The Orioles’ pride in their infield defense doesn’t need retelling, but the hit that strength of theirs took Tuesday night at Fenway Park was worn all over shortstop J.J. Hardy’s face.
With one on and one out in the seventh inning of a one-run game, Hardy got what he knew he was going to get. Darren O’Day, on in relief, coaxed an uncomplicated ground ball out of left fielder Chris Young, but couldn’t get it out of his glove to start a double play.
It began what was a series of near-misses over two defensive frames that, however unfairly, showed one of the best defensive infields in baseball in quite an unflattering shade.