Series 1: Rams take 3 of 4 from Orioles

Game 1: Rams 9, Orioles 1
WP: Perry (1-0)
LP: Cuellar (0-1)
HR: F Robinson (1), Wilson (1)

Game 2: Orioles 6, Rams 5
WP: Hall (1-0)
LP: Ruffing (0-1)
Save: Watt (1)
HR: Hendricks (1), F Robinson (2)

Game 3: Rams 7, Orioles 0
WP: Whitehill (1-0)
LP: Palmer (0-1)

Game 4: Rams 2, Orioles 1
WP: Collins (1-0)
LP: Phoebus (0-1)
Save: Dauss (1)
HR: Wilson (2), Flick (1), Salmon (1)

The visiting Rams took control of the opener in the second inning, when they scored six runs off Baltimore ace Mike Cuellar. Two of the runs were unearned, but Raymond had four singles and a double in the uprising. Hack Wilson hit a two-run homer in the eight off Dave Leonhard, while all the Birds could muster against Gaylord Perry was a solo shot in the fourth by Frank Robinson.

Game Two looked like more of the same. The Rams peppered Dave McNally for 10 hits and four runs in seven innings, with Ray Schalk bopping a pair of run-scoring doubles, while Red Ruffing allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, down 4-0, Don Buford doubled, Davey Johnson singled and Robinson homered to cut the deficit to 4-3. In the eighth, Paul Blair singled, Brooks Robinson tripled to tie the score and Elrod Hendricks homered for a two-run lead. Hack Wilson singled in Earle Combs in the ninth to halve the margin, but that was all the Rams got.

Earl Whitehill spun a seven-hit shutout in Game Three, although he had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure it. The Rams got all they needed off Jim Palmer in the first inning. Joe Sewell walked, Wilson doubled, Frank Chance tripled for two runs and Elmer Flick singled for a third. But the Rams salted this one away with four more off Palmer in the fifth, with Chance doubling home two more runs in the process.

Rip Collins outdueled Tom Phoebus in the fourth and final game. Collins allowed three singles and a solo homer to Chico Salmon, filling in at second for the injured Johnson. The Rams got solo homers from Wilson in the first inning and Flick in the seventh. Phoebus allowed only three other hits in his eight innings. Hooks Dauss worked a perfect ninth for the save.

Pitcher availability: For the Rams, Perry and Ruffing start the next two games. A fifth starter, either Ken Holloway or Lil Stoner, should be used after that. The Orioles will start Jim Hardin next, then Cuellar and McNally. Dauss and Dick Hall pitched one inning apiece in the finale, and all other relievers are rested and ready.

Rotations: For the Rams, Perry-Ruffing-xxxx-Whitehill-Perry-Ruffing-Collins-xxxx.

For the Orioles, Hardin-Cuellar-McNally-Palmer-Phoebus-Hardin