MLCS Game 5

Tim Rogers vs. Ivan Ross
New York elects to keep Jaret Benser in the bullpen and hands the ball to Tim Rogers. In the first, New York takes the lead on a 2 out 2 run single by Chad White. In the bottom of the 4th, Miguel Tejawa cuts the lead in half with a solo homer. In the 5th, Keith Lee drives home 2 runs with a double to make it 4-1. And thats the way it stayed until the 8th. Tim Rogers leaves with a gem, 7-1-1-1-4-4. Then the 8th inning happened:

TOP OF THE 8th, Cobra 4, B's 1
* C. White facing I. Ross, T 8th, No Outs, Bases Empty, Ahead 4-1
He brings it home ... over but low ... and White takes first
* J. Garrison facing I. Ross, T 8th, No Outs, Runner on 1st, Ahead 4-1
Now the delivery ... soft blooper to right ... toward the gap ... and Favre
cuts it off on the bounce ... White's around second
TRY FOR THIRD? (1-yes, 2-no*)
but the coach is signaling to stop ... White stops at second ... as the throw comes in
and Jackie is on with a single ... for Jackie Garrison, his 9th hit of the series
* T. Griffin facing I. Ross, T 8th, No Outs, 1st and 2nd, Ahead 4-1
The pitch ... grounder to second ... he's there ... over to Tejawa covering second ... back to first
not in time! ... and White moves to third
And here comes B's manager Troy McCoy ... he's asking Ross for the ball
he's calling for Dick Blackwell ... the right-hander ... so Ross gets his innings
he pitched seven and a third ... his line ... 4 runs ... 2 earned ... on 8 hits ... walked 3
he fans 7 ... he's responsible for the runners ... he can only lose it ... for Blackwell
his 8th appearance in the series ... the right-hander Blackwell has worked seven and a third
he has a 2.45 ERA ... he'll be looking for the double play
Cobra manager Skullgrin looking at his scoresheet
He'll make a change ... James Ray will now hit for Hagan ... bats right
he wheels out with a wagon spoke ... he'll take his time getting to the box
* J. Ray facing D. Blackwell, T 8th, 1 Out, 1st and 3rd, Ahead 4-1
Infielders back ... Blackwell comes home ... Ray drives a liner to deep center
Brown is racing back ... it's off the wall ... Brown corrals the ball ... White scores
Griffin rounds third
TRY TO SCORE? (1-yes, 2-no*)
they're waving him in
THROW HOME? (1-yes, 2-no*)
here comes the throw home
TRY FOR THIRD ON THROW? (1-yes, 2-no*)
Ray's going for third
CUT IT TO THIRD? (1-yes, 2-no*)
Griffin scores ... Conner cuts it to third ... and he's ... SAFE!...slid around the tag
Cobra 6, B's 1
Cobra skipper Skullgrin walking down the bench
Skullgrin is recalling pitcher Rogers ... Bob Zygyk will bat in his place ... bats right
he grabs a bat ... strolls to the box ... so Rogers gets his innings ... he pitched seven
his line ... one earned run ... on one hit ... a homer ... he stands to win it
* B. Zygyk facing D. Blackwell, T 8th, 1 Out, Runner on 3rd, Ahead 6-1
Infield drawn in ... Blackwell brings it ... swung on ... grounded hard toward Tejawa
it's by him into left ... Ray scores ... Zygyk holds first with a single
Cobra 7, B's 1
* R. Buckley facing D. Blackwell, T 8th, 1 Out, Runner on 1st, Ahead 7-1
The offering ... breaking ball ... ball four ... and Buckley trots down to first
* M. Mueller facing D. Blackwell, T 8th, 1 Out, 1st and 2nd, Ahead 7-1
The runners take their lead ... Blackwell comes to him ... and it hit him! ... hold on
that's it! ... Dick Blackwell is gone! ... the plate umpire has turned his back on him
there's no arguing this one unless he wants a fine
that's his 1st time clobbered in the series ... Mueller's in pain ... but he seems to be OK
and he trots down to first ... and the bases are loaded
McCoy has made his decision ... with Blackwell thumbed
Brad Lamont will take the mound for Hollywood ... so Blackwell pitched to 4 batters
the line on him ... one earned run ... so far ... on 2 hits ... one walk
he leaves the game with the bases full ... for Lamont ... his 3rd appearance in the series
the right-hander Lamont has worked an inning and two thirds ... he has a 0.00 ERA
* L. Backman facing B. Lamont, T 8th, 1 Out, Bases Loaded, Ahead 7-1
Infield back at double play depth ... the pitch is on the way ... lined hard to right ... base hit
Favre is after it ... he cuts it off deep in the gap ... Zygyk scores ... Buckley is around third
Mueller is around second
TRY TO SCORE? (1-yes, 2-no*)
they're waving Buckley in
TRY FOR THIRD ALSO? (1-yes, 2-no*)
they're holding Mueller at second
THROW HOME? (1-yes, 2-no*)
here comes the throw home
TRY FOR THIRD ON THROW? (1-yes, 2-no*)
here's the play at the plate ... and he's ... in standing ... and Mueller holds at second
Backman holds at first
Cobra 9, B's 1
And here comes B's manager Skullgrin ... again ... he's asking Lamont for the ball
coming in to relieve Lamont is Mark Pressley ... so Lamont didn't get his man
he pitched to one batter ... the result ... one hit ... he leaves with two runners on
for Pressley ... his 5th appearance in the series
the right-hander Pressley has worked four innings ... he has a 0.00 ERA
* K. Lee facing M. Pressley, T 8th, 1 Out, 1st and 2nd, Ahead 9-1
The pitch ... banged to right ... it's in there ... Favre fields it ... throws it in
and the bases are loaded ... 2nd safety for Lee ... for Keith Lee, his 12th hit of the series
* C. White facing M. Pressley, T 8th, 1 Out, Bases Loaded, Ahead 9-1
Infield deep ... now Pressley comes home with it ... and he tags this one right on the button
deep to straightaway center ... that could be trouble ... Brown racing back ... big trouble
that ball is gone! ... a grand salami
Cobra 13, B's 1
* J. Garrison facing M. Pressley, T 8th, 1 Out, Bases Empty, Ahead 13-1
The delivery ... swung on ... hit to Vasbinder in deep left ... he's back ... plenty of room
takes a couple of steps to his left ... and brings it in ... two away ... at last
* T. Griffin facing M. Pressley, T 8th, 2 Outs, Bases Empty, Ahead 13-1
Pressley to the wind ... he swings ... it's a fly ball to the gap in right ... Brown's racing over
so's Favre ... it drops in for a hit ... and he will make second easily
a double for Tim Griffin ... that's his 2nd double of the game ... 14th hit for the Cobra
for Griffin, his 3rd double of the series ... for Tim Griffin, his 13th hit of the series
* J. Ray facing M. Pressley, T 8th, 2 Outs, Runner on 2nd, Ahead 13-1
Pressley brings it ... swung on ... bounced toward the mound ... Pressley knocks it down
now he has it ... he goes to first ... for the third out

New York closes out the game on a Keith Vasbinder fly out to Bob Zygyk.

New York wins the game 13-1, and wins the series 4-1. They head back to the World Series to try to defend their title. They will take on either the Charlotte Hawks, who they beat in 2002 to claim their first World Series Title, or the Utah Utes, who swept them in their first World Series appearance back in 1996.