M’S Have Bit Of History In Comeback Bid

As Orioles teammates dressed and prepared to depart, packing their bags and their 2-0 series lead, right fielder Eric Davis sought to remind them of a bit of history.

“Those are some very capable guys the Mariners have got,” Davis said. “We’ve got to remember what they did to the Yankees (1995 division series) when they lost the first two games and then won three straight.

“This team can do that,” he said.

A major difference that year, however, was that the M’s lost the first two on the road and then came home to the Kingdome to win the series.

Now, they’re faced with going to Baltimore. However, the M’s split six games in Baltimore, while losing four of five in the Kingdome.

Pressure on Baltimore?

Though Seattle is the team with its collective backs against a pretty sticky wall, Alex Rodriguez said he thinks the Orioles have just as much pressure as they head back to Baltimore.

“The pressure falls back on them,” he said. “They’ve got to win at home and put the nail in the coffin. Sometimes that’s hard to do.”

The pressure of playing at home is legitimate, considering the Orioles were a better team on the road during the regular season. They set a team record with 52 wins in other ballparks, six more than they had at home.

Senior returns

Among those on the field before the game - and in the stands during it - was Ken Griffey Sr., who insisted he was in Seattle as a fan and grandfather, not as a coach.

“I stopped coaching when the season ended in Cincinnati,” he said. “I came out here to see my grandkids, and I came to the park early today because they were driving me crazy.”

Ken Griffey Jr. watched his father enjoying himself and beamed.

“Whenever I want to see what I’m going to look like when I’m 46 years old, I just look at him,” Junior said.

Mussina would pitch Sunday

If a fourth game is necessary, the aces of each staff, Game 1 starters Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina would both come back on three days’ rest to start.

Mussina left after throwing just 93 pitches Tuesday with the express purpose of being able to return Sunday.

“We talked about it after the seventh and decided to go to the bullpen,” Orioles manager Davey Johnson said.

Ducey runs into big out

When Rob Ducey saw his seventh-inning RBI single fly down the left-field line, he had no question he was going to head for second base.

As Paul Sorrento raced around from second to make it 5-3, Ducey was nailed at second on a strong throw by B.J. Surhoff.

Joey Cora followed with a single that could have prolonged the rally, but Johnson went to the bullpen to get right-handed fireballer Armando Benitez and he struck out Roberto Kelly to end Seattle’s final threat.

“Surhoff has been doing that all year,” Johnson said. “A guy that can run like Ducey hits it down the line and thinks ‘that’s a sure double.’ He’s going to second. But Surhoff was in the right position and made the play.”