Devon White came to the plate as the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th inning, already having three hits including a double, but reliever Don Maragiello escaped by catching him looking for a 6-4 win.
The 1983 Baltimore Orioles hero was Eddie Murray, who went three for four with a home run, a hard singled that skipped past the 1997 Florida Marlins Gary Sheffield, and an RBO single. Cal Ripken hit a deep drive that was caught at the wall. With teams averaging fewer than 3 runs a game in games between ace pitchers, this game was different with 21 total hits. When No. 4 starters have faced each other, teams average more than the all-time 4.5 runs per game in MLB history, but when great pitchers face great batters we would expect pitchers to have the edge in these Statis-Pro baseball games since they action starts on their cards, we'd expect it to be about 50-50 in Strat-o-Matic where it is is exactly 50-50 and we'd expect batters to have the edge in APBA where the action is usually based on the batter's card.
For second game in a row a player was ejected, and this time it actually seemed very logical. The Orioles had jumped on the sometimes hot-headed Kevin Brown in the 4th inning for Murray's home, then a walk by John Lowenstein and then and RBI double by Jim Dwyer, which led to Brown arguing and being ejected. Livan Hernandez did get MVP in the 1997 season with playoff dominance, but Brown was even better during the season hand has a slightly better card.
Mike Boddicker, with one of the greatest curve balls in history, was tagged for 8 hits in 7 innings pitched, including a leadoff single. He left after a lead off single in the 8th, but ace reliever Tippy Martinez ran out of endurance after allowing a 9th inning double by Cliff Johnson and then RBI single to Jeff Conine to make it 6-3.
Needing only one out for the save Morogiello then allowed the 8th and 9th batters to reach, a walk by Kurt Abbott then RBI single by Edgar Renteria - who like Ripken had just missed a home run on a deep drive earlier, before finally catching lead off hitter White looking to escape with a very shake save and 6-4 win.
The 1995 Atlanta Braves are the only team in the South that is already 2-0, but the 1-0 mark and 2-plus margin puts these 1983 Orioles in 2nd place in the South.
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