Mookie Wilson drove in four runs including a three-run homer in the sixth that propelled the Mets to a 5-4 lead that they added to with two more scores in the eighth to open the series with a win over Randy Johnson. Rafael Santana plated a pair of runs and Bob Ojeda worked six innings for the win.
Curt Schilling tossed a complete game, seven-hit, one-run, 12-strikeout gem to even the series at one apiece. He got support in the form of two RBI's each from Mark Grace, Matt Williams and Jay Bell.
Dwight Gooden turned in a dominating performance with a complete game, two-hit, eight-strikeout shutout of the Dbacks. Darryl Strawberry blasted a two-run homer to center while Ray Knight picked up a pair of steaks, as well.
Reggie Sanders homered and drove in three runs to lead a Dbacks attack that totaled 14 hits in the contest evening the series at two apiece. Mark Grace and Jay Bell drove in two each in support. Ray Knight homered for the cocaine-fueled Metropolitans.
For the second time in the series, Bob Ojeda out-dueled Randy Johnson moving the Mets within one win of the second round. Lenny Dykstra drove in all three of the Mets runs including a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth that proved to be the game winner. Roger McDowell worked the ninth for the save.
A five-run sixth highlighted an offensive explosion for the Mets who pounded out 21 hits in the series-clinching win. Keith Hernandez drove in five runs including a three-run homer while Mookie Wilson added a homer and three ribbies of his own. Ron Darling worked eight innings of one-run ball in the win.
Dennis Martinez outdueled Big Game James Shields by twirling a complete game six-hitter with nine strikeouts in the series opening win. Kenny Lofton drove in two with a double and a home run while Jim Thome added three hits and a run scored.
Scott Kazmir pitched seven innings allowing just four hits with nine strikeouts to knot the series at a game apiece. Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske both homered with the latter plating two. Troy Percival earned the save in the ninth.
Down three in the top of the ninth, Cleveland got a walk from Boston legend Manny Ramirez, a double from Jim Thome, a run-scoring single from Carlos Baerga, an RBI fielder's choice from Omar Vizquel, and a game-tying single from Tony Pena. In the eleventh, Thome homered to right and Pena drove in Paul Sorrento with a single.
The catcher Pena led the Indians attack with four ribbies with Vizquel adding two. Jim Thome homered and scored twice in support.
Tied 4-4 entering the eighth, the Indians got a solo home run from Thome, a bases-loaded clear-em-all double from Albert Belle, and a run-scoring double from Manny Ramirez.
Belle drove in four run on the night while Kenny Lofton homered once and Jim Thome hit two dongs as a fresh batch of the cream and clear arrived in Tampa prior to the contest.
Albert Belle blasted homers in the fourth and the seventh backed by a three-run bomb from Tony Pena as the Indians polished off the Rays at home. Eric Plunk entered in the seventh and picked up the win with an inning's worth of work while Jose Mesa earned the save in the ninth.
Albert Pujols totaled three hits, two home runs, and two runs scored in powering the Cardinals to their series-opening win. John Mabry was the only other multi-hit Cardinal with a pair of singles. Starting pitcher Chris Carpenter completed seven innings allowing only two runs before Steve Kline and Jason Isringhausen slammed the door.
Kurt Suziki drove in four runs on three hits including a home run and scored twice to help the Nats even the series. Max Scherzer picked up the win working seven innings of one-run ball allowing only five hits on the night.
Tied at 2-2 entering extra innings, the Cardinals got busy in the tenth loading the bases before Reggie Sanders cleared them with a double down the leftfield line. Juan Soto managed to drive in Howie Kendick in the bottom of the tenth with two outs but Brian Dozier was retired by Danny haren to end the contest.
Once again the hot bat of Albert Pujols lifted the Cardinals to victory as he slugged two home runs and a double, scored three times and drove in three runs in the win. Edgar Rentaria pitched in with a pair of ribeyes in support. Jeff Suppan picked up the win with Jason Isringhausen collecting the save in the ninth.
Trailing 4-1 entering the seventh, the Nats answered with their season on the line as Trea Turner and Adam Eaton each drove in a run before Anthony Rendon cleared the left field fence with a two-run shot. After the Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a Mike Matheny single, Kurt Suziki plated the game-winning run in the top of the ninth with a sharp single to left. Sean Doolittle worked the ninth for the save.
With their season on the line, the Nats handed the ball to Max Scherzer who worked seven innings of shutout ball before turn it over to Daniel Hudson and Austin Voth who kept the door shut on the Cardinals. Trea Truner paced the Washington bats with four rbi's while both anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick homered and drove in three.
Patrick Corbin pitched seven innings allowing only five hits and one run while striking out ten to complete the Nationals comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the series. Following a four-run outburst in the fifth that gave the Nats a 6-1 lead, there was a brief pause in the contest as an unruly fan was removed from the right center seats in the outfield. Trea Turner (two solo homers), Anthony Rendon, and Kurt Suzuki each drove in a pair of runs in the win.
Frank Robinson drove in five runs with two doubles and a homer in powering the O's to an opening game victory. Boog Powell, Brooks Robinson, and Jim Palmer chipped in with two ribbies each. Palmer also earned the win pitching eight innings of shut out ball.
An eight inning six run explosion by Texas blew open a tight game as they knotted the series at one. David Murphy slapped three hits, scored twice, and drove in two runs. He got help from Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland who each picked up two ribs. Davey Johnson and Merv Rettenmund homered for the O's.
Dave McNally pitched a complete game allowing only eight hits and one run as the O's take a 2-1 lead in the series. Boog Powell homered, scored twice and drove in three to lead the Birds' attack.
Davy Johnson and Don Buford both homered and drove in three runs to pace an Orioles attack that came in hot scoring four in both the first and second innings before holding off a furious Rangers comeback. Mike Cuellar worked 8.2 innings before Pete Richert entered to strike out Mike Napoli with the bases loaded the end the game.
Jim Palmer pitched a five-hit complete game to clinch the series for the Birds while Boog Powell homered and drove in three and Elrod Hendricks hit a solo shot and scored twice in support.
Frank Robinson drove in five runs with two doubles and a homer in powering the O's to an opening game victory. Boog Powell, Brooks Robinson, and Jim Palmer chipped in with two ribbies each. Palmer also earned the win pitching eight innings of shut out ball.
An eight inning six run explosion by Texas blew open a tight game as they knotted the series at one. David Murphy slapped three hits, scored twice, and drove in two runs. He got help from Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland who each picked up two ribs. Davey Johnson and Merv Rettenmund homered for the O's.
Dave McNally pitched a complete game allowing only eight hits and one run as the O's take a 2-1 lead in the series. Boog Powell homered, scored twice and drove in three to lead the Birds' attack.
Davy Johnson and Don Buford both homered and drove in three runs to pace an Orioles attack that came in hot scoring four in both the first and second innings before holding off a furious Rangers comeback. Mike Cuellar worked 8.2 innings before Pete Richert entered to strike out Mike Napoli with the bases loaded the end the game.
Jim Palmer pitched a five-hit complete game to clinch the series for the Birds while Boog Powell homered and drove in three and Elrod Hendricks hit a solo shot and scored twice in support.
s to you, sir.
