Orioles Open 1971 with Victory over Senators

Game 1: Baltimore: 7  Washington 1
W McNally (1-0, 1.00 ERA)
L Cox (0-1, 8.53 ERA)

After dropping back to back World Series attempts (1969, 1970), to capture a title in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles set there sites high for the 1971 season.  Opening day came to Memorial Stadium as the nations capital team, the Washington Senators, invaded Baltimore.  Washington was riding an opening day high of their own slipping past Oakland 4-3 just 2 days previous.  But today was a new day as Earl Weaver's Orioles came to play.  Dave McNally was stellar in his complete game, 4 hit, 1 run opening day performance.  His lone blemish was a grooved pitch, down the center of the plate, teeing up Frank Howard for a 406 ft solo shot bomb in the 1st inning.  But McNally cruised the rest of the way to earn his first victory of the season.  McNally, Frank Robinson and Elrod Hendricks contributed 6 of the Orioles 9 hits; including a two run home run by Hendricks (his 1st) in the 6th inning.

The Orioles (1-0) will host Detroit in a 4 game series coming up later this week.  Washington (1-1) will host the Yankees.