[jg2977]

“Islanders Hold On After Ninth-Inning Scare”
By Bobby Murcer
“Well folks, let me tell ya — this one had a little bit of everything. You had great defense, some timely hitting, and one of those ninth innings that’ll get your heart rate up if you were in the stands.

Long Island had themselves a ballgame thanks to Adrie Sijtsma. That kid was all over the place — three hits, a triple, a homer, drove in three runs. And let me tell you, that home run in the sixth inning? That ball got outta here in a hurry. Three-run shot, turned a tie game into a 4–1 lead. And in the playoffs, that’s a big ol’ cushion.

But baseball’s funny — that cushion almost wasn’t enough. In the top of the ninth, Montreal made it real interesting. They loaded the bases, and here comes Asher Grubin — big ol’ first baseman, already had a double in the game. Now if you’re Long Island, that’s the last guy you wanna see in that spot. One swing and the Canadiens could’ve gone ahead.

But here’s where the Islanders’ defense came through. Grubin hits a sharp one-hopper to short. Sijtsma fields it clean, flips to second for one, over to first — double play! Just like that, ballgame over. You could almost hear the whole place exhale.

That’s playoff baseball for ya — you can be cruising along, and in one pitch, you’re staring down trouble. But Long Island’s up two games to none, and now they head to Montreal with the momentum.

And folks… that’s how you win a series — you make the big plays when you need ‘em.”