1999 WORLD SERIES

After a failed double play attempt Matt Stairs stepped to the plate for the Gas Hornets with one out in the bottom of the 2nd, “The pitch … he goes the other way … hit toward Sheffield in deep left … he’s after it way back … still going … over Sheffields’s head … it’s gone! … home run for Matt and two runs score – Gas Hornets up 2 – nothing!”

In the top of the third Tony Gwynn doubles home a run to cut the lead in half.

In the bottom of the third a big moment occurred not only in the first game, but would have an impact on the rest of the series. Runners on first and second and one out Jason Kendall gets drilled to load the bases, “Brown brings it home … strike three! … and Kendall is hopping mad … he’s jumping up and down no, wait … he’s not angry … he’s hurt … the pitch hit him that’s his 1st time clobbered in the series … the umpire is calling time … the trainer’s out KendallL’s in pain … it doesn’t look good … that pitch really drilled Jason and they’re taking him out of the game … he’s probably gone for the series. The report from the clubhouse… … Jason Kendall … injured for 14 days” Tino Martinez followed by singling home two runs and Manhattan was up 4-1.

In the top of the 4th the Panthers get right back in the game when Gary Sheffield doubles home two making the score 4-3 in favor of Manhattan. After a walk and pitching change Wade Boggs stepped on with two runners on and nobody out, “The runners take their lead … Halama kicks and delivers … swung on … easy bouncer to Durham could be two … he flips to Jeter at second … over to first … yes!…double play Sheffield moves to third … and the Gas Hornets have a chance to get out of a nasty situation” They do as Aurilia flys out to end the threat.
In the 5th Edgar Martinez ties the game with a two out solo home run.

The Gas Hornets would score the go ahead run in the 8th, “Fox two full strides off first … FOX going with the pitch … lined toward third … base hit Sheffield’s racing to the line … Fox’s digging around third … they’re waving him home he’ll score … Gas Hornets have the lead! … Brogna stops at second … as the throw comes in double and an RBI” Ft. Worth threw out an insurance run attempt by right fielder Doug Glanville as we head to the 9th.

Matt Mantei came on to close out the game for Manhattan. After one out Roberto Kelly singled and Wade Boggs followed with a hit and run single to put runners on the corners, but Mantei bared down getting the 2nd out by striking out Aurilia and then getting Glanville to fly out to seal the win.

Final Score: MGH 5 – FWP 4
Series 1-0 MGH

Win: Donnie Wall 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Kevin Brown 0-1 (6.43) 
Save: Matt Mantei #1

Ft. Worth scored first in the top of the 2nd, “Here’s the pitch … Sheffield jacks one to deep left … Anderson retreats … still going back to the track … to the wall … gone! … home run for Sheffield… and he’s sure taking his time … he’s greeted at the plate. Panthers 2, Gas Hornets 0” Later in the inning Stottlemyre gets little wild and walks in another run.

The Panthers would score twice more in the third and three more times in the 5th highlighted by another Gary Sheffield home run, “Brower comes to the plate … oh, my, my! … that one’s deep to left center Martinez and Anderson both going back … later! … Sheffield really hammered that one!”

Leading 8-0 the Panther’s would coast from there though their bullpen did give up 4 runs making the game a little closer than it actually was.

Final Score: FWP 8 – MGH 4
Series 1-1

Win: Hideo Nomo 1-0 (2.57)
Loss: Todd Stottlemyre 0-1 (22.50)

Ft. Worth opens the scoring when McGriff singles home a run in the first.

In the third Manhattan goes in front behind a Dave Martinez double scoring two.

The Panthers would tied the game in the bottom of the 6th when Rondell White singles home McGriff. They lost their chance to take the lead Gary Sheffield hit into an inning ending double play.

The winning hit again occurred in the 8th for Manhattan, “Ritchie into his motion … delivers … swung on … and it’s pulled hard to right good-bye Mr. Spalding … it’s gone! … a two-run dinger … Matt Stairs will circle the bases!”

Final Score: MGH 4 – FWP 2
Series 2-1 MGH

Win: Jose Canrera 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Todd Ritchie0-1 (4.70)
Save: Matt Mantei #2

In the top of the first the first three batters reached on two singles and a walk and then Tino Martinez drove home two with a single. A few batters later made it 3-0 in favor of the Gas Hornets going to the bottom of the first.

Edgar Martinez got the Panthers right back in the game in the home half of the first inning, “BUSH at second takes a big lead … the pitch … it’s deep … out to Martinez it’s over his head … it’s long gone! … a two-run homer for Martinez”.

The two starters settled down until the 6th. In the top of the 6th when Rico Brogna hit a solo blast to right extending Manhattan’s lead to 4-2.

With two outs in the bottom of the 6th the Panthers got to with one run on single by Boggs and then took the lead off a double by Rich Aurilia, “The runners take their lead … he cranks and fires … high fly ball to deep center Martinez is racing back … it has double written all over it … Martinez corrals the ball Sheffield scores … tie ballgame! … Boggs is around third they’re waving him in here comes the throw home Aurilia’s going for third here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … in standing … Panthers lead! and the play’s going to third … and he’s … safe…ahead of the throw” Gwynn closes the scoring by singling home Aurila as the Panther’s leapfrog into the lead, 6-4.

A Lenny Harris double chases Lima from the game in the 7th. Harris would score on a single by Ray Durham bringing the Gas Hornets to within a run at 6 to 5, but that was as close as they would get as Ivan Rodriguez would throw out Durham trying to steal and Jeter would strike out to end the inning.

Manhattan had runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out in the 8th, but the Panther’s pen stiffened getting an infield fly and groundout to end the inning. More drama in the 9th as Ft. Worth’s closer decked Jeter with two outs and then walked the next hitter but was able to get Tino Martinez to fly out to end the game and even the series at two games apiece.

Final Score: FWP 6 – MGH 5
Series 2-2

Win: Jose Lima 1-0 (7.50)
Loss: Donnie Wall 1-1 (0.00)
Save: Scott Williamson #1

In the bottom of the third Fred McGriff singles home two to give the Panthers an early 2-0 lead. Ft. Worth would extend their lead by a run in the 5th when Homer Bush led off with a triple scoring on a ground out.

Manhattan inches closer with a two out run scoring single in the 7th by Tino Martinez.

Kevin Brown finished off the 7th and quickly put the Gas Hornets down in the 8th turning the game over to closer Scott Williamson in the 9th, who ended the game on a punch out to Dave Martinez. Ft. Worth now 1 game away from their 4th title.

Final Score: FWP 3 – MGH 1
Series 3-2 FWP

Win: Kevin Brown 1-1 (3.00)
Loss: Todd Stottlemyre 0-2 (9.00)
Save: Scott Williamson #2

Panther starter Hideo Nomo flirted with danger over the first 3 innings walking 5 batters and hitting one. Tino Martinez and Rico Brogna both singled home runs in the bottom of the third. Nomo got two strikeouts to get out of the inning sandwiched around that hit batter.

The Panthers started their comeback in the 4th when McGriff hit a blast to right for his first homer of the series.

Aggressive base running put Ft. Worth into the lead in the 5th. After a double by Rich Aurila put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out Boggs scored on a ground out to 2nd and then Aurila scored on a sac fly although speedster Bush was thrown out trying to advance to 2nd base on the throw home. Still the Panther’s had captured the lead at 3-2.

Bush’s speed led to an insurance run on the 8th on a double by Edgar Martinez. McGriff followed with a single, but a strong return throw held Martinez at third. Manhattan was then able to get out of the inning with a double play.

Nomo’s 6th walk with two outs in the 8th and the bullpen took over. After a lead off walk in the 9th Panther closer Williamson entered and promptly walked the first hitter he faced, but the next hitter – Derek Jeter hit into a double play. Garret Anderson stepped up as the final hope for Manhattan, “Looks at third … now he comes home with it … tagged … and caught by Williamson! and that does it. The Panthers have won the World Series!”

Final Score: FWP 4 – MGH 2
Series 4-2 FWP WIN THE WORLD SERIES

Win: Hideo Nomo 2-0 (2.45)
Loss: Sterling Hitchcock0-1 (4.82)
Save: Scott Williamson #3

Plenty of offensive stars for the Panthers. Edgar Martinez and Gary Sheffield both hit two home runs and Ivan Rodriguez hit over .400, but closer Scott Williamson gets the MVP with saves in 3 straight games to close it out. He walked three but did not allow a hit over three and third innings.