May 16, 1997|By Joe Strauss | Joe Strauss,SUN STAFF
Committed to instant offense, the Orioles were repeatedly frustrated by Edmonds, the Angels' center fielder. Edmonds went to the warning track against Cal Ripken in the second inning immediately before plowing into the center-field wall to rob Surhoff of at least a double. Three batters after Palmeiro's homer, he again stole extra bases, this time from Chris Hoiles, who slumped in dejection after the play.
"Last night Cal's ball goes out, B.J.'s goes out, mine goes out. The ball just wasn't carrying tonight. That was the difference," said Hoiles.
Edmonds provided his fourth bit of standout defense against Tony Tarasco leading off the fifth. Tarasco looked to have at least a single when Edmonds went horizontal to take away the hit.
Dickson came close to unraveling in the sixth but was again saved by his defense and a bit of controversy.
The Orioles placed their first leadoff hitter on base when Alomar walked. Davis followed with a single, moving Alomar to second ** and pitching coach Marcel Lachemann to the mound for a testy session with his rookie pitcher.
Dickson fueled the rally by walking Palmeiro and putting the tying run at second base.
The Orioles traded an out for a run when Ripken sliced a sacrifice fly to right field. Davis hobbled to third base while Palmeiro remained at second. Here, Surhoff's scalding week cooled.
Down two strikes, Surhoff pulled a one-hopper to first base. The left fielder appeared to beat the return relay but was called out by Larry McCoy, the same umpire who had peeved Johnson on Wednesday with his indifference toward Angels third base coach Larry Bowa straying far from the coach's box. First base coach John Stearns, Johnson and Surhoff took turns at McCoy but returned to the dugout still trailing 3-2.
Orioles tonight
Opponent: Seattle Mariners
Site: Kingdome, Seattle
Time: 10:05
TV/Radio: Ch. 54/WBAL (1090 AM)
Starters: O's Scott Erickson (6-1, 2.90) vs. Mariners' Dennis Martinez (1-3, 6.75)
Pub Date: 5/16/97
