A one-run game became ugly quickly in the ninth inning on Monday night at Camden Yards as manager Buck Showalter turns to Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes, Jr. in a peculiar situation.
As the only left-hander available in the Orioles bullpen, Showalter pulled right-hander Mychal Givens from the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth in favor of Cortes to face left-handed hitting outfielder Curtis Granderson.
Showalter had a short memory, because the last time he put Cortes in that situation six days ago in Houston – going to a lefty-vs-lefty matchup with the bases loaded -- Cortes allowed a grand slam to Josh Reddick on Tuesday.