Series 18: Rams sweep four from Orioles

Rams 28-27, Orioles 22-33.

Game One: Rams 3, Orioles 2
WP: Collins (3-5)
LP: Cuellar (4-6)
Save: Dauss (8)
HR: Flick (5)

Game Two: Rams 8, Orioles 5
WP: Perry (8-5)
LP: McNally (4-6)
Save: S Johnson (1)

Game Three: Rams 6, Orioles 5
WP: Ruffing (4-6)
LP: Lopez (0-3)
Save: Dauss (9)
HR: Belanger (1)

Game Four: Rams 8, Orioles 7
WP: Stoner (2-2)
LP: Leonhard (1-4)
HR: Powell 2 (10), Wilson (19), Rizzuto (4)

The games were close but the series one-sided, and the last place Orioles have been mathematically eliminated from the pennant.

The opener featured the series one pitching duel. Rip Collins allowed two runs in seven innings, both unearned. Mike Cuellar went six innings and was burned by a two-out rally in the fourth that culminated in a three-run homer by Elmer Flick. Collins loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but Hooks Dauss popped up Brooks Robinson and got a double-play grounder from Davy Johnson to escape that jam.

The Rams pummeled Dave McNally for six runs in three innings in the second game, then tacked on two more in the fourth. Phil Rizzuto drove in five runs with a double and triple, and Joe Sewell, Frank Chance and Flick scored twice each.

Mark Belanger's sixth-inning grand slam gave the Orioles a 5-2 lead in the third game, but the Rams rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth off Marcelino Lopez and Pete Richert. Flick had a one-out triple, and Rizzuto walked. Nellie Fox singled home Flick, and Lopez walked Johnny Bassler (in for the injured Ray Schalk) to load the bases. Rickert entered, and pinch-hitter Fats Fothergill singled in two runs, and Earle Combs followed with another RBI single before Sewell grounded into a double play.

The Rams got another pinch-hit RBI single, this one by Al Wingo, to win the finale. Boog Powell hit a pair of homers for the Orioles, one a three-run shot, and scored three times. Hack Wilson clubbed his league-leading 19th homer, and Rizzuto had a solo shot. Lil Stoner went four innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits, to get the win. The final run came in the bottom of the ninth when Rizzuto walked to lead off, took second on a Dave Leonhard wild pitch, advanced to third on Fox's bunt and scored on Wingo's single.

Pitcher availability: For the Rams, Stoner should sit at least two games. All other relievers are fully available. For the Orioles, Leonhard should sit a pair of games and Lopez one.

Projected rotations: Rams -- Whitehill-Perry-Ruffing-Collins-Holloway. Orioles -- Cuellar-McNally-Hardin (or Phoebus)-Phoebus (or Leonhard/Hardin/Lopez)-Cuellar.