N.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
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| PREVIEW – This Division Series featured the teams with the 2 best records in the NL. Blarney Drive was clearly the stronger team, finishing 17 games ahead of Long Beach and dominating the season series, winning 10 of the 16 games they played. |
| GAME #1 – Jeff D’Amico 10-9 (3.81) vs. Randy Johnson 25-3 (2.93)
Blarney Drive started strong and dominated this game early. They took a 4-0 lead after 7 with Randy Johnson cruising with a 1 hit shutout. In the top of the 8th Chad Kreuter led off and reached on a Ryan Klesko error. Jeffrey Hammonds followed with a 2 run HR cutting the lead to 4-2. Randy Johnson was pulled, and Bobby Howry finished the inning. In the 9th Matt Herges came in to close out the game and got in trouble right away walking Brad Fullmer and Mitch Melusky. He was pulled for Jeff Tam who was greeted by Carlos Lee with a 2B driving in Brad Fullmer and putting runners at 2B & 3B. Deivi Cruz followed with a SF tying the game and Jeffrey Hammonds singled in Carlos Lee to give Long Beach a 5-4 lead. Dave Veres got the 1st out in the bottom of the 9th and then was lifted for Curt Leskanic who got Billy McMillon looking bef. Final Score: Long Beach 5 – Blarney Drive 4 Win: Dave Veres 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #2 – Rick Ankiel 12-8 (5.07) vs. Mike Hampton 17-8 (3.70)
Long Beach opened the scoring in the 2nd when Deivi Cruz singled in Carlos Lee. The Bandits tied it in the 3rd on a Magglio Ordonez HR. Long Beach took a 4-1 lead in the top of the 4th on a Carlos Lee SF and a Jose Vidro 2 run 1B. In the bottom of the inning, Rick Ankiel couldn’t pitch with the lead giving up a leadoff HR to Dean Palmer and was pulled after giving up 2 more hits. Jose Jimenez came in and finished the inning. The Titans bullpen took over from there pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings. It wasn’t easy as they gave up 5 hits and 2 runs but got the big out when needed as Long Beach wins 5-2 and headed home with a 2-0 series lead. Final Score: Long Beach 5 – Blarney Drive 2 Win: Jose Jimenez 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #3 – David Wells 20-7 (3.15) vs. Glendon Rusch 17-10 (4.24)
Long Beach jumped on David Wells early when Dave Justice hit a 2 run HR in the 1st. They held a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 8th when they scored 4 to open a seemingly comfortable 7-2 lead going into the 9th. However, Curt Leskanic walked Erubiel Durazo & Mike Bordick with 1 out. Brad Fullmer made an error on a Brett Mayne grounder allowing 1 run to score. Jose Jimenez replaced Curt Leskanic and PH Billy McMillon greeted him with a 2B driving in 2 runs to cut the lead to 7-5. Maglio Ordonez grounded out, but Brian Giles singled in Billy McMillon. Jose Mercedes replaced Jose Jimenez and walked Shawn Green and then threw a wild pitch putting the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position. The crowd was silent fearing the worst, but Ryan Klesko grounded out to end the game and give Long Beach the win. Final Score: Long Beach 7 – Blarney Drive 6 Win: Glendon Rusch 1-0 (1.69) |
| GAME #4 – Andy Benes 11-3 (3.76) vs. Mark Gardner 14-5 (4.58)
All of Blarney Drive’s frustrations from the first 3 games came out in this one as they thrashed Long Beach 11-2. They struggled to get a timely hit in the first 3 games but got them when needed in this game. Durazo had 3 hits and Ryan Klesko had a big 3 run HR when the Bandits broke open the game with 6 runs in the 6th. Andy Benes threw 5 strong innings to keep his team alive for a game 5. Final Score: Blarney Drive 11 – Long Beach 2 Win: Andy Benes 1-0 (1.80) |
| GAME #5 – Randy Johnson 25-3 (2.93) vs. Jeff D’Amico 10-9 (3.81)
Long Beach opened the scoring on a 2 run HR by Dave Justice in the 1st. Blarney Drive came right back and tied it in the 2nd on a Mike Lowell 2 run 2B. The Titans took the lead back in the 3rd when Brad Fullmer doubled in Dave Justice. The pitchers took over from there. Jeff D’Amico threw 7 strong innings and Jose Jimenez & Dave Veres closed out the 3-2 win and the series 4-1. Final Score: Long Beach 3 – Blarney Drive 2 Win: Jeff D’Amico 1-0 (3.75) |
| SUMMARY – Though a 4-1 series win, the 4 games Long Beach won could have gone either way. The Titans were able to get hits when need and edged out the Bandits. Congratulations to Patrick on a great season. If we played the series again it could have easily gone the other way. |