O's and Indians Split to Stay Afloat in AL East Race

This series between 1973 Baltimore and 1999 Cleveland looked to be a battle of polar opposites. Baltimore has great starting pitching (McNally, Palmer, Alexander, Cuellar) and little in the way of offensive power. Cleveland has shaky starters (no starter has an ERA below 4) but a loaded offense that can belt them out of the park.

Game One: Baltimore gets two runs apiece in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings, as Andy Etchebarren has four RBIs and a bases clearing double off the Indians' struggling starter Jaret Wright. But leading 7-0, Baltimore's bullpen allows Cleveland to come back; Eddie Watt gives up back to back homers from Sandy Alomar Jr. and Wil Cordero to cut the lead to 7-5. Bob Reynolds comes in for Baltimore in the ninth and shuts the door for the O's.
Baltimore 7, Cleveland 5
W: Hood (1-0)
L: Wright (2-4)
S: Reynolds (3)

Game Two: Cleveland comes back with a vengeance, knocking around Baltimore's Doyle Alexander for seven runs in six innings. Home runs by Robby Alomar, Manny Ramirez and Richie Sexson provide the firepower, while Bartolo Colon is magnificent in only allowing four hits in seven innings.
Cleveland 8, Baltimore 0
W: Colon (5-2)
L: Alexander (3-4)

Game Three: A tremendous pitchers duel from Baltimore's Dave McNally and Cleveland's Dave Burba, with only one run allowed between the two teams. Baltimore plates it in the fourth on a Don Baylor double and Tommy Davis RBI single. Cleveland has several chances with men on third base and less than two outs but McNally is too tough in his eight innings of work.
Baltimore 1, Cleveland 0
W: McNally (2-4)
L: Burba (2-3)
S: Reynolds (4)

Game Four: This game looked at first to be an easy win for Baltimore, as the legendary Jim Palmer was cruising along with a 5-3 lead in the seventh. But then the floodgates opened for Cleveland, as Palmer gave up four in the bottom of the seventh, walking three and giving up two-RBI singles from Omar Vizquel and Jim Thome. After Baltimore makes it close at 7-6 in the eighth, Vizquel doubles in the bottom of the inning to score two more and put it away.
Cleveland 9, Baltimore 6
W: DePaula (2-0)
L: Palmer (3-4)
S: Shuey (3)

The Indians Take Series from Twins in Playoff Battle

99 Cleveland comes in with nearly an identical record (17-14) as 06 Minnesota (17-13), as both teams hope to make the playoffs in a bunch-up AL race. Starting pitching is an issue for both clubs, but they can hit: Cleveland has a powerful lineup from top to bottom, while Minnesota features the fabled M&M boys (Mauer and Morneau).

Game One: Both teams hit the ball early in this one, with Cleveland holding a 6-3 lead after two and starters Scott Baker and Dave Burba getting hit hard. But then Cleveland keeps the bats going while Minnesota fails to score more runs the rest of the game. Cleveland wins going away, paced by a grand slam from the "power-hitting" Omar Vizquel and a three hit day with two RBIs from Jim Thome. Cleveland 14, Minnesota 3.

W: Burba (2-2)
L: Baker (0-2)

Game Two: Minnesota takes an early 2-0 lead in the first on three singles off Charlie Nagy, but Cleveland gets four singles off Brad Radke in the second to tie it, before Justin Morneau's double in the third gives Minnesota a 3-2 lead. Cleveland gets three more in the fourth, led by Manny Ramirez's two-run single, before Minnesota ties it at five on another Morneau double. It remains 5-5 after regulation, but in the bottom of the 10th, young Alex Ramirez, starting in leftfield in place of a resting Richie Sexson, launches a homer off Joe Nathan to win it for the Indians. Cleveland 6, Minnesota 5.

W: Jackson(1-2)
L: Nathan (1-2)

Game Three: Cleveland starts little-used Mark Langston in the second game of a doubleheader, and he is hit hard for seven runs in five innings, including back to back homers from Morneau and Torii Hunter. Morneau hits his second homer of the game later, his 9th, as Francisco Liriano and a trio of relievers finally hold down Cleveland's bats. Minnesota 8, Cleveland 4.

W: Liriano (4-2)
L: Langston (1-2)

Nats Sweep Friars to get their mojo back

Nationals Park
GAME 1
Hamilton vs Zimmerman
Nats 6, Padres 0

San Diego got the rare 8 inning complete game out of Joey Hamilton.  Sadly for him the Nats hung his 4th loss of the season on him in the process.  Jordan Zimmerman, on the other hand, didn't go the distance but he pitched 7.1 shutout innings.  Adam LaRoche hit his 7th, a 2 run shot as part of a 4 run 8th that blew what was a 2-0 game wide open.

GAME 2
Tewksbury vs Roark
Nats 2, Padres 0

Tanner Roark (4-0, 1.46) went 7 shutout innings before handing the ball off to Clippard (perfect 8th) and Soriano (perfect 9th) as the Nats nursed 2 runs to victory.  A Wilson Ramos two out single in the second scored Ian Desmond to make it 1-0.  Padre starter Bob Tewksbury was keeping pace with the stingy Roark until the 6th when Desmond hit a one out triple then scored on a roller to short by Nate McLouth.  That would be all the scoring that Roark and company would need.

Jack Murphy Stadium
GAME 3
Fister vs Worrell

Both teams received great starting pitching.  Doug Fister (2-1, 2.47) paced the Nats for 7.2 innings before lefty specialist Jerry Blevins came on to pitch to Wally Joyner, which netted an inning ending ground out with the bases loaded and the Nats up 2-1.  In the top of the 9th Ryan Zimmerman hit a pinch hit single then scored all the way from firs on Denard Spans' timely double.  That insurance run would loom large as closer Rafael Soriano was resting and Drew Storen assumed the role in today's game.  Storen gave up a run to make it 3-2 then got Finley to ground back to the box with a runner on first to end it and give the Nats the series sweep.

The Mariners Take Series from Indians

Seattle managed to cool off red-hot Cleveland, taking two of three. Cleveland's pitching in the first two games had a bit of an odor, as did Seattle's starter in game three, as none of the games were all that close.

Game One: Seattle 8, Cleveland 1

W: Sele (1-4)
L: Wright (2-3)
Aaron Sele had his best game of the year, only allowing five hits and striking out seven in seven innings, while inducing three DP balls to get out of possible jams. Jaret Wright was hit hard, as Edgar Martinez (with his sixth homer), John Olerud and Dan Wilson all had two RBIs.

Game Two: Seattle 6, Cleveland 3
W: Abbott (2-2)
L: Haney (0-1)
S: Sasaki (7)
Spot starter Chris Haney was pounded for Cleveland, giving up five runs in 1.2 innings before Dwight Gooden came in and settled things down. But it was too late, as Jim Abbott held the Indians to three runs for his second win. Seattle got scoring from all over the lineup. Cleveland tried to come back late but Kaz Sasaki shut it down in the ninth for save number 7.

Game Three: Cleveland 11, Seattle 2
W: Colon (4-2)
L: Garcia (2-3)

Bartolo Colon continued to pitch well for Cleveland, going seven innings and only allowing five hits, with nine Ks thrown in. Cleveland hitters also woke up, hitting Freddy Garcia and a potpourri of relievers for 11 runs. Richie Sexson hit two longballs, Enrique Wilson homered and had four RBIs, and Jim Thome also found the fence for his seventh home run.