KOD 27 World Series: ’91 Atlanta Braves Sweep ’83 Toronto Blue Jays

Game 1  Atlanta (Leibrandt) at Toronto (Stieb)

The NL Champions Atlanta Braves travel north of the border to take the AL Champion Toronto Blue Jays in game 1 of the KOD27 World Series.  Charlie Leibrandt and Dave Stieb duel one another in the first 3 innings with each pitcher giving up 1 hit a piece.  Atlanta strikes first in the 4th inning on a hit and 2 walks as Rafael Belliard singles in Terry Pendleton to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.  Two innings later DH Keith Mitchell drills a ball to the bleachers and it is 2-0 after 6 innings.  Still trailing by 2 runs Toronto finally gets something going against Leibrandt in the bottom of the 8th as DH Cliff Johnson ties the game with a 1 out 418 foot HR.  Joey McLaughlin comes on in the 9th to try and keep the game tied but he allows Sid Bream a leadoff single and Belliard bunts him over to 2nd.  Roy Lee Jackson comes on for McLaughlin and gets the second out before Otis Nixon singles to center to score Bream and give the Braves a 3-2 lead.  Marvin Freeman comes on for Atlanta to try and get the save but he gives up a lead off walk.  He then retires the next 2 batters but then hits a batter and Kent Merker comes on to get the last out.
Atlanta 3   Toronto 2   (Atlanta leads series 1-0)

Game 2  Atlanta (Gavine) at Toronto (Clancy)

The usually reliable Tom Gavine did not have a good season so he needs to pick up his game as he faces Toronto’s Jim Clancy.  Clancy immediately gets in trouble as with 1 out he gives up singles to Jeff Treadway and Terry Pendleton before he walks David Justice to load the base.  It looks like Clancy will get out of the inning unscathed when he strikesout Ron Gant but then he walks Sid Bream to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.  After Glavine retires Toronto in the 1st Atlanta breaks the game open in the second off of Clancy as he gives up 3 more walks 3 hits and a Toronto error to score 6 runs the big blow a Gant 3 run HR.  Atlanta scored once again in the 3rd and Toronto scored in the 4th on a Lloyd Mosby double.  Atlanta added its last run in the 9th and Mark Wohlers came on to pitch the 9th as the Braves win both games in Toronto and head south for the next 3 games.
Atlanta  10  Toronto 1  (Atlanta leads series 2-0)

Game 3  Toronto (Leal) at Atlanta (Smoltz)

The Braves could only manage a single hit off of Luis Leal over the first 3 inning while Toronto left 2 on the third before taking their first lead of the series in the 4th on Garth Iorg single.  However Atlanta, as in game 2 put up a 6 spot in the bottom of the inning with 6 hits capped off with a 2 run Terry Pendleton HR and a Ron Gant solo HR and the Braves let 6-1 after 4.  That was the score for the next for innings until Atlanta finished off Toronto with 8 runs in the 8th highlighted with a Sid Bream Grand Slam.
Atlanta  14  Toronto  1   (Atlanta leads series 3-0)

 

Game 4  Toronto  (Gott) at Atlanta (Avery)

Down to their last game the Blue Jays send Jim Gott to the mound against the Braves Steve Avery.  Once again the starting pitchers shut down the offense for the first 3 innings until Atlanta opens the scoring for the 3rd time in 4 games.  Sid Bream gets a one out single and back-up catcher Franciso Cabrera follows with a 2 run HR for a 2-0 lead.  Gott pitched well as shut the Braves down for the next 3 innings and Avery did the same thing.  The Blue Jays could not figure Avery out as he tossed a complete game shutout on 5 hits. 
Atlanta 2  Toronto 0  (Atlanta wins World Series 4-0)

In a most surprising season for the ’91 Atlanta Braves they saved their best baseball for the post season going 11-3 and defeating 3 Divisional winners and only getting into the post season by beating Philadelphia.  The Braves got timely hitting, great pitching and, of course, a little bit of luck to win the KOD27 World Series.

Congratulations to Robert for taking his Toronto team to the World Series and for having a great season of his own.

--submitted by Erik Nelson--

ALCS: '83 Jays defeat '15 'Stros in 6

The two surprises of the ACLS. Toronto up 3-1 started Acker in Game 5 to give the full time starters an extra days rest (Acker did have 5 real life games started) and surprisingly went to Clancy in Game 6 to hopefully save a well rested Stieb for the finals.

GAME 1 - Exhibition Stadium
Fiers vs Stieb
TOR 7, HOU 0

Ace hurler Dave Steib goes the distance, fans 8, walks none and allows just 2 hits in a tidy shutout of the 'Stros.  The Jays offense staked Steib to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back.  Barfield, Moseby and Cliff Johnson each had 2 RBI days.
TOR leads series 1-0

GAME 2
Keuchel vs Clancy
HOU 4, TOR 1

Houston even the series by scoring 4 runs in the first 2 innings, then trusting Dallas Keuchel to hold the fort.  Houston's offense came via a pair of 2 run shots by Jose Altuve (1st inn) and Colby Rasmus (2nd inn).  Lloyd Moseby and Cliff Johnson were 3-4 for Toronto in a losing effort.
Series Tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Juice Box
Leal vs McCullers
TOR 3, HOU 2

With the game deadlocked at 2 runs apiece after 6 innings the Jays pushed across the eventual winning run with a 2 out double by Wille Upshaw that scored Rance Mulliniks all the way from first.  Starter Luis Leal finished up 8 innings of work then handed the ball off to Randy Moffitt, who pitched a scoreless 9th for the save.
TOR leads series 2-1

GAME 4
Gott vs McHugh
TOR 5, HOU 3

A 3 run explosion by the Jays in the top ot the 7th erased Houston's 1 run lead and chased starter Colin McHugh from the hill.  Walks and a 2 run single by Rance Mulliniks help post the crooked number that would ensure victory for the ment from the Great White North.  Jim Gott pitched 7 strong innings before handing the baton to the pen.  Geisel and Stan Clarke held Houston scoreless to ensure victory.
TOR leads series 3-1

GAME 5
Acker vs Fiers
HOU 4, TOR 2

Manager Chiz starterd Acker in hopes of setting up his rotation for possible games 6 and 7.  Acker took the loss, but ate up 6 innings.  Mike Fiers gave up just one run in 7 innings as the game remained tight.  Houston holds on to win at least one of their 3 home games to force a game 6 in Toronto.  Correa (2-3) was the offensive star with his 14th homer of the season and 2 RBI's.
TOR leads series 3-2

GAME 6 - Exhibition Stadium
Keuchel vs Clancy
TOR 6, HOU 2

Jim Clancy gave up just 2 runs in 8 1/3 innings of solid work.  Tornto staked him to a 3-0 lead with a big 3rd inning.  After sending 8 men to the plate in the 8th and scoring 2 runs, a tight 4-2 game was now 6-2 and Jays fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief.  Cliff Johnson knocked in 3 with his 3 run shot in the 3rd.  Light hitting Buck Martinez chipped in with a solo shot of his own as the Jays clinched the AL Pennant is style.
TOR wins series 4-2

NLCS: '91 Bravos drop '69 Doyers in 6 for NL Pennant

National League Championship

91 Atlanta Braves vs 69 Los Angeles Dodgers

KOD 27 National League Championship gets underway with 91 Atlanta facing off against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Los Angeles made it to title game as the Western Division Champions and then beating 86 San Francisco in 5 games while Atlanta made it as a Wild Card team and then beating 93 Philadelphia in the Wild Card game and knocking off the Eastern Division winners 84 Chicago Cubs in 4 games.

Game 1    Atlanta (Smoltz) at Los Angeles (Osteen)

The Western Division Champions get the early lead as they send 7 men to the plate in the second and score 2 runs on RBI singles by Claude Osteen and Maury Wills.  Atlanta got 1 run back in the top of the third on a Jeff Blauser RBI single. The Dodgers again took a 2 run lead as Willie Davis plated Osteen and the the score after 5 innings was 3-1 Los Angeles.  The Dodgers broke it open in the bottom of the 7th when Davis drove in 2 more runs and Bill Sudakis a third giving the Dodgers a 6-1 lead.  Atlanta’s Mark Lemke doubled in a meaningless run in the 9th and the Dodgers take the opening game 6-2.

Los Angeles 6  Atlanta 2 (LA leads series 1-0)

Game 2   Atlanta (Avery) at Los Angeles (Sutton)

Los Angeles again got off to a quick start as they again sent 7 men to the plate against Steve Avery scoring 2 runs on a Manny Mota Home Run.  Like the first game, the Braves got 1 back in the top of the 2nd inning on a Sid Bream Home Run.  Atlanta tied it up in the 5th inning on a Ron Gant walk and an RBI double by Greg Olson.  Atlanta took their first lead of the series when Bream led off the inning with a double off of Don Sutton and Rafael Belliard singled him home two batters latter giving Atlanta a 3-2 lead.  Juan Berenguer came on in the 9th to save the game for Avery.

Atlanta 3   Los Angeles 2  (Series tied at 1)

Game 3   Los Angeles (Singer) at Atlanta (Leibrandt)

The series now moves to Atlanta with Bill Singer taking the mound for LA and Charlie Leibrandt for Atlanta.  Neither team scores in the first two innings but in the bottom of the 3rd Otis Nixon singles with 2 out, steals 2nd and scores on a Jeff Treadway double for an Atlanta 1-0 lead.  Sutton looses his control in the 4th as he walks 2 in the inning and Francisco Cabrera makes him pay for it with a 3 run HR as Atlanta leads 4-0 after 4 innings.  The ever dangerous Dodgers are down but not out as they chip away with a run in the 6th on a Tom Haller single and tie it in the 7th on an RBI double by Willie Davis and a 2 run HR by Wes Parker.  The score remains tie until the bottom of the 9th when Jim Brewer comes on in relief of Sutton.  The sure handed RF Andy Kosco opens the door for Atlanta when he drops Rafael Belliards fly ball for a 2 base error.  He moves to third on a ground out and scores the game winning run when Otis Nixon lines a single between 3rd and short.

Atlanta 5   Los Angeles 4    (Atlanta leads series 2-1)

Game 4    Los Angeles (Bunning)  at Atlanta (Glavine)

In an important game for both teams, Atlanta hoping to stretch their lead 3-1 and Los Angeles

hoping to square the series, the Dodgers send 37 year old Jim Bunning to the hill while the Braves counter with Tom Glavine.  Sid Bream gives Atlanta the early lead in the 2nd on a sac fly but Los Angeles ties the game in the 4th on a Tom Haller single.  Atlanta retakes the lead in the bottom half of the inning on Bream HR and an RBI double by Glavine.   Maury Wills finds enough juice in his bat to tie the game up in the 5th with a 2 run dinger.  The game remained tied until the 8th inning when Ted Sizemore gave LA a 4-3 lead with an RBI single.  Atlanta wasted a hit and 2 walks in the 8th inning and the Dodgers take a 1 run lead into the 9th.  LA fails to score in the top of the 9th and Jim Brewer, the tough luck loser of game 3, comes on to try and get the save.  PH Keith Mitchell leads off the 9th with a single and moves to 3rd on an Otis Nixon SAC.  Brewer than walks Jeff Treadway and Terry Pendleton singles to load up the bases.  Dave Justice than drives the ball deep enough to score Mitchell and tie the game at 4 and when Gant strikes out the game goes to extra innings.  Both teams had their opportunities in extra innings. LA had a man on 3rd with 2 outs in the 10th and 12th but couldn’t score him.  Atlanta had a runner on 2nd with 1 out in the 11th and 2 out in the 13th but failed to score.  LA had a man on 2nd with 1 out in the 14th and 2 outs in the 15th without scoring.  Atlanta had a runner on second with no outs in the 14th and 2 outs in the 15th with the same results.  Both teams went down in order in the 16th and LA went out in order in the 17th inning.  In the bottom of the 17th Brian Hunter leads off the inning with a double, moves to 3rd on a wild pitch and scores the winning run on a Rafael Belliard single to end the 5 hour and 15 minute marathon.

Atlanta 5  Los Angeles 4   (Atlanta leads series 3-1)

Game 5   Los Angeles (Osteen) at Atlanta (Smoltz)

Game 1 starters faced each other once again and LA was hoping Claude Osteen could duplicate his performance.  As in game 1 the Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second on 3 singles and 2 walks. Osteen got the 1st run in on an RBI walk and Maury Wills walked to get the 2nd run in.  The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth when Atlanta tied the game on consecutive singles by Jeff Blauser andTerry Pendleton.  The Dodgers untied it in the top of the 7th on a 2 out single by Maury Wills, a wild pitch, a walk to Willie Davis and an RBI double by Wes Parker that gave LA a 3-2 lead.  Once again Claude Osteen was effective and pitched his 2nd complete game of the series and allowed the Dodgers to return home and play another day.

Los Angeles 3   Atlanta 2 (Atlanta leads series 3-2)

Game 6   Atlanta (Avery) at Los Angeles (Sutton)

With game 6 Los Angeles faces going home and Atlanta moving on to the World Series so it is a

meaningful game for both teams.  Atlanta wants to try and end it early and put 3 runs on the board in the first inning sending 8 men to the plate and getting a 2 run double from David Justice and a SF from Jeff Blauser.  But as we all know baseball is a 9 inning game and the Dodgers game right back in the bottom of the 1st to put a 4 spot on the board for a 4-3 lead.  Wes Parker drove in the first run, Bill Sudakis doubled in the next 2 and Andy Kosco doubled in the 4th run of the inning for a 4-3 Dodger lead.  Terry Pendleton tied the game 2nd with an RBI single and the Braves added 2 more in the top of the 3rd on a Francisco RBI double and an Otis Nixon ground out.  Atlanta extended their lead in the 5th on a Nixon single but Los Angeles came back in the bottom of the inning to score 2 on a Wes Parker round tripper to close the gap to 7-6 Atlanta lead.  Jim Bunning, who started game 4, came on in relief of Sutton in the 6th inning and ran into trouble.  He gave up 4 hits and a walk and surrendered 4 runs on a SF by Jeff Blauser and a 3 run HR by Francisco Cabrera giving the Braves a 11-6 lead after 6 innings.  The two teams traded 3 run innings in the 7th on Sid Bream and Blauser singles and an Avery ground out while LA scored their 3 runs on a Wes Parker 3 run HR bringing this slugfest to a 14-9 Atlanta advantage.  In the 8th Ron Gant put the final nail into the Dodgers coffin with a 2 run HR and the Wild Card ’91 Atlanta Braves move on to the World Series to face the ’83 Toronto Blue Jays who won their division and beat the ’15 Houston Astros, another Wild Card team, in 6 games to advance to the Fall Classic.
Atlanta 16  Los Angeles 9  (Atlanta wins series 4-2) 

--submitted by Erik Nelson--

NLDS: Braves tame Cubbies in 4

NLDS ’84 Chicago Cubs (25-13) vs ’91 Atlanta Braves (21-17)

Game 1 at Chicago (Glavine vs Sutcliffe)

After defeating ’93 Philadelphia in the Wild Card Play-In game, the ’91 Atlanta Braves had the difficult task of trying to defeat the team with the best record in the KOD27 season, the ’84 Chicago Cubs.  Atlanta’s Tom Glavine faced off against Chicago’s Rick Sutcliffe in game 1 and immediately things went bad for the Braves when Glavine had to leave the game in the first inning with an injury.  John Smoltz, who would have started game 2 came on and did an admiral job as he blanked the Cubbies for 6.1 innings.  Not to be outdone Sutcliffe was tossing a gem of his own as he went 6 innings of shutout ball before giving up a run in the 7^th inning on a Terry Pendleton RBI single.  However, in the bottom of the 8^th Chicago sent 7 batters to the plate and scored 4 runs on a Ron Cey 2 RBI double and Keith Moreland 2 run HR to close out the scoring.  Chicago 4  Atlanta 1  (Chicago leads series 1-0)

Game 2 at Chicago (Avery vs Eckersley)

With John Smoltz pitching in game 1 Steve Avery had to move up a day and face the ever tough Dennis Eckersley.  Atlanta again struck first scoring twice in the 4^th inning on a HR by Sid Bream but the lead lasted only to the bottom of the inning when Jody Davis and Larry Bowa got RBI.  In the 5^th Otis Nixon gave the Braves the lead again with a SAC fly but the bottom of the 6^th saw the Cubs take the lead for the first time on a Ron Cey 2 run HR.  Chicago added another run in the 7^th on a Gary Woods PH HR stretching Chicago’s lead to 5-3 entering the 9^th.  Chicago got the first 2 batters out of the inning but Lee Smith walked Bream to extend the inning.  Atlanta took advantage as PH Keith Mitchell launched a ball into the LF stands to tie the game at 5.  The Cubs went down in the bottom of the inning sending the game to extra innings.  The Braves got out of a 1 out 2 runner jam in the 10^th and then in the 11^th Sid Bream hit his 2^nd HR of the game for a 6-5 Atlanta lead and then closed the door on the Cubs in the bottom of the inning.

Atlanta 6   Chicago 5  (Series tied 1-1)

Game 3 at Atlanta (Trout vs Leibrandt)

Charlie Leibrandt had won the Wild Card game and now he too was pitching before he was scheduled facing off against Steve Trout.  Like the first 2 games the teams failed to sore in the first 3 innings and like the first 2 games Atlanta scored first, and often.  Sending 8 men to the plate Atlanta took a 4-0 lead on a 2 run Terry Pendleton single, and RBI single by David Justice and a SAC fly by Ron Gant.  Chicago scored a run in the top of the 6^th on a Ron Cey ground out but that was all the Cubs could muster as Atlanta wins game 3.

Atlanta 4  Chicago 1  (Atlanta leads series 2-1)

Game 4 at Atlanta  (Sanderson vs Glavine)

After tossing only 2/3 of an inning in game 1 Tom Glavine gets the start again to try and close the series out.  Pitching for Chicago is Scott Sanderson.  This time Chicago scores first with a run in the top of the first on a Leon Durham RBI double and again in the second on a Ryan Sandberg RBI ground out for a 2-0 lead.  Atlanta got one back in the bottom of the 3^rd when light hitting bench catcher Francisco Cabrera had a solo HR.  Atlanta took the lead in the 5^th on a two out single driving in 2 runs for an Atlanta 3-2 lead.  Note: Kent Mercker came in to pitch in the 4^th when Glavine had to be removed because of a blister.  When Mercker was due up in the 5^th inning the 9^th position was empty and Otis Nixon was at bat.  After some thinking on Kurt and my part the only fair thing to do was have a RP pinch hit for Nixon and stay in the leadoff spot and at the top of the 6^th put Lonnie Smith in the 9^th position.  In the 7^th Ron Cey once again made his presence felt with an RBI single to tie the game at 3.  Both teams failed to score in the 8^th and Chicago failed in the top of the 9^th.  The Cubs were now trying to send the game into extra innings Warren Brusstar got the first man out before Francisco Cabrera got his 3^rd hit of the game bringing up Lonnie Smith who had come into the game when the game failed to enter Mercker in the 9^th hole.  Smith got in a 0-2 hole but he caught the 3^rd pitch on the sweet part of the bat and sent it over the left center field fence for an Atlanta 5-3 walk-off series winning victory.

Atlanta 5  Chicago 3  (Atlanta wins series 3-1)

--submitted by Erik Nelson--

NLDS - Bitter Dodger/Giants rivalry goes 5 with Tinsel-town barely holding on for the win

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Blue vs Singer
Dodgers 3, Giants 2

The "Singer Throwing Machine" needed a little help from his friend Jim Brewer to get the final out in this nail biting series opener.  LA jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a 2 run / 2 out RBI single by Maury Wills in the bottom of the 2nd.  Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 4th with Chili Davis doubling home a run and Tom Haller hitting a solo shot.  It remained 3-1 until the top of the 9th when the Giants threatened to steal this one away from Singer, who was cruising along.  Kutcher led off the 9th with a single that turned into a triple when centerfielder Willie Davis made an ill advised dive that wound up rolling to the wall.  On Robby Thompson's grounder to third Kutcher scored to make it a one run game.  After Spilman singled and Davis doubled the Jints had runners at 2nd and 3rd with just one out and Bob Brenly at the plate.  Singer fanned Brenly for out #2, but was replaced by Jim Brewer who was ready to go in the pen.  On a 1-0 pitch Candy Maldonado lined a bullet to Sudakis at 3rd for the final out.
LA leads series 1-0

GAME 2

LaCoss vs Osteen
Giants 7, Dodgers 3

Cy Young hopeful Claude Osteen (8-2, 2.35) did not have his best stuff today and the Giants rang up the cash register on his behalf.  With LA up 2-0 after the first 2 inning it was Osteen's counterpart, Mike LaCoss, who looked to be on the ropes.  LaCoss settled down nicely to give up just 2 earned runs (3 total) in 7 innings before yielding to the pen.  Osteen, who looked to be the safe bet up 3-2 after 4 had a blow up inning in the top of the 5th where he was tagged for 4 unanswered runs.  RBI Doubles by Wil Clark and Bob Melvin sandwiched an RBI single by Chili Davis.  Jeff Leonard's 2 out knock yielded the final run of the inning.  The Jints would add 2 more solo runs to finish off LA 7-3.  Melvin (3-5, 2R, RBI) had 3 of SF's 10 hits.  Clark and Thompson chipped in 2 apiece.
Series tied 1-1

Candlestick Park
GAME 3
Sutton vs Krukow
Giants 5, Dodgers 1

In a cool 2 hours and 24 minutes the Jints dispatched the Dodgers 5-1 behind a 4 hit 1 run performance from the right arm of the "Polish Prince" Mike Krukow.  The Baysiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back.  Krukow was in total command throughout the day.  Robby Thompson (3-4) scored a run and knocked in one as well.  The "other" 2/3 of the Giants top of the order:  Kutcher (2-4) and Spilman (2-4) created havoc for LA's embattled starter Don Sutton.
Giants lead series 2-1

GAME 4
Bunning vs Garrelts
Dodgers 4, Giants 1

With ace Bill Singer not yet at full rest LA's manager had a huge dilemma on his hands.  Start Singer with the hope of forcing a game 5 without a game 5 starter or go back into the past and try to catch lighting in a bottle with future HOF'er Jim Bunning, who was in the twilight of his great career.  Option #2 was the choice and to say that Bunning pitched like it was 1964 was no understatement.  Without a dominant fastball the future senator from Kentucky mustered up all the guile he could find with 7 shutout innings of ball.  LA got greedy and trotted Bunning out for the 8th, but after loading the bases he was replaced by the fireman of SoCal Jim Brewer.  Chili Davis stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and his team down 4-0 with a chance to ruin all that Bunning had done to this point.  Davis hit a blast off Brewer that 3-Dog tracked down near the track to plate Kutcher and make it 4-1.  Bob Brenly struck out on 4 pitches and Maldonado lifted a weak fly to center for the 3rd out.  LA dodged (all puns) a bullet.  Brewer allowed just one hit in the 9th to save the game for Bunning and force a game 5.  With all the focus on pitching Andy Kosco's (2-4) 2 run shot and 3 RBI day flew under the radar as did the 3-4 day by Wes Parker who chipped in with 2 doubles.
Series tied 2-2

Dodger Stadium
Game 5
Blue vs Singer
Dodgers 2, Giants 1

Game 5's, like game 7's come with a boat load of hype and very little drama.  In a see-saw series like this vs two franchises that are bitter rivals across 4 cities and 3,000 miles nothing short of a one run affair would do.  Both managers went chalk and sent their game 1 starters back out to the bump.  The Jints went with lefty Vida Blue, who certainly wasn't vintage Blue of the early 70's when he wore green and yellow and toiled across the bay.  LA went with the man who was aptly nicknamed "The Singer throwing Machine", who was at the height of his powers having been tagged "the next Koufax".  While Singer would never reach those lofty heights, who would?, he strung together a number of dominant years at the end of the 60's and into the 70's.  On full rest both men were sharp and the the men with the lumber knew it just wasn't going to be their day.  After Teddy Sizemore led off the home half of the 2nd with a single surprising slugger Bill Sudakis blasted a 1-2 Blue offering 343 feet into the pavilion in left center for his 10th clout of the season, which handed Singer a 2-0 lead.  Five consecutive innings worth of bagels on the board kept LA's 2-0 lead in tact until the top of the 8th when San Fran scratched together 3 consecutive knocks to make it 2-1.  After Spilman hit a shot to the track everyone in Chavez Ravine was able to breathe a

collective sigh of relief.  When Davis walked to load the bases with one out everyone looked toward Singer and thought, "it's your game to win or lose big boy".  Singer fanned Brenly, which seemed to be a common theme throughout the series for the Jints catcher.  Maldonado followed with a pop up to shallow left to end the threat.  Singer left the mound a tired, but certainly not a beaten man.  The Top of the 9th saw Pete Mikkelsen make his first appearance in the series.  The be-speckled righthanded sinkerballer looked sharp setting the Giants down one, two, three to clinch the series in a finale that lived up to all expectations for those who love drama and being on the edge of their seat.
Dodgers win series 3-2.

Editor's note:  Great season for the Jints and manager Fred Falzone who made some gutsy calls that were against the so called "book".  Fred's hunches paid off time and time again and had SF on the brink of upsetting their hated divisional rival.  A bounce this way or that way and a different outcome could easily have occurred.  This was Fred's first season behind the bench in the Bay area replacing the ever so popular Larry Reeves at the helm.  Fred managed the Giants to a 22-16 regular season record and the #3 seed in the NL.  Great job buddy !