KOD16 Series Showdown Between AL Division Leaders

The American League division leaders Balimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels met for a 3-game series.

August 29; Anaheim, CA

Baltimore 10, Anaheim 9

The Orioles opened a 10-4 lead after 4.5 innings thanks to HRs by Bobby Grich, Cal Ripken Jr and Gus Triandos off of Angels starter Frank Tanana.  But Anaheim answered with HRs of their own by Devon White, Mike Trout and Carney Lansford off of Orioles starter Billy O'Dell (1-0) to pull within 1 run after 7 innings.  With the game turned over to the bullpens, 4 Baltimore relieves managed to protect the lead, with Greg Olson getting the final out to earn the save.  Ripken and Triandos each finished with 4 RBIs.  Three Angels collected 3 hits each, and 9 Anaheim batters had at at least 1 hit..  Despite being out-hit 15-8, the Orioles managed to accumulate more of what really counted - runs.

August 30; Anaheim, CA 

Anaheim 3, Baltimore 1

Angels starter Dean Chance (3-0) got his team back on track, pitching 7.2 innings and allowing only an Eddie Murray solo HR in the 8th inning.  Anaheim chipped away at Baltimore starter Chuck Estrada, scoring single runs in the 3rd, 5th and 7th innings. Garrett Anderson knocked in 2 of the Halos' 3 runs.  Bob Lee pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the save.  

August 31; Baltimore, MD

Anaheim 4, Baltimore 3

The final series game was a back and forth affair.  Dalas McPherson gave Anaheim a  1-0 lead with a double in the top of the 2nd off Baltimore starter Wally Bunker.  But the Orioles answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th off Angels starter Marcelino Lopez thanks to 3 straight singles and a costly Buck Rodgers passed ball.  Anaheim tied the game in the top of the 5th on a Devon White single.  But Baltimore answered again in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a Bobby Grich triple and a Roy Sievers single to take a 3-2 lead.

The Angels tied the game once again in te 8th when Tim Salmon opened the inning with a triple off Jim Palmer and scored when the next batter Adam Kennedy doubled.  Two batters later Kennedy was gunned down at the plate by Orioles right fielder Bob Nieman to keep the game knotted at 3.

The game remained tied after 9 innings, and both teams began thinning out their benches of eligible players. The tie was broken with 1 out in the top of the 11th by a Mike Trout solo HR off Jerry Walker. Once again Bob Lee preserved the win for Jose Arredondo (3-0) and earned his AL league-leading 6th save.    

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--