Doug Drabek (10-14, 3.62) v Bret Saberhagen (18-12, 3.51)
A strong opener by the lads as Doug Drabek gives us 6+ scoreless and the bats get a few runs off Bret Saberhagen in a 4-0 final.
Ron Gant’s 3-run jack in the 6th is the big blow. Sadly, it will be his sole contribution as an elbow injury puts him out of action for the rest of the year.
Mike Kingery gets the call to fill his spot and Lenny Harris will take over everyday 3B duties on the strong side of a platoon with Steve Beuchele.
Game 2 in Pittsburgh
Danny Darwin (14-9, 3.64) v Kevin Appier (12-12, 4.57)
Pirates lead series 1-0
We give Danny Darwin some early runs to play with and he finds his groove with 6+ scoreless before the BP tries to make a meal of it.
Alejandro Pena keeps his cool with a scoreless 9th to get us home as somewhat unconvincing 4-2 winners.
Game 3 in Kansas City
Trevor Wilson (12-11, 3.91) v Jose De Leon (15-11, 4.33)
Pirates lead series 2-0
The scoreboard tells you all you need to know about this horror show, with Jose De Leon’s fall from grace nearly complete as he gives up 9 runs in 1 2/3.
Game 4 in Kansas City
Mark Leiter (14-5, 3.11) v Zane Smith (18-4, 3.07)
Pirates lead series 2-1
A five-hour marathon that has a little bit of everything including a 30-minute rain delay sees us fall behind 1-3, then claw back with a late score to send it into spares, then finally win a true WS classic 4-3 in 13.
Game 5 in Kansas City
Mike Scott (0-1, 6.11) v Pascual Perez (2-0, 2.63)
Pirates lead series 3-1
Another poor blowout loss means we’ll have to do this at home as Doug Drabek is shelled early and we have no response against a strong Saberhagen.
Game 6 in Pittsburgh
Danny Darwin (2-1, 4.19) v Kevin Appier (1-1, 2.57)
Pirates lead series 3-2
All sorts of permutations running through my head in a very sleepless couple nights but in the end we’re going to have to trust the horses that got us here.
That loyalty goes unrewarded here as Danny Darwin struggles and, although we do get it back to 4-4, their bats are too much and they win it with a late score to put it all on red tomorrow night.
Game 7 in Pittsburgh
Trevor Wilson (12-11, 3.91) v Jose De Leon (15-11, 4.33)
Series tied 3-3
Can’t say I remember ever being so nervous before a game.
Here goes nothing.
And nothing is what we get as JDL is OK but the bats go totally AWOL and yet again we lose a series from the almost impossible position.
Not gonna lie to you, this one
hurts.
Willie Wilson is again named MVP.
