Third baseman Manny Machado had played every inning since the Orioles selected his contract from Double-A Bowie on Aug. 9, 2012.
The streak ended tonight in the bottom of the fifth when rookie plate umpire Will Little ejected Machado after a strikeout.
Machado must have argued, briefly, that it was a foul tip. MASN cameras showed him smiling and saying, "Wow." Perhaps he said something else, because Little tossed him.
Manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout for yet another argument. He also had issues with Little last night after the blown call at first base that also involved Machado.
Ryan Flaherty moved from second to third base, and Alexi Casilla replaced Flaherty.
Flaherty started the rally with his second hit, which raised his average to a season-high .210. Nate McLouth also singled, and Machado struck out for the second time tonight.
Apparently, he disagreed. And now he's gone.
Wilson Betemit and Robert Andino both played third base on Aug. 8, 2012. Just not at the same time. Since then, it's been only Machado. Every inning of every game.
Tonight's game has gone completely mad.
The Orioles trailed 3-2 when the inning began and led 7-3 at its conclusion. They sent nine batters to the plate and knocked out Indians starter Corey Kluber.
Nick Markakis tied the game with an RBI single. Adam Jones loaded the bases with a broken bat single - McLouth held at third and didn't see Bobby Dickerson waving him home - and the Orioles took the lead when Davis grounded to second for an apparent force.
Jones actually was called safe, but he didn't hear it and stepped off the bag. Hence, the "completely mad" part that I referenced earlier.
Matt Wieters followed with an RBI double, and another run scored on right fielder Drew Stubbs' error.
The lead grew to 7-3 on an infield hit by J.J. Hardy, the final batter for Kluber.
Got all that?
Update: Of course, it started to pour during the seventh inning stretch, and now we're in a rain delay. Why not?
Miguel Gonzalez tied his career high with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and nine hits, walked none and gave up two home runs.
Gonzalez has registered five straight quality starts.
Brian Matusz stranded a runner on first base to end the inning. He's stranded 23 of 25 this season and 37 of 39 since moving to the bullpen last summer.
Machado played in 1,206 consecutive innings before the ejection, according to Elias.
Tonight's attendance: 33,036
Brian Roberts has an RBI single tonight at Triple-A Norfolk.
Update II: Dylan Bundy just sent the following tweet:
"Surgery went well, thank you all for prayers! Can't wait to start this process and get back out there!!!!!'
So, yes, it was a successful surgery.
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