Throughout the weekend series with Boston, Orioles veteran Kevin Millar drew the loudest cheers of any of his teammates, as his former Red Sox fans paid their respects to the man who helped win Boston win the World Series in 2004.
But when Millar stepped to the plate in 10th inning Sunday, the mood was different.
The ballpark was eerily quiet as Millar?s three-run home run sailed into the left field seats, giving the Orioles a 6-3 victory in front of a crowd of 48,551 at a sun-drenched Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
“That?s the stuff you dream about playing wiffle ball when you?re a little kid,” Millar said. “You dream about hitting a game-winning home run when you?re with your mom and dad in the back yard. You?ve got to love those situations.”
The Orioles won two of three games against Boston to improve to 54-62, as the first place Red Sox dropped to 70-46. It was the Orioles? first series win over Boston since Aug. 7-10, 2005 when they posted three wins during a four-game set. The Orioles also improved to 6-5 in extra-inning games.
They forced extra innings after Miguel Tejada?s two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth tied the game, 3-3.
“I was already 0-for-3 and I said to Dave, just joking around, ?I?m going to try to swing one out of here,?” Tejada said. “And Igot lucky and hit one outta there.”
It was the Orioles 25th come-from-behind win of the season.
Chad Bradford (1-4) picked up the win in relief, recording two outs in the top of the tenth. The Orioles used four relievers, who allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings after starter Steve Trachsel allowed three earned runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings before being relieved by Jim Hoey.
Millar?s home run came off right-hander Kyle Snyder (2-3).
“Snyder has great off-speed stuff,” Millar said. “We?ve had some battles before, and he threw me a 2-1 curveball that got me out front a little bit. I had a feeling Varitek would go back to that pitch.”
Millar went 3-for-5, while Aubrey Huff had two hits during a 10-hit attack.
Boston starter Curt Schilling went six innings, allowing five hits and one un-earned run. He didn?t walk or strike out an opposing batter for just the second time in his career – the first coming in a one-inning appearance on Aug. 21, 2005 against the Los Angeles Angels.
