Baltimore Takes Two on Opening Day Home Stand

Game 1: Baltimore 5  Boston 4
WP: Dave McNally (1-0)
LP: Sparky Lyle (0-1)
SV: Eddie Watt (1)

Boog Powell had 6 hits, 3 RBI's and Homer
as Baltimore downs Boston in a 2 game
series.

The Orioles swung the bats freely in their home opener racking up 10 hits (3 for extra bases) as they hung on to down a stubborn Red Sox squad 5-4.  Boog Powell and Frank Robinson each went 3 for 4.  Every time Boston would make a run, Baltimore seemed to have an answer.  With the score tied, 4-4, in the bottom of the 7th.  A lead off double by Frank Robinson would result in the eventual game winning run as Davey Johnson would drive him in with a crisp single between third and short.  Eddie Watt would then come in and allow only 1 hit in 2 innings of relief to grab the save.

Game 2: Baltimore 6  Boston 5
WP: Eddie Watt (1-0)
LP: Sparky Lyle (0-2)

A 3 run 9th inning explosion by the Red Sox, including a a ball that almost cleared the wall for Carl Yaztresmski (ending in a double), gave the Boston fans hopes of grabbing their first win of the season.  The Sox would take a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth as Sparky Lyle again would take the mound to try and close things out.  Lyle would face the same fate as he did in the opener, a Baltimore team that would knock him silly in just .1 innings of work.  A Davey Johnson single, followed by a PH Carl Mouton homer would quickly have the "O's" tied up.  With 1 out Paul Blair would walk and steal a base, giving Boog Powell a chance at glory.  Powell finished up his series with an impressive single to right field to improve the Orioles to 2-0 on the season.

Boog Powell would go 6-9 with 3 RBI's and a home run to take the Series MVP honor for Baltimore.  Russ Gibson pounded out 3 hits in 6 attempts (2 RBI's ) for the Sox.