Birds fly past Bombers

A hard fought series between two great division rivals.  Unfortunately Mike has the 68 "Year of the Pitcher" Yanks who it appears will struggle at the plate this season.  Likewise, the O's appear like they will struggle to get a starter into the 6th inning (fortunately a decent pen is available), which will challenge my ability to manage the pen usage.  All the games were competitive and were a great way to kickof KOD27!

Game 1

Camden Yards

Stottlemyre vs. Chen

Baltimore 10 NYY 3

Baltimore got off to a quick start with 3 in the bottom of the first on a double, two singes and a walk.  RBIs were delivered by Baltimore's 4-5-6 hitters (Adam Jones, Davis Wieters.)  Once Stottlemyre settled down after the 1st, he and Chen locked horns for the next 3 innings at which time Chen, beginning to tire, gave up a 2 RBI single to Andy Kosco. Joe Pepitone led off the top of the 6th for the Yanks with a solo HR to tie up the game at 3 each.  Joe Verbanic entered the game in the bottom of the 7th and the Orioles immediately loaded the bases.  Verbanic then hit Ryan Flaherty (Baltimore's #9 hitter) with a pitch and the brawl ensued!  both Flaherty and Verbanic were tossed and steve Hamilton came in to throw for NY.  Unfortunately fo NY things went from bad to worse as Baltimore put 5 more runs on the board and after 7 lead 9-3.  Baltimore would get one more, but by then  this one was as good as in the books.

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Game 2

Camden Yards

Bahnsen vs. Hammel

NYY 5  Baltimore 2

A tight pitchers dual most of the way as Bahnsen went 6 2/3 and Hammel 7, each giving up two runs.  In the NY 7th Rocky Colavito hit a solo HR that tied the game at 2.  NY went ahead for good with 3 in the top of the 9th as it was now the Baltimore pen's turn to implode.

Game 3

Yankee Stadium

Tillman vs. Peterson

Baltimore 3  NYY 1

Off to the Big Apple and another tight game as the starters clamped down even harder on the hitters in this one.  IN the top of the 6th two walks and two hits produced 2 runs for the O's who would add another run in the 7th which is all they would need on this day.  Chris Tillman threw 7 scoreless innings for the O's before Pedro Strop through a scoreless 8th for Baltimore and Darren O'Day came on for the save in the 9th, though he did yield an unearned run to the Yanks on a Robert Andino fielding error that started the inning.

 

Game 4

Yankee Stadium

Gonzalez vs.Barber

Baltimore 5  NYY 4

After 5 1/2 innings the Baltimore hitters staked Miguel Gonzalez to a 4-0 lead.  Gonzalez faltered in the bottom of the 6th giving all 4 runs back to the Yanks on 4 singles and 2 walks.  The game would be won by Baltimore SS J J Hardy's solo HR in the top of the 8th inning and the Baltimore pen closed out the game with Jim Johnson getting his first save of the KOD despite the Yanks outhitting the O's in this one 7-6.

Side note:  Fun series, all the games but game 1 were tight, and it was until the very end.  One issue for DKS:  Mike continually received RT errors between games....has anyone else still seeing this issue?

--submitted by Mark Nixon--

Fish Fry Amazin's

1984 NEW YORK  METS v 1997 FLORIDA MARLINS

Game 1

FLA 5 NY 0  at Pro Player Park

Kevin Brown was dominant as he shutout the Mets on 5 hits, while striking out 10 and walking only 1. 19 year old Dwight Gooden made his MLB debut and was tagged for 3 runs over 6 innings of pitching and took the loss. Gooden struck out 5 but battled his control, walking 4.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Gary Sheffield doubled in Moises Alou. Florida added two more in the 4^th on a 2 RBI double by catcher Charles Johnson. Two insurance runs came across in the 8^th against reliever Ed Lynch.

Mets SS Ron Gardenhire made 2 errors. Alou was 2-3 with 3 runs scored.

Game 2

NY 4 FLA 2  at Pro Player Park

The Mets even the series as Ron Darling took a shutout into the 8^th, before tiring, and got the win. Darling, in 7 1/3, allowed only 2 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 6 and walked 3. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the 4^th on a sac fly by Hubie Brooks. Darryl Strawberry doubled to drive in the second run, in the 6^th. In the 8^th, the “Straw Man” blasted a 2 run HR to increase the Mets lead to 4-0.

The Strawberry HR proved the difference as the Fish rallied for 2 in the bottom of the 8^th on an RBI single by Sheffield and an RBI ground out by Bobby Bonilla.

Doug Sisk came on in the 8^th in relief of Darling and put out the threat. Jesse Orosco pitched a scoreless 9^th for his first save. For Florida, Alex Fernandez took the loss, allowing 4 runs in 8 innings.

Strawberry was 3-4 with a double, triple and HR as he fell one single short of the cycle.

Game 3 

FLA 11  NY 2 at Shea Stadium

Home cooking did not agree with the Mets as the Marlins routed Sid Fernandez and cruised to an easy win. Florida scored two in the first on 2 hits and 2 walks with Jeff Conine driving in both runs with an RBI single. The Marlins added FIVE more in the 3^rd, sending 10 men to the plate. Bonilla hit a HR to start the scoring in the frame. Conine walked to force in a run, Cangelosi singled in a run, Castillo drove in one with a ground out and Renteria singled for another run.

Renteria singled in 2 more in the 5^th as he went 2-5 with 3 RBIs. Conine was 1-2 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.

Livan Hernandez started and got the win for Florida, pitching 6 shutout innings (3 hits, 7 Ks). Stanifer and Helling finshed up. “El Sid”, Sid Fernandez started for the Mets but did not have it today, as he walked SEVEN in 4 innings, allowed 6 hits and was charged with 9 runs, all of them earned. Ed Lynch and Craig Swan mopped up.

Game 4

FLA 14 NY 12   11 innings   at Shea Stadium

A wild and crazy game at Shea. The Marlins jump out to a 6-0 lead in the third inning, routing Mets starter Bruce Berenyi. Florida extends the lead to 10-2 in the 6^th before the Mets begin their comeback. New York gets 4 back in the bottom of the 6^th as Mookie Wilson drives in 2 with a double and Kelvin Chapman also drives in 2 with a single.

Leading 10-6, the Fish add two big insurance runs in the 7^th when Sheffield singles in 2. But the Mets were not dead yet. In the bottom of the 8^th, Mookie Wilson hit a 2 run HR to make it 12-8. And when Darryl Strawberry followed with a 416 foot 2 run HR of his own, the Mets were within 2 at 12-10!

Still trailing by 2 in the bottom of the 9^th, the Mets send 7 to the plate and tie the game! Keith Hernandez gets a huge 2 out 2 RBI single to send the game to extra innings.

With the Mets bullpen depleted, Jesse Orosco starts his second inning of relief in the 11^th. A tired Orosco gets into trouble and Keith Hernandez comes through with a single to score 2 and break the tie.

The Mets go down in order in the bottom of the 11^th as the Marlins salvage the win and take the series 3 games to 1.

Jay Powell, with 2 scoreless innings in relief, gets the win. Orosco (2 IP, 2 R, 3 H) takes the loss. Mets starter Berenyi gave up 7 runs (all earned) in 5 innings. He walked 5. Tim Leary relieved Berenyi and was tagged for 3 runs in just 1/3 of an inning. Tom Gorman, Brent Gaff and Doug Sisk followed and kept the Mets within reach, before Orosco came on in the 10^th.

For the Marlins, starter Tony Saunders pitched 5 solid innings (5 H, 2R, 1 ER). Felix Heredia let he Mets back in it, giving up 4 runs ihis 1 inning of pitching (the 6^th). Stanifer gave up 4 more in the 8^th. Robb Nen came on to close it out in the 9^th but instead got a blown save, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits.

The Marlins used 20 players, the Mets 19. For Florida, Bonilla was 4-5 with 3 doubles and 2 walks, with 4 runs scored. Conine was 2-6 with a 3 run HR and SIX RBIs.  For the Mets, Mookie was 2-6 with a double, 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Kelvin Chapman, playing in his first game of the season, was 5-6 with 3 RBIs.

Florida left 16 men on base. The Mets 11.

Next up: The 84 Mets play the 84 Cubs, while the 97 Marlins play the 93 Phillies.

1st Pitch...KOD27 is now underway !

Since the Astros won the KOD26 World Series it is only fitting that they get the first post and first pitch for the KOD27 season !

Good Luck to Everyone...let the games begin!