A look at the recent strong performance by the Orioles bullpen

They no longer lead the American League in bullpen ERA (fourth), but the Orioles bullpen has been big for the team lately. Last night was the latest example, as six pitchers combined for six scoreless innings in the 3-2 12-inning walk-off win over Arizona.

While the Orioles were waiting for a few runs to come - and they had a long wait after being shut out through seven innings - the Orioles bullpen held Arizona at bay long enough for the O's offense to do just enough.

The Orioles got solo homers from Pedro Alvarez in the eighth (No. 22), Matt Wieters in the ninth (No. 15) and Mark Trumbo for the win in the 12th (No. 44). It was the Orioles' sixth walk-off win of 2016.

Starter Yovani Gallardo gave up single runs in the first and second, but then pitched through the sixth and didn't yield any more runs. He gave the Orioles their first quality start of this homestand in its ninth game. It was the first O's quality start since Kevin Gausman on Sept. 14 at Boston.

Then the 'pen went to work getting consecutive scoreless innings from Darren O'Day, Brad Brach, Mychal Givens, Zach Britton, Tommy Hunter and Oliver Drake. They combined to allow just three singles, with just one Diamondbacks runner moving into scoring position. Arizona batters went 3-for-20 against that group of six with no walks and eight strikeouts.

O'Day needed just 14 pitches in his inning, while Brach and Givens threw just 12. Britton needed 19 pitches and Hunter allowed two singles in a 20-pitch top of the 11th. Drake rolled through a 1-2-3 top of the 12th on just eight pitches, getting a groundout on a bunt attempt, a flyout and strikeout.

Drake picked up his first major league win. The 43rd-round pick out of the Naval Academy in 2008 has quietly had a strong September. In seven games, he is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. In 10 innings, he has allowed four hits, five runs (two earned) with two walks, 13 strikeouts and a batting average against of just .114 on four hits in 35 at-bats.

One knock on Drake at the big league level has been his inability to get quick outs and that sometimes his pitch count elevated during his innings. But two outings ago, he went 1 2/3 on 23 pitches and last night he got three outs on just eight. That's progress.

Over the last 11 games, the O's bullpen pitchers have worked to an ERA of 0.81. Over 44 1/3 innings, the 'pen has given up just four earned runs.

The Orioles offense is still not producing many runs - last night was the seventh straight game where they scored three runs or less - but the team still got a big win. Thanks to the longball, Gallardo and a bullpen that passed the baton without anyone dropping it.

That win kept the Orioles within striking distance of both the first and second AL wild card spots. They are 1 1/2 games back of Toronto for wild card No. 1 and just a half-game behind Detroit for wild card No. 2. They would have been 2 1/2 games back and 1 1/2 back with a loss last night.

Few Orioles games featured more drama this year or perhaps more nerves for the fanbase, but a win is a win. This one was big. The O's stay right there in the wild card hunt with eight games to play.