1991 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Preview: American League East Champions the California Quakes take on American League West Champions the Portland Mavericks in a 7 game American League Championship Series Match up.

Game #1: Mike Moore (12-10 4.08) vs. Nolan Ryan (23-4 1.33)
The Quakes jumped all over M. Moore in the bottom of the 1st, scoring 4 runs capped by a 2-run double off the bat of P. O’Neill. Portland responded in the top of the 2nd with 2 runs off 2 doubles by J. Blauser and R. Wilkins. It wouldn’t be enough, however, as the Quakes rely on 4-shutout innings by its bullpen to stave off any further damage.

W – N. Ryan (1-0)
L – M. Moore (0-1)
S – B. Harvey (1)

SB – T. Pendleton
CS – T. Phillips
Final Score: California 6 – Portland 3

Game #2: Steve Avery (12-9 3.10) vs. Pete Harnisch (17-10 4.30)
Both teams score a single run in the 1st inning, but, tied 1-1, the wheels fell of for Portland in the bottom of the 2nd. Not only did California score 7 runs with the help of HRs from J. Canseco and H. Johnson, but Portland would lose W. Clark for 3 days and R. Wilkins for 10 days after they collided in foul territory. With 8-1 score after the 2nd, the Mavericks hoped to escape the game without any further damage—and they did, closing it out 8-4.

W – P. Harnisch (1-0)
L – S. Avery (0-1)

HR – J. Carter, J. Canseco, H. Johnson
SB – H. Johnson
Final Score: California 8 – Portland 4

Game #3: Bret Saberhgaen (17-11 2.57) vs. Greg Swindell (18-6 2.26)
Down 0-2, a W. Clark-less Mavericks team hosts California with the hopes of a much needed win. G. Swindell provided a much needed quality start, going 7.1 innings of 2-run ball while J. Carter (3 for 3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI) and crew make up for the loss of W. Clark by clobbering 5 runs off B. Saberhagen in the first two innings. The Quakes simply couldn’t recover.

W – G. Swindell (1-0)
L – B. Saberhagen (0-1)

HR – P. Molitor
CS – P. Molitor
Final Score: Portland 6 – California 2

Game #4: Nolan Ryan (23-4 1.33) vs. Ken Hill (13-9 3.90)
Once again, the Mavericks strike first with RBI singles off the bats of P. Plantier and J. Carter in the bottom of the 3rd, taking a 2-0 lead. K. Hill, like G. Swindell in Game 3, pitches another quality start, going 7.1 inning of 1-run ball—a solo HR by L. Whitaker in the 6th. Neither team could do any more.

W – K. Hill (1-0)
L – N. Ryan (1-1)
S – A. Pena (1)

HR – L. Whitaker
SB – C. Knoblauch
CS – P. O’Neill
Final Score: Portland 2 – California 1

Game #5: Pete Harnisch (17-10 4.30) vs. Mike Moore (12-10 4.08)
With the series tied at 2-2 after two relatively low-scoring games, the bats wake up on both sides. P. Harnisch and M. Moore collectively give up 10 runs over 7 innings. Tied 6-6 in the 9th, it was California who burst out with 3 runs off a T. Phillips RBI double, a M. Nokes single, and a O. Smith 2-RBI triple. Portland would net another run in the bottom of the 9th, to bring the score to 9-7, but it wouldn’t be enough. The Quakes again take the series lead 3-2. O. Smith and J. Wehner (4 for 5 with 3 RBI) were the stars in this one.

W – B. Harvey (1-0)
L – L. Aquino (0-1)
S – J. Gray (1)

HR – W. Clark
SB – J. Carter, L. Johnson
CS – O. Smith
Final Score: California 9 – Portland 7

Game #6: Steve Avery (12-9 3.10) vs. Bret Saberhgaen (17-11 2.57)
Both S. Avery and B. Saberhagen were coasting early on when, in the top of the 4th, the Mavericks simply clobbered B. Saberhagen for 4 runs off zero extra base hits. California responded back with a 2-run HR off the bat of the hot-hitting J. Canseco. Each team would tack on another run in the 8th inning, bringing the score to 5-3—the 2nd 2-run game in a row. Portland proved successful in tying up the series once again, 3-3.

W – A. Pena (1-0)
L – B. Saberhagen (0-2)
S – L. Aquino (1)

HR – J. Canseco (2)
SB – V. Hayes
Final Score: Portland 5 – California 3

Game #7: Greg Swindell (18-6 2.26) vs. Nolan Ryan (23-4 1.33)
Tied up at 3 apiece, it’s do or die for the Mavericks and the Quakes. Pitching on both sides started off with shut-down stuff, holding the score at 0-0 into the 5th. But the Quakes offense would eventually prove too much for G. Swindell. Between the bottom of the 5th and 6th innings, California exploded for 9 runs, including a monster Grand Slam by Jose Canseco. Thinking the 9-0 deficit would prove to be too much for Porland, and thinking ahead to the World Series, California pulls N. Ryan after 6 innings of perfect baseball. Portland’s P. Munoz would swat a 3-run HR in the top of the 8th to bring the final score to 9-3.

W – N. Ryan (2-1)
L – G. Swindell (1-1)

HR – J. Canseco (GS), P. Munoz
CS – P. Molitor
Final Score: California 9 – Portland 3

Summary: Portland takes the favorites the California Quakes the distance in a seven game set, but ultimately the Quakes shake things up & take the series. The California Quakes are the American League Champions for the 1991 Mid-West Winter League Season & will take on the National League Champions between the Germantown Grays or Manhattan Gas Hornets or Winnipeg Goldeyes, in the 1991 Mid-West Winter League World Series.