In game 6, the Orioles sent Byung-Hyun Kim (5-3, 2.77) to the mound against the Twins and Game 3 starter Matt Clement. Both teams entered the game with a perfect 2-0 playoff record in game 6.
In the top of the first inning, Kim showed a little wildness hitting Richie Sexson and walking Adam Melhuse, but he quickly settled down and retired Scott Rolen on a ground out. The Orioles once again got off to a good start, scoring the first run of the game on a solo HR by Aubrey Huff. In the bottom of the second, Matt Clement got the first two outs, striking out Geoff Jenkins and getting Vinny Castilla on a ground out. However, after a Mark Kotsay single, Clement displayed his share of wildness, walking Junior Spivey and Chad Moeller to load up the bases for Brian Giles at the top of the order. Giles hit a comebacker to the mound and Clement escaped from the inning by getting the force out at home and keeping the Orioles lead to 1-0.
After a rough first inning, Kim got on a role in the top of the second striking out two and retiring nine consecutive batters before stranding a 2-out Scott Rolen single in the fourth. Clement also fared better in the third and fourth innings conserving his pitches and escaping the dangerous lefties in the middle of the Baltimore lineup.
In the top of the fifth, Adam Dunn drew a one-out walk and stole second base to give the Twins their first runner in scoring position since the first inning. Bo Hart flied out and failed to advance the baserunner, but Raffy Furcal came through once again in the clutch, with a single to give him his series-leading eighth R.B.I. Another single by Larry Walker put runners on the corners, but the Twins couldn�t capitalize with Richie Sexson who came to bat with only 1 hit in 22 ABs thus far in the series.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Matt Clement struck out Chad Moeller to open up the inning, but a walk to Brian Giles and a single by Edgar Renteria put runners at the corners with Aubrey Huff coming up to the plate. Renteria stole second base to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out. Huff hit a single bringing home Giles and the Orioles sent Renteria home from second base. Despite a 60% chance of scoring, Larry Walker gunned down Renteria for the second out. Huff moved to second on the play and Carlos Delgado came out in the clutch. The Twins intentionally walked Delgado to bring up Geoff Jenkins. Jenkins singled to left and the Orioles sent Huff around third trying to score the insurance run. With a second 60% chance of scoring, this time Milton Bradley came up with the throw to Huff at the plate and end the inning with the Orioles up 2-1.
In the top of the sixth, the Twins squandered a one-out double by Scott Rolen, stranding him at second base. Their next opportunity came in the seventh, when Adam Dunn drew a lead-off walk. The Twins tossed Gabe Kapler in to pinch-run, hoping for a chance to score the game-tying run. Bo Hart struck out to bring up Raffy Furcal with one out. The Orioles brought in Bartolo Colon. He paid close attention to Furcal on first base and prevented him from stealing 2B, Colon his distraction led him to walk Larry Walker. Richie Sexson stepped up to the plate, and Colon struck him out to end the inning.
Neither team had any good opportunities to score. In the top of the ninth, with closer John Smoltz on in relief to protect a 2-1 lead, pinch-hitter Gerald Laird managed to work a lead-off walk to put the tying run on first. Brian Roberts came in to pinch-run and Carl Pavano pinch-hit for Bo Hart, coming up with a sac bunt to move Roberts over to second base. Raffy Furcal stepped up with a chance to add to his World Series heroics, but Smoltz was just too tough, getting him to ground out. Roberts advanced to third on the play and only Larry Walker stood in the way of Orioles forcing game 7. An overpowering Smoltz struck him out.