Ripken Enjoying Productive Streak

Baltimore Oriole third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. spent the last month defending himself, warding off critics who claimed he put his streak of consecutive games ahead of the team.

A sore back caused weakness in Ripken’s leg, and Ripken struggled with a .156 average in September. Some suggested--in print--that Ripken take a few days off and rest for the playoffs, but he remained in the lineup.

Ripken was at it again Thursday, providing yet another defense, but this one was of the Gold Glove caliber and was much easier to discuss.

Ripken made a diving, backhand stop of Jay Buhner’s fourth-inning liner and a nice stab of Joey Cora’s fifth-inning, one-hop smash, turning it into a fielder’s choice, to help Baltimore to a 9-3 victory over Seattle in Game 2.

He also doubled in the sixth and eighth innings, scoring a run in the eighth, to follow up his three-hit performance in Game 1.

“I would like to say I was saving up all my hits from the last month of the season, but that wouldn’t be true,” Ripken said. “It just seems like you get one or two hits and your confidence comes back. I’m glad I’m able to contribute and get some results.”

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Thursday’s score would have been more lopsided had the Orioles not had runners thrown out at the plate in the sixth and eighth innings on well-executed Seattle relay plays. . . . Baltimore reliever Armando Benitez may have recorded the most important out of the game when he struck out Roberto Kelly to end the seventh. The Mariners had cut Baltimore’s lead to 5-3, they had a runner on, and the Kingdome crowd was louder than it was all afternoon. But Benitez struck out Kelly on three nasty breaking pitches.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

(Orioles lead series, 2-0)

- Game 1: Baltimore 9, Seattle 3

- Game 2: Baltimore 9, Seattle 3

- Game 3: Sat. at Baltimore, 1:30 p.m.

- Game 4: Sunday at Baltimore, 1 p.m.*

- Game 5: Monday at Baltimore, 1 p.m.*

* If necessary