O's take 2 of 3 from Brew Crew

Game 1 – Memorial Stadium
August vs Bunker
Baltimore 10 Milwaukee 2

On a drizzly day in Baltimore the hometown team quickly fell behind the visiting Brew Crew in the top of the first on a Pat Listach bunt single followed by a stolen base and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Braun.  Baltimore’s Wally Bunker managed to wiggle his way out of the inning and the game appeared to be settling into a pitcher’s duel.   Baltimore, as if in honor of Earl Weaver, then broke this one wide open with an 8 run fourth inning with run scoring doubles by Bobby Grich, Brooks Robinson and Eddie Murray leading the way.  Bunker was not touched for another run until Casey McGehee took Bunker deep down the left field line in the 6th.   Bunker finished the game yielding only those two runs and the Birds of Baltimore sent the fans home happy.

Game 2 – Memorial Stadium
Parsons vs Estrada
Baltimore 3 Milwaukee 2

Again another drizzly day in Baltimore, but this time the fans were treated to a nailbiter of a game.  Once again Milwaukee got off to a quick start with one run in the first on another Pat Listach bunt single, a Scott Podsednik ground out that moved him to second and a Casey McGehee single to drive him in.   Unlike the day before, this game settled into a pitching duel.  Chuck Estrada held the Brewers in check until the ninth inning which allowed Baltimore to tie the score in the fourth on a Cal Ripken Jr. RBI single driving in Gus Triandos and take the lead with two more in the sixth on Ripken’s home run to left (again driving in Triandos). Milwaukee finally caught up with a tiring Estrada in the ninth forcing Baltimore to bring in closer Greg Olson to strike out Wayne Comer and Paul Molitor to close out a well played game with the two runner on base.

Game 3 – Miller Park
Boddicker vs Augustine
Milwaukee 9 Baltimore 3

Drizzle was not the name of the game this time (we were indoors), but good home cooking and 12 hits were enough to end this one early and send the Brew Crew fans home happy. Once again the visiting team got up a run early, but through 3 Milwaukee had staked itself to an 8-2 lead on the strength of three home runs off of Baltimore starter Mike Boddicker in just over 2 innings work.  Contributing blasts were Darrell Porter (3 RBI), Ryan Braun (2 RBI) and Casey McGehee (solo).  Porter knocked in 4 for the day.  Baltimore’s hitters had difficulty figuring out Jerry Augustine all day and did even less against relievers Jim Austin and Pete Ladd who pitched the last 2 1/3 innings to mercifully end this one.

--submitted by Ron Burnette--