"Batted for the last out of game six of the 1993 World Series. Batted for the last out of the 1997 World Series."
That would be Devon White on the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays and 1997 Florida Marlins. But guess what? His team ended up winning anyways. Devo was merely involved in the last putout that the losing team got. Then, someone came to the dish and did some dramatics, walk-off style!
White's Toronto Blue Jays were trying to repeat as champions for the second straight year in 1993. The Philadelphia Phillies were trying to stop them. Following a shutout by Philly Curt Schilling in game five at Veteran's Stadium, it was time for Toronto to take the field for game six at the SkyDome. Up three games to two, they needed just one more win.
White got them started out on the right foot. With one out in the bottom of the first, he walked against Phillies' starter Terry Mulholland. Paul Molitor tripled, and White scored. A sac fly by Joe Carter (Who'd be heard from again later that Saturday night, believe me) made it 2-0. The Jays kept pouring it on. John Olerud went the other way for a double. Roberto Alomar singled him home. 3-0.
The teams traded runs in the fourth, but then Molitor hit a home run to deep left in the fifth inning, making the score 5-1 in favour of the home team. Mulholland finished the inning, but was done for the night. The Phillies didn't seem to be able to do much with his counterpart on the hill for the Blue Jays. Dave Stewart, who'd lost game two to Mulholland (And that ended up being his only postseason loss in 1993), got through the first six innings, allowing just two hits and one run.
Philadelphia wasn't about to go away quietly, however. In the top of the seventh, they actually found a way to get rid of Stewart. Kevin Stocker walked to start the inning. Mickey Morandini singled. Lenny Dykstra, Mr. Clutch for Philly in 1993, hit a three-run home run to cut it to just one run, 5-4. Stewart left.
Philly kept the rally going. Danny Cox, who'd once pitched for them, came in to put out the fire. But Mariano Duncan singled, then stole second with one out. Dave Hollins singled to score him. All tied, 5-5. A walk and an infield chopper loaded the bases. There was still only one out when the call went to the bullpen again. Al Leiter came in to pitch to Milt Thompson. Both were lefties. However, Leiter wouldn't be pitching to Thompson. Pete Incaviglia batted instead. On Leiter's first pitch, he sent White, the centre fielder, far enough back that Hollins scored after the catch. 6-5, for the visitors.
The Jays were soon down to their last three outs. Ricky Henderson, batting leadoff before White, drew a walk of closer Mitch Williams. White battled Williams to 3-2, but on the payoff pitch, he flew out to Incaviglia in left. One down. Molitor kept the Blue Jays hopes alive, however, by singling to centre. Up came Joe Carter.
Carter got ahead in the count 2-0, then faltered. Williams got the count even at 2-2. But on the fifth pitch, it was Joe that smacked the ball over the left field! A dramatic walk-off! Toronto Blue Jays, champs of 1993. Who was the last out again? It really didn't matter. It wouldn't again the next time the Fall Classic ended on a walk-off.
That would be 1997. White was now on the Florida Marlins. They were up against the Cleveland Indians, and it was an even better Fall Classic than 1993. Cleveland battled 'em right down to the end. Game seven was needed. Florida was at home.
The Indians scored twice early to take a 2-0 lead. The seventh inning saw Bobby Bonilla hit a clutch home run to get the Marlins within a run. White fanned to leave the tying run on first. No matter. Florida tied it in the ninth on a sac fly. Off to extras we go!
Robb Nen got Cleveland on three K's in the top of the 10th, although he did allow a single. Jose Mesa was equal to the task, however, in the bottom of the frame. White grounded out to start it. A pair of singles by Edgar Rentería and Gary Sheffield made it look promising. However, neither runner advanced any further. Charles Nagy came in to get the last out of the inning, and he did so. Well, at least Florida got rid of the Indians' star closer. And inning later, they pounced on Nagy.
Jay Powell came in to pitch the 11th for the home team. While he gave up a leadoff walk, he bore down. A force on an attempted sac bunt from Sandy Alomar was the first out. A double play resulted in the next two. How would Nagy do?
Well, Bonilla greeted him with a single to start the bottom of the frame. Greg Zaun tried to do it better than Alomar did, but all he ended up doing was popping out. One down. Then Craig Counsell reached on an error by Tony Fernandez. The World Series-winning run was now in scoring position! Jim Eisenreich was the next batter, but Cleveland took the bat out of his hands. They walked him intentionally, loading the bases and setting up a force at home.
Devon White was the batter. A chance to be a hero. He didn't have the patience needed. On the first pitch by Nagy, he sent one to Fernandez. Tony didn't make any mistake this time. Bonilla was out at home. Two down.
Renteria was back at the dish. Nagy got ahead of him with a strike. But on the next pitch, it was time for Edgar to play the part of hero. He singled to send Counsell home with the series-winning run! The Marlins had done it! Devo had hit into the force, but couldn't care at this point. When you've done as much as play in two exciting World Series games, you've been through one amazing ride!
Retrosheet. Web. 07 July 2016, www.retrosheet.org/.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 07 July. 2016.
Youtube. Web. 07 July 2016, https://www.youtube.com/.
That would be Devon White on the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays and 1997 Florida Marlins. But guess what? His team ended up winning anyways. Devo was merely involved in the last putout that the losing team got. Then, someone came to the dish and did some dramatics, walk-off style!
White's Toronto Blue Jays were trying to repeat as champions for the second straight year in 1993. The Philadelphia Phillies were trying to stop them. Following a shutout by Philly Curt Schilling in game five at Veteran's Stadium, it was time for Toronto to take the field for game six at the SkyDome. Up three games to two, they needed just one more win.
White got them started out on the right foot. With one out in the bottom of the first, he walked against Phillies' starter Terry Mulholland. Paul Molitor tripled, and White scored. A sac fly by Joe Carter (Who'd be heard from again later that Saturday night, believe me) made it 2-0. The Jays kept pouring it on. John Olerud went the other way for a double. Roberto Alomar singled him home. 3-0.
The teams traded runs in the fourth, but then Molitor hit a home run to deep left in the fifth inning, making the score 5-1 in favour of the home team. Mulholland finished the inning, but was done for the night. The Phillies didn't seem to be able to do much with his counterpart on the hill for the Blue Jays. Dave Stewart, who'd lost game two to Mulholland (And that ended up being his only postseason loss in 1993), got through the first six innings, allowing just two hits and one run.
Philadelphia wasn't about to go away quietly, however. In the top of the seventh, they actually found a way to get rid of Stewart. Kevin Stocker walked to start the inning. Mickey Morandini singled. Lenny Dykstra, Mr. Clutch for Philly in 1993, hit a three-run home run to cut it to just one run, 5-4. Stewart left.
Philly kept the rally going. Danny Cox, who'd once pitched for them, came in to put out the fire. But Mariano Duncan singled, then stole second with one out. Dave Hollins singled to score him. All tied, 5-5. A walk and an infield chopper loaded the bases. There was still only one out when the call went to the bullpen again. Al Leiter came in to pitch to Milt Thompson. Both were lefties. However, Leiter wouldn't be pitching to Thompson. Pete Incaviglia batted instead. On Leiter's first pitch, he sent White, the centre fielder, far enough back that Hollins scored after the catch. 6-5, for the visitors.
The Jays were soon down to their last three outs. Ricky Henderson, batting leadoff before White, drew a walk of closer Mitch Williams. White battled Williams to 3-2, but on the payoff pitch, he flew out to Incaviglia in left. One down. Molitor kept the Blue Jays hopes alive, however, by singling to centre. Up came Joe Carter.
Carter got ahead in the count 2-0, then faltered. Williams got the count even at 2-2. But on the fifth pitch, it was Joe that smacked the ball over the left field! A dramatic walk-off! Toronto Blue Jays, champs of 1993. Who was the last out again? It really didn't matter. It wouldn't again the next time the Fall Classic ended on a walk-off.
That would be 1997. White was now on the Florida Marlins. They were up against the Cleveland Indians, and it was an even better Fall Classic than 1993. Cleveland battled 'em right down to the end. Game seven was needed. Florida was at home.
The Indians scored twice early to take a 2-0 lead. The seventh inning saw Bobby Bonilla hit a clutch home run to get the Marlins within a run. White fanned to leave the tying run on first. No matter. Florida tied it in the ninth on a sac fly. Off to extras we go!
Robb Nen got Cleveland on three K's in the top of the 10th, although he did allow a single. Jose Mesa was equal to the task, however, in the bottom of the frame. White grounded out to start it. A pair of singles by Edgar Rentería and Gary Sheffield made it look promising. However, neither runner advanced any further. Charles Nagy came in to get the last out of the inning, and he did so. Well, at least Florida got rid of the Indians' star closer. And inning later, they pounced on Nagy.
Jay Powell came in to pitch the 11th for the home team. While he gave up a leadoff walk, he bore down. A force on an attempted sac bunt from Sandy Alomar was the first out. A double play resulted in the next two. How would Nagy do?
Well, Bonilla greeted him with a single to start the bottom of the frame. Greg Zaun tried to do it better than Alomar did, but all he ended up doing was popping out. One down. Then Craig Counsell reached on an error by Tony Fernandez. The World Series-winning run was now in scoring position! Jim Eisenreich was the next batter, but Cleveland took the bat out of his hands. They walked him intentionally, loading the bases and setting up a force at home.
Devon White was the batter. A chance to be a hero. He didn't have the patience needed. On the first pitch by Nagy, he sent one to Fernandez. Tony didn't make any mistake this time. Bonilla was out at home. Two down.
Renteria was back at the dish. Nagy got ahead of him with a strike. But on the next pitch, it was time for Edgar to play the part of hero. He singled to send Counsell home with the series-winning run! The Marlins had done it! Devo had hit into the force, but couldn't care at this point. When you've done as much as play in two exciting World Series games, you've been through one amazing ride!
References
Retrosheet. Web. 07 July 2016, www.retrosheet.org/.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 07 July. 2016.
Youtube. Web. 07 July 2016, https://www.youtube.com/.
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