Game 68: O's Nip Tigers in 9th, 4-3

Baltimore (June 27) -- It took the Baltimore Orioles until the 18th inning of this series with the Tigers to score their first run. They liked it so much they kept scoring.

The O's scored all four of their runs from the sixth inning on, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, and they beat the Tigers, 4-3, at Memorial Stadium tonight.

Ken Singleton, who led the Orioles' late charge with two doubles, ended the game with a sacrifice fly to left field that easily scored Dave Duncan, the third RBI of the night for the Orioles right fielder.

The Tigers (28-40), for the second straight night, went scoreless thru the game's first seven innings. By that time, they trailed 1-0.

But they erupted for three runs in the eighth inning, and the crowd seemed to sense a second consecutive disappointing defeat.

Not tonight.

The Orioles tied the game in the eighth with two runs, the second on a two-out single by Lee May which scored Singleton.

In the ninth for Baltimore, Duncan led off with a single. Paul Blair sacrificed Duncan to second, and Tigers manager Ralph Houk ordered an intentional walk to Brooks Robinson. This would, on most nights, be a sound decision because the next batter was light-hitting shortstop Mark Belanger.

Not tonight.

Belanger, already with two hits on the night, delivered a third---a sharp single to center to load the bases with one out. That's when Singleton drove reliever John Hiller's fastball down the left field line and plenty deep enough to plate Duncan, setting off a wild celebration at home plate.

Last night it was Mickey Lolich dueling Mike Cuellar, a high-profile matchup.

Tonight it was Tom Walker battling Ross Grimsley---not nearly the same star power but for the first 5-1/2 innings, it was a repeat of last night: all zeroes on the scoreboard.





Singleton was Doubleton tonight, with two two-baggers
 
The Orioles finally broke through in the sixth, scoring their first run of the series when Singleton doubled home, you guessed it, Belanger.

Walker went six-plus innings, surrendering just four hits and one run. Grimsley went 7.1, giving up three runs on seven hits.

Hiller (2-4) took the loss, while Wayne Garland picked up the win for Baltimore.

"Obviously we were hoping for the double play," Houk said of the bases loaded situation in the ninth. "Singleton hits into a lot of them. But he was able to get underneath one and lift it into the air."

Indeed he was, and the Tigers and O's are now tied 1-1 in this four-game series.

Notes: Ironically, the only Tiger to play in every game so far this season is DH Willie Horton, who has battled injuries for the three seasons prior to this one. Tonight, Horton had three hits...The Orioles made two errors, the Tigers none...Belanger had his first three-hit game in over a year.

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Tigers record: 28-40 (actual 27-41)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-17
Last 10: 5-5