Friday September 23 vs the Tigers

Opponent: Detroit Tigers
Outcome: W
Score: 5-4
Streak: W1
Record: 53-99
Rank: 7th
GB: 33.5

Bob Milacki was on the mound tonight for the Birds making his second career start and this game almost went as well as his first game - at least through the first eight innings.

The Orioles scored first in the bottom of the first.  With one out Pete Stanicek and Cal Ripken hit back to back singles.  Eddie Murray then hit a ground ball that Tigers second baseman Jim Walewander fielded cleanly but made a bad throw on.  Murray was safe and Stanicek scored.

The Tigers tied the game at 1 on an RBI single from Dwayne Murphy.  The Orioles went back ahead in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Cal Ripken and extended their lead to two runs on an RBI ground out by Ripken in the eighth.

After eight innings Milacki had given up one run on four hits, three walks and four strikeouts.  He'd also thrown 120 pitches but no one really paid a lot of attention to pitch counts in 1988.  While it wouldn't have been unexpected for the Orioles to bring in their closer Tom Niedenfuer in the ninth, the decision was made to leave Milacki in to try for a complete game.  Matt Nokes led off the ninth with a solo home run to make it 3-2 and at now Orioles manager Frank Robinson decided to bring in Niedenfuer.  Darrell Evans greeted Niedenfuer with a solo home run of his own to tie the game at 3.  Niedenfuer got Chet Lemon and Tom Brookens to strike out but then Torey Lovullo doubled and Dave Bergman knocked him in with a single.  The Tigers now led for the first time all game.  Niedenfuer got Murphy to fly out to end the inning.

Walt Terrell was the starting pitcher for the Tigers tonight and he also was allowed to start the ninth.  He gave up back-to-back singles to Brady Anderson and pinch hitter Larry Sheets before Tigers manager Sparky Anderson decided he should bring in a relief pitcher.  Willie Hernandez replaced Terrell on the mound while Butch Davis came in to run for Sheets.  Jeff Stone came in to hit for Bill Ripken and lined a single to right that scored Anderson with the tying run and moved Davis to third base.  Joe Orsulak drew an intentional walk to load the bases and set up a force out at every base.  The strategy almost worked - Stanicek hit a ground ball to Brookens at third who threw home to force out Davis.  But Tigers catcher Nokes tried to get Stanicek at first for a double play and threw the ball away.  Stone came in to score and the Orioles won 5-4.  It was the Birds' ninth and final walk off victory of the season.