O's and Royals split 4 in Baltimore

Aug 10, 1981 - Memorial Stadium

Mike Jones vs Dennis Martinez

Royals 3, Orioles 2

After 4 innings the Royals scratched and clawed themselves to a 3-0 lead.  Willie Wilson's leadoff single and stolen base led to a quick run as Clint Hurdle singled him home to make it 1-0.  After Frank White doubled to lead off the 3rd, Amos Otis singled him in with 1 out to make it 2-0.  Frank White's RBI single in the 4th scored Willie Mays Aikens to make it 3-0.  The O's offense was dormant thanks to Mike Jones keeping them off stride until the bottom of the 7th when Al Bumbry scored on a Ken Singleton sac fly.  With rookie closer Dan Quisenberry on the hill for the 9th things got interesting with 2 outs.  Doug DeCinces doubled home Rich Dauer to make it a 3-2 game.  Singleton was issued an intentional pass to put runners on 1st and 2nd for John "let it be" Lowenstein, who popped out to left to end it.

Aug 12, 1981 - Game 1 of DH

Dennis Leonard vs Scotty McGregor

Orioles 5, Royals 3

Tied 3-3 after 5 1/2 innings of play the O's touched Leonard for 2 big runs in the bottom of the 6th to make it 5-3.  John Lowenstein singled home DeCinces, then scored when Dave Chalk booted a ball at short.  McGregor would pitch 2 more scoreless innings then give way to Tippy Martinez who posted a scoreless 9th to notch the save.

Aug 12, 1981 - Game 2 of DH

Jim Wright vs Jim Palmer

Orioles 13, Royals 11

At first glance at the scoreboard one might have thought the Colts won by a safety over the Chiefs.  Upon closer scruitiny one surmised that the O's and Royals had a shootout at Memorial Stadium.  Kenny Singleton was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored.  Doug DeCinces was 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 knocked in.  Willie Wilson had 3 hits in a losing cause.  Jim Palmer notched the win despite a very poor performance (6.2 IP, 12 hits allowed, 5 ER and 5 walks).  The O's had a commanding lead then let their guard down in the 9th as the Royals scored 6.  Closer Tippy Martinez thought he was going to have an off day, but when Sammy Steward and Dave Ford faltered he had to come in to get veteran Lee May to line out for the final out.

Aug 13, 1981

Larry Gura vs Mike Flanagan

Royals 8, Orioles 2

Back to back jacks by Len Sakata and Rick Dempsey, the 8th and 9th place hitters in the Orioles lineup, tied the game at 2-2 after 7 innings.  A near miss 3 run homer by grizzled veteran catcher Jerry Grote turned into a sac fly that sccored George Brett for what would eventually be counted as the winning run.  The Royals didn't have to nurse their 1 run lead for long as the flood gates opened up in the top of the 9th off of reliever Tim Stoddard.  3 of KC's 5 runs were earned.  Gold Glove thirdbaseman, Doug DeCinces' untimely miscue contributed heavily to Stoddard's troubles.  A two run pinch hit homer by Willie Mays Aikens made it 5-2.  George Brett followed Aikens with a blast of his own and the Royals were assured a series split.