Bucs/Braves Split as Atlanta's new skipper right's ship

ATL 69 (Mike Morgan) vs. PIT 72 (Ross Gottlieb)

GAME 1: ATL 3 PIT 1

Mike Morgan's first game as new manager of the 69 Braves resulted in a victory. It was a pitchers duel. George Stone, Gary Neibauer, and Cecil Upshaw only allowed 2 hits to the Pirates. Atlanta's bullpen held their own for a tired Stone. Atlanta catcher Bob Didier went 3 for 3 and scored 2 runs to be game MVP.

GAME 2: PIT 4 ATL

Niekro and Blass had fine pitching performances in a Pirates victory.List the turning point. Vic Davalillo had a 2 run blast in the 8th to put the Bucs ahead for good.

MVP: Vic Davalillo for a timely bomb.

GAME 3: PIT 8 ATL

Ten pitchers were used to decide this circus of a game. Also Atlanta and Pittsburgh fielders forgot their gloves while committing 7 errors between them. Atlanta pitcher Ron Reed allowed 8 runs in the first 2 innings thanks to the Braves horrible glove work. The Braves chipped away at the big lead thanks to 2 homeruns by Hammerin Hank, but the Pirate bullpen shut down all Braves efforts in the final 3 innings to seal the victory for the Bucs.

Turning point: The first two innings of horrible fielding by Atlanta.

MVP: The Buc bullpen for 3 solid late innings.

GAME 4: ATL 8 PIT 5

Atlanta's middle of the order bats came alive to get a series split with the Bucs. Rico Carty had 3 hits and 3 RBI's while Hank Aaron had a timely 3 run blast in the 7th to down the Bucs 8 to 5.

Turning point: Aaron's 3 run shot in the 7th.

MVP: Carty and Aaron co MVP's for waking up and deciding to HIT THE BALL for a change
--submitted by Mike Morgan--

Redbirds take 3 of 4 from Cincy

The 2002 St. Louis Cardinals stayed hot, winning three of four from the 1973 Cincinnati Reds in a series where both stadium were drenched in crimson. But the series could have easily gone 3 of 4 the other way. The games in St. Louis were particularly thrilling.

Cardinal ace Matt Morris opposed Reds stalwart Jack Billingham in the opener in St. Louis. Billingham was cruising along with the 3-hit shutout through seven, and 3-0 lead thanks to a Johnny Bench 2 run homer in the sixth, and a Davey Concepcion sac fly plating Tony Perez in the 8th.

In looked like Billingham would carry his shutout to the ninth, when Kerry Robinson opened the Cardinal eight with a pinch hit single, but then was erased in a double play liner off the bat of Fernando Vina. But JD Drew kept things going with a single, and MVP candidate Albert Pujols hit a gapper to right center to plate Drew with the Cardinals first run. Cleanup hitter Jim Edmonds then finally did what manager Bike Mike has been waiting to see all year, as he crushed a fastball into the right field stands for a two run homer tying the game. Billingham was a bit shell shocked at the quick three runs, so much so that he grooved a pitch for Scott Rolen, who then untied it with a circuit shot of his own.

Jason Isringhausen came in for the save, surrendering a lead off single to Ken Griffey but getting pinch hitter Hal King to hit a comebacker which was turned into a double play and Pete Rose, who had a monster series, to ground out to end the game.

Game two was one for the ages, and is perhaps the longest game in KOD history. The game featured 18 innings of baseball, 39 hits, 514 pitches by 15 pitchers, and 53 players used in total. Thank goodness for the expanded rosters.

The Cardinals started the scoring in the second off of starter Fred Norman when Fernando Vina doubled home Placido Polanco and Miguel Cairo. The Reds grabbed the lead in the 5th, plating three off Cardinal starter Jason Simontacchi on a Bobby Tolan homer leading off the inning, then doubles by Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, Morgan's hit scoring Rose, and a run scoring single by Dan Dreissen.

St. Louis vaulted back in front in the sixth with two, making the score 4-3. This was the scoring entering the ninth, when manager Bike Mike summoned lefthander Steve Kline from the bullpen to face lefty hitters Tolan and Cesar Geronimo. Reds manager Jesse Elicker called for righthanded hitter George Foster to hit for Tolan, and the move proved masterful as Foster delivered a game-tying pinch hit home run. Geronimo batted for himself and tripled, so Kline faced two hitters and gave up seven total bases.

Rick White was called on to restore some sanity, and got the Cardinals out of the inning, but Geronimo did score the lead run on a bouncer off the bat of Ed Armbrister.

Pedro Borbon was called on to save it for Cincinnati. But Albert Pujols had other ideas, lining a ball into the right field corner for a triple to lead off the inning. With the infield drawn in, seldom used pinch hitter Todd Cruz accommodated the Reds by hitting a ball right at third baseman Dreissen to hold Pujols at third. But Eli Marrero singled through the drawn in infield to plate the tying run. Borbon escaped further trouble and we were all knotted at 5 after nine innings of play.

After a scoreless 10th, the Reds jumped back in front in the 11th on a Joe Morgan single, stolen base, and two fly outs, the second a Johnny Bench sacrifice fly.

Tom Hall was pitching his second inning and looked to have the game won, retiring Polanco and Pujols to start the Cardinal 11th. Bike Mike then called on Antonio Perez to hit with two outs. Perez' father, Tony, was playing first base for the Reds. The younger Perez then electrified the crowd by sending a Hall breaking ball deep into the left field stands for a game tying, two out home run.

On they battled as the bullpens kept things scoreless in innings twelve through 17, with both teams missing some opportunities to grab the lead or the win.

Joe Morgan finally broke the scoring drought, leading off the 18th with a solo home run off of the eighth Cardinal pitcher of the night, Gene Stechschulte. That proved to be the game winner as the Cardinals went down in the bottom half, no doubt fatigued after 18 grueling innings of baseball.

The weary warriors moved to Cincinnati for games three and four. Game three looked to be an easy Cardinal win as the Redbirds mounted an 11-2 lead after six innings behind Woody Williams, who had also homered to help his own cause. Bike Mike pulled Williams after seven innings, trusting the bullpen could hold a nine run lead. But the Reds burned through seven of those nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings, causing such a scare that Bike Mike called on closer Jason Isringhausen to get four outs and preserve the win, 11-9. Pete Rose went five-for-five in this one, and despite the loss the Reds hammered five home runs.

After such a wild three games, game four was rather mundane as the Cardinals took a 3-0 lead in the second and went on to a 5-1 victory. Andy Benes pitched six scoreless frames and Jim Edmonds continued his surge with two more homers and four RBI.

The three wins pulled the Cardinals to .500 at 14-14. The Reds dipped a couple of games under at 13-15.

Phils Phoil Mets 3 games to 1

88 Mets (Justin) vs 76 Phillies (Gary)

The Phils had some timely pitching and hit in clutch spots as they take the 1st 3 games. The Mets did take game 4 behind Doc Gooden to salvage the series.

The turning point had to be the Mets sloppy defense as all the games were close and could of went either way. Series MVP: Greg Luzinski 6-16. 3 runs- 4 rbi's --submitted by Gary B--

Motown sweeps Evil Empire

Tom Davis managed the 87 Tigers, Ed Mikhli managed the 02 Yankees

The first game was a hitting contest, with several lead changes and ties. The Tigers though pulled away fro the Yankees whenever they got close and ended winning 11-8 or so. The second game was a matchup between Jack Morris and Rogers Clemens and, as expected was a pitching duel Clemens left in the seventh or so, but Morris pitched into the extra innings and got the win at home in the 10th. The third game was a masterful gem won by Doyle Alexander as the Tiger bats stayed alive in Yankee stadium. The final score was 7 for the Tigers and not half enough for the Yankees. The last game featured the only lefthanded starters used int he series. Frank Tanana was staked to a nice lead, but Mike Henneman blew the save in the bottom of the 8th. Eric King came in to pitch the extra frames for detroit and allowed only one hit, winning in the 11th on a Darrell Evans homer.List the turning point. Probably came in the first game. The Yankees had rallied to tie the game at 8-8 in the 8th but in the bottom of the frame, Tom Brookens, the unsung hero of this Tigers team, got a two run double to spark a three run rally. after that, the Tigers were never in awe of the Yankee pitching and figured they would eventually score runsWho would you consider the MVP and why ? I would probably have to give it to Tom Brookens for his continued clutch hitting. batting in the ninth spot, he has started rallies and driven in big runs all season long and this series was no exception. But it would be close over Matt Nokes and Kirk Gibson who both had strong series. --submitted by Tom Davis--

Cards sweep Bums to get back in race

In a series where the teams battled back and forth, the 2002 Cardinals managed to come away with four straight victories over the 1985 Dodgers. It was the first time this Cardinal team showed some life, and actually played the way manager Bicycle Mike thought they would play coming in to the season.

The Cards came in to the series at 7-13, having lost three of four to the Atlanta Braves. It looked like another long four days for the beleaguered club when the Dodgers put four runs on the board in the 6th inning of the opener, to build a 5-1 lead at Chavez Ravine. But the visitors climbed off the deck, chipping away at the Dodger lead with a run in the seventh and two in the 8th. With Fernando Valenzuela laboring, Edgar Renteria greeted him with a line single to start the ninth. In keeping Edgar close to the bag, Fernando then balked him to second, and lost Albert Pujols to a base on balls. But he recovered to strike out lefty swinging Jim Edmonds, a common occurrence this season for the disappointing center fielder who is still looking for his first home run.

With righty swinging Scott Rolen at the dish, Valenzuela was pulled for the big right hander Tom Neidenfuer. Big Tom came in a took card of Rolen on strikes, but JD Drew, pinch hitting for Eli Marrero, singled to right plating Renteria with the tying run. Another pinch hitter, Tino Martinez, struck out. So despite striking out the side in the 9th, the Dodgers gave up the tying run.

Gene Schechschulte retired the Dodgers in the ninth. Jay Howell came on for LA. After Mike Matheny lead of the 10th with yet another strike out, pinch hitter Kerry Robinson drew a walk, then promptly stole second and scooted to third on Mike Scioscia's errant throw. Another Fernando, Vina this time, managed to launch a fly ball to fairly deep right, deep enough to score Robinson with the run that brought the Cardinals all the way back. Rick White and Jason Isringhausen finished up as the Cardinals earned a hard fought come back win, 6-5.

Game two was another extra inning affair, with the Cardinals eventually prevailing 4-1, exploding for three runs in the 11th inning off of Orel Hershiser.

Game three was the only one sided score, however the game was close until St. Louis exploded for six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Tino Martinez' grand slam was the big blow.

Game four was similar to the first game, with the Dodgers opening a big lead, but St. Louis chipping back and eventually tying the score. LA built an early 6-2 lead off of starter Chuck Finley with two in the second and four more in the third. Finley exited early, pitching only three innings. The Cardinal bullpen was terrific, with four hurlers allowing only one more Dodger run through the final six frames. Meanwhile the offense went to work like they did in game one, putting two on the board in the bottom of third on back to back homers by Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen, one in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to take a 7-6 lead,

After the Dodgers tied it in the seventh on singles by Ken Landreuax and Greg Brock, and a sac fly off the bat of Pedro Guererro, the Cardinals went right back in front on a Mike DeFelice single and Fernando Vina triple.

Jason Isringhausen came on to secure the win, although the Dodgers had the tying run at third when Izzy got Steve Sax to pop up to end the series.

87-Tigers take 3 of 4 from slumping 03-Red Sox

In a match up of two teams going nowhere fast, Detroit came out on top 3 games to one. The first game saw a real pitchers duel between Josh Burkett and Jeff Robinson. The Tigers scored first on a Kirk Gibson homer but Trot Nixon answered in the seventh with a two run shot to give Boston a 2-1 advantage. However, the Boston bullpen couldn't hold that advantage and surrendered a run on a pinch hit single by Scott Lusader and further singles by Tom Brookens and Alan Trammell. Todd Walker led off the tenth with a homer off Mike Henneman, but again the BoSox bullpen came up short. Alan Embree issued a two out walk to pinchhitter Bill Madlock and Byang-Hyun Kim gave up back to back doubles to pinchhitter Johnny Grubb and Tom Brookens. In Game two, Jason Varitek homered twice off Jack Morris and Pedro Martinez pitched a strong seven innings to earn his 3rd victory, 4-1. The third game saw the Tigers score 15 runs off a variety of Boston pitchers including starter John Lowe. Frank Tanana pitched well enough to earn the victory but was unable to finish. This was the third series in a row that saw the Tigers score 15 or more runs in a game. Manny Ramirez hit two homers off Tanana and Kirk Gibson hit his second homer of the series. The final score was 15-5. In the last game of the series, Tim Wakefield faced Walt Terrell. Todd Walker doubled home two runs in the second to give Wakefield a 2-1 lead. Chet Lemon put the Tigers ahead with a three run dinger in the 4th and then Tom Brookens tripled home another run. Walker and Nixon each doubled home a run in the bottom half of the frame and then Terrell gave up a tying run after Johnny Damon stole second and third and then came home on a Varitek single. Tiger manager Tom Davis had seen enough and brought in Eric King to face David Ortiz. Ortiz, suffering from a season long slump and hitting only 171, flied out King then got Kevin Millar to fly out to end the inning. The Red Sox would only manage one walk off King as he threw 4.1 innings of hitless relief to finish the game. He got the win when Kirk Gibson led off the 8th with his third homer of the series. The Tigers added two more in the 8th and won 8-5. --contributed by Tom Davis--

'73 Reds split with '76 Phils

The Phils took the opener 4-1 behind Steve Carlton's complete game 3-hitter. Dick Allen's 2-run double in the 2nd put the Phillies up 2-0, then he scored on Dave Cash's single to make it 3-0. The Reds scored an unearned run in the 6th when Bowa's error was followed by consecutive singles by Rose and Morgan to cut it to 3-1. Jay Johnstone's solo HR in the 8th added the final run to cap the scoring at 4-1.

In game 2, Larry Christenson pitched around trouble for 6 innings and departed with a 2-0 lead. The Reds had men on base every inning included a bases-loaded situation in the 5th. The Phillies' runs came by way of a pair of Dave Cash triples - one to lead off the game, followed by Larry Bowa's single, and the other in the 3rd which resulted in a run when Garry Maddox delivered a 2-out single. Top of the 8th Greg Luzinski started the inning with a double off Pedro Borbon. One out later he scored an important insurance run on Bobby Tolan's PH single. (Interesting as Bobby Tolan played against Bobby Tolan; neither team had Bobby Tolan in his prime.) With Ron Reed working his 2nd inning of relief in the 9th, Ken Griffey delivered a 1-out, PH single. Pete Rose singled, sending Griffey to 3rd to bring Joe Morgan to the plate with 1 out. Morgan lofted a fly ball to right, but Ollie Brown grabbed it and Griffey held 3rd. Dan Driessen followed and launched a 3-run HR to tie the game at 3. Things stayed that way until the 11th. With one out, Larry Bowa singled. Mike Schmidt followed and took a Tom Hall mistake deep into the night for a 2-run HR and a 5-3 Phillies' lead. Gene Garber closed out the bottom of the 11th as the Phils took their 2nd win, 5-3.

Game 3 moved to the Vet, and the Reds took an early lead. Johnny Bench tripled off Tommy Underwood to lead off the 2nd, then scored on Larry Bowa's error. A bunt moved the runner to 3rd, then Bobby Tolan's failed squeeze play resulted in 2 outs with Tolan on 1st. Don Gullett and Pete Rose singled, scoring Tolan for a 2-0 lead. Top of the 6th, Dave Concepcion led off with a single. He scored on PH Andy Kosco's single to give the Reds a 3-0 lead. Kosco's PH appearance resulted in an early exit for Don Gullett, who held the Phils to 1 hit over 5 innings. His replacement, Pedro Borbon, was not so fortunate. A 1-out walk to PH Fred Andrews and a 2-out single by Larry Bowa cut the lead to 3-1. Mike Schmidt followed with a drive that barely missed leaving the park, and his double made it 3-2. Top of the 7th, Ron Reed on in place of Underwood. Joe Morgan greets him with a HR to extend the Reds' lead to 4-2. Cincinnati adds another in the 8th on Pete Rose's RBI double and Tom Hall closes out the 9th for a 5-2 Reds win.


The series finale was a duplicate of game 3's score, a 5-2 Reds win. Johnny Bench's 2-run double in the first gave Cincinnati a 2-0 lead. But the Phils got to Fred Norman, who must have been happy to exit the 1st with only 2 runs against him. Cash and Bowa singled. Luzinski walked to load the bases with 1 out. Bench picked Luzinski off 1st, and then Garry Maddox doubled in Cash and Bowa to tie the game at 2. Norman settled down from there and worked 7 more scoreless, if not at times tenuous innings. Top of the 4th, The Reds took the lead for good on Cesar Geronimo's double and Pete Rose's 2-out single. Johnny Bench's solo HR in the 5th, followed by Denis Menke's single and Bobby Tolan's RBI double extended that lead to 5-2. Cincinnati loaded the bases in the 7th, but failed to score. Bottom of the 9th, Clay Carroll pitching, two outs, and he walks both Bowa and Schmidt. The Bull steps to the plate, but his fly to left stays in the park to end it 5-2. The teams split the four games, and it was a lot of fun.

Mets management overhaul complete...

Breaking news out of (toilet) Flushing tonight. On the heels of a modest 4 game win streak, the NY Mets dropped 3 straight to SF, with the final game of the series, suffering a humiliating 15-5 thrashing. Owner Justin Ryan has halted authority of his general manager, who is on double, triple, super duper probation, and fired the manager, hitting instructor, pitching coach, and bullpen coach.

Even more bizarre, Ryan has installed himself as acting team manager. "I've never actually stepped between the white lines, other than to shake Al Leiter's hand, who at this point is a nothing in the Yankees organization, because remember, this is 1988; but I've played enough fantasy baseball and video games to get the job done".

Many of the players seemed to have stopped playing for the manager. Reserve 1B Lee Mazilli: "The guys just feel deflated. Heck, I can do a better job managing...and if that doesn't work out, I can be a broadcaster. This '88 Mets team has a helluva future broadcast team....Keith (Hernandez), Ron (Darling), myself...one day, we won't need to pretend to stay awake during a ballgame."

4 HR / 12 RBI day for "the Giambino"

Jason Giambi set KOD records for most HR's and RBI's in one game as the 2002 Bombers destroyed the 2003 Bosox 19-6. NY swept the series and holds a 1 game lead on the AL East. Mike Mussina moved to 4-0 on the season.

Boxscore can be seen here