Thursday August 18 vs the Athletics

Opponent: Oakland Athletics
Outcome: W
Score: 10-1
Streak: W1
Record: 40-80
Rank: 7th
GB: 30

I was at this game - it was "Three Buck Night" after all - but I don't have a scorecard from it.  I have no idea why not.

It was a good night to be out at the stadium.  The Orioles got off to a roaring start, scoring five in the bottom of the first of Oakland starter Bob Welch.  Welch was having issues with his command this evening as he walked Brady Anderson and Fred Lynn to start the game.  Cal Ripken followed with a double to knock both of the base runners in.  Welch then walked Eddie Murray and gave up a single to Jim Traber to load the bases.  Ripken scored on a sacrifice fly by Larry Sheets and a single by Terry Kennedy brought Murray in.  After Rene Gonzales struck out Bill Ripken lined a single to left that brought Traber in with the fifth run but Kennedy was thrown out at third to end the inning.

Oakland got on the board in the fourth on a solo home run from Mark McGwire but the Birds buried the A's in the bottom of the inning.  With one out Lynn launched a solo home run.  Cal Ripken followed with a single and Murray then walked.  Traber hit an RBI double scoring Ripken and knocking Welch out of the game.  Rick Honeycutt came into pitch and he got Sheets to ground out for the second out.  But Kennedy singled to score both Murray and Traber and after Gonzales drew a walk Bill Ripken singled to score Kennedy with the tenth run of the game.  Anderson, who had flown out to start the inning, struck out to end it.

Meanwhile Orioles starter Jeff Ballard was throwing a pretty good game.  He held the potent A's lineup to only four hits although he walked five and hit a batter.  He ended up with a complete game victory, his second consecutive one after beating Milwaukee on the 13th.