Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe: 1994

Here are the umpires for Game 4 of Braves-Reds:

Home Plate: Ed Rapuano
First Base: Bill Hohn
Second Base: Jim Quick
Third Base: Frank Pulli
Left Field: Joe West
Right Field: Greg Bonin

Weather: 61 degrees, clear skies, west-northwest wind at 9 MPH.

Here we go:

It's time for Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, live from Riverfront Stadium. Yesterday, the Reds brought the heavy bats for the second straight game, hammering the Braves 11-4 behind four home runs, two by top slugger Kevin Mitchell. Tonight in prime time, they go for the win and a berth in the National League Championship Series. John Smiley, who lost Game 1, will oppose the man who beat him (though he was less than sharp), Greg Maddux.

As far as lineup changes, the Braves turn to former Red Roberto Kelly to start in center field and lead off. Charlie O'Brien, known by most as Maddux's "personal catcher", gets his second straight start behind the plate, and Rafael Belliard starts again at second base for the still-hobbled Mark Lemke, who hopes to be back for the NLCS if the Braves make it. The Reds make only one change: Brian Dorsett catches in place of Eddie Taubensee, despite Taubensee's offensive performance yesterday. With the lineup changes out of the way, let's play ball in the Queen City!

The Braves pound Smiley right out of the gate in the top of the first. Kelly leads off with a two-foot high pop that dies just over Smiley's glove. Running all the way, he beats it out. He then steals second, and a shaken Smiley walks Jeff Blauser on four pitches. Ryan Klesko's grounder is speared by Tony Fernandez at third, and he flips to Bet Boone to get the force on Blauser, with Kelly going to third. Fred McGriff then gets the Braves on the board in a flash:

Bob Costas: "Smiley's trying to calm himself, as Kelly's shot over his head made him stumble off the mound and throw to first quickly. But he needs to gather himself just as quickly against McGriff, one of at least six who had fifty homers in the majors this year. Gets the sign from Dorsett, and here's the first pitch...............in the air to deep left center, Deion on his horse to the wall........IT'S GONE! McGriff finally strikes here early in Game 4, and the Braves lead 3-0 with just one out in the first!"

Kubek: "Smiley meant to come inside a bit, but it ended up right over the middle instead, and McGriff just hammered it. Deion gives it a try, as you see, but he has no chance."

It gets worse for Smiley and the Reds, as David Justice drops one in between Deion and Boone in short center for a base hit. Terry Pendleton works a walk after fouling off five 3-2 pitches, and Reds pitching coach Don Gullett comes out to steady Smiley, who's already tiring. O'Brien flies out to Deion in center for out number two, which brings up the light-hitting Belliard. He takes two strikes from his former Pirate teammate, then puts every ounce of his tiny body into his swing and drives one into left that goes over the head of the sore-legged Mitchell, who's playing him shallow. Justice and Pendleton score, and it's now 5-0 Braves. This time, it's skipper Davey Johnson who comes out, and Smiley's done after just two-thirds of an inning. Tim Fortugno comes out of the Cincy pen and gets Maddux to pop up to Fernandez on the first pitch, but the damage has been done, to the tune of five runs on four hits plus two walks. The home team hasn't even hit the bat racks yet, and they're down 5-0.

Madduz gets Deion to ground to Pendleton to begin the bottom of the first, but it becomes obvious after that that he's still not himself. He walks Fernandez on five pitches, and Fernandez steals both second and third, despite the fact that out of fourteen pitches thrown since his walk, twelve are pickoff attempts. "He's not focusing on the hitter, and that's unlike him," observes Kubek. Larkin's fly ball is caught by Klesko for the second out, but Mitchell scalds one into the gap in left center to being home Fernandez and put the Reds on the board. Boone's single puts runners on first and third, and Hal Morris lines one back through the box and into center to bring home Mitchell and make it 5-2. Reggie Sanders then singles to center to load the bases, and Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone comes out to calm Maddux down. It works for the moment, as Dorsett's fly is caught by Kelly in right center to end the inning. But the Reds score twice, and Maddux is obviously off his game again. It'll be a long, exciting night at Riverfront, and the Braves lead 5-2 after one.

Fortugno gets through the second, giving up only a meaningless two-out walk to Klesko and striking out the side, all on called third strikes. McGriff in particular has ice in his eyes as he glares at home plate umpire Ed Rapuano after being rung up. Fortugno's done his job, so Jacob Brumfield bats for him leading off the bottom of the second and draws a walk, the third in an inning plus from Maddux. Deion forces him, but Fernandez launches one deep to center that clangs off the top of the wall. Prime Time scores easily, and Fernandez ends up with a triple. Larkin's fly ball brings Tony home, and all of a sudden the Atlanta lead is 5-4. The fans pray for a Mitchell blast to tie it, but he grounds to Blauser to end the inning instead. Still, the Reds have scored twice more, and we have a ballgame through two: Braves 5, Reds 4.

There's no more scoring for a while after that; Pete Schourek comes out of the Reds' pen to stabilize matters, and he works around a two-out O'Brien single in the third. Maddux sets the Reds down in order in the bottom of the inning, and both sides go quietly in the fourth. Justice's double is wasted in the Atlanta fifth, and Maddux has another one-two-three inning in the bottom of the fifth; he's now retired ten Reds in a row, and looks more comfortable than he has been at any point of the series so far. New pitcher Johnny Ruffin takes care of the Braves in the sixth, and Maddux's streak reaches twelve before Reggie's harmless two-out single in the bottom of the sixth.

The Braves add on in the top of the seventh; Kelly walks leading off, and this time it's the Reds who are too focused on the baserunner, as one of Dorsett's pickoff attempts sails down the right field line, and only Morris's quick reflexes stop Kelly at second. Blauser's base hit brings Roberto home easily, and it's now 6-4 Atlanta. Klesko pops to Boone for out number one, but McGriff's base hit puts Braves on the corners and finishes Ruffin. Chuck McElroy relieves him, and Taubensee replaces Dorsett, who made the last out in the bottom of the sixth, behind the plate. McElroy's first pitch is lined right at Morris by Justice for out number two, and Pendleton's fly ball is caught by Deion in short center/deep second for the third out. The Braves have added one, but left two more on, and as we stretch at Riverfront, it's the Braves 6, the Reds 4.

Surprisingly, Maddux comes out for the bottom of the seventh, and gets the first two outs quickly. But Fernandez beats out a grounder to Blauser, Larkin's base hit puts runners at first and third, and then Mitchell grounds one to short. Larkin takes a run at Blauser, and Jeff hurries his throw, which pulls McGriff off the base. Fernandez scores, and we have a one-run game. Boone grounds the first pitch he sees into right center for a hit, which brings Larkin home to tie things up, and now it's up to Morris:

Costas: "Braves 6, Reds 6, bottom of the seventh. Maddux on fumes here, just trying to get through this inning and let Cox go to the bullpen. Mitchell at third, Boone at first, and Morris with one strike. O'brien with the sign, check of the runners, and the 0-1 pitch...........smoked into left field, it'll drop and roll to the wall! Mitchell limps home, and the Reds take the lead! Boone goes to third, Morris at second with a double, and Riverfront Stadium going crazy!"

Reggie's next, with a chance to blow the game wide open, but he grounds harmlessly to Belliard to end the inning. But the Reds have taken a 7-6 lead, and are now just six outs from the NLCS.

McElroy has an easy top of the eighth, and Mike Stanton comes on to relieve Maddux in the bottom of the eighth. He gets the first two outs with ease, but Deion singles to right center. Fernandez works a walk, and Larkin sends one through Stanton's legs and into center for another hit. Deion races in, and the Reds have an 8-6 lead. That's it for Stanton, and Mark Wohlers is called out of the Braves pen to pitch to Mitchell, whom he walks on five pitches. This brings up Boone, who skies one into short center. Blauser goes out, calls off an incoming Kelly, and lays out like Deion himself might to make the catch. "Defensive play of the series!" enthuses Kubek. The Braves have one last shot, but they'll be facing Reds closer Jeff Brantley in the top of the ninth, needing two to tie.

Brantley doesn't exactly have an easy time; Kelly and Blauser greet him with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners, and Klesko works a walk to load the bases. Then McGriff takes a low pitch that everyone but Rapuano calls a ball; he calls it strike three. McGriff has been screwed again, at least according to his own precepts, and wants to make something of it, but Rapuano ejects him quickly. Cox comes out to prevent calamity, but upon seeing that he's already too late, unloads on Rapuano with everything he has and is tossed as well. First base coach Pat Corrales half-drags, half-carries him back to the dugout, and the game continues. With the bases loaded and one out, Justice swings for the downs, but his fly ball looks to be easily caught by Reggie in right...............except it's not. Reggie chases down his mistake and throws to third, but that throw is too late, and Kelly has already scored to make it 8-7. Brantley then falls behind Pendleton 2-0, and Hector Carrasco starts throwing in the Cincy bullpen. But Brantley comes back to get Pendleton swinging for the second out, and acting Braves manager Jim Beauchamp sends up Javy Lopez to bat for O'Brien:

Costas: "Bases still loaded, but the Braves need a hit to tie it up. Brantley doesn't figure to be around for the tenth, as Carrasco is throwing in the Reds' bullpen. Lopez has to catch if there's a tenth, but right now, all he's thinking is base hit. Brantley from the stretch, and here's the first pitch.......Lopez fooled, pops it up behind third, Fernandez has it, and the Reds have won it! They move on to the NLCS on Wednesday night, and it opens right here at Riverfront. And yes, in the immortal words of Marty Brennaman, this one belongs to the Reds! McElroy the winner, Maddux the loser, Brantley the save, and yet another postseason disappointment for Atlanta, as this year they don't even get to the NLCS. The final score from a jubilant Riverfront Stadium, the Reds 8, the Braves 7. Back in a moment."

Fernandez is chosen by NBC out of a large pool of candidates as the Player of the Game, going two for three with an RBI and three runs scored. "This is incredible," says the Cincinnati third baseman. "I've been on world champions in Toronto, but this city's nuts about us. It's a whole different type of fan, and it makes you want to do everything you can to win, and some things you can't." What was the turning point of your season? "You might not believe this, but it was when Deion decided to stay with us. We all know he's a football player first, so to give it up and stay with us to help us win a championship showed us that we could really have something special here."

The Atlanta clubhouse, for obvious reasons, remains closed to the media. Braves owner Ted Turner has issued a statement congratulating the Reds and wishing them luck for the rest of the season, but no one has been made available on camera.

And so that wraps it up from Cincinnati. Stay tuned now for your late local news on the East Coast and Mad About You on the West Coast. We'll be back here Wednesday night at 8 Eastern for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, and Tony and I will be joined by Joe Garagiola. On a personal note, I'll be doing Later from here in Cincinnati this coming week, and we'll be remembering Cincinnati's other great export, the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. We begin Tuesday night with our first guest, Loni Anderson. For Tony Kubek and Jim Gray, I'm Bob Costas. The Cincinnati Reds have eliminated the Atlanta Braves with an 8-7 victory in Game 4, winning the series three games to one. As we leave you, we'll join Marty Brennaman's call of the final out. See you Wednesday night right back here at Riverfront, and good night everybody!

"Popped up behind third, Tony's got a play.............makes the catch! The Reds have won it! They come back from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Braves, and they'll hist the National League Championship Series starting Wednesday. You bet this one belongs to the Reds!"

W- McElroy (1-0)
S- Brantley (1)
L- Maddux (0-2)

HR- ATL: McGriff (1)

Next: We head to San Diego for Game 1 between the Expos and the Padres.

Thoughts?
 
Now it's time for Game 1 of the second National League Division Series from Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. The date is Wednesday, October 5. First, the umpires:

Home Plate: Bob Davidson
First Base: Gerry Davis
Second Base: Larry Poncino
Third Base: Bruce Froemming
Left Field: Jerry Crawford
Right Field: Angel Hernandez

Weather: 66 degrees, clear skies, west-northwest winds at 8 MPH.

Expos 1st: Center fielder Marquis Grissom blasted the second pitch he saw from Padres starter Bill Krueger over the head of left fielder Phil Plantier for a leadoff triple. Left fielder Cliff Floyd's sacrifice fly to Tony Gwynn in right brought Grissom home with the game's first run. Right fielder Moises Alou grounded to short, and first baseman Larry Walker grounded to third to end the inning. After a half, it's Expos 1, Padres coming to bat.

Expos 5th: Catcher Lenny Webster led off with a fly ball to medium center. Padres center fielder Derek Bell got a late jump on the ball and had to dive for it, and it went off of his glove for an error, with Webster ending up at second base. Third baseman Sean Berry's tapper to first moved Webster to third, and starter Ken Hill whacked a double to left to score his battery mate and make it 2-0 Montreal. Then it was Grissom's turn again. Here's how Vin Scully called it for NBC Television:

"Krueger plainly on the ropes here in the fifth, down 2-0 with Hill at second and one out. Grissom led off the game with a triple. Now let's see what he can do the second time around. Krueger checks Hill at second, but he's going nowhere. The first pitch to Grissom.......high fly ball deep to left center, back goes Plantier, at the wall, IT'S GONE!...........Marquis Grissom with a towering two-run homer here in the fifth, and it's 4-0 Montreal."

Joe Garagiola: "Wow, did he ever get a hold of that one, Vin. Krueger put it right in his wheelhouse, just like he did with the triple earlier. I said it at the top of the show: (Padres manager) Jim Riggleman made a mistake starting this guy in Game 1, because he just doesn't have what it takes in my opinion. Middle relief, spot starting, sure, but not Game 1 of a playoff series."

Floyd popped to second, and Alou's fly down the line in left was caught by Plantier for the final out. Grissom's two-run shot highlighted a three-run fifth for the Spos, and halfway through Game 1 they lead the Padres 4-0.

Padres 5th: Shortstop Luis Lopez led off with a base hit to right center. but he was forced by Krueger after one out. Second baseman Craig Shipley singled to left to put two men on. That brought up third baseman Scott Livingstone, who lined a double into the right center power alley to score both men and cut the Expo lead to 4-2. Gwynn grounded to short to end the inning, but the Padres have scored twice to make it a ballgame again. After five, it's Montreal 4, San Diego 2.

Expos 6th: After one out, shortstop Wil Cordero singled to left center, then stole second. Second baseman Mike Lansing was next, and his double to left brought home Cordero and stretched the Expo lead to 5-2. Webster lined into a 4-6 inning-ending double play, but the Spos have picked up a run in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead after five and a half.

Padres 6th: Bell cracked a leadoff double to left. After one out, Plantier walked. Lopez's fly ball to Alou in right moved Bell to third with two out, and catcher Brad Ausmus's single to left brought Bell home and moved the Padres to within 5-3. Eddie Williams batted for Krueger and singled to left to load the bases, but Shipley flew weakly to Floyd in left, ending the inning. The Padres get one back, but leave the bases loaded and still trail the Expos 5-3 as we head to the seventh.

Expos 7th: Berry drew a leadoff walk and was bunted over to second by Hill, who was still in the game despite giving up ten hits through six. Grissom's base hit to left center scored Berry and gave the Expos a 6-3 lead. Floyd forced Grissom, and Alou grounded to third to end the inning. The Expos get back the run they gave up in the sixth, and as we stretch at the Murph, it's East Champs 6, West Champs 3.

Expos 8th: With one out, Padres reliever Pedro Martinez (no relation to the Montreal starter of the same name) hit Cordero in the leg with a pitch. Wil stole second, and back-to-back walks to Lansing and Webster loaded the bases. Berry scored Cordero and Lansing with a single to left center, and the Expos led 8-3. Next up was Rondell White (batting for Hill), and he singled to left to reload the bases. Then it was Grissom's turn to make baseball history against new Padres pitcher Tim Mauser. Here's Vin:

"Mauser in the proverbial spot you wouldn't give to a leopard. Bases loaded,one out, and Grissom, who's already homered and driven in three runs tonight, at the plate with nowhere to go. A check of the runners, and the first pitch is swung on and HAMMERED deep to left center! Plantier takes one step back, but this one's halfway to Tijuana!..........Two homers and seven RBIs for Marquis Grissom tonight, and the seven RBIs is a postseason record. Not to mention the rarity of a postseason grand slam."

Garagiola: "What a night for Grissom, Vin. This one was hit about as hard as someone can hit a ball, and it may still be going toward Tijuana!"

Scully: "Look out at the border!"

Floyd tapped to first and Alou grounded to second to end the inning. That was all the scoring for the night. The Expos have taken Game 1 of this series 12-3, and lead the best-of-five one game to none.

Final totals: Expos 12-10-0, Padres 3-13-1.

W- Hill (1-0)
L- Krueger (0-1)

HR- MTL: Grissom 2 (2)

Grissom was named Player of the Game. He ended his evening four for five with two home runs, three runs scored and a record seven RBIs.

Before we go, here's our Defensive Play of the Game. It's 4-0 Expos in the bottom of the fifth with one out and Lopez at first, and Hill's facing his mound opponent Krueger. Here's Vin:

"Ground ball gloved by Hill, they've got a chance for Lopez at second, here's the throw........OUT AT SECOND BASE! The throw got there just before Lopez did, and Lansing put the tag down just before Lopez could get his foot in there. A great defensive play by the Expos."

Game 2 of this series will be tomorrow night here at the Murph. Pedro Martinez will start for the Spos, and he'll be opposed by the Padres' Andy Ashby.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?
 
The only reason I used the paragraph format for the other series was because I was copying it from All Time Sports. If the Expos win this series, I'll be using the same format for the NLCS, which I already simmed over there. The format you read today was one that I use for my original work on this board. It is a lot less cluttered and easier to follow.
 
Now it's time for Game 2 of the second National League Division Series from Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. The date is Thursday, October 6.

Here are today's umpires:

Home Plate: Gerry Davis
First Base: Larry Poncino
Second Base: Bruce Froemming
Third Base: Jerry Crawford
Left Field: Angel Hernandez
Right Field: Bob Davidson

Lineup Changes:

Expos- Juan Bell will get the start at second base and bat second. Darrin Fletcher replaces Lenny Webster behind the plate an will bat cleanup. Cliff Floyd moves down to the five spot and from left field to first base. Rondell White gets the start in left and bats sixth. and Mike Lansing moves down to the seven spot and from second base to shortstop.

Padres- Luis Lopez moves up to the leadoff spot. Craig Shipley moves down to the two hole and from second base to third base. Derek Bell moves up a spot to number three, while Eddie Williams bats cleanup and plays first base. Phil Clark plays left field and bats fifth, while Ricky Gutierraz gets the start at second base and bats sixth. Finally, Phil Plantier moves down to seventh and from left field to right field.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear skies, west-northwest wind at 10 MPH.

Padres 1st: Lopez led off by tapping back to pitcher Pedro Martinez, who fielded the ball cleanly but overthrew Floyd at first for an error/ Shipley's single to left center put two on, and Bell's single to left scored Lopez and put the Padres up 1-0. Shipley moved to third when Williams grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. but Clark's fly to the warning track in left was caught by White for the final out. The Padres have grabbed their first lead of the series; after one, it's Padres 1, Expos 0.

Padres 4th: Williams drew a leadoff walk, After Clark flew to left center for out number one, Gutierrez stepped to the plate. Here's Vin:

:One and one to Ricky Gutierrez, Williams at first, bottom of the fourth. Phil Plantier on deck. Martinrz takes a look at first, and here's the one-one pitch......and that's hit a ton to left! Back goes White, to the wall, BUT THIS ONE IS GONE!.........Ricky Gutierrez goes deep here in the fourth, and in the blink of an eye it's 3-0 Padres."

Garagiola: "He found this pitch right out over the middle of the plate and really did a jot on it. White goes back and looks up, but this one's a few rows up."

Martinez came back to strike out both Plantier and Brad Ausmus swinging, nut Gutierrez's blast has the Padres up 3-0 after four.

Padres 5th: Padres starter Andy Ashby led off with a bouncer to second, but Lansing couldn't handle it and was charged with an error. After one out, Shipley's grounder to second moved him up ninety feet, and he came home on Bell's base hit to left center to make it 4-0 Padres. Bell was caught trying to steal second to end the inning. but the home squad has picked up a big insurance run. After five, it's San Diego 4, Montreal 0.

Expos 7th: After one out, Grissom broke up Ashby's shutout in grand fashion. Here's Vin:

"Expos looking to get on the board here in the seventh, and they'll be talking about the night Grissom had last night for years to come. Two homers, seven RBIs.......and speaking of homers, that pitvh is whacked down the left field line. Over goes VClark, back to the wall, but Grissom's done it again! His third homer of the series has ended the shutout bid of Andy Ashby; it's 4-1 San Diego."

Garagiola: "Talk about your hot bats: three homers and eight RBIs in two games. If the Padres can't figure out how to get him out, they're in big trouble for the rest of the series."

Ashby struck Juan out swinging and caught Alou looking to end the inning. That was all the scoring, as Ashby went the distance on the mound to help his Padres to a 4-1 win. He allowed one run on eight hits, walked two and struck out five, all in a hundre and twenty-eight pitches. For this performance, he was named Player of the Game by NBC.

Final totals: Padres 4-6-1, Expos 1-8-3.

W- Ashby (1-0)
L- Martinez (0-1)

HR- MTL: Grissom (3)
SD: Gutierrez (1)

Game 3 of this series will be at Montreal's Olympic Stadium on Saturday. The Padres will send Andy Benes to the hill, while the Spos counter with Jeff Fassero.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?




 
Now it's time for Game 3 of the second National League Division Series from Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The date is Saturday, October 8:

Lineup Changes:

Padres- Bip Roberts is back at second base and leading off. Scott Livingstone returns to third base and will bat second. Tony Gwynn is back in right field and will hit third. Derek Bell moves from third down to fourth, and Eddie Williams from fourth down to fifth. Finally, Phil Plantier is back in left field and batting sixth. Finally, Ricky Gutierrez moves from second base to shortstop.

Expos- Cliff Floyd moves back to left field from first base and is once again hitting second. Larry Walker is back at first base and batting cleanup, which moves Darrin Fletcher down to fifth. Finally, Wil Cprdero is back at short and batting sixth, which means that Mike Lansing moves back to second base.

Here are today's umpires:

Home Plate: Larry Poncino
First Base: Bruce Froemming
Second Base: Jerry Crawford
Third Base: Angel Hernandez
Left Field: Bob Davidson
Right Field: Gerry Davis

Expos 1st: Marquis Grissom led off the game with a double into the power alley in right center field. Floyd singled to center to score Grissom, and the Expos had a fast 1-0 lead. Then Moises Alou came to the plate. Here's how Vin Scully called it for NBC Television:

"Expos already up 1-0, and this crowd is absolutely on fire. Seven pitches, two hits, and A.J. Sager is already throwing behind Abdy Benes in the San Diego bullpen. First pitch to Moises Alou........and that one is WHACKED to deep right center! Gwynn at the track, at the wall, BUT SHE'S GONE!............Benes has thrown the same amount of pitches in the game as he did warming up on the mound, which is eight, and he's already down 3-0."

Joe Garagiola: "Alou put everything he had into that wing, Vin, You don't think these Expo players are charged up? Look at Alou pump his fist as he runs the bases. It could be a very long afternoon for the Padres at this rate,"

Walker followed up with a double to right, but after allowing four straight hits, Benes got Fletcher and Lansing to each ground to first (with Walker moving to third on Fletcher's grounder), striking out Cordero swinging in between. But the home squad has put a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the first, and they lead the Padres 3-0 after one.

Expos 2nd: Sean Berry was the leadoff batter for the Spos in the second. Here's Vin again:

"Benes was able to settle down to get the last three hitters in the first, and the Padres hope he's turned the corner, because otherwise it's going to be a long day for their bullpen. Sean Berry leads off for Montreal here in the second and hits one down the left field line and toward the corner. over goes Plantier, at the wall, AND THAT ONE'S GONE!.........So much for turning the corner, huh? 4-0 Expos, and you have to wonder how much longer Jim Riggleman's going to stick with Benes."

Garagiola: "Plantier got a bad jump on the ball and waited too long to try to make the catch, a very sloppy play on his part. The ball may have still gone out, but Plantier needed to make a better effort. By the time he tries for the catch, the ball's almost all the way over the wall."

Benes retired the nest three Montreal hitters in order, but Berry's blast has extended the Expo lead to 4-0 after two.

Padres 4th: Plantier drew a leadoff walk. Gutierrez singled to right center to pit runners on the corners. and Plantier scored when Ausmus grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Benes' foul pop was caught by Walker to end the inning. The Padres have gotten on the board, and at the end of three and a half it's East Champs 4, West Champs 1.

Expos 5th: Grissom drew a leadoff walk. After one out, Alou grounded what should have been an easy double play ball to Roberts at second. But the ball handcuffed Bip, and he ended up dropping it, which allowed Moises to reach safely. Walker then banged a double off the wall in center to bring home both Grissom and Alou, and the Expos led 6-1. Fletcher popped to third, and Cordero grounded to short to end the inning. Walker's double has given the home squad two more runs in the fifth, and after five they lead their guests from San Diego 6-1.

The Padres left the bases loaded in the top of the sixth.

Expos 6th: Lansing led off against Padres reliever Tim Mauser with a double to left. Berry walked, but Rondell White (batting for Fassero) forced him. That brought up Grissom, who sizzled a double into the left center power alley to drive in Lansing and White and give the Spos an 8-1 lead. That makes ten RBIs in the series so far for Grissom. Floyd popped to short for the second out, and Alou popped to second to end the inning. Chalk two more up for the fellows from Montreal in the seventh. After seven, it's Montreal 8, San Diego 1.

Expos 7th: After one out, Fletcher doubled to left center. Cordero did the same, and Fletcher scored the Expos' ninth run. Lansing's single to left scored Cordero to make it 10-1, and Mauser was replaced by Jeff Tabaka. Berry singled to left center to put runners and third, but reliever Gil Heredia grounded into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. We've played seven, and the Expos now lead the Padres by nine.

Padres 9th: Luis Lopez batted for Tabaka and drew a leadoff walk. Roberts singled to right to put two men on, but was forced by Livingstone. Then Gwynn gave the Friars a faint glmmer of hope going into Game 4. Here's Vin:

"A reminder that we'll go right to South bend without a break once this one's finished, as the Fighting Irish are already underway. One and one to Geynn, one out, top of the ninth, Expos by nine. Here's the next one......driven high and deep to right center, and this one's definitely in the seats! Tony Gwynn has just hit a three-run homer that will make the final score just a tad more respectable: Montreal 10, San Diego 4."

Garagiola: "You aren't going to keep someone like Gwynn off the board for an entire series; that's just not possible. Thank goodness he did his damage in a blowout loss, that's what Montreal's thinking right now."

Heredia ended the game by getting Bell to ground to first and Williams to fly to left. Final score: Expos 10, Padres 4, and the Expos lead the series two games to one and can advance to the NLCS against the Reds with a victory tomorrow in Game 4.

Final totals: Expos 10-13-0, Padres 4-10-1.

W- Fassero (1-0)
L- Benes (0-1)

HR- SD: Gwynn (1)
MTL: Alou (1), Berry (1)

Grissom was named Player of the Game by NBC for the second time in the series. Today he was two for four with two runs scored and two RBIs. So far in the series, he's seven for twelve with three home runs, ten runs batted in, and six runs scored.

Tomorrow afternoon in Game 4 here at Olympic Stadium, Kirk Rueter will pitch for the Expos. He'll be opposed by the Padres' Scott Sanders.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 4 of the second National League Division Series from Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The date is Sunday, October 9:

Lineup Changes:

Padres- Brian Johnson replaces Brad Ausmus behind the plate and will bat seventh. Ricky Gutierrez moves down from seventh to eighth.

Expos- Rondell White replaces Cliff Floyd in left field and will bat second.

Here are today's umpires:

Home Plate: Bruce Froemming
First Base: Jerry Crawford
Second Base: Angel Hernandez
Third Base: Bob Davidson
Left Field: Gerry Davis
Right Field: Larry Poncino

Padres 1st: With one out, Scott Livingstone singled to right center. Then, up stepped Mr .400 himself, Tony Gwynn. Here's Vin Scully:

"One on, one out in the first. The Expos are hoping to win it today for many reasons, but one of the main ones is that Ken Hill is out for a possible Game 5 start due to the flu. The scheduled starter should the series go five for the Expos will be Butch Henry, a fine pitcher but not a possible Cy Young winner. Meanwhile, Gwynn drives one deep to left on the first pitch, and White just watches it leave! A tremendous line drive homer by Tony Gwynn here in the top of the first, and just like that it's Padres 2, Expos 0."

Joe Garagiola: "He hit it right in the button, Vin, and it carried out of here before Rondell White even got a good jump on it. He's more than just batting average, Gwynn is. He's got some pop, too."

Derek Bell grounded to third, and Eddie Williams grounded to short to end the inning. But Gwynn's dinger has staked the Friars to a 2-0 lead. Let's see how the Expos answer.

Padres 2nd: Gutierrez worked a two-out walk. Starter Scott Sanders singled to left to put two men on, and Bip Roberts lined a base hot to left center to bring home Gutierrez and make it 3-0 San Diego. Next was Livingstone, who rapped a double to left. In came Sanders and Roberts, and the Padres led 5-0. Gwynn's single to right center scored Livingstone with the sixth San Diego run, and that was all for Rueter. Reliever Gil Heredia struck Bell out swinging to end the inning, but the Padres have erupted for four runs on four hits and a walk, and after an inning and a half they already lead the Expos 6-0.

Expos 2nd: Fletcher led off against Sanders and put the home squad on the board. Here's Vin with how he did it:

"There you see the ten-minute ticker with all the football scores from the NFC, as we at NBC Sports have moved all of our games to 4PM kickoffs so you baseball fans can enjoy Game 4, at least if you're not rooting for Montreal. But it's early yet, and Darrin Fletcher leads off the second with a high fly ball to left center. Back goes Plantier, he's at the wall, but it's gone! Darrun Fletcher has put the Expos on the board here in the bottom of the second, and that was a pretty good whack, Joe."

Garagiola: "It sure was, Vin. Fletcher doesn't get mentioned with the Alous and the Walkers as far as power goes, but he can get around pretty well on the right pitch, just like he did here."

Sanders retired the next three Montreal hitters, but Fletcher's big fly has put the Expos on the board. After two, it's Sam Diego 6, Montreal 1.

Padres 6th: Roberts led off with a double into the left field corner. Livingstone's base hit to left brought him home, and the Padres led 7-1. Gwynn grounded into a 3-6-3 double play, and Bell popped to Mike Lansing at second to end the inning. The Padres have added an insurance run, and after five and a half it's West Champs 7, East Champs 1.

Padres 9th: After two out against Expos closer John Wetteland, Bell and Williams drew back-to-back walks. Plantier's single to left scored Bell with the ninth and final San Diego run. Johnson grounded to short to end the inning.

That was all the scoring, as Sanders gave up a leadoff hit, then retired the Spos on a double play and a called third strike. Final score: Padres 9, Expos 1, and this series is tied at two games apiece and headed for a climactic Game 5 tomorrow here at the Big O.

Final totals: Padres 9-14-0, Expos 1-4-1.

W- Sanders (1-0)
L- Rueter (0-1)

HR- SD: Gwynn (2)
MTL: Fletcher (1)

Sanders was named Player of the Game by NBC. He pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on four hits while walking two and striking out seven in a hundred and seven pitches.

Game 5 will be tomorrow here at Olympic Stadium. Butch Henry is the Expos' scheduled starter, while the Padres figure to go with Joey Hamilton.

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?



 
Now it's time for Game 5 of the second National League Division Series from Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The date is Monday, October 10 (Canadian Thanksgiving Day).

First, let's run down the umpires:

Home Plate: Jerry Crawford
First Base: Angel Hernandez
Second Base: Bob Davidson
Third Base: Gerry Davis
Left Field: Larry Poncino
Right Field: Bruce Froemming

Lineup Changes:

Padres- Craig Shipley gets the start at third base in place of Scott Livingstone and will bat second. Also, Brad Ausmus is back behind the plate and batting eighth.

Expos- Wil Cordero moves up to the two spot, while Rondell White moves down to fifth. Lenny Webster replaces Darrin Fletcher behind the plate and will bat sixth.

Expos 2nd: With one out, Webster lined a double to left. This brought up Mike Lansing, and here's Vin:

"A real holiday atmosphere today in Montreal, both because pf Game 5 and today being the Canadian Thanksgiving. I've been here many times over the years, but I've never felt an energy quite like this. One and two to Mike Lansing, and Hamilton's next offering is drilled to deep left center. Back goes Plantier, at the wall, IT'S GONE!.......Mike Lansing has just given the Expos a 2-0 lead here in the second, and it couldn't possibly get much louder in here."

Joe Garagiola: "This is the kind of thing that's guaranteed to fire up an already wild crowd, Vin. Lansing got all of that pitch, and I don't think (Padres starter Joey) Hamilton was comfortable throwing that pitch, and pitches that make pitchers uncomfortable tend to be hit a log way."

Sean Berry was caught looking, and starter Butch Henry grounded to Williams at first to retire the side. But Lansing's bomb has staked the Spos to a 2-0 lead after one.

Expos 3rd: Marquis Grissom ked off with a double down the right field line. After one out, Moises Alou's base hot to left scored Grissom to make it 3-0 Montreal. Larry Walker's line drive was speared by Williams for the second out, and White flew to left to end the inning. The home squad has scored again in the third, and after three they lead the Padres 3-0.

Expos 5th: With two out, Cordero tripled over Tony Gwynn's head in right. Alou then bounced to Roberts, whose throw to first pulled Williams off the bag and allowed Cordero to score. Walker's fly to right center ended the inning, but the Spos have added another run here in the fifth. After five, it's Spos 4, Friars 0.

Padres 6th: Shipley led off by singling off of Berry's glove at third. That brought up Gwynn, who smacked a double into the left center power alley to score Shipley and put the visitors on the board. Gwynn ended up being left at second, as both Derek Bell and Williams grounded to third and Phil Plantier struck out to end the inning. The Pads settle for one, but still trail the Expos by a pair after five and a half.

Expos 7th: With one out, Cordero singled to left, then stole second. Alou's base hit to left center brought him home and made it 5-1 Expos, but Moises was forced at second on Walker's comebacker to the mound. White's tapper to first ended the inning. The Expos have put up another insurance run here in the seventh, and their lead is now 5-1 after seven.

That was all the scoring; Henry pitched eight and two-thirds innings before giving way to John Wetteland, who needed just two pitches to get the final out. Final score: Expos 5, Padres 1, and the Expos take the series three games to two and will meet the Reds in the NLCS beginning Wednesday night at Riverfront Stadium. Ken Hill is expected to be ready to pitch for the Expos, and he'll be opposed by the Reds' Jose Rijo.

Final totals: Expos 5-13-0, Padres 1-6-1.

W- Henry (1-0)
L- Hamilton (0-1)

HR- MTL: Lansing (1)

Henry's pitching performance earned him Player of the Game honors. In his eight and two-thirds innings, he gave up one run on six hits while walking one, striking out four, and throwing a hundred and thirteen pitches.

Before we go, here's Vin's call of the final out:

"One and two to Brad Ausmus. Gutierrez takes his lead off first, he's going, the pitch to Ausmus is grounded to third. Berry flips to Lansing for the force, and the Expos have done it! It took five games, but they've beaten the San Diego Padres, and their next stop is Cincinnati, where they'll take on the Reds in the National League Championship Series beginning Wednesday night Butch Henry supplied the pitching with help from John Wetteland, and Mike Lansing's homer in the second jumpstarted the offense. Our final score: Expos 5, Padres 1. Hannah Storm will be in the victorious Expo clubhouse for some postgame interviews right after these messages and a word from your local stations."

Next: We look at Game 1 of the NLCS.

Thoughts?
 
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Will you be doing a regular season leader board type of thing for both leagues anytime, or is this just about the Series?
 
Will you be doing a regular season leader board type of thing for both leagues anytime, or is this just about the Series?
IIRC he mentioned as long Expos play that will be the format, if expos are eliminated next round they will use other
 
Here are the umpires for Game 1 of the 1994 National League Championship Series:

HP- Eric Gregg
1B- Steve Rippley
2B- Jeff Kellogg
3B- Terry Tata
LF- Harry Wendelstedt
RF- Randy Marsh

Weather- 63 degrees, overcast skies, northeast wind at 6 MPH.

Here we go:

It's time now for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series! Both teams competing had a fairly toigh time in the Division Series: the Montreal Expos, champions of the Eastern Division, outlasted the Western Division champion San Diego Padres in dive games, while the Central Division champion Cincinnati Reds spotted the Wild Card Atlanta Braves Game 1, then took the next three. Tonight, it's ace Ken Hill on the mound for the Expos against Jose Rijo of the Reds. Both pitchers won in their only appearance in the Division Series.

As for the starting lineups, Expos manager Felipe Alou has decided to keep Larry Walker at first base and his son Moises in right field. Rondell White starts in left. Also, Lenny Webster is back behind the plate, as Darrin Fletcher injured his knee in yesterday's workout at Riverfront. He's listed as day-to-day. For the Reds, Deion Sanders is out of the lineup, and there's some question as to whether the 49ers are demanding that he either leave the Reds or have his NFL contract voided. Regardless, Jacob Brumfield gets the start in center field. Also, Brian Dorsett starts his second straight postseason game behind the plate in place of Eddie Taubensee. With the lineups out of the way, let's get this series underway!

The Expos go quietly in the top of the first as Rijo strikes out the side sandwiched around a base hit by Wil Cordero. Hill gets Brumfield to tap to Walker on the first pitch of the bottom of the first, but it all goes south from there. Bret Boone sends a medium-depth fly ball into left, but White has no idea it's coming toward him until it bounces off of his glove and lands behind him. With the heart of the order coming up, Boone is content to remain at first. Hill then loses Barry Larkin and Kevin Mitchell on back-to-back 3-2 pitches, and he glowers at home plate umpire Eric Gregg after Mitchell's walk. "Bad sign," says Joe Garagiola. "Hill's already trying to outguess Gregg. Just pitch." But when Hill tries to do that, it leads to more trouble, as Reggie Sanders steers one into left for a hit. Boone and Larkin both score, and the nineties edition of the Big Red Machine is off to a 2-0 lead. Next up is Hal Morris, and he dribbles one between third and short and into left center. That brings home Mitchell to make it 3-0, and Tony Fernandez's fielder's choice brings home Reggie to make it 4-0. Dorsett grounds to Cordero to end the inning, but defensive miscues, wildness from Hill, and a couple of seeing-eye groundballs have staked the home team to a 4-0 lead after one.

The Spos mount a threat in the top of the second when White blisters one past Brumfield that goes for a double and a Rijo slider hits Webster in the left leg. But Sean Berry strikes out swinging, Mike Lansing forces Webster, and Hill has another staredown with Gregg after he's fooled by a Rijo curveball for strike three. Boone's single is wasted in the bottom of the second, but the Spos get on the board in the top of the third. With one out, Cordero grounds one into left center for a single, then steals second. Moises then skies one into left center that drops between Mitchell and Brumfield. Cordeero scores the first Montreal run, but Brumfield's alert throw to Boone at second holds Moises to a single. Rijo comes back to punch out Walker, but White grounds one just out of Fernandez's reach and down the left field line. Alou scores, and the Cincy lead is 4-2. Rijo then walks Webster and Berry to load the baes, but unlike Hill before him, bears down and strikes out Lansing to end the inning. That makes seven Ks for Rijo in three innings. We've played two and a half, and it's Cincinnati 4, Montreal 2.

A one-out double by Reggie and a walk to Fernandez lead to a dead end in the Cincy third, and Grissom's infield single is erased by Cordero's double play grounder in the Expo fourth. In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Brumfield increases the Cincinnati lead:

Bob Costas: "Brumfield replacing Deion in the Cincinnati lineup, maybe just tonight, but maybe for good. He may just be getting a day off, or he may be back in San Francisco practicing with the 49ers; no one is saying for sure. At any rate, Brumfield a solid fourth outfielder for the Reds, finally getting a chance in this playoff run. First pitch.......high and deep to left center, it's White going back, on the track, running out of room........OVER THE FENCE! He got more of it than anyone thought, and the Reds lead 5-2 here in the fourth."

Tony Kubek: "Brumfield showing deceptive power here, plus a great sense of timing. He catches it flush, not too soon, not too late. Then he runs hard until he rounds first and gets the home run signal from Jeff Kellogg, the second base umpire."

Joe G.: "It seems like Deion isn't the only one who can go Prime Time, huh?"

(Joe and Tony, baseball lifers to the core, both blast Deion for trying to play baseball and football at the same time. "He who has two masters serves neither well," observes Kubek, while Joe dismisses the future resident of 21st and Prime as "a publicity monger, nothing more.")

At any rate, Hill is spared from thinking too long about his gofer ball; Boone almost takes his head off with a line drive which he gloves in self-defense. "He either catches that or his head is rolling into center field," says Joe. Larkin's grounder ends the inning, but the Reds have reinforced their lead to 5-2 after four in Game 1.

Rijo gives up back-to-back singles to Alou and Walker starting the fifth for the Expos, but gets White to pop to Morris, strikes out Webster, and gets Berry to line one right at Morris. The Reds fifth and both halves of the sixth go one-two-three, and the developing story is Rijo's pursuit of John Candelaria's NLCS strikeout record. He's fanned ten through six innings, and at least one in every inning. In the seventh, Cordero opens with a walk, but Rijo gets Moises looking for K number eleven and Webster swinging for number twelve. Unfortunately, White's drive to left is bobbled, then kicked, then thrown away by Mitchell, and only a diving stop by Morris prevents both baserunners from scoring, which they eventually do anyway when Webster drops one between Reggie and Brumfield for a double to make it 5-4. Berry goes down swinging for number thirteen, but the record is the last thing on anybody's mind as we stretch at Riverfront.

The Reds waste a single by Boone and a walk to Mitchell in the bottom of the seventh, and Rijo opens the top of the eighth by freezing Lansing with a curveball for strikeout number fourteen, tying the record. After Randy Milligan, batting for Hill, grounds out to Morris, Grissom grounds one into left center for a hit, and Cordero walks. Rijo then falls behind Moises 3-0, and Jeff Brantley is shown speed- throwing in the Cincinnati bullpen. But Jose comes up with one last big effort, blowing Moises away with the next three pitches to end the inning and set a new record. Manager Davey Johnson comes out of the dugout to hug his pitcher, and the crowd at Riverfront chants "RIJO! RIJO!" until Rijo acknowledges them with a curtain call. Bob Costas's call is a simple "Got him swinging!", while Vin Scully of CBS Radio simply says "And now, fifteen!" Reds voice Marty Brennaman is a bit more verbose:

"Three and two to Alou. Everyone in this stadium not wearing a Montreal uniform wants that record, and this is Jose's last chance to get it, because he's just about had it. Brantley will come in in the ninth, or maybe sooner if Jose doesn't end it right here. So here we go. Dorsett wants the.......curve, looks like, here's the three-two pitch.........YES!!!!!! JOSE'S GOT THE RECORD!........FIFTEEN STRIKEOUTS!.......John Candelaria set the record against the Reds in 1975, and Jose Rijo breaks it for the Reds in 1994! Davey Johnson is bearhugging him as he hits the dugout, and this place is on fire! They want him for a curtain call! Here he comes, and he needs his left arm to tip his hat after 141 pitches. He's finished for tonight, but what a job he's done!"

Mel Rojas is the new pitcher for Montreal in the bottom of the eighth, and he gets himself in hot water immediately, hitting Morris in the right shin, then walking Fernandez and Dorsett. Rijo isn't even on the bench when his spot comes up, having already gone to get his arm iced, and pinch hitter Jerome Walton flies out. Brumfield's shallow pop is caught by a skidding Grissom in short center, and Boone grounds out to Cordero to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. Jeff Brantley comes in to finish off the Eastern champs in the top of the ninth, but gets into trouble immediately when Walker singles to center. White then scalds one that looks like it's headed down the right field line, but Morris moves over a step and gloves it for out number one. Fletcher comes up to bat for Webster and draws a five-pitch walk, putting the go-ahead run on base, and with no other catchers available to the Expos, has to run for himself despite his bad knee. Berry then grounds one to first, and Morris just beats him to the bag for out number two, with the runners advancing. It's up to Lansing, who grounds Brantley's 1-1 offering to third. Fernandez has a choice to throw to the plate or first, and takes the sure out at first to end the game. The Reds have won 5-4 and taken a 1-0 lead in the series.

Rijo is named Player of the Game, obviously, but Johnson stands in while Rijo continues his treatment. "What a performance," enthuses the Reds' skipper. "He threw that last inning on pure guts, because he was exhausted, and he got a little wild at times, so his pitch count was higher than it should have been. But he battled through it. It was a pleasure to watch." Will he be available for the rest of this series? "I don't know right now. He took a hell of a beating tonight. But he won't be asking out, that's for sure." I know his situation is dicey, but is Deion here? "Not at the moment, and that's all I can say."

Well, that certainly adds a bit of intrigue to the Mystery of the Missing Neon. In any case, the Reds take Game 1, 5-4 and lead this series one game to none. Tomorrow night, it'll be Pedro Martinez against John Smiley, and we'll be on the air with our pregame show at 8 Eastern. Tonight belongs to Jose Rijo, and we'll show you his record-breaking strikeout as we say good night. Tonight on NBC, it's your late local news, followed by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, followed by Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and then on Later, raped here in Cincinnati earlier today, my sitdown interview with the one and only Dr. Johnny Fever himself, Howard Hesseman. Those of you in Pacific and Mountain time zones, stay tuned for an encore presentation of Law and Order. You'll see the aforementioned programs at their regularly scheduled times. For Tony Kubek, Joe Garagiola, Jim Gray, and Hannah Storm, I'm Bob Costas. As we say good night from Riverfront, let's see how history was made in the top of the eighth as Jose Rijo faced Moises Alou. We'll talk to you again tomorrow night. So long, everybody!

W- Rijo (1-0)
S- Brantley (1)
L- Hill (0-1)

HR- CIN: Brumfield (1)

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?
 
Here are the umpires for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series:

Home Plate: Steve Rippley
First Base: Jeff Kellogg
Second Base: Terry Tata
Third Base: Harry Wendelstedt
Left Field: Randy Marsh
Right Field: Eric Gregg

Weather: First pitch was delayed until 10:03 PM EDT because of rain and fog. At first pitch, it was 57 degrees with overcast skies and a northeast wind at 8 MPH.

It's time now for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, live from Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati! We have quite a pitching matchup on tap: young stud Pedro Martinez will be on the mound for the Expos, to be opposed by crafty veteran John Smiley, who had his problems against the Braves, losing Game 1 and getting knocked out of the game after just two-thirds of an inning in Game 4, which the Reds ultimately won. He'll have to go a long way to top last night's historic fifteen-strikeout perfomance by Jose Rijo, which boosted the Reds to a 5-4 victory and a 1-0 series lead.

A word on the Deion Sanders stuation: he's fine and leading off tonight for the Reds. It's in his 49ers contract that owner Edward DeBartolo has to give formal written permission for him to play baseball after the fotball regular season starts, and he was out of town yesterday and couldn't fax his approval to the Reds before the lineup card had to be presented. Deion was sent home to avoid temptation, but the written document clearing Deion for the NLCS arrived early this morning, along with a "good luck" video to the Reds from the 49ers. There will have to be a similar procedure if the Reds make the World Series, but Mr. D plans to be in San Francisco and ready to sign should the need arise.

The Expos have major lineup problems: Larry Walker is out because of back spasms, which means that Lou Frazier starts in left, Moises Alou in right, and the returning Cliff Floyd, who's had knee problems throughout the postseason, at first. Mike Lansing is the latest Expo fighting the flu bug, so Juan Bell starts tonight at second base. Darrin Fletcher is also back behind the plate for the Spos. Outside of Deion, the only change the Reds will make tonight is that Eddie Taubensee will recliam his spot behind the plate. Let's get Game 2 of the 1994 NLCS started here in the Queen City!

Smiley's much more on his game that he was against the Braves, and it's evident from the start, as he pitches around a walk to Alou to retire the Spos in the first. Conversely, Martinez falls victim to a heavy dose of Neon Deion. The Reds' center fielder receives a standing ovation upon his entrance to the batter's box, then justifies it by legging out a base hit on a grounder to Sean Berry at third and stealing second. A Larkin ground ball into center later, it's 1-0 Reds. "Like his ways or not, he makes this Reds offense go," observes Tony Kubek. Larkin then swipes second and moves to third on Hal Morris's groundout, but he's stranded there when Kevin Mitchell and Bret Boone do the same. The Reds are on the board after one, as they lead 1-0.

Smiley breezes through the top of the second on five pitches, and the Reds add to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Martinez's first offering glances off of Tony Fernandez's knee, and he hobbles to first, seemingly hurt badly. But just to make sure, Martinez and Fletcher throw to first to keep him close. Fletcher's fifth throw goes awry, skidding down the right field line, and Fernandez motors into second, only limping slightly. "Great decoy by Fernandez," says Joe Garagiola. "He puts on an act so convincingly that Fletcher and Martinez don't believe it, and they should have." Reggie Sanders is next, and he smacks one over Alou's head in right. Even favoring his knee, Fernandez scores easily, and it's 2-0 Reds. Taubensee sends Frazier back to the track in left to catch out number one, putting Reggie at third, and Pedro makes it worse for himself by walking Smiley. Butch Henry starts to throw in the Expos bullpen, as skipper Felipe Alou doesn't want to be swept on the road. But Deion grounds to Berry, who forces Smiley, and although Reggie scores to make it 3-0, the Expos get the all-important second out. Deion steals second standing up, but Martinez sends Larkin fishing in the dirt to end the inning. Now it's up to the Expo offense to dig them out of a 3-0 hole after two.

The Spos catch a break in the top of the third with one out when Martinez hits an eighty-hopper back to the box that Smiley muffs, allowing Pedro to reach. But Marquis Grissom forces him almost immediately, and is then caught stealing by at least five feet to end the inning. Back on the mound, Pedro strikes out Morris swinging and Boone looking to start the bottom of the third, but Boone bloops one in front of Frazier for a hit, and Fernandez, still favoring his knee, walks. However, Reggie grounds harmlessly to Bell to end the threat. A walk to Alou is wasted in the Montreal fourth, and the Reds tack on their final run in the bottom of the inning. Once again, it's Deion who orchestrates, drawing a two-out walk, stealing his third base of the night, and coming home from second on a Larkin single. Morris strikes out to end the inning, but it's 4-0 Reds after four.

Berry gets the first Expo hit in the top of the fifth with a two-out single to left center, but it omes to nothing. Boone walks with one ouit in the bottom of the fifth, but Fernandez dinks one down to Floyd, who starts a 3-6-3 inning-ending double play. The Expos cut the Cincinnati lead in half in the top of the sixth. With one out, Frazier grounds one down to Fernandez, whose throw gets away from Morris and rolls almost into the Expo dugout. Frazier then takes a page out of Deion's book and steals second, and Alou lines one just out of the reach of Mitchell in left center to bring home the first Expo run. Fletcher grounds one back to Smiley for the second out, but Floyd hits one almost to the exact spot Alou did to score Moises and make it 4-2, while he holds at firsst due to his knee. Then comes the first of two straight controversial calls from home plate umpire Steve Rippley, as Cordero is rung up for strike three on a pitch shown definitively to be at least a foot outside. Both Cordero and Felipe Alou demand an explanation, but don't get it, and Cordero spikes his helmet in frustration, an act that would have gotten him thrown out of almost any regular season game. It's 4-2 Reds through five and a half.

In the bottom of the sixth, the controversy boils over. Reggie gets the exact same pitch on 3-1 from Martinez that Cordero was punched out on, only Rippley calls this one ball four. The normally mild-mannered Felipe blows his top and is tossed by Rippley, which incenses the senior Alou so much that he has to be led away by his son Moises. Cordero wants to have another go at Rippley as well, but is restrained by Berry. "I know umpires are human and such, but how can you call the exact same pitch differently one batter later?" wonders Costas. Kubek and Garagiola are mystified as well. The rest of the inning goes quietly, with Smiley eventually forcing Reggie. The Expos waste a base hit from Bell in the top of the seventh, and new pitcher Mel Rojas sets down the Reds in order in the bottom of the seventh. Smiley does the same to the Expos in the top of the eighth, and Reggie's single in the bottom of the inning is rendered meaningless when he's thrown out trying to steal second.

Smiley comes out to finish up in the top of the ninth, but he's clearly out of gas, as Floyd singles to lead off the inning and Bell does the same with one out. Out comes skipper Davey Johnson, and the big lefthander is given a standing ovation as he leaves in favor of closer Jeff Brantley. Brantley closes things out easily, strking Berry out swinging and getting Walker, batting for Rojas, to fly to Mitchell in left. The Reds have the home sweep, defeating the Expos 4-2 and taking a 2-0 series lead to Montreal on Saturday.

Deion is named Player of the Game. "It felt good to be back with my boys," says Prime Time. "But Smiles (Smiley) was the real hero. He pitched his heart out, and between him and Rijo, they've kept them down, and we've done enough to take advantage." What was watching Rijo's performance like last night? "Oh, man, that was incredible. I was going nuts watching. It might have been the best pitching performance I've ever been a part of." Is everything cool with you, the Reds, and the Niners? "For this round. We've already got the paperwork ready to go for the World Series if we make it. All we need is Mr. D's signature." Any comments on Joe and Tony's comments last night? "I admit, I enjoy the publicity, but I also love playing both sports. They get to say what they want, though. They've been a part of this game forever, and I know they respect it. They're cool with me, and I hope to win them over out on the field."

"If he keeps playing like he did tonight, I'm sold," says Tony. "I don't know," says Joe G. "Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but to me, baseball is a full-time job. I respect his ability, but I just wish he'd make up his mind to concentrate on one or the other. I can't imagine the 49ers are too thrilled; they have a Super Bowl shot this year, and they need him as badly as the Reds do. What if he gets hurt running the bases or making a catch and can't play for them? He's taking an awfully big chance, I'll tell you that." As for Bob, "I'm with Joe, I guess. It'll be a great feat if he can pull off the double (World Series and Super Bowl), but he's breaking himself down to try it, and it's entirely possible that he'll shorten both careers in the process, which would be a shame for all of us."

On that note, we say good night from Cincinnati. The Reds now lead two games to none, and will try to put the Expos further in the hole on Saturday afternoon in Montreal. Erik Hanson will go to the mound for the Reds, while Jeff Fassero will start for the Expos. We'll be on the air at a special start time of noon Eastern, just like last week, with first pitch at about 12:20. Tonight on NBC, it's your late local news, followed by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, then Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and on Later, taped here in Cincinnati, I sit down with the creator of WKRP, Hugh Wilson. Next week, if necessary, we'll be in Montreal on Monday, and our tentative guest will be Robert Goulet. If we come back here, we'll sit down with Reds play-by-play voice Marty Brennaman, plus other guests to be determined later. On the West Coast tonight, you'll see a special edition of Dateline NBC. For Tony, Joe, Jim, and Hannah, I'm Bob Costas. We'll talk to you bright and early Saturday from the Big O. Reds take it tonight, 4-2, and lead the NLCS two games to none. So long, everybody!

W- Smiley (1-0)
S- Brantley (2)
L- Martinez (0-1)

Next: We look at Game 3,

Thoughts?
 
Here are the umpires for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series:

Home Plate: Jeff Kellogg
First Base: Tarry Tata
Second Base: Harry Wendelstedt
Third Base: Randy Marsh
Left Field: Eric Gregg
Right Field: Steve Rippley


It's time now for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series! On Thursday night, John Smiley worked eight and a third strong innings and the returning Deion Sanders stole three bases to spark a 4-2 Reds victory and allow them to take a 2-0 series lead. That means that the Expos' backs are to the wall this afternoon at Olympic Stadium as they send Jeff Fassero, who won his Game 3 NLDS start last Saturday over the Padres, against the Reds' Erik Hanson, who beat the Braves in his Game 3 start last Saturday in Cincinnati.

The Reds have a couple of changes: It's Brian Dorsett's turn to catch, and Reggie Sanders twisted an ankle during outfield practice and is unable to play defense, though he can pinch hit. Thomas Howard will take his place. For the home club, Larry Walker's back is still acting up, Darrin Fletcher took a foul tip off of his hand in batting practice, and Cliff Floyd's knee is still balky. The results: Rondell White returns to left field, freeing Moises Alou to stay in right, Lenny Webster is behind the plate, and Randy Milligan makes his first start of the postseason at first base. One piece of good news: Mike Lansing, though still weak, is sufficiently recovered from the flu that he can return to second base. Now that the changes are documented, let's go down to the field and play some ball!

The Reds go quietly in the top of the first, as for once Deion is thrown out at second after leading off with a five-pitch walk. The Spos use the momentum gained from thwarting the Reds to stake themselves to a lead. With one out, Sean Berry welcomes Hanson to the NLCS quite rudely indeed:

Bob Costas: "The Expos need to get on the board first and take control of this game if they have any chance to come back into the series. Throwing out Deion was a good start, now let's see if they can follow up with some offense. Hanson and Dorsett agree on what looks like the fastball, and here it comes............high and deep into left center, Deion back to the track, at the wall........TOO LATE, IT'S GONE!........Sean Berry getting the Montreal fans into it early by taking Erik Hanson deep and putting the Expos on the board."

Tony Kubek: "Got it up just an inch or so high, and Berry got most of it, that's why Deion has a chance. If he had hit it flush it might have been in the upper deck, but as it is, it still gives the Expos the lead they need so desperately."

Joe Garagiola: "Deion almost killed himself running into the wall, even though it was clearly gonna go over. I never said he didn't give it his all, remember."

More trouble comes for Hanson when Alou misses back-to-back home runs by inches, settling for a triple off the wall in left. Next up is White, who scorches one into the gap in left center. Alou trots home, and it's 2-0 Spos. Long man Tim Fortugno starts to throw in the Reds' bullpen, while Hanson gets a second out on a grounder back to him by Wil Cordero. But he loses Webster and Milligan on back-to-back walks, and Lansing can blow the game open early with even a hard single. But his fly ball is caught by Howard in right center, and the side is out. But the Spos have taken a 2-0 lead after one and energized the crowd here at the Big O; let's see how the Reds respond.

They respond by going out in order in the top of the second, and the Spos put Hanson in another jam with back-to-back one-out singles by Grissom and Berry in the bottom of the inning. But Hanson strikes out Alou and gets White to ground to Boone to end the threat. Dorsett singles with one out in the Cincinnati third, and Hanson bunts him over, but Deion's grounder to Berry ends the inning. The Expos waste singles by Webster and Lansing in the bottom of the third, but Hanson has already thrown seventy-three pitches though three innings, and forced Fortugno to warm up in each inning to boot.

the Reds take command in the top of the fourth. Boone leans into a Fassero pitch leading off, and it hits his elbow pad. Fassero makes Larkin look sick with a slider two feet in the dirt for out number one, but he walks Mitchell, and Howard's single to left loads the bases. Morris tires the right hander out by working the count to 3-2. then fouling off six straight pitches. The eighth 3-2 offering is high, and the Reds are on the board. fernandez then scalds one into left for a solid single to score Mitchell and Howard, and the Reds lead 3-2. Dorsett walks to reload the bases, and Gil Heredia starts loosening in the Expo bullpen. Next up is Hanson, who looks bad on his first two swings, then suddenly figures it out and grounds one into center. Morris and Fernandez score to make it 5-2 Cincinnati, but Heredia's still not quite ready, so it's up to Fassero to face Prime Time:

Costas: "Fassero figures to be gone after Deion regardless, because Heredia's standing in the Expos bullpen, which means he's ready. Fassero has to get it together one more time against one of the hottest Reds. Here's his first pitch.........deep to center, back is Grissom, still carrying....bangs off the top of the wall! Dorsett's in, and only a good throw will get Hanson........they won't try it. 7-2 Cincy, and Deion's at third with a triple."

Joe G.: "This one's just a foot from being a home run, as Fassero had nothing on this pitch, and Deion just lasers it. I'll admit it, Bob, he's making me eat crow, and the Expos aren't feeling too good either."

Heredia finally comes in to strike out Boone and Larkin, but the damage is already done: seven runs on four hits, three walks, and a hit batsman. After three and a half, it's Reds 7, Expos 2, and Olympic Stadium is absolutely silent.

The Spos put runners on first and third off of a still-shaky Hanson in the bottom of the fourth on a walk to Berry and a base hit by Alou, but White pops out to Morris, and Cordero grounds out to Larkin to end the threat. The Reds do the same when Howard ends up at first after he forces Mitchell, who was hit by a pitch, and Morris singles to right, but Fernandez flies out to White and Dorsett strikes out to end the inning. The Spos push across a run in the bottom of the fifth when Webster singles to Larkin at short, Milligan grounds one into left, they move over on a Lansing groundout, and Heredia, hitting for himself to save the depleted Montreal bench, lines one into right center to score Webster. Hanson gets Grissom looking and Berry to ground out to end the inning, but he's at a hundred and twp pitches through five. Meanwhile, it's 7-3 Cincinnati.

Hanson, still good to go at least one more according to skipper Davey Johnson, leads off the sixth with a base hit, moves to second on Deion's single to right and then to third on Boone's around-the-horn double play. Larkin grounds one just past Berry into left for another hit, and Hanson comes home to make it 8-3 Reds. Mitchell grounds out to third to end the inning, but the Reds have added a run and lead 8-3 after five and a half.

The Spos make a comeback of sorts in the bottom of the sixth. Alou and White open the inning with back-to-back singles, and Cordero's potential double is robbed by Fernandez, who spears his liner for out number one. Webster grounds one into left center to load 'em up, and Milligan sneaks the next one past a diving Fernandez to score Alou and make it 8-4. That's finally it for Hanson, as Johnson calls on Johnny Ruffin out of the bullpen. With Lansing fading, though, Felipe decides to play the Walker card, and sends him up to hit for Lansing. All he can manage is a weak bouncer to Fernandez, who flips to second for the force play. White scores, but the Spos are still down by three. Next off the bench is Floyd, hitting for Heredia, but Ruffin blows him away on three straight pitches to end the inning. After six, it's Reds 8, Expos 5.

Juan Bell is the new Montreal second baseman as we begin the seventh, and Mel Rojas is making his third straight mound appearance in the series. Howard leads off with a base hit, and gets as far as third following two groundouts and a wild pitch, but Dorsett strikes out to end the inning. The Spos go in order in the bottom of the seventh, and singles by Boone and Larkin come to nothing in the top of the eighth. Cordero's base hit is similarly nullified in the bottom of the eighth. In the top of the ninth against Jeff Shaw, the Reds put the finishing touches on. Howard legs out a groundball to Cordero for an infield hit, moves to third on a base hit by Morris, and scores on a Fernandez fielder's choice. Dorsett then sends White into the corner to catch a deep fly, and the Spos catch Fernandez the wrong way leaning off of first for an inning-ending double play. Still, it's 9-5 Reds going into Montreal's last chance in the bottom of the ninth.

Tim Fortugno finally gets into the game and gives up a two-out walk to Grissom and a wild pitch, but Berry flies to Mitchell to end it. The Reds take Game 3 9-5, and are one win away from a sweep of the National League favorites to reach the World Series.

Fernandez is chosen player of the game for his three RBIs. "This series has been a total team effort so far. Today, we didn't have Reggie, but Tommy H (Howard ) stepped up, and Erik battled his heart out, even though he wasn't sharp." How's your knee? "A bit sore, but winning makes it feel a helluva lot better, believe me."

The Reds will attempt to sweep the Expos tomorrow night at about 8 Eastern Time, when they send John Roper to the mound against the Expos' Kirk Rueter. We're running late for Notre Dame football, so just a reminder to tune in to regional NFL action tomorrow beginning at 12: 30 with NFL Live, and we'll see you back here tomorrow night. For everyone in Montreal, I'm Bob Costas, and here's Tom Hammond in South Bend!

W- Hanson (1-0)
L- Fassero (0-1)

HR- MTL: Berry (1)

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?
 
Okay, we're going to change things up a bit.

I haven't forgotten about the NLCS, but (small spoiler) that series is going to end sometime this weekend, or should I say was. But I really want to get the American League off to the proper start, and I can't do that while trying to juggle football on the weekend. So the NLCS is going in storage for a day or two, and I'm going to start the AL by playing the makeup games, which I usually do after the season's started.

Before we do anything else, though, here are the standings in the American League as of August 12:

East:

1. Yankees: 68-45 (-2)
2. Orioles: 65-47- 2.5 GB (+2)
3. (tie) Blue Jays: 56-59- 13 GB (+1)
(tie) Tigers: 56-59- 13 GB (+3)
5. Red Sox: 51-64- 18 GB (-3)

Central:
1. White Sox: 69-44 (+2)
2. Indians: 66-47- 3 GB (0)
3. Royals: 61-54- 9 GB (-3)
4. Brewers: 54-61- 16 GB (+1)
5. Twins: 49-64- 20 GB (-4)

West:
1. Athletics: 53-61 (+2)
2. Mariners: 52-60- 1 GB (+3)
3. Rangers: 50-64- 3 GB (-2)
4. Angels: 47-68- 6.5 GB (0)

Wild Card:
1. Indians: 66-47
2. Orioles: 65-47- .5 GB
3. Royals: 61-54- 6 GB

Now that we have the standings up, it's time to start playing some games, which we'll be doing next time. Stay tuned!





 
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