Twins beat O's to gain 4th seed in AL Playoff

The 06 Twins got 2 early runs off Oriole starter Mike Cuellar then relied on Johan Santana and 3 starters to make it stand up. Both Cuellar (3-4) and Santana (8-1)were pitching on 3 days rest but both aces were up to the challenge. Cuellar (6IP, 10H, 2R, 2K) gave up 4 singles and an Earl Williams passed ball in the 2nd inning that accounted for all the scoring the Twins would do on the day. Santana (7IP, 5H, 1R, 4K) was able to make those 2 runs last by keeping Baltimore hitters off balance all night. Bobby Grich was the lone bright spot with a double and a Home Run in the 5th to close the gap to 1 run. Minnesota was able to turn to its dominant bullpen in the late innings to preserve the 1 run lead. First, Pat Neshek got a big K of Tommy Davis after allowing a 8th inning lead off single to Paul Blair. With lefty Boog Powell due up, it was time for lefty specialist Dennys Reyes to trot in from the pen. Reyes was able to get Powell to fly out to left for the 2nd out of the inning with Blair still standing on 1st. With Brooks Robinson due up, it was closer Joe Nathan's turn. Nathan came in throwing strikes but his defense, specifically Jason Bartlett at short, did not help as Robinson and Don Baylor reached base on what should have been inning ending grounders to short. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Baltimore turned to pinch hitter Al Bumbry. Nathan, however, decided to take care of the 3rd inning himself by mowing down Bumbry and preserving the lead. After failing to add to the lead, Minnesota turned to Nathan again in the 9th to close it out. Nathan was up to the task retiring the Orioles 1-2-3 for his 17th save of the season.

Next up for Minnesota is another 1 game playoff with 2000 Seattle. Minnesota will hand the ball to Francisco Liriano (5-2) for this 2nd straight win or go home ball game.

Thanks to Mark Nixon for getting the game in quickly. Mark did a great job of getting his O's team to this play in game. His team struggled out of the gate and stood at 4-11 after game 1 of our early season series. To end this season at 25-21 took a tremendous 21-10 run that shows the managerial skills that Mark clearly possesses.

Pete

06 MIN

Ah, the playoffs and the tangled we weaved in KOD21

Good News for NL Managers.  Other than a tie breaker for the NL West flag, the NL playoff picture was pretty easy to figure out.

1. ATL
2. HOU (Had better Run Diff than SFG)
3. PIT
4. WAS
5. SFG

The AL, on the other hand...Now this is where you needed a slide rule.

The top 3 saw Toronto take the #1 seed, because they had a better divisional record than CLE and took 2 of 3 from CAL in head to head action.  That was the easy part.  The hard part comes when we have to fill 2 WC slots from 3 teams with identical records (BAL, SEA, MIN).  This leads to a two tiered play in scenario.  I used the random # generator and SEA lucked out getting the lowest number.  That meant MIN would play vs BAL in game 1 with the winner hosting SEA for the actual play in game as part of the playoff rotation.  MIN/BAL is considered a regular season play in game to get to the WC play in game.  Seattle, by virtue of the best random # gets the bye, but also gets the lower seed #5..

Here's how the AL's murky post season picture looks:

1. TOR (Better Div record than CLE and better h2h record vs CAL)
2. CAL
3. CLE
4. Winner of MIN @ BAL
5. SEA

O's and Indians Split to Stay Afloat in AL East Race

This series between 1973 Baltimore and 1999 Cleveland looked to be a battle of polar opposites. Baltimore has great starting pitching (McNally, Palmer, Alexander, Cuellar) and little in the way of offensive power. Cleveland has shaky starters (no starter has an ERA below 4) but a loaded offense that can belt them out of the park.

Game One: Baltimore gets two runs apiece in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings, as Andy Etchebarren has four RBIs and a bases clearing double off the Indians' struggling starter Jaret Wright. But leading 7-0, Baltimore's bullpen allows Cleveland to come back; Eddie Watt gives up back to back homers from Sandy Alomar Jr. and Wil Cordero to cut the lead to 7-5. Bob Reynolds comes in for Baltimore in the ninth and shuts the door for the O's.
Baltimore 7, Cleveland 5
W: Hood (1-0)
L: Wright (2-4)
S: Reynolds (3)

Game Two: Cleveland comes back with a vengeance, knocking around Baltimore's Doyle Alexander for seven runs in six innings. Home runs by Robby Alomar, Manny Ramirez and Richie Sexson provide the firepower, while Bartolo Colon is magnificent in only allowing four hits in seven innings.
Cleveland 8, Baltimore 0
W: Colon (5-2)
L: Alexander (3-4)

Game Three: A tremendous pitchers duel from Baltimore's Dave McNally and Cleveland's Dave Burba, with only one run allowed between the two teams. Baltimore plates it in the fourth on a Don Baylor double and Tommy Davis RBI single. Cleveland has several chances with men on third base and less than two outs but McNally is too tough in his eight innings of work.
Baltimore 1, Cleveland 0
W: McNally (2-4)
L: Burba (2-3)
S: Reynolds (4)

Game Four: This game looked at first to be an easy win for Baltimore, as the legendary Jim Palmer was cruising along with a 5-3 lead in the seventh. But then the floodgates opened for Cleveland, as Palmer gave up four in the bottom of the seventh, walking three and giving up two-RBI singles from Omar Vizquel and Jim Thome. After Baltimore makes it close at 7-6 in the eighth, Vizquel doubles in the bottom of the inning to score two more and put it away.
Cleveland 9, Baltimore 6
W: DePaula (2-0)
L: Palmer (3-4)
S: Shuey (3)

The Indians Take Series from Twins in Playoff Battle

99 Cleveland comes in with nearly an identical record (17-14) as 06 Minnesota (17-13), as both teams hope to make the playoffs in a bunch-up AL race. Starting pitching is an issue for both clubs, but they can hit: Cleveland has a powerful lineup from top to bottom, while Minnesota features the fabled M&M boys (Mauer and Morneau).

Game One: Both teams hit the ball early in this one, with Cleveland holding a 6-3 lead after two and starters Scott Baker and Dave Burba getting hit hard. But then Cleveland keeps the bats going while Minnesota fails to score more runs the rest of the game. Cleveland wins going away, paced by a grand slam from the "power-hitting" Omar Vizquel and a three hit day with two RBIs from Jim Thome. Cleveland 14, Minnesota 3.

W: Burba (2-2)
L: Baker (0-2)

Game Two: Minnesota takes an early 2-0 lead in the first on three singles off Charlie Nagy, but Cleveland gets four singles off Brad Radke in the second to tie it, before Justin Morneau's double in the third gives Minnesota a 3-2 lead. Cleveland gets three more in the fourth, led by Manny Ramirez's two-run single, before Minnesota ties it at five on another Morneau double. It remains 5-5 after regulation, but in the bottom of the 10th, young Alex Ramirez, starting in leftfield in place of a resting Richie Sexson, launches a homer off Joe Nathan to win it for the Indians. Cleveland 6, Minnesota 5.

W: Jackson(1-2)
L: Nathan (1-2)

Game Three: Cleveland starts little-used Mark Langston in the second game of a doubleheader, and he is hit hard for seven runs in five innings, including back to back homers from Morneau and Torii Hunter. Morneau hits his second homer of the game later, his 9th, as Francisco Liriano and a trio of relievers finally hold down Cleveland's bats. Minnesota 8, Cleveland 4.

W: Liriano (4-2)
L: Langston (1-2)

Nats Sweep Friars to get their mojo back

Nationals Park
GAME 1
Hamilton vs Zimmerman
Nats 6, Padres 0

San Diego got the rare 8 inning complete game out of Joey Hamilton.  Sadly for him the Nats hung his 4th loss of the season on him in the process.  Jordan Zimmerman, on the other hand, didn't go the distance but he pitched 7.1 shutout innings.  Adam LaRoche hit his 7th, a 2 run shot as part of a 4 run 8th that blew what was a 2-0 game wide open.

GAME 2
Tewksbury vs Roark
Nats 2, Padres 0

Tanner Roark (4-0, 1.46) went 7 shutout innings before handing the ball off to Clippard (perfect 8th) and Soriano (perfect 9th) as the Nats nursed 2 runs to victory.  A Wilson Ramos two out single in the second scored Ian Desmond to make it 1-0.  Padre starter Bob Tewksbury was keeping pace with the stingy Roark until the 6th when Desmond hit a one out triple then scored on a roller to short by Nate McLouth.  That would be all the scoring that Roark and company would need.

Jack Murphy Stadium
GAME 3
Fister vs Worrell

Both teams received great starting pitching.  Doug Fister (2-1, 2.47) paced the Nats for 7.2 innings before lefty specialist Jerry Blevins came on to pitch to Wally Joyner, which netted an inning ending ground out with the bases loaded and the Nats up 2-1.  In the top of the 9th Ryan Zimmerman hit a pinch hit single then scored all the way from firs on Denard Spans' timely double.  That insurance run would loom large as closer Rafael Soriano was resting and Drew Storen assumed the role in today's game.  Storen gave up a run to make it 3-2 then got Finley to ground back to the box with a runner on first to end it and give the Nats the series sweep.

The Mariners Take Series from Indians

Seattle managed to cool off red-hot Cleveland, taking two of three. Cleveland's pitching in the first two games had a bit of an odor, as did Seattle's starter in game three, as none of the games were all that close.

Game One: Seattle 8, Cleveland 1

W: Sele (1-4)
L: Wright (2-3)
Aaron Sele had his best game of the year, only allowing five hits and striking out seven in seven innings, while inducing three DP balls to get out of possible jams. Jaret Wright was hit hard, as Edgar Martinez (with his sixth homer), John Olerud and Dan Wilson all had two RBIs.

Game Two: Seattle 6, Cleveland 3
W: Abbott (2-2)
L: Haney (0-1)
S: Sasaki (7)
Spot starter Chris Haney was pounded for Cleveland, giving up five runs in 1.2 innings before Dwight Gooden came in and settled things down. But it was too late, as Jim Abbott held the Indians to three runs for his second win. Seattle got scoring from all over the lineup. Cleveland tried to come back late but Kaz Sasaki shut it down in the ninth for save number 7.

Game Three: Cleveland 11, Seattle 2
W: Colon (4-2)
L: Garcia (2-3)

Bartolo Colon continued to pitch well for Cleveland, going seven innings and only allowing five hits, with nine Ks thrown in. Cleveland hitters also woke up, hitting Freddy Garcia and a potpourri of relievers for 11 runs. Richie Sexson hit two longballs, Enrique Wilson homered and had four RBIs, and Jim Thome also found the fence for his seventh home run.

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.