Baltimore Drops First, Wins Two

4-16-71  New York 5 Baltimore 4 10 innings
WP  Aker (3-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP Watt (0-1, BS 1, 1.93 ERA)

Orioles pitcher Pat Dobson clung to  a 4-3 lead going into the 9th inning, before handing the reigns to
lock down pitcher Eddie Watt, to try and keep the Orioles unbeaten on the season.  But a wild pitch from Watt, with bases loaded, ignited the Yankee machine on a mission to be the first team to take down the O's this season.  New York would push the game to extra frames and then add on one more earned run to Watt's stats before games end.  The loss saw the Bronx Bombers tag Oriole pitching for 12 hits (by far the worst of the season for Baltimore) which included 9 hits out the Yanks top 3 guys in the order (Horace Clarke, Jake Gibbs and Felipe Alou).  The loss was the first of the season for Baltimore (7-1) and brought New York to just 1/2 game behind the Orioles in the AL East (7-2).

4-17-71  Baltimore 5 New York 2
WP Jackson (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP Keckich (0-1, 5 Ks, 2.77 ERA)

The Yankees carried the momentum from the game 1 victory right into game 2, jumping on the Orioles 2-0, going into the bottom of the 7th inning.  But that is when the Baltimore bats would awaken.  A two run bottom of the 7th and a 3 run bottom of the eighth barrage would send the Yanks whimpering home with thoughts of the previous day fading like the sun over Memorial Stdm.  The 3 run barrage was highlighted by a 3 run homer by star Brooks Robinson (2).  Starting pitcher Dave Mcnally pitched a nice game before giving way to Grant Jackson who would eventually get the win.

4-18-71  Baltimore 13  New York 0
WP Cuellar (3-0, 6 Ks, 2.52 ERA)
LP Bahnsen (1-2, 3.32 ERA)

A 4-run first, lead to a Baltimore beat down of the Yankees, as the Orioles would send the visiting AL East bullies home with their tails between their legs with a 13-0 loss.  Baltimore would amass 16 total hits on the game including homers by Elrod Hendricks (2) and Don Buford (2) as the Orioles flexed their AL East muscle in the victory.  Mike Cuellar was on point for the 3rd straight time, in as many outings, pitching a complete game shutout and allowing only 3 Yankee hits.  Cueller improves his record to 3-0 on the season and boasts a stellar 2.52 ERA.

The win keeps the Orioles on top of the AL East with a 9-1 record.  The Yankees fall to 7-4.