Round 0 Playoffs Preview Somerville Sluggers (91-71) vs. Toronto Towers (89-73 The Somerville Sluggers have had great success in the Koufax division for years, this year was no exception. They actually led the division early on before settling in for the #1 league wildcard slot. 3B Tony Batista had a career year, bashing 48 homers with 141 RBI's. Slugger franchise player Manny Ramirez hit 34 homers, scored 110 runs and drove in 114. OF Mark Quinn hit 25 homers and drove in 110. Starter Kevin Tapani had one of his best years ever, going 17-7 with a 3.6 ERA. Andy Ashby, Steve Trachsel and Matt Clement won a combined 31 games. Closer Bob Howry saved 33 games with a 3.86 ERA. The Toronto Towers have made their first playoff appearance in the history of the franchise. To get there they pummeled the Seattle Moshers 4 games to 1 in "semi" playoff action. Ryan Klesko has been strong so far, slugging .944 with 7 runs and 7 RBI in 5 games. 2B Edgardo Alfonzo has 4 runs and 6 RBI, while 1B Carlos Lee has 3 homers and 9 RBI's in 5 games. On the pitching side of things, Andy Benes lasted 8 innings with 1 earned run in his only start, while Jeff Fassero has a 2.57 ERA in 7 innings. The Sluggers won their regular season series against the Towers 5 games to 4, and have home field advantage. *********************************************************************** GAME ONE -- Towers (Mercedes) at Sluggers (Tapani) Jose Mercedes has not been the most effective of pitchers in the post- season. With 1 out in the bottom of the 1st, he walked Grebeck, Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez for a bases loaded situation. But, Quinn hits into a double play to end the inning with the game still scoreless. Ivan Rodriguez broke the tie in the 2nd with a solo homer. Miguel Tejada added to the lead in the 4th with an RBI double. In the bottom of the 5th, Benito Santiago scored the first Sluggers run of the post-season with a solo home run. But Toronto just pulled away. In the 7th inning, Ryan Klesko smacked a 2-run homer. 4-1 Towers. Toronto scored two more runs in the 8th & 9th, and Jose Santiago pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Toronto wins game 1 by a score of 6-1. TOWERS LEAD 1-0. 10/21/2000, TOR00-SOM00, Wrigley Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2000 Towers 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 1 6 14 0 9 5 2000 Sluggers 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 6 1 Towers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Becker rf 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 1 0 0 0 Patterson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Santiago p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Alfonzo 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 2 5 0 0 Klesko lf 5 3 3 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .522 1 0 0 0 Lee 1b 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 8 0 0 0 Rodriguez c 5 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .440 8 0 0 0 Tejada ss 4 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .435 4 8 0 0 Ventura 3b 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 1 0 0 Lofton cf 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 3 0 0 0 Mercedes p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Johnson,C ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .667 0 0 0 0 Guillen,J rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 40 6 14 6 3 0 2 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 27 14 0 0 Sluggers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Konerko 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 9 0 0 0 Grebeck 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 3 0 0 Nixon cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0 Ramirez,M rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 2 0 0 0 Quinn lf 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 3 1 0 0 Batista 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 1 0 Santiago c 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 7 0 0 0 Lugo ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 4 0 0 Tapani p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Reed p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Perez ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 Brewington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 28 1 6 1 0 0 1 6 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 8 1 0 Towers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Mercedes W 1-1 7.0 3 1 1 5 7 114 64 26 1 0 0 0 3 6.19 Patterson 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Santiago 2.0 2 0 0 1 1 26 13 7 0 0 0 0 2 0.00 9.0 6 1 1 6 8 141 78 34 1 0 0 0 5 Sluggers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Tapani L 0-1 6.1 10 4 4 0 5 111 79 30 2 0 0 0 0 5.68 Reed 1.2 2 1 1 1 0 30 16 8 0 0 0 0 0 5.40 Brewington 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 19 13 4 0 0 0 0 0 9.00 9.0 14 6 6 1 6 160 108 42 2 0 0 0 0 TOR: Johnson,C batted for Mercedes in the 8th Guillen,J inserted at rf in the 8th SOM: Perez batted for Reed in the 8th GWRBI: Rodriguez Temperature: 59, Sky: clear, Wind: in from left at 12 MPH. *********************************************************************** GAME TWO -- Towers (Fassero) at Sluggers (Ashby) Both teams came out a swinging for this one. In the bottom of the first, the Sluggers loaded the bases with 0 outs to bring Manny Ramirez up to the plate. Ramirez walked, forcing in the first run of the game. The next batter, Mark Quinn, drove in 2 more with a single. Later on, still in the 1st with 2 out and 2 on, Shane Halter hit an RBI single and a Jeff Fassero wild pitch made the score 5-0 Somerville. The Towers were not content to sit back and give the game away. In the second inning, Robin Ventura cut the lead to 3 with a 2-run homer. With the score 6-2 in the 3rd, Ivan Rodriguez bashed a 3-run homer, making it a 6-5 contest. In the 5th inning, Kenny Lofton hit an RBI triple, tying the game at 6. The Sluggers found themselves in trouble in the 7th. The bases were loaded with Toronto hitters with 1 out, and Chuck McElroy was on the mound. Towers reliever Ken Patterson singled, giving Toronto the lead for the first time in the game. 7-6. Next batter was pinch hitter Charles Johnson, who knocked in 2 more runs to make it 9-6. The Sluggers narrowed the lead to 2 in the bottom of the inning on a Craig Grebeck RBI double, but they'd go to the bottom of the 9th trailing 9-7. Facing the Slugger hitters in the bottom of the 9th was ace Towers reliever LaTroy Hawkins. First batter, Bubba Trammell, walked. Manny Ramirez singled for 2 on and 0 outs. Hawkins buckled down and got 2 quicks outs from Quinn and Grebeck, but runners were now at 2nd and 3rd. Up next was Bobby Estalella. Would Estalella come through? YES. Estalella singles, driving 2 runners home, tying the ballgame, and in the confusion winds up at second. Jose Santiago, Toronto's other ace reliever, comes on board. Next up is defensive replacement Julio Lugo. Can magic strike twice? YES. Lugo doubles, driving in Estalella from 2nd. Somerville scores 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th in the come-from-behind victory, 10 to 9. SERIES TIED 1-1. 10/22/2000, TOR00-SOM00, Wrigley Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2000 Towers 0 2 3 0 1 0 3 0 0 9 11 0 9 1 2000 Sluggers 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 14 1 7 1 Towers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Becker rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 0 0 0 0 Johnson,C ph 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .750 0 0 0 0 Hocking lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 0 0 0 0 Alfonzo 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 2 3 0 0 Klesko lf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .519 1 0 0 0 Guillen,J rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lee 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 12 0 0 0 Rodriguez c 5 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .433 4 0 0 0 Tejada ss 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 1 5 0 0 Ventura 3b 4 3 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 2 2 0 0 Lofton cf 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .240 4 2 0 0 Fassero p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 0 2 0 0 Patterson p 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Hawkins p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Santiago p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 37 9 11 9 0 1 2 8 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 26 14 0 0 Sluggers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Konerko 1b 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 5 0 0 0 Frye 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 3 3 0 0 McElroy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Reed p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lee ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Garibay p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Trammell lf 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 2 0 0 0 Ramirez,M rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 2 0 0 0 Nixon pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Quinn cf 4 2 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .625 3 1 0 0 Andrews 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Grebeck 2b 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 1 0 0 Estalella c 3 2 1 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 9 0 0 0 Halter ss 3 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 2 2 0 0 Wehner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lugo ss 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Ashby p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 0 Batista 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 1 0 0 0 37 10 14 9 4 0 0 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 10 1 0 Towers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Fassero 5.0 7 6 6 5 2 105 59 25 0 0 0 1 0 6.00 Patterson 1.2 4 1 1 0 0 26 14 8 0 0 0 0 1 1.80 Hawkins BS 1, L 0-1 2.0 2 3 3 2 2 37 21 10 0 0 0 0 0 6.00 Santiago 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8.2 14 10 10 7 4 170 96 44 0 0 0 1 1 Sluggers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Ashby 5.0 7 6 6 6 4 111 62 28 2 1 0 0 1 10.80 Lowe 1.1 1 1 1 0 2 19 12 5 0 0 0 0 0 6.75 McElroy 0.1 2 2 2 2 0 18 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 54.00 Reed 1.1 1 0 0 0 3 30 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 Garibay W 1-0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 9 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 11 9 9 8 9 187 107 45 2 1 0 0 1 TOR: Johnson,C batted for Becker in the 7th Hocking inserted at lf in the 7th Klesko moved to rf in the 7th Guillen,J inserted at rf in the 8th SOM: Batista inserted at 3b in the 6th Grebeck inserted at 2b in the 7th Wehner batted for Halter in the 7th Lugo inserted at ss in the 8th Lee batted for Reed in the 8th Nixon ran for Ramirez,M in the 9th GWRBI: Lugo Temperature: 46, Sky: clear, Wind: out to center at 13 MPH. *********************************************************************** GAME THREE -- Sluggers (Trachsel) at Towers (Benes) With the series tied 1-1, the games shifted to a 3-game stand at Toronto. In the bottom of the 2nd with Carlos Lee at second and Ivan Rodriguez at first, Kenny Lofton hit a double, driving both batters in. 2-0 Toronto. In the top of the 3rd, Sluggers pitcher Steve Trachsel evened things up himself, smashing a 2-run homer. That triggered a Sluggers rally. In the top of the 4th, Julio Lugo hit a bases loaded RBI single. 3-2 Somerville. In the top of the 5th, Manny Ramirez hit an RBI single with runner at 1st & 3rd. Later on in the inning, Benito Santiago hit a bases loaded 2-RBI single. 6-2 Sluggers. They added 2 more in the 7th to put the game out of reach. Somerville wins game 3 by a score of 8-3, and take the lead in the series. SLUGGERS LEAD 2-1. 10/23/2000, SOM00-TOR00, Dodger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2000 Sluggers 0 0 2 1 3 0 2 0 0 8 14 0 7 3 2000 Towers 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 6 4 Sluggers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Konerko 1b 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 5 1 0 0 Grebeck 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 4 4 0 0 Nixon cf 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 3 0 0 0 Ramirez,M rf 5 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .636 5 0 0 0 Quinn lf 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .462 1 0 0 0 McElroy p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Batista 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 2 1 0 0 Santiago c 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 4 1 0 0 Lugo ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 1 1 0 0 Garibay p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Smith,M lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Trachsel p 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Halter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 1 0 0 36 8 14 7 2 0 1 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 9 0 0 Towers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Becker rf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 1 0 0 Guillen,J ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Alfonzo 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 3 6 0 0 Klesko lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .452 2 0 0 0 Lee 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 11 0 0 0 Rodriguez c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .424 4 0 0 0 Tejada ss 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .406 2 6 0 0 Ventura 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 0 0 0 0 Lofton cf 4 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 5 0 0 0 Benes,An p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Creek p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Johnson,C ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .600 0 0 0 0 Olivares p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Bush ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 32 3 8 3 1 0 1 3 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 27 14 0 0 Sluggers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Trachsel W 1-0 6.0 7 2 2 2 4 103 67 26 0 0 1 0 2 3.00 Garibay H 1 2.0 1 1 1 1 1 27 17 7 1 0 0 0 1 3.00 McElroy 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 8 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 13.50 9.0 8 3 3 3 5 138 89 36 1 0 1 0 3 Towers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Benes,An L 1-1 4.2 9 6 6 4 2 103 56 24 1 0 0 0 2 4.97 Creek 2.1 4 2 2 1 0 46 26 11 0 0 0 1 1 16.20 Olivares 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 27 13 7 0 0 0 0 1 7.20 9.0 14 8 8 6 3 176 95 42 1 0 0 1 4 SOM: Halter inserted at ss in the 7th Smith,M inserted at lf in the 9th TOR: Johnson,C batted for Creek in the 7th Guillen,J batted for Becker in the 7th Guillen,J moved to rf in the 8th Bush batted for Olivares in the 9th GWRBI: Lugo Temperature: 86, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 10 MPH. *********************************************************************** GAME FOUR -- Sluggers (Clement) at Towers (Yoshii) The Towers hit Somerville early and often in game four. In the bottom of the first, Matt Clement walked Alfonzo, Klesko and Carlos Lee to load the bases. With Ivan Rodriguez at the plate, Clement threw a wild pitch, scoring Alfonzo. Rodriguez grounded out, but Klesko scored from 3rd. 2-0 Toronto. Miguel Tejada hit a 2-run homer to make it a 4-0 Toronto 1st inning. In the top of the 4th, Somerville got themselves on the board with a Mark Quinn homer, but Ivan Rodriguez answered that with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the 4th. In the 5th, Julio Lugo doubled, was moved over the third on a Travis Lee groundout, and scored on Paul Konerko's single. But that's all the Sluggers could offer for this game. Toronto ends up winning the game by a score of 6-2, and tie up the series. SERIES TIED 2-2. 10/24/2000, SOM00-TOR00, Dodger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2000 Sluggers 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 5 0 2000 Towers 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 x 6 5 0 3 0 Sluggers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Konerko 1b 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .176 8 1 0 0 Frye 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 3 1 0 0 Nixon cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 2 0 0 0 Ramirez,M rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .467 3 0 0 0 Quinn lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .412 2 0 0 0 Batista 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 0 0 0 0 Estalella c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 3 0 0 0 Lugo ss 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 2 7 0 0 Clement p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Lee ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Smith,M ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Crabtree p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 32 2 6 2 1 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 24 10 0 0 Towers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Becker rf 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292 1 0 0 0 Guillen,J rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Alfonzo 2b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 4 0 0 Klesko lf 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .412 0 0 0 0 Lee 1b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 10 2 0 0 Rodriguez c 4 1 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .432 6 0 0 0 Tejada ss 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .389 1 4 0 0 Ventura 3b 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 1 2 0 0 Lofton cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 4 0 0 0 Yoshii p 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 0 0 0 28 6 5 5 1 0 2 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 27 12 0 0 Sluggers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Clement L 0-1 4.0 2 5 5 3 2 57 31 17 2 0 0 1 0 11.25 Lowe 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 20 12 6 0 0 0 0 0 2.70 Crabtree 2.0 3 1 1 1 0 24 15 10 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 8.0 5 6 6 4 3 101 58 33 2 0 0 1 0 Towers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Yoshii W 2-0 9.0 6 2 2 0 6 108 74 34 1 0 1 0 0 2.87 9.0 6 2 2 0 6 108 74 34 1 0 1 0 0 SOM: Lee batted for Clement in the 5th Smith,M batted for Lowe in the 7th TOR: Guillen,J inserted at rf in the 8th Temperature: 81, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 12 MPH. *********************************************************************** GAME FIVE -- Sluggers (Tapani) at Rock (Mercedes) With the series tied at 2, this game was to decide who had the inside track at advancing in the playoffs. The Towers scored first in the second inning, when Ivan Rodriguez hit a 0 out double, moved to 3rd on a Tejada flyout, and scored on Kenny Lofton's single. In the 3rd inning, Edgargo Alfonzo hit a 2-out homer, and Carlos Lee added an RBI single. In the bottom of the 6th, with the bases loaded, Alfonzo came through again, hitting a grand slam home run to the delight of the home crowd. Jose Mercedes was in top form, throwing 8 2/3 innings, giving up only 1 run in the top of the 9th. Toronto wins game five by a score of 8-1, and are 1 win away from advancing to face the Regulators. TOWERS LEAD 3-2. 10/25/2000, SOM00-TOR00, Dodger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2000 Sluggers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 1 6 2 2000 Towers 0 1 3 0 0 4 0 0 x 8 13 0 7 0 Sluggers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Konerko 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 8 0 0 0 Grebeck 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 1 2 1 0 Nixon cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133 3 0 0 0 Ramirez,M rf 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .389 3 0 0 0 Quinn lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 2 0 0 0 Batista 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 0 3 0 0 Santiago c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 6 0 0 0 Lee ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lugo ss 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .462 1 3 0 0 Tapani p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Frye ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 0 0 0 0 Reed p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Perez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Brewington p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 32 1 5 1 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 8 1 0 Towers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Becker rf 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 2 0 0 0 Guillen,J rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Alfonzo 2b 5 2 3 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 1 6 0 0 Klesko lf 5 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .410 3 0 0 0 Lee 1b 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 13 0 0 0 Rodriguez c 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .415 3 1 0 0 Tejada ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 0 3 0 0 Ventura 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297 2 3 0 0 Lofton cf 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 3 0 0 0 Mercedes p 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100 0 0 0 0 Hawkins p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 36 8 13 8 3 0 2 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 13 0 0 Sluggers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Tapani L 0-2 5.0 9 4 4 0 2 82 50 23 1 0 0 0 2 6.35 Reed 2.0 3 4 4 3 2 42 21 12 1 0 0 0 0 9.00 Brewington 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 20 13 4 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 8.0 13 8 8 3 6 144 84 39 2 0 0 0 2 Towers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Mercedes W 2-1 8.2 5 1 1 2 3 109 64 33 0 0 0 0 0 4.38 Hawkins 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.68 9.0 5 1 1 2 3 112 65 34 0 0 0 0 0 SOM: Frye batted for Tapani in the 6th Perez batted for Reed in the 8th Lee batted for Santiago in the 9th TOR: Guillen,J inserted at rf in the 9th GWRBI: Lofton Temperature: 84, Sky: clear, Wind: right to left at 1 MPH. *********************************************************************** GAME SIX -- Towers (Fassero) at Sluggers (Ashby) Toronto looking to advance in the playoffs, Somerville looking to advance to a 7th game. In the top of the 2nd, the Towers put themselves first on the board with a solo shot by Tejada. Later in the inning, the Towers loaded the bases to bring up Rich Becker. Becker was not one to hit homers this year, but game six was a different story. Becker breaks this game wide open with a grand slam home run. 5-0 Towers after 2. Andy Ashby lasts just 1 1/3 innings. In the 3rd inning, Toronto puts on 4 more runs for a 9-0 lead. The game was never in doubt after that. Somerville did come back in the later innings to put up some runs, but it wasn't enough. Toronto wins game six by a score of 12-8, and advance to the 1st round playoffs to face the Hillsborough Regulators. TOWERS WIN 4-2. 10/26/2000, TOR00-SOM00, Wrigley Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2000 Towers 0 5 4 1 0 0 2 0 0 12 11 1 8 3 2000 Sluggers 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 3 8 11 2 4 1 Towers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Becker rf 2 1 1 5 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 0 0 0 0 Guillen,J rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Alfonzo 2b 6 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 4 2 0 0 Klesko lf 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364 2 0 0 0 Lee 1b 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 9 1 0 0 Rodriguez c 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .413 5 1 0 0 Tejada ss 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .364 2 8 0 0 Ventura 3b 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 2 1 0 0 Lofton cf 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 3 0 0 0 Fassero p 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 0 0 0 0 Hatteberg ph 1 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Hawkins p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 0 Patterson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Santiago p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 37 12 11 12 1 0 3 8 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 27 13 1 0 Sluggers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Konerko 1b 5 2 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 5 0 1 0 Frye 2b 5 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357 4 3 0 0 Trammell lf 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 5 0 0 0 Ramirez,M rf 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364 1 0 0 0 Quinn cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 4 0 0 0 Andrews 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 1 0 Smith,M ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Estalella c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091 7 0 0 1 Halter ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .600 0 2 0 0 Wehner ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Grebeck ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Ashby p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Reed p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Brewington p 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lee ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Garibay p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 LaRue ph 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 36 8 11 7 1 0 2 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 7 2 1 Towers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Fassero W 2-0 6.0 5 5 5 3 5 105 62 25 2 0 0 0 1 6.50 Hawkins H 1 2.2 5 3 3 0 1 51 30 12 0 0 0 0 2 7.00 Patterson 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.80 Santiago S 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 11 8 8 3 6 165 97 39 2 0 0 0 3 Sluggers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Ashby L 0-1 1.1 3 5 4 2 0 41 22 10 2 0 0 0 0 14.21 Lowe 1.1 2 4 3 3 1 40 19 9 0 0 0 0 0 7.71 Reed 0.1 1 1 1 1 0 21 11 3 0 0 0 0 0 10.13 Brewington 4.0 4 2 2 1 6 56 34 18 1 0 0 0 0 4.50 Garibay 2.0 1 0 0 1 0 20 12 7 0 0 0 0 1 1.80 9.0 11 12 10 8 7 178 98 47 3 0 0 0 1 TOR: Hatteberg batted for Fassero in the 7th Guillen,J inserted at rf in the 9th SOM: Wehner batted for Halter in the 7th Lee batted for Brewington in the 7th Grebeck inserted at ss in the 8th Smith,M batted for Andrews in the 9th LaRue batted for Garibay in the 9th GWRBI: Tejada Temperature: 51, Sky: clear, Wind: none.