The heavily favored Orioles came into game 2 knowing that they were in a MUST win situation. Teams that lose the first 2 games of a 7 game series do not have a great track record when it comes to righting the ship and winning it all. On top of that little tidbit this team starter hearing the rumblings from the media and fans alike regarding how they lost the 1969 Series to the underdog Mets and they were well on their way to doing the same vs the Dodgers.
Ace righty Jim Palmer took the mound and had the world on his shoulders. His
opponent was the cool lefty Johnny Podres who incidentally was the 1955 World Series MVP as he led Brooklyn to their only World Championship.Both hurlers were posting goose eggs on the board as neither team could score. The O's finally broke Podres' spell and got a single run in the bottom of the 6th. Palmer worked out a lead off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice from lead off hitter Merv Rettenmund. Davey Johnson then hit a sharp grounder to second that was booted by Larry Burright and the O's were in business. Frank Robinson singled Johnson over to 3rd and the makings of a big inning seemed to be in place. That's when the coolness of a Podres comes into play. The crafty lefty struck out Boog Powell and got Paul Blair to fly to left to limit the damage to a lone run.
Palmer was in cruise control as he gave up only 3 hits well into the 8th where he opened the inning by striking out Dodger pinch hitter Wally Moon. All looked right for the O's, even as pinch hitter Duke Snider singled up the middle. Maury Wills followed Snider's hit up by grounding into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning. Palmer looked good to go, when he made a mistake and hung a curve to fleet footed Willie Davis who promptly sent it out of Memorial Stadium. With 2 outs in the top of the 8th the Baltimore faithful became silent. Most fans will tell you that they weren't throwing in the towel, but this reporter will vouch for the fact that at least 20% of them began heading for the exits.The bottom of the 8th saw the O's get a runner on, but the didn't pose any real threat. The Dodgers didn't do much in their half of the 9th. 3 more outs stood in the way of LA going home up 2-0 over the heavily favored O's with all the momentum in the world on their side.
Paul Blair, who has been clutch all season, lead off the 9th with a solid single to center off of Dodger fireman Ron Perranoski who came on for one out in the 8th. Perranoski promptly induced Brooks Robinson to hit into a force play, which came very close to being a double play. With 1 out and a man on first catcher Andy Etchebarren singled to move Brooksie into scoring position. Mark Belanger battled Perranoski and finally singled to right to score Robinson and move Etch 
over to 3rd. The game was now tied and life began to breathe back into the stadium on 33rd st. Curt Motton came up to pinch hit for reliever Dick Hall and barely missed a game winning hit as he lined to short. With 2 outs and 2 on switch hitter Don Bufford strolled to the plate. Bufford didn't crack the starting lineup, but did pinch hit for Rettenmund in the 7th. On a 2-1 pitch Perranoski's fastball caught a little bit too much of the plate and entirely too much of Bufford's bat as it wound up on the grass in centerfield as Etch scored the winning run.Pandemonium broke lose. The series was tied. The O's have life ! We'll see you all for game 3 in Chavez Ravine !
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