Paul Blair homered twice, including a grand slam in the 8th inning, as Baltimore overpowered the homestanding Mets at Shea Stadium, 10-3. That gives the Orioles a 2-0 advantage as they head home for game three of the series Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.
As expected, the game started off as a pitcher's duel, with ALCS MVP Mike Cuellar going for the guests, while New York countered with ace Tom Seaver, who recorded a pair of wins in the NL playoff series victory over Cincinnati.
The home team broke through the scoring column first in the 4th stanza with a run from the bottom of the order. Light hitting second baseman Al Weis, in the lineup for his glovework and a southpaw on the mound, tripled to the right-center field gap and scored on Seaver's fly ball to left.
However, Blair tied it up in the 6th with a solo blast to left-center. As had occurred all season, that was just the beginning of the rally. One out later, Boog Powell homered to right to give the guests the lead for good. Brooks Robinson followed with a single and Seaver uncharacteristically walked two to load the bases. Terry Crowley came off the bench with a single to force the Mets' starter out of the game. In relief, Nolan Ryan uncorked a wild pitch to plate the fifth run of the inning and put the game out of reach.
The Orioles bullpen combination of Dick Hall and Jim Hardin would give up a run apiece in mop up duty to clinch Cuellar's third win of the postseason. Donn Clendenon had three singles to pace the Mets nine-hit attack.
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