Game 1 of LDS Complete

Division Series Page
(Box Scores Linked from Game Titles)

Death Speakers defeat Puffs 9-6
With a 6-2 heading into the 7th, the Puffs faithful felt assured their underdog squad had game 1 in hand. Instead, the league leading offense wrecked their bullpen with a 7 run burst across the 7th and 8th innings, giving Lusitania the lead and ultimate win.

Puffs starter Scott Stratton was pitching well, but opened the bottom of the 7th giving up a triple sandwiched between two singles, exiting the game in favor of Jason Isringhausen and a 6-4 lead. Izzy struck out his first batter, Edgar Martinez, but walked gave up a single to Pete Browning. He then walked Bill Joyce to load the bases, followed by a Paul Waner single to bring the Death Speakers to within 2.

The Puffs went quietly in the 8th, while the Death Speakers picked up exactly where they left off. Pop Lloyd led off with a single, which led to Isringhausen's removal. JP Howell came in, retiring a batter but walking lead off batter King Kelly. That was enough drama for the Puff who brought in their dominant closer, Dennis Eckersley for the 6-out save.

Bill Terry had other ideas, singling home Lloyd, and smartly taking second on the throw home. With first base open, the Puff correctly walked MVP hopeful Ted Williams to load the bases, but Edgar Martinez made them pay with a 2-run single. The Death Speakers had the lead, and would pad it by one more after a Pete Browning sac fly.

In the end, Stratton was responsible for 5 runs, JP Howell got the loss, and Eck recorded a blown save. Bill Bernhard pitched effectively for 5 1/3 innings (5 R, 1 ER, 7 H). Edgar Martinez also homered for the victors, while Frank Baker homered for the vanquished.

Oathbinder's defeat Fanclub 4-3
In a hard fought opener, Dumai's Wells squeaks by John McDonald with a walk off pinch hit single in the 9th. Fanclub struck first, knocking Babe Adams out of the game in the 4th with a 3-1 lead. Thanks to a Candy Nelson error, 2 runs had scored in the first and the damage could have been much worse had Lou Boudreau not ending the inning with a ground ball double play.

The Oathbinder bullpen held the visitors in check all night, giving up just two hits the rest of the way.

John Olerud doubled home a run in the second for Dumai's Wells, but two innings later Boudreau made up for his GDP with a solo shot to extend the lead to two runs again.

Stan Musial homered in the 6th to make it a one run game, and the bottom of 7th the home team opened up with three consecutive singles, the last by Joe Mauer, tying the game at 3 a piece. That was all for Pedro Martinez, and after an error to load the bases, Paul Wilson induced Musial into a bases loaded inning ending double play.

In the ninth however, the Oathbinders continued to nibble loading the bases with three singles. Pinch hitter Jack Glasscock ended it with a laser to left.

Big Mac Special Sauce defeats DC 4-2
Big Mac's Randy Johnson pitched a 7 hit, 1 run complete game, earning the victory for the underdog Special Sauce. He walked two and struck out two, needing 112 pitches to finish off the Chips.

With 3 hits and a fielders choice, Big Mac tied the game at two in the 6th. An inning later WIllie Stargell homered to take the lead, and an inning after that Rico Petrocelli hit another solo shot for an insurance run.

With Johnson pitching strong, DC had just one man on second after the third. DC starter Ben Sanders lasted into the 6th , giving up 3 hits and 2 runs, but Frank Killen struggled, taking the loss.

Black Diamonds defeat Handbasket 5-0
Welcome to the limelight Lady Baldwin. Relatively unknown heading into the ATB XII, Baldwin had a banner year winning 19 games and striking out 306 batters over the course of 34 starts. In Game 1 of the LDS, he was lights out pitching a 1 hit, 9 strikeout complete game shutout. Incredibly, the only hit Helena managed was a Roy Thomas 2-0 single in the top of the first - Baldwin faced the minimum the rest of the way.

With a crooked number in the first for Sonoran, the game was effectively over even though no one knew it at the time. Back to back home runs by Barry Bonds and Dave Winfield opened the game for a 3-0 lead.

Helena's McNally quieted down nicely, and didn't give up another hit until the 8th. It was a big one though, a Chipper Jones solo shot to right. Two-outs later Winfield hit his second homer, putting the game out of reach at 5-0.