Thursday Night Tournaments
A Strat-o-Matic Baseball League
Season 1, Tournament Results
Games played 9/10/08
'04 Astros Sweep Their way to the 1st TNT Championship
Game 1: Maddux versus Clemens - The Sweat Sox jumped out to the early lead with Reyes, Castillo, Abreu, and Pujols lining extra base hits before Clemens could record the first out. But Clemens settled down, retiring 18 of the next 19 batters. Maddux was up to the task and held the Astros to 3-hits through 5-innings and the Sox 3-0 lead looked good. The Astros rallied in the bottom of the 6th, with Jeff Kent ‘s 2-run homerun tying the score at 3 all. Chad Qualls held the Sox at bay in the 7th and 8th. In the bottom of the 8th, with Chad Bradford on the mound, Carlos Beltran singled and stole 2nd. But Bradford, struck out Berkman and Bagwell. Jeff Kent was then hit by a Bradford fastball and lost for the series. Morgan Ensberg singled in Beltran for the 4-3 Astros lead. Dotel pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth as the Astros took a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Verlander versus Pettitte - Albert Pujols and Jeff Bagwell traded homeruns with Pujols hitting three out of Minute Maid Park and Bagwell connecting for two. The difference is that Pujols’ homeruns are solo shots, while Bagwell’s are both hit with Carlos Beltran on base. An eighth inning Sweat Sox rally is turned aside when Vizcaino starts a double play that Jeff Kent probably would not have made. Dotel pitches another 1-2-3 ninth inning as the Astros take game 2 by a score of 4-3.
Game 3: Oswalt versus Maine - Tit looks like the Astros traveled to PNC Park by way of Gettysburg. In the first two innings, Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett are lost for the series (joining Kent on the DL) and Brad Ausmus will miss 1 game. This depletes the Astros bench, meaning that there won’t be a lot of pinch hitting. Oswalt gives up a 2-run HR to Pujols and a solo shot to David Wright as the Sweat Sox take a 3-0 lead after 3 innings. The Astros get an unearned run in the 5th and tie the game on a 2-run Homerun by Eric Bruntlett in the top of the 7th. Back-to-back doubles by Beltran and Berkman give the Astros a 4-3 lead in the 9th. This is the first run given up by Takashi Saito in the tournament. In the bottom of the 9th, Brad Lidge gets the first two outs (Spiezio and Reyes), before walking Castillo and Abreu. Albert Pujols steps to the plate and rolls a 4-5 N-HR 1-10. He rolls an 11 – robbing the HR – and Carlos Beltran “easily” catches the ball at the top of the wall. ANOTHER 4-3 Astros win and a 3-0 series lead.
Game 4: Miller versus Rogers - First inning errors by Mike Lamb (replacing Ensberg at 3b), Eric Bruntlett (replacing Everett at ss) and Jose Vizcaino (replacing Kent at 2b) provide the Sweat Sox with 5 unearned runs. Wade Miller figures out that if the Sox don’t hit the ball, the infield won’t make any errors, and he strikes out 12 of the next 18 batters. Meanwhile, Raul Chavez (replacing the injured Brad Ausmus) goes 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI’s against Kenny Rogers. Each time Vizcaino was intentionally walked to pitch to Chavez. (Chavez has no chances against LHP.) The Sweat Sox hold a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth, when Beltran, Berkman, and Bagwell hit back-to-back-to-back two-out doubles off of Trevor Hoffman giving the Astros a 6-5 lead. Brad Lidge comes in to pitch the home half of the ninth. Castillo hits a groundball to the shortstop Bruntlett who bobbles it for his 3rd error of the game. Abreu hits a groundball to the shortstop Bruntlett who turns a double play. Albert Pujols steps up and rolls a 4-5 N-HR 1-10. He rolls a 10 – robbing the HR – and Lance Berkman (a 4) is in leftfield. Pujols rolls a 20 and the series is over. Astros win 6-5 and sweep the Sox.
Games played 8/28/08
'06 Sweat Sox Advance to TNT Championship
The ’93 Braves march through the loser’s bracket came to an abrupt halt last night in action at The Field at High Meadows. The word “action” only applies to the Sweat Sox as the Braves demonstrated a great deal of in-action.
Game 1: Avery versus Maine - After a scoreless first inning, Ron Gant led off the 2nd with a single. That was the first and last hit for the Braves in game 1, as John Maine befuddled them with a mixture of tantalizing pitches that the Braves were able to consistently drive to the warning track. Three diamond homerun chances all stayed within PNC park. Albert Pujols provided a “real” longball in the 4th and three singles provided some insurance in the 8th as the Sweat Sox defeated the Braves, 2-0.
Game 2: Maddux versus Verlander - The Sweat Sox scored single runs in the 4th and 5th innings as Verlander held the Braves hitless over the first 5 innings. FINALLY the Braves were able to put some offense together as three straight singles gassed Verlander in the sixth. However, the Sox bullpen of Reyes, Karstens, and Bradford shut the Braves down over the last 4 innings. Meanwhile, Jay Howell imploded in the 7th allowing 6 straight hits/walks after getting the first 2 outs, as the Sox rolled to a 5-1 win.
Game 3: Rogers versus Glavine - Off to the launching pad and both teams were alive in the first inning. Two singles, a sacrifice fly, and a double staked the Sox to an early 2-0 lead. The Braves answered in the bottom of the first with a walk, double, single and a sacrifice fly to tie it up at 2 apiece. That was all the Braves could muster against Rogers, as he scattered 3 hits and 3 walks over the last 8 innings. Meanwhile Albert Pujols was going 4 for 4 with 2 homeruns, 3 runs scored, 3 RBI’s, securing the Sox position in the final with a 10-2 thrashing of the Braves.
NOTES – The Braves were out-hit 33-13 and outscored 17-3…. Mark Lemke was injured for the series in the 5th inning of game 1, but his replacements (Belliard and Pecota) led the Braves in hitting over the last two games….Braves had 14 total bases in the series while Pujols had 18 total bases. Not much else to say except that it was over early.
Games played 8/10/08
'93 Braves Dump '01 Mariners in 4; Advance to Loser's Bracket Final Against '06 Sweat Sox
In four tight games, all decided by one run, including three walk-off wins and two extra inning affairs, the 1993 Atlanta Braves moved a step closer to redemption for their real-life post-season collapse. The 2001 Mariners, on the other hand, fell short once again.
Game 1 featured Steve Avery against Freddy Garcia, but neither starter made it past the 6th with the score tied at 3. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 10th when Kent Mercker loaded the bases with no out and the game on the line. Greg McMichael came in to face the heart of the order and induced a popout from Brett Boone and a force out at the plate from Edgar Martinez. With the intense pressure apparently off for the moment, McMichael proceeded to bean Mike Cameron to force in the winning run. M's take a 1 game lead with a 4-3 walkoff win in the 10th.
Game 2 looked like all Braves, as Fred McGriff swacked 3 RBIs and a HR off M's started Jamie Moyer while starting two DPs to kill Mariner rallies, staking the Bravos to a 5-1 lead entering the 6th. Tom Glavine was cruising, but the M's chipped away and closed the gap to 5-4 in the 7th. That inning ended with Boone charging to the plate as the tying run on a 1-18 chance; the roll was 19 and c3 Damon Berryhill successfully blocked the plate for the final out of the inning. As it turned out, that was all the Braves would need as McMichael closed the door for the save.
John Smoltz left Game 3 with a 3-1 lead after fanning 8 Mariners through 6 innings. Steve Bedrosian tossed two perfect innings of relief, setting up another McMichael save... But PH Ed Sprague spoiled the party with a 1-out, 2-run HR to tie the game in the top of the 9th! Unfortunately, Jeff Nelson must have celebrated a little too much and too early, because he served up a first pitch gopher ball to Jeff Blauser leading off the bottom of the 9th, and the Braves walked off with that HR to take a 4-3 win and a 2 games to 1 series lead.
It was looking like the M's had Game 4 under control as Greg Maddux did not bring his A-game and Paul Abbott baffled the Braves through five shutout innings. But GM Butler felt that the M's bullpen was better equipped to hold the 3-0 lead they had amassed. Mark Lemke greeted Arthur Rhodes in the 6th with a 2-out, 6-12 ballpark HR to cut the score to 3-1 and McGriff tagged Nelson for a RBI triple in the 8th to make it 3-2. The M's added an insurance run in the top of the 9th with a two-out RBI single from Ichiro, and closer ace Kaz Sasaki entered for the 1st time in the series, hoping to force Game 5 in Seattle. A leadoff single from Terry Pendleton followed by a PH double by Rafael Belliard put the tying run at 2nd with no outs; two ground ball outs and an intentional walk to McGriff later the score was 4-3 with Ron Gant at the plate. Gant came through with a SI** to tie the score and the game went extra. After Bedrock retired the M's in order in the top of the 10th, Stan Javier booted an easy fly from Lemke to lead off the bottom of the frame for a 2-base error. One out later, Pendleton ended it with a double, and the Braves made the improbable comeback with a 5-4 win to take the series.
Games played 8/6/08
THE BUTLER DID IT
Pete's 93 Braves defeated the 71 Pirates in game 5 by a score of 3-0
Pete's 01 Mariners defeated the 71 Orioles 4-1, 3-1, and 1-0.
If you want specifics of the games, it was pitching.
93 Braves are scheduled to face the 01 M's in the semifinals of the losers bracket.
If the Braves win the losers bracket they will play the 04 Astros in the finals -- the Astros defeated the Braves in the opening round.
If the Mariners beat the Braves, they face the Sweat Sox -- the team that put the M's in the losers bracket.
And if the Sweat Sox win their next series, they face the 04 Astros -- the team that put the Sox in the losers bracket.
Games played 7/1/08
'04 Astros Advance to TNT Championship Round
With Monday night T-ball canceled with a Tuesday night makeup, GM Jones stepped up to the plate for a last-minute re-scheduling of the Winner's Bracket final between his two teams...
It was a much-anticipated matchup, as the '06 Sweat Sox had not lost a game in the tournament yet (3 straight sweeps), while the '04 Astros had yet to get through a series without going the distance (3 straight five-game wins). And Carlos Beltran ended up having quite a night! Playing CF for both teams, he led both the offense and defense for both lineups, leading each in RBIs for the night, robbing a HR, throwing out runners at the plate, stealing bases, and generally making it happen. Here's the run-down:
Game 1: Miller v. Maine - Two-out lightning struck in the bottom of the 1st as Bobby Abreu doubled and scored on an Albert Pujols double to take a 1-0 lead for the Sox. Unfortunately for the Sweaty ones, that Pujols hit would be their last until an exciting 9th... It was the Astros' version of Beltran who connected for a two-run double in the 4th and a solo HR in the top of the 9th for insurance, and Brad Lidge came in to protect a 3-1 lead. Luis Castillo led off for the Sox with a single, but was gunned down trying to steal 2nd on a 1-14 chance; Abreu followed with a single to set-up the Lidge-Pujols matchup with the game on the line. A HR would tie it... but Albert failed to connect, grounding out. Beltran then struck for the other side with an RBI single to bring the game to within a run, but David Wright went down on strikes to end the game.
Game 2: Oswalt v. Verlander - Jason Verlander had some 5-9 trouble early, as three Astros tagged that roll of the dice for two 2-run HRs (Biggio, Lamb) and a double (Oswalt) in the first two innings. Perhaps he was concealing some discomfort as he left the game due to injury after batting in the bottom of the 2nd. After picking up another run for a 5-2 lead in the 3rd, that would be all of the scoring in this game for the 'Stros. Oswalt held down the Sox until leaving after weakening in the 7th with the score 5-3, and Lidge came in again to cleanup the inning by striking out Scott Spiezio to end the threat. After closing the gap with another run inthe 8th off Lidge, Beltran led off the bottom of the 9th with a triple off Octavia Dotel. It was another exciting finish, as Dotel struck out the side to leave Beltran stranded and the Astros took a 2-0 series lead with the 5-4 win.
Game 3: Pettitte v. Maddux - The matchup seemed to favor the Astros, but future HOF-er Maddux responded with a gem, scatteriung four hits and not allowing a run until cruising with a 6-0 lead in the 9th. Beltran crushed two sloppy Pettitte breaking balls en route to 2 HRs and 3 RBIs for the game, and Pujols added a solo shot of his own in staking the lead. Although the Astros weakened Maddux in the 9th chipped away for 2 runs, Takashi Saito closed the door for the 6-2 Sweat Sox win.
Game 4: Clemens v. Rogers - Unfortunately, this was the most lopsided game in the series, as the Astros jumped on The Gambler for 4 runs in the 1st and never looked back. Beltran tried to stay neutral, homering for both teams in the game, but his 3 RBIs for the Astros led the attack. Morgan Ensberg went 4-for-4, Mike Lamb added a 2-run dinger, and Clemens struck out 11 in a complete-game 9-4 win for the series clincher.
Congratulations to Dave Jones for sending two of his four squads to the Winner's Bracket final in our 1st Tournament! The '04 Astros will now await the winner of the Loser's Bracket for the best-of-7 TNT Championship.
Games played 5/29/08
06 Sweat Sox Sweep Mariners in Winner's Bracket Semi-final
Game 1 Garcia versus Maine John Maine and Chad Bradford hold the Mariners to 4 hits and 1 run while the Sweat Sox rock PNC park with 13 hits (including back-to-back HR's by Pujols and Beltran) as the Sweat Sox take game 1 by a score of 7-1.
Game 2 Moyer versus Rogers Jose Reyes laces a 2-run triple in the 3rd and Kenny Rogers holds the Mariners scoreless through 7 innings. The Sweat Sox go to their bullpen and Denny Reyes loads the bases in the 8th with one out. Trevor Hoffman comes in and gets Cameron and Guillen to popout and ground out to shortstop. But the M's come right back in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. But a fielder's choice, a failed suicide squeeze, and a flyball nets only one run. The Sweat Sox hold on for a 2-1 win and a 2 games to none lead in the series.
Game 3 Maddux versus Sele The series moves to Seattle but the Sox score single runs in the 1st and the 2nd to take a 2-0 lead. Sele settles down and retires the next 15 batters. In the 5th it is Sele who doubles and scores on an Ichiro single. Bret Boone hits his 2nd HR of the series to give the M's their first lead, 3-2 after six innings. Sele is more than happy to turn the lead over to the Mariner's bullpen. Nelson comes in and retires the Sox in the 7th, but allows a lead-off single to Reyes in the 8th and a one out walk to Abreu. But Pujols goes down on strikes. Carlos Beltran launches a 3-run homerun and the Sweat Sox are up 5-3. Bradford and Saito pitch the 8th and 9th and the Sweat Sox complete their third sweep of the tournament.
Games played 5/15/08
'04 Astros Beat '71 Pirates in Quarter-final Round
Game 1: Clemens versus Johnson - Before the crowd had settled in, Carlos Beltran and Lance Berkman took Bob Johnson deep and the ‘Stros were up 2-0. Willie Stargell cut the lead in half with his solo homerun in the bottom of the second. Clemens and Johnson then traded zeros until the top of the fifth when Craig Biggio doubled. After Beltran popped out to first, Berkman walked. Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent, and Morgan Ensberg hit consecutive singles and the Astros were up 5-1.
Nellie Briles relieved in the sixth when two-out lightening struck. After two weak ground-outs to second and third, Beltran singled, Berkman and Bagwell hit back-to-back doubles and Kent singled home the third run of the inning. The Astros added two more in the eighth as Beltran, Berkman, Bagwell, and Kent bunched four singles together. Biggio closed the scoring with a solo homerun in the top of the ninth.
What were the Pirates doing? Scratching out a Sanguillen single in the 5th, a Robertson single in the 6th and a Stennett double in the 7th. Roger Clemens went the distance allowing four hits, walking 5, and striking out 13.
The only downside for the Astros was when Adam Everett stopped a Jim Nelson fastball with his ribs and would miss a game.
Final score 11-1 Astros.
Game Two Miller versus Blass - Miller and Blass traded zeros for the first three innings, until the left-side of the Pirates infield started playing hot potato with the ball. Jeff Kent doubled, but then Richie Hebner couldn’t handle a slow roller off of the bat of Morgan Ensberg, followed by Gene Alley booting an Eric Bruntlett grounder. Dave Cash avoided the trifecta by turning the next groundball into a 4-6-3 double play, and the Pirates limited the damage to one run.
Dave Cash and Roberto Clemente singled in runs in the bottom of the fifth and the Pirates had their first lead 2-1 after 5 innings of play.
In the top of the sixth, the Astros once again bunched together 4 singles with Brad Ausmus singling in Ensberg, and Mike Lamb stroking a pinch hit single to score Bruntlett. The Astros would add single runs in the 7th and the 8th, while the Pirates could only get one walk in the final 3 innings.
Final score 5-2 Astros
Game Three Ellis versus Oswalt -
The Astros jump on Ellis early scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. It would have been worse if not for Willie Stargell robbing Jeff Kent of a homerun. The Pirates only had a single in the first inning and Roy Oswalt is cruising with a one-hitter and two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Can you spell S-W-E-E-P?
THEN THE PHONE RANG AND COACH WAIN TALKED TO “ERIC” FOR 5 MINUTES. The karma is broken – the strato deities are now looking at the other side.
Upon his return Mazeroski singled, and Jose Pagan clubs a pinch hit 2-run homerun. The Pirates tack on three more in the top of the ninth highlighted by Hebner’s triple
Final score 5-2 Pirates
Game Four Walker versus Pettitte - The Astros are still fuming over that “Uncalled for” time-out in game three and start out with two runs in the first three innings, but can’t get the big hit as they also strand 6 runners in the first three innings. Walker has weathered the storm and shuts down the Astros through the middle three innings. The Pirates place a FOUR-spot on the scoreboard in the FOURth with FOUR extra base hits, highlighted by Robertson’s FOUR-bagger and Hebner’s second triple of the series. They add an unearned run in the 7th to take a 5-2 lead. The unearned run scores after 1e17 shortstop Adam Everett makes two errors.
The Astros get to the Pirates bullpen and load the bases with two outs after scoring 1 run in the 8th. Carlos Beltran does not get the clutch hit and the bottom of the ninth comes up with the Astros down by two, 5-3. Mike Lamb hits a bomb to right and the Astros are down by the one UNEARNED run, and lose because of that one UNEARNED run. (I’m over it –really, I am).
Final score 5-4 Pirates
Game Five Clemens versus Johnson - Johnson is throwing aspirin up there and Dave Cash and Roberto Clemente come alive as the Pirates jump out to a 1-0 lead. If Stargell and/or Robertson were hitting, the lead would be significantly more, but it looks like Clemens has weathered the storm. Bagwell turns around a Johnson offering in the fourth and the ‘Stros are up 2-1. Beltran hits a solo shot and the Astros lengthen the lead to 3-1.
Rennie Stennett gets a pinch hit double to lead off the bottom of the 7th and advances to third on a Clemens wild pitch. Cash brings him home on a sacrifice fly. And we have a one-run game in the fifth and deciding game of the series. It will come down to the bullpens. The Astros have been able to hit the Pirates pen, but the Astros have not had to use Dotel or Lidge and both are warming up in the Astros bullpen.
Giusti comes out to start the top of the 8th and strikes out pinch hitter Lamb and Biggio grounds out to second. Beltran walks, Berkman singles and Bagwell walks to load them up. Nellie Briles comes in to face Jeff Kent. A one hopper of the centerfield wall allows three runs to score and Kent is standing at second with three more RBI’s giving him 9 for the series. Brad Lidge comes in to pitch the final two innings, allowing a Jose Pagan pinch hit single, and the Astros move on in the winner’s bracket.
Final score 6-2 Astros
Great series. And if ERIC ever calls again …. we’re disconnecting the phone line immediately. Dog-gone momentum buster.
Haven’t done the stats but Kent has to be in the running for MVP with his .333 average and 9 RBI’s. Clemens is also a candidate as he goes 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 20 strikeouts.
Games played 4/25/08
Roody Poos SWEEP
...Oops! That should be Roody Poos SLEEP ……
The ’71 Orioles visited Wain Manor and unceremoniously swept the '06 Roody Poos out of the tournament.
Game 1: Wang versus Palmer - The Roody Poos scored 2 runs in the top of the second to take the early lead – which was also their last lead in any game of the series. The Orioles methodically rapped out 13 hits taking a 6-2 lead after 5 innings. It could have been considerably worse had not the Roody Poos turned 3 double plays in the first three innings. The Poos scored a run in the 9th to make the final 6-3 Orioles. Who would have thought that would be the last run the Poos would score?
Game 2: Carpenter versus McNally - In true Orioles fashion, McNally throws a 5-hit shut-out and Paul Blair hits a 3-run homerun in the 5th. Uh – yeah – that’s it. Orioles take a 2-0 lead in the series with their 3-0 win. The only sour note for the O’s is Dave Johnson is out for the series after stopping a Carpenter fastball with his ribs.
Game 3: Cuellar versus Bonser - Cuellar scatters 3-hits, while Brooks and Buford go yard and this one is over early. Brooms are everywhere as the Poo is swept away. Final – Orioles win 4-0.
Don Buford is the MVP for the series as he bats .615, slugs 1.000 and has an OPS of 1.643. He had the same number of total bases as the Roody Poos did for the entire series (13).
Games played 4/3/08
'94 Indians Advance Past '64 Twins
The 1994 Indians advanced in the “2nd Chance Bracket” by defeating the 64 Twins three games to one. And in one of the strange twists provided by Strat-o-matic, it was their “strong pitching” which led them to victory.
Game 1: Pascual versus Martinez - “El Presidente” throws a complete game 3-hitter facing two batters over the minimum. Albert Belle provided all the offense needed with a 2-run homerun to cap off a 3-run 6th inning. Belle’s fielding gaffe in the top of the ninth led to the Twins only run. Final Indians 3 Twins 1
Game 2: Kaat versus Nagy - Nagy gave up a first pitch homerun to Jimmie Hall, but then did his best Martinez imitation, throwing a complete game win as the Indians go up two games to none. Belle and Baerga provide the long ball while Kenny Lofton smacks two triples and a double. Manny Ramirez is lost for the series with a bruised ego in the bottom of the first. Final Indians 6 Twins 2
Game 3: Clark versus Grant - Alomar and Thome went deep early, and Eddie Murray hit a pinch hit 3-run HR to give the Indians a 5-run lead as they go for the sweep. Clark finally tires in the sixth but even after he is “gassed”, Manager Butler knows that he is better than whatever can come out of the bullpen. Clark retires the next four batters and gives up one more run in the 8th, when Butler has finally seen enough – it’s MESA time. The Twins hit back-to-back doubles, a Killebrew HR and Allison scrambles around the bases on two Plunk wild pitches as the Twins tie it up at 9-9. Versalles hits a walk-off HR in the 11th and the Twins have a victory. Final Twins 10 Indians 9.
Game 4: Morris versus Stigman - Morris learns that if you don’t allow any hits then the other team won’t win. He scatters 3 hits over 5 innings. Mesa learns that if the other team hits the ball right to the fielders, they should catch it – OOOPS - Mesa’s errant throw leads to two unearned runs. But with Sorrento and Baerga going deep, Lofton hitting another triple, they are celebrating in Cleveland. Final Indians 7 Twins 3
Indians pitching held the Twinkies to a .236 average with the starters only allowing a .211 average…. Jim “Mudcat” Grant led the Twins with 1 homerun (tied with Hall Killebrew and Versalles) … Tony Oliva, who entered the series hitting .413 for the tournament, went 3 for 17 (.176)… Rich Rollins was 8 for 14 (.571) and was one of only two Twins who had more than 3 hits in the series – Earl Battey was the other going 5 -17 (.294)… Jim Thome got the MVP for the series providing great all-around play. He hit .267 (half of the time facing LHP) with a double and a HR, one stolen base, and some clutch fielding.
The series was a lot of fun and here’s hoping that the Indians can continue to provide some excitement in the tournament. Their hitting is great and the way Pete has to juggle the bullpen pitcher, the Indians are most entertaining. Of course, those sentiments will change if I have to face them again.
Games played 3/27/08
'54 Indians Dumped by Lefties
Game 1: Sal "The Barber" Maglie vs. Steve Avery - A Mark Lemke HR and an error gave Pete a 2-0 lead in the 2nd. NY cut the
lead in half on a bunt single by Alvin Dark in the 3rd. A single run in the
5th for Atlanta, then a 3 run 6th for NY off 2 hits, 2 walks, a HBP, and an
error gave them the lead. Ron Gants 2 run shot gave Atlanta the lead and
they added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th. Greg McMichael got
the save with a perfect 9th.
NYG - 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 8 2
ATL - 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 1 X 6 10 2
Game 2: Ruben Gomez vs. Tom Glavine - Lotsa hitting in this one!! Atlanta scored in the 2nd on a 2 out HBP, a
stolen base with an overthrow, then a passed ball. NY took the lead in the
6th on a bunch of garbage (2 hits, 2 bb's and an error), then Blauser's 2
run shot in the 7th gave Atlanta a 2-0 series lead.
NYG - 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 2
ATL - 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 X 3 2 1
Game 3: Don Liddle vs. Greg Maddux - Don Liddle scattered 7 hits for the Giants and Willie Mays drove in 3 runs
in the only game of the series which was a blowout. Maddux gave up 11 hits
in 6 2/3 innings.
ATL - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 2
NYG - 0 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 X 8 13 2
Game 4: Johnny Antonelli vs. John Smoltz - A leadoff walk and a hit and run Homer for Mark Lemke staked Atlanta to a
2-0 lead early. A single run in the 7th for NY and a single run in the 9th
for Atlanta gave Pete a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the 9th with
McMichael on the mound for the series win. He got Al Dark on a groundout,
then Mueller singled and "Say Hey" Willie Mays homered to tie the score. A
walk to Thompson tired McMichael and got Mike Stanton in the game to face
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes couldn't find his left cleat, so
Richie sent up Bobby Hofman to pinch hit for him and hit a BP HR to 19 for
the walkoff win.
ATL - 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 0
NYG - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 5 7 1
Game 5: Sal "The Barber" Maglie vs. Steve Avery - A Game one pitching re-match of Maglie and Avery ended up the same way as
game 1 did for Atlanta. Scoreless into the bottom of the 6th, Pete scored
two on two singles and an error, and added an extra run on a Pendleton homer
in the 7th. NY got two on in the 9th with two outs to bring up Mays, but he
got 4 wide from Jay Howell to bring up Thompson, who drove the ball so high
to right center (and deep) that 2nd baseman Lemke had time to run to the
warning track and climb the wall and grab it for the final out. Series to
Atlanta 3-2.
NYG - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
ATL - 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 X 3 4 0
Despite out scoring the Braves 19-16, MY loses all the road games and to all
the left-handed starters.
Games played 2/12/08
'60 Pirates Eliminate '11 Giants
The 1911 Gnats were bounced from the tourney with authority by the 1960 Pirates, three games to one. Other than possibly their own manager, the Giant defense was their worst enemy committing nine errors in four games (including 4 gaffes in the decisive Game 4), as the Buccos scored 23 runs in the series, just 12 earned. Even without the errors, though, it would have looked bad for the Dead Ball Boys, as they only scored 11 runs in the series.
In like fashion to their loss to the '71 Pirates, the Gnats were unable to get the running game going due to good hold ratings of the Buc starting staff. The few times they were able to get the lead and run, the dice were not with them.
Note that 5 of the starting 8 for the Giants batted over .300 for the Tournament and two others had OBPs of .375 or better. But the many singles and walks did not results in runs, as the clutch hits just weren't there.
Linescores...
Game 1 - WP-Ames LP-Friend S-Crandall
'11 Giants 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 9 1
'60 Pirates 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 9 0
Game 2 - WP-Haddix LP-Mathewson
'11 Giants 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 7 3
'60 Pirates 3 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 x 10 14 1
Game 3 - WP-Mizell LP-Marquand
'60 Pirates 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 6 0
'11 Giants 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 1
Game 4 - WP-Law LP-Raymond
'60 Pirates 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 6 16 0
'11 Giants 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 4
Games played 11/29/07
Instant Classic: '64 Twins Eliminate '06 Yinzers
Game 1: Kaat versus Liriano - Yinzers jump out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning but are viewing a 2-1 deficit after three and a half innings when Killebrew turns around a Liriano fastball. (This will be Killebrew’s only hit of the series – yes he hit a loud .088 going 3 for 34). But in innings 4 and 5, Jim Kaat throws two wild pitches and commits two fielding errors and the Yinzers take game 1 relatively easily by a final score of 5-2. In the bottom of the eighth, J Bard pulls a hamstring when he makes a pinch hitting appearance, which turns out to be the key play of the series.
Game 2: Grant versus Santana - Yinzers systematically take the 64 Twinkies apart. Santana et al hold the Twins to 7 hits, Joe Mauer goes 5 for 5 with 3 RBI’s, Jeff Kent goes deep, and James Loney enters the game in the 7th inning hitting a homerun, stealing a base and scoring two runs. The 6-3 score looks respectable because the Twins score two unearned runs in the top of the 9th when the game had already been decided.
Game 3: Young versus Stigman - The Twins wake up. Oliva goes 3 for 4 with a HR and 3 RBI’s, Allison and Allen also hit longballs, but the real story is the Yinzers strange offense. Held to 5-hits, they leave 17 men on base. Stigman and Worthington combine for 5 wild pitches, 10 walks, 1 HBP, and the Twins commit 3 errors. The Yinzers send 46 men to the plate but leave with a 7-2 loss
Game 4: Lowe versus Pascual - Pascual enters the game having allowed 13 earned runs in 10 and a third IP, but his fastball – forkball is working tonight as he strikes out 11 Yinzers. Oliva and Hall provide homeruns and the Twins tie up the series at 2 games each with a 4-3 win. Scott Rolen is plunked by a fastball in the 7th and is lost for the rest of the series.
Game 5: Kaat versus Liriano - A rematch of game one and Liriano is up to the task. He removes Killebrew from the line-up in the 4th with a nasty four-seamer into the ribs and allows only two-hits over 7 innings before turning it over to the Yinzer’s bullpen. Unfortunately for Liriano his Yinzers score only 1 run and one of the hits given up by Liriano is a homerun by Allison. Punto , starting at 3B for the injured Rolen, gets a lead-off single in the 5th. He gets a good lead to steal 2nd (1-16 safe) but Battey guns him down. The next two batters single, advance on a groundball C, but Guillen strikes out and the Yinzers waste an opportunity. But Joe Mauer hits a homerun in the 8th off of Jim Perry to give the Yinzers a 2-1 lead going into the 9th. Oliva singles but is erased on a DP (Kostro is no Killebrew). Allison then hits his 2nd HR of the game to tie it up at 2-2. It then is a chess match between the two field managers as 10 different pitchers are paraded out of the bullpen in innings 8 through 11. In the top of the 11th, Versalles hits a Rodney slider over the left-field fence for the 3-2 lead. Remember the Rolen injury in game 4? And the Bard injury in game 1? The Yinzers do, as their bench is empty and Drew, reliever Huston Street , and Guillen quietly go down against lefty reliever Pleiss in the bottom of the 11th.
NOTES – The Yinzers are eliminated, much to the distress of GM Pete. “This was a team that had to win now,” Pete was quoted as saying….. Twins throw 9 wild pitches in the series.… Ballpark diamonds were hit an incredible number of times in both ballparks, but few carried beyond the warning track. With HR numbers of 16, 13, 12, and 6, most of the D-20 rolls came up high double digits.
More to come on TNT Season 1 results...
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