Baltimore Dead in the Water, Comes to Life! (Game 1)

The Baltimore Orioles had a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the 7th. Their two runs came off one of Catfish Hunter's few mistakes, a Bobby Grich triple during the top of the 6th. Oakland's Gene Tenace smacked a 368-ft homer into the left field stands to cut the lead down to one run, during the bottom-half of the 6th inning.

Jim Palmer who was quite sloppy (allowed 7 walks) would walk the first two batters (Bill North & Hal McRae) during the bottom of the 7th. Joe Rudi followed with a single, that would load the bases for Reggie Jackson (who has yet to be named "Mr.October"). Jackson would knock in North (tying the game), while the others advance one base. Sal Bando would get walked, forcing in the go-ahead run, with Oakland taking a 3-2 lead. Phil Garner's sac fly to right, would make it 4-2, Jackson advances to 3rd base. Lee Lacy would smack a two-run double to officially end Palmer's night.

The Oakland Athletics looked solid with a 6-2 lead entering the 9th with Catfish Hunter still on the mound. The Orioles' Dave Kingman led off the top-half with a single to center, followed by a Bobby Grich walk. Kingman was acquired by the New York Mets mid-season along with 2B-Ken Perry in exchange for SP-Ross Grimsley.

Oakland decides to go to the pen, no problem, they have Rollie Fingers who is money, and all was looking good as he struck Lee May (without swinging) on a nasty split-fingered fastball. Brooks Robinson draws two balls, then Fingers throws a wild pitch past Tenace behind the plate... Kingman moves up to third, Grich to second. Brooks hits a single past short, driving in Kingman, while Grich reaches third. Orioles trail 6-3.

Pinch-hitter Al Bumbry for the Orioles, hits the ball to second baseman Phil Garner, who throws it over to shortstop Bert Campaneris for one, over to second... beats out the throw by inches, SAFE! Two outs, while Grich scores and trims the lead to two runs.

Trailing 6-4, Orioles' catcher Roger Freed, a surprise player this season who hit 21 home runs & 70 RBI for the birds, despite only batting .208, comes to the plate -- The Athletics one strike away from getting out of this jam, Freed hits a line-drive single to left, with Bumbry reaching second.

Rookie pinch-hitter Eddie Murray hits a ball to right, which appeared that Reggie Jackson had a good read on it, but the ball drops just in front of Jackson, loading the bases up.

With Rollie Fingers still on the mound, after giving up 3 hits -- Fingers pitches to Don Baylor, who hits a tapper to the mound, but Fingers throws it over the first baseman Joe Rudi's head, while two runs score and tie up the ballgame (Murray reaches third).

Oakland goes to the pen for Bill Campbell. Campbell walks Ken Singleton, runners on the corners. Dave Kingman crushes a double into the right-center gap, two runs score, while Oakland's nightmare continues -- surrendering a 6-2 lead, and now down 8-6. Campbell would go onto walk Bobby Grich, while Lee May hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

The Orioles bring in their closer Grant Jackson who led the MLB with 37 saves. Jackson gets the first two outs easily, but allows a single to Phil Garner & a walk to Gene Tenace. Winning run at the plate, Lee Lacy flies to right, as Baltimore closes out Game 1 with an unlikely win, rattling Oakland, while making a huge statement.

Orioles might be ready to shock the world.