During the regular season, the Mariners took eleven of thirteen from the Twins. But in the playoffs, anything is possible, especially when facing a lineup stacked with power hitters--Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield, and Kent Hrbek.
In the first of a five-game series, Hrbek made his presence felt early, blasting a grand slam off reliever Jeff Nelson and spoiling Randy Johnson's eight-inning effort. The Mariner offense could take only three runs from Kevin Tapani, who pitched a complete game, winning 7-3.
Up 1-0 at home, but still underdogs, the Twins sent Scott Erickson to the mound. Despite his dismal regular season record, Erickson pitched like an ace, giving up just two runs in another complete game effort. But one was enough, since Erik Hanson scattered only five hits in eight innings to secure a shutout.
The Mariners' sleeping offense woke up upon their return to the Kingdome. Game Three was a bloodbath. Bret Boone homered three times; Tino Martinez cleared the bases twice. Chris Bosio and Jeff Nelson combined for four hits and two runs, as the Mariners pounded out 26 hits, 6 dingers, and an incredible 20 runs off six Twins pitchers. Willie Banks was charged with the loss, and Hrbek provided the only offense with a two-run shot in the fourth.
Game Four saw Tapani taking the mound again, as the Mariners sent Dave Fleming to finish off the Twins. Early on, everything was going Minnesota's way. Puckett smashed a three-run homer in the third, and Kidder effectively silenced the Mariner bats until the sixth, when Omar Vizquel bunted Tino Martinez home. Fleming, tiring in the sixth, was replaced by Nelson. In the seventh, consecutive sacrifice bunts scored Brian Turang and Griffey, but the Twins answered in the eighth with a Puckett solo shot.
Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Mariners sent Junior Griffey to the plate. He singled, and was doubled to third by Jay Buhner. After a Dave Valle bunt tied it at 4 apiece, Tino Martinez singled to load the bases. Tapani, trying for his second complete game win of the series, gave up a dribbling Edgar Martinez bunt to end it 5-4.
The Mariners established a playoff record, scoring all five runs on bunts. They now face the world champion Toronto Blue Jays for the league title.
In the NL, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs in four games, while the Montreal Expos eliminated the San Francisco Giants. Toronto knocked off the Chicago White Sox in five games.
No comments:
Post a Comment