Orioles' Davis goes from zero to hero in 17 innings

I worked today and when I returned home was rather astonished to discover that a baseball game that had begun six hours before was still underway, so I tuned in on the radio.

Designated hitter CHRIS DAVIS transformed himself from "zero" to "hero" as the visiting ORIOLES beat the RED SOX, 9-6, in 17 innings.

Davis struck out five times and grounded into a double play. His moment of glory arrived on the mound, after Baltimore ran out of pitchers late in the marathon contest.

Davis tossed two scoreless innings in his first major-league pitching appearance.

I had never heard anything quite like it, in all my years of listening to and attending baseball games.

Baltimore's Adam Jones also starred late in the game. He hit a three-run homer in the top of the 17th inning -- off Boston outfielder Darnell McDonald, who was also pitching because his team had run out of pitchers.

It was a remarkable contest, and it meant much for the Orioles. They swept Boston in a three-game series at Fenway for the first time since 1994 and -- lo and behold -- ended the long game with the best record in baseball.