BRASSBALL LEAGUE
POSTSEASON

Game Three

Fleetwood (Hernandez 16-11, 5.60 ERA) at Columbus (Anderson 13-17, 5.82 ERA) 

Suffice it to say, this pitching match-up did not appear likely to be another pitcher's duel.  And indeed, it would prove to be the highest scoring game thus far in the series. 

Both teams scored early.  Fleetwood struck for two runs in the top of the 1st on a 2-RBI single by Jeffrey Hammonds.  Columbus countered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first, however, thanks to big hits by Higginson and Hidalgo among others. 

In the bottom of the 2nd, Columbus threatened to put the game away early.  Having already given up four hits in the first, Livan Hernandez dug himself another hole in the second.  Three of the first four batters reached base against him, loading the bases with only one out.  Sensing the game was on the line, Rube Foster surprised many by bringing in long reliever Manny Aybar in just the second inning.  Fleetwood's bullpen was going to get a workout today. 

Aybar did not disappoint, and set the tone for the remainder of the game.  He struck out Mitch Meluskey for the second out and then ended the threat by getting hot-hitting Bobby Higginson to popout.  No runs would score that inning and Aybar would inspire his teammates by throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings before giving way to Ramiro Mendoza in the 5th.  Fleetwood's bullpen would keep the Walkers in the game, not allowing another run until the 8th inning. 

Meanwhile, Paul Konerko would slowly bring the Fleetwood offense to life.  Konerko would eventually go 3-5 on the day and score three runs.   In fact, Fleetwood seemed well on its way to the victory with a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the 8th inning.  Columbus, though, was not through. 

Ron Belliard hit a big 2-run double in the bottom of the 8th against Fleetwood set-up pitcher Antonio Osuna.   The tying run was now at the plate with two outs.  Rube Foster was forced to call upon ace reliever Derek Lowe in the 8th once again. 

Lowe was up to the challenge...but barely.  He struck out Stan Javier to end the 8th inning threat, but then walked two batter in the bottom of ninth.  With only one out, Richard Hidalgo came to the plate representing the tying run.  But Derek Lowe threw Hidalgo his devastating sinker, and Hidalgo ended the game by hitting into a double play to end the game.

Fleetwood now led the series 2-1.  WP-Mendoza (1-0).  SV-Lowe (2).  LP-Anderson (0-1).


BOXSCORE: 2001 Fleetwood Walkers At 2001 Columbus Buckeyes          10/4/2001
Game 3: In a game decided by 'pens, Fleetwood wins and leads series 2-1.

  Walkers            AB  R  H RBI AVG     Buckeyes           AB  R  H RBI AVG
  C.Curtis DH         2  1  0  0 .167     R.Gutierrez SS      3  1  1  0 .300  
C-F.Crespo PH         1  0  0  0 .000     M.Meluskey C        5  1  1  0 .200  
E-B.Huskey PH         1  0  1  11.000     B.Higginson LF      4  1  1  1 .222  
  S.Stewart LF        4  1  1  0 .231     R.Hidalgo CF        5  0  1  2 .308  
F-B.Abreu PH,RF       0  0  0  0 .000     S.Rolen 3B          3  1  1  0 .182  
  J.Hammonds RF,LF    5  0  2  3 .250     B.Fullmer DH        4  1  1  0 .125  
  C.Jones 3B          5  0  0  0 .167     K.Millar 1B         3  0  0  0 .333  
  P.Konerko 1B        5  3  3  0 .500     R.Belliard 2B       4  0  1  2 .100  
  J.Edmonds CF        4  1  3  0 .400     B.Jordan RF         2  0  2  0 .250  
  D.Easley 2B         4  0  1  1 .333   D-S.Javier PH,RF      2  0  1  0 .400  
  K.Elster SS         2  0  0  0 .167                                          
A-J.Valentin PH,SS    2  0  0  0 .000                                          
  B.Molina C          2  0  0  1 .000                                          
B-M.Jensen PR,C       0  1  0  0 ----                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      37  7 11  6                 Totals      35  5 10  5

A-Pinch Hit For Elster In 6th Inning
B-Pinch Ran For Molina In 6th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Curtis In 6th Inning
D-Pinch Hit For Jordan In 7th Inning
E-Pinch Hit For Crespo In 8th Inning
F-Pinch Hit For Stewart In 8th Inning

INJURY: Ben Molina INJURED (for 2 more games) in 6th inning

Walkers......... 2 0 0  1 0 1  0 3 0  -  7 11  1
Buckeyes........ 3 0 0  0 0 0  0 2 0  -  5 10  1

Walkers                  IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA  SCORESHEET
L.Hernandez               1 1/3   5   3   3   2   0   0  20.25  A1 B1
M.Aybar                   3 1/3   1   0   0   0   2   0   0.00  B2 C3
R.Mendoza WIN(1-0)        1 1/3   1   0   0   0   0   0   0.00  C4 C8
A.Osuna HOLD(1st)         1 2/3   3   2   2   1   3   0  10.80  C9 D8
D.Lowe SAVE(2nd)          1 1/3   0   0   0   2   2   0   0.00  D9
Totals                    9      10   5   5   5   7   0

Buckeyes                 IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA  SCORESHEET
B.Anderson LOSS(0-1)      5 1/3   7   4   4   2   1   0   6.75  A1 C6
J.Tam                     0       0   0   0   1   0   0   0.00  C7 C7
J.Nelson                  1 2/3   0   0   0   0   2   0   0.00  C8 D4
P.Quantrill               0 1/3   2   2   2   0   0   0  54.00  D5 D7
J.Parque                  0 1/3   1   1   1   1   1   0  27.00  D8 E1
M.Dejean                  1 1/3   1   0   0   1   1   0   0.00  E2
Totals                    9      11   7   7   5   5   0

ATTENDANCE- 39,843 DATE-  TIME- Night 
T- 3:28
LEFT ON BASE- Walkers: 9  Buckeyes: 8
DOUBLE PLAYS- Walkers: 2  Buckeyes: 1
ERRORS- P.Konerko, K.Millar
DOUBLES- S.Stewart(1st), J.Edmonds(1st), B.Higginson(1st), R.Belliard(1st)
TRIPLES- S.Javier(1st)
WALKS- C.Curtis, B.Abreu, J.Edmonds, D.Easley, M.Jensen, R.Gutierrez-2,
       B.Higginson, S.Rolen, K.Millar
HIT BY PITCH- B.Molina
STRIKE OUTS- S.Stewart, J.Hammonds, P.Konerko, J.Valentin-2, R.Gutierrez,
             M.Meluskey-3, R.Hidalgo, R.Belliard, S.Javier
GIDP- C.Jones, R.Hidalgo, B.Fullmer
WILD PITCHES- M.Dejean

In a good matchup it was the Fleetwood Walkers 7, the Columbus Buckeyes 5 at
Fred Bridgedale Park.

Fleetwood took the lead for keeps in the 6th inning scoring one runner on 2
hits.  Fleetwood had 11 hits for the night.  

The winning pitcher was Ramiro Mendoza(1-0) who allowed no runs in 1 and 1/3
innings. Derek Lowe gained credit for his 2nd save.  Brian Anderson(0-1) was
the loser.