Game 1: Houston 2, Chicago Cubs 1The series opened up at the Astrodome to a classic pitcher's duel. Cubs ace Rick Sutcliffe was opposed by Astro's #3 starter Mike Hampton, a move in which many fans, and media personal questioned. Those questions were silenced, as Hampton and Sutcliffe engaged in a classic pitcher's duel. The Cubs lone run came in the 2nd inning on a Keith Moreland solo homerun. Hampton did work his way in and out of trouble, allowing only 3 hits through 7 innings, but he did allow 6 base on balls. Hampton, fatigued at 130 pitches, reached back, and with two outs and the bases loaded, recorded the strike out to keep his team in it.
Houston answered back in the bottom half of the 7th inning with a Moises Alou solo homerun, typing the game at 1. That it how things remained until the bottom half of the 9th inning. The Cubbies called on lefty Lee Smith to keep the game tied, and send it to extra innings. However, Moises Alou had different plans (dinner plans actually), and it one out in the bottom of the 9th, sent an 0-2 hanging curveball over the right field fence for a walk-off shot; his second of the day, giving Houston the win.
Game 2: Houston 6, Chicago Cubs 2
The second game saw another big pitching match-up with Houston ace Shane Reynolds squaring off against the intimidating Dennis Eckersley. The game lived up to it's hype over the first two innings, but Houston's bats went to work in the 3rd inning, with 2 runs scoring, capped off my an RBI single from 2B Craig Biggio. Biggio would finish the day with 3 steals, and 6 in the series, only to be caught once.
In the 4th inning, more offense from Houston, as the inning began with a single from 1B Jeff Bagwell, a RBI double from CF Roger Hidalgo, and highlighted by Derek Bell's first homerun. Houston claimed a 5-1 lead.
Eckersley was chased after allowing another run in the 5th, down 6-1. The dominate Shane Reynolds pitched into the 8th inning, but began to tire out. Allowing two men to score with one out, Justin Ryan went to his pen for Mike Magnate, who allowed a RBI to CHC PH Bosley. With the bases loaded, and the score 6-2, the books was closed on Reynolds, 2 ER through 7 1/3 IP, Justin Ryan went to lefty C.J. Nitkowski.
Clutch pitching with the tying run at the plate, Nitkowski fanned PH Owen, then induced a 6-4 ground out to end the threat. Billy Wagner pitched a 1-2-3 9th, not earning a save, but securing the win for the 'Stros.
Game 3: Sanderson vs. Lima as the Cubs come home after dropping the first two game. The game starts with an error on Bowa and and walk and before the first is over the Astros lead 3-0. Ryne Sandberg homers in the bottom of the first to give Cubs fans hope. Matthews drives in a run in the 3rd and its a 3-2 game. In the bottom of the 5th Sandberg hits his second of the game and then Moreland hits one and the Cubs have their first lead at 4-3. The fans are going nuts !! The lead is short lived as Alou doubles to start the 6th as it starts a 2 run rally and an Astro lead 5-4. The game moves to the bottom of the 8th still 5-4 Houston and up comes Jody Davis. As the fans chant Jody ! Jody !, Henry grooves one and its GONE tie game. Smith sets down Houston in the 9th. Bottom of the 9th Matthews leads off with a walk, Matthews steals second and Durham walks, Davis is passed. Bases loaded NO outs, Larry Bowa is up and ........a hit up the middle....CUBS WIN !!! CUBS WIN !!Game 4: Randy Johnson vs. Steve Trout. It turns into a pitchers duel as the game is scoreless
into the 5th when Houston draws first blood and 1-0 lead. With Johnson on the mound things look good for Houston. BUT then Johnson seems lost on the mound and the Cub bats explode for 5 !! the big hit a 2 run single by PH Bosley. Sandberg and "Sarge" Gary Matthews add homers in the 7th and the Cubs cruise 7-3. Series is tied at 2-2 and it back to Houston.
Game 5: Houston 2, Chicago Cubs 0Manager Justin Ryan had a few Alka-Seltzers and a few more grey hairs before this game. With a 2-0 lead in the series, and one out away in game 3 of a series sweep, he suddenly saw his team up against the wall. Two consecutive losses, forcing a final game 5. With his bullpen spent, and all of his starters tired, even reserves which had been used in relief in game 4, game 1 starter Mike Hampton volunteered his services. Hampton told Ryan he could probably give him 4-5 innings, or 55 pitches, after throwing 131 several nights before. With moments before first pitch, Ryan called on the under used Sean Bergman to make the start. The Houston manager thanked Hampton and told him to be ready for relief work at the first sign of trouble from Bergman, but he, wouldn't be needed, as Bergman pitched the game of his life.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams here, as a combined 6 hits (three for each club) was recorded. In the first inning, after a Ricky Guttierez triple, an RBI ground out by Jeff Bagwell plated the first run of the game.
Cub's starter Rick Reuschel went into lock down mode as well, keeping the Astros off the books until losing gas in the 6th inning, After walking the bases loaded, with an 0-2 count on RF Derek Bell, he had too much mustard on a fastball, accidentally drilling him in the shoulder, sending in Houston's second run. The Cubs' pen was solid once more, as Brusstar did not allow a hit, and only a walk in his two innings of work, knowing the season was on the line.
Meanwhile, Sean Bergman cruised through 7 innings only allowing 1 hit. A second hit was surrendered in the 8th, not amounting to anything, and Houston fans could sense it, a series win...or could they? Not if the Cubs had anything to say about it.
Justin Ryan allowed Bergman to start the 9th, with the complete game shutout still intact, working on a 2 hitter. Ryan was quite firm though, telling the Houston pitcher, at the first sign of trouble, he was done. After retiring the leadoff man on a grounout, 3B Bill Spiers booted a ball for an error, putting CHC's CF Dernier on 1st with one out in the top of the 9th. Bergman answered back with a swinging strikeout of Ryne Sandberg, and the crowd went wild! One out away from a Houston victory, with Ron Cey as the final hope, and tying run for the Cubs. Line drive; single, ripped through a diving Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell had Cubbies on first and third with two out and the go ahead run stepping to the plate in Keith Moreland, who already did plenty of damage in this series, batting .286.
Ryan slowly walked to the hill, signaling for his closer, lefty flame thrower Billy Wagner, as Bergman left to a standing ovation. As Wagner went to work, he quickly fell behind 3-0, not
what manager Justin Ryan, or Houston fans had in mind. Rallying back 3-2, Wagner lost Moreland, walking the bases loaded. With the tying run at second, and the go ahead run at first, there was no wiggle room for Wagner. "Sarge", Gary Matthews stepped in with the bases juiced, against Wagner, and fell behind 0-2. Astros fans were standing, cheering at the top of their lungs, not only wanting a series win, but wanting a strikeout from their southpaw closer. As Wagner aggressively threw, reaching 100 mph twice in his next three pitches, he found himself over throwing, and with the count full at 3-2. This was it...a long look into C's Brad Ausmus' glove behind the plate, and a 3-2 slider resulted in a swing and miss! Strike three! Astros win! After the game, Justin Ryan was quoted as saying: "Wags never makes it easy, he makes it interesting, too interesting sometimes, but he got the job done...I was sweating worse than holding in a mean dump after eating bad Chinese food!".--Games 1,2,5 submitted by Justin Ryan. Games 3,4 submitted by Bill Affeldt--
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