Washington 4 Cleveland 3 (11 Innings)

[cywaterbucket]

Washington rebounded from their loss in the opening game of this series for a 4-3 win in eleven innings. Since game one was also an extra inning affair the Senators are now 1-1 in extra innings. The Indians have now played nine extra inning games this season, and are 5-4.

The American League standing now have Cleveland and Tampa Bay, who has lost two straight, tied a 33-20 and Washington one game behind them (32-21).

The two aces of the teams opposed each other in this game. Jim Karlon of the Indians took a tough loss after going nine and a third innings, giving up four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. He fell to 7-4 on the year.

Washington ace Jeff Walter got a no decision. Walter went eight innings gave up three runs on six hits walked one. Walter had the strikeout pitch going. He picked John Stack off first in the first inning. He struck out one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, one in the fifth, struck out the side in the sixth, two more in the seven and one in his last inning the eighth.

Cleveland struck first in the top of the second. Paul Osbourne singled, stole second and scored on Mike Espinosa's double.

Washington came right back in the bottom of that inning and put three runs on the scoreboard. Del Unser led off the inning by grounding a single of right that was just out of the reach of diving second baseman Terry Wheeler. Karlon had seven strikeouts of his own, struck out Thigpen here, but followed it up by walking Jim Sparks, and allowing a run scoring single to red hot hit hitting Ted Myrick. Unser scored on the play and Sparks reached third base. The next batter, Nick Kiely drove in two runs with a double to left centerfield scoring Sparks and Myrick giving Washington a 3-2 lead.

Both pitchers settled in in a classic pitching duel between two of the best in the league.

Karlon allowed a walk to Thigpen and a single by Sparks in the fourth. Marshall Smallwood had a two out single in the fifth. Karlon escaped that inning when Espinosa robbed Pezzullo of a double.

Walter gave up a one out double to Paul Osbourne in the fourth and walked Karlon on four pitches in the fifth with two outs.

Walter lost his chance at being the winning pitcher when he gave up a lead off single to Mike Espinosa and a one out homerun to Greg Batts, his fourth of the season to tie the game.

Lefthander Bill Carreon took over for Walter in the ninth and made it very interesting. He walked the lead off batter Paul Osbourne, struck out the next batter, Espinosa for the first out, then walked Sam Rackley to put two on with with one out, but then stuck out Greg Batts on three lively fastball for the second out. Stick Eeshelman drew a two out walk to load the bases before Carreon struck out the pitcher Jim Karlon on a three to pitch to end the inning.

In the top of the tenth Carreon was helped out by a great diving catch in center field by Nyls Pezzullo to take a hit away from George Hiatt. Carreon walked his fifth batter, John Stack after a long ten pitch at bat the struck out Wheeler before walking Osbourne. Espinosa swung at Carreon's first pitch and flied out to end the inning.

Washington used its speed in the bottom of the tenth to great advantage. Kiely flied to center. pinch hitter Jim Aria drew a walk, and stole second base. Shortstop Jay Holm's ground ball single to centerfield scored him with the winning run.