Buck Showalter won’t admit it, but games like Wednesday’s 14-inning win over the Los Angeles Dodgers are the type the Orioles manager lives for.
As much as he might publicly bemoan interleague play, he loves the strategy involved when playing in a National League park. He likes the double switches, choosing the spots to utilize his bench and making decisions that lead to victory.
And few skippers will outmanage Showalter. He leaves no stone unturned in preparing for every game. So it was slightly fitting that the Orioles’ 6-4 extra-inning victory ended with the Dodgers having to send their pitcher to hit with two outs and the bases loaded because they had no more position players available.