Now it's time for Game 3 of the first American League Division Series from Fenway Park in Boston. The date is Friday, October 6:
Lineup Changes:
Mariners- We're back to the Game 1 lineup for the most part. Joey Cora bats second, Tino Martinez bats fifth, Jay Buhner bats sixth, and Mike Blowers bats seventh, just as they did Tuesday night. One fresh change: Luis Sojo bats eighth, while Dan Wilson drops down to ninth.
Red Sox- Jose Canseco moves to right field, while Reggie Jefferson takes his place as the designated hitter and will bat sixth. Tim Naehring will move down to seventh, and Luis Alicea and Mike Macfarlane will flip-flop; Alicea will bat eighth, while Macfarlane bats ninth.
Weather: 54 degrees, cloudy skies, north-northeast wind at 15 MPH.
Mariners 1st: With two out, Junior Griffey lined a base hot to right center. Edgar Martinez was next, and his fly ball to left dropped in for a double, which scored Junior and gave the M's a 1-0 lead. A patented Wakefield knuckler froze Tino for strike three to end the inning, but the M's have struck first in an effort to save their season. Now it's up to the home squad.
Red Sox 1st: John Valentin and Mo Vaughn worked back-to-back walks with one out. Next was Canseco, whose base hot to center plated Valentin to tie the game at one. Greenwell grounded into a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning, but the Bssox have evened thing up with a run in the bottom of the first. After one, we're even at one.
Mariners 3rd: Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield booted Cora's easy comebacker for an error. After Joey stole second, Junior lined a base hit to right to bring him in and give Seattle a 2-1 lead. After Edgar walked, Tino's single to right loaded the bases. Buhner's infield fly was caught by Alicea for out number two, and the runners held. Then came Blowers, who slapped one down to Naehring at third. Tim decided to try for Junior at home, and the play was close, but Junior touched the plate with his left foot while Macfarlane tagged him on the right hip. Home plate umpire Jim McKean called Juniior safe, and the Mariners led 3-1. The Boston bench erupted, and manager Kevin Kennedy made a beeline out of the dugout right for McKean. The argument lasted for six minutes, and even Kennedy admitted after the game that he would have been thrown out "ten times over" if this hadn't been a postseason game. Finally, Kevin ran out of expletives, and we were back to play.
The delay didn't bother Wakefield, as he retired Sojo on a fly to center and Wilson on a fly to left center to end the inning. The Mariners have scored twice to take the lead on two hits, a walk, and an error. Time will tell if they'll regret leaving the bases loaded. After two and a half, it's Mariners 3, Red Sox 1.
Red Sox 3rd: After one out, Hosey lined a base hit up the middle, then stole second. Valentin was caught looking for out number two, but Vaughn's base hit to left drove in Hosey, which cut the Seattle lead to 3-2. Canseco walked on five pitches, as did Greenwell, and the bases were loaded. Jefferson was next, and he got too far under Mariners starter Randy Johnson's first pitch and lofted a lazy fly to right. Buhner made the easy catch, and the inning was over. The Sox can't take advantage of Johnson's wildness, as they settle for a run on two hits and two walks and leave the bases loaded. After three in Game 3, the Mariners still lead 3-2.
Red Sox 4th: Naehring led off with a base hit to left, and Alicea's base hit to left center moved him to third. Macfarlane took a called third strike for out number one, which meant that Hosey was next. Here's Vin Scully with the count no balls and one strike:
"Randy Johnson had a one-two-three second, but other than that the Red Sox have roughed him up just like they roughed up Chris Bosio and Andy Benes in the first two games. First and third, one out and the count 0-1 to Dwayne Hosey. Johnson studies the sign from Wilson, and here's the next pitch...….High fly ball deep to center field, Griffey going back, back, at the wall, off the top of the wall and bouncing back toward the infield! Naehring scores easily, Alicea's right behind him, and Hosey's thinking about three! He's now around third, and he stops!......No sense trying for an inside-the-park job with just one out and a chance to come in on a fly ball or a miscue of some sort. Anyway, it's 4-3 Red Sox."
Joe Garagiola: ""Anybody but Griffey in center and Hosey gets that inside-the-park-job, Vin. Kenny fell down on the track for just a second, and it's a sign of what a great athlete he is that he was able to get up and cut the ball off to hold Hosey at third, The Mariners' pitching staff has been such a disappointment all series. and everyone who thought Randy Johnson would cure what ailed them today......well, they can think again. He's getting pounded like everyone else."
The woes continued for the M's, as Valentin slapped a base hit to left, cashing Hosey in and extending the Sox' lead to 5-3. Vaughn then laced a double into the right center power alley to score Valentin and make it 6-3. Anyone else by The Big Unit would probably have gotten the hook at this point, but manager Lou Piniella stuck with his ace, who got Canseco to ground to Cora for the second out, with Vaughn moving to third. Greenwell went down swinging to end the inning, but the Fenway faithful are standing for their Red Sox, who have taken the lead with four runs on five hits and left another potential run at third. After four, the boys from Beantown are in command 6-3.
Red Sox 7th: After one out, Greenwell lined a double off the wall in right. Jefferson's grounder to short held Mike at second, but Naehring cashed him in with his bloop double down the line in left, which made it 7-3 Boston. Alicea's grounder to short ended the inning but the Sox have added another run here in the seventh, and the M's have six outs to erase a four-run deficit.
Red Sox 8th: Macfarlane greeted new Mariners pitcher Dave Fleming with a base hit to left, and Hosey's single to left put two on. Valaentin rapped a base hit to left center, and Sox third base coach Steve Oliver sent Macfarlane home. Unfortunately for the Sox, Mariners left fielder Vince Coleman had fielded the ball cleanly, and he made a perfect one-hop throw to Wilson at home plate, which had Macfarlane out by five feet. It was up to Vaughn to keep the inning going, and he did so with a single to left center which scored Hosey and extended the Bosox' lead to 8-3. Canseco grounded into a tailor-made 6-4-3 inning-ending double play, but the Sox have scored again in the eighth to pad their lead to 8-3, and they're just three outs from the ALCS.
That was all the scoring. Here's Vin's call of the final out:
"Bases loaded, two out here in the ninth, and you wonder just how long Kevin Kennedy is going to stick with Wakefield. who's thrown 145 pitches. That's high even if you consider that knuckleballers don't put the stress on their arm that regular pitchers do. Still, nobody's throwing yet in the Red Sox' bullpen, so let's see what Buhner does. One ball and one strike, and here comes pitch number 146......high fly ball deep to right, but playable! Canseco drifts back to the track to make the catch, and the Red Sox pull off the sweep!......The Red Sox pound the Mariners into submission, scoring twenty-nine runs on forty-nine hits over the series if my math is right, including eight runs on fifteen hits today.
There's no official MVP in the Division Series yet, but if there was, Canseco would be it. He finished eight for fifteen with two home runs and eight RBIs. Talk about a hot bat, and we'll see if he can keep it up in the American League Championship Series against either the Angels or the Indians. Also, a bow at the waist for Tim Wakefield, who went all the way today on 146 pitches, giving up three runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out five.
Our final score here in Game 3: Red Sox 8, Mariners 3, and the Red Sox sweep the series three games to none. We'll be back with interviews from both clubhouses and much more from a victorious Fenway Park after these messages and a word from your local station."
Hosey was named Player of the Game by NBC. He was four for five with three runs scored and two RBIs, both of which came on the fourth-inning triple that gave the Red Sox the lead for good. In addition to Wakefield, Vaughn also received consideration; he was three for four with three RBIs.
Final totals: Red Sox 8-15-2, Mariners 3-8-0.
W- Wakefield (1-0)
L- Johnson (0-1)
Next: We turn to the other ALDS, as the Angels host the Indians in Game 1 at The Big A.
Thoughts?
Lineup Changes:
Mariners- We're back to the Game 1 lineup for the most part. Joey Cora bats second, Tino Martinez bats fifth, Jay Buhner bats sixth, and Mike Blowers bats seventh, just as they did Tuesday night. One fresh change: Luis Sojo bats eighth, while Dan Wilson drops down to ninth.
Red Sox- Jose Canseco moves to right field, while Reggie Jefferson takes his place as the designated hitter and will bat sixth. Tim Naehring will move down to seventh, and Luis Alicea and Mike Macfarlane will flip-flop; Alicea will bat eighth, while Macfarlane bats ninth.
Weather: 54 degrees, cloudy skies, north-northeast wind at 15 MPH.
Mariners 1st: With two out, Junior Griffey lined a base hot to right center. Edgar Martinez was next, and his fly ball to left dropped in for a double, which scored Junior and gave the M's a 1-0 lead. A patented Wakefield knuckler froze Tino for strike three to end the inning, but the M's have struck first in an effort to save their season. Now it's up to the home squad.
Red Sox 1st: John Valentin and Mo Vaughn worked back-to-back walks with one out. Next was Canseco, whose base hot to center plated Valentin to tie the game at one. Greenwell grounded into a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning, but the Bssox have evened thing up with a run in the bottom of the first. After one, we're even at one.
Mariners 3rd: Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield booted Cora's easy comebacker for an error. After Joey stole second, Junior lined a base hit to right to bring him in and give Seattle a 2-1 lead. After Edgar walked, Tino's single to right loaded the bases. Buhner's infield fly was caught by Alicea for out number two, and the runners held. Then came Blowers, who slapped one down to Naehring at third. Tim decided to try for Junior at home, and the play was close, but Junior touched the plate with his left foot while Macfarlane tagged him on the right hip. Home plate umpire Jim McKean called Juniior safe, and the Mariners led 3-1. The Boston bench erupted, and manager Kevin Kennedy made a beeline out of the dugout right for McKean. The argument lasted for six minutes, and even Kennedy admitted after the game that he would have been thrown out "ten times over" if this hadn't been a postseason game. Finally, Kevin ran out of expletives, and we were back to play.
The delay didn't bother Wakefield, as he retired Sojo on a fly to center and Wilson on a fly to left center to end the inning. The Mariners have scored twice to take the lead on two hits, a walk, and an error. Time will tell if they'll regret leaving the bases loaded. After two and a half, it's Mariners 3, Red Sox 1.
Red Sox 3rd: After one out, Hosey lined a base hit up the middle, then stole second. Valentin was caught looking for out number two, but Vaughn's base hit to left drove in Hosey, which cut the Seattle lead to 3-2. Canseco walked on five pitches, as did Greenwell, and the bases were loaded. Jefferson was next, and he got too far under Mariners starter Randy Johnson's first pitch and lofted a lazy fly to right. Buhner made the easy catch, and the inning was over. The Sox can't take advantage of Johnson's wildness, as they settle for a run on two hits and two walks and leave the bases loaded. After three in Game 3, the Mariners still lead 3-2.
Red Sox 4th: Naehring led off with a base hit to left, and Alicea's base hit to left center moved him to third. Macfarlane took a called third strike for out number one, which meant that Hosey was next. Here's Vin Scully with the count no balls and one strike:
"Randy Johnson had a one-two-three second, but other than that the Red Sox have roughed him up just like they roughed up Chris Bosio and Andy Benes in the first two games. First and third, one out and the count 0-1 to Dwayne Hosey. Johnson studies the sign from Wilson, and here's the next pitch...….High fly ball deep to center field, Griffey going back, back, at the wall, off the top of the wall and bouncing back toward the infield! Naehring scores easily, Alicea's right behind him, and Hosey's thinking about three! He's now around third, and he stops!......No sense trying for an inside-the-park job with just one out and a chance to come in on a fly ball or a miscue of some sort. Anyway, it's 4-3 Red Sox."
Joe Garagiola: ""Anybody but Griffey in center and Hosey gets that inside-the-park-job, Vin. Kenny fell down on the track for just a second, and it's a sign of what a great athlete he is that he was able to get up and cut the ball off to hold Hosey at third, The Mariners' pitching staff has been such a disappointment all series. and everyone who thought Randy Johnson would cure what ailed them today......well, they can think again. He's getting pounded like everyone else."
The woes continued for the M's, as Valentin slapped a base hit to left, cashing Hosey in and extending the Sox' lead to 5-3. Vaughn then laced a double into the right center power alley to score Valentin and make it 6-3. Anyone else by The Big Unit would probably have gotten the hook at this point, but manager Lou Piniella stuck with his ace, who got Canseco to ground to Cora for the second out, with Vaughn moving to third. Greenwell went down swinging to end the inning, but the Fenway faithful are standing for their Red Sox, who have taken the lead with four runs on five hits and left another potential run at third. After four, the boys from Beantown are in command 6-3.
Red Sox 7th: After one out, Greenwell lined a double off the wall in right. Jefferson's grounder to short held Mike at second, but Naehring cashed him in with his bloop double down the line in left, which made it 7-3 Boston. Alicea's grounder to short ended the inning but the Sox have added another run here in the seventh, and the M's have six outs to erase a four-run deficit.
Red Sox 8th: Macfarlane greeted new Mariners pitcher Dave Fleming with a base hit to left, and Hosey's single to left put two on. Valaentin rapped a base hit to left center, and Sox third base coach Steve Oliver sent Macfarlane home. Unfortunately for the Sox, Mariners left fielder Vince Coleman had fielded the ball cleanly, and he made a perfect one-hop throw to Wilson at home plate, which had Macfarlane out by five feet. It was up to Vaughn to keep the inning going, and he did so with a single to left center which scored Hosey and extended the Bosox' lead to 8-3. Canseco grounded into a tailor-made 6-4-3 inning-ending double play, but the Sox have scored again in the eighth to pad their lead to 8-3, and they're just three outs from the ALCS.
That was all the scoring. Here's Vin's call of the final out:
"Bases loaded, two out here in the ninth, and you wonder just how long Kevin Kennedy is going to stick with Wakefield. who's thrown 145 pitches. That's high even if you consider that knuckleballers don't put the stress on their arm that regular pitchers do. Still, nobody's throwing yet in the Red Sox' bullpen, so let's see what Buhner does. One ball and one strike, and here comes pitch number 146......high fly ball deep to right, but playable! Canseco drifts back to the track to make the catch, and the Red Sox pull off the sweep!......The Red Sox pound the Mariners into submission, scoring twenty-nine runs on forty-nine hits over the series if my math is right, including eight runs on fifteen hits today.
There's no official MVP in the Division Series yet, but if there was, Canseco would be it. He finished eight for fifteen with two home runs and eight RBIs. Talk about a hot bat, and we'll see if he can keep it up in the American League Championship Series against either the Angels or the Indians. Also, a bow at the waist for Tim Wakefield, who went all the way today on 146 pitches, giving up three runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out five.
Our final score here in Game 3: Red Sox 8, Mariners 3, and the Red Sox sweep the series three games to none. We'll be back with interviews from both clubhouses and much more from a victorious Fenway Park after these messages and a word from your local station."
Hosey was named Player of the Game by NBC. He was four for five with three runs scored and two RBIs, both of which came on the fourth-inning triple that gave the Red Sox the lead for good. In addition to Wakefield, Vaughn also received consideration; he was three for four with three RBIs.
Final totals: Red Sox 8-15-2, Mariners 3-8-0.
W- Wakefield (1-0)
L- Johnson (0-1)
Next: We turn to the other ALDS, as the Angels host the Indians in Game 1 at The Big A.
Thoughts?
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