Manny Machado launches early morning walk-off as Orioles top Yankees

After a prolonged rain delay, the Baltimore Orioles stormed back as Manny Machado crushes a walk-off home run to beat the New York Yankees 7-6.

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is on a different level right now as he smashed his third walk-off home run in as many weeks to help the Orioles secure a crucial victory against the New York Yankees. Machado’s walk-off home run came in the early hours of Wed. after a two-hour. 14-minute rain delay in Baltimore.

The Orioles magic comes after a calamitous third inning where the Yankees scored six runs, including a costly error from center fielder Adam Jones.

Furthermore, Orioles starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson was unable to complete three innings of work as worked just 2.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and four walks.

Once Hellickson exited, the Orioles bats came alive. In the bottom of the third inning, Machado blasted home run No. 31 of the season, sending Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia‘s 84 mph changeup straightaway over the center field wall to pull the Orioles within four runs at 6-2.

Naturally, when Machado hits a home run, his best friend and Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop typically hits one out of the park as they take turns as the team’s home run leader. In the fifth inning, Schoop smashed his 31st home run of the year, tying Machado for the team lead, at least for the moment.

One inning later, Trumbo, who quietly has a seven game hit streak, annihilated his 200th home run of his career and his 22nd of the season to bring the Orioles within a run.

Meanwhile, during the comeback, the Orioles bullpen was absolutely clutch. The combination of Richard Bleier, Jimmy Yacabonis, Ubaldo Jimenez, Darren O’Day, Brad Brach, and Zach Britton combined for six scoreless innings to keep the Orioles within striking distance.

With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth inning, Orioles shortstop Tim Beckham worked a 2-out walk from Yankees’ Dellin Betances, setting the stage for Machado.

After taking a first pitch ball, the American League’s Player of the Month Machado detonated Betances’ knuckle curve to lead the Orioles past the Yankees 7-6.

Since the All-Star break, Manny Machado has been lights out for the Orioles, hitting .340/.378/.604 with 14 home runs, and 44 RBIs. His .340 batting average in the second half is near the top of MLB, just behind Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon (.384) and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (.358).

Next: Time to consider Jonathan Schoop as AL MVP

After the incredible comeback victory, the Orioles gain ground in the AL Wild Card standings and sit just one game back from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the final playoff spot.