David Cone collected just one other hit outside of game two of the 1992 Fall Classic. Subtract that game, he batted just 1-8 lifetime in the World Series. He even failed to collect a hit in his one National League appearance for the National League Mets in 1986, but that was due to not pitching at home. Still, you'd think if he could get two hits in one game.
Cone was knocked out early in game two of the '92 World Series by the Atlanta Braves. But he helped with his bat. He collected his Toronto Blue Jays' first hit. Then, with Toronto down 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Cone came out with two down, Pat Borders on second, Manny Lee on first.
Cone lined a shot way over short. Borders, off with the crack of the bat, scored. Devon White followed with an infield hit to score Lee and tie the game. Cone was 2-2. However, Atlanta didn't waste any time sending him to the shower in the bottom of the frame. They actually scored twice as Cone was lifted in favour of David Wells. Toronto rallied to win 5-4.
In game six, with Toronto up three games to two, and on the road in Atlanta, Cone was back pitching. Pitching well this time. But not hitting.
Cone erased eventual series MVP in the top of the second by hitting into an inning-ending double play. The score was 1-0 into the bottom of the third before Atlanta tied it. But in the top of the fourth, Candy Maldonado took Steve Avery out of the park for a 2-1 Toronto lead. The Jays then looked for more.
Pat Borders lined a one-out double. Manny Lee fanned. Cone came up for his second plate appearance. He walked to keep the inning alive. When Devon White followed with a line single to left, Borders tried to score. He was gunned out.
With two down in the top of the sixth, Cone got another chance at the dish. Lee singled. But all Cone could do was force Lee at second.
However, the big picture was Cone had pitched well. He left after six innings, allowing just that one run. While Atlanta did tie it, Toronto won it in eleven innings. Cone might not have gotten the win in either game, but he sure helped the Blue Jays win games two and six of the 1992 Fall Classic.
Cone was then on the 1996 New York Yankees who faced the Braves in 1996. Along for the ride was another Toronto Blue Jay on that '92 team, Jimmy Key. But it was Atlanta who won the first two games in 1996.
David got 'em back on track with another six inning gem. New York scored twice, but Cone didn't help that cause. He fanned to lead of the top of the third. Then he hit into a force play to end fourth, after New York had scored their second run.
Cone also walked his mound opponent, Tom Glavine, to start the bottom of the sixth. Glavine eventually scored and Cone's day was over when he was pinch-hit for in the top of the seventh. Of all guys to come in to pitch the seventh, Mariano Rivera. The good news was Cone left with another 2-1 lead. Unlike in 1992, Atlanta did not tie the game and Cone was the winning pitcher here. The Atlanta lead was two to one. New York didn't look back and won the next three games as well.
In game three of the 1998 Fall Classic, Cone was on the hill. He started the game and was looking to put his Yankees up 3-0 on the San Diego Padres. Since it was in San Diego, Cone had to bat.
Cone gave it quite the ride in the top of the third, but only a fly ball to left. But then, in the top of the sixth, with the game still scoreless, he singled. Another single and New York looked like they had a big inning going. However, despite another single with just one out, New York somehow failed to score, with David Cone just ninety feet away from breaking the deadlock.
Again it was a fine six inning effort. But Cone left with his team behind as the Padres got to him. They scored three times and Cone was pinch hit for the next inning. It worked as it came in the midst of an uprising that saw the Yankees score twice. They went on to win the game and eventually sweep the Padres.
Cone came full circle as he started game two of the 1999 World Series against, you guessed it, Atlanta. It was another fine outing. How do like this: 0 runs, one hit, seven innings?
Now for the negative. Cone was 0-4 at the dish. However, his team scored seven times to Atlanta eventual two. So Cone was the winning pitcher as the Yankees were on their way to another sweep.
Cone will always have a special place in Toronto Blue Jays history with his bat, however. In 1992, that was Toronto's big disadvantage. Obviously, it was the same case in 1993, but Cone was not there. Still, it had been something I hadn't seen before: A Jays pitcher batting in an official game! Obviously, I expected them to fail, not succeed. An RBI was a nice bonus. Cone did it, by the way, against John Smoltz, one of the Braves' finest pitchers. Toronto had a tough task against him. Cone helped make it a little easier. Even if he struggled at the dish the rest of his postseason career, Cone the hitter helped make the 1992 a one-of-a-kind for Toronto Blue Jays' fans.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 28 August 2015.
Cone was knocked out early in game two of the '92 World Series by the Atlanta Braves. But he helped with his bat. He collected his Toronto Blue Jays' first hit. Then, with Toronto down 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Cone came out with two down, Pat Borders on second, Manny Lee on first.
Cone lined a shot way over short. Borders, off with the crack of the bat, scored. Devon White followed with an infield hit to score Lee and tie the game. Cone was 2-2. However, Atlanta didn't waste any time sending him to the shower in the bottom of the frame. They actually scored twice as Cone was lifted in favour of David Wells. Toronto rallied to win 5-4.
In game six, with Toronto up three games to two, and on the road in Atlanta, Cone was back pitching. Pitching well this time. But not hitting.
Cone erased eventual series MVP in the top of the second by hitting into an inning-ending double play. The score was 1-0 into the bottom of the third before Atlanta tied it. But in the top of the fourth, Candy Maldonado took Steve Avery out of the park for a 2-1 Toronto lead. The Jays then looked for more.
Pat Borders lined a one-out double. Manny Lee fanned. Cone came up for his second plate appearance. He walked to keep the inning alive. When Devon White followed with a line single to left, Borders tried to score. He was gunned out.
With two down in the top of the sixth, Cone got another chance at the dish. Lee singled. But all Cone could do was force Lee at second.
However, the big picture was Cone had pitched well. He left after six innings, allowing just that one run. While Atlanta did tie it, Toronto won it in eleven innings. Cone might not have gotten the win in either game, but he sure helped the Blue Jays win games two and six of the 1992 Fall Classic.
Cone was then on the 1996 New York Yankees who faced the Braves in 1996. Along for the ride was another Toronto Blue Jay on that '92 team, Jimmy Key. But it was Atlanta who won the first two games in 1996.
David got 'em back on track with another six inning gem. New York scored twice, but Cone didn't help that cause. He fanned to lead of the top of the third. Then he hit into a force play to end fourth, after New York had scored their second run.
Cone also walked his mound opponent, Tom Glavine, to start the bottom of the sixth. Glavine eventually scored and Cone's day was over when he was pinch-hit for in the top of the seventh. Of all guys to come in to pitch the seventh, Mariano Rivera. The good news was Cone left with another 2-1 lead. Unlike in 1992, Atlanta did not tie the game and Cone was the winning pitcher here. The Atlanta lead was two to one. New York didn't look back and won the next three games as well.
In game three of the 1998 Fall Classic, Cone was on the hill. He started the game and was looking to put his Yankees up 3-0 on the San Diego Padres. Since it was in San Diego, Cone had to bat.
Cone gave it quite the ride in the top of the third, but only a fly ball to left. But then, in the top of the sixth, with the game still scoreless, he singled. Another single and New York looked like they had a big inning going. However, despite another single with just one out, New York somehow failed to score, with David Cone just ninety feet away from breaking the deadlock.
Again it was a fine six inning effort. But Cone left with his team behind as the Padres got to him. They scored three times and Cone was pinch hit for the next inning. It worked as it came in the midst of an uprising that saw the Yankees score twice. They went on to win the game and eventually sweep the Padres.
Cone came full circle as he started game two of the 1999 World Series against, you guessed it, Atlanta. It was another fine outing. How do like this: 0 runs, one hit, seven innings?
Now for the negative. Cone was 0-4 at the dish. However, his team scored seven times to Atlanta eventual two. So Cone was the winning pitcher as the Yankees were on their way to another sweep.
Cone will always have a special place in Toronto Blue Jays history with his bat, however. In 1992, that was Toronto's big disadvantage. Obviously, it was the same case in 1993, but Cone was not there. Still, it had been something I hadn't seen before: A Jays pitcher batting in an official game! Obviously, I expected them to fail, not succeed. An RBI was a nice bonus. Cone did it, by the way, against John Smoltz, one of the Braves' finest pitchers. Toronto had a tough task against him. Cone helped make it a little easier. Even if he struggled at the dish the rest of his postseason career, Cone the hitter helped make the 1992 a one-of-a-kind for Toronto Blue Jays' fans.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 28 August 2015.
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