Wednesday June 29 vs the Blue Jays

Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L1
Record: 22-55
Rank: 7th
GB: 25

For the second time this season the Orioles had a chance to sweep an opponent in a three game series and for the second time this season they failed to get it done.  Things looked promising for a little while - the Birds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a Pete Stanicek RBI double and Orioles starter Jose Bautista kept the Blue Jays scoreless until the sixth.  But a leadoff double in the sixth by Fred McGriff followed by a single by Kelly Gruber chased Bautista from the game and while relief pitcher Dave Schmidt got Ernie Whitt to ground into a double play, McGriff scored the tying run.

The Jays took the lead in the seventh.  Manny Lee and Tony Fernandez hit back to back singles to start the frame and after Lloyd Moseby flew out Rance Mulliniks singled, bringing in Lee and moving Fernandez to third.  Mulliniks stole second during McGriff's at bat but Schmidt struck out the slugging first baseman for the second out.  It looked like the O's would get out of the inning without further damage when Gruber hit a ground ball to Bill Ripken at second but Ripken threw the ball away, allowing both Fernandez and Mulliniks to score.  Gruber then got thrown out trying to steal second and the inning was mercifully over but the Jays now had a 4-1 lead.

Those two unearned runs would loom large as the Orioles rallied in the bottom of the ninth.  With one out Rick Schu singled and two batters later Larry Sheets also singled, bringing the tying run to the plate in the person of Joe Orsulak.  The Jays brought closer Tom Henke in and Orsulak greeted him with a single bringing Schu in with the Birds' second run.  Cal Ripken now represented the winning run at the plate but Henke got him to ground out to end the game.