The applause began slowly. Orioles fans were eager to thank their longtime shortstop, and this shy man, sensed what was happening.
J.J. Hardy heard the cheers and watched as his teammates stood in the dugout to thank him and shockingly saw the Tampa Bay Rays do the same.
In all likelihood, it was Hardy’s final day at home as an Oriole, and he had a wonderful time.
After his first at-bat in the bottom of the first, which ended with a force out, Hardy would bat three more times. In his next at-bat, he slammed a two-run home run to left that put the Orioles on their way to a 9-4 win against the Tampa Bay Rays before 23,424 at Oriole Park, Sept. 24.
