Game Two Thrillers Both Decided by One Run

Both Games Two of the League Championship Series thrilled the fans by going down to the wire, one ending in extra innings. There's only one October after all. (Or, in the case of our league, only one late September).

Platonic League

Seattle and Pittsburgh were scoreless for the first four innings. Carlos Araoz finally broke the drought with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Seattle. Seattle plated two three more runs in the inning to take a commanding lead. They might have had even more but Pisces centerfielder Tracy Snider overcame his pulled groin muscle to throw out the Ministry's first bagger Amador Zaragoza at the plate.

Pittsburgh scored one in the top of the seventh to cut the gap to three. Seattle played add-on though in the bottom of the eighth with three runs to seemingly put the game out of reach. All three runs scored on a two-out, pinch hit, bases clearing double by reserve outfielder Willie May.

That hit assumed greater importance than first thought though as the Pisces would not go gentle into that good night however. Bryan Caraway got things started in the ninth inning with a 417 foot solo home run to deep left center field. After an out, pinch hitter Jose Valdes pounded a 408 shot to deep right center. Brian Staudt next hit a bomb to almost the same place, although a mere 386 feet, to make the gap 7-4. Seattle's manager Tim the Enchanter pulled pitcher Alberto Hernandez, having seen enough from him, and installed closer Wesley Sevage. Savage was greeted savagely by pinch hitter James Rhodes, who hit a third consecutive home run to right center, travelling 394 feet. Back to back to back! Savage pulled it together to strike out Super-Fogy Bruce Bremer to record a second out. But, Tracy Snider, doing his best Kirk Gibson impression, clubbed the Pisces' FIFTH home run of the inning, a 384 foot blast to left center, trimming the Ministry's lead to a single run. Outfielder Paul Caldwell brought the Seattle crowd to its feet in stunned silence with another blow to left center, but Ministry centerfielder Araoz tracked it down on the warning track to end the game.

So, Seattle prevails 7-6 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. But did the 1,989 feet of Pittsburgh roundtrippers represent a dying team's last stand or was it a harbinger of things to come? While Magic Mona may already know the answer, the rest of us will find out when the series shifts to Pittsburgh for Games Three through Five.


Socratic League

The Socratic League's Game Two was not to be outdone in thrills. Helena struck first in the second inning, loading the bases with nobody out on a single and a couple of walks. However, first baseman Wiley Reynoso's sacrifice fly was followed by an inning-ending double play by catcher John Neiman. The Handbaskets had to be disappointed to only score once in the frame.

Brooklyn struck back in the bottom of the fourth, plating four runs on three hits and two walks. Another run in the fifth gave the Bombers a comfortable 5-1 lead. Helena's Juan Favela trimmed the lead with a solo home run in the sixth to deep right field.

The score remained 5-2 into the eighth when the Handbaskets struck again. Neiman, attempting to make up for the earlier twin killing, led off with a triple down the right field line. Neiman has surprising speed for a catcher, as he had 14 triples during the regular season. He then scored on a balk. Brooklyn starting pitcher Ayorou Hidetada then added injury to insult when he strained a ligament in his elbow while hitting pinch hitter Shane Spies with an errant curveball. The much ballyhooed Bomber bullpen was called upon when Wilson Abellan replaced Hidetada on the mound. However, Abellan promptly threw a wild pitch. He seemed to settle down, sandwiching two outs around a walk. But, Handbasket third baseman Ben Anguita then drove a ball into the left center gap for a two run double, tying the game.

The game stayed tied through the ninth, even though both teams put runners at second base in the ninth. In the top of the tenth, facing reliever Lyman Grimm, Handbasket centerfielder Joseph Watson led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by leftfielder Tory Chavez. Favela was intentionally walked and the strategy succeeded, as new third baseman William Parada (Anguita had been pinch run for in the ninth) grounded into an inning ending double play. Brooklyn also led off the teneth with a single, by third baseman Stephen Hyer. After batting champ Miyatarou Takenao struck out though, pinch runner Ivan Alustiza was thrown out attempting to steal second. With two outs though, catcher Pio Pastrana ended the affair with a solo blast to deep left center off Handbasket reliever Alfred Wickline.

Brooklyn has now squeaked out two close victories at home. But, the series now moves to the frigid plains of Montana. Will the Handbaskets get their revenge, or will the Bombers close out the series on Helena's home turf?


Wrap Up

The website appears to be working again, so I've uploaded the league file and will be uploading the web pages shortly.

The pivotal Games Three will be tomorrow evening, as wild cards Pittsburgh and Helena will attempt to make the division champs work for their dates in the OEL World Series