VS.
And who better to take the hill than Jimmy Key? 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA since getting pulled after just 1.2 IP in that 22-2 August 28 drubbing at the hands of Milwaukee. But all these numbers include just 3 IP in the postseason.
Another reason to pitch Key: The Braves benched the red hot Deion Sanders (.333). In his place, Ron Gant, 0-3 in game 1. Sid Bream, hitting .375, would also sit this one out. Brian Hunter took his place at first.
Tom Glavine was back for his second start on the other hand. But actually, both Key and Glavine will be using the same hand (left) to pitch with. Anyways, Glavine was looking to build on his tremendous stuff in game 1, while Key was just trying to prove he belonged on the mound, at least as a starter (His 3 IP were in relief in game 5 of the ALCS).
So Key was kinda like Glavine from game 1.
Would he pitch like Glavine in game 1? Would Glavine not pitch like Glavine in game 1?
The answer seemed apparent in the first inning. Otis Nixon slashed a single to lead of the game after Key fell behind 2-1 in the count. Uh-oh.
Key threw to first, Nixon got back. After firing strike one to Jeff Blauser, he tried to pick Nixon off again. No dice.
But then Nixon took a leadoff of oh-a-bit-to-much!
Here comes Key with a perfect pickoff move, and John Olerud with a perfect tag. OUUUUUUUUT!
Alright!
But Blauser singled after Key fell behind in the count 3-1. Then, Blauser stole second.
Key had fallen behind 2-1 to Terry Pendleton, then got him to swing and miss a pitch as Blauser swiped second. Pendleton hit a low liner to Manuel Lee at shortstop for the second out.
Lonnie Smith got ahead in the count 3-1, before he grounded out. Key was out of the inning. But can he stay in the game at this rate? Falling behind in batters is like putting a glass of grapefruit drink on a white tablecloth. Bad things are going to happen sooner or later.
Glavine went the full count on Devon White, before he singled. But he quickly beared down and got Alomar to hit into a force play, then have Carter ground out. Alomar stole third, but the inning ended as Winfield grounded out.
Key got the side out in order in the second, fanning Hunter to end the first inning and pick up his first K.
Glavine was once again more than equal to the task. Olerud (now 0-8, taking over for Gruber in the oh-for category) fanned, Candy Maldonado and Kelly Gruber grounded out.
But Key really started to get it into top gear in the top of the third as Damon Berryhill and Mark Lemke fanned (Borders dropped the 3rd strike and had to nail Damon at first). Nixon didn't make it to first as he grounded out to Gruber at third.
Pat Borders led off the 3rd for the Jays. And is this guy hot, .444 at the plate in this Series!
With the count 1-1, Glavine threw him a changeup and Borders hits one to left a la Calton Fisk (See, this only happens to catchers in the World Series!) that is either going to be just fair or foul, but perhaps also short of the wall as well. Well, it hit the foul poul just above the wall! 1-0, Toronto. First RBI and homerun for Pat. It's also his first homerun off a lefty all year!
Devon White doubles one out later and Alomar walks. But then Carter lines into a double play. So much for a big inning!
But Key needs just 7 pitches to retire Blauser (on a strikeout), Pendleton and Smith in the top of the 4th.
Glavine is in more trouble in the bottom of the inning. He can't find the plate in any of the 4 pitches he tosses to Winfield and my boy Olerud gets his first World Series hit. Now, Glavine is in serious trouble.
But Maldonado flies out, none of the runners advancing. Gruber hits into a double play. Hey, Grewbah? You're back to being a goat!
Justice fans to open the 5th, but Gant and Hunter hit the ball well for long loud outs. Key used just 12 more pitches this inning.
Glavine settles down in the bottom of the frame, as Borders and Lee ground out to shortstop and third (Blauser and Pendleton). White flies out to Justice in right. Have the Jays blown their chance to increase the lead?
It's the sixth, where Jack Morris that 1-0 lead in game 1. And then the wheels came off the chariot!
Do I hear an encore?
Damon Berryhill and Mark Lemke make quick outs, but Nixon prolongs the inning with another single. He knows better than to try a steal, as Key challenges him with three pickoff attempts. Jimmy then get Blauser to hit into a force out.
In the Jays half of the inning, Alomar flies out. Carter walks. After Winfield forces Carter, Olerud singles again (on a 1-2 pitch, no less). Winfield making it to third this time.
Glavine K's Maldonado!
Dang!
Key again retired the side in order, including Smith on a strikeout.
In the bottom of the frame, the Jays finally gave Key some breathing room.
Gruber drew the fourth walk off Glavine. Borders and Lee made outs, Lee's grounder getting Gruber to second. This time, Glavine would not escape.
White singled to left, Gruber off with the crack of the bat. Kelly scored on a slide that left the 3rd baseman dirty and dishevelled, looking like the big time loser in a pier six brawl. 2-0 Jays. White got greedy and thought the Braves were throwing home, so he tried for second and was a dead duck!
But Gant lashed a double to left to open the eight. And then Hunter tried to bunt. And he beat it out anyway (perfect bunt, btw) and the tying run was on first.
Berryhill (still without a hit since his game 1 winning homerun. That's 0-10 with 7 K's) also tried to bunt (this time on a hit and run), but popped to Borders.
Lemke was in a slump too, but a tough out in this Series. He lined the ball off Key and then Gruber had to barehanded it to just barely nip Mark at first. Gant scored, 2-1. Jimmy Key's night was over.
Innings 1 and 8 combined for Key:
1.2IP, 4H, 1(Earned)R, 0BB, 0K, 5.40 ERA + 1SB against and 1CS against
Innings 2 to 7
6IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 6K, 0.00ERA + 0SB against and 0CS against
So Duane Ward, who has won 2 straight games (in relief) comes in and fans Nixon on a beauty of a sinker. Borders can't handle it, and Nixon reaches first on the wild pitch! Hunter, the tying run, is now 90 feet away.
Jeff Blauser is up, and you really got to wonder why Sanders and Bream aren't in the game pinch hitting for him. But Blauser has been hitting the ball hard all Series long, despite only hitting just .143 (2-14) with 7 K's.
And he hits this one well, too.
But Olerud makes a fine stop at first and makes the play unassisted. Still 2-1, Jays.
And it stayed that way after 8, as Glavine needed just 10 pitches to mow down Alomar, Carter and Winfield.
Glavine's night is also over. It's not quite the same as the opening act: 8IP, 6H, 2 (Earned)R, 4BB, 2K + 1SB against and 0CS against, compared to 9IP, 1(Earned)R, 4H, 0BB, 6K in game 1.
Here's the probable reason for the increase in walks and hits: It's Amercian League umpire Dan Morrison behind the plate and not Jerry Crawford (game 1), the National League umpire, behind the plate.
Tom Henke comes in and instantly terminates any hope of a Brave comeback. He started by fanning Pendleton, then taking Smith's grounder and tossing to Olerud. Finally, big Tom gets some Justice (suddenly looking less dangerous) to fly out tamely to Maldonaldo. 11 pitches!
The game has taken just 2 hours and 21 minutes to play. And the Jays were now up 3-1!
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. 21 Oct. 2012. <www.retrosheet.org>
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 21 Oct 2012.
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