MAX - 3 TYC - 1 F
MAX leads best-of-five series 2-0
W - Halladay (2-0) L - Johnson (0-1) S - Rivera (2)
MAX: Halladay: 7 IP, ER, QS (1)
TYC: Johnson: CG (1), 3 ER, QS (1)
MAX: Clark: 3-5, HR (2), RBI (3)
TYC: Knoblauch: 5-5, 3B (1), 3 2B, S (1), R
MAX: Koskie: 2-5, HR (2), RBI (4)
Just as they did in Game 1, the Bombers drew first blood early, with Corey Koskie smacking a solo shot as the second batter of the game. The Tycoons threatened a respond, but inexplicably were unable to capitalize after a leadoff triple by Chuck Knoblauch in the first, perhaps most shamefully in the form of number three hitter Jeremy Giambi striking out on his own card. After an awful regular season, the bad times seem to plague the reigning MVP in the playoffs as well. Both teams had opportunities early on, with neither starter looking particularly dominant. The difference, of course, was capitalizing on these opportunities, which the Bombers simply did better. Smart base running by Delino "Delicious" Deshields and a clutch single from Bengie "Don't Make Fun of My Speed" Molina added another run in the third; a solo shot from first baseman Tony Clark extended the Bomber lead to three in the fifth. The Tycoons finally answered in the sixth, after a Chuck Knoblauch single plus was converted into a score by Edgar Renteria, who is known for hot hitting in the postseason. Both starters however stuck around long enough and pitched well enough to earn quality starts. Tycoon starter Randy Johnson ended up completing the game, pitching decently but not quite in his usually dominant style. After the game, the Ghost of Mao stated that he normally would not have let Johnson finish the game, but with his team trailing, he wanted to make sure his bullpen would be fully rested for a do-or-die Game 3. Although it can be argued that the Bomber's starter did not pitch as well as Johnson, Halladay did only allow one run through seven innings. Definitely a commendable effort, but he was certainly helped out by an incompetent Tycoons offense that stranded runners all evening and excelled at the art of striking out on their own cards. Set up man Mike Stanton was called on in the eighth, where Chuck Knoblauch hit his third double of the evening. He was only a homerun short of hitting for the cycle this evening. But once again, the heart of the lineup disappointed tremendously, with Jeremy Giambi unceremoniously striking out on his own card yet again with runners in scoring position. Enter Sand Man in the ninth, where closer Mariano Rivera went one-two-three to earn his second save of the post-season, advance his team's winning streak to six straight games, and seal the deal on a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 goes back to Maxia, where the Bombers will be one win away from punching their tickets to the Championship Series, which would unarguably seal this team as the greatest turnaround story in league history.
----------------------------------------------------------------
TYC - 0 MAX - 4 F
MAX wins best-of-five series 3-0
W - Franklin (2-0) L - Wood 04 (0-1) S - Rivera (3)
MAX: Franklin: 7 IP, 0 ER, QS (2)
TYC: Wood 04: 6 2/3 IP, 3 ER, QS (1)
MAX: Koskie: 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI (6), 2 R
MAX: Ashburn: 1-3, 3B (3), RBI (3), R
MAX: Matsui: 2-4, 2B, RBI (4)
What was once thought impossible is now officially done. The Maxion Bombers have come back from the worst start to a season in history, losing 9 of their first ten games, all the way to going to the Championship series. Since that 9 game losing streak was snapped, the team has put together an incredible record of 16-3, including two post season sweeps and despite one of the most difficult second half schedules. The miracle took another tremendous step forward last night, in the form of a good old fashioned pitching duel. Former Darkpaw Kerry Wood 04 took the mound for the Tycoons and was his usual reliable self, cruising through the early innings without any real danger. Bomber starter Ryan Franklin also looked good, even though Mao had rearranged his lineup in an attempt to spark the offense. It seemed like the tweaks had effect, with Adrian Beltre moved to the number two spot and Fred McGriff (really the offensive hero of this team) finally moving to the number three spot. At several points the top of the Tycoon lineup did well to get on base and move into scoring position, but there was absolutely no follow through from the middle of the lineup. Jason Giambi, who remained in the number 4 spot, was 0-3 with runners in scoring position. His brother, Jeremy Giambi, was moved from third to sixth, continued his awful slump with only a measly single crowded out by a double play and couple of strikeouts. As for the Bombers, their bats finally came alive in the sixth, with Hideki Matsui driving home Corey Koskie with an RBI double. Kerry Wood got out of the inning without further bloodshed, but the Bombers continued their assault in the seventh, expanding their lead to two with a Richie Ashburn RBI triple. Wood left the game at that point and was replaced by reliever B.J. Ryan. But Ryan would be the victim of the Bombers biggest hit of the night: Corey Koskie brought Richie Ashburn home with a two run jack, his second homerun in as many games. This homerun represented his fifth and sixth RBI's of the playoffs, which is amazing considering that he only had five all during the regular season. The four run lead was more than enough for the Maxion bullpen, with Ugueth Urbina pitching a perfect eighth inning. Closer Mariano Rivera entered in the ninth on short rest and got two quick outs. But only a couple of pitches later, and the Tycoons had loaded the bases. With the tying run at the plate, Rivera caught a second wind and popped up Kenny Lofton to end the Tycoon's season and punch his team's ticket to the Championship series. As for Mao's team, the end of their two year reign as league champions draws near. Normally a very conservative general manager, will Mao finally make some moves to address the rather dreadful offense? To be fair, much of their problems came from the lack of production from the Giambi's. To turn back to the Bomber's, they now wait to see if their opponents will be the Spartans of Bobia or the Tuldaria Z-Slayers. While their first return to the championship series since Season 1 is already record breaking in every way, they will attempt to cement this season as nothing short of legendary with their first franchise championship.
