Game 1: Baltimore 2 Detroit 1
Detroit Starter: Verlander
Baltimore Starter: Mussina
The first game of the series was a contest between the team’s respective aces. It was a low scoring affair, as would be expected. Detroit scored early, opening up a 1 run lead in the top of the first against Baltimore starter Mike Mussina on consecutive singles by Will Rhymes and Miguel Cabrera, a walk to Brennan Boesch and a sacrifice line drive to left field by Carlos Guillen. Through the next seven innings, Mussina would hold the Tigers to just three more singles. Verlander was up to the challenge holding the Orioles to just five hits over 6 1/3 innings. Baltimore scored both of their runs for the contest in the bottom of the third as Brady Anderson lead off the inning with a double, Mike Bordick was walked and Eric Davis drove in both runners with a double down the left field line. Once the starters tired the bullpens took over and pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way.
Game 2: Baltimore 11 Detroit 8
Detroit Starter: Scherzer
Baltimore Starter: Erickson
The bats came alive in game two as once again the Tigers jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on doubles by Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera. The O’s countered with three in the bottom of the first, the big blow came on a Rafael Palmeiro two run homer down the right field line. Detroit fought back in the second against Erickson on a solo shot by Brennan Boesch down the right field line. In the bottom of the third Chris Hoiles provided Baltimore with some breathing room with a grand slam to left field following an intentional walk to Baltimore DH Harold Baines. Baltimore added two more in the fourth on another Palmeiro two run home run to right center field. Detroit reached Erickson for two more runs on two singles, a double by Will Rhymes, a walk, and an error on Mike Bordick in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Brady Anderson answered with a two run shot of his own to close out the Baltimore scoring for the day. Detroit gallantly fought back over the next four innings, scoring three against Arthur Rhodes and one against Jimmy Key. Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 5 in the game with two singles and two doubles for Detroit. The game came to a close with the tying run at the plate against Jimmy Key. Key struck out Detroit DH Brennan Boesch to send the series to game three in Detroit.
Game 3: Detroit 7 Baltimore 2
Baltimore Starter: Guzman
Detroit Starter: Galarraga
Baltimore starter Juan Guzman ran into trouble in the Motor City in the bottom of the third walking Laird, balking him to second and giving up a double to Austin Jackson. Johnny Damon then followed with a fielders choice, scoring Laird and Miguel Cabrera singled home Jackson with another Tiger run. As Armando Galarraga cruised along against the Baltimore hitters, he seemed to be untouchable on this day. Baltimore did finally breakthrough in the top of the 5th on a Roberto Alomar single, a fielders choice and an RBI single by Harold Baines. Detroit quickly answered back with three runs of their own, chasing Guzman as Baltimore decided to load the bases with two out by issuing an intentional pass to Cabrera. As is so often the case, the move backfired…….Jhonny Peralta doubled off the wall in left center driving in all three runners and putting the game out of reach for Baltimore. Galarraga was dominant over 8 innings and Jose Valverde closed out the game in the ninth.
Game 4: Detroit 8 Baltimore 1
Baltimore Starter: Ponson
Detroit Starter: Porcello
Another dominating performance by the back end of the Detroit staff stymied the Baltimore offense for a second straight game. This one was over from the start as “Sir” Sidney Ponson gave up 6 Detroit runs in the bottom of the first on 4 singles, a double, a walk and a 3 run Jhonny Peralta home run to right center field. After 2/3 of an inning pitched, Baltimore summoned veteran Jimmy Key from the bullpen to stop the bleeding, which he did for the next 6 2/3 innings, giving up only a single run during his stint. Rick Porcello improved his record to 2-0 yielding only 6 Baltimore hits over 7 innings. Joel Zumaya and Phil Coke each pitched an inning to mercifully close out this game and send the series back to Charm City for a classic game 5.
Game 5: Baltimore 2 Detroit 1
Detroit Starter: Verlander
Baltimore Starter: Mussina
As the teams gathered for their game 5 showdown it was 83 degrees, clear and raining (?) in Baltimore. Despite the odd weather, the Commissioner determined it was suitable to play, and the game got underway. This one was a rematch between the staff aces and it would not disappoint. Baltimore got off to the early 1 run lead on a BJ Surhoff single, a Palmeiro single that moved Surhoff to third and a Cal Ripken RBI single in the bottom of the first. As expected, this game then settled into a classic pitcher’s duel with neither pitcher willing to concede. In the bottom of the fourth Harold Baines connected on a solo home run down the right field line against Verlander putting Baltimore up by two. In the meantime, Mike Mussina escaped trouble in the fifth as Laird singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. An Austin Jackson single put runners on first and third with only one out. A fielder’s choice scored Laird, but Jackson was stranded when Mussina got Cabrera to fly out to very deep center field. In the 8th Baltimore went with reliever Alan Mills who immediately got into trouble by walking Cabrera and giving up a single to Peralta. Mills retired the next three Detroit hitters to end the threat. In the ninth Mills started by walking Laird before Baltimore went to closer Armando Benitez. Will Rhymes proceeded to sacrifice Laird to second and Austin Jackson moved the runner to third on a fielder’s choice. The game, and the series, came to an end as Johnny Damon flied out to shallow center field.
This was a very exciting series, two classic duels by Verlander and Mussina. Tom coached a great series that went Baltimore’s way as a result of some timely breaks that could have easily gone the other way.
--submitted by Mark Nixon--
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