Sandy Alomar

CLEVELAND -- As Lenny Webster walked to the plate with one out in the sixth inning of Game 4 on Sunday night, he received an ovation from the Jacobs Field crowd normally reserved for one of its heroes.Once again, Webster fit that description.His disputed passed ball (that was later changed to a stolen base) had allowed the winning run in Saturday in the 12th inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. And his throwing error Sunday night off a wild pitch by reliever Arthur BTC Rhodes with the bases loaded led to two more runs that broke a 5-5 tie, but not his spirit.

CLEVELAND -- As Lenny Webster walked to the plate with one out in the sixth inning, he received an ovation from the Jacobs Field crowd normally reserved for one of its heroes.Once again, Webster fit that description.His disputed passed ball (that was later changed to a stolen base) had allowed the winning run in Saturday in the 12th inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. And his throwing error last night off a wild pitch by reliever Arthur Rhodes with the bases loaded led to two more runs that broke a 5-5 tie, but not his spirit.

Keys to the game1 Late-night lightning: The Orioles were supposed to play better on the road, but the Indians have exploited their home-field advantage to win two games in their last at-bat and take a commanding, 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven ALCS. Catcher Sandy Alomar was the big hero again, lining a two-out, game-winning single into the gap in left-center to decide Game 4.2 Erickson struggles: Right-hander Scott Erickson had been overpowering in his first start of the ALCS, combining with Randy Myers to shut the Indians out on four hits, but he gave up seven runs (six earned)

CLEVELAND -- They used to call it the Mistake by the Lake. Now, Cleveland has a revitalized civic center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, if the Orioles don't figure something out in a hurry, soon will have a second American League pennant in three years.Catcher Sandy Alomar hit a dramatic, game-winning single off Armando Benitez in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Orioles to an 8-7 defeat and push them to the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

She had two good reasons to come to Baltimore for the American League Championship Series -- one named Sandy, the other Robbie -- but Maria Alomar decided to stay home in Puerto Rico and watch on television.She wasn't feeling very good, she had a doctor's appointment and, besides, her boys play for opposing teams and what's a mother to do?"I am in middle," she laughs over the phone from the Alomar brothers' boyhood home in Salinas, where it was raining last evening."That's my boys. I wish they both could win."

As Sandy Alomar circled the bases after his home run Sunday, it appeared as if he were soaring. And as he thrust both arms up during his home run trot, it was almost on cue that the 43,863 fans at Jacobs Field did the same -- a spontaneous moment of joy that Alomar yesterday was almost apologetic about."

Series: Orioles, 6-5At Camden Yards: Orioles, 4-2At Jacobs Field: Indians, 3-2Game 1: Indians, 6-1Date/site: May 23/ClevelandHighlights: Jimmy Key turns in his first ineffective outing of the year, lasting only 4 1/3 innings. While the Indians hammered 12 hits, breaking ball specialist Chad Ogea (5-3) contained the Orioles on two. Rafael Palmeiro's 10-game hitting streak ended.Orioles 010 000 000 -- 1 2 1Cleveland 023 001 00x -- 6 12 1Key, Boskie (5) and Hoiles; Ogea and Alomar. WP: Ogea (5-3)

CLEVELAND -- They don't make endings any sweeter. Sandy Alomar, who has emerged from the long shadow of his younger brother with a 30-game hitting streak that still is in progress, finally got his chance to stand alone in the national spotlight last night.It was a one-shot deal. He entered the 68th All-Star Game in the late innings and went to the plate just once, but his line drive into the left-field bleachers propelled the American League to a 3-1 victory before a delirious home crowd of 44,916 at Jacobs Field.

CLEVELAND -- It's a story of cheers and boos, of love and loss, of family and fraternity.It's the story of Robbie Alomar and Sandy Alomar, brothers and temporary teammates tonight in the All-Star Game at Jacobs Field.They have been American League teammates three times before and combined for 13 All-Star appearances, but never in circumstances so dramatic or emotional.Sandy, the Cleveland Indians' catcher, is having a career year with a 30-game hitting streak and a league-leading .375 batting average; no player will hear louder cheers tonight.

Two more outs.Orioles right-hander Mike Mussina needed to retire just two more batters last night to become the 13th pitcher in modern major-league history to throw a perfect game, but Cleveland Indians catcher Sandy Alomar would not cooperate.Alomar lashed a sharp single into left field with one out in theninth inning and Mussina had to settle for his second career one-hitter and a 3-0 victory before a slightly deflated sellout crowd of 47,759 at Camden Yards.It was a somewhat disappointing end to a masterful performance, but Mussina smiled wryly as the line drive touched down and kept him from becoming the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter at Oriole Park and the first Oriole to throw a perfect game.