Monday, December 29, 2008

'98 Bombers go to Fall Classic after defeating '30 Mack-men in 6

GAME 1 (Yankee Stadium): Yankees 10, Athletics 6
The Bombers tattooed Rube Walberg for 8 runs in 3 innings and never looked back. David Wells was pedestrian, but he didn't need to be more than that. Chuck Knoblauch and Chili Davis both had 4 hits. Double X, Jimmy Foxx had 2 homers in the losing effort. The Bombers scored 4 in the 1st and the 3rd as they banged out 20 hits.

GAME 2 (Yankee Stadium): Athletics 5 Yankees 2
When it doubt, trot Grove out. That's the philosophy anyone should have managing the '30 A's. Lefty Grove dominated the American League in a notorious hitters era like the 20's/30's. Grove, who finished his career with 300 wins got a late start in the majors as he was held back in the minors pitching for the old Baltimore Orioles of the International League. Back in those days minor league teams weren't affiliated with major league teams, so the owners would not let great talents like Grove go until someone coughed up some serious cash. Connie Mack was not one to spend a lot of money, but when he saw the opportunity to get both Grove and Earnshaw from Baltimore he had to make the move since all his team needed was a core of good arms. Grove didn't disappoint as he allowed the mighty Bombers 1 run in the 1st and 1 in the 9th. In between he posted goose eggs on the big scoreboard that blocks out the IRT 4 train. The White Elephant team scored 2 in both the 3rd and 5th innings off of David Cone. Mickey Cochran had 3 hits and Mule Haas hit a 2 run shot to even the series.

GAME 3 (Shibe): Yankees 13, Athletics 3
The series headed 90 miles south to north Philly as the City of Brotherly love was ecstatic to be hosting this LCS game. The Bombers gave the ball to El Duque, Orlando Hernandez, who loves to pitch on the big stage. George Earnshaw toed the rubber for the Mack-men, but had nothing as he surrendered 9 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings before he was replaced by Eddie Rommel, who didn't fare much better. The Bombers scored early and often. Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada both had 4 RBI days. Bernie had 4 hits of his own as New York took a 2 games to 1 lead.

GAME 4 (Shibe): Athletics 11, Yankees 4
It was time for the A's to turn the tables and blow out the Yankees and that's just what they did. Yankee starter Andy Pettitte was victimized by his fielding as the normally sure handed trio of Jeter, O'Neill and Brosius made 4 of the 5 errors. Curiously Brosius' 2 errors added to his tournament record of 6. Yankee skipper, Ed Mikhli questioned how the normally sure handed Brosius could be so inept with the leather. I'm sure Pettitte felt the same way. A's Right fielder Bing Miller had 3 RBI's and a huge double. Aloyisus "you can call me Al" Simmons went 3 for 4 as the A's evened the series at 2.

GAME 5 (Shibe): Yankees 13, Athletics 3
The pivotal game 5 saw both teams combine for 16 runs and 26 hits, yet the hero was Ramiro Mendoza who threw 3 scoreless innings in relief of David Wells to notch the save and put Philly on the brink of elimination. The big blow of the game came in the 7th with the Bombers down 6-4. Rube Walberg, the A's shaky starter, faced Bernie Williams with the bases loaded. This was the pivotal point in not just the game, but the series. John Sterling, on the call for the Yanks said, "2-2 pitch. Walberg deals...swung on by Bernie. It has a chance...it's gone into the short porch...Bern Baby Bern." Lights out Bombers go on to win.

GAME 6 (Yankee Stadium): Yankees 4, Athletics 1
Nothing means baseball more than a crisp October night and red white and blue bunting adorning the big ballpark in the Bronx. Add to it a classic matchup featuring all world Lefty Grove and the gutsy David "Mr. Perfect" Cone. The tension began to mount as there was no score for the first 3 innings. Bing Miller led off the 4th with a double off of Coney. Mule Haas singled hard to right, but Miller was forced to hold at 3rd as Paul O'Neill came up and threw a bullet to Posada. Jimmy Dykes grounded to Brosius at to score Miller. Cone got tough and got Boley to ground out and Max Bishop to K to prevent further damage. The bleacher creatures began to think Grove was in one of those grooves and the 1 run in the 4th just might stand. Then in the 5th the Bombers knotted it up when Chili Davis plated Berni on a hard smash that Bishop had to sneer in shallow right. Bishop had no play on Williams, so he conceded the run and pegged the slow footed Davis at first. With 1 out Tino Martinez crossed over to third (he doubled after Bernie singled). Grove then summoned all of his greatness and struck out both Posada and Brosius to end New York's chances in the 5th. Yankee fans were now feeling a little queasy having let the great Grove off the hook. Little did they know that the 6th inning would be his undoing as he walked light hitting Chad Curtis on 4 pitches. Knoblauch tripled to death valley to give the Bombers the lead. The normally clutch Jeter struck out looking, but Grove was not going to escape as Pauly "I love water coolers" O'Neill doubled to right and Tino eventually singled him home to post 3 runs in the inning. Down 4-1 in the 7th the A's were now desperate. As we all know the strength of this Yankee team is the pen. Coney posted a gutsy 7 inning performance and handed the ball off to Ramiro Mendoza who got 3 quick outs. Desperation, now turned into resignation. One must be resigned to the fact that if you don't have the lead after 8 the sandman will put you out. There are 3 things that are automatic in life: Death, Taxes and Mariano Rivera. The A's were now about to face two of the 3. First they would face Mo, then they would face their own mortality in this tournament. Mo set them down in the 9th and the Bombers moved on to the Fall classic to face their arch rivals, the Dodgers.

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