Pitching leads 2005 Orioles to sweep of 2004 Indians!

Roger Clemens tossed 5 hit shutout in Game 2.                                                                Rodrigo Lopez tossed a 2 hit shutout in Game 3.

Game 1 (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)

The battle would begin in Baltimore with the O's giving the ball to Randy Johnson and the Indians countering with Bartolo Colon.  The Indians would strike first in the 3rd on a Nomar Garciaparra RBI triple.  The Orioles would scratch two runs across in the bottom of the 3rd inning to take a 2-1 lead.  The lead would stand up to the 6th inning when Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez would go back to back against Randy Johnson to give the Indians a 3-2 lead.  The Orioles would get a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly in the 7th to take a 4-3 lead.  The Indians would rally in the 9th, but B.J. Ryan was able to get Mike Matheny to ground out to end the game with the tying run on 3rd.

Game 1 Box score and Play by Play

Game 2 (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)

Game 2 would simply be the Roger Clemens show.  The Orioles would score 5 runs in the first 5 innings against Indian starter C.C. Sabathia and that's was way more than Roger Clemens would need.  Clemens would give up just 5 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 10 Indian hitters.  The Orioles would cruise to a 7-0 win and take a 2-0 series lead as the teams head to Jacobs Field.

Game 2 Box score and Play by Play

Game 3 (Jacobs Field)

As the Indians arrived in Cleveland, they were in need of a big win.  They gave the ball to rookie Cliff Lee.  The Orioles sent Rodrigo Lopez to the hill and both pitchers would put on a pitchers duel.  With the game scoreless going into the 8th inning, Cliff Lee was still on the hill for the Indians.  Gabe Kapler would lead off with a double and then Cristian Guzman would attempt a sacrifice.  Guzman laid down a great bunt and Lee fielded the ball and threw to third but it was too late to get Kapler.  After a Guzman stolen base, Jaosn Kendall slapped a 2-run single to give the O's a 2-0 lead.  The O's would add 3 more runs to put the game on ice.  Rodrigo Lopez gave up just two hits, walked 5, and struck out seven Indians.

Game 3 Box score and Play by Play

Game 4 (Jacobs Field)

The Orioles were looking to put the series to rest as they put their ace back on the hill in Randy Johnson.  With the Orioles leading 2-1 in the top of the 6th, Jason Kendall would smack a 3 run homer to give the O's a 5-1 lead.  The Orioles bullpen of Danny Kolb, Billy Wagner, and Juan Rincon would shut the Indians down in the late innings as the O's advance to Round 2 with a 4 game sweep of the 2004 Cleveland Indians.

Game 4 Box score and Play by Play