J.J. Hardy texted Dustin Pedroia asking him to play against Yankees
This guy.

If the Baltimore Orioles want to win the AL East, they’re going to need some help from the Boston Red Sox. Currently, the New York Yankees hold a game lead over the O’s with only one left to play. If the Orioles win and the Yanks fall to the Red Sox, game 163 will be scheduled to determine the division champion.

Monday, the Red Sox threw out a Double-A quality lineup. Fans were furious and reportedly the Orioles players weren’t real psyched about Bobby Valentine’s starting nine either.

Surprisingly, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury were riding the bench while guys like Che-Hsuan Lin and Jose Iglesias took the field. Boston was pummeled 10-2.

After the game, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy texted Pedroia — who folks later found out had broken his finger — and asked him to suit up and help the O’s. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that Buck Showalter insisted that Hardy was not ordered to contact his friend.

Either way, Pedroia obliged and came up with two big hits, an RBI and a run scored in what was ultimately a losing effort for the Red Sox in 12 innings.

“Pedroia doesn’t need anybody to get him to play,” Showalter said according to Heyman. “I love that guy.”

As an O’s fan, I can’t root for him, but man do I respect his grit and tenacity. You have to.

Hopefully he can carry Boston to a win tonight and help force that crazy extra regular season game at Camden Yards. No text messages required.