In Series XXVI, we’re going to look at a game that allowed some individual storylines to play out and then two series that featured a couple of great contests each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game itself isn’t so interesting: Portland exploded for 8 runs in the top of the 5th inning, blowing it open en route to an 11-5 victory. But some of the details may have some impact on the rest of the season:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
POR 11 <\/strong>(Hammaker 2-1) @ NYY 5 <\/strong>(Hoyt 8-5)<\/em> This series was a matchup of league heavyweights and 2 of the games lived up to the billing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the series opener, Mike Mussina<\/strong> was dominant for Baltimore … until he wasn’t, and then the Black Sox’ bullpen just collapsed, with Joe Beggs<\/strong>, Bob Miller<\/strong>, and Don Bessent<\/strong> combining to give up 5 runs in 1.1 innings, with Miller forced onto the DL with injury (a move that effectively ends the closer-by-committee for a while).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detroit’s pitching wasn’t much better, but Si Johnson<\/strong> held it together for 5 plus, and Mike Henneman<\/strong> is quite a weapon in the bullpen, as the WBL leader in saves picked up his 26th of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detroit hit four homeruns in the game, with Bob Bailey<\/strong>‘s 3 run shot in the bottom of the 8th off Bessent being the deciding moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAL 6 <\/strong>(Miller 3-2; Bessent 3 B Sv; Beggs 5 H) @ DET 8 <\/strong>(Lolich 1-1; Henneman 26 Sv)<\/em> Hal Newhouser<\/strong> would dominate in the 2nd game, leading Detroit to a 6-1 win. The most important note from that contest was Ned Garvin<\/strong>‘s injury, which turned out to be disastrous, sidelining the Brock Rutherford Award<\/em> favorite for close to a year. But we’re here to talk about Game 3, which pitted each team’s current ace against each other–Baltimore’s Dennis Mart\u00ednez<\/strong> and Detroit’s Johnny Marcum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both were excellent through 4, but Mart\u00ednez lost the game in the 5th to the most unlikely of foes: Detroit’s light hitting utility infielder, Sparky Adams<\/strong>, took him deep for his first longball of the year, giving the Wolverines a 3-2 lead. Each team would add one more, but again it was Henneman closing the door, despite surrendering a run on an RBI double from Bobby Wallace<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A nice, taut game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAL 3 <\/strong>(Mart\u00ednez 10-7) @ DET 4<\/strong> (Marcum 10-2; Henneman 27 Sv; Hiller 11 H)<\/em> FWIW, Baltimore did win the final game to avoid the sweep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These teams split the series, but the more interesting games were the 2 victories by the Cuban Giants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story of game 1, at least early on, was missed opportunities. Miami’s 2-way OF\/P Eustaquio Pedroso<\/strong>, gave up 9 baserunners in the first 4 innings, but the Colt 45’s managed only 1 run. Pedroso was tagged with a 3-run HR from Tony Gwynn<\/strong> in the 5th, but the score should have been much worse than 4-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Houston’s Stephen Strasburg<\/strong> was magnificent, twirling a 3 hit shutout through 7. In the 8th, Robin Yount<\/strong> led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Alan Ashby<\/strong>, chasing Strasburg from the game with a still comfortable 4-1 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can tell what’s coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Houston’s closer, Billy Wagner<\/strong> came in and gave up a game-tying 3-run moon shot to Jos\u00e9 Canseco<\/strong>. Miami’s bullpen was excellent, with Jos\u00e9 M\u00e9ndez<\/strong>, Ed Bauta<\/strong>, and Aroldis Chapman<\/strong> combining for 5.2 innings of 1-hit relief. Chapman was already gassed, so after he retired a batter, the Cuban Giants turned to Braden Looper<\/strong> as we headed to the 12th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the top of the frame, Houston’s Scott Erickson<\/strong> could not get the final out, giving up a walk and 2 hits, the last being a 2-run single from Chris Hoiles<\/strong> to give Miami a 2 run lead. Looper gave up 4 hits in the bottom of the 12th, all singles, but escaped with the victory when Jos\u00e9 Cardenal<\/strong> gunned down George Brett<\/strong> at the plate to end the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Houston ended the game with 13 runners left on base, to Miami’s 4. Offensive efficiency matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thrilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HRs<\/strong>: POR – Murcer (16), Hrbek (30), Hornsby (6); NYY – none.
Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nBaltimore Black Sox @ Detroit Wolverines, Games 1 and 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HRs<\/strong>: BAL – Jacobson (6), Machado (3); DET – Greenberg (20), Jenkins (8), C. Davis (17), B. Bailey (16).
Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
HRs<\/strong>: BAL – none; DET – Adams (1).
Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMiami Cuban Giants @ Houston Colt 45’s, Games 1 and 4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n