2003 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
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| PREVIEW – An absolute heavyweight clash is set for this best-of-three Wild Card Series as the AL East Champion Corktown Bootleggers take on the AL West Champion Fort Worth Panthers for this best of 7.
The Bootleggers feature an intimidating lineup anchored by prime Alex Rodriguez, Scott Rolen, and the patient bat of Jason Giambi. Corktown’s pitching staff leans on reliable, workhorse arms like Steve Trachsel, Miguel Batista, and Freddy Garcia to neutralize opposing hitters. However, the Panthers bring an equally explosive counterpunch. Fort Worth’s offense is led by the legendary Gary Sheffield and Edgar Martinez, backed by the elite catching of Ivan Rodriguez. On the mound, the Panthers showcase a formidable rotation spearheaded by Kevin Brown, a young C.C. Sabathia, and Hideo Nomo. With such evenly matched star power on both sides, this short series promises to be a razor-thin, thrilling battle. |
| GAME #1 – Miguel Batista 17-7 (3.38) vs. Kevin Brown 22-3 (1.82)
The Panthers jumped on the board early in the bottom of the first inning when Gary Sheffield drove a two-out RBI single up the middle. Carl Crawford aggressively sped around third and dashed home, sliding in standing up to give Fort Worth a 1–0 lead. The Bootleggers quickly answered back in the top of the second. After Scott Rolen walked and moved to second on a groundout, Eric Young drove him home with a sharp RBI single down the left-field line. The game’s decisive blow came in the top of the fourth. Jason Giambi drew a leadoff walk, setting the stage for Rolen. Rolen crushed a deep two-run home run to right-center field, putting the Bootleggers ahead 3–1. Fort Worth kept things close in the bottom of the sixth when Warren Morris launched a solo home run to narrow the deficit to 3–2. However, Corktown’s bullpen locked things down. Octavio Dotel and Damaso Marte combined to pitch three scoreless innings of relief. Marte easily retired the final batters in the ninth to take home field away from FTW. Final Score: Corktown 3 – Fort Worth 2 Win: Miguel Batista 1-0 (3.00) |
| GAME #2 – Steve Trachsel 19-11 (3.14) vs. Mark Redman 15-6 (3.63)
The Panthers set the tone early with an explosive four-run explosion in the bottom of the first inning. Following two-out singles by Edgar Martinez and Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez crushed a towering three-run home run over the left-field wall off Corktown starter Steve Trachsel. Immediately following, Tike Redman followed with a solo shot down the line, giving Fort Worth a commanding 4–0 lead before the opening frame was over. Fort Worth tacked on an extra run in the bottom of the fifth. After loading the bases, Ivan Rodriguez grounded into a double play that allowed Martinez to cross the plate, extending the lead to 5–0. The Bootleggers finally broke through in the top of the seventh inning when Jose Cruz launched a solo home run down the right-field line. However, Corktown’s offense struggled to build any real momentum against Fort Worth starter Mark Redman, who turned in a stellar performance. Redman threw seven spectacular innings, allowing just one run on five hits while racking up seven strikeouts to earn the victory. While the contest was free of any dramatic defensive putouts at home plate, Fort Worth’s bullpen quickly shut down any late-game hopes. Matt Mantei, Brian Shouse, and Luis Ayala combined to close out the final two frames, with Ayala striking out Darin Erstad in the ninth to seal the W. Final Score: Fort Worth 5 – Corktown 1 Win: Mark Redman 1-0 (1.29) |
| GAME #3 – Hideo Nomo 23-4 (2.24) vs. Pat Hentgen 16-10 (3.35)
As the championship series shifted to Corktown for the next three games, a pitchers’ duel was in the making. Both starting pitchers were nearly untouchable. Corktown’s Pat Hentgen tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits. On the other side, Fort Worth’s Hideo Nomo was brilliant, racking up nine strikeouts over eight shutout innings while surrendering only three hits. The game remained deadlocked at 0–0 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Bootleggers quickly put the pressure on when Jason Giambi drew a leadoff walk, and Scott Rolen was hit by a pitch. After a couple of quick outs by relief pitcher Joe Borowski, Henry Mateo stepped up with two runners on base. Mateo ripped a hard shot to straightaway center field. Carl Crawford raced in and dived, but the ball bounced off his chest. Pinch-runner Darin Erstad capitalized on the misplay, rounding third base with aggressive speed as the third-base coach waved him in. In the defining play of the game, Fort Worth fired the throw home, but Erstad slid in standing up just ahead of the tag to secure the dramatic walk-off victory for Corktown. Final Score: Corktown 1 – Fort Worth 0 Win: Damaso Marte 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #4 – C.C. Sabathia 22-6 (3.35) vs. Jon Garland 13-10 (4.42)
The Bootleggers struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning. After Scott Rolen singled, stole second, and moved to third, Alex Rodriguez brought him home with a sacrifice fly. Fort Worth wasted no time responding, as Gary Sheffield launched a solo home run off Corktown starter Jon Garland in the top of the 2nd to tie it up. The Panthers took the lead in the 4th inning when Ivan Rodriguez singled, and Jose Guillen drove him in with an RBI double. Shea Hillenbrand followed closely with an RBI triple to push the Panthers ahead 3–1. Corktown began clawing back in the bottom of the frame when Jason Giambi crushed a solo home run off Fort Worth starter C.C. Sabathia, cutting the deficit to one. The game’s most critical defensive play occurred in the bottom of the 5th inning. With Corktown’s Eric Young on second base after a double, Yorvit Torrealba stepped up as a pinch hitter and ripped a single up the middle. Young rounded third and sprinted home to score the tying run. In a major turning point, Torrealba aggressively tried to stretch his single into a double on the throw home. However, Fort Worth first baseman B.J. Surhoff smartly cut off the ball and fired a laser to second base, where Torrealba was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. The defensive gem kept the score locked at 3–3 and shifted the momentum into a fierce bullpen battle. Both teams traded zeroes through the next four innings, pushing the game into extra frames. In the bottom of the 10th, with one out and the bases empty, Doug Glanville became the ultimate hero, crushing a walk-off solo home run to deep left field off Matt Herges to secure the dramatic victory. Final Score: Corktown 4 – Fort Worth 3 (10 Innings) Win: Octavio Dotel 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #5 – Kevin Brown 22-3 (1.82) vs. Miguel Batista 17-7 (3.38)
Both starting pitchers are dictating the game early, matching each other frame for frame. Fort Worth’s Kevin Brown and Corktown’s Miguel Batista locked horns in a tense duel, keeping the game scoreless through the first two innings. The Panthers finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the 3rd when Edgar Martinez crushed a solo home run deep to left field. Batista would not allow another blemish, ultimately turning in an incredible eight-inning performance, scattering three hits and striking out six. Corktown rewarded his effort in the bottom of the 5th. After Brad Ausmus lined a one-out double and Alex Rodriguez singled, John Olerud laced an RBI single to right field to drive in Ausmus and tie the game at 1–1. Dramas at the Plate Shape the Final Frames In the top of the 8th, Fort Worth appeared to recapture the lead when Shea Hillenbrand hit a two-out single to center. Jose Guillen sprinted home from second base and crossed the plate ahead of the throw. However, Corktown smartly appealed the play at third base. The umpires ruled that Guillen had missed the bag entirely, erasing the go-ahead run and retiring the side in stunning fashion. Just an absolute gut punch to the Panthers faithful! Capitalizing on the massive shift in momentum, the Bootleggers mounted their decisive rally in the bottom of the frame. John Olerud and Jose Cruz Jr. reached safely before Jason Giambi ripped an RBI single to left-center field. Olerud narrowly beat the tag at the plate to slide in safely, giving Corktown a 2–1 lead. Moments later, pinch-hitter Doug Glanville blooped an RBI single to right field to score Cruz. Giambi aggressively attempted to score from third on the play, but the Panthers’ defense executed a perfect relay to throw Giambi out at the plate, keeping the score 3–1. Southpaw Damaso Marte entered in the top of the 9th and shut the door completely, retiring the Panthers in order to seal the game and the series. Final Score: Corktown 3 – Fort Worth 1 Win: Miguel Batista 2-0 (1.93) |
| SUMMARY – Corktown’s defense was solid as expected, and they stunned the AL West Champion Fort Worth Panthers 4 games to 1. Winning all 3 games at home.
The Corktown/Chicago rivalry gets yet another page in the record book as they will battle once again for a trip to the 2003 World Series. |