Wednesday June 1 at the Mariners

Opponent: Seattle Mariners
Outcome: L
Score: 3-4
Streak: L1
Record: 11-40
Rank: 7th
GB: 22.5

The first West Coast road trip of the year wrapped up on a frustrating note.  The Orioles had chances to win this game but didn't execute.

The Mariners got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Henry Cotto led off the inning with a triple off Orioles starter Jeff Ballard and came in to score when Glenn Wilson hit a ball that third baseman Wade Rowdon couldn't handle for an error.  The M's got a second run two innings later when Cotto doubled with one out, stole third and then scored when catcher Mickey Tettleton's throw to third sailed into left field.

The Orioles would tie it up in the top of the fourth.  Joe Orsulak doubled off of Seattle starter Scott Bankhead to start the inning.  After Jim Dwyer struck out Cal Ripken singled to score Orsulak.  Eddie Murray popped out to short but Larry Sheets singled, moving Ripken to third.  With Tettleton at the plate Bankhead committed a balk, scoring Ripken from third and tying up the score.  Bankhead then struck out Tettleton to end the threat.

The Orioles went ahead in the top of the sixth.  Orsulak led off the inning with a double.  Two batters later Cal Ripken walked and then Eddie Murray hit an RBI double, putting the O's up 3-2.  The Orioles looked like they were poised to score more runs when Bankhead intentionally walked Sheets to load the bases but Tettleton grounded into yet another rally-killing double play to limit the damage.

Seattle took the lead back for good in the bottom of the seventh.  With one out Dave Valle singled and Rey Quinones followed up with a two run home run to put the M's up 4-3.  The Mariners threatened again in the bottom of the eighth but Tom Neidenfuer got Valle to pop up with the bases loaded to get out of the jam.

Tonight's Mariners victory was the 1571st and final victory in the managerial career of Hall Of Famer Dick Williams.  Seattle would get swept in a four game series in Kansas City after this game and Williams would be fired when the team returned to Seattle on Monday June 6th with a record of 23-33.  His replacement was Jim Snyder who led the team to a 45-60 record for the remainder of the season.

The 1988 Amateur Draft was started today and would go over the next two days.  The Orioles had the fourth overall pick and took Auburn pitcher Gregg Olson.  Olson would be the closer for the 1989 "Why Not?" Orioles team and ended up winning the 1989 AL Rookie Of The Year award.  The most significant player of the Orioles draftees was a left handed pitcher from La Vega High School in Waco, Texas who they took in the second round.  Arthur Rhodes ended up with a 20 year career with the Orioles, Mariners, Athletics, Indians, Phillies, Marlins, Reds, Rangers and Cardinals between 1991 and 2011.