1992 World Series Game 1

VS.

Jack Morris started game one for the Jays.

I remember being real bummed that my favourite, John Olerud would be benched. But it made sense, Olerud being a lefty and Tom Glavine, the Braves starter also a lefty. So Candy Maldonado was in left, Dave Winfield in right, Joe Carter at first.

The Jays didn’t get ball out of the infield in the first. Morris had some problems though. Otis Nixon singled, and (the Jays would soon get used to this) stole second. But Morris got the next three batters out.

Morris settled things down even more in the next two innings, retiring the Braves in order.


Meanwhile, the Jays got their first hit when Dave Winfield hit a chopper that the Braves could only watch helplessly. Two outs later, Pat Borders started out what would be a great series for him with a single. Manny Lee forced Borders out at second to end the inning. Amazingly, Winfield’s hit meant he obviously had his first World Series this year. Wonder if he will up that ugly 1-22 performance with the Yankees in the 1981 World Series? You bet he will.

Joe Carter led off the 4^th with a dinger! Alright Joe! I remember jumping up and thinking, that’s just what the Jays need, to get the long ball going. As the long ball went in that season, so to, did the Jays.

Morris got the first two batters out in the bottom of the frame, but then walked two straight batters. A wild pitch put runners on second and third. Morris then fanned the dangerous Ron Gant to get out of trouble.


Again in the fifth, Morris got the first two batters out.

And again, he walked the next two, Glavine and Nixon. At least Nixon can’t steal second.

Jeff Blauser ended the inning by fanning. That made it 18 consecutive scoreless inning for Morris, who tossed a ten inning shutout in game 7 of the '91 Series. Morris had also held the Braves scoreless for his last three innings (4-6) of game 4 a year ago.

Morris was showing all of us Jays fans what he had showed us all year long. The tougher it got, the tougher he got!


But so was Glavine, who really wasn’t letting the Jays get anything. The Jays had failed to get the ball out of the infield in the top of the 5^th.

In the 6^th, White popped out, Alomar looked at strike three. Carter flied out. Nine straight retired for Glavine.


In the bottom of the frame, Terry Pendleton, who to me was the Braves’ best hitter, grounded out to Alomar. Then he got ahead of Dave Justice, 1 and 2, but proceeded to miss on the next three pitches.


Sid Bream, who Morris usually always got out, came to bat. Oh, actually Jack had got him out in all 11 times he had faced him.


But not this time.


Bream singled to left.


However, Jack got Ron Gant to force Bream at second for the second out. 


Damon Berryhill was the batter.


Jack quickly got ahead 1-2. But after throwing the second strike, Gant stole second.

Morris went to his prized pitch, a forkball to get him out, but the ball ended up at waist level, and Berryhill hit the ball high over Winfield into the right field stands. The Braves were ahead 3-1.


Ahead for good, as Glavine allowed just one more hit, a Borders single in the eighth, which was quickly erased on a double play. 

Todd Stottlemyre and David Wells held the Braves scoreless  as well, the rest of the way, but it was a mute point.


My Jays world head turned upside down!

References

Gamester, George, and Gerald Hall. On Top Of The World: The Toronto Stars Tribute To The '92 Blue Jays. Doubleday Canada, 1992. Print.

Kostel, Mike and Rich Domich, directors. 1992 World Series. Performance by Lou Carlou, Major League Baseball Productions, 1992. World Series Film. DVD.

Retrosheet. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.  <www.retrosheet.org>

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 17 Oct 2012.