[Nick Soulis]

Series #195



1957 Baltimore Orioles
Record; 76-76
Finish: 5th in AL
Manager: Paul Richards
Ball Park: Memorial Coliseum
WAR Leader: Billy Gardner (3.7)
Franchise Record: 5-4
1957 Season Record: 2-0
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1957.shtml

2016 Minnesota Twins
Record: 59-103
Finish: 5th in AL Central
Manager: Paul Molitor
Ball Park: Target Field
WAR Leader: Brian Dozier (5.8)
Franchise Record: 3-2
2016 Season Record: 4-0
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2016.shtml
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Hi Five For Orioles
Baltimore Exposes 100 Loss Twins In Short Series



Game 1
At Memorial Stadium
2016 Minnesota Twins 0
1957 Baltimore Orioles 5
WP: C. Johnson (1-0) LP: E. Santana (0-1)
HR: B. Nieman (1), J. Brideweser (1)
POG: Connie Johnson (9 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 104 P)
1957 Orioles Lead Series 1-0

On a cloudy Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, with the wind blowing in and the scent of October baseball in the air, Connie Johnson authored a Field of Dreams gem, tossing a complete-game one-hit shutout to lead the 1957 Baltimore Orioles to a 5-0 victory over the 2016 Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of this best-of-seven series. Johnson was in full command from the first pitch, striking out six and allowing just a single hit—a second-inning knock by Eduardo Núñez—over nine dazzling innings. The Orioles, backed by sharp defense and some timely late-inning power, broke through in the seventh with a four-run eruption, highlighted by Jim Brideweser's two-run homer off Ervin Santana and a two-run blast from Bob Nieman against reliever Trevor May. Brideweser finished with three RBIs on the day, while Nieman added two of his own. Minnesota's defense faltered, committing four costly errors, and their bats were silenced throughout, managing just one baserunner beyond the second inning. A 40-minute rain delay in the sixth did little to cool Johnson’s fire. With the series shifting into gear, Baltimore takes a commanding 1-0 lead as both teams prepare to clash again under the Baltimore sky tomorrow.

Game 2
At Memorial Stadium
2016 Minnesora Twins 1
1957 Baltimore Orioles 3
WP: B. Loes (1-0) LP: T. Duffey (0-1)
HR: B. Dozier (1)
POG: Billy Loes (9 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1BB, 5 K, 106 P)
1957 Orioles Lead Series 2-0

In a crisp October afternoon at the Field of Dreams rendition of Memorial Stadium, the 1957 Baltimore Orioles took a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series with a disciplined 3-1 win over the 2016 Minnesota Twins. The game was headlined by the brilliance of right-hander Billy Loes, who delivered a complete-game two-hitter, striking out five while walking only one. Despite surrendering an early solo homer to Brian Dozier in the top of the first, Loes settled in with surgical precision, retiring 18 of the final 22 batters he faced. Baltimore responded with a third-inning rally, sparked by Loes himself, who doubled and later scored the tying run. The decisive blow came in the fourth when shortstop Jim Brideweser tripled in two runs to give the Orioles the lead for good. Bob Nieman added an RBI double in the seventh to provide insurance. Twins starter Tyler Duffey pitched well in defeat, going eight innings with just three earned runs, but his lineup was stifled by Baltimore’s vintage pitching and alert defense. With the series shifting to Minneapolis for Game 3, the Twins now face a must-win scenario to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Game 3
At Target Field
1957 Baltimore Orioles 1
2016 Minnesora Twins 6
WP: R. Nolasco (1-0) LP: B. O'Dell (0-1)
HR: B. Dozier (2), M. Sano (1)
POG: Ricky Nolasco (8 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 141 P)
1957 Orioles Lead Series 2-1

In front of a crisp October crowd of 18,880 at a windswept Field of Dreams version of Target Field, the 2016 Minnesota Twins breathed new life into their best-of-seven series with the 1957 Baltimore Orioles, earning a convincing 6-1 win in Game 3 to trim the Orioles’ series lead to 2-1. Ricky Nolasco was dominant on the mound, scattering seven hits over eight innings while striking out three and allowing just a single run. The turning point came in the sixth inning, when Miguel Sanó unloaded a towering two-run homer off Billy O’Dell to break a scoreless tie. Brian Dozier added a solo shot moments later, and Eduardo Núñez tacked on a two-run blast in the seventh, as the Twins’ bats finally came to life. Despite a solid early effort, O’Dell was tagged with the loss, surrendering all six runs in 7.2 innings of work. The Orioles had their chances, with eight runners left on base and multiple two-out opportunities squandered, but couldn’t crack Nolasco’s rhythm. With the win, Minnesota keeps its championship hopes alive and looks to even the series in Game 4 tomorrow back on the corn-lined diamond in Minneapolis.

Game 4
At Target Field
1957 Baltimore Orioles 8
2016 Minnesora Twins 1
WP: M. Formieles (1-0) LP: K. Gibson (0-1)
HR: G. Triandos (1)
POG: Mike Formieles (8.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1BB, 5 K, 120 P)
1957 Orioles Lead Series 3-1

The 1957 Baltimore Orioles moved one win away from clinching the Field of Dreams Series #195 title with a commanding 8-1 victory over the 2016 Minnesota Twins in Game 4 on a crisp Saturday afternoon at Target Field. Right-hander Mike Fornieles delivered a masterful performance on the mound, silencing Minnesota’s bats with 8.1 innings of one-run ball while scattering six hits and striking out five. Baltimore’s bats erupted for five runs in the third inning, highlighted by Gus Triandos’ towering two-run homer and key doubles from Bob Nieman and Billy Boyd, chasing Twins starter Kyle Gibson after just 4.1 innings and a bruising seven earned runs. The Orioles kept the pressure on, tacking on runs in the fourth, fifth, and ninth, with Triandos finishing with three RBIs. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s only offensive spark came from Joe Mauer, who doubled twice and scored their lone run in the fourth. Despite a raucous home crowd of 18,763, the Twins couldn’t solve Fornieles, whose pinpoint control and veteran poise earned him Player of the Game honors. With the Orioles now leading the series 3-1, they look to close it out tomorrow and complete their trip through the cornfield with a championship in hand.

Game 5
At Target Field
1957 Baltimore Orioles 3
2016 Minnesora Twins 1
WP: C. Johnson (2-0) LP: E. Santana (0-2)
HR: B. Boyd (1)
POG: Connie Johnson (9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 107 P)

On a crisp, partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at the Field of Dreams edition of Target Field, the 1957 Baltimore Orioles captured the Series #195 championship with a 3-1 victory over the 2016 Minnesota Twins in Game 5, sealing the series 4 games to 1. The game belonged to Baltimore’s right-hander Connie Johnson, who delivered a masterclass on the mound, tossing a complete game three-hitter with four strikeouts and just one walk, earning Player of the Game honors. The pivotal moment came in the sixth inning, when first baseman Bob Boyd crushed a three-run homer off Minnesota’s Ervin Santana, breaking a scoreless deadlock and delivering the knockout blow. Boyd finished 3-for-4 and drove in all three Orioles runs, while Bob Nieman and George Kell chipped in with key hits. Though Max Kepler plated a run in the bottom of the ninth for the Twins, it was too little, too late against Johnson’s dominance. With confetti flying and fans celebrating, the ’57 Orioles now return home champions, their blend of timely hitting and old-school pitching having triumphed over a modern foe under the ghostly Iowa sky.

1957 Baltimore Orioles Win Series 4 Games To 1

Series MVP:

(2-0, 18 IP, 0.50 ERA, 2 BB, 10 K, 0.33 WHIP, 1 ER)