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Hernandez drives in winning run in wild Orioles' win

Jun 15, 2008 - 3:43 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Ramon Hernandez capped a wild game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Baltimore Orioles to an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Brian Roberts and Adam Jones each had three hits for the Orioles, who erased four separate deficits en route to grabbing the second game of the interleague series.

Oscar Salazar hit his first homer since April 19, 2002 when he was with the Detroit Tigers - a blast off Pirates closer Matt Capps (0-2) - to forge a 7-7 tie in the ninth. It was just the second career home run for Salazar, who was recalled this week after spending the last six seasons in the minor leagues.

"It's unbelievable," Salazar said. "I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and try to hit the ball as best I can. As soon as the ball left my bat, I knew the ball was gone."

"He made us all look good," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said of Salazar. "The guy swings the bat. You talk about a guy that has persevered. I think that goes hand-in-hand with a lot of other guys. He looked like a big league hitter."

After Aubrey Huff struck out, Freddie Bynum drew a one-out walk and stole second. Jay Payton was retired on a flyout before Hernandez's hit into the gap in left-center field pushed Bynum across with the game winner.

"We just never quit," Hernandez said. "We just try to get the best at-bat one at a time.

"It feels great. At least I'm happy I helped my team win."

Adam LaRoche had given Pittsburgh the lead in the top of the ninth when he hit a two-run blast off Baltimore closer George Sherrill (2-1). It was the seventh homer of the season for LaRoche, who saw his average climb to a robust .218.

"What a tremendous game for our team and our fans," Trembley said. "George Sherrill has meant so much to this team that the guys came back like they did, not once, not twice, but three times. I appreciate what everybody is doing. It's incredible the fight that is in this team."

"That's the sign of a good time, just everybody doing it every night," Sherrill said. "When you can get it from anywhere that's good. That's what it's all about is everybody picking everybody else up, and he (Salazar) picked me up tonight and so did Freddie (Bynum) and Ramon (Hernandez)."

Prior to LaRoche's homer, the lead swung back-and-forth in the seventh.

Jose Bautista put the Pirates on top 5-4 with a three-run homer off Matt Albers, but Nick Markakis responded immediately in the bottom of the frame with a two-run blast, putting Baltimore back on top, 6-5.

The lead changed hands six times in the contest - three times on home runs.

"I've never been in a game like that," Bautista said. "It was crazy."

The late-game fireworks overshadowed a strong effort from Orioles rookie starter Radhames Liz, who left after allowing four hits in 6 1/3 frames. He was charged with four runs, however, as he left two on base before Albers came on and allowed Bautista's home run.

"It was just one of those games," Pittsburgh manager John Russell said. "We had the guys in the right places. It just didn't work out."