BALTIMORE ORIOLES (2-4) at
DETROIT TIGERS (2-4)
Stadium - Comerica Park
Baltimore 4 Detroit 3 (15 Innings)
WP:
Tippy Martinez (1-0) LP:
Willie Hernandez (0-1)
SV:
Stu Miller (2)
Boy did we luck out in this series. I didn't realize, because I'm not a huge Tigers fan, that the Detroit line-up in this roster set is a MONSTER. Kaline, Greenberg, Cecil Fielder, Trammell, and don't forget the Georgia Peach. Lucky for us, Cobb was injured the day before we came to town while catching a Joe DiMaggio fly ball in an extra inning win over the Yankees in the Bronx. He was diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain and will be out about 2 weeks. The downside to this is that the Detroit outfield looks like this: LF- Greenberg, CF- Kaline, RF- Heilmann, so it's no day at the beach, but anytime you can keep someone with a speed rating of 112 off the bases, you're ahead of the game.
Anyway, on to the game. I mentioned in the previous series that I was thinking about tweaking the roster a little to spark the offense. I sent Mark Belanger to the reserve roster and brought up Melvin Mora. Don't I look smart!! Mora's line in his first game? 1 for 6 and 3 strikeouts with 8 left on base!! Mike Mussina started this one for the O's and went 8 strong innings striking out 6 and was actually outpitched by Hal Newhouser who lasted into the 10th and chalked up 10 punchouts, but neither factored in the decision. Cal Ripken broke the 3-3 tie in the top of the 15th with an RBI double to put Baltimore up 4-3. Stu Miller came in to close the game and before I could scream a dirty word it was 2nd and 3rd and nobody out in the inning. Now my "managerial sense" must come into play. I intentionally walked Lance Parrish to load the bases and set up a force at any base. Next batter hits a little pop to center that's not deep enough to score the runner from 3rd, 1out. Next batter strikes out and as I'm turning blue from holding my breath the final batter grounds to second to end the game. A win is a win, but this one was a tough one!
Baltimore 4 Detroit 2(11 Innings)
WP: Gregg Olson (1-0) LP: Denny McClain (0-2)
SV: Stu Miller (3)
Maybe one of these days we'll get a win in 9 innings. Not today. Jim Gentile put the Orioles ahead on the 6th with a 2-run double, but the Tigers came back in the bottom of the inning to tie it up when Norm Cash singled home Harry Heilmann. It stayed that way until the 11th when Ripken doubled, Brooks Robinson singled him home, and then Brian Roberts doubled home Robinson. Dave McNally got the start in this one, lasting 7 1/3 innings allowing only 3 hits and again, the Tigers starter McClain lasted into the 10th notching 8 strikeouts and getting the loss. Stu Miller came in, this time with no drama, and notched his 3rd save.
Baltimore 6 Detroit 4(10 Innings
WP: Gregg Olson (2-0) LP:Mike Henneman (0-1)
SV: Stu Miller (4)
No wonder the fans in Tigertown show up in force for these games, they know they'll get more than 9 innings of baseball. Another extra-inning game that was filled with drama. This one started with Justin Verlander taking on Mike Cuellar and it looked like a pitcher's duel for about 6 innings. Then the bats for the Birds came alive. George Sisler and Boog Powell both hit their first homers of the season and an inning later Jim Gentile added a round-tripper bringing his season total to 2, but it was Cal Ripken's 2-run blast in the top of the 10th that gave Baltimore the win in this one and Stu Miller came in and got the save in this one for his 3rd save in a row.
More importantly, that's a sweep, a big 3 game sweep of a very very tough team. We missed Jack Morris in the rotation, but still had some tough games. The Orioles are now 5-4 and within a game and a half of the front-running Yankees as they head to Boston to take on the Red Sox, in the opener it will be Mike Boddicker taking on Dutch Leonard. Let's hope the Birds can keep this winning streak going!!