April 3, 1989, dawns warm, but with a downpour. Even in mid-morning, it looks unlikely there would be baseball. But suddenly, the clouds withdraw, and the bright sunshine leaves fans scrambling to make their way to the stadium. 52,161 fans file into Memorial, hopeful yet a bit subdued, possibly with the memory of last season's 12-0 Opening Day disaster.
Rex Barney makes the introductions for the 20th time, and Joan Jett sings the National Anthem. Everyone's ready for baseball...the question is, are the Orioles ready for Roger Clemens?
As the team takes the field in their new ornithologically correct Bird caps, a lot of unknowns take the field, and Eddie Murray doesn't.
Finally the game begins, and Wade Boggs grounds out. Then Marty Barrett grounds to Worthington, who bobbles the ball but still makes the play. Suddenly, the O's look like a baseball team.
The imposing presence of Clemens takes the mound. The Boston Globe 's Dan Shaughnessy had predicted a no-hitter for The rocket today, and few would dissent, especially after he mows down the first six batters.
In the third, however, Steve Finley chases a long drive to the center field fence. He makes a running spear of the ball, crashing into the wall, but holding on to his catch, even as he separates his shoulder. This play not only energizes the crowd, but also the O's.
In the next inning, Mickey Tettleton pounces on an attempted sacrifice by Barrett and throws out Boggs at second, while Brady Anderson does his part by snaring a drive off the bat of Mike Greenwell.
Now the O's strike. Anderson walks and steals second, and Joe Orsulak brings him home with a single. Pandemonium erupts as the O's take a lead.
In the sixth, Dave Schmidt begins to tire. Yielding a double to Boggs and another to Evans, the Bosox knot the score. Then, disaster strikes in the form of a Mike Greenwell homer, and the Birds trail, 3-1. Against Clemens, this seems like a formidable lead, indeed.
In the O's half, though, the team shows what they are made of. Anderson doubles, and Phil Bradley walks. Orsulak advances the runners, bring Cal to the plate. It doesn't look good, because first base is open, and there's no Eddie in the on-deck circle. But Clemens, after working Cal to a 2-2 count, makes a mistake, and Cal deposits it over the left field wall for a three run homer and a 4-3 lead.
Schmidt comes out again with his new lead, but it doesn't last. After Boston ties the score, Kevin Hickey makes his first ML appearance is six seasons to specifically get out Wade Boggs, which he does. Brian Holton follows and closes the door on the Bosox with the help of a super play by Worthington, who has regained his defensive equilibrium after his early game jitters.
Nick Esasky drives a ball of the left field wall in the ninth, but Bradley plays it perfectly, holding the sloth like runner to a single. Jody Reed steps in and tries a hit and run, which evolves into a swing and miss and out when Tettleton guns down Esasky.
Now, it's extra innings. In the 11th, the Orioles have a breakthrough, as Randy Milligan, who entered the game earlier for Jim Traber, singles against Rob Murphy after a Tettleton walk. Now, with runners on the corners, Craig Worthington steps in again. He failed in an identical situation in the ninth, but this time, after a pitching change and a shift to five infielders, and a calming word from Frank Robinson, Worthington slices a liner into left, and the Birds win, 5-4.
Baseball is fun once again in Baltimore.