Portland’s Joe Carter blasts a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the second to start the scoring. Charles Johnson answers back for Chicago with a two-run blast in the 4th. Chicago then loads the bases with two outs, and Ken Hill sweating on the mound for Portland. Pat Kelly singles in one, but the second runner is nailed at the plate. 3-2 Chicago after 4.
Jeff King adds some insurance for Chicago with a single RBI in the 7th and Portland can’t challenge.
Chicago gets the key game one with the 4-2 win.
CHI 4 POR 2

Randy Velarde single RBI in the 2nd starts the Demolition off on the right foot again. Derrick May adds a double RBI in the 3rd. 2-0 CHI. Mark Whiten then hits a solo shot and Chicago is up 3-0. Valverde then hits another solo shot for Chicago as Portland hopes fade. Bo Jackson then hits a two-run dinger as Chicago is just piling it on. With Roger Clemens cruising on the mound… it doesn’t look good for the home team.
Darrin Jackson says not so fast for Portland, with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 6th. Chuck Knoblauch then gets a 2-run double and Clemens hits the showers. Jackson then gets a double RBI in the 7th to bring Portland to within one. Todd Zeile sends the Portland fans into a frenzy with a single RBI to tie it up.
Pinch runner Brian L. Hunter for Chicago steals second with two outs in the 9th, and Jeff King doubles off Goose Gossage. 7-6 Chicago heading to the bottom of the 9th.
Will Clark walks for Portland with no outs, but Gerald Williams then hits into a double play. Ouch, and just like that… Portland’s last sniff at the playoffs in who knows how many years, fades away into the crisp fall air.
CHI 7 POR 6

Troy Neel hits a home run to take a 1-0 lead for the visitors. But, the Black Bears come storming back. They score an unearned run on the 2nd Robin Ventura error in the 3rd and Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza hit back-to-back shots in the 5th to take a 3-1 lead. But, the Golden Eyes have the clutch hits this game. Mark McGwire hits a pinch-hit 2-run homer in the 8th to take a 4-3 lead. Bonds pops out vs. Rod Beck with the tying run on 2nd in the bottom of the 9th. Winnipeg takes the first game and control of the series.

Final Score:  Winnipeg 4 – Missouri 3

WP: Shawn Boskie
LP: Mark Eichhorn
S: Rod Beck

The Black Bears take control of this game early, and never let go. Dante Bichette scores on an error in the 1st, Kenny Rogers helps himself with an RBI single in the 2nd. Bichette gets RBI single in 5th to make it 3-0. Rogers pitches 8 strong innings, giving up only one.

Final Score:  Missouri 5 – Winnipeg 1

WP: Kenny Rogers
LP: Andy Benes

The rubber match of the series sees Tom Glavine face off against Zane Smith. This year Smith is actually the higher grade 11Z vs. 9Y. Let’s see how it goes….Glavine gets out of a no-out bases loaded jam in the 1st with only 1 run against (ground out RBI). Bases are loaded again in the 2nd with one out and Bonds gets ground-out RBI, but that’s it. 2-0 Missouri. Bases loaded AGAIN in the 3rd, but with two outs this time, and the pitcher Smith up to bat, who strikes out. Still 2-0. Not much action for a few innings until Matt Williams hits a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 7th to take a 4-0 lead. Meanwhile, Zane Smith is pitching a gem, allowing only 2 hits through 8.1 innings. John Wetteland comes on to close it out.

Final Score: Missouri 4 – Winnipeg 0

WP: Zane Smith
LP: Tom Glavine