American League
Boston Red Sox (93-69) v California Angels (92-70)
Who could ever doubt this timeline’s Red Sox? An amazing run of success and here they are in the firing line once again.
No doubt the LaValliere loss hurts them and perhaps even tips the scales on paper over to the Halos. Whether that translates from the potential to the actual is something we’ll soon find out.
The Halos open with a bang, posting a 3-spot in the top 1st of Game 1 but can’t add to them as Clemens gets his rhythm back and the Sox win it 5-3 with a late score.
Cali squares it up with a more polished performance against Pedro Martinez, finishing off their hosts with 4 in the 7th en route to an 8-1 win and withstand a late challenge over on the Pacific coast in Game 3 to get their noses in front with a 4-3 walkoff win in 10 on Juan Gonzalez’ second jack of the game.
The Sox prevail 4-3 in an extra-innings arm-wrestle to make it 2-2 but the Angels edge ahead once more with a 3-2 win in another top-quality contest.
All of which is merely the prelude for an amazing Game 6 in which the Sox – down to their final strike on two separate occasions in the home 9th – stave off elimination with a 4-3 win on a walkoff single by Mike Greenwell and break the hearts of Angels fans everywhere with another epic struggle and fifth-straight 1-run game, advancing with a 5-4 win.
Boston 1B Hal Morris takes out the MVP.
National League
Atlanta Braves (95-67) v Pittsburgh Pirates (92-70)
We are going to have to be at our absolute peak to get past a Braves club about which I have been espousing the virtues of for some time now.
Just Jim Gott out for us and shortstop Mario Diaz for them.
We get very little against Juan Guzman in the opener with just 6 hits and, despite threatening late, drop it 4-3 and lose a 5-4 walkoff the next night to send us home to Pittsburgh feeling the pressure.
A strong response by the lads sees John Smiley pitch a nifty 5-hitter and Bonds and Big Cat knock in a pair each as we win our first game 4-0 and we tie the series in dramatic fashion as Charlie Hayes singles in the winner for a 3-2 walkoff in Game 4.
Doug Drabek gets his own back for the Game 1 loss with a fantastic outing in which he give up just 2 hits over 8 scoreless and Joe Boever just holds on to give us a 1-0 win and keep the home side trend going. We’ll need to break it to get the win.
Break it we do at the first go as the lads come out swinging and chase Maddux with 6 runs then hang on grimly to close it out 6-4.
Charlie Hayes is a most deserving MVP.