2002 N.L. DIVISION SERIES #1

This one lives up to the billing.
Manhattan plates a quick run in the 1st as Durham coaxes a border-line lead off walk then steals 2nd. Jeter, batting 2nd, delivers a single to center scoring the speedster, then steals 2nd as well. 3-hitter Kendall hits a seed at Klesko but he can’t handle it and Jason beats him to the bag. 1st and 3rd, no outs, and already 1 run in – Randy is visibly not pleased. After abusing the rosin bag a bit Randy gathers himself and hurls a whole-lotta-nasty, striking out the next 3 batters. Wakefield had the knuckler dancing early, snake-charming 5 straight innings of no-hit ball. Cora would break up the no-hitter in the 6th. Randy was able to match Tim and heading to the 7th it was Hornets 1-0. Blarney finally got something going in the bottom of the 7th with a lead off walk from Giles. After moving to 2nd on an Ordonez groundout, Shawn Green unloads a tape measure shot to right field, he loves a trip downtown! (Bandits 2-1). Klesko would pay for that 2-run shot in the 8th as Wakefield drills him in the shoulder. He will leave a big hole at the top of Blarney’s lineup for next two games. Both teams hurlers would toss doughnuts the rest of the way, and while being outhit 5-2 along with committing 2 errors, Bandits take a 1-0 series lead.

Final Score: Blarney Drive 2 – Manhattan 1
Series 1-0 Blarney Drive

Win: Randy Johnson 1-0 (1.13)
Loss: Tim Wakefield 0-1 (2.35)
Save: Dave Weathers #1

No scoring until bottom of the 3rd when the Hornets’ gas line sprung a leak. With 1 out, Cora takes a “Mickey” to the shoulder (popular aiming spot for Hornet hurlers) and is lost for 5 days. Bordick trots out to 1st and promptly steals second in a “Naner-Naner” to Callaway. Who knew the power of 2nd grade taunting; eight balls later and a FC the bases are full of Bandits with 2 out. Durazo stands in looking to do damage but the bat is taken out of his hand by…Callaway and Kendall! Kendall tossed down two fingers in an attempt to not offer Durzao a fastball but it ends up being a bit low, something Kendall usually blocks, but not this time. The ball bounds away, Bordick scores, the ball keeps rolling, Ordonez scores and Green takes third – heckuva ball one (Bandits 2-0). Durazo snakes a hard grounder by Durham plating Green. Lowell follows up with another single. Pratt then takes a Callaway offering to Baltimore! After the dusts settles Blarney leads 6-0. Blum delivers a solo-shot for Manhattan in the 5th. Anderson and Phelps both drive in solo runs in the 8th but the visitors could not make up the 6 run gap. Hornet arms held Blarney scoreless the last 5 innings.

Final Score: Blarney Drive 6 – Manhattan 3
Series 2-0 Blarney Drive

Win: David Wells 1-0 (1.23)
Loss: Mickey Callaway 0-1 (5.40)
Save: Chris Reitsma #1

After a day off, Hornets turn host, and look to turn things around.
Bandits draw first blood with a run in the 1st (Green double scoring Durazo) then add one more in each the 4th (Lowell solo-shot) and 5th (Giles single to left where McCracken and Jeter collide – McCracken lost for 5 days).
Down 3-0 heading to the top of the 5th, Manhattan hands Mr. Spalding to Mike Williams. Williams would face 4 batters, allow 3 hits, and then take a shower. Grant Roberts takes the baton and is in a bind. Todd Hundley summoned to duty for Ramon Hernandez rams one down the line past a diving Martinez scoring Gant and Spivey (Bandits 8-0). Hornets score one in the 9th (Stairs scoring Phelps on a single) to avoid being shutout. Blarney sent 5 to the hill to conjure pitching Chaos.

Final Score: Blarney Drive 8 – Manhattan 1
Series 3-0 Blarney Drive

Win: Ramon Ortiz 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Rick Reed 0-1 (5.40)

Johnson and Morris both were feeling it and held opponents scoreless through 5 complete, with Johnson being perfect. Top of the 6th, Shawn Green whales one to deep right! (Bandits 1-0). Top of the 7th, Klesko hooks a double down the right field line, Bandit 3rd base coach sends sun-dial rated Ramon Hernandez….Wil Codero hurls a strike to Kendall and he is….cut down! Johnson continues his perfection through 7. Bottom of the 8th leading 1-0 there is a commotion in the Blarney dugout. Randy Johnson is forcefully pointing towards the mound with his neck veins standing out tall, is he being pulled!? Bandit manager stands firm in the Eye of the Storm while Alan Embree trots in. Embree faces Phelps to start things off and gives up a quick single. Tino Martinez follows with a hard hit ball to the right of Klesko that Spivey could only knock down, first and second no out. Manhattan fans reach massive decibels in a effort to summon a rally. Wil Cordero gets a free ticket loading the bases. Yikes(!), the wheels are coming off for Blarney. Geoff Blum digs in looking to be a hero, and he is but just now how he wanted to be, as Embree uncorks a fastball off the back of his neck(!) just below the helmet. Blum shakes it off but he’ll feel that tomorrow. Blarney skipper has seen enough and calls on Oliver Perez. He gets Singleton to pop-out but then walks Durham (Hornets 2-1). Derek Jeter sends a ball to straightaway center, Giles gathers it on the run, makes a strong throw with Cordero coming down the line, SAFE! Gamble paid off on a very close play (Hornets 3-1). That would be all the scoring, giving Manhattan life in the series. Blarney outhit Manhattan 8-2 and probably can’t help but feel like karma is grinning over the yank of Johnson.

Final Score: Manhattan 3 – Blarney Drive 1
Series 3-1 Blarney Drive

Win: Byung-Hyun Kim 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Alan Embree 0-1 (-.–)

Manhattan scores a quick run in bottom half of the first off a Durhan single/steal of 2nd and Garret Anderson single. They would add another run in the 3rd with the help of Wells’ toss to first that slips by Klesko (Hornets 2-0). The Bandit miscue is felt by all, is the tide turning! Through 6 full Meadows has Blarney locked up. Top of the 7th, Durazo leads off with a single bringing Lowell to the dish. Down 0-2, Meadow’s hangs a curve that Mike sends to deep to left, Singleton tracking it to the wall, and he watches it sail right over! Tie Game!! Brian would then set the next three batters down. Wells sets down the first two hitters in the 7th and pulled for David Weathers. Weathers faces Durham and Ray wins with a clean single. Jeter then sends one deep to right, Green races back, and he snags it in the webbing! Disaster avoided. Top of the 8th and Meadows is pulled after a Klesko free pass. Nunez takes over with the series on the line. He gets Giles to pop it straight up for Kendall. Magglio Ordonez steps in and the offering from Nunez … fly ball … left center … not too deep … Singleton coming on
reaches out… can’t get it … it bounds away from him … he’s after it. Klesko stops at 3rd while Ordonez slides into 2nd. Klesko down the line some at third … Nunez kicks and deals.. Green loops one to left … toward the gap … Klesko scores easily … Ordonez stops at third. Durazo facing V. Nunez, T 8th, 1 Out, 1st and 3rd, Infield deep … Ordonez with a head fake at third … Nunez cranks it up… that’s a high fly by Durazo … Anderson on the run toward the gap in left … on the run the ball is tailing away from him … and he snares it! … he stayed with that ball beautifully – Ordonez’s tagging – they’re waving Ordonez in … here comes the throw and he’s … safe easily (Bandits 4-2). Buddy Groom is summoned in the 8th, Blarney’s skipper is looking for a 6-out save from his closer, and he delivers! Groom would not allow a single Hornet to reach base.

Final Score: Blarney Drive 4 – Manhattan 2
Blarney Drive  Win the Series 4-2

Win: David Weathers 1-0 (1.29)
Loss: Brian Meadows 0-1 (3.86)
Save: Buddy Groom #1

With strong pitching, opportunistic offense, and resilience, Blarney Drive now moves on, one step closer to a championship.