter said. "Nolan's 32, 31. He's heard stuff like everybody in there.

"With Nolan, I don't. You think about where he's come from, almost break your neck, basically. And fight through the things, people telling you you may not ever play again. That's a little thing. At this point, veteran guys just like that somebody's talking about them."

Jonathan Schoop broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with his 17th home run. He also doubled today.

The Indians tied the game in the top of the eighth with an unearned run off Brad Brach, who was charged with two earned last night. Jason Kipnis led off with a single, Francisco Lindor reached on Schoop's fielding error and Mike Napoli grounded an RBI single into left field.

Credit goes to Brach for inducing a double play grounder from Lonnie Chisenhall and to Flaherty for turning it.

The Orioles could have mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the eighth, but Manny Machado was picked off first base for the second out. Chris Davis thought he drew a walk and flipped his bat, apparently fooling Machado, as well. The count was 3-2.

Davis walked on the next pitch, but Mark Trumbo lined to right field.

Vance Worley settled for a no-decision after holding the Indians to two runs and five hits in seven innings and retiring the last 11 batters. He threw a season-high 102 pitches and recorded his first quality start since May 3, 2015 with the Pirates, a span of seven starts.

"Worley was the story of the day," Showalter said. "He was outstanding. I think he had thrown 88 pitches and we took him another 10 or 12. Match up against (Corey) Kluber like that and give us that type of chance to win, and Darren getting back out there and reminding us what we've been missing."

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The key for Worley was outstanding command. And not just one pitch.

"He had real good command," Showalter said. "I asked Caleb after the sixth inning, I was contemplating about letting him go back out for the seventh. I go, 'What have you got?' And he goes, 'He's got command of everything still.'

"He had command of three pitches. He was down consistently. I thought the first inning, getting out of that, kind of set the tone. He's a great guy to have pitch when it's as hot and sticky as it is. He works fast, he throws strikes.

"One of the keys to the game. You beat a real good team twice and you come out here today, there's a tendency for a lot of clubs to kind of go, 'OK, if it happens, it happens,' but our guys just kind of followed Vance's lead and kept pushing."

And the Orioles kept winning at Camden Yards. Why?

"I don't know," Showalter said. "We don't analyze it at all. We let everybody else. We try to win every game home and away and it's worked out a little bit more at home this year and we're just trying to win more games than four other teams in our division.

"Obviously, our fans are very supportive and create a good atmosphere, but we have a lot of fans on the road, too. We don't overthink it."

Note: The Orioles signed veteran left-handed reliever Tom Gorzelanny to a Triple-A contract.

Gorzelanny, 34, is 50-53 with a 4.40 ERA in 12 major league seasons. He appeared in seven games with the Indians this season and gave up seven runs and four hits, walked five batters and struck out four in three innings. The Indians designated him for assignment on July 4 and he was granted free agency five days later.

Gorzelanny also pitched for the Pirates, Cubs, Nationals, Brewers and Tigers. Left-handers are batting .229 against him.




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