In a classic matchup of pitchers SOS struck first with a M Giles single and a Klesko double. They would score two in the 2nd on hits from Kendall, Branyan, and Wilson. HAR would come back to tie it up in the 3rd with a Helton walk and hits from Pratt, Freel, and Ensberg. HAR took the lead in the 5th on an Ensberg solo shot. Clemens got through 6 and was pulled in the 7th after giving up a single. Cotts relieved him and walked M Giles, after which Wagner was brought in to stop the rally and induced Fasano to hit into a double play. With the lefty killing Alou coming to bat with 2 outs Gordon was brought in to finish the inning and proceeded to give up a 2 run hr. The game would end 5 to 4, with Johnson getting the win, Gordon the loss, and Turnbow the save.
Game 2 - Glavine vs Smoltz
Another pitching classic HAR struck first in the 2nd on hits from Ensberg and Belliard, they would score again in the 4th on hits from Ensberg and Helton. SOS got on the board in the 5th with hits from Kendall and M Giles. HAR added 2 in the 6th on hits from Helton, Belliard, and Dye. SOS brought the game closer with a run in the 8th on a Franco hr. HAR added one of their own in the 8th on an Ensberg hit, Helton walk, and a Burroughs hit. HAR got the win 6 to 4. Smoltz got the win, Glavine the loss, and Rivera the save.
Game 3 - Harden vs Vargas
SOS struck first in the 2nd with hits from DeJesus, Kendall and Wilson scoring 2 runs. They scored two more in the 4th on walks from Kendall and Branyan, and a hit from B Giles. SOS would tack on another run in the 6th with Menechino getting hit and hits from Wilson and M Giles. HAR would make it close in the 8th scoring 2 runs on a walk by Lofton and hits by Helton, Estrada, and Ortiz. The game would end 5 to 2 with Vargas getting the win, Harden the loss, and Flores the save.
Game 4 - Clemens vs Johnson
HAR lead the game off with a Uribe hr. They would add another run in the 2nd with a Pratt hr. The game would remain scoreless until the 8th when HAR scored 3 runs on back to back to back homeruns from Matsui, Ensberg, and Ortiz. The game would end 5 to 0, with Clemens getting the shutout win and Johnson taking the loss.
Game 5 - Smoltz vs Glavine
SOS scored 4 in the third on hits from Branyan, Wilson, B Giles, and the big hit from Klesko, a 3 run hr. HAR scored 2 in the 5th with walks to Belliard, Pratt, and Helton, with a hit from Lofton. They added another run in the 7th with hits from Lofton and Ensberg, and Helton took a ball to the body for the team. SOS would look to add to their lead in the 8th on an Alou single and an Edmonds hr. The game would end 6 to 3, with a Turnbow win and a Smoltz loss.
Game 6 - Lieber vs Zito
Facing elimination HAR sent Zito to the mound. SOS greeted him with 2 runs on hits from Giles, Alou, and Fasano, with walks by M Giles and Edmonds. HAR would answer back in the 1st with a Helton hit and an Ortiz hr. HAR added 3 more in the 2nd with hits by Estrada, Lugo, and Helton. HAR tacked on another run in the 4th on a Lugo triple and a Belliard hit. SOS made in close in the 9th scoring twice on Rivera with hits by Edmonds and Wilson, with a Franco walk. Rivera would hold off the rally and end the game 6 to 4. Speier got the win and Lieber the loss.
Game 7 - Johnson vs Clemens
Having split the regular season games this series going 7 games was no surprise. HAR jumped out early scoring a single run in the 1st on a Freel hit and steal, then scoring on an Ensberg single. HAR added 2 more in the 4th on a Uribe hit and an Ensberg hr. They would score 2 more in the next inning on a Belliard hr, a Helton hit, and a Burroughs sac fly. Meanwhile Clemens was dominate taking a no hitter into the 8th inning. With two outs in the 8th Wilson broke up Clemens no hit bid. Clemens would finish the game pitching HAR to the victory and eliminating SOS. HAR won the game 5 to 0, with Clemens getting the shutout win and Johnson the loss.
It was a great series, as I expected it would be. The teams were evenly matched and it showed. Clemens and Ensberg carried HAR, while SOS got a great series out of M Giles, Alou, and Wilson.
Congratulations, Travis. It was a heck of a series. The better team won in the end, but SOS certainly gave them quite a battle. I didn't really expect to win heading into this, but we did lead the series 3 different times...so it was tough to come up short. However, Travis had such a great attitude when his team was down, that I couldn't really get upset when we lost. That freak Roger Clemens stepped up with shutouts in games 4 and 7 while Randy and my other starters just couldn't contain Ensberg at all. Soda Springs' two big money hitters were both lousy against HAR...bad timing for a slump.
I'm still hoping that someone comes along to take SOS off my hands for next season. I enjoyed rebuilding them to make a pair of playoff runs, but am ready to give someone else a chance.
If Surprise survives a tough challenge with PBG, they may have to beat both Travis teams to reach their championship destiny. Hopefully I won't be making another congratulatory speech like this anytime soon...
