European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday August 19. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 orioles Dodge predicted collapse b John Steadman those waiting for the Baltimore orioles to fall out of the sky and splatter against the Rock hard surface of the american league s East division arc disappointed. The orioles Are still in command. Those prophets of doom forecasting the demise of Ilic team s sur prising championship Hopes need to Call an Emer gency meeting to reassess the situation. The Boston red had their Chance and did t gain a fraction of a Point in a four game series last week that was supposed to be climactic. A journey Man Pitcher out of the minor leagues one Dave Johnson did t exactly resemble another Johnson first name Walter but was exceptional for the Ori Oles. In fact he was a wonderful picture of pitching precision As he held the red sox to six hits and put away the dangerous Nick Esasky on three pitches for the final out. Esasky was standing there with the Bat on his shoulder looking As ominious As the proverbial House by the Side of the Road As he was temporarily partly cd by a Johnson cur Mcball. Johnson the greatest thing to come out of Middle rim. Mil., since steamed crabs and gentle breezes. Was rescued from the minors by the orioles after the scouts said he did t throw hard enough to Dent a nor shallow. They must have been out in the Sun Ion Long because Johnson is sneaky fast does t Back Down and delivers the Ball with exceptional accuracy. The red sox came in creating considerable sound Anil fury including the usual partisan number of transplanted new englander who arrived from government jobs in Washington. Virginia and the sur rounding Countryside wearing their team colors and Caps with a a on them and sounding funny when they talked. The red sox. Who Lead the league in Domestic problems could t do any better than a split in the set even though they were made to feel As if memorial stadium were Fenway Park South. The weekend results mean the orioles remain 2v games ahead of the red sox and their other closest pursuer the Toronto Blue jays. Johnson was so control perfect in keeping the Ball Low that Bob Melvin a Good smart receiver could have caught him on his hands and Knees and would t have even had to bother with being in a Crouch. It s significant the Way the orioles keep coming Back. They lose to Roger Clemens in the first game of a Friday but snap Back to win with an even better pitching Effort from Pete Harnisch. Then they get ahead of the red sox 7-2. On saturday and wind up losing in 13 innings 10-8. But that did t put them Back on their heels. Not even temporarily. In sunday s game when they were expected to be tired and disappointed from the Long night of defeat. They quickly took the play away from the red sox who gel close enough to reach out and touch first place in anticipation of replacing the orioles but keep getting thrown Back. The red sox signalled their intentions Early scor ing in the opening inning. It was the Only run off Johnson As it turned out but it gave them some tentative reason to believe they would Cut into the orioles precarious i to game Lead. Craig Worthington ended that speculation when he hit a Home run hit Well Over 360 feet with Randy Milligan on base. The red sox might just As Well have packed the Bat bag right then and headed for the Airport. Johnson was their Complete master even shutting Down Wade Boggs the Best Contact hitter in the game today. The red sox have been beset with prob lems injuries and All kinds of controversy. Wanting to please their employees they thought it would be in the Best interest of Harmony if they invited the play ers wives to accompany the team on a Road trip. So what happens Pitcher Wes Gardner is arrested after his wife claimed he hit her during an argument Young plauts hate the orioles in first place. Here Mike out Aux Eva ring the Bullini helmet is Cun Ralu muted by state of Lelej 10craig Worth Nylon and Mark Williamson 32 after a Homer. At the Village of Cross keys the same inn where former Yankee manager Billy Martin worked Over Pitcher de Whitson. Meanwhile the orioles have recovered from their earlier slide which saw them fall from Ivi games ahead on july 18. To a Mere one game on aug. 2. They could have been supplanted by the red , who had a six run Lead in the sixth inning the afternoon of aug. 2 but could t stand the thought of Prosperity and lost. 9-8, letting the orioles of the Hook. There s every reason to legitimize the orioles. The season is exactly 133 a s old and they be been in first place 98 of those Days including the last 80 in a Row. If they were going to fall apart there was ample Opportunity As the red sox applied the pressure. But the orioles responded positively to the confrontation. The red Sov took their Best shot and it was t Good enough. Soon the Blue jays and Milwaukee Brewers will be coming Forth to Challenge the Ori Oles and the same Fate Baltimore evening Sun Blue jays can t explain 15 straight wins at Fenway _ ii i it. 111,11 in. N t i for Tfir i nt\4\
