2002 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
|
|
|---|
| PREVIEW – The Houghton Penguins (90-72) advances from the Wild Card Series to face the American League West Division leader, California Quakes (116-46). California enters the series with the overall advantage in every key category. The Quakes led the Penguins in defense, with a .983 fielding percentage and 62 unearned runs versus the Penguins .975 fielding percentage and 112 unearned runs; the Quakes pitched to a 2.77 ERA versus the Penguins’ 3.45 ERA; and the Quakes batted .288/.352/.447 and a 5.6 R/G versus the Penguins’ .252/.327/.444 line 5.2 R/G. The Penguins will need a big series from their star, Albert Pujols. |
| GAME #1 – Kirk Rueter 16-10 (3.32) vs. Randy Wolf 19-6 (2.79)
California strikes early with an E. Alfonzo RBI double and a A. Huff 2-RBI double with no outs in the 1st. Up 3-0, California adds 2 more off a N. Garciaparra RBI double with 2 outs in the bottom of the 2nd, which marked the end of K. Rueter’s night. It was all zeros from here on out, giving the Quakes the Game 1 5-0 victory. R. Wolf manages 6.1 inning of shutout ball. California leads 1-0 over Houghton. Final Score: California 5 – Houghton 0 Win: Randy Wolf 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #2 – Ted Lilly 6-4 (3.54) vs. Elmer Dessens 17-4 (2.39)
This time, it was Houghton that got on the board first with a B. Fullmer solo home run in the top of the 1st, and extended it lead with a B. Davis 3-RBI home run in the top of the second. E. Dessens settles down and limits the damage to 4 runs into the 7th inning. K. Garcia narrows Houghton’s lead to 1 run with his own 3-RBI home run in the bottom of the 4th inning, and N. Garciaparra tied it up with an RBI double in the bottom of the 5th. All tied up, both teams turned it over to their bullpens in the 7th inning, and the game would remain tied entering the 10th inning. Houghton takes the lead in the top of the 10th with an unlikely RBI triple, but J. Durocher limited the damage and escaped the inning with the potential insurance run on 3rd. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th and I. Suzuki and N. Garciaparra on 1st and 2nd, T. Salmon pounds a 2-RBI double off Houton closer O. Dotel for the walk-off 6-5 victory. California leads 2-0 over Houton, but gives up home field advantage and will head to Houghton for the next three games. Final Score: California 6 – Houghton 5 (10 Innings) Win: Jason Durocher 1-0 (4.50) |
| GAME #3 – Tomokazu Ohka 20-4 (2.68) vs. Mark Buehrke 16-11 (2.42)
Houghton again jumped to an early lead with a P. Burrell RBI single in the bottom of the 1st inning. The Penguins would extend their lead with a M. Tejada 2-RBI home run in the bottom of the 4th and a B. Fullmer RBI double in the bottom of the 5th. Down 4-0, A. Huff closes Houghton’s lead to 4-2 with a 2-out, 2-RBI double of his own in the top of the 6th. Unfortunately, the Penguins were not done, adding a solo home run off the bat of P. Burrell in the bottom half of the inning. Down 5-2, the Quakes would notch one more off a K. Garcia sacrifice fly in the top of the 8th, but could not muster enough offense for the win. Houghton wins 5-3. California leads the series 2-1. Final Score: Houghton 5 – California 3 Win: Mark Buehrke 1-0 (3.00) |
| GAME #4 – Andy Benes 9-3 (3.01) vs. Kirk Rueter 16-10 (3.32)
For the 3rd straight game, Houghton takes the early lead, first with back-to-back RBI singles by J. Mabry and J. Conine in the bottom of the 2nd, and then with a 2-run home run off the bat of J. Kent in the bottom of the 3rd. Down 4-0 in the 4th, T. Salmon blasts a 3-run home run to close Houghton’s lead in the top of the 4th. But, both offenses were done for the evening, and the Penguins would tie the series 2-2 with the 4-3 Game 4 win. Final Score: Houghton 4 – California 3 Win: Kirk Rueter 1-1 (8.22) |
| GAME #5 – Randy Wolf 19-6 (2.79) vs. Ismael Valdez 12-7 (3.47)
Once again, Houghton jumps to an early lead with a J. Kent RBI double in bottom of the 1st inning. California promptly answers with a K. Garcia solo home run in the top of the 2nd. Tied 1-1 in the 4th inning, the Penguins break the tie with a J. Cruz RBI double in the bottom of the inning, and A. Pujols extends the 2-1 lead with a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the 5th inning. With that, both Houghton and California turn the game over to their bullpens. Down 4-1, the Quakes inch back with a A. Huff solo home run in the top of the 7th inning, and pull ahead in the 8th with a J. Olerud 2-RBI double and an A. Huff RBI single, plating 3 in the frame and giving the Quakes the 5-4 win. California again leads the series, 3-2, and returns home for the final game(s) of the series. Final Score: California 5 – Houghton 4 Win: Jason Durocher 2-0 1.35) |
| GAME #6 – Mark Buehrke 16-11 (2.42) vs. Elmer Dessens 17-4 (2.39)
A brilliant pitchers duel through 7 innings, both teams remain scoreless heading into the bottom of the 8th inning. Back-to-back-to-back singles by E. Alfonzo, N. Garciaparra, and A. Huff plate E. Alfonzo for the only run of the game. M. Buehrle goes 7.1 innings giving up just 4 singles and 1 run, while E. Dessens goes the distance giving up 2 hits and no runs. California wins 1-0 and takes the ALDS in 6. Final Score: California 1 – Houghton 0 Win: Elmer Dessens 1-0 (2.35) |
| SUMMARY – California edged Houghton in every category, but only slightly. California lead the 2002 Division Series with a .996 fielding percentage and only 1 unearned run allowed, while Houghton’s .987 fielding percentage and 2 unearned runs contributed to a blown save in Game 5. California led Houghton in pitching, fielding a 2.89 ERA to Houghton’s 3.59 ERA—both top 3 in the 2002 Division Series. And, less stellar, California batted .246/.300/.374 with 4 home runs and 23 runs scored to Houghton’s .185/.256/.323 with 5 home runs and 18 runs scored. The series was close on most fronts, but decided by Game 1 and Game 6 shutouts. Houghton continues to build on the strongest foundation known to straybaseball—Albert Pujols—and California moves on, sadly without the legend, to the LCS. |