The second game in Mariner history saw Enrique Romo go up against Nolan Ryan, who was known for striking out a lot of batters, but also walking a lot, too. The game got going with Bobby Grich walking with 1 out in the top of the 1st inning, then stole second, and Don Baylor plated him with an RBI single, giving California a 1-0 advantage. In the bottom of the inning, the Ryan Express looked like an old engine train as he walked Larry Milbourne and Dave Collins, but Steve Braun made history for all the wrong reasons with a 4-6-3 triple play, inning over. Seattle looked to threaten again as Danny Meyer reached on a Grich error, then Hugh Fitzpatrick was hit by a Ryan pitch, a batter later Leroy Stanton loaded the bases with a single, but the M's could not capitalize. But in the 3rd, they finally came through as Milbourne doubled, then advanced to 3rd on a Collins ground-out, and Steve Braun tied the game with a sac fly to left. Then Meyer broke the tie with the first ever home run in franchise history, a solo shot, and the Mariners, for the first time ever led 2-1. Meyer added some insurance as his sac fly scored Milbourne in the 5th to make it 3-1 Seattle. But Darrell Johnson committed a major error by allowing Romo to pitch in the 6th, and it backfired with Bobby Bonds smacking a homer to make it 3-2, then Baylor walked, then a batter later Tony Solaita laced a game-tying triple, and it was a brand new game at 3-3. The Halos had a chance to regain the lead, but Stanton threw out Baylor at home plate in the 8th, and in the same stanza Joe Rudi was thrown out by Braun at third. Meanwhile, Ryan calmed down by throwing 4 straight goose eggs, finishing with 9 innings of work, 5 hits, 5 walks, 1 hit batter, 3 runs, 1 home run and 11 strikeouts. Glenn Abbott pitched 3 scoreless innings, but he bent and did not break, allowing 4 hits, but was unscathed. So, we go on to extra innings, and the vet Mike Kekich was in relief, and Barry Bonds greeted him with a lead-off triple, and Baylor sent Bobby home with the go-ahead run with a sac fly to right. Seattle had one more chance in the bottom of the 10th, going up against lefty closer Dave LaRoche. Collins got things off with a single, then Braun walked and Meyer drove Steve home with the tying run on a single. Fitzpatrick struck out, but Rupe Jones walked, loading the bases, and then...LaRoche walked Stanton, scoring Braun with the winning run! The 10,144 fans thought they won the World Series as their hometown team won their first ever Major League game! There were many heroes in this game: Larry Milbourne had a double, 2 walks and 2 runs scored. Dave Collins had 2 walks, 2 singles and a run scored. Danny Meyer was 2-3 with a homer and 3 RBI. Leroy Stanton had the walk-off walk and a game-saving outfield assist. And Steve Braun had an RBI, an outfield assist and scored the game-winning run. You had to be there to believe it, and even though there were just 10,144 in the Dome, they experienced history. And I am proud to bring it to you.
CAL 100 002 000 1 - 4 12 1 Ryan, LaRoche (L) and Humphrey
SEA 002 010 000 2 - 5 7 0 Romo, Abbott, Kekich (1-0) and Stinson
HR: Meyer (1), Bonds
SB: Grich
Get ready for a lot of high-scoring action on Friday night, April 8th at the Kingdome as the Angels send Gary Ross to the mound against the Mariners and Roy Thomas in game 3 of this 5-game Opening Week series!
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