Following Monday’s disastrous 12-0 loss at home, Baltimore stood at 34-35, losers of seven of their last 10 games as they tried to take game two of the series against Cleveland. The Orioles were tied for last place in the AL East with Toronto, but were only five games out of first, primarily because the Yankees had lost six in a row.
The Indians entered the game 37-31, winners of six in a row and leading the AL Central by 2.5 games over the surprising Minnesota Twins. Cleveland and Baltimore definitely seemed to be two teams heading in different directions.