M’s take 2 of 3 from O’s

Memorial Stadium
Baltimore 8 Seattle 0
Sele vs Palmer
Game MVP: Palmer

The season opener for both teams at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore.  75 degrees under the lights.  Baltimore ace Jim Palmer faces Seattle's Aaron Sele.  Over the course of the first three innings Baltimore builds a 8-0 lead. The big inning was the second as Baltimore touched Sele for 4 singles, 2 doubles and 5 runs. As the game ran its course the pitching staffs allowed no more runs.  Baltimore collected 11 hits on the night as Palmer held Seattle's potent lineup to 3 hits in pitching the shut out.

Memorial Stadium
Seattle 5 Baltimore 3
Moyer vs Cuellar
Game MCP: Mike Cameron

For 6 innings Seattle's Jamie Moyer held the O's scoreless while the crafty Mike Cuellar worked his way out of a number of jams to hold Seattle to just a 2 run lead after 6 1/2 innings.  With Moyer doing his best Jim Palmer imitation it appeared another shut out was at hand but a tiring Moyer gave up a two run home run to Brooks Robinson to tie the game at 2 after seven tightly contested innings. In the bottom of the 8th, Seattle reliever Jose Paniagua took over for Moyer and after recorded two quick outs he gave up a double to Paul Blair before intentionally waking Tommy Davis to get to Baltimore slugger Earl Williams.  Williams came through for the O's with a run scoring single to put Baltimore up 3-2 heading to the top of the ninth.  At this point Oriole manager Mark Nixon debated pulling Eddie Watt off of the mound, but chose to let him pitch to A Rod instead.  After getting ahead 0-2 Watt sent a fastball straight down the middle of the plate which A Rod launched  over the left field fence to tie the game.  Bob Reynolds entered (one batter too late) to keep the game tied after nine innings. With the game still tied going into the top of the 1th, Reynolds got the first two outs before giving up a walk to Rickey Henderson and an RBI double to Carlos Guillen.  By the time the inning was over, Seattle had built a 5-3 lead for closer Saski to hold.  He did, getting the O's in order and sending the series to Seattle tied at one game apiece.
Safeco Field

 

 Seattle 7 Baltimore 1
Alexander vs Halamala
Gave MVP: Tom Lampkin

In the bottom of the second inning Doyle Alexander gave up consecutive 400+ foot solo home runs to Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner to put Seattle up 2-0.  In the bottom of the 4th Alexander yielded another solo shot to Tom Lampkin. The O's finally broke through in the top of the 5th on three singles, but Alexander gave up another solo shot to A Rod in the bottom of the inning to keep Seattle out fron 4-1 after 5. In the 6th the wheels fell off for Baltimore as Seattle added three more runs, which is how this one would end as Halamala cruised home going 8 2/3 innings for the win.
Well played series and a lot of fun between two teams from very different eras.

--submitted by Mark Nixon--