Metroplex bracket: 1973 Orioles sweep 1973 Pirates

Game 1: Orioles 10, Pirates 7
WP: Jefferson (1-0)
LP: B Johnson (0-1)
Save: Watt (1)
HR: Robertson (1), Bumbry 2 (3), Stinnett (3)

Game 2: Orioles 4, Pirates 2
WP: McNally (2-0)
LP: Rooker (1-1)
Save: Pena (1)

Game 3: Orioles 4, Pirates 3 (11 innings)
WP: Pena (1-1)
LP: B Johnson (0-2)
Save: Jackson (1)
HR: Oliver (2), Bumbry (4)

Game 4: Orioles 9, Pirates 5 (13 innings)
WP: Jackson (1-0)
LP: R Hernandez (1-1)
HR: Crowley (1), Stinnett (4)

Although it was a sweep, every game was competitve, with two of them going multiple extra innings.

The Pirates got off to a strong start in Game One in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. Bob Robertson's three-run homer in the second gave the Buccos a 4-1 lead, and Palmer issued a pair of bases loaded walks in the fourth to make the score 6-2. But Al Bumbry's two-run homer in the fifth helped chase Nelson Briles, and Bumbry hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Bob Johnson as the Orioles took the lead.  Eddie Watt threw three scoreless innings to get the save for Jesse Jefferson.

Dave McNally scattered 10 hits and three walks in 7.2 innings in Game Two, and Orlando Pena retired all four men he faced. Paul Blair had an RBI triple in the fourth and the Orioles scored two runs in the fifth on four straight two-out singles.

The series moved to Three Rivers Stadium, where Mike Cuellar dominated for six innings (two singles, no walks) before leaving with a minor injury. Al Oliver hit a three-run homer off Bob Reynolds in the eighth to tie it at 3. That score held into the 11th, when Don Baylor led off with a walk, stole second, went to third on a Jackie Hernandez error and scored on Tommy Davis' pinch-hit single.

Game Four took even longer. Pittsburgh scored three runs off Doyle Alexander in the first two innings and held a 5-2 lead after five. That score held until the eighth, when the Orioles scored a pair of runs off Bob Moose, and then in the ninth Terry Crowley tied it with a pinch-hit homer off Dave Giusti. Grant Jackson worked four scoreless innings and left for a pinch-hitter in Baltimore's four-run top of the 13th, and Reynolds nailed it down in the bottom of the inning.

Player availability: Cuellar will be recovered from his injury, and the bullpen will be rested for Round Three.

Projected rotation: Palmer-McNally-Cuellar-Alexander-(Palmer)-(McNally)-(Cuellar)