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Baltimore Advances into Playoffs after  Classic Baltimore/Cleveland Dual

Baltimore 2 Cleveland 1 (12 innings - 1 Game Playoff)

Memorial Stadium

Nagy vs Barber

Baltimore and Cleveland ended the regular season tied with identical 21-19 records after a season ending three game series.  The two teams then had to wait to find out their playoff fates. As fate would have it, the two teams were required to extend their seasons one game playoff who see who would claim the last AL playoff spot.

Baltimore manager Brooks Robinson opted to go with lefty “Baby Bird” Steve Barber on the mound against the thunderous bats of the Tribe.  Jim Thome started big rights Charles Nagy and he would not disappoint.

Cleveland struck first with Kenny Lofton leading off with a walk, moving to second on a fielders choice.  Next Manny Ramirez singled to left and Lofton decided to test Merv Rettenmund’s arm.  Although Lofton lowered his shoulder, Johnny Orsino took the throw and hung on for the out at the plate. Barber had just achieved his first of many great escapes during this game.

Nagy cruised 1-2-3 in his half of the first.

In the second, Barber would again get into a jam as Carlos Baerga and David Justice led off with singles.  Travis Fryman then flew out deep to left and Baerga challenged Rettenmund’s arm.  Rettenmund once again came to Barbers rescue throwing out Baerga as he attempted to advance to third base.   Once again Barber had escaped.

Barber would once again be saved in the third inning by a Baltimore defensive gem.  With one out and Sandy Alomar Jr on second, Omar Vizquel grounded a ball to Baltimore first baseman Boog Powell.  Powell opted to throw to third and caught a surprise Alomar for the out.  Cleveland then stranded Vizquel as second base.

Once again in the 4^th, Albert Belle led off with a double, but was stranded as Barber retired the next three Cleveland batters.  At this point, Cleveland had 5 hits to Baltimore’s 1.  Nagy, was hot and kept his foot on the gas as Baltimore struggled to put an offense together. 

In the 5^th it was Brooks Robinson’s turn to throw across the diamond.  This time catching Richie Sexson off guard on an Alomar Jr. line drive to third.

In the bottom of the 6^th Nagy had yielded only  hit to the Boys from Baltimore and was throwing a gem.  But when Merv Rettenmund led off the 6^th with a double and Paul Blair drove a ball deep to left for a sacrifice fly, a simple ground ball by Brooks Robinson to shortstop produced the first run of the game.

Cleveland wasted no time tying the game back into a knot in the top of the 7^th on two singles and an RBI double by Alomar Jr.  Once again, in the bottom of the inning, Nagy reined supreme shutting down Baltimore 1-2-3.

In the the top of the 8th, Baltimore opened up the bullpen after Barber walked Manny Ramirez to open the inning. Ageless reliever Dick Hall Belle and Baerga to fly out to deep right field before Grant Jackson came on to retire Dave Justice on a deep fly to right.

The next 5 innings would keep everyone on the edge of their seats as the teams remained tied at 1-1.  Nagy threw 128 ptiches over 10 innings yielding only 2 hits and 3 walks to go along with 9 Baltimore strikeouts.  His game score was a 90!  Jim Thome then turned the game over to Cleveland closer Mike Jackson who did not disappointeasily shutting down Baltimore in the 11^th.

In the meantime, Baltimore’s Moe Drabowsky matched Cleveland’s hurlers pitch for pitch throwing 58 pitches and 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Mike Jackson returned to the mound in the 12^th, getting Brooks Robinson to fly out deep to left field.  Jackson stayed on the pitch to Baltimore’s Boog Powell who would take a 3-2 pitch from Jackson 401 feet to right-center field for the win.

This one had a lot of timely defense (Baltimore), a lot of hitting and fantastic starting pitching (Cleveland).  Cleveland outhit Baltimore 12-3 but stranded 11 on base.  As a one-game playoff game goes, this one was outstanding and one I would have paid to see!

Thanks to Joe for a great 4 game series (we played the last three of the regular season).  All of the games were tightly contested and I don’t think I can ever recall a time when the 4^th and 5^th place teams in a division played a one game playoff for a playoff spot.  Great, exciting season!

--submitted by Mark Nixon--