My friend Dan tipped me off to the fact that MLB posted a 15 minute video "celebrating" the 30th Anniversary of the Orioles season opening losing streak:
I also discovered today that Grant Brisbee over at SB Nation did an article on the streak as well.
Monday, April 30, 2018
April 30 at the White Sox
Opponent: Chicago White Sox
Outcome: L
Score: 1-4
Streak: L1
Record: 1-22
Rank: 7th
GB: 15.5
For the fifth consecutive game the Orioles scored first although unlike the previous four games they didn't do it until the second inning. Tito Landrum hit a one out triple and then scored on Carl Nichols' sacrifice fly. The lead didn't last long - Ivan Calderon led off the bottom of the second with a home run to tie the game up and a double by Greg Walker and a single by Carlton Fisk but the White Sox up 2-1. The White Sox scored their third run two innings later when Ken Williams tripled and Dan Pasqua reached on an error by second baseman Pete Stanicek which brought Williams in with an unearned run. Chicago scored their fourth and final run in the bottom of the eighth when Gary Redus hit a triple (the third one of the game between the two teams) and Ozzie Guillen brought him in with a sacrifice fly.
The Orioles wrapped up the month of April with a 1-22 record. They were outscored by their opponents 133 to 54.
Outcome: L
Score: 1-4
Streak: L1
Record: 1-22
Rank: 7th
GB: 15.5
For the fifth consecutive game the Orioles scored first although unlike the previous four games they didn't do it until the second inning. Tito Landrum hit a one out triple and then scored on Carl Nichols' sacrifice fly. The lead didn't last long - Ivan Calderon led off the bottom of the second with a home run to tie the game up and a double by Greg Walker and a single by Carlton Fisk but the White Sox up 2-1. The White Sox scored their third run two innings later when Ken Williams tripled and Dan Pasqua reached on an error by second baseman Pete Stanicek which brought Williams in with an unearned run. Chicago scored their fourth and final run in the bottom of the eighth when Gary Redus hit a triple (the third one of the game between the two teams) and Ozzie Guillen brought him in with a sacrifice fly.
The Orioles wrapped up the month of April with a 1-22 record. They were outscored by their opponents 133 to 54.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
April 29 at the White Sox - Hallelujah At Last
Opponent: Chicago White Sox
Outcome: W
Score: 9-0
Streak: W1
Record: 1-21
Rank: 7th
GB: 15.5
In the end it was a laugher.
It might be hard to tell from the fact that I'm writing a blog about the Orioles but my favorite team actually is the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox famously went 86 years between World Series Championships. Before they won in 2004 I always assumed that when they did finally win the Series that it would be in a tight, hard fought Series that would go the full seven games. Instead it was almost anti-climatic - they won in a four game sweep in which they never trailed in any game. (The ALCS that year was a different story however.)
For the Orioles the first win of the 1988 season was also anti-climatic although I'm sure no one was complaining. For the fourth consecutive game the Orioles scored in the top of the first - Eddie Murray had a two run home run - but this time they kept the other team from scoring at all. The O's made it 3-0 in the fifth when Pete Stanicek scored on a wild pitch and then exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh when the White Sox experienced the kind of pitching and defensive lapses that the Orioles were unfortunately familiar with. Joe Orsulak led off the inning with a walk and Stanicek doubled to knock him in and White Sox starter Jack McDowell out of the game. Reliever John Davis hit Bill Ripken with a pitch - apparently hard enough to put Ripken out of the game as Tito Landrum came in to pinch run for him. Cal Ripken then hit a grounder to third base which Ken Williams committed a throwing error on bring Stanicek in to score and moving Landrum to third. Murray hit a grounder to first for a fielder's choice that resulted in Landrum being thrown out at the plate. After Fred Lynn walked to load the bases, Larry Sheets reached on what was scored as a fielders choice but I have no idea what actually happened. Ripken scored and no outs were recorded. Terry Kennedy brought in Murray with a sacrifice fly before Craig Worthington grounded out to end the inning. The Orioles scored four runs on one hit, two walks, a hit-by-pitch and an error. The Orioles capped their scoring with two in the top of the ninth on a solo home run by Cal and an RBI single by Terry Kennedy. Mark Williamson and Dave Schmidt combined to shut out the White Sox on four hits and no walks.
Here's the play that ended the game:
At WIYY in Baltimore, Bob Rivers, who had been on the air now for 258 hours "uncorked champagne and drank deeply from his Orioles souvenir cup, cued up “I’m Free” by The Who and screamed into the mike, 'I’m going home!'"
Outcome: W
Score: 9-0
Streak: W1
Record: 1-21
Rank: 7th
GB: 15.5
In the end it was a laugher.
It might be hard to tell from the fact that I'm writing a blog about the Orioles but my favorite team actually is the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox famously went 86 years between World Series Championships. Before they won in 2004 I always assumed that when they did finally win the Series that it would be in a tight, hard fought Series that would go the full seven games. Instead it was almost anti-climatic - they won in a four game sweep in which they never trailed in any game. (The ALCS that year was a different story however.)
For the Orioles the first win of the 1988 season was also anti-climatic although I'm sure no one was complaining. For the fourth consecutive game the Orioles scored in the top of the first - Eddie Murray had a two run home run - but this time they kept the other team from scoring at all. The O's made it 3-0 in the fifth when Pete Stanicek scored on a wild pitch and then exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh when the White Sox experienced the kind of pitching and defensive lapses that the Orioles were unfortunately familiar with. Joe Orsulak led off the inning with a walk and Stanicek doubled to knock him in and White Sox starter Jack McDowell out of the game. Reliever John Davis hit Bill Ripken with a pitch - apparently hard enough to put Ripken out of the game as Tito Landrum came in to pinch run for him. Cal Ripken then hit a grounder to third base which Ken Williams committed a throwing error on bring Stanicek in to score and moving Landrum to third. Murray hit a grounder to first for a fielder's choice that resulted in Landrum being thrown out at the plate. After Fred Lynn walked to load the bases, Larry Sheets reached on what was scored as a fielders choice but I have no idea what actually happened. Ripken scored and no outs were recorded. Terry Kennedy brought in Murray with a sacrifice fly before Craig Worthington grounded out to end the inning. The Orioles scored four runs on one hit, two walks, a hit-by-pitch and an error. The Orioles capped their scoring with two in the top of the ninth on a solo home run by Cal and an RBI single by Terry Kennedy. Mark Williamson and Dave Schmidt combined to shut out the White Sox on four hits and no walks.
Here's the play that ended the game:
At WIYY in Baltimore, Bob Rivers, who had been on the air now for 258 hours "uncorked champagne and drank deeply from his Orioles souvenir cup, cued up “I’m Free” by The Who and screamed into the mike, 'I’m going home!'"
Saturday, April 28, 2018
April 28 at the Twins
Opponent: Minnesota Twins
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L21
Record: 0-21
Rank: 7th
GB: 16.0
For the third game in a row the Orioles took the lead in the first inning but couldn't hold it. In this game the Orioles took a 1-0 lead when an Eddie Murray groundout brought in Tito Landrum who had led off the game with a single. The Twins went ahead in the bottom of the fourth - Kirby Puckett led off the inning with a walk and then Kent Hrbek hit a two run home run. It was Hrbek's fourth home run in the three game series against the Orioles. The Twins scored two more in the bottom of the sixth when a John Moses double brought in Gene Larkin and Randy Bush. Oddly enough the hit by Moses was the only hit of the inning - Larkin had reached by being hit by a pitch and Bush was walked. The Orioles followed this oddity up in the top of the seventh by scoring a run without getting a hit at all. After leadoff hitter Larry Sheets walked and Carl Nichols struck out, the Twins went to their bullpen and replaced starter Allan Anderson with Mike Mason. Mason walked the next two batters - Craig Worthington and Keith Hughes - to load the bases and then walked Tito Landrum to bring in Sheets. The Twins went to their bullpen again and brought in Mark Portugal, their first non-alliteratively named pitcher on the day. Portugal struck out pinch hitter Fred Lynn and then got Cal Ripken to fly out to end the inning. Ripken would be the only one of the seven batters the Orioles sent up in the inning to put a ball into play. That ended the scoring for the day although both teams mounted threats of varying degrees in each of their remaining at bats.
Hrbek had come into the series with the Orioles hitting .222 with no home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored in 15 games. He went 7 for 15 in the three game series with two doubles, four home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored, raising his average to .292.
With the streak at 21 the Orioles now had the record for most consecutive losses ever by an American League team. They were now just two losses behind the 1961 Phillies for longest losing streak in modern (since 1900) baseball history.
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L21
Record: 0-21
Rank: 7th
GB: 16.0
For the third game in a row the Orioles took the lead in the first inning but couldn't hold it. In this game the Orioles took a 1-0 lead when an Eddie Murray groundout brought in Tito Landrum who had led off the game with a single. The Twins went ahead in the bottom of the fourth - Kirby Puckett led off the inning with a walk and then Kent Hrbek hit a two run home run. It was Hrbek's fourth home run in the three game series against the Orioles. The Twins scored two more in the bottom of the sixth when a John Moses double brought in Gene Larkin and Randy Bush. Oddly enough the hit by Moses was the only hit of the inning - Larkin had reached by being hit by a pitch and Bush was walked. The Orioles followed this oddity up in the top of the seventh by scoring a run without getting a hit at all. After leadoff hitter Larry Sheets walked and Carl Nichols struck out, the Twins went to their bullpen and replaced starter Allan Anderson with Mike Mason. Mason walked the next two batters - Craig Worthington and Keith Hughes - to load the bases and then walked Tito Landrum to bring in Sheets. The Twins went to their bullpen again and brought in Mark Portugal, their first non-alliteratively named pitcher on the day. Portugal struck out pinch hitter Fred Lynn and then got Cal Ripken to fly out to end the inning. Ripken would be the only one of the seven batters the Orioles sent up in the inning to put a ball into play. That ended the scoring for the day although both teams mounted threats of varying degrees in each of their remaining at bats.
Hrbek had come into the series with the Orioles hitting .222 with no home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored in 15 games. He went 7 for 15 in the three game series with two doubles, four home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored, raising his average to .292.
With the streak at 21 the Orioles now had the record for most consecutive losses ever by an American League team. They were now just two losses behind the 1961 Phillies for longest losing streak in modern (since 1900) baseball history.
Friday, April 27, 2018
April 27 at the Twins
Opponent: Minnesota Twins
Outcome: L
Score: 6-7
Streak: L20
Record: 0-20
Rank: 7th
GB: 16.0
Outcome: L
Score: 6-7
Streak: L20
Record: 0-20
Rank: 7th
GB: 16.0
Another would-a, should-a, could-a game. The Orioles exploded for three runs in the top of the first off of Bert Blyleven. Jeff Stone walked to lead off the game and the Ripken brothers hit back to back singles - the latter of which by Cal scoring Stone. After Eddie Murray and Fred Lynn struck out, Larry Sheets walked to load the bases and then Keith Hughes singled to bring in the Ripkens. Terry Kennedy then struck out to end the inning (so Blyleven struck out the side but also gave up three hits and two walks). The Twins got two runs back in the bottom of the first though as Dan Gladden, Tom Herr and Kirby Puckett hit three consecutive singles to lead off (Puckett's single brought Gladden in) and Gary Gaetti's sacrifice fly then brought in Herr. The Orioles got a break when Puckett was thrown out trying to steal second with Kent Hrbek at the plate to end the inning. A Craig Worthington home run leading off the top of the second put the O's up 4-2 but the Twins got a run back in the bottom of the second when Hrbek led off the inning with a double and later scored on a Mark Davidson ground out. The Twins would tie the game up in the bottom of the fourth when Al Newman singled to knock in Tim Laudner. That hit knocked Orioles starter Scott McGregor out of the game - this would be the last appearance of McGregor's career.
Jose Bautista relieved McGregor and he kept the Twins off the board for the next three innings. Bill Scherrer replaced Bautista on the mound in the bottom of the eighth and immediately lost the lead by giving up back-to-back home runs to Hrbek and Laudner. It was Hrbek's third home run in two days against the Orioles. John Moses then walked and moved to second when Scherrer balked while pitching to Newman. Doug Sisk came into relieve Scherrer mid-batter. Newman laid down a bunt up the third baseline which Sisk fielded and then threw away. The error brought Moses in with the third run of the inning but Newman was thrown out trying to make it to third. Sisk got out of the inning without any more damage but the run scoring on the throwing error ended up being costly as the Orioles staged a two out rally in the top of the ninth. Singles by Joe Orsulak, Cal Ripken and Murray with a walk to Bill Ripken sandwiched in between Orsulak and Cal brought the score to 7-6 with the tying run on third before Fred Lynn grounded out to end the game.
With this loss the Orioles had tied the 1906 Red Sox, and 1916 and 1943 Philadelphia Athletics for longest losing streak in American League history.
Jose Bautista relieved McGregor and he kept the Twins off the board for the next three innings. Bill Scherrer replaced Bautista on the mound in the bottom of the eighth and immediately lost the lead by giving up back-to-back home runs to Hrbek and Laudner. It was Hrbek's third home run in two days against the Orioles. John Moses then walked and moved to second when Scherrer balked while pitching to Newman. Doug Sisk came into relieve Scherrer mid-batter. Newman laid down a bunt up the third baseline which Sisk fielded and then threw away. The error brought Moses in with the third run of the inning but Newman was thrown out trying to make it to third. Sisk got out of the inning without any more damage but the run scoring on the throwing error ended up being costly as the Orioles staged a two out rally in the top of the ninth. Singles by Joe Orsulak, Cal Ripken and Murray with a walk to Bill Ripken sandwiched in between Orsulak and Cal brought the score to 7-6 with the tying run on third before Fred Lynn grounded out to end the game.
With this loss the Orioles had tied the 1906 Red Sox, and 1916 and 1943 Philadelphia Athletics for longest losing streak in American League history.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
April 26 at the Twins
Opponent: Minnesota Twins
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L19
Record: 0-19
Rank: 7th
GB: 15.0
Another game where the Orioles lead early but ended up losing. Fred Lynn lead the game off with a home run against Frank Viola and Baltimore extended their lead to 2-0 when Cal Ripken doubled in his brother Bill in the third inning. But Kent Hrbek tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth with a two run home run and Randy Bush followed up with a solo shot three batters later to put the Twins up 3-2. Hrbek hit a second home run in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 4-2 which was the final score. These were Hrbek's first two home runs of the season.
One other note about the game - the coaching staff decided to try to loosen the team up by taking batting practice before the game. This included manager Frank Robinson. Robinson had hit 586 home runs during his major league career but he was now 52 years old. "I knew I should not have done it," Robinson told Jane Leavy of the Washington Post a few months later.* "I didn't have the heart, maybe the guts, to say 'no, I can't do it.'" He ended up rupturing a disk in his back "I came up short. Warning-track power. It didn't quite go out. But I knew my back had gone out." He would remain in pain for the rest of the season - so 1988 would end up being physically painful for Frank Robinson as well as professionally.
*The linked article is from the LA Times archive but Leavy is/was with the Washington Post
Here's a video clip from WBAL-TV (Channel 2) from the next day which shows highlights from this game.
Longtime Baltimore sportscaster Vince Bagli mentions something called "Fantastic Fans Night". I'm not sure exactly when or where this idea came from although I think Bob Rivers and WIYY were behind it. The plan was to get fans to show their support for the team by coming out for the game on Monday, May 2nd against the Rangers. This would be the first home game after the road trip that they were currently on.
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L19
Record: 0-19
Rank: 7th
GB: 15.0
Another game where the Orioles lead early but ended up losing. Fred Lynn lead the game off with a home run against Frank Viola and Baltimore extended their lead to 2-0 when Cal Ripken doubled in his brother Bill in the third inning. But Kent Hrbek tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth with a two run home run and Randy Bush followed up with a solo shot three batters later to put the Twins up 3-2. Hrbek hit a second home run in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 4-2 which was the final score. These were Hrbek's first two home runs of the season.
One other note about the game - the coaching staff decided to try to loosen the team up by taking batting practice before the game. This included manager Frank Robinson. Robinson had hit 586 home runs during his major league career but he was now 52 years old. "I knew I should not have done it," Robinson told Jane Leavy of the Washington Post a few months later.* "I didn't have the heart, maybe the guts, to say 'no, I can't do it.'" He ended up rupturing a disk in his back "I came up short. Warning-track power. It didn't quite go out. But I knew my back had gone out." He would remain in pain for the rest of the season - so 1988 would end up being physically painful for Frank Robinson as well as professionally.
*The linked article is from the LA Times archive but Leavy is/was with the Washington Post
Here's a video clip from WBAL-TV (Channel 2) from the next day which shows highlights from this game.
Longtime Baltimore sportscaster Vince Bagli mentions something called "Fantastic Fans Night". I'm not sure exactly when or where this idea came from although I think Bob Rivers and WIYY were behind it. The plan was to get fans to show their support for the team by coming out for the game on Monday, May 2nd against the Rangers. This would be the first home game after the road trip that they were currently on.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
April 25th - Off Day
The Orioles were off on April 25th. They spent the day in the Minneapolis-St Paul area as they would begin a three game series against the Twins on the 26th.
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