by ArrylT » Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:54 am
[b:c4dfc4ffbe]AT Press: [i:c4dfc4ffbe]'The Naturals' Season VIII World Series Games V & VI[/i:c4dfc4ffbe][/b:c4dfc4ffbe]
The Monacos, down 3-1, would need a miracle to help them win the Season VIII Championship, and in Game V they would get one!
The Specials offense did their part to keep the Monacos from winning Game V, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings. However, Vance, so effective in Game I, was quickly solved by the Monacos in the bottom of the 3rd, when Stargell demolished the 2nd pitch he saw, and put the Monacos within 1, with his 3 run HR.
The Specials would tally 2 runs in the middle of the game, to give them a 6-3 lead, and expectations that they would soon be drinking bubbly. However Vance had been pulled after 5 IP, and the Specials were relying on their unpredictable bullpen. McEnaney would pitch 3 shutout innings, but then came the 9th.
Todd Worrell relieved McEnaney, who was probably running on fumes, and quickly struck out Frank White on 3 pitches. Nonetheless the Monacos had not quite given up yet, and their manager put in a pinch hitter for Wilks. It was the right move, and Bob Thurmam smacked a single. The Specials replaced Worell with Martinez. Martinez made Speaker hit a ground ball, but it was misplayed by the normally solid Eddie Collins, and runners were on 1st & 2nd for Hank Aaron. Many pitchers would have intentionally walked Aaron, but with the super slugging Stargell up next, Martinez had to get Aaron out.
Alas he was unable to do so, and Aaron smashed a two run double to make the score 6-5. Martinez walked Stargell, the prudent thing to do, but Mattingly sliced a single to load the bases for Ernie Banks. Last time the game was on the line for Banks, he struck out. Not this time! Banks fouled off pitch after pitch after pitch until he wore out Martinez and saw something he really liked - and BAM another double, scoring 2 runners and ending the game!
A Miracle had happened! The Monacos had come back to win 7-6! They had won before on the road, so expectations were looking up ...
[url=http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg3/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=5202&g_id=987]Game V - Monacos 7 Specials 6[/url]
Unfortunately for the Monacos, they had to start B. Johnson against C. Hubbell ... not exactly an ideal pitching matchup. At first, it looked like it would not matter as the Monacos plated 2 runs at the top of the 1st.
The Specials quickly rallied though, thanks to a 2 run blast from Rickey Henderson. Johnson then allowed another run in the 3rd, 2 more in the 4th, and a 6th run in the 5th inning. He was finally replaced in the starting of the 6th, but the damage had been done. The Specials had a 6-5 lead, and would make it 7-5 after 7 innings.
That would be all they needed, as the Monacos failed to score after the 6th, and gave Hubbell the win, despite an underwhelming outing, and Martinez the save. Hollywood had tried their best, but could not defeat the Specials on this day.
[url=http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg3/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=5202&g_id=988]Game VI - Specials 7 Monacos 5[/url]