The Orioles return home to face the bionic arm of Nolan Ryan, countering him with Brian Holton, a 29 year old journeyman being thrown into the rotation because of the failures of J.J. Bautista. 32,263 insane fans cheer the O's on to a 6-1 victory, as the O's blast three homers off The Express.

Want more of the same? Jay Tibbs makes his second start, and the bullpen of Thurmond, Williamson, and Olson combine with Tibbs as the O's triumph, 6-2.

Wednesday, Jeff Ballard takes a Pete Incaviglia shot off the neck while leading 4-0. Though OK, Ballard leaves the game, and Mark Huismann gets shelled, as the Rangers assume a 5-4 lead. In the sixth, however, the O's strike again. Billy Rip doubles, Brady doubles him home, Phil Bradley walks...and the Froot Loops Kid strikes again, as Tettleton hits number 13. Williamson and Olson shut the door, and the O's win, 8-5.

This is the week that Mickey's wife Sylvia reveals in a Tom Davis interview that Mickey has begun eating Froot Loops for breakfast. Within days, Froot Loops disappear from every grocer in the Baltimore area. Fans bring the cereal to the ballpark and toss it like confetti. Mickey, meanwhile, is the AL home run leader.

The O's end May at 26-22, having taken 11 of their last 14. They have beaten Nolan Ryan, Dave Stewart, Bret Saberhagen, Frank Viola, and Roger Clemens. All is going well as June looms large. Or is it?

Craig Worthington, the rookie third sacker, is out with a hamstring pull. Randy Milligan has a sore hand from being hit the same night Ballard was hit in the throat. The bullpen is exhausted.

But the games are still there, as the O's jet out to Detroit. Jim Traber is reinserted at first to take Milligan's place, and Rene "Gonzo" Gonzales steps into Worthington's slot. Traber hits a three run shot in his first at bat, and Gonzo hits one, too, as the "B" team, Schmidt and Mark Thurmond, combine for an 8-3 victory.

Bob Milacki provides what the O's badly need the next night, tossing 8 1/3 innings of two hit ball, the O's triumphing 4-1.

Saturday, Cal drives a two run shot, only his fourth of the season, but his second this week. Brian Holton is making it hold up until a sixth inning rain delay. Coming back, he has nothing, and leaves with the game tied. Kevin Hickey is the latest unlikely hero, shutting down the Tigers for 2 1/3 innings until Jim Traber delivers again, and Otter closes the ninth. That's one win for Hickey, five saves for Olson, and six in a row for the Birds. The O's now lead by 4 games in the East.

Sunday, "Moose" Milligan returns to the lineup, and authors a three-run blast of his own in the first inning. Phil Bradley adds a solo shot as Jay Tibbs wins his third straight since returning to the Orioles from Rochester, 7-4.

Without a complete game in 35 games, the Orioles have used a master bullpen performance and timely hitting to put together a great start. The pundits are now taking aim at the starting rotation, pointing out that they will likely wilt under the glare of a mid-summer pennant chase. But for now, it's on to New York, for the Little Team That Could.