1989 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #1

Saberhagen is practically unhittable through 7, yielding only 2 hits before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. But the score still stands, 1-0 SCS after 7.Heading into the 9th, Steel City still clings to the 1-0 lead. Todd Burns and Dan Plesac shut the door to preserve the 1-0 victory.

Game #2: Kirk McCaskill (13Z) vs. Joe Magrane (13Z)McCaskill is amazing, taking a no-hitter into the 4th. But he makes a BIG mistake, serving up a gopher ball to Mark Grace to start off the 4th. Sandberg raps a single and advances into scoring position, but is ultimately stranded. 1-0 SCS.In the bottom of the 5th, Greg Briley swats a solo HR to start the inning and advance the score to 2-0 Sluggers.Top of the 6th – Clovis gets back to back doubles from Jeff Hamilton and Dan Gladden to make it 2-1. Magrane works his way out of the jam to keep his lead intact.

Top of 7th – Tony Pena leads off with a double against Magrane. Gary Thurman comes in to pinch run… and he’s PICKED OFF! Ouch.

Bottom of 7th – Ozzie Smith smacks a 1-out single and steals 2nd. Geno Petralli pinch-hits for Joe Magrane… and BOOM! A 2-run HR to push the score to 4-1 Steel City.

In the 8th and 9th, Steel City taps Barry Jones, Jesse Orosco, Jim Corsi, and Dan Plesac to shut the door, and they do not disappoint. Steel City takes the game 4-1 and a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of 5 series.

Mid Series Notes:  Steel City is good to go for games 3 and 4 at Clovis, with Bruce Hurst and Tim Belcher scheduled to pitch.

Game #3:  Bankhead vs. Hurst1st inning and Clovis strikes first with a Jody Reed double and Old Reliable, Eddie Murray, drives him home with a single to left in front of Esasky who couldn’t get enough mustard on the throw to catch Reed at the plate.3rd inning. Tim Raines sees one to his liking and blasts it over the right-center field fence to tie it up at 1 apiece.

6th inning. Carlton Fisk just unloads on one sending it out to left high, deep, and way up into the second deck for a 2-1 Steel City lead.

7th inning. With Dennis Lamp on the mound in relief Mark Grace continues the home run derby with a blast to right that gives Steel City a 3-1 lead.

9th inning with Steel City leading 3-1. Henderson strikes out to lead off the inning. Reed lines a single into right and Barfield’s dribbler is too much to handle cleanly bringing up Murray as the winning run.  Todd Burns trots in from the pen to put out the fire and end the game. Murray drives it deep to left but Esasky gets a bead on it and runs it down. Greenwell comes into the game as a pinch hitter for the pitcher and works the count but finally hits a sharp grounder to Smith who flips to Sandberg for the final out and the series win for Steel City!

Summary:  Steel City flashes the guns and tops Clovis 3-1 for the series win.  Cougars brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth but couldn’t close the gap. Congratulations to Steel City on a well played series