Final Act Drama is Sox-Mariners Split

Sept. 1 at Chicago – Bo Jackson (3) got a 3-2 Arthur Rhodes delivery belt-high, and he didn’t miss it. The score was 2-2 with 2 outs in the B9 with Frank Thomas (double) on second and Robin Ventura (IBB) on first. Jackson’s big fly to LCF powered the 1993 White Sox to a 5-2 win over the 2000 Seattle Mariners. Jose Paniagua (0-2) was actually tagged with the loss. Donn Pall (2-0) grabbed the relief win.

Sept. 2 at Chicago – The Postman Always Rings Twice – I don’t know what that has to do with Bo Jackson or baseball, but it was a good movie. Also, Jackson (4) “delivered” again for the ChiSox with another 9^th inning, walk-off home run and a 6-5 win at Comiskey Park. Bo knows drama. Ellis Burks was the primary mover and shaker for the Sox early on as his 2B in the 3^rd plated 3 runs and gave them a 4-2 lead. David Bell had doubled in the 2^nd to plate 2 for the Mariners. Both clubs exchanged runs in the 5^th, then Stan Javier (1) belted a 2-run HR in the 7^th to tie it at 5-5. End of the line relievers Brian Drahman (1-0) and Robert Ramsey (0-1) figured in the scoring totals.  

Sept. 3 at Seattle – The setting switched to Seattle for Act 3 and the final scene heroics also belonged to the Mariners. Mike Cameron doubled in the B11th to score Al Martin with the walk-off 2-1 winner. Both starting pitchers, Wilson Alvarez for Chicago (5.2 IP) and Freddy Garcia (8 IP) for the Navs, were strong. Jose Guillen’s RBI ground out in the 6^th and Lance Johnson’s RBI single in the 8^th sent us to overtime. Terry Leach (0-1) and Frank Rodriguez (1-0) were the pitchers of record.

Sept. 4 at Seattle – Stan Javier singled in Bell in the B9th for a 6-5 Mariners win and ended yet another cliff-hanger in walk-off fashion. Both managers, Justin Ryan of the Mariners and Bruce Thomas from Chicago, checked into local hospitals to have their hearts checked at the conclusion of this series. Jay Buhner (9, 10) homered twice and drove in 3 to power the Seattle offense. The “Big Hurt” (2B, HR) had 3 hits and 3 RBI for the Pale Hose. Brett Tomko (2-0) got the win in relief of Aaron Sele (7 IP) for the Mariners. Drahman (1-1) suffered the loss.

Cleveland Tomahawks Struggling Yanks

The 99 Indians take three of four from the struggling 80 Yanks, as the Tribe continues to club the opposition. Cleveland moves to 14-10 and is still a playoff contender, while New York falls to 10-14.

Game One: Neither Tribe starter Bartolo Colon nor Yanks pitcher Luis Tiant last past the fourth inning, as the Yankees maintain a 7-6 lead after six innings. Bob "Bull" Watson's three run homer (4) is the big blow for New York. But Cleveland scores three in the seventh, led by a Travis Fryman triple off Tim Lollar and a key drop in leftfield by Bobby Murcer that allows two runs to score. Paul Shuey pitches 1.2 innings of hitless ball, with two Ks, to hold down the Yanks late. Cleveland 9, New York 7.

Game Two: The Yankees bounce back by knocking around Dave Burba (1-1) for six runs in five innings, as Ruppert Jones drives in two with his fifth homer to lead the scoring. New York's ancient Gaylord Perry (2-0) shuts down the mighty Indians offense, and Mike Griffin pitches 3.1 innings of scoreless ball to earn game MVP. New York 6, Cleveland 2.

Game Three: Charlie Nagy (2-1) holds New York to three runs in 7.1 innings, while Cleveland knocks around Tommy John (2-4) for five runs on 13 hits in six innings. Triples from Richie Sexson and Robby Alomar both lead to runs. Mike Jackson gets his fourth save in a shaky 9th, allowing two singles but then settling down. Cleveland 5, New York 3.

Game Four: Ron Guidry (1-4) uncharacteristically walks six and gets hit for four runs in five innings, leaving with a 4-0 deficit. Robby Alomar ices the win in the sixth with a two run homer, his fourth, off reliever Doug Bird. Jaret Wright (2-2) again has a solid outing, only allowing one stingy run and five hits in 7.1 innings. Cleveland 8, New York 3.

Angels Eke Out Close Series Win Over Indians

The 86 Angels team and 99 Indians both came into this series with identical 10-7 records. The Angels took two of three in a rollercoaster ride of a series -- featuring a close, one run win, a dominant pitching performance and an absolute, one-sided blowout.

Game One: The Angels jumped out to a 5-0 lead, behind a 9 K performance from Mike Witt in his 6.1 innings of work and hitting up and down the lineup that dinged Cleveland starter Charles Nagy (who gave up 10 hits in six innings). But in the Indians score a run in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull to 5-3 and setting up a possible comeback win. In the bottom of the ninth, California's Donnie Moore gives up a run and puts runners on the corners with two out and is relieved by Chuck Finley. Cleveland counters with Sandy Alomar Jr. vs. the lefty. But Finley wins the battle by getting Alomar to ground out to end it. Light hitting Dick Schofield hits a two run shot for the key blow.

California 5, Cleveland 4. W: Witt (3-2); L: Nagy (1-1). S: Finley (1). MVP: Schofield

Game Two: Kirk McCaskill is brilliant, going nine and only allowing seven hits and two runs off the powerful Indians lineup. California mugs Cleveland starter Jaret Wright for six runs in six innings. Reggie Jackson is the man, launching two homers and a double and driving in five as Cleveland never threatens.

California 8, Cleveland 4. W: McCaskill (3-1); L: Wright (1-2). MVP: McCaskill

Game Three: Cleveland, angry at its poor play in the series, takes out its vengeance against California starter Ron Romanick, scoring nine earned runs in the first three innings. Omar Vizquel and Manny Ramirez both have four hits and four RBIs in the rout, while both David Justice and Wil Cordero drive home three. Former California star Mark Langston goes six for the Tribe to take home his first win of the year in the blowout victory.

Cleveland 17, California 2. W: Langston (1-0); L: Romanick (0-2). MVP: Ramirez

Sahx take 2 of 3 from Twinkies with all 3 games being nail biters

GAME 1 - HHH Metrodome
Wakefield vs Radke
Red Sox 5, Twins 4 (11 inn)

Five solo homers, two by Mo Vaughn, were needed for the Sahx to power their way past the Twinkies.  Boston jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Wake gave back 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th.  A one out solo blast in the top of the 11th by Troy O'Leary won the game.  Mike Maddux, who threw 2 innings of shutout ball got the win, and Stan Belinda's perfect bottom of the 11th was rewarded with a save.

GAME 2
Hanson vs Santana
Twins 2, Red Sox 1

Johan Santana threw 136 pitches in 6 2/3 innings, then handed the ball off to Reyes and Nathan, who prevented Boston's powerful offense from doing any damage.  Reyes got the win and Johan the ND.  The game was played in a cool 2 hours and 11 minutes.  The Twins scored what would be the winning run in the bottom of the 8th by recording back to back to back singles by Nick Punto, Lew Ford and Luis Castillo.  The latter knocking in Punto for the big run.

GAME 3 - Fenway Park
Liriano vs Clemens
Red Sox 3, Twins 1

Vintage Rocket minus the K's tonight.  Roger Clemens (3-1, 2.25) looked like the old Clemens and not an older Clemens.  Stan Belinda and Rick Aguilera combined for scoreless innings to finish off the Twins.  Mike Macfarlane's 4th homer of the season was a 2 run shot in the 2nd, which looked to be the difference maker for a long time until Luis Alicea's sac fly in the 8th provided a bit more breathing room.  Sahx are now 5-1 under their interim manager as they chase the hot Jays in the East.

O’s take 2 of 3 from Pale Hose

O's win their second series of the season taking two of three from Chicago.  Baltimore ace, and hard luck pitcher, Jim Palmer held Chicago to no runs and only two hits in game 2 over 10 innings.  Unfortunately the O's were held in check for 12 innings by six Chicago hurlers and won the game 1-0 in the bottom of the 12th.  Mike Cuellar returned the favor in game three shutting out Chicago as Baltimore took the series with a 5-0 win in the finale.
Great series.  Mostly very low scoring and just a lot of fun as the O's try to fight back from their poor start to KOD21.
Mark N
Baltimore

Tampa Bay 13 Edges Oakland 92 2 Games To 1

The 92 Oakland A's arrived in 13Tampa Bay riding a 9 game losing streak and needed a spark to turn things around early in the KOD21 season. Rickey Henderson provided the spark in Game 1.

Game 1: Oakland 3, Tampa Bay 2 (Tropicana Field)

The opening game of the series matched up Mike Moore (0-2) for the A's and Chris Archer (1-0)
for the home town Rays. Most of the scoring in this one happened in the first inning as Oakland's Rickey Henderson led off with a single, then proceeded to help himself to stealing 2nd and 3rd base. Willie Wilson's SacFly gave the A's the early lead.
Bottom of the 1st, saw a shaky Mike Moore give up 2 walks and a couple of singles and the Rays
take the early 2-1 lead. The score would remain that way until the 8th, Both starters hit the showers after 5 innings. In the Oakland 8th, Rickey Henderson's lead off double set the tone for a 2 run inning. Henderson went to third on a failed pick off attempt by reliever Jamie Wright. Mike Bordick
singled in Henderson and reached third on a Harold Baines single.
Wright looking rattled on the mound threw a wild pitch allowing Bordick to score the go ahead run. Dennis Eckersley earned his 4th save with 2 k's in the 9th. Oakland's losing streak over. Henderson had a huge game 3 for 5 and 2 runs scored.

Game 2: Tampa Bay 2 , Oakland 1 (Tropicana Field)

The second game of the series was another tough close game as Kelly Downs faced off against David Price. Oakland once again took an early lead with a Terry Steinbach solo home run in the second inning. Both starters were sharp as the score remained 1-0 Oakland into the bottom of the 8th.
Rick Honeycutt was called from the bullpen to relieve a tired Downs and Tampa jumped on him for three doubles by Myers, DeJesus and Molina to take a 2-1 lead.
David Price pitched a complete game with 8 strike outs and 3 hits allowed, to bump his record 2-1.

Game 3: Tampa Bay 6, Oakland 4 (Oakland Coliseum)

The rubber match featured the pitching match up of Jeremy Hellickson for the Rays and Dave Stewart for Oakland. Tampa built up a 4-1 lead after 3, only to have the A's claw back into it with a run in the 4th and 2 run game tying blast by Mark McGuire, game tied 4-4.
The Rays break the tie in the 8th with 4 straight 2 out singles off of Oakland reliever Gene Nelson who came into the game in the 7th. Desmond Jennings had the GWRBI and Evan Longoria who was held in check for most of the series batted in the insurance run. Fernando Rodney earned his 5th save of the year, but not before giving up a couple of walks to make it interesting until the final out was recorded.

Fun series to play. All three games were tight and tense until the final out.

Sahx sweep A’s

GAME 1 - Fenway Park
Stewart vs Hanson
Red sox 8, A's 7 (14 inn)

Both Andy Sexton and I agreed that this was an "ESPN Classic" game if there ever was one.  There were at least 7 or 8 moments where either team could have won or lost this game.  The five extra innings, while yielding just one run, was riveting.  In the end the game was when Mo Vaughn lined a single between 1st and second to score Tinsley with 2 out in the bottom of the 14th.  That same scenario could have played out a number of times along the way.  It just happened that the law of averages finally caught up and Vaughn was the delivery guy.  Besides Vaughn unheralded Reggie Jefferson (4-6, 4 RBI, 2 HR) was Boston's hitting star.  Oakland had 3 guys who posted 3 hits.  The game took almost 4 hours (Koch time) to play and 35 minutes of real time to play.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  What most surprised me about this game was the fact that "The Eck", who won the Cy Young in '92, gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and force extras.  No one saw that coming that's for sure, least of all me.  When Oakland scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th to go up by 2 I put this one down as a loss.

GAME 2
Slusarski vs Sele
Red Sox 5, A's 3

Oakland's 3-1 lead was erased by 2 Boston runs in the 4th and in the 5th.  Mike Greenwell (2-4) hit two homers and Aaron Sele gave Red Sox Nation one of those (cough/cough) 6Ip/3ER quality starts for the win.  Aggie got the save, his second of the season.  His ERA is not "down to" 7.50.

GAME 3 - Oakland Coliseum
Z.Smith vs Darling
Red Sox 12, A's 6

Once again neither team received quality pitching and the Red Sox managed to get more offense.  Greenwell (5-6) hit another homer and had another monster day at the plate.  At one point Boston was up 5-0, but Oakland rallied back with 5 runs in the 4th to tie it.  Ron Darling (7.1IP/10R) was more generous than John Kerry at a nuclear negotiation with Iran.  Zane Smith was like a beer league softball pitcher who benefited from having the best hitters on his side.  A 6th run 8th inning by the Sahx sealed the deal in this one that had as much scoring as a Raiders Patriots game.  Red Sox catcher Mike Macfarland (0-5) was the only Red Sock to go hitless.  Tinsley and Alicea each had 3 hits.  In total 6 Boston players had double digit hits.  Oakland lost it’s 9th game in a row.