by MARCPELLETIER » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:52 am
Semi-Finals, game 5: A classic. Simply a classic.
Johan Santana took a no-hitter into the 6th inning as the Montreal
Final_poutine defeated the Double Nickels by a score of 1 to 0 at Kauffman
Stadium.
DoubleNickel had a chance to come back in the 9th but they came up
short. Lane started the inning with a walk, and Roberts followed with a double. Even though there was no out, Lane was pushed to the plate...but got retired at the plate.
I would have loved to have the die results of this one.
Santana has no double on his card, so the double must have been on Roberts' card. Roberts has almost 5 chances of double to cf (Pierre, +3), 2.4 chances of double to lf (Figgins, +1), and 3 chances of double to rf (Walker, -4), so it's tough to say who had the assist. Not sure if Lane was held either, but if he wasn't, his chances to be safe were 1-14 plus or minus the adjustment of my fielder (1-17 if it were hit to Pierre, 1-15 to Figgins, 1-10 to Walker), and Burke is only an average catcher (block rating-3). If the safe chances were indeed 1-17, then I guess Hal made the right choice. Especially if you consider that Roberts was sent to third on the same move (safe chance 1-10 had the throw been to third), and considering that DoubleNickel had used Hoffman, Harper, Howry AND Marte in both game 3 and game 4, while my own bullpen was relatively fresh, especially Foulke. So DoubleNickel couldn't afford to have a long overtime.
Anyway, with Roberts on third, and Izturis (bunting A, among the leaders in sacrifice bunts this year) facing Santana, DoubleNickel's Hal let Izturis hit instead of squeeze. Ground out, and no attempts of Roberts--an excellent runner--- to go home. Juan Castro pinch-hit Burroghs and struck out.
Another key moment was this one here:
*** TOP OF INNING 7 ***
0 J.Lane 2 Fly Out b-0
1 B.Roberts 6 Walk b-1
1 1 C.Izturis 3 Force Play 1-o b-1
2 1 S.Burroughs 1 Wild Pitch 1-2
2 2 S.Burroughs 1 HBP b-1
2 12 J.Bagwell 4 Walk 2-3 1-2 b-1
2 123 M.Redmond 5 Strike Out b-0
Two key notes here. The obvious: Redmond is not IRod. I would have not liked to see IRod with bases loaded, that for sure!!! It sure was a lucky break for my team to not face IRod.
A second, more hidden fact: If Burroughs receives a walk instead of a hbp, then Santana would have turned tired after Bagwell's walk. So I would have probably Foulke pitch the 7th, the 8th, and start the 9th, and then, who knows what would have happened. Second lucky break for my team.
As for my lonely run, it involved---again--my lucky star, Figgins. He hit an rbi, 2-out single** in the 2nd.
Staying home to face the Corrivals. Go Poutine!!!