Major League Baseball

Unlikely hero lifts Orioles over Blue Jays in extras

Published Jul. 12, 2009 4:49 a.m. ET

foxsports

Melvin Mora's rare stroll around the bases ended with a slide at the plate into the waiting arms of his elated teammates.

Mora ended a 50-game homerless drought with an opposite-field drive in the 12th inning Saturday night, giving the Baltimore Orioles a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

"It's a good feeling, especially when you win the game," said Mora, whose previous longest stretch without a homer was 43 games.

Mora had gone 189 at-bats without connecting before getting hold of a pitch from Jesse Carlson (1-4) and sending it into the front row of the right-field bleachers. It was his third homer of the season, the first since May 7.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley, who watched from a stadium suite while closing out a two-game suspension stemming from his ejection earlier in the week, cheered as Mora rounded the bases.

"Melvin picked a good time to get one, didn't he?" Trembley said. "Everybody dreams of that - a walk-off and win the game at home in extra innings. That's a special moment."

Mora thought he ended the dry spell with a fourth-inning swing, but his liner to center died near the warning track.