Game 5: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
With the series knotted at 2 both teams went back to their aces and expected to see a replay of the series opener. Neither starter would disappoint. In
1962 Don Drysdale emerged as Los Angeles ace posting 25 regular season wins. Mike Cuellar, who was aquired from the Astros the previous year (1968), found his grove in 1969 and posted 23 W's. Drysdale is a big intimidating left hander who would sooner put a ball in your ribs than put one over the plate. Cuellar is an unassuming control pitcher who owns the black and changes speeds faster than a Shelby Mustang on the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Orioles were scratching their heads looking for answers after being virtually shut down by journeyman Stan Williams in game 4. Could they reproduce their game 3 offensive explosion (17 runs) or would their bats again remain silent ? In the opening frame the O's jumped on Drysdale for two quick runs. After lead off man Don Buford lined out to second, Davey Johnson doubled to left and scored on the next at bat when Frank Robinson lined a homerun into the left field pavillion, which was quite reminicient of the shot he hit in the 1966 series vs these same Dodgers. Drysdale, like most power pitchers found his slot and got the final two outs in the first.
The key to beating a great one like Drysdale is to get to him early before he finds his grove. The O's got to him early, but would 2 runs be enough ? Cuellar was his normal controlling self. LA did manage to get a run off of him in the second as centerfielder Willie Davis crushed a solo shot to the opposite field.
The game remained 2-1 in favor of the O's until the top of the 4th when Frank Robinson led off
with a clean single. Lumber first baseman Boog Powell doubled down the right field line to score Robinson all the way from first. Paul Blair stepped to the plate and hit a hot smash to second, which normally sure handed Junior Gilliam booted. With nobody out the O's had runners at the corners and were threatening to break it open. Mere mortals would crack under this type of pressure. Drysdale is no mortal. Summoning courage from within "Double D" was able to get the next 3 hitters to either pop out or ground out, thus ensuring that Baltimore would not get that much needed extra run. In that inning the O's lost their starting catcher Ellie Hendricks to an undisclosed leg injury. Andy Etchebarren was summoned to replace Elrod to start the 5th.
The bottom of the 5th saw the Dodgers inch closer as Darryl Spencer notched a 1 out single to left. Cuellar then threw a low curve that went past Etchebarren, who was charged with a passed ball. Spencer moved up to second and manger Weiss began second guessing himself for not putting Clay Dalrymple behing the plate instead of Etch. That passed ball would prove costly as Johnny Roseboro promptly delivered an RBI double to cut the Oriole lead to 1.
From this moment on, both aces dug their heels in and went on cruise control. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th and we see the Dodgers in desperate straits trying to get that ellusive run to tie the game up and force extra innings where they have been so successful in this series. Junior Gilliam attempted to lay down a bunt and catch the O's napping. Etchebarren pounced on the ball and
nailed Junior by a stride for the first out. All world Tommy Davis promptly singled to left with one out. Jumbo Frank Howard came to the plate with the ability to win it with one might swing from his potent bat. Instead Frank put a dribbler in front of the plate, which backstop Andy Etchebarren promptly bungled and threw past Boog Powell at first. With runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out the O's decided to stick with Cuellar and let him win it. Willie Davis, who already homered, fought off one of Cuellar's best offerings and lined to Mark Belanger at short. Down to their last out LA's hopes rested on the shoulders of Ron Fairly, a great contact hitter. With the classic matchup of contact hitter vs control pitcher the control pitcher won out. Fairly lined a 2-2 pitch to his opposite number, Boog Powell, to end the game.
This classic 1 run matchup gave the fans everything that they wanted. The Orioles were ecstatic to take 2 of 3 in Hollywood and head home with the hopes of closing out the series in 6. LA planned to start left Johnny Podres, who is a clutch performer as evidenced by his game 7 shutout of the Yankees in the 1955 series. Baltimore pins its hopes on top dog Jim Palmer.
With the series knotted at 2 both teams went back to their aces and expected to see a replay of the series opener. Neither starter would disappoint. In
1962 Don Drysdale emerged as Los Angeles ace posting 25 regular season wins. Mike Cuellar, who was aquired from the Astros the previous year (1968), found his grove in 1969 and posted 23 W's. Drysdale is a big intimidating left hander who would sooner put a ball in your ribs than put one over the plate. Cuellar is an unassuming control pitcher who owns the black and changes speeds faster than a Shelby Mustang on the Pacific Coast Highway.The Orioles were scratching their heads looking for answers after being virtually shut down by journeyman Stan Williams in game 4. Could they reproduce their game 3 offensive explosion (17 runs) or would their bats again remain silent ? In the opening frame the O's jumped on Drysdale for two quick runs. After lead off man Don Buford lined out to second, Davey Johnson doubled to left and scored on the next at bat when Frank Robinson lined a homerun into the left field pavillion, which was quite reminicient of the shot he hit in the 1966 series vs these same Dodgers. Drysdale, like most power pitchers found his slot and got the final two outs in the first.The key to beating a great one like Drysdale is to get to him early before he finds his grove. The O's got to him early, but would 2 runs be enough ? Cuellar was his normal controlling self. LA did manage to get a run off of him in the second as centerfielder Willie Davis crushed a solo shot to the opposite field.
The game remained 2-1 in favor of the O's until the top of the 4th when Frank Robinson led off
with a clean single. Lumber first baseman Boog Powell doubled down the right field line to score Robinson all the way from first. Paul Blair stepped to the plate and hit a hot smash to second, which normally sure handed Junior Gilliam booted. With nobody out the O's had runners at the corners and were threatening to break it open. Mere mortals would crack under this type of pressure. Drysdale is no mortal. Summoning courage from within "Double D" was able to get the next 3 hitters to either pop out or ground out, thus ensuring that Baltimore would not get that much needed extra run. In that inning the O's lost their starting catcher Ellie Hendricks to an undisclosed leg injury. Andy Etchebarren was summoned to replace Elrod to start the 5th.
The bottom of the 5th saw the Dodgers inch closer as Darryl Spencer notched a 1 out single to left. Cuellar then threw a low curve that went past Etchebarren, who was charged with a passed ball. Spencer moved up to second and manger Weiss began second guessing himself for not putting Clay Dalrymple behing the plate instead of Etch. That passed ball would prove costly as Johnny Roseboro promptly delivered an RBI double to cut the Oriole lead to 1.From this moment on, both aces dug their heels in and went on cruise control. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th and we see the Dodgers in desperate straits trying to get that ellusive run to tie the game up and force extra innings where they have been so successful in this series. Junior Gilliam attempted to lay down a bunt and catch the O's napping. Etchebarren pounced on the ball and
nailed Junior by a stride for the first out. All world Tommy Davis promptly singled to left with one out. Jumbo Frank Howard came to the plate with the ability to win it with one might swing from his potent bat. Instead Frank put a dribbler in front of the plate, which backstop Andy Etchebarren promptly bungled and threw past Boog Powell at first. With runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out the O's decided to stick with Cuellar and let him win it. Willie Davis, who already homered, fought off one of Cuellar's best offerings and lined to Mark Belanger at short. Down to their last out LA's hopes rested on the shoulders of Ron Fairly, a great contact hitter. With the classic matchup of contact hitter vs control pitcher the control pitcher won out. Fairly lined a 2-2 pitch to his opposite number, Boog Powell, to end the game.This classic 1 run matchup gave the fans everything that they wanted. The Orioles were ecstatic to take 2 of 3 in Hollywood and head home with the hopes of closing out the series in 6. LA planned to start left Johnny Podres, who is a clutch performer as evidenced by his game 7 shutout of the Yankees in the 1955 series. Baltimore pins its hopes on top dog Jim Palmer.
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