Alomar’s Heroics Top Tribe Baseball’s Final Four: Orioles, Yankees, Braves, Cardinals

The Baltimore Orioles stood up for Roberto Alomar when their second baseman took a load of criticism for spitting at an umpire.

Alomar paid them back Saturday by carrying his teammates past the Cleveland Indians and into the American League Championship Series.

Baltimore was down to its final strike in the ninth inning, when Alomar hit an RBI single to tie the game at 3 and force extra innings. In his next at-bat, he homered in the 12th inning to give the Orioles a 4-3 victory and a 3-1 series win over the Indians.

“He knew we were behind him, and now I think it’s time to go on,” Baltimore designated hitter Eddie Murray said.

In Saturday’s other playoff games:

Bernie Williams homered from each side of the plate and the New York Yankees overcame a record-setting home run binge by the Rangers’ Juan Gonzalez, defeating Texas 6-4 and clinching a spot opposite Baltimore.

Gonzalez homered in his fourth straight game and hit his fifth home run of the series, tying two records. He helped Texas take a 4-0 lead, but the Rangers’ relievers could not protect the edge.

The Atlanta Braves used another masterful pitching performance - this one by Tom Glavine - to top Los Angeles 5-2 and earn a spot in their fifth straight National League Championship Series.

Brian Jordan’s two-run homer in the ninth inning lifted the Cardinals over San Diego, 7-5, and into the NLCS.