Orioles 7, Brewers 1
Brewers now 94-66 (1st by 1.0 games)
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BALTIMORE — Immediately after the Brewers were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in a double header today, general manager Harry Dalton shut the door to the clubhouse for a 10-minute meeting.
“We just talked a little,” said an agitated Dalton. “The door was closed so we obviously didn’t want anybody else to hear it.”
The Brewers deserved the talk. Needing only one win in four games, today’s performance was an ugly display. With two aces on the mound for the Crew, a win should have been possible. And considering the Orioles were throwing rookie Storm Davis, it was even more doable.
“They flat out beat us badly,” said Paul Molitor, who had three hits on the day. “We didn’t do anything real badly out there, we weren’t choking or anything like that. They just came out and played real good, aggressive baseball.”
Call it whatever you want, Paul. But maybe, just maybe, you should match that intensity tomorrow.
The game had a bad feel from the start. With two down and one on in the first inning, Caldwell surrendered a two-run bomb to Eddie Murray. Two is never enough, of course, so he he said, “Hey! Why not!” and gave up hits to the next two batters to bring home another run to make it 3-0 after the first inning.
Folks, it really doesn’t get much better after that. And to be honest, I don’t want to cover more details than I need to. Lenn Freaking Sakata hit a home run. The Brewers — Harvey’s Wallbangers — scored one run on six hits off of the rookie, who pitched a complete game. Mike Caldwell allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits in seven innings of work.
Oh, the one bright spot? Chuck Porter came in for the second straight game — and twice in the same day! — to pitch a scoreless eighth. Fantastic.
Suddenly, I have no confidence in this team. Coming into this series, the Brewers needed only to win one game. One. They have now spent two of their best three pitchers and wasted two games.
Luckily, Orioles manager Earl Weaver doesn’t believe in momentum.
“I remember when we were up 3-1 in the 1979 World Series,” Weaver said. “I remember the 1969 playoffs when we won three straight and then ran into the Mets. It’s that inertia theory. A body in motion remains in motion unless something changes it.”
Alright, so now Weaver’s just messing with my head.
We’re in serious trouble right now. The Brewers now have to win one game out of two. On the road. In Baltimore. Against a great team. And emotions will be high, not only because it’s a pennant race, but because it is the end of the road for Weaver.
But at least we have Doc Medich on the mound tomorrow, right? Right?! Oh, boy.
Crap. I don’t like the feel of this. Since about July, it’s seemed like the Brewers’ season. All of a sudden, it seems as though it’s in the stars for the Orioles.
So what do you think? Is it time to panic?