It’s May 14, 1996, and B.J. Surhoff broke a tie with a sixth-inning grand slam, giving ace Mike Mussina plenty of run support as the O’s won in Oakland, 9-1. The Birds have now won five of six after falling all the way back to .500 last week. 

“It looked like it was going to be a heck of a pitcher’s duel before B.J. hit it nine miles,” said O’s manager Davey Johnson.

“Doesn’t happen unless we had three good at-bats in front of me,” Surhoff said, humbly.

Robbie Alomar set the table by getting on base four times (a hit and three walks) and is now hitting .377 on the season. 

“I think overall, this is the best I’ve ever been hitting,” Alomar said. “People like to talk about other things in hitting, like power, but there are a lot of other things to look at — things that help you win. … I don’t play for numbers. I want to do everything I can to help this team win.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 6D, May 15, 1996)

One person who is not yet hitting is Cal Ripken, Jr., and he went 0-for-3 in a rather unusual spot for him. He batted seventh in the lineup, the lowest he’s batted since October 3, 1982.

“I put in the best lineup to score runs,” Johnson said. “I’m not going to be apologizing for the lineup. I usually try to get guys up there who are swinging the bat best. Those things [milestones] are not important to me.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 6D, May 15, 1996)

Cal is now hitting .243 on the season with just one homer. Hopefully he will break out soon.

After eight strong innings from Mussina, Alan Mills finished the game in the ninth. It was his first appearance since last June after a shoulder injury. He gave up no hits, walked one, and struck out one.

Here’s the box score with the lovely totals.

In O’s injury news, starter Scott Erickson sprained his ankle while playing pepper before yesterday’s game and will miss his next start on Friday in Seattle. He has been limping badly in the clubhouse, but has not been put on the injured list.

Meanwhile, the team is trying to figure out what is going on with David Wells and his gouty toe. A foot specialist is going to cut into it to draw out fluid. “It’s gotten to the point where it makes you wonder exactly what it is,” said O’s trainer Richie Bancells. (Baltimore Sun, p. 6D, May 15, 1996) Wells has been hobbled for a week now but also has not been put on the injured list.

B.J.’s grand slam is the lone dinger of the day.

Orioles (21-17) vs. Athletics (19-19), 3:15 p.m.

Starting Pitchers
BAL – RHP Jimmy Haynes (1-4, 7.76 ERA)
OAK – LHP Steve Wojciechowski (4-0, 3.49 ERA)

A wire story on the front page tells the story of a real-life horror show at nearly 30,000 feet. The headline is pretty straightforward, “Blizzard turns Everest into weekend graveyard.” 

At least three expeditions of rich people from around the world — most paying well upwards of $10,000 to participate — were trapped during a fierce blizzard on Mount Everest. At least eight climbers are feared dead, including New Zealander Rob Hall, who had just completed his fifth successful ascent and was leading one of the expeditions.

American Beck Weathers was rescued, badly frostbitten after struggling his way down to about 20,000 feet. “I am OK, I’m better now,” Weathers said.

Australian 60 Minutes has all the harrowing details.

Welcome to a recurring segment where I find fun things in today’s (in 1996) Baltimore Sun!

Look at this tiny phone in this life-size full page ad.