Now here's the National League Report for Monday, September 25. We begin with Desmond in the East:
NY Mets 7, Atlanta 0
W - Bret Saberhagen (20-7)
L - Steve Avery (10-8)
HR - NYM: David Segui (20), Bobby Bonilla (29)
Segui and Bonilla's homers helped to stall the Braves' push to the Wild Card and prevented them from gaining ground on the Expos in the East. Their elimination number in the East has now dropped to five.
Florida 1, Chicago Cubs 0 (11 innings)
W - T.J. Matthews (3-2)
L - Jim Bullinger (12-4)
A scoreless tie ended when Bret Barberie was walked with the bases loaded.
Now to my Central report:
Expos 7, Cardinals 2
The Spos wake up and pummeled the Redbirds at Busch to knock their magic number for clinching the NL East down to four. Leading the way was Sean Berry, who went three for five, drove in three runs, and scored three as well. His homer came in the top of the first, and served as a signal that Les Expos sont la (The Expos are here). Larry Walker also went three for five and knocked in a pair, and Mike Lansing hade two hits. Geronimo Pena scored both runs for the home team, and Gregg Jefferies and Mark Whiten drove him in.
The Spos now go home to face the last-place Marlins while hoping for some help from the Phillies, who host Atlanta. "This was a learning experience," says manager Felipe Alou. "Now we know that we need to be at our best every night, no matter what. It's a lesson we needed to learn if we're going to be successful in the postseason." The Expos are almost sure to be going there, as it looks like they'll be the Wild Card even if the Braves beat them for the Eastern Division crown.
W- Heredia (8-7)
L- Palacios (4-10)
HR- MTL: Berry (14)
Pirates 4, Phillies 3
The Buccos closed out their home campaign in style, withstanding a ninth-inning rally to beat the Phils. Dave Clark went three for four to lead the Pittsburgh offense, and Orlando Merced, starting at first base today, was two for four. Pitcher Denny Neagle gave up just one run on four hits through eight innings, and knocked in a pair with a second-inning double. Mickey Morandini homered for the Fightins, and Ricky Jordan had two hits and drove in a run. The Phils scored twice off of the Bucco bullpen in the top of the ninth and had two on with just one out, but Mark Dewey retired pinch hitter Kevin Stocker and center fielder Lenny Dykstra on shallow fly balls to preserve the win.
A surprisingly large crowd of over 35,000 saluted the Buccos as they walked off the field at Three Rivers for the last time in 1994. "It's an honor to be a part of this community," said manager Jim Leyland afterward. "We'll be competitive soon enough, and once we are, we'll put Pittsburgh back on top of the baseball world for a long, long time."
W- Neagle (11-13)
S- Dewey (3)
L- Jackson (17-8)
HR- PHI: Morandini (5)
Giants 6, Reds 5 (10 innings; ABC: Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Lesley Visser)
The Giants got a much needed win on pinch hitter Mark Carreon's tenth-inning single. The Reds' magic number for clinching the Central remains at four, while the Giants need the Dodgers to beat the Padres later today to once again forge a tie atop the West.
The NL Central leaders cruised for most of the game, knocking out Giants starter John Burkett after just two and a third innings. Kevin Mitchell led the Cincinnati offense, going two for three with three RBIs and his forty-fifth home run of the year. Meanwhile, Matt Williams, like the rest of the Giants, was stymied. He popped weakly out to first to end the top of the first, was mowed down on three straight pitches to end the Frisco third, lined out to Barry Larkin at short in the sixth, and was caught looking to lead off the eighth. Cincinnati closer Jeff Brantley got two quick outs to lead off the ninth, but center fielder Dave Martinez got a two-strike base hit, and second baseman John Patterson walked on five pitches. This brought up Williams one more time. The count quickly went to 0-2, and then..............
Al Michaels: "Giants down to their last strike, runners at first and second."
Tim McCarver: "Williams has to just try to put the ball in play. If he thinks about a home run, Brantley might blow him away."
Jim Palmer: "Looks like the heat."
Michaels: "Brantley's ready, and the two-strike pitch...........DRIVEN DEEP TO RIGHT, SANDERS LOOKS UP AND WATCHES HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (No talk for over three minutes while Williams rounds the bases, greets his teammates, shakes hands with various Reds and the umpiring crew, and tips his hat to the delirious Riverfront Stadium crowd.)
Michaels: "Oh yeah, and this game is tied 5-5!"
Here's Ted Robinson's call:
"0-2 pitch.............HE GOT ALL OF IT! GO, BABY, GO, BABY.......IT'S GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!............Way over the right field wall, and ladies and gentlemen, history has been made! (Silence for close to two minutes)........Sorry for the dead air, but we needed to enjoy this moment too! Matt Williams is still being mobbed by his teammates, the Reds are coming over, Jeff Brantley's given him a hug, he's shaken hands with home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt and the rest of the umpiring crew, and taken two curtain calls for the crowd here at Riverfront."
Mike Krukow: "Somewhere, the ghost of Roger Maris is watching, Teddy. And he's smiling big as life."
And finally, Marty Brennaman:
"Brantley's pitch driven deep to right, back on it is Sanders, but this one is long gone!!!!!!!!! Matt Williams has just broken Roger Maris's home run record with his sixty-second of the year and tied the game at five! We'll step out now and let you enjoy history, as Riverfront Stadium is on its feet for Matt Williams. Congratulations, Matt!"
"This was a great day, but it was better because we won," said Williams afterward. "The fact that this was the game-tying hit made it all the more special."
"It's been an honor to manage this man," gushed Giants skipper Dusty Baker. "Not only is he a great player, he's a great team player, and that make this even sweeter for us. I wish we were back home, but if we keep winning, our fans will see him again this year."
W- Hickerson (13-8)
S- Beck (38)
L- McElroy (2-4)
HR- SF: Williams (62)
CIN: Mitchell (45)
Finally, here's Joe Ray in the West:
Dodgers 3, Padres 2
W: Astacio (10-10)
L: Ashby (9-13)
S: Worrell (13)
HR- SD: Derek Bell (23)
LA: Piazza (41)
Gwynn: 1-4, 227-565 (0.40176)
The Padres lost a tough, hard-fought game against the Dodgers, who were led by a Mike Piazza's two-run homer in the sixth. Dodger starter Pedro Astacio went eight innings for the win, allowing nine hits and striking out five. Todd Worrell recorded the save in fourteen pitches, allowing just one runner in the ninth. Derek Bell homered for the Padres in a losing cause.
The Padres and Giants are once again tied atop the West, with the Dodgers sitting just three and a half games out. The Friars head to Cincinnati this week to battle the Reds, who are trying to nail down the Central. Meanwhile, the Dodgers head for Houston to face the Astros, who will be fighting for their own fading playoff hopes.
Rockies 9, Astros 7
W: Freeman (13-4)
L: Todd Jones (5-6)
S: Ruffin (23)
HR- COL: Galarraga (42), Bichette (37)
HOU: Bagwell (49)
Jeff Bagwell homered in the top of the first for the Astros, and a Tony Eusebio two-run single made it 3-0. Charlie Hayes cut it to 3-1 in the second with a run-scoring double which came after a Mike Kingery triple. Galarraga made it a one-run game in the third with a homer to right. Walt Weiss tied it in the fourth on a fielders' choice, but Houston took a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth on a double by Ken Caminiti and a single by Craig Biggio. Colorado tied it in the bottom of the fifth on singles by Kingery and Hayes.
Marvin Freeman's wild pitch in the sixth gave the Astros a 6-5 lead, but the Rox came back with four in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Andres Galarraga and a three-run homer by Dante Bichette. The Astros only managed one more run in the top of the seventh. They got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth to no avail.
The Stros' elimination number in the Central is down to three, and their elimination number in the Wild Card is down to just two. While they face the equally desperate Dodgers this week in the Astrodome, the Rox welcome new single-season home run king Matt Williams and the Giants starting Tuesday.
The standings in the East to the moment:
Expos: 92-64 (Magic Number: 4)
Braves: 89-67- 3 GB
Mets: 79-77- 13 GB
Phillies: 77-79- 15 GB
Marlins: 66-89- 25.5 GB
In the Central:
Reds: 89-66 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 83-73- 5.5 GB
Cubs: 70-85- 18 GB
Cardinals: 68-87- 20 GB
Pirates: 60-96- 28.5 GB
In the West:
Padres: 82-75 (Magic Number: 6)
Giants: 81-75-.5 GB
Dodgers: 78-78- 3.5 GB
Rockies: 74-83- 8 GB
In the Wild Card:
Braves: 89-67 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 83-73- 6 GB
Next: We look at September 26.
Thoughts?
NY Mets 7, Atlanta 0
W - Bret Saberhagen (20-7)
L - Steve Avery (10-8)
HR - NYM: David Segui (20), Bobby Bonilla (29)
Segui and Bonilla's homers helped to stall the Braves' push to the Wild Card and prevented them from gaining ground on the Expos in the East. Their elimination number in the East has now dropped to five.
Florida 1, Chicago Cubs 0 (11 innings)
W - T.J. Matthews (3-2)
L - Jim Bullinger (12-4)
A scoreless tie ended when Bret Barberie was walked with the bases loaded.
Now to my Central report:
Expos 7, Cardinals 2
The Spos wake up and pummeled the Redbirds at Busch to knock their magic number for clinching the NL East down to four. Leading the way was Sean Berry, who went three for five, drove in three runs, and scored three as well. His homer came in the top of the first, and served as a signal that Les Expos sont la (The Expos are here). Larry Walker also went three for five and knocked in a pair, and Mike Lansing hade two hits. Geronimo Pena scored both runs for the home team, and Gregg Jefferies and Mark Whiten drove him in.
The Spos now go home to face the last-place Marlins while hoping for some help from the Phillies, who host Atlanta. "This was a learning experience," says manager Felipe Alou. "Now we know that we need to be at our best every night, no matter what. It's a lesson we needed to learn if we're going to be successful in the postseason." The Expos are almost sure to be going there, as it looks like they'll be the Wild Card even if the Braves beat them for the Eastern Division crown.
W- Heredia (8-7)
L- Palacios (4-10)
HR- MTL: Berry (14)
Pirates 4, Phillies 3
The Buccos closed out their home campaign in style, withstanding a ninth-inning rally to beat the Phils. Dave Clark went three for four to lead the Pittsburgh offense, and Orlando Merced, starting at first base today, was two for four. Pitcher Denny Neagle gave up just one run on four hits through eight innings, and knocked in a pair with a second-inning double. Mickey Morandini homered for the Fightins, and Ricky Jordan had two hits and drove in a run. The Phils scored twice off of the Bucco bullpen in the top of the ninth and had two on with just one out, but Mark Dewey retired pinch hitter Kevin Stocker and center fielder Lenny Dykstra on shallow fly balls to preserve the win.
A surprisingly large crowd of over 35,000 saluted the Buccos as they walked off the field at Three Rivers for the last time in 1994. "It's an honor to be a part of this community," said manager Jim Leyland afterward. "We'll be competitive soon enough, and once we are, we'll put Pittsburgh back on top of the baseball world for a long, long time."
W- Neagle (11-13)
S- Dewey (3)
L- Jackson (17-8)
HR- PHI: Morandini (5)
Giants 6, Reds 5 (10 innings; ABC: Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Lesley Visser)
The Giants got a much needed win on pinch hitter Mark Carreon's tenth-inning single. The Reds' magic number for clinching the Central remains at four, while the Giants need the Dodgers to beat the Padres later today to once again forge a tie atop the West.
The NL Central leaders cruised for most of the game, knocking out Giants starter John Burkett after just two and a third innings. Kevin Mitchell led the Cincinnati offense, going two for three with three RBIs and his forty-fifth home run of the year. Meanwhile, Matt Williams, like the rest of the Giants, was stymied. He popped weakly out to first to end the top of the first, was mowed down on three straight pitches to end the Frisco third, lined out to Barry Larkin at short in the sixth, and was caught looking to lead off the eighth. Cincinnati closer Jeff Brantley got two quick outs to lead off the ninth, but center fielder Dave Martinez got a two-strike base hit, and second baseman John Patterson walked on five pitches. This brought up Williams one more time. The count quickly went to 0-2, and then..............
Al Michaels: "Giants down to their last strike, runners at first and second."
Tim McCarver: "Williams has to just try to put the ball in play. If he thinks about a home run, Brantley might blow him away."
Jim Palmer: "Looks like the heat."
Michaels: "Brantley's ready, and the two-strike pitch...........DRIVEN DEEP TO RIGHT, SANDERS LOOKS UP AND WATCHES HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (No talk for over three minutes while Williams rounds the bases, greets his teammates, shakes hands with various Reds and the umpiring crew, and tips his hat to the delirious Riverfront Stadium crowd.)
Michaels: "Oh yeah, and this game is tied 5-5!"
Here's Ted Robinson's call:
"0-2 pitch.............HE GOT ALL OF IT! GO, BABY, GO, BABY.......IT'S GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!............Way over the right field wall, and ladies and gentlemen, history has been made! (Silence for close to two minutes)........Sorry for the dead air, but we needed to enjoy this moment too! Matt Williams is still being mobbed by his teammates, the Reds are coming over, Jeff Brantley's given him a hug, he's shaken hands with home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt and the rest of the umpiring crew, and taken two curtain calls for the crowd here at Riverfront."
Mike Krukow: "Somewhere, the ghost of Roger Maris is watching, Teddy. And he's smiling big as life."
And finally, Marty Brennaman:
"Brantley's pitch driven deep to right, back on it is Sanders, but this one is long gone!!!!!!!!! Matt Williams has just broken Roger Maris's home run record with his sixty-second of the year and tied the game at five! We'll step out now and let you enjoy history, as Riverfront Stadium is on its feet for Matt Williams. Congratulations, Matt!"
"This was a great day, but it was better because we won," said Williams afterward. "The fact that this was the game-tying hit made it all the more special."
"It's been an honor to manage this man," gushed Giants skipper Dusty Baker. "Not only is he a great player, he's a great team player, and that make this even sweeter for us. I wish we were back home, but if we keep winning, our fans will see him again this year."
W- Hickerson (13-8)
S- Beck (38)
L- McElroy (2-4)
HR- SF: Williams (62)
CIN: Mitchell (45)
Finally, here's Joe Ray in the West:
Dodgers 3, Padres 2
W: Astacio (10-10)
L: Ashby (9-13)
S: Worrell (13)
HR- SD: Derek Bell (23)
LA: Piazza (41)
Gwynn: 1-4, 227-565 (0.40176)
The Padres lost a tough, hard-fought game against the Dodgers, who were led by a Mike Piazza's two-run homer in the sixth. Dodger starter Pedro Astacio went eight innings for the win, allowing nine hits and striking out five. Todd Worrell recorded the save in fourteen pitches, allowing just one runner in the ninth. Derek Bell homered for the Padres in a losing cause.
The Padres and Giants are once again tied atop the West, with the Dodgers sitting just three and a half games out. The Friars head to Cincinnati this week to battle the Reds, who are trying to nail down the Central. Meanwhile, the Dodgers head for Houston to face the Astros, who will be fighting for their own fading playoff hopes.
Rockies 9, Astros 7
W: Freeman (13-4)
L: Todd Jones (5-6)
S: Ruffin (23)
HR- COL: Galarraga (42), Bichette (37)
HOU: Bagwell (49)
Jeff Bagwell homered in the top of the first for the Astros, and a Tony Eusebio two-run single made it 3-0. Charlie Hayes cut it to 3-1 in the second with a run-scoring double which came after a Mike Kingery triple. Galarraga made it a one-run game in the third with a homer to right. Walt Weiss tied it in the fourth on a fielders' choice, but Houston took a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth on a double by Ken Caminiti and a single by Craig Biggio. Colorado tied it in the bottom of the fifth on singles by Kingery and Hayes.
Marvin Freeman's wild pitch in the sixth gave the Astros a 6-5 lead, but the Rox came back with four in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Andres Galarraga and a three-run homer by Dante Bichette. The Astros only managed one more run in the top of the seventh. They got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth to no avail.
The Stros' elimination number in the Central is down to three, and their elimination number in the Wild Card is down to just two. While they face the equally desperate Dodgers this week in the Astrodome, the Rox welcome new single-season home run king Matt Williams and the Giants starting Tuesday.
The standings in the East to the moment:
Expos: 92-64 (Magic Number: 4)
Braves: 89-67- 3 GB
Mets: 79-77- 13 GB
Phillies: 77-79- 15 GB
Marlins: 66-89- 25.5 GB
In the Central:
Reds: 89-66 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 83-73- 5.5 GB
Cubs: 70-85- 18 GB
Cardinals: 68-87- 20 GB
Pirates: 60-96- 28.5 GB
In the West:
Padres: 82-75 (Magic Number: 6)
Giants: 81-75-.5 GB
Dodgers: 78-78- 3.5 GB
Rockies: 74-83- 8 GB
In the Wild Card:
Braves: 89-67 (Magic Number: 1)
Astros: 83-73- 6 GB
Next: We look at September 26.
Thoughts?
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