Game 163 Hollywood at Hawaii

Winner will host Bay Area for the West Division Title and a first round playoff matchup against New York.

Both teams have exhausted their pitching staff just to get to this point, and neither team has a starting pitcher who was part of their regular season rotation available. Hawaii elects to go with their bullpen for the entire game, and trades for former long-time closer Axel Manto (who has not pitched all year) to help their depth. Meanwhile, Hollywood goes with journeyman spot starter Mike Dascenzo, who is a 7-rated pitcher who has been in the minors all year long. In addition, Hawaii is playing the game without their best players, Jake Cisco and Yoda Skywalker who collided a few games earlier and are still injured. Their 3rd best player, Charlie Howard is worn out and should not be playing. However, he fools his manager and will be playing left field and batting 3rd. To replace Yoda Skywalker at 2nd base, Lewis Solo Jr. elects to go with a series of defenders at the position, with each one yielding to a pinch-hitter when their turn to bat comes up.

In the first, Manto allows a leadoff single to Elvis Dixon and is then removed from the game. Hawaii brings in non-prospect Scott Calvert to pitch. Calvert gets 2 outs with runners on 2nd and 3rd when Hawaii elects to intentionally walk the left-handed Joseph Greble to get the platoon advantage. With the bases loaded, Dave Cronin works a walk to give Hollywood the 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Dascenzo does not fare any better, allowing a leadoff walk to Cedeno, and then a run-scoring single to right-field by Jose Isales. Howard then hits a double to make it 2-1. Hollywood then goes to their bullpen, bringing in former starter Jose Burrito.

In the 2nd inning, Yoda Moreno leads off with a double, Burrito bunts him to 3rd, and playing small ball, Elvis Dixon grounds out to tie the game at 2. In the bottom of the 2nd, pinch hitter Rick Cooney gets a 1 out double and scores on a sacrifice fly after Eddie Cedeno singled him to 3rd. After a stolen base, Charlie Howard picks up his 2nd RBI of the game with a single to make it 4-2.

For the next 3 innings, both teams fail to score. In the top of the 6th, Hollywood loads the bases with one out. They pinch hit with Ed Klutts who faces Hawaii's lefty Greg Duncan. Klutts flys out to centerfield and Hollywood holds the runner at 3rd. Elvis Dixon then strikes out and leaves the bases loaded.

The score stays at 4-2 heading into the 9th. Hawaii brings in their great closer, jawa Troy Lewis. Andy Stewart pops up to the catcher in foul ground for the first out. Favre then strikes out lookiing for out #2. Fellow jawa Miguel Tejawa then works a walk against Lewis to keep Hollywood alive. Then Joseph Greble, representing the tying run grounds out to first to end the game, and end Hollywoods season. Lewis picks up is 40th save of the season.

Hawaii survives (literally) and wins the game 4-2. They will host Bay Area tomorrow.