Monday, March 23, 2015

World Series: Did You Know?

The 1991 Fall Classic was the first to have three games go into extra innings. This was a classic right? A long classic! Minnesota won it all over Atlanta, but no one went home hanging their head in the World Series that year. No one will ever forget it.

The Twins, though, came in an had every intentions of making short work of the Braves. Jack Morris won game one, 5-2. In the second tilt, it was closer, but Minny pulled it out, 3-2. It was on to Atlanta with the Twins up two games.

But here's where it all turned around. The Braves won all three games at home.

In game three, the hometown Braves looked like they had the game won early, as they led 4-1 after six. But here's where the Twins came back with a run in the top of the seventh. Two more the next inning made it a tie game. And it stayed that way through eleven innings. But Justice was about to prevail for Atlanta.

In the bottom of the twelve, Dave Justice singled with one out. Brian Hunter was retired, and it looked like this game was going to the thirteenth inning. But no such (bad?) luck.

Justice stole second, which was a rare site since he was slow. Greg Olsen drew a walk. And Mark Lemke then became a most unlikely hero, as he singled off Rick Aguilera to score Justice. Welcome to a Brave New World of a close and exciting Fall Classic. And it was just the beginning of the fun!

Atlanta won game four, 3-2 to square it at two. And again, they needed to pull it out in their last at-bats. But this time, it was in the bottom of the ninth. Still, the Braves, I'm sure, would gladly go home early, rather then risk extras again. A blowout, 14-5 in game five, gave Atlanta the Series lead for the first time. It was back to the Twin Cities.

The Twins took a lead, the Braves tied it. That happened twice as a 2-0 lead was erased, as was a 3-2 lead. But Kirby Puckett was not about to let Minnesota lose this thing. His dramatic walk-off home run in the bottom of the eleventh gave the Twins a 4-3 win. That also sent this thing to a winner-take-all game seven. And it was another classic. And again, it went to extras.

Jack Morris and John Smoltz put zeros on the scoreboard through seven. In the top of the eighth, it looked like curtains for Smoltz and the Braves. The Twins put two on with nobody out, and John Smoltz was out of the game. But Mike Stanton got Ken Hrbek to line into an inning-ending double play.

In the bottom of the ninth, Atlanta faced another jam in this scoreless affair. The first two Minny batters singled. That was it for Stanton. Alejandro came in to pitch for the Braves, and got Shane Mack to hit into a double play. But that moved Jarvis Brown, who'd come into run for Chili Davis, to third. The World Series winning run was ninety feet away. Mike Pagliarulo then was walked intentionally by Pena. Paul Sorrento came to the dish to pinch hit for Al Newname. But, throwing nothing but strikes, Pena got him to strikeout. The at-bat still took five pitches as the fans in Minnesota inched forth to the edge of their seats.

Jack Morris got 'em 1-2-3 to start the tenth. In the bottom of the frame, this masterpiece would finally come to an end. And it was a dandy of one, I tell ya!

Dan Gladden led off with a double. Chuck Knoblauch bunted him to third. Kirby Puckett and Ken Hrbek were the next two hitters. And both of them knew how to get it done in the clutch. So, the Braves walked them both intentionally. Bases loaded, one out.

Gene Larkin batted for Jarvis Brown. The Braves could have used a double play here. But they would not get it. They would not get an out. Larkin stroked Pena's very first pitch to left centre and Gladden trotted on home, bringing an end to a World Series that seemed destined, never to.

I personally rank the 1991 World Series behind the 1975 Fall Classic. But really, should I? This was one amazing World Series. The Braves didn't quit, and then Twins didn't. Game after game was fought down to the wire, and both teams battled and battled until Larkin's single ended it all. The number "9" is used so much in baseball, but sometimes, "9" is not enough to end it. The World Series used to be a best-of-nine contest, if you can believe it. And while this obviously did not go nine games, it went past nine innings three time, giving baseball fans everywhere a World Series for the ages!

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