melee in Mudville

How can you go into a series with a worse record and still be considered the favorite? Because you're the World Champeen Toronto Blue Jays. Powered by Joe Carter's home run blasts and cannon throws from right field, by Jose Guzman's stellar pitching, by Roberto Alomar's Gold Glove defense, by Ricky Henderson's fleet feet.

But when the spikes are laced up and the pine tar hits the handle, reputations don't matter. Each game is a brand new universe of opportunity, triumph, regret.

The Mariners continued their unlikely run through the 1994 League Championship Series with overpowering efforts in the first two games, held in the Kingdome. Randy Johnson outpitched Jose Guzman in Game One, allowing three runs in a complete game victory. Bret Boone led the Mariner charge, going 4-5 with an RBI and three runs. Final score: 9-3.

Game Two had a similar outcome. Erik Hanson carried the team through the fifth, bringing his scoreless streak to thirteen innings. Russ Swan finished the game, giving up only one run. The Mariner offense gave their pitchers plenty of breathing room, scoring nine runs on twenty-one hits. Junior Griffey was 4-5 with three RBI and a two-run shot, while Dave Valle went 3-5 with four RBI. Pat Hentgen gave up six runs in only 1.2 innings for the loss.

The series seemed to be getting away from them, but the Blue Jays stayed in it with spectacular pitching by veteran Dave Stewart. He held Seattle to one run in a complete game gem, edging out Chris Bosio's two-run eight-inning effort. The Mariner offense stalled, scoring their sole run on ten hits. Ricky Henderson and Roberto Alomar homered for the Jays.

Game Four would prove to be crucial. Cito Gaston sent Jose Guzman to the mound again, hoping for a better performance against Dave Fleming, who made his second playoff appearance. Jay Buhner started things off with a bang, knocking a 440-foot solo shot to the upper deck in the top of the first. Dave Valle followed with a single, and scored on Tino Martinez's two-run dinger later that inning.

The Jays roared back when ever-reliable Ricky Henderson smashed a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the third. Seattle answered with bases loaded singles in the top of the fourth, and a Mike Blowers two-run shot in the top of the eighth. Russ Swan fanned Joe Carter with the bases jammed in the bottom of the inning, but the heroics weren't over until the ninth, when Jay Buhner nailed Paul Molitor, who was trying to leg a double into a triple, and then robbed Ed Sprague of extra bases with a diving catch to seal the win. Fleming went five innings, fanning six Jays and giving up two runs in the 7-2 contest.

The Mariners let momentum carry them into Game Five. Lou Piniella, in a surprise move, started Tim Leary and let Randy Johnson rest. The gamble proved to be brilliant. Leary gave up three runs in six innings, which were of no consequence to an explosive Mariner offense that scored a record twenty-two runs on thirty-one hits. Toronto starter Pat Hentgen gave up eight runs in only one dismal inning, and his replacements fared just as poorly. Piniella let the bench play after the fifth inning, and Rich Amaral, Bill Haselman, Mackey Sasser, and Dave Madagan all chipped in runs in the blowout. Jay Buhner finished 5-6 with 4 RBI and 4 runs, while Tino Martinez went 3-3 with 6 RBI and 3 runs. John Olerud provided the only Toronto offense with a three-run blast in the third.

The Mariners, heading to their first World Series since the team was formed in 1977, will face the Montreal Expos, also new to the Series, in the October Classic.