What a way to end a homestand.
Wilson Betemit's three-run homer to right center snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Orioles a stunning 5-2 walk-off win over Oakland in front of 31,793 this afternoon at Camden Yards.
Betemit's third homer of the year capped a five-run rally for the Orioles in the last of the ninth. They had been shutout on five hits by Oakland starter Bartolo Colon through eight innings this afternoon.
The ninth started with the Orioles down 2-0, but J.J. Hardy came up with an infield single up the middle. One out later, Adam Jones hit a slow roller on the grass toward third base. Colon threw wildly past first and the play was scored a hit and an error, putting runners on second and third with one down.
Matt Wieters then came up against reliever Grant Balfour and ripped a game tying two-run double to left-center.
After an intentional walk to Chris Davis, Betemit delivered the first walk-off homer of his career and it touched off a wild celebration.
The Orioles went 2-85 last year when trailing after eight innings and are now 2-6 in those situations in 2012. The win ended a 5-1 homestand and was the 999th career victory for manager Buck Showalter.
With the win, the Orioles are now 14-8 and move six games over .500 for the first time since they were 50-44 on July 20, 2005.
In game one of a three-game series on Monday night in New York, Jason Hammel (3-0, 1.73 ERA) pitches for the Orioles against the Yankees' Hiroki Kuroda (1-3, 3.48 ERA).
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