BRASSBALL
LEAGUE |
Stanley (Helling 21-6,
4.01 ERA) at Fleetwood (Leiter 15-9, 4.75 ERA)
Game Five featured a repeat pitching match-up of Game Two,
with Stanley’s Rick Helling facing Fleetwood’s Al Leiter (now recovered from his
earlier injury). While both pitchers looked
to rebound from poor outings in that previous game, what would result would be one of the
most unforgettable games in BRASSball history.
Stanley would again draw first blood through its power. But this time, it came from an unexpected source
– shortstop Neifi Perez – who took Leiter deep for a 3-run homer in the top of
the second inning, his second homer off Leiter in the series.
Facing elimination, though, Fleetwood would bounce back. In the bottom half of the second, Fleetwood first
baseman Paul Konerko connected for a lead-off homer to get the Walkers on the board. And in the next inning, Fleetwood would plate
another three runs on a 2-run double by Jeffrey Hammonds and a RBI single by Jim Edmonds. The score was now 4-3 in favor of Fleetwood.
In the fifth inning, Stanley’s power again returned when
Moises Alou crushed an Al Leiter pitch for a 3-run homer.
The lead once again belonged to Stanley, 6-4.
With its back against the wall, Fleetwood scraped to within
one run on a RBI single from Jose Valentin in the sixth.
But in that same inning, with runners on first and third and only one out,
pinch-hitter Felipe Crespo lined into an inning-ending double play. This botched rally threatened to end Fleetwood’s
season.
Both bullpens pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings,
setting up an exciting one-run ninth inning. Entering
the game for Fleetwood was its fifth pitcher, Derek Lowe.
After a lead-off single and successful sacrifice bunt, Stanley looked to add
an insurance run to its 6-5 lead. Lowe then
retired Bernie Williams on a flyout, bringing Mark McGwire to the plate. With first base open, Fleetwood manager Rube
Foster intentionally walked Big Mac in favor of facing equally hot Moises Alou. But Lowe would strikeout Alou, keeping the
Walkers within one run of tying the game.
Coming in for the save was Stanley’s fifth pitcher of the
game as well, closer Antonio Alfonseca. Stanley’s
wiz outfielder Darren Lewis, who had pinch run for the team’s designated hitter in
the top of the eighth, also entered the playing field.
This was a potentially risky move for Stanley, as it meant they forfeited
their designated hitter for the remainder of the game.
But Stanley was within three outs of advancing to the NLCS, and simply would
not allow a defensive blunder to cost them the game.
Leading off for Fleetwood against Alfonseca was pinch hitter
Craig Counsell. Counsell entered in place of
Fleetwood’s last catcher, Marcus Jensen, but the Walkers desperately needed a
baserunner. And Counsell, who sported a .467
on-base percentage during the regular season, was their best bet.
Counsell did not disappoint, lining a single to left field. The tying run was aboard. Shannon Stewart, with three hits in four at-bats
on the day, stepped up next. A single of his
own gave him his fourth hit and put the tying run at second base. The rally was on.
Fleetwood manager Rube Foster then pinch hit with Chad Curtis
for Jeffrey Hammonds, who had been 2-4 on the day with a 2-run double. Curtis was the better bunter, though, and despite
going to a 1-2 count he was able to execute the bunt.
The tying run was now at third and the winning run at second, with only one
Walker out.
Looking for a double play, Stanley intentionally walked Jim
Edmonds to load the bases. Fleetwood clean-up
hitter Chipper Jones stepped in next. While
he did not produce a game winning hit, Jones did hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Walkers had tied the game!
Paul Konerko was up next for Fleetwood. On the day, Konerko was 3-4 with a single, a
double and a homer. Furthermore, his
postseason batting average now stood at a sizzling .488 after his MVP performance in the
Wild Card round. A hit here would win the
game and force a trip back to Stanley for Game Six. The
Fleetwood crowd was roaring with anticipation.
But Konerko would not come through this time, grounding out to
end the inning. The game was headed to extra
innings.
Having pinch hit for its final catcher, Fleetwood was in a
bind. While Fleetwood manager Rube Foster
originally signaled for Craig Counsell to don the catching gear, team captain Chipper
Jones would have none of it. He insisted on
catching himself. Upon seeing this, the
hometown fans went wild. But Chipper had not
caught a game since American Legion ball as a teenager…would he but up to the
challenge? The Walkers season was on the
line.
Meanwhile, Stanley was faced with a major problem of its own…a
glaring hole in its line-up. Now hitting
clean-up for Stanley was not the power-hitting Moises Alou, removed earlier for defensive
substitute Darren Lewis, but rather relief pitcher Antonio Alfonseca. Things had become mighty interesting for both
teams this evening!
Derek Lowe, still on for Fleetwood but now with Chipper Jones
as his battery mate, pitched a perfect tenth inning.
With no baserunners in the inning, Stanley could not take advantage of Jones
inexperience at catcher. In the bottom of the
tenth, Alfonseca answered Lowe with a perfect inning of his own.
Lowe hit the mound again for Fleetwood in the eleventh,
looking to prevent baserunnners at all costs. And
once again he threw another perfect inning. Alfonseca
did not fare as well this time, giving up a lead-off double to pesky Craig Counsell. Fleetwood now had the winning run in scoring
position. Stanley brought in its sixth
pitcher, Steve Reed.
With first base open, Stanley decided to pitch to Stewart
anyway. Despite being 4-5 on the day, Fleetwood’s Rube Foster asked Stewart to
sacrifice bunt Counsell to third base. Stewart
had not successfully sacrificed all season and the decision soon proved costly. Stewart made contact, but the ball rolled quickly
to Reed. Reed pounced on the ball and threw
to third baseman Ken Caminiti, who tagged the incoming runner in the nick of time. Counsell was out!
Reed then retired Chad Curtis and Jim Edmonds and the threat was over. Fleetwood had fumbled another golden
opportunity.
The game went to the twelfth inning. Once again, Derek Lowe took the mound for
Fleetwood. He was entering his fourth inning
of work. Since Chipper Jones’ move to
catcher, Stanley had yet to manage a baserunner. Bernie
Williams led off for Stanley, and grounded out. Joe
Oliver, up next, hit a fly ball out. Now
scheduled to bat was relief pitcher Steve Reed.
A Stanley pitcher did indeed bat here, but Stanley brought in
Cal Eldred to pinch-hit for Reed. Eldred
failed to make contact, however, and the Sioux were retired again. Julian Tavarez, in to pitch as Stanley’s
seventh pitcher, pitched a scoreless bottom half inning.
The game now went to the thirteenth inning, still knotted at six runs
each.
Now in to pitch for Fleetwood was left-hander Mark Guthrie. Jermaine Dye greeted Guthrie harshly, blooping a
hustle double to right-center field. But
Guthrie enticed groundouts from both Rafael Palmeiro and Ken Caminiti. With two outs, Shumpert lined a ball in the
direction of third base. Counsell was there
for Fleetwood, though, and snagged the ball for the third out. Tavarez again followed with a perfect half inning
for Stanley. The game would enter the
fourteen frame!
Guthrie retired the first two Stanley batters in the
fourteenth inning. But with two outs, Bernie
Williams singled. During the next at-bat,
Chipper Jones was unable to block a low Guthrie wild pitch and Williams scampered into
second base. With first base open, Fleetwood
quickly put Joe Oliver on first intentionally. Up
now was the pitcher’s spot again.
Other than starting pitchers Randy Johnson and Kevin Appier,
no pitchers were left in the Stanley bullpen. So
Stanley had no choice but to let Tavarez bat for himself, even with a runner in scoring
position.
Fitting with the game, though, the amazing happened…Tavarez
hit a seeing-eye single between Easley and Konerko into right field. Tavarez, Stanley’s seventh pitcher of the day
(eighth if you count pinch hitter Cal Eldred) had just singled in the go-ahead run in the
fourteenth inning! With two outs, Dye
grounded out to end the inning.
Fleetwood was now on the brink of elimination again. Tavarez took the mound for his third inning of
work, facing lead-off hitter Chad Curtis. Curtis,
who struggled against right-handed pitchers all season, did not struggle here however. He lined a double to centerfield. The tying run was now in scoring position.
Jim Edmonds, up next, hit a sharp groundball to second. This advanced Curtis to third base, now with one
out. Chipper Jones was not able to come
through in this golden RBI opportunity, however, meekly fouling out. Perhaps the catching was getting to him. Fleetwood was down to its final out.
Paul Konerko was up again, having failed to end the game in
the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch, he topped a weak
grounder to third. Ken Caminiti, who had been
playing deep behind the bag, charged the ball and threw quickly to first base. Somehow, though, the slow-footed Fleetwood first
baseman had beaten the throw! Curtis scored
from third to tie the game 7-7, and Konerko’s magical post-season continued. The next battter, Bobby Abreu, grounded out to
end the inning. So on to the fifteenth inning
the game went.
Guthrie continued to pitch for Fleetwood and spun a perfect
top of the fifteenth, retiring Palmeiro, Caminiti and Shumpert in order. Tavarez would have to hold Fleetwood scoreless
again if Stanley’s bats were to have another chance.
Damion Easley grounded out to start the inning, but shortstop
Jose Valentin then drew a one-out walk. Craig
Counsell, with two hits in three at-bats since entering the game, came to the plate. And once again he came through, lining another
base hit to the opposite field. Fleetwood now
had runners at first and second with only one out.
Shannon Stewart stepped to the plate next. Stewart was 4-7 in the game, but had also failed
to execute an important bunt in the eleventh inning.
He looked to atone for that mistake here.
And atone he would. Stewart
lashed a line drive past first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, and Valentin motored around third
base to score the winning run. The marathon
was over. Fleetwood had stayed alive, winning
8-7 in fifteen innings. There would indeed be
a return to Stanley for Game Six.
Stanley now leads the series 3-2. WP-Guthrie (1-0). LP-Tavarez (0-1).
BOXSCORE: 2001 Stanley Sioux At 2001 Fleetwood Walkers 10/14/2001
Game 5: What a game! Chipper catches, Tavarez hits...Walkers win! Gm 6 awaits.
Sioux AB R H RBI AVG Walkers AB R H RBI AVG
N.Perez SS 6 1 1 3 .130 S.Stewart DH 8 1 5 1 .372
B.Williams CF,LF,CF 7 2 3 0 .348 J.Hammonds LF 4 1 2 2 .273
M.McGwire 1B 2 0 0 0 .357 H-C.Curtis PH,LF 2 1 1 0 .273
E-J.Oliver C 1 0 0 0 .333 J.Edmonds CF 5 0 1 0 .256
M.Alou LF 5 1 2 3 .348 C.Jones 3B,C 6 0 0 2 .244
A.Alfonseca P 0 0 0 0 ---- P.Konerko 1B 7 2 4 2 .477
S.Reed P 0 0 0 0 ---- B.Abreu RF 6 0 0 0 .083
J-C.Eldred PH 1 0 0 0 .000 D.Easley 2B 6 0 1 0 .212
J.Tavarez P 1 0 1 11.000 J.Valentin SS 6 1 1 1 .200
J.Dye RF 7 0 1 0 .292 B.Molina C 2 1 1 0 .258
K.Osik C 4 1 1 0 .429 B-F.Crespo PH 1 0 0 0 .000
F-R.Palmeiro 1B 3 0 0 0 .200 C-M.Jensen C 0 0 0 0 .000
B.Trammell DH 1 0 0 0 .000 G-C.Counsell PH,3B 4 1 3 0 .667
A-S.Hatteberg PH 1 0 0 0 .333
D-D.Lewis PR,DH,CF 0 0 0 0 .000
I-K.Caminiti PH,3B 3 0 0 0 .000
T.Shumpert 3B,LF 7 0 0 0 .389
M.McLemore 2B 6 2 2 0 .278
-- -- -- --- -- -- -- ---
Totals 55 7 11 7 Totals 57 8 19 8
A-Pinch Hit For Trammell In 6th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Molina In 6th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (C ) For Crespo In 7th Inning
D-Pinch Ran For Hatteberg In 8th Inning
E-Subbed Defensively (C ) For McGwire In 9th Inning
F-Subbed Defensively (1B) For Osik In 9th Inning
G-Pinch Hit For Jensen In 9th Inning
H-Pinch Hit For Hammonds In 9th Inning
I-Pinch Hit For Lewis In 10th Inning
J-Pinch Hit For Reed In 12th Inning
Sioux........... 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 7 11 0
Walkers......... 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 8 19 1
Sioux IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SCORESHEET
R.Helling 5 1/3 9 5 5 1 3 1 11.88 A1 C8
T.Crabtree HOLD(1st) 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 C9 D2
A.Almanza HOLD(1st) 0 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 D3 D3
F.Rodriguez HOLD(3rd) 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 2.45 D4 D8
A.Alfonseca BS(2nd) 2 3 1 1 1 0 0 5.40 D9 E9
S.Reed 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86 F1 F3
J.Tavarez LOSS(0-1) 3 1/3 4 2 2 2 1 0 7.71 F4
Totals 14 1/3 19 8 8 4 8 1
Walkers IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SCORESHEET
A.Leiter 5 7 6 6 2 5 2 7.11 A1 C5
R.Mendoza 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10.45 C6 C8
M.Aybar 0 2/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 C9 D3
A.Osuna 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.60 D4 D8
D.Lowe 4 1 0 0 1 4 0 2.19 D9 F4
M.Guthrie WIN(1-0) 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 6.75 F5
Totals 15 11 7 7 6 11 2
ATTENDANCE- 23,283 DATE- TIME- Night WEATHER- Average
T- 4:37
LEFT ON BASE- Sioux:10 Walkers:12
DOUBLE PLAYS- Sioux: 2 Walkers: 1
ERRORS- C.Jones
DOUBLES- J.Dye(2nd), J.Hammonds(3rd), C.Curtis(1st), P.Konerko(3rd),
C.Counsell(1st)
HOME RUNS- N.Perez(2nd), M.Alou(4th), P.Konerko(2nd)
STOLEN BASES- B.Abreu(1st)
SACRIFICE HITS- N.Perez, C.Curtis
SACRIFICE FLIES- C.Jones
WALKS- M.McGwire-3, J.Oliver, B.Trammell, S.Hatteberg, J.Edmonds-2, B.Abreu,
J.Valentin
HIT BY PITCH- D.Easley
STRIKE OUTS- N.Perez, M.McGwire, M.Alou-2, C.Eldred, J.Dye-2, K.Osik,
T.Shumpert-3, J.Edmonds-2, C.Jones, B.Abreu, D.Easley,
J.Valentin-3
GIDP- J.Dye, J.Hammonds
WILD PITCHES- M.Guthrie
PASSED BALLS- M.Jensen
Paul Konerko had 4 hits and 2 RBI at Cinergy Field as the Fleetwood Walkers
beat the Stanley Sioux in 15 innings by the count of 8 to 7.
The score was knotted at 6 after nine innings. Fleetwood ended up winning it
in the 15th inning. After an out was recorded, Jose Valentin drew a walk.
Craig Counsell came next and he lined a base-hit. Shannon Stewart then
delivered a single resulting in an exciting win for Fleetwood and a raucous
post-game celebration by the home town fans. A wild and woolly affair, this
game saw the lead change 5 times.
Mark Guthrie(1-0) went 3 innings allowing 1 run for the victory. Julian
Tavarez(0-1) took the loss in relief. He surrendered 4 hits and 2 walks in 3
and 1/3 innings.