1973 ALCS - Oakland Advances to World Series After Defeating Baltimore in a 5 Game Slugfest

Game 1- Blue vs Palmer

Oakland started out hot as they scored 3 runs in each of first 2 innings, with Sal Bando hitting a 2-run homer in the 2^nd. The Orioles Got 1 in the 1^st and 2 in the 2^nd, and then loaded the bases with 1 out in the 3^rd. That was enough for the Oakland manager, who sent Vida Blue to an early shower and called on Rollie Fingers to face the ever-dangerous Bobby Grich. Fingers induced a double play ball to quell the threat. Bando homered again in the 5^th, and A’s C Ray Fosse homered in the 7^th as the A’s scored enough to keep this one out of reach despite the Orioles ultimately plating 6 runs. Sal Bando went 3-4 with 4 runs, 2 homers, and 3 RBI and Reggie Jackson went 3-4 with 4 RBI. Fingers went 4 innings in relief, although he gave up 3 runs, and Horacio Pina picked up the save. A’s up 1-0.

Game 2- Hunter vs McNally

This time the Orioles jumped out to an early lead as they scored 5 in the 1^st. Catfish was ^th and 6^th to close the gap to one, as Hunter settled in after the 1^st. A’s got a couple runners on in the 8^th to threaten, but DH Deron Jonson flied out to kill the rally. Johnson would go a horrific 1 for 18 in the series with 9 Ks. Orioles pitcher Bob Reynolds locked down 8^th and 9^th to pick up the save. All tied 1-1.

ridiculously homer prone this year, and he gave up a 2-run blast to O’s second batter Rich Coggins to get things started. The A’s got 2 runs in the 5

Game 3- Holtzman vs Cuellar

Both teams got on board early, as after 2 the game was knotted at 2-2.  Grich and Don ^thas Paul Blair tripled and scored, but the A’s strung together 3 singles to tie the game in the 8^th. The A’s would threaten continuously over the next few innings, but could never plate the elusive winning run. In the top of the 13^th, Orioles C Andy Etchebarren drew a walk from an exhausted Rollie Fingers. Pinch runner Al Bumbry scored on a Bobby Grich single, and while the A’s got a runner to second in the bottom of the 13^th Deron Johnson struck out and Angel Mangual grounded out to finish the game (Johnson and Mangual combined to go 1 for 30 in the series). O’s firemen Grant Jackson pitched shutout ball in the 12^th and 13^th to take the win. Orioles lead 2-1.

Baylor homered for the Orioles, and Bando doubled and scored for the A’s. Orioles got another run in the 6

Game 4- Blue vs Palmer

A’s again hit Palmer hard, as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first as Bando hit a 3-run ^th, as Earl Williams hit a 2-run homer in the 5^th and singled home Grich in the 6^th. In the 7^th, Brooks Robinson blasted a homer to give the Orioles a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 8^th, PH Jesus Alou hit a 2-out homer to tie the game as the A’s fought valiantly to avoid dropping 3 in a row. In the top of the 9^th,  Earl Williams walked and was replaced by pesky PR Al Bumbry. Brooks Robinson plated Bumbry with the go-ahead run, and the A’s prospects looked dim. In the bottom of the 9^th, 2b Dick Green reached first on an Eddie Watt error and advanced to 2^nd on a Campaneris walk. Joe Rudi struck out, bringing the red hot Sal Bando to the plate with 2 out. Bando hit a 3-run walk off homer to keep the A’s alive. Bando drove in 6 of the 8 A’s runs for the game, as he again hit 2 homers in the game. All tied 2-2.

homer. Orioles tied the game in the 6

Game 5- Hunter vs Alexander

Orioles went with starter Doyle Alexander, who limited the A’s to one run for 3 innings and then was lit up. A’s Gene Tenace and Ray Fosse both homered in the 4-run 4^th, and Tenace homered again in the 5^th as the A’s scored another 3 runs. Orioles scored a run in the 7^th and 2 more in the 8^th to draw within 3, but the A’s lead was too much to overcome. A’s win 3 games to 2.

This series was exciting and evenly matched. Series MVP was Sal Bando (.522 avg with 4 HR and 10 RBI), but Reggie Jackson (.400 avg, 2 HR) and Gene Tenace (.556 avg, 3 HR) were also stellar performers. Rollie Fingers threw 11 innings in relief. Baltimore’s Paul Blair hit .429 and Williams had 2 HR in losing cause.

Congrats to Glenn on a well-played series.