MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo couldn't have picked a better spot for the first pinch hit of his career.
Gallardo delivered a double that drove home the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning Tuesday night, foiling Baltimore's strategy and sending the Brewers to a 7-6 victory over the Orioles.
"We work on it for that type of situation," said Gallardo, who stepped to the plate with a career batting average of .202 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs over eight seasons. "That's one of the reasons we're out there hitting every day before the position players, because you never know. Whether it be as simple as getting a bunt down or getting a guy over to third base or whatever."
With the pitcher's spot on deck and knowing Milwaukee was out of position players, the Orioles intentionally walked power-hitting Mark Reynolds with two outs and no one on base in the 10th. Reynolds had hit his 12th homer earlier.
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke then sent up Gallardo — a starting pitcher who was 1 for 14 this season — to bat for reliever Francisco Rodriguez (2-1).
Gallardo drove a 2-0 pitch from T.J. McFarland (0-1) to deep center field to win it.
"I was just trying to get a ball out over the plate," said Gallardo, hitless in four previous pinch-hit appearances. "When he fell down 2-0, just try and put a good swing on it. Put the ball in play and see what happens. The pitch wasn't where he wanted it, I'm pretty sure, but I was able to make good contact."
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he thought maybe the Brewers would use another pitcher to hit because Gallardo was scheduled to start Wednesday's series finale.
"We were well aware that Gallardo is one of their better hitters," Showalter said. "There are some decent hitting pitchers over here, we knew that coming in. I was hoping (Gallardo) had gone home to get ready for tomorrow. We knew he was over there. "