World Series Games 1-2

The Penguins started the first all-Florida World Series with a bang, specifically a 2 out, 2 run shot by Alex Maldonado off Jered DeMario in the first inning.  Florida added a run in the third thanks to an error and a wild pitch, and 2 more in the 5th on David Baron's homerun.  Doug Guzman scattered 9 hits over 6 2/3 innings but allowed only one run, as pinch hitter Trevor Burton had a 4th inning RBI single.  Pinch hitting that early meant that DeMario only pitched 3 innings.

Miami loaded the bases in the first with 2 out, the 7th with 2 out, and the 9th with 2 out, but failed to score each time.  David Tejada pitched out of the 7th inning jam and struck out the side in the 8th.  Florida would take game 1 by a 5-3 score.

Game 2

Miami struck first off Chris Reyes with a leadoff double by Brian Kaat and an RBI single by Joe Young.  Melvin Ortiz tied the score at 1 with a 3rd inning homer.  Reyes went on to pitch a strong 6 innings, allowing one run, 4 hits, and striking out 6.  In the 7th, tied at 1, Oswipe Cabrera led off with a double, moved to third on a sac bunt, and stood 90 feet away.  Miami gave the sign for a squeeze bunt.  Brian Kaat inexplicably pulled the bat back, the pitch not to his liking, and Cabrera was a dead duck at the plate.

In the bottom of the inning Joey Howell walked, stole second, and scored on a Maldonado double.  That was it for Roman Matos, who took the loss despite allowing only 3 hits, 2 runs, and striking out 8.  Dwight Schrute came on to finish the 7th and keep things close.  In the bottom 8th, Florida added a pair of runs off Schrute with some help by shoddy defense.  Oakenshield took one for the team, pinch hitter Duke singled the Dwarf over to third, then stole second.  Cal Mathis' throw went into center field allowing one run to score and Duke to move to third.  He later came on a Baron sac fly.

Grant Hansen pitched a perfect 9th, striking out 2 to earn the save as Florida won 4-1.