1996 CFOD PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Carolina Lightning (97-65) vs Charlottesville Squids (97-65) (HFA): Two teams, one was expected to be here, one was not. The Squids were picked to be easy winners of the Mantle Division pennant. Well, things didn't go quite as smoothly, as the Squids had to battle the Dogs and Syndicate through much of the season for a chance to make the playoffs, much less win the division. Still, they came through to their predicted finish, along with the best record in the MK conference. The Squids had one of the league's best offenses, scoring 889 runs. Their all-CFOD outfield consists of league RBI-leader Juan Gonzalez, Brady Anderson and Gary Sheffield. John Jaha, the guy who the Squids traded a very high #1 pick for, then traded away, then traded back for again, joins the outfield in the Squids' 30+ homer club. The offense has no holes to speak of. The starting pitching staff is consistent as well. John Smiley, Juan Guzman and Chuck Nagy each won at least 15 games, and John Wetteland, one of the best closers ever to grace the CFOD, was brought aboard in mid-season to shut down the opponent in the 9th inning. The Lightning were one of the surprising teams this year. Slated to finish a distant 4th, the Lightning kept pace with the Coneheads throughout the first half. The offense was as good as predicted, with just about every position having a slugger installed. Mid-way through the season the Lightning traded for all-CFOD outfielder Jay Buhner, who averaged nearly an RBI a game in his stint for the Lightning. What was surprising was the pitching. Tom Gordon and Kevin Gross kept their ERA in the lower 4's to win a combined 22 games with a .500+ record. Ramon Martinez won 15 games with 180+ innings, and David Cone's 1st half and 2nd half acquisition Tim Belcher combined to a 15-5 record. The reliever corps saved a league-high 60 games. On paper the two teams are fairly evenly matched. The Lightning had a slightly lower ERA than the Squids. The AVG/OBA/SLG numbers were remarkably similar, although the Squids managed to generate 100 more runs than the Lightning. The Squids have home field advantage, but that didn't seem to help in the regular season, as the Lightning won all 5 of their games against the Squids. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Squids vs. Lightning -- 1996 CFOD Playoffs Round 1 GAME ONE -- Lightning (R Martinez) at Squids (J Guzman). Game one was definitely a display of pitching, as both starting pitchers put in excellent performances. Ramon Martinez's only faults were a Juan Gonzalez RBI single in the bottom of the first, and a Gary Sheffield solo shot in the 6th. On most days, that would have been good enough for the win .. but this is the playoffs, when people step up their cyber-performances. Juan Guzman did. Guzman was practically unhittable, throwing a 2-hit complete game shutout, frustrating the Lightning with 11 K's as the Squids take the opening game 2-0. SQUIDS LEAD 1-0. Series 1 9/22/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Tiger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Lightning 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 96 Squids 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 2 5 0 5 0 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB H'lndswrth cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 0 0 0 Bell rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 7 0 1 0 Bichette lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Williams,M 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500 3 2 0 0 Ripken,C ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 3 0 0 Baerga 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 1 0 0 Joyner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Martin 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Wilson c 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 6 0 0 0 Lloyd p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Martinez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Parent c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 27 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 11 0 1 0 0 1 0 24 8 1 0 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 3 0 0 Girardi c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 11 1 0 0 Sheffield lf 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .667 3 0 0 0 Anderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 1 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 6 1 0 0 Seitzer 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 2 1 0 0 Grudz'lnek ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 2 0 0 Guzman p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 28 2 5 2 0 0 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 27 9 0 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Martinez L 0-1 7.0 4 2 1 2 5 27 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.29 Lloyd 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8.0 5 2 1 2 5 31 1 0 0 0 1 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Guzman W 1-0 9.0 2 0 0 1 11 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 2 0 0 1 11 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 CAR: Joyner batted for Baerga in the 8th Parent inserted at c in the 8th Martin inserted at 2b in the 8th GWRBI: Gonzalez Temperature: 65, Field: wet, Sky: threatening, Wind: out to right at 9 MPH, Rain Delays: 48 minutes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME TWO -- Squids (Nagy) at Lightning (Gordon). The Lightning were hoping for a different result in game two, and they got it, thanks in large part to a couple of 2-run shots: Mark Parent in the 4th and Matt Williams in the 6th. Mike Trombley pitched two scoreless innings to get the save as the Lightning defeated the Squids 5-3. SERIES TIED 1-1. Series 6 9/23/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Yankee Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Squids 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 8 2 6 0 96 Lightning 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 x 5 5 1 4 1 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 2 0 0 Lewis,M ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 Girardi c 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 11 0 0 0 Sheffield lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 2 0 0 0 Anderson cf 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .286 2 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 1 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 8 0 0 0 Seitzer 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 0 1 0 Grudz'lnek ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 0 3 1 0 Nagy p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Perez,R ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 Rojas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Schall ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 33 3 8 3 0 0 0 2 9 0 0 0 1 0 0 24 5 2 0 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB H'lndswrth cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 1 0 Bell rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 .000 13 0 0 0 Bichette lf 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .143 0 0 0 0 Williams,M 3b 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 3 0 0 Ripken,C ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 1 3 0 0 Parent c 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 9 1 0 0 Baerga 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0 Lloyd p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Trombley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Gordon p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Stynes 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 31 5 5 5 0 0 2 2 11 1 0 1 0 0 0 27 12 1 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Nagy L 0-1 6.0 5 5 4 1 8 26 2 1 0 1 0 0 6.00 Rojas 2.0 0 0 0 1 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8.0 5 5 4 2 11 33 2 1 0 1 0 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Gordon W 1-0 6.1 7 3 2 2 8 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.84 Lloyd 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Trombley S 1 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 1 0 1 0 0.00 9.0 8 3 2 2 9 36 0 0 1 0 1 0 CHA: Perez,R batted for Nagy in the 7th Lewis,M batted for Offerman in the 7th Lewis,M moved to 2b in the 7th Schall batted for Rojas in the 9th CAR: Stynes inserted at 2b in the 7th GWRBI: Parent Temperature: 43, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 10 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME THREE -- Lightning (Belcher) at Squids (Smiley). The fireworks came out early for this one, as neither starter did well. Bichette started things off in the top of the first with an RBI double. In the bottom of the first, the Squids started the show. Jose Offerman singles, steals 2nd, advances to third on a Belcher wild pitch, and scores on a fielder's choice. With 2 outs, Juan Gonzalez hits an RBI double. 2-1. John Jaha hits an RBI single. 3-1. Mark Grudzielanek hits an RBI single to make it 4-1 Squids at the end of the first. Tim Belcher would last 1 1/3 innings, with 7 hits and 5 earned runs. We go to the top of the 6th, with the Squids having a commanding 8-3 lead. But not for long. Jay Buhner, in his first playoff game in a Lightning uniform, has a solo shot to make it 8-4. Mo Vaughn knocks in Bichette on an RBI double, then scores on a fielder's choice to make it 8-6. Top of the 7th. Moment of truth time. Bases loaded, 2 outs, Juden facing Mo Vaughn. Juden promptly threw the pitch away, allowing a run to score to make it 8-7. Juden was done for the day. Part-time closer Mel Rojas comes on, who walks Mo Vaughn to load the bases. Up comes Cal Ripken. The pitch .. the swing .. the K. Ripken strikes out to end the inning, stopping short the Lightning comeback. John Wetteland comes onboard the ninth to pitch a flawless inning to give the Squids the 8-7 win. SQUIDS LEAD 2-1. Series 10 9/24/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Tiger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Lightning 1 1 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 7 11 1 5 1 96 Squids 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 x 8 12 0 8 1 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Bell cf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .167 2 0 0 0 Cummings ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Martin 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 3 0 0 Hale ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Buhner rf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0 Bichette lf 3 2 3 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 2 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 10 1 0 0 Ripken,C ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273 1 4 0 0 Johnson c 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333 4 0 0 0 Stynes 3b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 1 0 0 Williams,M 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 0 1 1 0 Belcher p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Petkovsek p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Torres p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Wilson ph 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Lloyd p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Joyner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Magnante p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 33 7 11 6 3 0 2 4 7 2 1 0 0 1 1 24 11 1 0 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 5 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .417 2 5 0 0 Girardi c 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 8 3 0 0 Sheffield lf 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .375 2 1 0 0 Wetteland p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Anderson cf 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 0 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 4 2 2 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 1 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 4 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 8 0 0 0 Rojas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Kieschnick lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Seitzer 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 1 2 0 0 Grudz'lnek ss 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 1 3 0 0 Smiley p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Juden p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Schall 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 0 0 0 36 8 12 8 3 0 2 3 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 27 14 0 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Belcher L 0-1 1.1 7 5 5 2 0 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 33.75 Petkovsek 2.0 4 3 2 0 2 10 2 0 0 0 1 0 9.00 Torres 2.2 1 0 0 1 1 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00 Lloyd 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Magnante 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8.0 12 8 7 3 4 40 2 0 1 1 1 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Smiley W 1-0 5.0 11 6 6 0 3 23 2 0 0 0 0 0 10.80 Juden 1.2 0 1 1 3 2 8 0 0 0 2 0 0 5.40 Rojas 1.1 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Wetteland S 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 11 7 7 4 7 39 2 0 0 2 0 0 CAR: Williams,M inserted at 3b in the 4th Wilson batted for Torres in the 7th Joyner batted for Lloyd in the 8th Cummings batted for Bell in the 9th Hale batted for Martin in the 9th CHA: Schall inserted at 1b in the 7th Kieschnick inserted at lf in the 9th GWRBI: Gonzalez Chris Stynes was ejected from this game Temperature: 50, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 5 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME FOUR -- Squids (Osvaldo Fernandez) at Lightning (Kevin Gross). Of all the games to have a bad day. Mark Grudzielanek is no Ozzie Smith in his prime, but this was rediculous. Bottom of the third, the score tied 1-1, one of Grudz' errors lets Mo Vaughn score from third to make it 2-1. The Squids eventually tie it up at 3-3 until the bottom of the 6th. Grudz' works his magic again, booting a grounder that lets Cal Ripken on base, who later scores on a Dan Wilson RBI single to make it 4-3. Grudzielanek had a chance to redeem himself at the plate in the top of the 8th, but with 2 outs and the bases loaded, Grudz pops out. Trombley pitches 2 scoreless innings (and avoids an attempt at John Jaha taking his head off) to get the save as the Lightning make use of Grudzielanek's *3* errors in the game to win 4-3. Only 1 run the Lightning scored was earned. SERIES TIED 2-2. Series 14 9/25/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Yankee Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Squids 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 8 3 9 2 96 Lightning 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 x 4 9 0 8 2 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .412 1 8 0 0 Girardi c 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .125 3 0 0 0 Kieschnick ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Sheffield lf 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 3 0 0 0 Anderson cf 2 2 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .308 2 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 2 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .385 10 0 0 0 Schall pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Seitzer 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 1 0 0 Grudz'lnek ss 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 2 1 3 0 Fernandez p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Juden p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Perez,R ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 30 3 8 3 2 0 2 6 4 0 2 0 2 1 0 24 14 3 0 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB H'lndswrth cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 0 0 0 0 Bell rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 3 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 9 1 0 0 Bichette lf 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .385 1 0 0 0 Williams,M 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273 3 1 0 0 Ripken,C ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .286 2 5 0 0 Baerga 2b 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 5 4 0 0 Wilson c 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 4 2 0 0 Gross p 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Magnante p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Trombley p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 31 4 9 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 27 13 0 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Fernandez L 0-1 6.1 7 4 1 2 2 30 0 0 2 0 2 0 1.42 Juden 1.2 2 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.70 8.0 9 4 1 2 3 36 0 0 2 0 2 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Gross W 1-0 6.0 6 3 3 4 4 28 2 0 1 0 1 0 4.50 Magnante 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Trombley S 2 2.0 1 0 0 2 0 9 0 0 1 0 1 0 0.00 9.0 8 3 3 6 4 39 2 0 2 0 2 0 CHA: Schall ran for Jaha in the 8th Schall moved to 1b in the 8th Perez,R batted for Juden in the 9th Kieschnick batted for Girardi in the 9th GWRBI: Wilson John Jaha was ejected from this game Temperature: 58, Sky: clear, Wind: out to right at 1 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME FIVE -- Lightning (R Martinez) at Squids (J Guzman). The Lightning got *THRASHED* in this one. Juan Gonzalez was the dominant force, with a 3rd inning grand slam, 7th inning RBI double and 8th inning 2-RBI single for 7 total RBI as the Squids demolished the Lightning 9-0. SQUIDS LEAD 3-2. Series 20 9/26/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Tiger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Lightning 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 8 1 96 Squids 0 1 4 0 0 0 1 3 x 9 9 1 9 1 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB H'lndswrth cf 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200 1 0 0 0 Bell rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150 1 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 6 1 0 0 Bichette lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 2 0 0 0 Williams,M 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .308 0 1 1 0 Ripken,C ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 1 4 0 0 Baerga 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 3 3 0 0 Wilson c 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364 9 1 0 0 Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Torres p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Joyner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Mathews p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Person p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 31 0 6 0 1 0 0 2 7 1 0 0 1 1 0 24 11 1 0 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 4 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .429 3 2 0 0 Girardi c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158 5 2 0 0 Sheffield lf 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .250 5 0 0 0 Anderson cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .267 2 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 5 2 3 7 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 1 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 9 0 0 0 Seitzer 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 2 2 1 0 Grudz'lnek ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 0 3 0 0 Guzman p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Schall ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Wetteland p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 32 9 9 9 2 0 1 7 9 0 1 1 3 0 0 27 9 1 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Martinez L 0-2 3.2 4 5 5 5 2 20 1 0 2 0 1 0 5.06 Torres 3.1 1 1 1 1 5 14 0 0 1 0 0 0 1.50 Mathews 0.2 3 3 3 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 40.50 Person 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8.0 9 9 9 7 9 42 1 1 3 0 1 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Guzman W 2-0 8.0 5 0 0 2 6 31 0 0 1 0 1 0 0.00 Wetteland 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 6 0 0 2 7 35 0 0 1 0 1 0 CAR: Joyner batted for Torres in the 8th CHA: Schall batted for Guzman in the 8th GWRBI: Grudz'lnek Temperature: 61, Field: wet, Sky: threatening, Wind: in from right at 11 MPH, Rain Delays: 22 and 19 minutes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME SIX -- Squids (Nagy) at Lightning (Gordon). The Lightning lept out of the gate in the bottom of the first on a 2-run shot by Dante Bichette. The Squids nickel and dimed their way back to a tie on a 2nd inning Jaha RBI single and a 5th inning RBI single by Anderson. The Squids took the lead in the 8th on a solo shot by John Jaha. The Squids started celebrating early, as stud closer John Wetteland was brought in to end the Lightning's season. What he didn't count on was a continuous parade of lefties, which ended up with pinch hitting lefty Midre Cummings banging out a 3-run homer to give the Lightning the 5-3 lead. Mike Trombley pitched a perfect 9th inning to give the Lightning the win, and forces a 7th game on Squid turf. SERIES TIED 3-3. Series 21 9/27/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Yankee Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Squids 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 11 0 10 1 96 Lightning 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 x 5 7 0 5 2 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .440 2 2 0 0 Wetteland p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Girardi c 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 6 1 0 1 Sheffield lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 0 0 Anderson cf 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 4 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 3 0 0 0 Gutierrez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 4 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 7 0 0 0 Seitzer 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 0 3 0 0 Javier rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Grudz'lnek ss 3 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 2 0 0 Nagy p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Perez,R ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Wehner 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 34 3 11 3 0 1 1 5 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 24 9 0 1 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB H'lndswrth cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .211 1 0 0 0 Bell rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 .190 1 1 0 0 Joyner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Stynes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .176 10 1 0 0 Bichette lf 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 2 0 0 0 Cummings ph 1 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 1 0 0 0 Williams,M 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 0 2 0 0 Ripken,C ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 2 5 0 0 Parent c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 0 0 0 Petkovsek p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Lloyd p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Buhner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 0 0 0 0 Trombley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Baerga 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 4 3 0 0 Gordon p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Wilson c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 5 0 0 0 30 5 7 5 0 0 2 3 6 3 0 1 1 0 0 27 13 0 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Nagy 7.0 5 2 2 1 5 27 1 0 1 0 1 0 4.15 Wetteland L 0-1 1.0 2 3 3 2 1 7 1 1 0 0 0 0 9.00 8.0 7 5 5 3 6 34 2 1 1 0 1 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Gordon 4.1 7 2 2 5 1 22 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38 Petkovsek 1.2 2 0 0 0 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.91 Lloyd W 1-0 2.0 2 1 1 0 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.93 Trombley S 3 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 11 3 3 5 6 40 1 0 0 0 1 0 CHA: Perez,R batted for Nagy in the 8th Gutierrez inserted at 2b in the 8th Javier inserted at rf in the 8th Wehner inserted at 3b in the 8th CAR: Wilson inserted at c in the 5th Joyner batted for Bell in the 8th Cummings batted for Bichette in the 8th Buhner batted for Lloyd in the 8th Stynes inserted at lf in the 9th Cummings moved to rf in the 9th GWRBI: Cummings Temperature: 57, Sky: clear, Wind: right to left at 7 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME SEVEN -- Lightning (Belcher) at Squids (Smiley). At the beginning of the series, it was expected to be close. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, so it should come as no surprise that a game seven was needed. The Squids and Lightning had each won their home games. Would game seven be any different? The Squids were the first ones on the board in the first with a Gary Sheffield solo shot. They were also the first ones to get on the board a second and third time on a Gruz triple/Belcher wild pitch in the 3rd and a Jaha sac. fly in the 4th. No matter what Belcher did, the Squids kept scoring. Jaha struck again in the 6th with a 2-run shot. By this time the Squid fans at the stadium were anticipating a series victory. Then, the crowd quieted a bit in the 8th when Derek Bell slammed a homer, scoring himself and Todd Hollandsworth. But the cheers soon returned in the bottom of the 8th when Jaha had an RBI single and Kevin Seitzer capped off the series with a 3-run shot. Mel Rojas pitched a flawless ninth to seal the win, as the Squids win in a blowout, 9-2, and go on to face the Sluggers in the Mantle-Koufax conference final. SQUIDS WIN 4-3. Series 25 9/28/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Tiger Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Lightning 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 0 5 0 96 Squids 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 4 x 9 10 1 4 0 Lightning AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Bell cf 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 1 0 0 0 Martin 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Buhner rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 1 0 0 0 Bichette lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0 Vaughn 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150 11 0 0 0 Ripken,C ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160 1 4 0 0 Stynes 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 4 0 0 Wilson c 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 7 0 0 0 Belcher p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 1 0 0 0 H'lndswrth ph 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 0 0 Petkovsek p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Urbina p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 32 2 5 2 1 0 1 2 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 24 9 0 0 Squids AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Offerman 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .379 5 3 0 0 Girardi c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .107 8 1 0 0 Sheffield lf 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 1 0 0 0 Anderson cf 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 1 0 0 0 Gonzalez rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 3 0 0 0 Jaha 1b 3 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .375 8 0 0 0 Seitzer 3b 4 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 1 1 0 0 Grudz'lnek ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 5 1 0 Smiley p 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 0 0 0 0 Rojas p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 33 9 10 8 2 1 3 2 7 0 0 0 1 0 1 27 10 1 0 Lightning INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Belcher L 0-2 7.0 7 5 5 1 6 30 2 0 1 1 0 0 10.80 Petkovsek 0.0 2 3 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 12.27 Urbina 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 9.00 8.0 10 9 9 2 7 37 3 0 1 1 0 0 Squids INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Smiley W 2-0 7.0 5 2 2 2 5 29 1 0 0 0 0 0 6.00 Rojas S 1 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 5 2 2 2 8 34 1 0 0 0 0 0 CAR: H'lndswrth batted for Belcher in the 8th GWRBI: Sheffield Temperature: 67, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: left to right at 12 MPH.