Game 1 in Boston
Roger Clemens (14-14, 3.17) v Dave Stewart (13-10, 3.10)
A real statement win at Fenway by the upstarts, who get to Rocket early and keep on him, with rookie Jeff Bagwell going 4-for-5 with a double, a homer and 4 RBI in a star-making turn to support a solid outing by warhorse Dave Stewart.
Game 2 in Boston
Sid Fernandez (17-9, 4.10) v Steve Avery (15-10, 3.14)
Astros lead series 1-0
The Sox return serve, exploding with 7 runs off Steve Avery in the first two innings but then seem to take their foot off the gas as the Astros keep coming before running out of outs still needing a run to tie, with the final score 7-6
Game 3 in Houston
Scott Sanderson (15-9, 3.07) v Bruce Hurst (15-10, 3.38)
Series tied 1-1
Things stay lively as runs are scored in bunches early and the game is knotted 5-5 all the way from the 5th to the top 10th when the Sox post a 3-spot and close it out. Catcher Terry Steinbach powers the visitors' bats with 5 ribbies.
Game 4 in Houston
Jose DeJesus (8-6, 3.85) v David Wells (9-7, 4.23)
Red Sox lead series 2-1
The cooler heads and more experienced hands prevail again here in a game that the Astros look on the verge of wresting control of all the way through without ever managing to do so.
Steinbach goes yard again and must be the MVP favourite if the results continue along the same vein and, with two of the three remaining games back in Boston, that now seems highly likely.
Game 5 in Houston
Dave Stewart (1-0, 2.08) v Roger Clemens (1-1, 5.27)
Red Sox lead series 3-1
Not too many times the Red Sox fail to take their chances and they are clinical here with Rocket atoning for his Game 1 mishap with 7 strong innings and the bats grinding Stewart down for a 5-1 final to give them their 15th World Championship.
A disappointing performance from the Astros but they’ll have learned plenty from the experience.
No surprise at all that Terry Steinbach takes out MVP honours.
