Homers, Hardy, heroics highlight Orioles' 2017

December 22nd, 2017

BALTIMORE -- Yes, the Orioles 2017 didn't go as planned. After a hot start, the club found itself in the American League East basement when all was said and done. Still, there were bright spots: 's career year, the ascent of , coming out of seemingly nowhere.
The O's hit a lot of homers in 2017, and before we close the book on the year, let's reflect one more time on some of the more memorable in-game highlights. In no particular order, here are five memorable moments from Baltimore:
Bundy's complete game
Bundy, the Orioles' ace all season, was magnificent in the beginning of the season. After hitting a rough patch, the righty was arguably never more dominant than in Aug. 29's one-hit complete game at home against Seattle. Bundy struck out 12 in the win over the Mariners, marking his first career complete game.

Mancini's heroics
Mancini, who finished third in AL Rookie of the Year Award voting, seemed to always dial up what the Orioles needed, perhaps no time more so than against Pittsburgh one night in early June. Mancini, who homered as a pinch-hitter to tie the game in the ninth and force extras, delivered a walk-off three-run homer in the 11th to give the O's a 9-6 win on June 7.
Manny Machado's walk-off grand slam
Machado was a grand slam machine in August as the third baseman rebounded in a big way after the worst first half of his career. Most dramatically, Machado capped a three-homer night with a game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning against the Angels on Aug. 18 to give fans at Camden Yards a thrilling walk-off win.

makes history
Beckham, a July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline acquisition, collected his 50th hit of August in a three-hit game on Aug. 31. The total was the second highest in a month in club history. Beckham also hit the franchise's 10,000th home run, making his mark in a short span of time.
J.J. Hardy's farewell
In one of the most emotional games of the season, the long-time Orioles shortstop bid adieu to the home crowd in a memorable way. Hardy hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning on Sept. 24 that gave the Orioles a 6-4 lead. Hardy, who missed nearly three months with a broken right wrist, hadn't homered since May 24. The crowd gave Hardy a standing ovation, and he stepped out of the dugout to acknowledge it with a wave of his helmet.