O'S EKE PAST YANKS IN 9TH
Holtzman, Miller Combine on 2-Hitter
NEW YORK, May 16 (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles scored twice in the top of the
ninth inning to earn a narrow 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee
Stadium. New York starter Dock Ellis had shut the Orioles out through
eight innings but yielded a lead-off hit to Mark Belanger and was replaced on
the mound by Sparky Lyle who failed to hold the advantage. Baltimore
starter Ken Holtzman held the Yankees to one run on two hits in eight innings
and reliever Dyar Miller tossed a perfect ninth inning to close out the game.
The compelling pitcher's duel lasted throughout the contest, but the Orioles
blew a golden opportunity to seize the lead in the top of the third
inning. Ellis walked Dave Duncan to open the frame and the Baltimore
catcher advanced to second on Doug DeCinces infield roller. A wild pitch
moved Duncan to third and when Al Bumbry drew the second free pass of the
inning, the Orioles had runners on the corners with one out. But, with
Mark Belanger at the plate, the Yankees bailed themselves out of trouble with a
preset play. On the first pitch to the Baltimore shortstop--a ball--New
York catcher Rick Dempsey immediately fired to third baseman Graig Nettles, who
had slipped behind Duncan, and picked the runner off third base for the second
out. Belanger then grounded out to short, ending the threat.
The Yankees finally broke the scoreless tie in the sixth. Fred Stanley
drew a lead-off walk from Holtzman and advanced to second when Sandy Alomar
grounded out. Roy White bounced to third for the second out of the inning
but Thurman Munson came through with an RBI single to left, scoring Stanley and
giving New York a 1-0 lead.
Ellis cruised through the seventh and eighth innings in order and took a two-hit
shutout into the ninth. But Belanger picked on a first pitch fastball
leading off the top of the ninth and lined a single to center. With the
dangerous Reggie Jackson due up, Yankees manager Billy Martin called on Sparky
Lyle to close out the game. But Jackson--also picking on a first
pitch--dropped a single into right. Belanger made the turn for third and
Munson--making his first start of the year in right field--tried to cut him
down, but his throw was wild. Belanger scored the tying run on the error
and Jackson advanced to second, representing the potential go-ahead run.
Lee May was next and he became the third straight batter to attack the first
pitch, lining a single to right field, scoring Jackson and giving the Orioles a
2-1 lead. Lyle avoided further damage, but the horse was out of the barn.
With Munson due to lead off the bottom of the ninth for the Yankees, Baltimore
manager Earl Weaver brought Miller into the game to begin the inning and he
retired Munson on a comebacker to the mound. Chris Chambliss flied out to
center fielder Paul Blair and Miller struck out pinch hitter Oscar Gamble to end
the game.
5/16/1976, Bal76-NYA76, Yankee Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1976 Orioles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 5 0 4 1 1976 Yankees 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 4 1 Orioles AB R H BI AVG Yankees AB R H BI AVG Bumbry dh 3 0 0 0 .185 Alomar dh 4 0 0 0 .118 Belanger ss 4 1 2 0 .261 White,R cf 4 0 0 0 .300 Jackson,Re rf 2 1 2 0 .310 Munson rf 4 0 1 1 .256 May,L 1b 4 0 1 1 .268 Chambliss 1b 4 0 1 0 .298 Harper pr 0 0 0 0 .231 Piniella lf 2 0 0 0 .206 Muser 1b 0 0 0 0 .258 Gamble ph 1 0 0 0 .179 Singleton lf 4 0 0 0 .255 Dempsey c 3 0 0 0 .040 Blair,P cf 4 0 0 0 .140 Nettles 3b 2 0 0 0 .216 Robinson,Br 3b 3 0 0 0 .156 Randolph 2b 2 0 0 0 .295 Duncan c 2 0 0 0 .326 Stanley,F ss 1 1 0 0 .343 DeCinces 2b 3 0 0 0 .167 27 1 2 1 29 2 5 1 Orioles INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Holtzman W 6-1 8.0 2 1 1 4 1 102 60 3.41 Miller,D S 2 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 11 6 4.15 9.0 2 1 1 4 2 113 66 Yankees INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Ellis,D 8.0 3 1 1 4 4 108 67 2.08 Lyle BS 1, L 0-2 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 8 6 3.29 9.0 5 2 2 4 4 116 73 Bal: Harper ran for May,L in the 9th Muser inserted at 1b in the 9th NYA: Gamble batted for Piniella in the 9th E-Munson. 2B-Belanger(9). RBI-May,L(12), Munson(15). CS-Harper. K-May,L 2, Duncan, DeCinces, Dempsey, Gamble. BB-Bumbry, Jackson,Re 2, Duncan, Piniella, Nettles, Randolph, Stanley,F. SH-Stanley,F. WP-Holtzman, Ellis,D. GWRBI: May,L Temperature: 56, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 5 MPH. Attendance: 32,285 Game Time: 2:18