TYC - 6 TEN - 0
W - Lopez (2-2) L - Thomson (2-2)
TYC: Lopez: CG (1), 2 H, 0 ER, QS (3)
TEN: Thomson: 6 IP, 3 ER, QS (3)
TYC: McGriff: 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI (18)
TYC: Je. Giambi: 1-3, RBI (10)
TYC: Knoblauch: 2-3, BB, 2B, SB (8)
With a win in this game, not only would the Green Sox go up a game on the Tycoons and move into first place of the Pee Wee League, but they would also complete the sweep and gain head to head advantage over the Tycoons. Mao's team threatened early, with lead off man Chuck Knoblauch reaching third base with nobody out in the top of the first. However Tenbil Town starter John Thomson was able to keep him there and get three consecutive outs. On the other side of things, veteran Albie Lopez cruised through the early innings, allowing only two walks through the first six innings. The double play ball was both pitcher's friend in this one, but especially for Thomson who is an overwhelmingly ground ball pitcher. Thomson did stumble in the sixth, where a bottom of the lineup rally brought home three runs for the Tycoons. Thomson's night finished there, but Lopez was the real story in this game, only surrendering his first hit in the sixth. The Tycoons struck again in the eighth inning; with runners on first and second, Fred McGriff crushed a double deep into the right field corner. Catcher Joe Mauer scored easily from second, but third baseman Adrian Beltre attempted to score from first. The throw came in from right field just a bit late, and Beltre was able to slide in ahead of the tag. This represented McGriff's third RBI of the game and his career high eighteenth of the season, good enough to lead the Tycoons and be tied for third in the entire league. In many ways, he's basically carried the Tycoon offense this year with not much production coming from the Giambi brothers. In any case, this was more than enough for Albie Lopez, who completed the game, giving up only his second hit in the bottom of the ninth. This is a huge win for the Tycoons, who make it back to .500 and take command of Division 1. The division is so tight that nearly anything can happen, but so long as the Tycoons avoid a sweep next week against the Cardinals, their chances are looking very good.
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STL - 1 MAX - 3 F
W - Pettitte (3-2) L - Ankiel (1-3) S - Rivera (5)
MAX: Pettitte: 7 IP, 0 ER, QS (4)
STL: Ankiel: 6 IP, 3 ER, QS (2)
MAX: Kent: 2-4, HR (5), 3 RBI (12)
STL: Renteria: 2-4, 2B, RBI (14)
MAX: Ashburn: 2-3, BB, SB (16)
In a big game with big consequences, the Bombers got off to exactly the kind of start that they needed, with Jeff Kent belting his fifth homer of the year in the bottom of the first, bringing in three runs with the swing of a bat. Cardinals starter Rick Ankiel settled down after that, but had a lot of help from his defense, considered one of the best in the league. The same was true for former Cy Young award winner Andy Pettitte, who despite pitching seven innings of shutout baseball, was also very reliant on his defense to turn a number of double plays. The Cardinals loaded the bases no less than three times, but could not squeeze out a single run. Russ Springer took over for Ankiel and pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings against a largely dispirited Bomber offense. The Cardinals bats definitely seemed more alive, with Maxion setup man Mike Stanton also struggling in the eighth and being eventually bailed out by a key double play. In the top of the ninth, the Bombers opted to go with closer Mariano Rivera to pitch tired for a second consecutive game. Rivera also struggled, and the Cardinals finally got on board with an RBI double from Edgar Renteria, who is making a very strong case to make the Division 2 All Star team at this point. With two outs and the tying run in scoring position, Rivera was able to strike out number three hitter Orlando Cepeda to end the game, earn the save, and secure the Bombers incredible fifth straight win. While the Bombers can clinch a playoff spot with a sweep of the Aces next week, another path to the playoffs would be a split with Red Clay and then a Marauder sweep of the Green Sox. Things are more complicated for the Cardinals, whose playoff hopes are by no means over. If they can win their final two games against Mao's Tycoons, they are in. If they split their series, then they will need to rely on an improbable Marauder sweep of the Green Sox in addition to a Aces sweep of the Bombers. If this same scenario plays out, but just with a Bombers sweep of the Aces, it would trigger a tie breaking game between the Cardinals and Aces.
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BOB - 5 LIN - 1 F
W - Burkett (5-0) L - Rueter (1-4) S - Fingers (2)
BOB: Burkett: 6 IP, ER 5 H, QS (5)
LIN: Rueter: 5 1/3 IP, 4 ER
BOB: Martinez: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI (11)
BOB: Lowell: 2-5, 2B, RBI (13)
BOB: Fingers: 3 IP, H, 3 K, S (2)
Facing playoff elimination with a loss, the JELLY QUEEN got off to a rough start with fourth starter Kirk Rueter getting batted around by the potent Spartan offense, with big hits coming in the form of a Mike Lowell RBI single and a bases loaded double from Fredgar Martinez, both of whom have been very hot for the Bobians down the stretch. For the Bobians, starter John Burkett was as solid as he's ever been, navigating through the early innnigs with ease and coming up with huge double play ground balls right when he needed them. He got special help from his defense, with the amazing Luis Aparicio flashing the leather and making a play in the first inning that kept Lindsyan Shannon Stewart at third. Rueter improved after his bad first inning, and managed to skate by until the fifth, where he surrendered a solo home run to CJ "The Legend Yet Grows" Charles Johnson, his second of the year. Rueter was yanked in the sixth inning after enmeshing himself in a jam which was skillfully defused by the Lindsyan ace reliever Steve Karsay. It was in the bottom half where Burkett made his only big error of the evening, when JELLY firstbaseman Doug Mientkiewicz was able to loop an RBI double into the right field corner. Burkett kept the bleeding to one run however and secured an incredible 20th straight quality start for the Bobians. If Burkett was good, then Rollie Fingers was excellent, who took over for Burkett and closed out the game by pitching three dominant innings. For the Lindsyans, Steve Karsay was excellent putting in three scoreless innings. But his bullpen compadre Robb Nen continued to struggle, surrendering a run to the Bobians in the top of the ninth, thanks to a Luis Aparicio special in which he does an impressive Road Runner impersonation and turns a single into a triple. With this win, the Bobians not only secure the division and a first round playoff bye, they also secure the best regular season record in league history. Although the pressure is considerably lessened, their next series against the Z-Slayers will be watched very closely, as a potential preview of the Division 1 semifinal series. As for the Lindsyans, so ends their playoff hopes for this year. They will play a meaningless series to finish the year against the Queynos Warriors next.
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