World Series Games 3-4-5

Utah jumped off to another early lead, scoring 7 run in the first 3 innings off Clint Meyers.  Alex Bronkey continued to Bumgarner the postseason, pitching 6 scoreless innings.  Utah took an 8-0 lead into the bottom 8th, and almost blew it.


They tried to get by saving their best relievers for later in the series.  Roberto Calazzo and Nate Rogers came on to throw batting practice.  Between them they allowed 6 hits and 6 runs while recording only one out.  Keith Langford came on with one out, bases loaded, and an 8-3 lead.  After getting Berroa, Renseller hit a 3 run double.  Mark Crawford came up representing the tying run, and lined out to second.  This changed Utah's plans, and Grimes, the saving Ute, came out for the 9th.  He pitched another perfect inning, and the Utes took a 2-1 lead in the series.


Game 4:


Ruben Ramirez came back on short rest, and pitched a gem.  Through 7 innings, he allowed only one run, as Kermit Crawford doubled home Dodson in the 4th.  Randy Watson was even better for Utah though.  He went the distance, pitching a 3 hit shutout.  Watson walked 3 while striking out 8.


Game 5:


Denver took an early lead off Jaret Benser.  Joey Renseller homered in the first.  In the second Vince Jones doubled, moved to third on a Berroa single, and scored on a Gaedel groundout.  Utah made it 2-1 in the 5th on a Jose Landry RBI triple.


Denver stretched the lead to 4-1 in the bottom 5th thanks to 2 out RBI from Hamilton and Renseller.  In the top of the 6th, Utah tied the game up.  Charlie Howard led off with a homer. Dodson doubled, Kermit Crawford singled, and that was it for Zack Owens.  Denver went to the bullpen for Troy Lewis, who got one out as Alberto Mitre flew out to right, too shallow to score the run.  Now it was time for pinch hitter Adama Dunn, and Dunn came through with a line drive over the head of center fielder Crawford, scoring 2 runs.


Earl Hickey pitched the 6th for Utah, and recorded a 1-2-3 inning.  With Troy Lewis on the mound, Utah sent up Frank Lewis.  Jawa vs. Jawa.  Big Troy reached back for everything he had, and after an epic 15 pitch battle, he struck Frank out.  Now out of gas, Willie Gomez came up next and hit one out of the park, giving Utah the lead.  Ryan Webb came on in relief and finished the inning.


Scott Klippenstein worked a 1-2-3 7th, Webb allowed no more runs to the Utes, and Keith Langford pitched a perfect 8th.  Just one more inning to go, Battletrap went back to Grimes, the Saving Ute.


Grimes struck out Stan Marsh.  Alex Maldonado popped up.  That brought up the pitcher's spot (after an earlier double switch), and pinch hitter Clyde Frogg.  Frogg refused to make the last out, lining one into the gap in left center.  Elvis Soto came on to run.  Denny Berroa hit one in the air, fairly deep, but never in doubt.  Kermit Crawford was there to make the catch.


Utah wins their 7th world championship, the 3rd under Battletrap, and the final one of the APBA era.