Tuesday August 9 at the Royals

Opponent: Kansas City Royals
Outcome: L
Score: 4-5
Streak: L2
Record: 37-74
Rank: 7th
GB: 29.5

Orioles closer Tom Neidenfuer had had a bad stretch back in May where he didn't pitch very well in a couple outings, especially the nightcap of the double header against the Angels on May 19th.  But he'd settled down of late - he hadn't allowed a run in his last 10 outings (the last time he had was June 27th against the Blue Jays) and he'd only allowed one inherited runner to score during that time period.

You can probably guess why I'm bringing this up now but let's hold off on that for now.  The Orioles built a 3-0 lead in this game by the fourth inning on an RBI single by Joe Orsulak in the first, a solo home run by Eddie Murray in the third and an RBI double by Orsulak in the fourth.  The Royals got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Orioles third baseman Rick Schu threw a ground ball away with two runners on.  A Frank White solo home run in the sixth brought the Royals to within one but a Jim Traber RBI single in the seventh gave the Birds a two run lead again.

That's how it stood going into the bottom of the ninth.  Mark Thurmond (the third pitcher of the night for the O's following starter Dave Schmidt and reliever Doug Sisk) struck out Willie Wilson to start the inning but gave up first a bunt single to Kurt Stillwell and then a walk to George Brett to put the tying run on base.  Orioles manager Frank Robinson then brought in Neidenfuer to close it out but it didn't happen.  Neidenfuer first walked Danny Tartabull to load the bases (and put the winning run on base) and then gave up a bases clearing, game winning double to Pat Tabler.  The Royals won 5-4.