'69 Orioles take 3 from '62 Dodgers

---Originally Posted 0n 9-12-2007--- The series opened up in Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Dodgers sent ace right hander Don Drysdale to the mound sporting a 1-0 record. Baltimore went with 5th starter Jim Hardin. The O's jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and Hardin looked to be cruising, until he came up lame with 1 out in the 3rd. Baltimore was then forced to go with a committee of relievers the rest of the way. LA's bats got hot and Drysdale notched his second victory of the year giving up 4 runs over 8 innings. LA's big blows came with back to back 4 run innings in the 6th/7th. Tommy Davis went 3 for 5 for LA and Willie Davis had 3 RBI's.Game 2 saw Baltimore lefthander Dave McNally toss a 4 hit complete game shutout. The O's jumped out to 4 runs in the first and never looked back as the final score was 11-0. John Podres took the loss for LA in 5 innings of work (9 ER). Baltimore hit 4 homers off of Podres including 3 in the first inning by: Davey Johnson (to lead the game off), Boog Powell and Merv Rettenmund.The series shifted to the West Coast as the Dodgers played host in Chavez Ravine. This game saw a pitching matchup of future HOF'ers. Jim Palmer took the hill for Baltimore and Sandy Koufax represented the Dodgers. In a matchup reminiscent of Koufax's final game pitched in the majors (Game 2 1966 WS) a young Palmer got the best of the great Koufax. Palmer threw a 1 hitter (double by Frank Howard to lead off the 5th) and out dueled Sandy, who only gave up 3 runs (7k's). The big offensive blow came in the 6th when Paul Blair hit a solo shot to make the score 2-0. Frank Robinson also hit a solo shot in the 9th to make it 3-0 and add a valuable insurance run.The series finale saw Mike Cuellar (BAL) face Stan Williams (LA). On the surface this looked to be pitching mismatch with Cuellar having such a dominant 1969 season. LA's bats awoke and torched Cuellar for 6 runs over 6 innings until he was finally lifted for a pinch hitter. Williams gave up 6 runs as well in 6 innings, but shoddy Dodger fielding made 3 of the unearned. The turning point of the game occurred in the top of the 7th with 2 out and 2 on. Baltimore lifted Cuellar for pinch hitter Chico Salmon who promptly delivered a 3 run shot to break the deadlock and put Baltimore up by 3 (9-6). LA was only able to manage 1 hit over the next 3 innings as Pete Richert and Dick Hall kept them in knots. Hall notched his first save of the year and Baltimore posted their 7th win in 8 tries.