1998 A.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

1st- Daal gets in jam right off the bat. Shannon Stewart leads the game with a walk followed by a Tony Womack base hit to put runners on the corners and nobody out. Carlos Delgado with the big bat strikes out looking. Tony Clark goes down swinging and Jeff Cirllo follows it up swinging away for strike 3. 0-0

2nd- Scott Rolen on 2nd with 2 outs for the Bootleggers and Brad Ausmas up trying to break the 0-0 tie. Ausmas with a line drive base hit off Clemens. Goodwin picks it up down the foul line and fires home. Rolen heads around 3rd and gets thrown out at the plate on a close call for out number 3. Both pitchers faced tough tasks early and both came out unscaled. 0-0

6th- Still 0-0 tie. With all the offense (Especially on Corktown) we are still looking to break that tie. Ray Lankford leads off the bottom with a walk from Clemens. Alex Rodriguez, up next, ropes a base hit into the corner scoring Lankford from first. Corktown takes the first lead of the series 1-0. With Andres Galarraga up and Rodriguez on 2nd (1 out) Clemens fires one past the catcher and A-Rod moved up to 3rd. Galarraga hits a slow ground ball that scores A-Rod and Corktown goes up 2-0 after 6.

8th- Top of the 8th and the Demolition trailing 2-0, Tom Goodwin gets a 1 out clean single. Omar Daal is now pulled from the game giving the Bootleggers 7 strong shutout innings, yet the game is still in doubt. Ugueth Urbina, the Bootlegger closer comes in early to take care of business. With Shannon Stewart batting, Goodwin takes off for 2nd. The Bootleggers sniff it out and Urbina throws a pitchout. Stewart, however, chases and actually swings way out of the zone and makes contact and the ball trickles through the open gap in the infield! Now it’s runners on the corners and 1 out for Tony Womack trailing 0-2. Womack hits one directly to mid center field for Ray Lankford, who makes the out, but Stewart scores successfuly from 3rd. 2-1 Corktown. Delgado grounds out to end the inning.

9th – Corktown leads 2-1 Urbina stays in for the 5 out save. Chicago goes 1-2-3 to end the game.

Final Score: Corktown 2 – Chicago 1
Series 1-0 (CRK)

Win: Omar Daal 1-0 (1.23)
Loss: Roger Clemens 0-1 (3.00)
Save: Ugueth Urbina #1

The battle of the Martinez never gets off the ground as Ramon only throws 1 pitch. (STEWART facing R. MARTINEZ, T 1st, No Outs, Bases Empty, Tied 0-0
He lets it go … up and away … ball one … no, wait … MARTINEZ is walking off the mound
here comes the trainer … they’re talking it over … MARTINEZ stretches his arm
throws a pitch … MARTINEZ is shaking his head sadly the trainer’s escorting him to the clubhouse) Steve Parris enters the game for Corktown after 1 pitch.

2nd- (0-0). Carlos Delgado smacks a lead off double for Chicago to start things off. Tony Clark advances the runner with a infield ground ball out. Jeff Cirillo lines one over the infielders for a RBI base hit giving the Demolition their first lead of the series. 1-0. However, Scott Rolan gets the run back for the Bootleggers with a 2 out solo Home Run off Pedro. 1-1

3rd- With Ausmas on 2nd A-Rod hits an RBI bloop single for Corktown giving them a 2-1 lead. Albert Belle up next gets the 2nd home run off Pedro Martinez early in this one.. Corktown would actually load the bases putting Perdo in another bind, but ends up striking out Brian Jordan. Corktown 4-1 after 3.

4th- For the 2nd straight inning Martinez loads the bases with Bootlegger runners and gets out of the jam. 4-1 Corktown after 4.

6th- Steve Parris goes 5 innings “In Relief” for Corktown and exits the game for Jose Panuagua who enters with a runners at 1st and 2nd and nobody out for Chicago. With Lopez up Corrado calls for the double steal and it pays off as they now have 2 runners in scoring position down 1-4 and nobody down. Lopez hits a ground ball that gets the SS A-rod off his feet. Rodriguez does field it successfuly, but his only play is at 1st base. Corktown 4-2 with 1 out. Carlos Delago in another big spot for the Demolition is at the plate. Delgado gets another run on a sac fly. Corktown 4-3 and 2 down. Tony Clark will ground out for the 3rd out, but the visitors have made this one a game.

7th- With one out Corktown goes to their best lefty RP to face Bobby Higginson. Higgy, jacks one out of the park to tie the game and stun the crowd! Enter Troy Percival for Corktown who shuts down the next 2 batters. Tie game 4-4.

Bot 7- Galarraga leads off with a double. The crowd gets back into it. Giambi walks and Scott Rolen is put on first intentionally to set up the Chicago double play. With 1 out it’s Brian Jordan who lines out. Brad Ausmas lines the next one out to Bobby Higginson and this game remains tied. 4-4

9th- Tony Clark gets a 1 out base hit off Dennis Cook and becomes the go ahead runner at 1st for the Demolition. Still facing Cook, Jeff Cirillo gets a base hit to right field, but Clark holds at 2nd. Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Chicago’s game hero so far, Bobby Higgnison is up. Goodwin who is now pinch running for Clark at 2nd gets picked off! Higginson gets plunked and now we have the leading run back in scoring position and 2 out for Chicago. Jesse Levis in to pinch hit for Chicago lines out for the final out. No damage. 4-4 after 9.

10th- Top of the 10th Chicago had a runner on 2nd with 2 out but could not get them in. With 1 out in the bottom of the 10th Brian Jordan, facing Billy Wagner smacks a triple down the RF line. 1 out and the winning run now 90 feet from home the crowd is electric. Brad Ausmas hits one to left field, playable but not too deep, Stewart catches it and Jordan tags “they’re waving him home … here comes the throw … and he’s … safe! … he scores!”.

Final Score: Corktown 5 – Chicago 4 (10 Innings)
Series 2-0 (CRK)

Win: Ugueth Urbina 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Billy Wagner 0-1 (9.00)

3rd- The Bootleggers #9 hitter Dennis Hocking sends one into the seats with nobody on to get the scoring going in game 3. Corktown 1-0

B 3rd- Eric Davis at the plate for Chicago with runners on 1st and 2nd. The Demolition stay aggressive on the bases as Edgar Renteria leads the charge on another double steal. Davis was able to clear. the runners with a 2 RBI double and still nobody out for Chicago. 2-1 Tony Womack pops out and Carlos Delgado watches strike 3 cross the plate for the first 2 outs of the inning. Tony Clark ripped one into center for a base hit. Davis is sent home from 2nd, and with 2 outs already a big lead scores. 3-1 Chicago. Next batter Jeff Cirillo walks and Corktown is forced to chase another starter. They have now used 4 starters through 2.3 games. Bobby Higginson strikes out to end the inning but the home team has life. 3-1 Chicago after 3.

4th- With a lot of game left to play, Corktown decides to use the last starting pitcher on the roster in Dwight Gooden. Jump ahead to Tom Goodwin on first from a base hit and 2 outs. Goodwin swipes 2nd base for his 2nd steal of the series. Ausmas has been tested a ton early in this series and the Demolition have been winning this battle. Eric Davis grounds one just past Alex Rodriguez and the 2 out RBI party continues for Chicago who extends their lead to 4-1.

7th- The score still 4-1 Corktown’s Brian Jordan gets a solo HR to cut the lead in half. 4-2 Chicago.

8th- With 2 down and the home crowd on their feet Albert Belle hits a stand up double for Corktown and now the tying runner is at the plate. Jason Giambi, facing Arthur Rhodes. “The pitch … GIAMBI goes out and gets it … long ball … down the left field line … curving..curving … is it or isn’t it? … the ump signals … home run! an opposite field two-run blow
BOOTLEGGERS 4, DEMOLITION 4″

10th No drama in the 8th or 9th, so for the 2nd time in 3 games these 2 teams need extras to decide a pivotal game 3. Both teams see a base runner in the 10th but no damage. So we head to the 11th. Scott. Rolen leads off for Corktown facing Stan Belinda. “The pitch … there’s a fly ball to left … DAVIS drifts back … still backpeddling..hey, this ball may carry … at the fence … DAVIS jumps for it … does he have it? … no! a home run for ROLEN!” Brad Ausmas will later single and stay stranded for the Bootleggers who are now just 3 outs from taking a commanding 3-0 lead over Chicago. Corktown 5-4

Bot 11- Jose Paniagua on the bump for the Bootleggers. 1st batter Jeff Cirillo flies out to center field. 1 out. Bobby Higginson grounds one to Rolen at 3rd for out #2. Charles Johnson strikes out for out to end the game. Corktown steals one in Chicago and these fans are left devastated.

All 3 games decided by 1 run and 2 of them went into extras

Final Score: Corktown 5 – Chicago 4 (11 Innings)
Series 3-0 (CRK)

Win: Jose Paniagua 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Stan Belinda 0-1 (3.00)

Despite trailing in the series 0-3, Chicago still gets to use Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez for the next 2 games (if necessary).

1st- Ray Lankford walks to start the game. Albert Belle advances Lankford to 2nd with a 1 out base hit. Andres Galarraga hits a gapper that scores Lankford easily, but Albert Belle tries to score from 1st and is gunned down at the plate for the 2nd out. Corktown 1-0. Clemens punches out Scott Rolen for the 3rd out, but the Bootleggers strike first again.

B 1st- Eric Davis and Tony Womack lead off the inning with back-back singles. Carlos Delgado who hits a ground ball to 1st. Galarraga takes the out at 2nd but doesn’t have the time for the double play. Down 0-1 with runners at the corners and 1 out it’s Tony Clark for the Demolition. Clark gets a sharp line drive base hit that scores 1. 1-1. Higginson hits a fly ball to left field that is caught out by Jordan, the runners have to hold. Jeff Cirillo grounds out for the 3rd out and the teams are tied after 1. 1-1

5th- We have to go to the 5th for the next score. It is Carlos Delgado with an RBI base hit that scores Tony Womack and Chicago has it’s first lead of the game 2-1.

6th- However, the pesky visitors get one right back off Clemens from an RBI double by Jason Giambi to score Scott Rolen. 2-2. Brian Jordan up next gets a base hit of his own and Giambi tries to score “here’s the play at the plate … and GIAMBI’s … out!…just missed getting in..oh, those, DEMOLITION … they slay the go-ahead run..the coach was waving him on with two outs … GIAMBI just doesn’t have the wheels”

B6- With nobody out and 1 on Jeff Cirillo gives the fans something to cheer about as he sends one out for a 2 run bomb. 4-2 Chicago.

7th- Tony Clark will add to the Demolition lead with a 2 run blast of his own and Chicago has their biggest lead of the series 6-2. That would be enough, as Chicago has the biggest blowout of the series, and despite trailing 1-3 in the series, now has outscored the Bootleggers overall in 4 games.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Corktown 2
Series 3-1 (CRK)

Win: Roger Clemens 1-1 (2.84)
Loss: Omar Daal 1-1 (2.92)

6th- That’s right. Steve Parris has gone toe to toe with Pedro Martinez and you’d think that gives Corktown a huge advantage with the better hitters and solid pen. Alex Rodriguez, who had been quiet the past couple games gets the visitors on the board with a solo shot. 1-0 Corktown.

7th- down 0-1 Chicago’s plate Tony Clark is leading off the bottom facing Steve Parris. Clark runs out an infield hit on a bang-bang play at 1st. Jose Paniagua comes in for the Bootleggers. Jeff Cirillo goes down swinging for out #1. Bobby Higginson smacks a ground ball base hit and clark will hold at 2nd. Stray Corrado immediately gets a runner for Clark who represents the tying run at 2nd base. Its Jason McDonald. Paniagua throws one into the dirt and the runners move up 90 feet. Corktown is now playing with fire as Chicago has 2 runners in scoring position and 1 out. C. JOHNSON facing J. PANIAGUA, B 7th, 1 Out, 2nd and 3rd, Behind 0-1 “Infield deep … the runners take their lead … PANIAGUA cranks it up … swung on…it’s blooped to short … RODRIGUEZ leaps … and he’s got it! … flips to LEWIS at second..oh, double play … and they get out of the inning”. Lets store that in the “things we don’t see very often” category, and if it hasn’t felt like it already, it seems like Corktown was just destined to win this series. Corktown 1-0 after 7

Bottom 9- Corktown leads 1-0. With the series on the line Tony Womack leads off for Chicago down 0-1. Womack flies out for out #1. Urbina comes in for Corktown to face the big boys. Carlos Delgado up next. checked swing … he went around … two down! Eric Davis is the last hope for the home team.The pitch comes in … hot smash to HOCKING … takes it on one hop … over to GALARRAGA at first…and that’s the final out of the game!” The Chicago faithful stand and watch silently as the celebration begins on their home field.

Final Score: Corktown 1 – Chicago 0
Series 4-1 (CRK)

Win: Steve Parris 1-0 (2.45)
Loss: Pedro Martinez 0-1 (3.65)
Save: Ugueth Urbina #2