Game Six

Back in New York, this game will match Miami's Dave Lefevre against New York's Suzuki MazdaHonda. In the first, Miami threatens with a Quilvio Gato leadoff double, and then a bunt single from Brian Kaat. MazdaHonda is up to the challenge, striking out Damon Nkik, walking Bubba Lewis to load the bases, and then getting Clyde Frogg to pop-up to 2nd, and then Vince Lewis hitting into the force play to end the inning.

Lefevre has a much easier time in the first, getting the 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the 3rd, New York strikes first, getting a Paul Hagan walk, a MazdaHonda sac-bunt, a Ricky Buckley ground out, and then a Keith Lee 2-out single to take a 1-0 lead. Both pitcher cruised through the next few innings. In the bottom of the 6th, Lefevre gets the 1-2-3 inning. He will be pinch-hit for in the 7th, and leaves with a nice effort of 6-3-1-1-3-2, but he stands to lose the game unless Miami can score some runs.

In the 7th, Eli Moreno leads off with a single and is pinch-run for with Junior Spidey. Concepcion strikes out, and then pinch-hitter Matt McCoy singles. Quilvio Gato then hits into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

With MazdaHonda batting in the 7th, he leaves the game with a line of 7-6-0-0-3-7 and stands to win the game if New York holds the lead. With 1 out in the bottom of the 7th, Jerrod Smith takes a walk from Tim Sullivan. Dallas Knight Jr. pinch-runs and steals 2nd base. Miami relieves Sullivan for Jay Lansing. Tim Griffin then pinch-hits and is hit by the pitch. Griffin is injured and has to leave the game, being replaced at 3B with Lenny Backman.

Now, Miami cuts to the chase and goes to Bob Belardi in this critical situation. Leon Wolf then pinch-hits for MazdaHonda and draws the walk to load the bases. With 1-out and the bases loaded, Eddie tells Ricky Buckley to lay down the suicide squeeze. Buckley flails at the Belardi offering, and Dallas Knight Jr. is a dead-duck at home plate. After settling back in, Buckley singles to right, scoring Backman. Leon Wolf also tries to score, but is gunned at the plate by Vince Lewis.

To the 8th, and New York leads the game 2-0, and is 6 outs away from their 3rd World Championship. With 3 Miami left-handed batters due up for Miami, New York goes to Bill Wright. Brian Kaat flys out to left...5 outs to go. Then Damon Nkik and Vince Lewis hit back to back singles to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of Clyde Frogg.

New York goes to the bullpen and everyone assumes it will be Jaret Benser, as he is the only one warming up in the bullpen. However, secretly warming up in the New York club house is Roger Chillingworth. He informs Eddie and Brad that he is available if needed, and wants to make one more appearance in front of the New York crowd.

Eddie is torn. On the one hand, Benser is rested and ready to go, and has closed out 2-inning saves before. On the other hand, he does not want to pitch Benser two innings and lose the game and not have him available for Game 7. In the end, he decides that he will go with Roger, and hold Benser back for the 9th.

Roger comes in, the New York crowd is thundering, and Clyde Frogg hits into a 4-6-3 double-play to end the inning. 1 pitch, 2 outs, not too bad for the ancient Roger Chillingworth.

In the bottom of the 8th, Manfred Mueller leads off with a walk against Belardi. Chad White follows with single. Keith Lee is then instructed to lay one down, and does so successfully. With 1 out and runners at 2nd and 3rd, Brett Solo is intentionally walked to load the bases, and setup the force at any base. Playing back for the DP, Justin Lewis grounds one to third. Clyde Frogg fields it, steps on third for the out, but Manfred Mueller is able to cross the plate with the 3rd run.

Miami then pulls Belardi for Roughton, to setup the lefty vs. lefty matchup against Dallas Knight Jr. Knight lines one to gap in left, but Damon Nkik is there to make a fine running catch. We go to the 9th, New York leads 3-0 and is 3 outs away from the title.

With Jaret Benser ready to go, Eddie decides to let Roger try to finish the game. Vince Lewis flys out to deep center, 1 out. Backup catcher Darren Jernigan grounds a slow roller down the first base line...and runs into his own batted ball! The ump is on the case, and calls Jernigan out.

Miami, down to their final out, sends SS Concepcion to the plate. Concepcion hits a hard grounder to third. Backman, who normally plays 2B, is able to get in front of the ball, but can't field it cleanly. He rushes his throw to first, and the throw is wild, leading to the one-base error. Miami then pinch-hits for Roughton with Ronald Young...heres the play:

"* R. Young facing R. Chillingworth, T 9th, 2 Outs, Runner on 1st, Behind 0-3
Concepcion takes a good lead ... he brings it home ... Young pops it up behind the plate
Lewis moves under it ... and he's got it ... and that's the final out of the game"

New York wins the game 3-0 and claims their 3rd World Championship, with 2 of the titles coming against this Miami team the last 3 years. Roger gets the final 5 outs to record the save, quite an interesting way to end your career, closing out the World Championship in front of your home crowd. Couple that with his Cy Young award season, and it might be the best farewell in the history of the game...or at least since Joe Thomas' walk-off grand slam in Game 7 2 years ago!