Baldelli would start the scoring with a hr in the 1st, Uribe would add another run in the 3rd with a triple. HAR would shut down SOS until the 8th when SOS scored 5 runs thanks to a M Giles hr. SOS would hold on to win 5-3. Homeruns by Baldelli, Lee, and M. Giles.
Game 2 - Ortiz vs Glavine
HAR would score 4 in the 1st thanks to a Lee hr. This game would feature lots of homeruns, but HAR got the hrs with runners on base. The HAR offense scored often and HAR wins game two 15 - 4. Homeruns by Matsui, Lee, Ensberg, Uribe, Bagwell, and Wilson.
Game 3 - Thomson vs Harden
SOS would score 3 in the 4th thanks to a Branyan homerun and Thomson rolled. Hudson would be injured for 4 more games in the 3rd inning. SOS shuts out HAR to win the game 5 - 0. Homeruns by Wilson and Branyan.
Game 4 - Johnson vs Maddux
Maddux pitched well in the first game and would prove to be up to the task again. HAR scores 1 in the 3rd and added 4 in the 4th with the help of a Uribe homerun. HAR would roll to a 9 - 1 win. Homeruns by Edmonds, Ensberg, and Uribe.
Game 5 - Glavine vs Wolf
HAR would start the scoring in the 1st on a homerun by Lee. SOS would put up 2 in the 2nd, but HAR would answer scoring 1, 1, 2, and 3 in the next 4 innings. HAR takes game five 10 - 3. Homeruns by Lee (2).
Game 6 - Harden vs Thomson
Facing elimination SOS sends Thomson to the mound who shutout HAR in game 3. SOS would score 2 runs in the second thanks to a M. Giles homerun. Thomson would pitch tough shuting out HAR through 6 innings. Harden would exit in the 4th inning. Griffey led of the 7th a homerun and Estrada followed with a double, SOS would bring in Colome for Thomson. Lee would sac bunt to move the tying run to 3rd. Colome normally solid would not be up to the task in this game walking the next 3 batters scoring the tying run. Rincon would come in to face Matsui and Matsui would hit a sac fly to give HAR the lead, Rincon struck out Helton to end the threat. After an out was recorded Smoltz came in to finish the inning and get an out in the 8th. Gagne was brought in the game in the 8th to hopefully close out the game and send HAR to a World Series rematch with SFE. Gagne would get the next 2 out in the 8th. So, bottom of the 9th, 3 - 2 game and SOS would not go down easily. Dejesus would start the inning with a single then Giles grounded out moving Dejesus to 2nd base. McLemore would then lineout and Wilson just missed a ballpark single (1-7) rolling an 8 to end the game and the series.
These teams played very close during the regular season with SOS having a 1 game advantage so this series figured to be good. Congratulations to Eric for taking 2 teams to the playoffs this year. With HAR's CLCS win the stage is set for a rematch of last years World Series between HAR and SFE.
