[Joy in Mudville]

Baltimore--After the Texas Rangers scored a run in top of the eighth to pull within a run, the Baltimore Orioles outdid them in the bottom half.

The Orioles sent 11 men to the plate and scored six runs to ice game two of the American League playoffs. The 9-2 victory leaves Baltimore just one win from its third Joy in Mudville World Series appearance.

Staked to a 3-0 lead, Oriole starter Jon Matlack held Texas in check until the Ranger half of the fifth. Texas leadoff man Dave Nelson doubled home catcher Darrell Porter. However, Hal McRae was gunned down at the plate on a relay from Baltimore short stop Chris Speier.

The Rangers scored their run in the eighth on a Willie Crawford double with one out. But, Matlack retired Graig Nettles and Rusty Staub to end the threat.

Baltimore then battered Texas starter Burt Hooton. Johnny Grubb delivered a pair of hits in the inning, and Speier produced a two-run double.

Following a day of travel, the Orioles seek to end the playoff series with a win in Texas Friday night. The Rangers are expected to start right-hander Andy Messersmith. Texas native Nolan Ryan will pitch for Baltimore.

Game ID: 6725 - Wednesday, October 3rd, 1973 - Game Log

Wednesday, October 3rd, 1973
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas Rangers 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 9 1
Baltimore Orioles 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 X 9 12 0


Texas AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
D. Nelson 2B 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 .667 0 2
a-F. Howard PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
b-T. Cullen 2B 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0
T. Harrah SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .444 1 2
D. Baylor CF 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .375 0 0
W. Crawford DH 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .125 0 1
G. Nettles 3B 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .125 0 0
R. Staub RF 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .143 0 0
C. Chambliss 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
D. Porter C 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .333 0 0
H. McRae LF 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 .500 0 0
Totals 33 2 9 2 3 2 18

a - F. Howard pinch hit for D. Nelson in the 7th
b - T. Cullen substituted for F. Howard in the 7th

BATTING
Doubles: W. Crawford (1, 8th Inning off J. Matlack, 1 on, 1 out) T. Harrah (2, 8th Inning off J. Matlack, 0 on, 0 outs) D. Nelson (1, 5th Inning off J. Matlack, 2 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: D. Porter, H. McRae 2, W. Crawford 2, D. Baylor 2, T. Harrah 2, G. Nettles, D. Nelson 2
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: , R. Staub 2, T. Harrah, F. Howard
Sac Bunt: H. McRae
Team LOB: 8

BASERUNNING
SB: D. Baylor (1)
CS: D. Nelson (1)

FIELDING
Errors: B. Hooton


Baltimore AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
B. North RF 5 0 2 1 0 1 0 .556 1 2
K. Singleton LF 5 0 0 1 0 0 3 .222 0 1
J. Grubb DH 5 1 2 1 0 0 0 .667 0 3
S. Garvey 1B 3 1 2 0 0 1 0 .571 1 5
a-B. Madlock PH, 3B 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .500 0 1
A. Otis CF 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 .375 0 2
D. Evans 3B, 1B 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 .333 1 2
C. Speier SS 4 1 2 2 0 1 3 .286 0 3
B. Grich 2B 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .000 0 0
B. Boone C 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .000 0 0
Totals 35 9 12 9 4 5 13

a - B. Madlock pinch hit for S. Garvey in the 8th

BATTING
Doubles: S. Garvey 2 (2, 4th Inning off B. Hooton, 0 on, 1 out; 6th Inning off B. Hooton, 0 on, 0 outs) C. Speier 2 (2, 4th Inning off B. Hooton, 0 on, 1 out; 8th Inning off B. Hooton, 2 on, 1 out)
Home Runs: D. Evans (1, 4th Inning off B. Hooton, 1 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: A. Otis 2, S. Garvey 4, D. Evans 4, J. Grubb 2, B. North 2, C. Speier 4, B. Madlock
2-out RBI: J. Grubb
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: B. Grich, B. Boone, K. Singleton, C. Speier, B. Madlock
Sac Bunt: D. Evans
Team LOB: 7

BASERUNNING
SB: D. Evans (2), J. Grubb (1)


Texas IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
B. Hooton L (0-1) 8.0 12 9 9 4 5 1 150 91 10.13

PITCHING
Game Score: B. Hooton 23
Batters Faced: B. Hooton 40
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: B. Hooton 11-8
Pitches - Strikes: B. Hooton 150-91


Baltimore IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
J. Matlack W (1-0) 9.0 9 2 2 3 2 0 123 76 2.00

PITCHING
Game Score: J. Matlack 60
Batters Faced: J. Matlack 37
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: J. Matlack 11-12
Pitches - Strikes: J. Matlack 123-76


GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: J. Matlack
Ballpark: Memorial Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (66 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 9 mph
Start Time: 7:05 pm
Time: 2:44
Attendance: 34679