Pete Harnisch stepped on a nail: And a split with the Jays
What could us Orioles fans expect in 1989? The year before the dreaded O”s had lost 21 games in a row to start the season. This proud franchise now had the worst team on the planet. Were the Birds done as a winning program?
The good news was 1988 was over. On June 22, 1989, the Orioles were in California. Catcher Bob Melvin had the big hit of the first inning. It was a two-run single as Baltimore had a 3-run frame. By the fifth inning, this game was tied up at 5-5. Jim Traber homered for the O’s and that was the key blow in a 6-5 win.
And the Orioles first-place lead was seven full games over second-place Toronto. How could it happen? A last-place team from the year before now running away with the pennant. It was wonderful.
Heading into the final series of the season, the Birds did not have a lead in the East. However, Baltimore was one game back of the Jays. It would come down to the three-game series in Toronto.
We had a great start as lead off hitter, Phil Bradley, went deep off of Jays starter, Todd Stottlemyre. Alas, it was our only run of the game. Toronto went to 11 innings to pull out a 2-1 win.
So now we had to win the next two games. So starting pitcher, Pete Harnisch, got ready for his big start on Saturday. So he strolled around the city and then amazingly stepped on a nail while touring. He was out for his start. So, Dave Johnson (not the second baseman) got the nod. And he immediately surrendered a first-inning run. But heading into the eighth inning, the Birds were winning, 3-1. Johnson had pitched great. He had allowed just two hits. And the bullpen gave it up. We lost 4-3. But what a heck of a comeback season was that.
Those Jays are back in first place 25 years later. So the O’s needed to make up some ground. The series started last Thursday in Baltimore. 10-game winner Mark Buehrle would oppose young Kevin Gausman. We struck early, aided by a Delmon Young two-run blast. We held on for a 4-2 victory and gained a game on the Jays.
Nick Markakis, Nellie Cruz and Young all had 2 hits each. On Friday, we didn’t hit. This Drew Hutchison shut us down offensively. Ubaldo Jimenez deserved a better fate in a 4-0 loss.
The sad thing was we out-hit Toronto 9-4. Manny Machado had 3 hits.
Saturday, we returned to the winning circle. Chris Davis checked in with a two-run homer. Bud Norris made it stand up in a 3-2 win. Again on Sunday, we didn’t hit. Chris Tillman wasn’t great but he kept us in the game in a 5-2 loss. Adam Jones doubled and homered.
