Reaction to Markakis and Showalter on trade deadline (Wieters walk-off)

Former Oriole Nick Markakis received a prolonged ovation tonight upon being introduced for his first at-bat, fans standing in unison, not a single dissenting voice heard in the crowd.

It was a warm moment on a muggy night at Camden Yards that raised a few goosebumps.

Starter Kevin Gausman moved to the back of the mound as the applause built, and Markakis finally stepped out of the box and removed his helmet. The ovation grew louder.

Markakis doesn't usually let his emotions show. To say he's low-key is an understatement. The gesture proved how much he was moved by the reception.

Refusing to be distracted or overwhelmed by the moment, Markakis ran the count full and lined a double into the left field corner. Business as usual. We've seen him hit more times than "The Shawshank Redemption."

Gausman retired the next three batters, and Markakis received another standing ovation from fans in the right field bleachers as he warmed up. Markakis pointed his glove in their direction before Braves starter Alex Wood threw the first pitch.

Nolan Reimold, batting leadoff for the first time since May 3, 2013 in Anaheim, lined a single into center field.

"He's got that ability to get on base," said manager Buck Showalter. "That's one thing he's always done through the course of his career. His on-base percentage has always been pretty good."

I wrote earlier today that executive vice president Dan Duquette is attempting to acquire players by Friday afternoon's non-waiver trade deadline. He's not looking to sell and play for 2016.

Is the deadline a clubhouse distraction?

"Not really," Showalter said. "It's a convenient excuse. I don't know if you all find it a distraction, the 99 percent of the crazy things that are out there that aren't true. The one comes up and it's 'I told you so.'

"You know certain teams are going to do certain things and it's kind of a given. If you start talking about what you would like to get and go get that, well someone has to go away. It's a poor reflection on your teammates. Somebody's going or something's going. I don't think our guys get involved in it publicly. What they may do privately and what have you, I'm sure some guys have an opinion on it, but it doesn't seem to be a topic of conversation.

"Maybe it's because they know there may not be that potential for us to do a whole lot. You've got to acquire guys. How do you acquire them? Acquire them with players you don't want to give up. You get a lot of things and you go, 'That doesn't make any sense.'"

Update: The Orioles just played a video tribute to Markakis, set to music, that included footage from his early days in the organization, his ability to balance a shopping cart on his chin and an assortment of clutch hits. It led to another loud ovation.

Update II: Kevin Gausman threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings, with six hits, 1 walk and five strikeouts. He threw 107 pitches, 70 strikes.

Gausman's previous career high was 7 1/3 innings. He's now winless in his last 12 starts, since the Orioles can't push across a run tonight.

Brian Matusz struck out Freddie Freeman to strand runners on the corners.

Markakis is 2-for-4.

Update III: Adonis Garcia homered over the right field scoreboard with one out in the ninth to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead.

Zach Britton had allowed only one home run, on May 16 vs. the Angels.

Former Oriole Jim Johnson will go for the save.

Update IV: Johnson blew the save, allowing an infield single by Adam Jones, a single into center field by Matt Wieters and a sacrifice fly by J.J. Hardy.

Johnson had nine saves before tonight and was 4-for-4 since replacing injured closer Jason Grilli.

We've got free baseball, and Darren O'Day on the mound.

Update V: Matt Wieters led off the bottom of the 11th with his fourth career walk-off home run, a shot to center field off Luis Avilan.

Orioles 2, Braves 1.

The Orioles are 2-2 in extras and 13-16 in one-run games.

Brad Brach gets the win.

Wieters' last walk-off was May 1, 2014 in Game 2 of a doubleheader vs. the Pirates.

The Orioles are back at .500 at 49-49.

Wieters, David Lough and Jonathan Schoop have walk-off home runs this season.