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Tuesday, May 2 7:05pm ET
Bordick, Ripken key comeback in 9th | |||||
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles probably would have lost a game like this last year. After blowing a 5-0 lead, committing two errors and allowing 11 hits, the Orioles entered bottom of the ninth inning down by a run against the Anaheim Angels. "There was no feeling of giving up," catcher Charles Johnson said. Mike Bordick singled in the winning run off Troy Percival with no outs in the ninth as Baltimore rallied to record a 7-6 victory Tuesday night. "To be able to come back on a guy like Percival, it showed a lot about our character late in ball games. To get to the playoffs, you've got to win games like this," Johnson said. Jeff Conine led off the ninth with a walk off Percival (0-2) and Cal Ripken followed with an RBI double. After an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Harold Baines, Johnson singled to load the bases. Anaheim then used five infielders, but Bordick foiled the strategy with an opposite-field liner to right. "When I first looked up, I saw the infield full of guys. I didn't know what to do," Bordick said. "Fortunately, I found a hole out there." Percival said, "That was probably the best pitch I made all night. He's just trying to put the ball in play and make someone move." The comeback prevented unbeaten Scott Schoeneweis from getting his fifth victory. The left-hander gave up five runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings and left with a 6-5 lead. "They picked me up. I just needed to return the favor," Schoeneweis said. Schoeneweis left in the eighth despite having retired seven straight. Mike Trombley (2-1) worked the ninth for the Orioles, who had been 0-7 when trailing after eight innings. "This is a big one," Bordick said. "For us to come back like that, it says an awful lot." Down 5-0, Anaheim finally broke through against Sidney Ponson in the sixth. After Bengie Molina hit a two-run, two-out single, the uprising ended when left fielder B. J. Surhoff made a diving catch of a liner by pinch-hitter Orlando Palmeiro. But Surhoff dropped a fly ball by Adam Kennedy in the seventh, and two batters later Tim Salmon homered with two on to make it 5-5. Surhoff's error was his first since July 18, 1998, ending a string of 250 errorless games. With two outs, Troy Glaus hit a 406-foot shot to make it 6-5. Although the Angels couldn't hold on, manager Mike Scioscia took some consolation in the way his team battled back. "There's no quit in these guys. You want to keep the pressure on the other club, especially if they're down," he said. "I think they know that with our lineup we're never really out of a game." Baltimore took a 1-0 lead in the third when Will Clark led off with a double and scored on a two-out single by Brady Anderson. Clark strained his left hamstring running toward the plate and left the game. "I wouldn't be surprised if he goes on the disabled list," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. An RBI double by Conine and a run-scoring grounder by Ripken made it 3-0 in the fourth. An error and Anderson's third home run of the season, a 396-foot drive to center, put Baltimore up 5-0 in the fifth. Game notesSalmon hit his 200th career double. He ranks third on the Angels' career list. ... Baltimore's Delino DeShields recorded his team-high 10th steal. He had 11 last year. ... Glaus' steal in the fourth was the Angels' 25th. They didn't reach 25 last year until the 68th game. ... Clark has reached base in 43 of 82 plate appearances. ... Anaheim SS Gary DiSarcina left in the sixth because of tightness in his right shoulder. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Anaheim Clubhouse Baltimore Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 7 Anaheim 6
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