So I'm watching this game with my dad and since it's the last-ever time Cal Ripken Jr. will play at Safeco Field the Mariners had a ceremony for him before the game which got me all choked up and I can't even believe he's retiring and Dave Niehaus looked so cute in his spiffy red jacket and polka-dot tie and we unveiled a plaque that we'd had made that will sit out in the visitor's dugout where the homerun he hit at the All Star Game landed and all the Mariners came out to shake his hand and Cal rubbed Jay's big old bald head which I thought was just adorable.

"The plaque is very moving to me. To have a presence in this stadium is special. This is a special place, there's a lot of energy here. It's nice to come here and play. It's as intimidating a home field as there is in baseball." -Cal Ripken Jr.

So the game started out with Baltimore sitting down in order and then with 1 out, Mark McLemore reached on an infield single and then Bret "I'm Goin Yard!" Boone WENT YARD to put us up 2-0 which broke the American League record for RBI by second basemen and then Jason Towers who evidently can't handle giving up a homerun THREW AT EDGAR MARTINEZ'S HEAD which had me calling him all kinds of names on Edgar's behalf and Edgar was then called out on strikes which made me call the umpire names and nothing much of any importance happens after that and we head to the second inning..

"I couldn't tell if he was sending a message. I looked out there to see his reactions. It might be more difficult to take (from a rookie). At least a veteran pitcher rarely throws at your head." -Edgar Martinez

So anyway, Jeff Conine singled to lead things off and then Jamie Moyer tipped his hat to Cal Ripken Jr. which I thought was awesome and Cal flew out and then Conine stole second but that was as exciting as it got for the Orioles, so our turn and with 2 outs, David Bell doubled but that was unfortunately as exciting as it got for us as well, so third inning and with 2 outs, Jamie issued a little retaliation and threw BEHIND Brian Roberts which got the umpire in a huff and he issued warnings to both sides and Jamie retired Roberts right after that and then with 2 outs for us, Bret doubled and then Edgar "Throw At My Head & I'm Goin Yard!" Martinez WENT YARD, I mean take that Jason Towers, and we lead 4-0 as we head for the fourth inning.

"I was upset a little. Sometimes it's good to be upset." -Edgar Martinez, having been thrown at in his first at-bat and having gone yard in his second

With 2 outs, Jeff Conine singled and then got caught trying to steal, so our turn and Mike Cameron led off with a single and then Ramon Vazquez grounded him over to second and then an out after that and Dan Wilson singled which scored Mike and we head to the fifth inning leading 5-0.

Baltimore is down 1-2-3 and then Mark McLemore singled to lead things off for us but we can't get anything going, so let us move along to the sixth inning where Jamie just sits Baltimore down all lickety split like again and then we don't fair any better which was pretty boring, so SEVENTH inning and with 2 outs, Conine walked but nobody cares because that was all that happened, so our turn again and John Parrish relieved Towers and Dan "I'm Goin Yard!" Wilson welcomed him to the game with a big old homerun and an out later and Ed Sprague hit for Mac and walked, and then Charles Gipson ran for Sprague but nothing important happened after that.

"I was in Atlanta, watching Millwood, Maddux and Glavine go through hot streaks. This guy's been just awesome. Every game he goes out there, he pitches like today. To see a finesse guy go out and hit his spots and dominate the way he has, that's pretty." -Bret Boone on Jamie Moyer

Eighth inning and Arthur Rhodes relieved Jamie and retired the side in order and then Buddy Groom relieved Parrish and Jay Buhner hit for Edgar and we won't say what happened there and an out later and Mike singled but first base is unfortunately as far as he gets, so ninth inning and Kazuhiro Sasaki relieved Artie and 3 quick outs later and we have just completed our sweep of Baltimore and I get a little weepy that Cal won't ever play here again because I'm a nerd like that.