1987 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

All right baseball fans, let the games begin …

Game 1 –Frank Viola (20-8  1.81) vs. Jimmy Key (21-5  2.54)

The Gas Hornets will be hosting the opening 1 games of the series and this one pits Frank Viola (20-8, 1.81 era) vs Jimmy Key (21-5, 2.54 era).
The game gets off to some thrills in the top half of the 1st inning when Mattingly reaches on E6 with 2 outs. Chris James follows with a ball pulled down the line past Jacoby. Williams chases after it and Mattingly chugs around the bases – the coach is urging him on to the plate – the throw – OUT. No scoring by Long Beach.  Bottom of the 2nd opens with Viola walking Jacoby. He then goes to 3rd on a Davis double. Runners at 2nd and 3rd – no outs.  Williams follows with a single up the middle scoring 1 and leaves runners on the corners. Infield comes in, and Griffin slaps one through with Davis scoring and Williams moving to 3rd – Key up. He tries bunting Griffin over, but pops up (almost a double play). Yount up, 1st pitch outside and Griffin steals 2nd.  Yount flies to RF – sac fly and Griffin moves to 3rd. Sax singles to make it 4-0.
Top 3rd – after dispatching the first two batters Key walks Guerrero. He moves to 2nd on a WP and Mattingly moves him to 3rd on single to RF that Dawson cuts off quick enough to hold Guerrero (that and maybe 1st inning memories). Chris James then bangs one to the LF gap, but Williams chases it down to end the threat.
Top 5th – With 2 outs, Long Beach finally breaks through. Guerrero knocked a hard one between first and second into RF for a single and then Mattingly launched one on a line that exploded  – 2 run HR (1) and cut the Manhattan lead in half to 4-2.
Top 6th – A lead-off walk to Steinbach turns fruitful. It was the 3rd walk by Key in the game. Trillo followed with an rbi double, 4-3. Buice comes in from the pen. He gets Fletcher on an easy fly, but Law takes him over the fence (1) for a 2 run shot and a 5-4 Long Beach lead.
Bottom of the 7th, Jeff Robinson is brought in to replace Franky V – Viola is hoping for the win and the Titan bullpen is planning to shut down the Gas Hornets.
Top 8th – Steinback opens the inning with a single, he’s having quite a game. In 4 appearances at the plate, he’s walked twice, singled twice, and scored once (so far).  Manhattan counters by bringing in Charles Hudson to replace Buice.  Mumphrey is called in to PH. He is jammed but the ball goes so slowly off the bat that he’s able to scratch out a single. 1st and 2nd, no outs.  Fletcher fouls out – and HR hittin’ Law is pulled for Mulliniks. That brings Righetti into the game. And the Titans counter with McRae at the plate.  A walk, bases loaded. Sam Horn now the pinch-hitter and Burke is now the Manhattan pitcher (in a double switch with Durham for Joyner).  Burke induces a grounder and it’s a DP to end the inning.
Bottom half – Todd Worrell takes the mound.  With 1 out, Brook Jacoby hits one deep to RF that carries well into the seats for a game tying HR (1). Davis singles and Craig Reynolds comes in to PR.  Williams grounds him to 2nd. But Griffin lines to CF to end the inning, all tied after 8. Going to the 9th it’s the top of the order for Long Beach.
9th – 3 down in order for both Long Beach and Manhattan.
10th – 3 down in order for Long Beach. 3 up for Manhattan – but with 2 outs, Jacoby hits another one over the wall (2) to end the game with Manhattan winning 6-5.
WP – Burke (1-0), LP Worrell (0-1)

Game 2 –Juan Berenguer (12-6  3.85) vs. Doyle Alexander (14-5  2.55)

Juan Berenguer (12-6, 3.85 era) starting for Long Beach – Doyle Alexander (14-5, 2.55 era) starting for Manhattan – can we have anything near as exciting as game 1?
Top 1 – with one out Pedro Guerrero says he’s not wasting anytime by going DEEEEP to LF for a solo HR (1) and a quick 1-0 Titan lead.
Bottom of the 4th and Berenguer still pitching a no-no, but with 1 out he walks the bases loaded for C Jody Davis. Davis whiffs, Berenguer is pumped! Mike Felder steps up and grounds one toward short that just skips past Fletcher and into LF, 2 runners scoring, Manhattan up 2-1. Griffin follows and singles to RF – everyone going on 2 outs and another run scores (all three guys who walked), 3-1 Manhattan.
Bottom 5th, Yount leads off with a double, moves to 3rd on a Sax groundout. Berenguer then walks Joyner (5th walk on the day for Juan) bringing up Dawson with runners on the corners, 1 out – Long Beach pulls the IF in. Another walk, this time Jacoby comes up with the bases loaded and 1 out.  Berenguer works the pitch to get the inning ending DP keeping the Titans in the game still down, but just 3-1.
Top 6th – meanwhile Alexander has been cruising along since the 1st inning HR to Guerrero. That is until a one out solo HR by, yup, Guerrero (2), change the complexion of the game, 3-2 Manhattan.
Bottom 6th, a lead-off walk to Davis was finally enough for the Titans manager (7th walk) and he’s pulled for Jeff Robinson.
Bottom 6th – Alexander is lifted for PH, but nothing comes of it, Righetti comes in to start the 7th.
Top 7th Mulliniks opens up with a double, and Buice comes in to pitch. Ashby doubles to score Mulliniks and the game is tied, 3-3. Ashby is bunted to 3rd, 1 out, McRae pinch hits for Robinson.  He lines one to CF – Yount charges in and snares it and hold Ashby at 3rd, Dion James to the plate. And a 6-3 groundout ends the inning, but the game is now tied. Downs comes in to pitch the bottom half.  Buice and Downs work through the 7th and 8th and we go to the 9th all tied up.
Top 9 – Mumphrey, Mulliniks, Ashby the scheduled batters. 2 Ks and line out end the top half.
Bottom 9 – Bedrosian in to pitch to face Griffin, Buice (P), Yount. With 1 out, Paul O’Neill hits a PH single. Reynolds to PR and he steals 2nd when Yount misses the pitch. Yount is given the IW and Gladden moves to 2b to PR for Reynolds. Sax the batter. He flies out to CF, Joyner up and he grounds out to end the inning and again we go to extra innings.
Top 10 – the Gas Hornets are calling on Burke again. With 1 out, the Titans choose to let Bedrosian bat, he grounds out.  D.James flies out.
Bottom 10 – Jacoby walks with 1 out, Davis singles him to 2nd.  Zane Smith trots out to 2b to PR for Jacoby – he’s got speed!! Apparently he shook up Bedrosian because the umpire called a balk moving Smith and Davis to 3rd and 2nd – one out.  Infield in. Oh, the crowd is still growning at the call by the home plate umpire as Williams sits down after the 3rd strike was called – just nipping the corner (gotta see the replay).  Bedrosian is pumped – but he gives Griffin an IW to bring up Burke. Schindel checks his bench and he brings in Mike Stanley to bat for Burke. Ball one …  The pitch … spanked into RF for a single, run scores and again the Gas Hornets prevail in the 10th winning game 2 4-3.
WP – Burke (2-0), LP Bedrosian (0-1)

The LCS moves across the country to Long Beach (once a hometown for Manhattan manager Schindel) – and the Gas Hornets are hoping that past connection can bring the team good fortunes as they take a 2-0 lead on the road.

Game 3: Clancy (13-7  3.88) vs. Rhoden (16-8  2.58)
Dawson gave the Gasmen an early 2-0 lead with a 2 run HR in the 1st.  Guerrero tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a 2 run bomb of his own.  After Felder stole home in the 2nd, Jacoby hit a 2 run HR in the 3rd to stretch the lead to 5-2.  Dawson hit the 4th 2 run dinger of the game in the 4th to up the Manhattan lead to 7-2.  Long Beach wasn’t ready to give up yet.  After scoring a run in the 4th, they tied it in the 5th when McRae walked with the bases loaded loaded and took a 9-7 lead on a Guerrero 2 run 1B.  Long Beach added 3 more in the 6th for a 12-7 lead.  That was the end of the scoring as the Titans won 12-7 to cut the series lead to 2-1.

Game 4: Jimmy Key (21-5  2.54) vs. Frank Viola (20-8  1.81)
In a match up of staff aces, this figured to be a pitchers duel and it was until the 7th when Long Beach scored 3 to increase the lead to 6-0.  They ended up winning 10-1 to even the series.  Viola pitched 8 strong innings to get the win.

Game 5: Doyle Alexander (14-5  2.55) vs. Juan Berenguer (12-6  3.85)
Long Beach took the early lead in the 3rd on a Guerrero 2 run 1B.  They added an unearned run in the 5th and won game 5 3-0.  Berenguer pitched 8 shutout innings to get the win.  Dion James keyed the offense from the lead-off spot, reaching base all 4 times up.

MWWL National League League Championship series returns to Manhattan for the finale. The Gas Hornets find themselves in the hole as they return as thus far the home teams have prevailed through out the series. There is a bit of 1960ism here. The Gas Hornets two wins have been in extra innings and by 1 run each while the might Titans of Long Beach won three games on their home soil by a combined score of 25-8 (ouch).

Game 6: Rhoden (16-8  2.58) vs. Terry Leach (8-5  2.60)

Rick Rhoden on the mound (0-0) for the Titans. He was the starter in game 3, lasted 2.2 innings, gave up 6 hits and 5 runs (and amassed and era of 16.88) and yet did not lose the game.  And neither did his team as they turned 7-2 deficit into a blowout 12-7 win. Countering Rhoden is a surprise starter for the Gas Hornets –  Terry Leach. During the regular season he saw several starts and actually was rather effective (6-3 is his 9 starts and 8-5 overall with a 2.60 era). Its do or die and Manhattan is rolling the dice on him.

Game opens quietly although Manhattan tried to mount a 2 out rally in the 1st after Joyner walks and Dawson singles, but Jacoby grounds out to Mattingly to end the threat. The 2nd inning threat belonged to Long Beach as Mumphrey singles and with 2 outs Ashby hits one to RF. Mumphrey goes for 3rd on the single and makes it and Ashby follows to 2nd. Fletcher followed with a hard smash down the right side – Joyner dives – he’s got it, the flip to Leach and it’s in time for the 3rd out. Gas Hornets get 2 on in the 2nd Leach moves then to 3rd on a sacrifice, but it ends when Yount’s bid for extra bases is squashed when Mumphrey tracks down the flyball for the 3rd out.
4th inning with one out Teufel walks to give the Titans a baserunner. Mumphrey steps up and doubles to RF, Teufel holds at 3rd, 2 on (2nd and 3rd) one out. Mulliniks steps in and pops out, 2 down. Ashby to the plate, the pitch in the dirt, but Ashby chases it for the 3rd strike and the 3rd out. Still 0-0. Bottom half, Williams singles with one out. Griffin moves him to 2nd on a ground out, Leach to the plate. The pitch, he makes contact and it’s a single to LF toward the gap and Williams is off and running and he scores, 1-0 Manhattan. Yount then follows with a single to the gap, but Leach holds at 2nd. Sax lumbers to the plate and crashes a 2 run double to make it 3-0. Joyner then grounds out to end the inning but Manhattan has scored and take a 3 run lead. In the 5h, Jody Davis launches a 2 out solo HR (1) to make it 4-0. Yount repeats the 2 out solo HR (1) in the 6th to make it 5-0 Gas Hornets.
Mumphrey leads off the 7th with his 3rd hit of the game and that’s all for Leach (6.0 ip, 5 hits, 0 runs). Rags comes in and promptly walks Mulliniks to put runners on 1st and 2nd – no outs. But Ashby grounds into a DP and Fletcher flies out to end the threat. Top 8th opens with McRae pinch hitting for Rhoden (7 ip, 10 hits, 5 runs) and he smacks a double off the CF wall (off new pitcher Jerry Reed). Reed is gone, Zane Smith is in. Dion James hits a comebacker that handcuffs Smith, but he gets James at 1st, McRae moves to 3rd, Smith leaves, Hudson comes in to face Guerrero. He hits a high fly to RF, but it’s not deep enough to score McRae.  Mattingly follows and lines a single to RF scoring  McRae, 5-1. Hudson then fans Teufel to end the inning. That’s how it ends, Reardon and Burke get the Titans in order in the 9th, final score Manhattan 5 Long Beach 1.  The series is tied – and game 7 will decide.
WP Leach (1-0), LP Rhoden (0-1)

Game 7: Frank Viola (20-8  1.81) vs. Jimmy Key (21-5  2.54)
Frank Viola (1-0) making his 3rd start in the series, Long Beach is 1-1 in his starts. Manhattan counters with their ace Jimmy Key (0-1) also making his 3rd start and the Gas Hornets are 1-1 in his starts. A fitting end to the series.
1st inning Key is being cautious with Guerrero and walks him. But against Mattingly he gets the slip and fans him. James then grounds out. Bottom half, with 1 out, the bat of Steve Sax comes alive as he hits one to LF, that kept drifting back, back, back – Guerrero jumps, but all he comes down with is empty glove, solo HR (1) and a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Both pitchers are working their stuff with ease as the 4th inning approaches. Key works the top half well, giving up a 2 out walk to Steinbach but getting Trillo to ground out. In the bottom half, Joyner walks (he walks 8 times in the series!) to lead off the inning. Dawson steps in and Viola nails him on the hand – runners at 1st and 2nd, no outs. BUT – Dawson is not staying in the game, he’s going out and looks like he’ll be out for at least 3 days (if Manhattan goes on). The crowd like the rally, but they are subdued as Dawson heads to the dugout. And then, just like that, Jacoby steps to the plate and grounds into a DP, Joyner goes to 3rd. But who comes to the plate – Jody Davis, hitting over .400 for the series – and he bloops one into LF for an rbi single to make it 2-0 Gas Hornets and the crowd breathes new life. Felder takes over in RF for Manhattan.
The 5th and 6th innings saw 3 up 3 down for both sides. In the 7th, Terry Steinbach hits a 1 out double. Trillo then fans and Fletcher hits a lazy fly ball to LF that Williams snares for out number 3. After the 7th inning stretch, the Gas Hornets step up and with 1 out Jody Davis hits a gapper for a double (now hitting .455 for the series). Viola is told to walk Kenny Williams to face Fetticine Alfredo Griffin. The move backfires when Griffin hits his own gapper to right center for a double. Williams rounds 3rd and goes for home, the throw comes in, Griffin goes for 3rd (an insurance move?) – the throw is cut-off, the run scores and Griffin is out at 3rd. But Manhattan has scored 2 more for 4-0 lead through 7.
Top 8th, McRae PHs for Law and works Key for a walk. Mumphrey comes in to PH for Viola and Burke comes in to pitch for Manhattan. Key goes 7 inings, 2 hits, 0 runs and 7 Ks. Burke was the winner of games 1 and 2 and now he’s being called on to hold the 4-0 lead. First pitch to Mumphrey and he grounds into a DP. Good thing for Manhattan because Dion James then hits a double. Guerrero follows with a soft liner to CF, but Yount runs hard and makes the running catch to end the inning.
Top 9 – Mattingly, James and Steinbach to face Burke. Mattingly grounds out 6-3. James, the whiff, 2 outs. Steinback hits a rain bringer pop fly that fittingly Jody Davis calls for, he catches it and the game is over and MANHATTAN wins the NL LCS in 7 games. Final: Manhattan 4 Long Beach 0
WP Key (1-1) LP Viola (1-1)

RECAP – NL LCS MVP – Jody Davis (10 for 22, 2 double, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, .455 – seemed to come through when it was needed most). Others under consideration, Tim Burke, Mattingly, Guerrero (3 HRs 9 rbis).

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