Charm City tops Big Apple

New York 4 Baltimore 3 (10 innings)

Cuellar vs Mussina

A rainy day in the big apple sees a 10-inning affair between the crafty Baltimore lefthander, Mike

Cuellar and former Baltimore ace Mike Mussina.  Baltimore jumped to an early lead on a 413 foot,   3- run homer by Baltimore second baseman Davey Johnson.  New York wasted no time coming back with 3 of their own in the bottom of the frame on 4 hits and a walk.  Two runs scoring on a Mark Teixeira double and another on a Soriano RBI single.

From here the pitching staffs take over and no runs can be pushed across over the next 7 innings.  Baltimore benefits from a total of 4 double plays to keep the Bronx Bombers off the board.  Mussina sets down the O’s 1-2-3 in the 3,4 and 5 innings before giving way to Joba Chamerlain.  IN the bottom of the 10^th Pete Richert comes in to spell Cuellar and immediately walks Soriano who steals second.  Richert gives an intentional pass to Bernie Williams and another walk to Alex Rodrigues.  With two out and the bases jammed, New York bring Curtis Granderson off the bench to hit for Jorge Posada.  Granderson drives a single into the outfield and the winning runs scores.

Baltimore 9 New York 0

Barber vs Clemens

Baltimore breaks through in the 4^th for 2 runs on a Paul Blair single which sees him end up on second on a Bernie Williams error in centerfield.  Boog Powell follows with an RBI single and walks to Brooks Robinson and Ken Singleton precede a deep sac fly by Jim Gentile.  Baltimore adds 2 more in the 5^th on a Paul Blair 408 foot HR to centerfield and a Boog Powell RBI double.

In the 7^th with new New York hurler Phil Hughes on the mound, Boog lines a three-run shot down the right field line to make the Baltimore lead 7-0.  IN the ninth Frank Robinson adds a 423 foot two-run homer to left centerfield and Dick Hal comes on to close out the game for Baltimore in the ninth to earn his first save.

Baltimore 3 New York 2

McNally vs Wells

Another nail-biter between two traditional rivals.  New York strikes first in the bottom of the second a a Gary Sheffield RBI double scoring Mark Teixeira who had singled against Dave McNally.  Game settled into a pitchers dual until the top of the 6^th when RBI doubles by the Robinson boys put the O’s up 2-1.  Joe Girardi counter with an RBI double of his own to tie the game in the bottom of the frame.  In the top of the ninth, with one out, Boog Powell answered the call with a solo shot down the left field line to put Baltimore up 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.  Baltimore closer Stu Miller was brought on in relief of McNally to retire the side 1-2-3 and give Baltimore the rubber game of the match.

Excellent series between to traditional division rivals.

--submitted by Mark Nixon--