In the bottom of the third Anderson's double was followed by a Roberto Alomar home run, giving Erickson a 3–0 cushion.

Thursday, October 9, 1997, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland In Game 2, Charles Nagy and Jimmy Key matched up for a much-needed win.

In this game, Mussina would set an LCS record with 15 strikeouts (which would be matched by Liván Hernández in the NLCS the very next day).

The Indians held a 1–0 lead into the ninth, but José Mesa blew the save after Marquis Grissom lost a fly ball from Brady Anderson in the lights and the game went to extra innings.

With Randy Myers on the mound for Baltimore in the bottom of the 12th, Marquis Grissom walked, then a single by Tony Fernández moved him to third.

The ball got away from Orioles catcher Lenny Webster, allowing Grissom to score the winning run.

Sunday, October 12, 1997, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio Scott Erickson returned to the mound against Indians starter Jaret Wright.

Rhodes threw a wild pitch with Grissom at bat, allowing David Justice to score from third.

Jimmy Key then turned in three scoreless innings in relief of Kamieniecki, who left the game due to elbow stiffness.

After just two successful seasons that to led to Baltimore's first back-to-back postseason appearances since 1973-1974, Johnson offered his resignation by fax (after failing to reach owner Angelos by phone), which Angelos accepted on the same day that Johnson was named the 1997 American League Manager of the Year on November 5.

Two years later after mutually parting ways with Baltimore, Johnson returned to the majors as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999.