2001 WORLD SERIES

In the 1st, Pedro uncharacteristically walked John Olerud and Lance Berkman to start the inning. The Mullets went with the early pinch runner for Olerud, but Pedro rebounded and got three quick popups. In the top of the 4th, Roberto Alomar singled and stole second. Schilling struck out Shannon Sterwart and then intentionally walked Carlos Delgado. The move paid off and Phil Nevin grounded into a double play. Clark walked to start the top of the 5th and Renteria singled to put two on with two outs. The Mullets pulled Schilling and sent Charlton to face Justice. The Demolition countered with pinch hitter Jose Canseco, but he grounded out. Charlton hit Delgado in the 6th with two outs and Nevin took Polite deep to centerfield, but Hunter saved a homerun. Johnson doubled off Sasaki with two outs in the top of the 7th, but he was left stranded when Renteria lined to right. In the bottom of the 8th, Pedro (still thowing a no-hitter) walked Bell to start the inning. Bell stole second but Pedro got Hunter, Ruben Sierra and A Gonzalez all on weak contact. In the top of the 9th, Mesa retired Delgado, but then surrendered a single to Nevin. Hocking came on to pinch-run and Prince replaced Piazza for defense. It didn’t matter as Hocking still stole second. The Mullets turned to rookie Josh Becket and he got Clark and Higginson to pop up. Pedro worked the bottom of the 9th and Becket got three quick outs in the top of the 10th. Chicago finally pulled Pedro and sent Zimmerman to start the bottom of the 10th. Pedro had only faced 30 batters, but this was just game one. Zimmer walked the first batter Juan Gonzalez and Gerald Williams came on to run. Zimmerman got Rios to pop up for the first out. Mullets put the hit and run in motion with the next hitter. Bell only managed to hit a squibber in front of the plate, but Zimmerman threw it away trying to make the play at first base. Williams never stopped running and easily scored to walk it off for the Mullets in the bottom of the 10th. No hits for the Mullets, but one big win.

Final Score: Flora-Bama 1 – Chicago 0 (10 Innings)
Series 1-0 Flora-Bama

Win: Josh Becket 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Jeff Zuimerman 0-1 (0.00)

Jeff Lieffer took Kile deep in the 2nd to give Flora-Bama the early lead. In the top of the 4th, Stewart singled and Phil Nevin crushed a Randy Johnson fastball to give Chicago their first lead of the series. 2-1. The Mullets tied in the bottom of the 5th, on a Hunter single, Kennedy sac bunt and a Nefi Perez bloop hit to center. Mesa replaced a tired Johnson in the top of the 6th. Alomar walked and moved to second on a Stewart ground out. The Mullets walked Delgado hoping for Nevin to hit into the double play. Nevin had other ideas and crushed a three-run jack to make it 5-2 Chicago. In the bottom of the 6th, Kile gave up three straight hits to J. Gonzalez, Rios, and Bell. Aurthur Rhodes came on to preserve the 5-3 lead. Hunter doubled to make it 5-4 and put runners on 3rd and 2nd. Ruben Sierra pinch hit for Kennedy and drove in both runs with a single. 6-5 Mullets. Sierra took 2nd on the play at home. Graves replaced Rhodes and Gipson ran for Sierra. Graves got Perez and Segui to ground out but Gipson took a base on both plays to make it 7-5. In the top of the 8th, Charlton recorded the first out and then allowed a single to Alomar. Zambrano replaced Charlton and got Sterwart. Politte entered and got Delgado to strikeout for the second out. However, he didn’t get the new Mr. October and Phil Nevin hit his third homerun of the game to tie the game 7-7! In the top of the 9th, Higginson led off with a double off Sasaki. Johnson bunted it straight back to Sasaki and he got Higgonson at 3rd to cut down the lead runner. Sasaki then got Renteria to ground back to him, but he threw it into right field and Johnson motored all the way around to score the go ahead run. Déjà vu on the other foot? 8-7 Demolition! Wagner closed out the 9th to even up the series 1-1.G

Final Score: Chicago 8 – Flora-Bama 7
Series tied 1-1

Win: Robb Nen 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Kazuhiro Sasaki 0-1 (0.00)
Save: Billy Wagner #1

Flora-Bama jumped on Clemens to start the game for three runs as Olerud walked, Berkman took one for the team, Gonzalez singled, and Leifer doubled.  In the bottom of the 1^st, Nevin picked up where he left off singling in Alomar who had led off with a single and a stolen base.   In the bottom of the 2^nd, Higginson and Johnson singled and Renteria doubled to make it a one run game  and put runners on 3^rd and 2^nd with no out.  Schilling got Justice to fly to leftfield and then intentionally walked the dangerous Alomar to load the bases. Stewart hit a shot to the left of centerfield, but Hunter ran it down for the second out and then gunned Johnson at home for the third out.  In the top of the 4^th with two outs, Kennedy walked and Perez doubled him home to make it 4-2.  Clemens walked Olerud and Berkman to load the bases, but he eventually struck out the pinch hitter Segui to avoid any further damage.  In the bottom of the 5^th, Alomar doubled to bring the tying run up, but Schilling got Sterwart and Delgado.  Nevin led off the bottom of the 6^th with another hit, but Schilling retired the next three hitters. Schilling got one out in the 7^th before allowing a double to Justice.  Murray was brought in to run for Justice and Charlton came on to face Alomar.  Alomar singled to left off Charlton, but Murray didn’t attempt to score on the play.  Alomar then tried to steal second base with Murray on 3B. Tom Prince faked the throw to second and then got Murray in a run down between home and third. Sterwart then struckout to end any chance of a rally.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Delgado worked a walk off Charlton to start the inning.  Pollite replaced Charlton and finally got Nevin to pop up.  Zambrano replaced Pollite and gave up a double to Clark to put the tying run on second with one out.  Magee came on to run for Clark and the Mullets went to their fourth pitcher of the inning.  Mesa got Higginson to ground to first and then struckout Johnson.  Sasaki worked a quiet 9^th for the save.  Chicago out hit Flora-Bama ten to six, but left eight runners on the bases.

Final Score: Flora-Bama 4 – Chicago 2
Series 2-1 Tempe

Win: Curt Schilling 1-0 (1.64)
Loss: Roger Clemens 0-1 (8.31)
Save: Kazuhiro Sasaki #1

Berkman tripled off Arrojo to start the game and scored on a fielder’s choice to put Flora-Bama up 1-0. In the bottom of the 2nd, Phil Nevin, Tony Clark and Edgar Renteria all doubled to give Chicago the 2-1 lead. In the top of the 3rd, Perez reached on an error and Berkman walked. Olerud hit a RBI single that tied it up 2-2 and put runners on 3rd and 2nd with one out. Piazza hit liner up the middle that would have scored both runs, but Alomar showed off defense making a diving catch and then doubled up Olerud at second base. In the top of the 4th, Gonzalez doubled and Bell singled to put runners on the comers with no outs for Flora-Bama. Graves replaced Arrojo and limited the scoring to only one run. 3-2 Flora-Bama. Chicago tied it back up in the bottom of the 4th, with a sac fly from Johnson after Nevin singled and Clark doubled. In the 5th, they took a 4-3 lead after Alomar doubled, stole third and then scored on a Stewart single. Stewart then stole 2nd, moved to third on a FC and scored on a Higgonson sac fly. 5-3. Berkman slugged a solo homerun in 7th off Graves to make it a one run game. 5-4. In the bottom of the 7th, Alomar reached on a walk, stole again and scored when Mesa made a throwing error. 6-4. In the 9th, The Mullet’s put two runners on, after Nen was pulled with two outs… but Wagner settled down and got Ruben Sierra swinging. Graves was the key to the victory. Bailing out Arrojo and then working four excellent innings in relief. The Mullets have lost both games Randy Johnson started and his ERA was 5.91 after two games. He could still get a shot at redemption if series goes seven.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Flora-Bama 4
Series tied 2-2

Win: Danny Graves 1-0 (1.50)
Loss: Randy Johnson 0-1 (5.91)
Save: Billy Wagner #2

Robert Person did he best to keep pace with Pedro Martinez and he didn’t surrender his first hit until the 4th. However, Pedro extended his World Series no hit streak to 13 innings and didn’t give up his first hit of the series until the 5th. In the bottom of the 4th, the red hot Phil Nevin doubled with one out, moved to third on a questionable balk call, and then scored the first run of the game on a sac fly from Clark. In the bottom of the 5th, Johnson doubled off Person and the Mullets went to the pen. Beckett got a couple strikeouts to keep it a one run game. In the top of the 6th, Sierra pinch hit for Kennedy and crushed a solo shot off Martinez to tie it 1-1. Neifi Perez then caught the infield napping after the homer with a bunt hit. Berkman executed a perfect hit and run to put runners on the corners. Rowand came in to run for Berkman, but the move back fired when Olerud lined to right as Rowand was stealing and Higgonson completed the double play. Perez was still able to tag and score, but the big inning was eliminated. 2-1 Mullets. In the bottom of the 6th, Delgado leaned into Charlton’s first pitch. Nevin worked an infield hit to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Clark and Higginson both popped up, but Johnson hit a blooper over the infield to score Delgado and move Nevin to third. 2-2. Renteria was asked to execute a hit and run, but he missed and Johnson was gunned at second by Prince. In the top of the 8th, Liefer homered off Pedro to give the Mullets the lead. 3-2. Sasaki who recorded the last out in the 7th, pitched a quiet 8th, retiring the heart (Delgado, Nevin and Clark) of the Demolition order. In the top of the 9th, Pedro recorded one out but then an error by Alomar and a walk forced Chicago to utilize the pen. Zimmerman got Bell and Hunter to keep it a one run game. It didn’t look good for Chicago heading into the bottom of the 9th with the bottom of the order coming up and Sasaki still dealing. Sasaki made quick work of Higginson, but Johnson battled for a walk. Hocking came on to run for Johnson. Renteria hit a grounder to second that took a tricky bounce and forced Perez to abandon the double play and just get the out at 1st. With the 9th spot in the order coming up, Chicago was forced to pinch hit. After a long deliberation with his coaches, manager Stray Corrado called on Eli Marrero to make his first at bat of the series with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Flora-Bama’s brain trust tried to out think Chicago and counted with Zambrano who should have had limited scouting since he was on farm during the first two playoff series…. “Zambrano looks back at HockingG on second … the pitch … oh, my, my! that one’s deep to left center … Hunter and Gipson both going back … later! it’s all over! … Eli Marrero really hammered that one … a home run … Eli trots around the bases he loves a trip downtown … he claps his hands … he’s greeted at the plate”

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Flora-Bama 3
Series 3-2 Chicago

Win: Jeff Zimmerman 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Victor Zambrano 0-1 (6.75) 

A fly over from the Blue Angels had the fans at Pensacola’s Blue Wahoo’s Stadium rocking to start game six. It was nearly silent in the stadium a few minutes later. Alomar led off with a single and then attempted to steal second. Piazza threw it away and Alomar moved on to third base. Schilling recovered to get Stewart and Delgado on pop ups that didn’t leave the infield. However, he couldn’t get the third out. Phil “October” Nevin crushed a two run homerun to left. Then Clark put a solo shot into Pensacola Bay. Higginson then singled and Johnson smacked the third homerun of the inning to make it 5-0 in an elimination game! Schilling finally got Renteria to ground out. In the bottom of the 1st, Berkman led off with a solo homerun that brought a little life back to the stadium. 5-1 CHI. In the top o the 4th, Johnson and Renteria singled to put runners on 2nd and 1st with one out. Charlton replaced Schilling and allowed an RBI single to Alomar. 6-1 CHI. In the bottom of the 4th, Hunter singled with one out. Sierra pinch hit for Kennedy and doubled to put runners on 3rd and 2nd. Perez singled to right and moved up the runners. 6-2. Kile was starting to show some fatigue and issued a walk to Segui that loaded the bases. Berkman was able to slap a single to left and Perez beat the throw at home to make 6-4 CHI. With the tying run now at 1B, Chicago brought in closer Author Rhodes to face the lefty Liefer. Liefer somehow hit a bloop to right field that scored Segui and moved Berkman to 3rd. 6-5 CHI. Rhodes shook it off and and struck out Piazza and Juan Gonzalez to end the inning. In the top of the 6th, Mesa issued a walk to Higginson and then allowed a double to Johnson that put runners on 3rd and 2nd to start the inning. Chicago was looking to get a couple runs, so they sent in Hocking to run for Johnson at 2nd. Mesa recovered striking out Renteria and popping up Marrero. The Mullets then intentionally walked Alomar to load the bases and brought in Sasaki to face Sterwart. Stewart hit it deep, but Rios caught it on the warning track. In the bottom of the 6th, Perez worked a walk and then stole second base when Segui missed a hit and run. Segui then singled to drive in Perez, but was thrown out trying for the double on strange play. 6-6. Rhodes got Liefer to pop up and Nen came in and got Piazza to ground out. In the top of the 7th, Sasaki was perfect. In the bottom of the 7th, Nen got Juan Gonzalez, but then issued a walk to Rios. Rowand pinch ran for Rios and stole second base to put the go ahead run in scoring position. Nen lost his cool and walked Hunter. Alex Gonzalez who was a deadline acquisition, smacked a line drive to center field. Mullets sent Rowan home, Hunter to third and Gonzalez to second on the throw. Rowand scored and Delgado cut the throw to second to get Gonzalez. 7-6 FNA. In the top of the 8th, Sasaki worked another perfect inning. Fassero replaced Nen in the bottom of the 8th and avoided any further damage. Sasaki wouldn’t let anyone take the ball from him and he came out to work his fourth inning of the game in the 9th and pitched another perfect inning for the win. Flora-Bama somehow scratched and clawed their way back from 5-0 and 6-1 deficits to force a game seven.

Final Score: Flora-Bama 7 – Chicago 6
Series tied 3-3

Win: Kazuhiro Sasaki 1-1 (1.04)
Loss: Robb Nen 1-1 (2.70)

This entire series had been a white knuckle back and forth battle, so there wasn’t a reason why game seven would be any different. Both starters had easy 1,2,3 innings in the first. In the top of the 2nd, Clark worked a walk off Johnson and Charles Johnson hit his second homerun of the series to put Chicago up 2-0. In the top of the 3rd, Degaldo got his first hit of the series, but Johnson got Nevin to ground out. In the bottom of the 3rd, Perez led off with the Mullets first hit of the game. Liefer pinch hit for Bell, but Clemens struck him out and then popped up Berkman. Olerud came up with two outs and slapped a single to right on a hit and run. Perez beat the throw at home and Olerud took 2nd. 2-1 CHI. Clemens recovered and struckout Piazza. In the top of the 4th, Higginson worked a one out double, but Johnson bore down and struckout Charles Johnson and Renteria. In the bottom of the 4th, Hunter singled but was thrown out trying to steal. In the bottom of the 5th, Segui pinch hit for Kennedy and led off with a single. The Mullets then pinch ran for Segui and Perez singled to put runners on 2nd and 1st. Chicago pulled Clemens and sent Fasserro in to face the lefty Liefer. Flora-Bama countered with Ruben Sierra, but Fassero popped him up. Berkman then singled to tie it up and put runners on the corners. Chicago left the lefty in to face Olerud and got the much needed double play to end the innings. 2-2. A renewed Randy Johnson struckout Delgado and Nevin for an easy 6th. In the bottom of the 6th, Piazza led off with a double against Zimmerman. Gerald Williams pinch ran for Piazza and Juan Gonzalez moved Williams to third on a fielder’s choice. Rios then dropped a Texas Leaguer between 2B and RF that scored the go ahead run. 3-2 FNA. Zimmerman got two quick strikeouts to end the inning. In the top of the 7th, Johnson recorded his 8th and 9th strikeouts, but had a brief scare. It looked like Charles Johnson might have tied it, but the breeze from the bay blew his homerun shot just to the left of the foul pole. In the top of the 8th, Alomar worked a one out walk and then stole 2B to put the tying run in scoring position. Johnson struck out Stewart and Delgado for his 10th and 11th strikeouts of the game. In the bottom of the 8th, the Mullets put runners on the corners after Rowan singled off Billy Wagner and Delgado made an error. Robb Nen came on and got Hunter to keep it just a one run game. In the top of the 9th, Johnson got Nevin to ground out and Clark to pop up. With two outs in the 9th… Randy Johnson struck out Higginson for the complete game victory.

Final Score: Flora-Bama 3 – Chicago 2
Flora-Bama Wins the Series 4-3

Win: Randy Johnson1-1 (4.12)
Loss: Jeff Zimmerman 1-1 3.00)

SUMMARY – Both managers acknowledged this 3+ hour marathon was the best APBA World Series they’d ever played and it is most likely the most competitive back and forth series in MWWL history. A seven game series where five games were won by one run and the other two games by just two runs. Multiple come from behind and walk off games. Flora-Bama and Chicago were both tied on runs scored after six games and Flora-Bama only finished with one more (29) than Chicago (28) at the conclusion of the series.

Flora-Bama slightly out hit Chicago .218 to .199, but Chicago limited them to only five homeruns and only two homeruns from the starters during the seven games. The Demolition out slugged the Mullets with hit eight homers. The Mullets left 43 on base, while the Demolition left 36.

Both defenses struggled (Mullets .984 7 UER / Demolition .980 3 UER) and ultimately caused them each to lose a one run game in the final inning.

The Mullets 3-6 hitters hit just above .100 and didn’t hit a single homerun. The Demolition’s 2 and 3 hitters only had 3 hits the entire series (Delgado .050 and Sterwart .069) and most of their production was spread far apart in the order( Nevin .393, Alomar .391, and Johnson .333) Ultimately, it was Kazuhiro Sasaki (1.04 ERA 8.2 IP 2 H) locking down two critical wins and the Mullet’s bench (Sierra, Liefer, Segui, A. Gonzalez) going .315 AVG, .421 OBP with 3 HR and 9 RBI that allowed them to claw out the series win.

Phil Nevin outshined Roberto Alomar and Lance Berkman to earn the World Series MVP. The MVP rarely comes from a losing team, but the new Mr. October led in average, slugging, hits, homeruns, total bases, runs and RBI. .393 AVG, .893 SLG, 11 H, 4 HR, 25 TB, 7 R, 10 RBI