1996 CFOD PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Rivendell Thunder (94-68) vs California Coneheads (114-48) (HFA): The Thunder become the latest team to face the mighty Conehead franchise in post-season play. Picked to finish 5th in their division, the Thunder put up a strong performance all season, finishing 2nd in their division to nab the last league wildcard slot. Mark McGwire had a huge year, hitting 54 homers, scoring 116 runs and driving in 143. It also helped that Velarde and Boggs were in front of him, each having OBA's in the .400 range. Otis Nixon was a good leadoff hitter, scoring 94 runs and stealing 63 bases. Marquis Grissom benefitted from hitting behind McGwire, driving in 129 runs. A slumping Benito Santiago was traded for Terry Steinbach, who immediately gave the Thunder some slugging behind the plate. The pitching staff was decent enough in '96. Doug Linton put in a good half-year and was named to the all-star team. Jimmy Key, Kevin Tapani, Dwight Gooden and Roger Pavlik seemed interchangable, each having a fairly high ERA, lots of innings pitched and 12-13 wins each. The Coneheads are the Coneheads. It seems as if the only competition for the Coneheads are the performances of the team in years past. Believe it or not, the Coneheads are trying to break a 4-game losing streak in the playoffs, when they were denied a chance to get their 5th straight CFOD championship. The Conehead hitters put up typically great performances, although several players played below expectations. What gave the Coneheads their 114 wins this year was due to three players: Alex Fernandez, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Never in the history of the CFOD has a team had Cy Young caliber performances from three of their starters in the same year. Each pitched 250+ innings, had top ten ERA's, and each won 20+ games. The bullpen is certainly capable of finishing the 2/3rds of a inning usually required of them. The Coneheads look to have the advantage in both hitting and pitching over the Thunder. The Coneheads also won the season series 5-2. On paper, it doesn't look good for the Thunder. The Thunder will have to hope the top five in their order have big games, or else the series could end quickly. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thunder vs. Coneheads -- 1996 CFOD Playoffs Round 1 GAME ONE -- Thunder (Key) at Coneheads (Smoltz). Top of the first, the Thunder give a demonstration of their offense. Boggs singles, gets advanced to 2nd by Randy Velarde, Smoltz intentionally walks McGwire, and then Marquis Grissom singles in Boggs to make it 1-0 Thunder. In the 4th, the Thunder strike again, with Steinbach singling in Mark McGwire to make it a 2-0 Thunder lead. Then, in typical Conehead fashion, they tie it up the next inning with a 2-run shot by Rex Hudler. But Mark McGwire broke the tie in the 6th with a monster 2-run shot to make it 4-2. After that, it was a case of missed opportunities for both teams. Top of the 7th, 1 out, bases loaded, John Smoltz against Randy Velarde. Whiff! 2 outs, bases loaded, John Smoltz against Mark McGwire. Whiff! Smoltz avoids an ugly inning. Bottom of the 8th, Eric Plunk in relief of Jimmy Key with the bases loaded with .. 1 out. Then, Kurt Abbott proves his worth as a shortstop by grounding into a inning-ending double play. But the Coneheads weren't done yet. Bottom of the 9th, Eric Plunk pitching again, 2 outs, bases loaded, defending a 2 run lead, facing Frank Thomas. Highlight reel time? Yes ... for the Thunder. Thomas knocks the pitch in the dirt and Steinbach steps on the plate to end the game, as the Thunder take home field advantage away from the Coneheads in a 4-2 victory. THUNDER LEAD 1-0. Series 3 9/22/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Anaheim Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Thunder 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 4 10 1 9 1 96 Coneheads 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 2 10 0 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Nixon lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 0 0 0 Candaele 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 0 Boggs 3b 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 4 0 0 Nevin ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Bullett lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Velarde ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333 1 1 0 0 Perez,T 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 McGwire 1b 3 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .667 3 0 0 0 Benjamin ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Grissom cf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 3 0 0 0 Steinbach c 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 11 1 0 0 Carreon rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 0 0 0 Amaro rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lockhart 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0 Listach ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Helling p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Plunk p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Key p 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Franco 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 36 4 10 4 0 0 1 3 10 2 0 1 0 1 0 27 6 1 0 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB White cf 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 2 1 0 0 Biggio 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 2 0 0 Vaughn ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .600 5 1 0 0 Piazza c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 10 1 0 0 Hudler lf 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 3 0 0 0 O'Neill ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Abbott ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0 Ramirez rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 1 0 Thome 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0 Stank'wicz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Erstad ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 Smoltz p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Bartee ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Guthrie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 0 Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 36 2 10 2 0 0 1 3 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 6 2 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Key W 1-0 7.0 7 2 2 0 8 28 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.57 Helling 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Plunk S 1 1.2 2 0 0 3 2 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9.0 10 2 2 3 10 39 1 0 0 0 1 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Smoltz L 0-1 7.0 9 4 4 2 9 31 1 1 0 1 0 0 5.14 Guthrie 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 10 4 4 3 10 40 1 1 0 1 0 0 RIV: Listach batted for Lockhart in the 8th Franco inserted at 1b in the 8th Perez,T inserted at 2b in the 8th Benjamin inserted at ss in the 8th Amaro inserted at rf in the 8th Nevin batted for Boggs in the 9th Candaele inserted at 3b in the 9th Bullett inserted at lf in the 9th CAL: Stank'wicz batted for Thome in the 7th Bartee batted for Smoltz in the 7th Stank'wicz moved to 3b in the 8th O'Neill batted for Hudler in the 8th O'Neill moved to lf in the 9th Erstad batted for Stank'wicz in the 9th Sweeney batted for Guthrie in the 9th Vaughn batted for Biggio in the 9th GWRBI: McGwire Temperature: 91, Sky: clear, Wind: out to center at 1 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME TWO -- Coneheads (Glavine) at Thunder (Linton). A game of big innings and missed opportunities. We go to the 6th inning. 0-0 tie. Glavine on the mound in a bases loaded situation against Marquis Grissom, who promptly hits a 2-run single. Then, Grissom steals 2nd. Piazza with the throw .. over Biggio's head .. into the outfield. Another Thunder run scores to make it 3-0. We move to the top of the 7th. Bases loaded, Eric Plunk pitching, 2 outs, facing Greg Vaughn .. who promptly whiffs to end the inning. Bottom of the 8th, Velarde triples, and Terry Steinbach hits an RBI double to make it 4-1. Final Conehead chance at the top of the 9th. 2 outs, bases loaded, the 4th pitcher of the night is Dennis Cook, facing Mark Sweeney. Same result, different players. Sweeney hits the pitch in the dirt and Steinbach steps on the plate to force Devon White. The Thunder have pulled off the improbable, beating Cy Young winner Tom Glavine and the Coneheads for the 2nd straight game in the 4-1 victory. Coneheads leave 12 batters on base. THUNDER LEADS SERIES 2-0. Series 8 9/23/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Jacobs Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Coneheads 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 2 12 1 96 Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 x 4 6 1 6 0 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Biggio 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 1 3 0 0 O'Neill rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 4 0 0 0 Erstad ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 10 0 0 0 Thome 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 2 0 0 Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Piazza c 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 2 1 1 0 Ramirez lf 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 0 0 0 Vaughn cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0 Arias ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 3 5 1 0 Glavine p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Hudler ph 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 0 0 0 0 Guthrie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 White ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 34 1 7 1 0 0 0 2 7 0 0 0 3 0 1 24 11 2 0 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Nixon lf 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 0 0 0 Listach 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 2 2 0 0 Velarde ss 3 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 1 3 0 0 Steinbach c 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 7 0 0 0 Grissom cf 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .375 6 0 0 0 Franco 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .250 6 0 0 0 Carreon rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Helling p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Plunk p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Boggs 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 1 0 0 Linton p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 1 0 Amaro rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 30 4 6 3 2 1 0 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 27 6 1 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Glavine L 0-1 6.0 4 3 2 3 1 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 Guthrie 2.0 2 1 1 1 0 9 0 1 0 0 1 0 2.25 8.0 6 4 3 4 1 34 0 1 0 0 1 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Linton W 1-0 6.1 3 1 1 1 5 26 0 0 2 0 0 0 1.42 Helling 1.1 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Plunk 0.2 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00 Cook S 1 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 7 1 1 2 7 40 0 0 3 0 0 0 CAL: Hudler batted for Glavine in the 7th White batted for Guthrie in the 9th Erstad batted for O'Neill in the 9th Sweeney batted for Thome in the 9th RIV: Amaro inserted at rf in the 7th GWRBI: Grissom Temperature: 66, Sky: clear, Wind: out to center at 7 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME THREE -- Thunder (Tapani) at Coneheads (Fernandez). Alex Fernandez hopes to turn around this nightmare of a series, but it didn't look good. Through 7 1/2 innings, the Thunder enjoyed a 6-0 lead, thanks to a no-hitter through 7 innings by Kevin Tapani. Then the wheels started to fall off the Thunder wagon. In the bottom of the 8th, Tapani allowed 3 walks and a hit to break up the no-hitter. Tapani then walked in Greg Vaughn to end the shutout. Tapani would leave the 8th with the bases loaded and 0 outs. Enter Rich Helling. Alex Arias flies out without anyone scoring. Erstad then hits into a fielders choice which allows a Conehead run to score to make it 6-2 Thunder. We go to the bottom of the 9th, Dennis Cook on the mound. Manny Ramirez had hit a 2-RBI double to make it a 6-4 Thunder lead. 2 on, 2 outs for Alex Arias. This was Arias' second shot at redeeming himself .. and he gggg'hs at the chance with a whiff. The Conehead nightmare continues. THUNDER LEADS 3-0. Series 12 9/24/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Anaheim Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Thunder 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 6 10 1 8 0 96 Coneheads 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 3 1 4 0 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Nixon lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .111 4 0 0 0 Boggs 3b 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 1 0 0 Velarde ss 3 2 1 2 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .444 2 3 0 0 McGwire 1b 5 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 6 1 1 0 Grissom cf 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 2 0 0 0 Steinbach c 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .364 6 0 0 0 Burnitz rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .500 4 0 0 0 Lockhart 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0 Tapani p 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 1 1 0 0 Helling p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 36 6 10 6 0 0 2 5 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 27 7 1 0 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Biggio 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0 O'Neill rf 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .385 8 0 0 0 Thome 3b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0 Piazza c 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 6 0 1 0 Ramirez lf 4 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 3 0 0 0 Vaughn cf 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 5 0 0 0 Arias ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 1 3 0 0 Fernandez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Hudler ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 0 0 Smith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Naulty p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Erstad ph 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Shuey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 31 4 3 4 2 0 0 3 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 27 7 1 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Tapani W 1-0 7.0 1 2 2 3 5 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.57 Helling 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.38 Cook 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 5.40 9.0 3 4 4 3 6 35 0 0 1 0 0 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Fernandez L 0-1 6.0 5 3 2 2 6 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 Smith 1.0 2 3 3 1 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 27.00 Naulty 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Shuey 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 10 6 5 5 6 41 2 0 0 0 0 0 CAL: Hudler batted for Fernandez in the 6th Erstad batted for Naulty in the 8th GWRBI: Boggs Temperature: 77, Sky: clear, Wind: none. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME FOUR -- Coneheads (Worrell) at Thunder (Gooden). This was not what the Coneheads had in mind. Tim Worrell was not supposed to be the last hope of the Coneheads to avoid elimination. Nevertheless, he had to be the stopper in order for the Coneheads to have any hope of pulling out the win. Mike Piazza started things off in the first with an RBI single. Both Worrell and Gooden would remain strong for most of the game. In the bottom of the 7th, Marquis Grissom had a solo shot to tie up the game at 1 apiece. In the top of the 8th, Jim Thome hit an RBI triple to give the Coneheads the lead. A Wade Boggs error would allow Thome to score, resulting in a 3-1 Conehead lead. Tim Worrell would prove to be the stopper that Smoltz, Glavine or Fernandez could not be, going on the distance on a 4-hitter with only 1 earned run. THUNDER LEADS 3-1. Series 15 9/25/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Jacobs Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Coneheads 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 7 0 7 1 96 Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 2 4 1 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Biggio 2b 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .059 3 2 0 0 O'Neill rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 0 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357 8 1 0 0 Thome 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 0 1 0 0 Piazza c 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 7 1 0 0 Ramirez lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 2 0 0 0 Vaughn cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091 5 0 0 0 Abbott ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 0 4 0 0 Worrell p 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 34 3 7 2 0 1 0 3 11 0 1 0 0 0 0 27 9 0 0 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Amaro lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 0 0 Boggs 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 1 0 Velarde ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 2 3 0 0 McGwire 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 9 0 0 0 Grissom cf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 2 0 0 0 Steinbach c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 10 2 1 0 Burnitz rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 2 0 0 0 Lockhart 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100 2 3 0 0 Parrett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Gooden p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Candaele 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Franco ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 0 0 0 0 Listach 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 0 0 0 0 30 1 4 1 1 0 1 2 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 8 2 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Worrell W 1-0 9.0 4 1 1 2 8 32 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.00 9.0 4 1 1 2 8 32 1 0 0 0 1 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Gooden L 0-1 7.1 6 2 2 3 8 30 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.45 Parrett 1.2 1 1 0 0 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 7 3 2 3 11 37 0 0 0 0 1 0 RIV: Candaele inserted at 2b in the 8th Franco batted for Candaele in the 8th Listach inserted at 2b in the 9th GWRBI: Thome Temperature: 57, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: out to right at 10 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME FIVE -- Thunder (Key) at Coneheads (Smoltz). Whatever aliens took over the Thunder in the first three games seem to have taken over the Coneheads the last two. The Coneheads scored twice in the first, and that would be all that was needed. The Thunder left *13* batters on base in a 4-1 loss. THUNDER LEADS 3-2. Series 19 9/26/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Anaheim Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Thunder 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 13 1 96 Coneheads 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 x 4 7 0 4 1 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Nixon lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 0 0 0 0 Candaele ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Parra p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Boggs 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 1 4 0 0 Velarde ss 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 1 1 0 0 McGwire 1b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385 8 0 0 0 Grissom cf 5 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 4 0 0 0 Steinbach c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 6 1 0 0 Carreon rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Lockhart 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .071 4 3 0 0 Key p 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 0 0 0 0 Bergman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Franco ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Scott p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Nevin ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 33 1 7 1 2 0 0 8 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 24 9 0 0 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB White cf 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 1 0 0 0 Biggio 2b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .050 2 3 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 9 0 0 0 Piazza c 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235 10 1 0 0 Hudler lf 4 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .375 0 0 0 0 Abbott ss 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 2 2 0 0 Ramirez rf 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 2 0 0 0 Stank'wicz 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Naulty p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Orosco p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Smoltz p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 2 0 0 Smith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Thome 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 0 1 0 0 29 4 7 4 2 0 2 3 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 27 9 0 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Key L 1-1 3.2 6 4 4 3 5 19 2 0 0 0 1 0 5.06 Bergman 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Scott 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Parra 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8.0 7 4 4 3 6 32 2 0 0 0 1 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Smoltz W 1-1 5.0 5 1 1 4 6 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.75 Smith 1.0 1 0 0 3 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 13.50 Naulty 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Orosco S 1 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9.0 7 1 1 8 8 41 0 0 0 0 1 0 RIV: Franco batted for Bergman in the 6th Nevin batted for Scott in the 8th Candaele batted for Nixon in the 8th Nevin moved to lf in the 8th CAL: Thome inserted at 3b in the 7th GWRBI: Hudler Temperature: 74, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: out to right at 5 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME SIX -- Coneheads (Glavine) at Thunder (Linton). The Coneheads have been on a roll, winning the past two games after dropping the first three. Would that continue in game six? The Thunder had the first big inning in the 2nd, with Steinbach hiting a 2-RBI triple, and Linton scoring Steinbach ona double to make it 3-0 Thunder. The Coneheads closed the gap in the third on a Thome RBI double and a Piazza RBI single. Then, in the 7th inning, a moment of truth. Jeff Parrett against Manny Ramirez, with the bases loaded. In the first three games, it would have meant a K. Not today. Ramirez jacks it over the fence, giving the Coneheads the 6-3 lead. They scored again in the 8th, but it was just insurance, as the Conehead pitching corps held the Thunder scoreless after the 2nd to get the 7-3 victory and evened up the series. SERIES TIED 3-3. The Thunder had a commanding 3-0 series lead but have blown it, now having to face the Coneheads on their own turf in game 7. Series 22 9/27/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Jacobs Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Coneheads 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 1 0 7 14 0 9 0 96 Thunder 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 1 6 1 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Biggio 2b 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .080 1 3 0 0 O'Neill rf 4 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 14 1 0 0 Thome 3b 5 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 0 1 0 0 Piazza c 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 3 0 0 0 Ramirez lf 5 1 3 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .381 4 0 0 0 Vaughn cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .067 2 0 0 0 Abbott ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133 3 7 0 0 Glavine p 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333 0 3 0 0 Erstad ph 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Guthrie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Orosco p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 38 7 14 6 1 0 1 3 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 27 16 0 0 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Nixon lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .063 4 0 1 0 Listach 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .222 4 2 0 0 Velarde ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .350 1 2 0 0 McGwire 1b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 3 0 0 0 Grissom cf 4 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346 3 0 0 0 Parra p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Steinbach c 4 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 7 0 0 0 Carreon rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 1 0 0 Boggs 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174 2 1 0 0 Parrett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Burnitz cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 0 0 0 0 Linton p 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 1 0 0 Helling p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Nevin 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 34 3 8 3 3 0 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 27 7 1 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Glavine W 1-1 7.0 7 3 3 2 3 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.46 Guthrie 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.93 Orosco 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 8 3 3 2 3 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Linton 5.0 9 2 2 0 4 23 0 0 1 0 1 0 2.38 Helling L 0-1 1.0 2 2 2 1 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.36 Parrett 2.0 3 3 2 2 0 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.91 Parra 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 14 7 6 3 6 43 1 0 1 0 1 0 CAL: Erstad batted for Glavine in the 8th RIV: Nevin inserted at 3b in the 7th Burnitz inserted at cf in the 9th GWRBI: Ramirez Temperature: 56, Field: wet, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: in from center at 16 MPH. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME SEVEN -- Thunder (Tapani) at Coneheads (Fernandez). If you told each team that there would be a game seven at a certain point in time, neither one would believe you. The Coneheads had the best season in league history, winning 114 games. But three games into the first round of the playoffs, the Thunder were up a surprising 3 games to none lead. The Thunder would throw it all away for the next three games, allowing the Coneheads to win three straight to take back home field advantage and force a 7th game on their home turf. And now .. game seven. The Thunder of the first three games was back with a vengence in the first inning. Otis Nixon singled, stole second and two batters later was driven in by a Randy Velarde double. And then Alex Fernandez had a Big Mac attack. No, not the popular fatty food product, but the fearsome MVP slugger. McGwire took Fernandez deep, making it a 3-0 Thunder lead. In the next inning, the Thunder continued to bat Fernandez around, with a 2-RBI double by Wade Boggs to make it 5-0. Then the Coneheads started to make a comeback. PH Rex Hudler, batting for Fernandez, took Tapani deep in the 5th for a solo shot. Terry Steinbach answered in the 8th with a solo shot of his own. The Coneheads came alive in the bottom of the 8th, with a 2-run shot by Manny Ramirez. But that's all the Coneheads could muster. With 2 outs and no one on base, closer Eric Plunk struck out Paul O'Neill to seal the Thunder win, and an impressive upset of the California Coneheads in a well fought series. The Thunder advance to the Ruth-Young conference finals. THUNDER WINS SERIES 4-3. Series 24 9/28/1996 -- Game 1 of 1, Anaheim Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 96 Thunder 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 12 1 7 1 96 Coneheads 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 8 0 8 0 Thunder AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Nixon lf 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 .150 2 1 0 0 Boggs 3b 5 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 0 0 0 0 Velarde ss 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 0 8 0 0 McGwire 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .350 12 0 0 0 Grissom cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 0 0 0 Steinbach c 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 10 0 0 0 Carreon rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .059 1 0 0 0 Amaro rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 0 0 Lockhart 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 1 4 0 0 Perez,T 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Tapani p 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 0 1 0 Franco ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 0 0 0 0 Bergman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Plunk p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 37 6 12 6 3 0 2 3 6 3 0 1 0 0 0 27 13 1 0 Coneheads AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Biggio 2b 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 3 2 0 0 O'Neill rf 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 4 0 0 0 Thomas,F 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 7 0 0 0 Thome 3b 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .238 1 2 0 0 Piazza c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 5 1 0 0 Ramirez lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .391 2 0 0 0 Vaughn cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .105 4 1 0 0 Arias ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 0 3 0 0 Erstad ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0 0 0 Abbott ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133 0 0 0 0 Fernandez p 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Hudler ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .444 0 0 0 0 Guthrie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Naulty p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Shuey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0 Eusebio ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 34 3 8 3 3 0 2 4 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 27 10 0 0 Thunder INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Tapani W 2-0 7.0 6 1 1 4 5 30 1 1 0 0 1 0 1.93 Bergman 0.1 2 2 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 10.80 Plunk S 2 1.2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 9.0 8 3 3 4 7 38 2 1 0 0 1 0 Coneheads INN H R ER BB K BF HR IW HP WP DP BK ERA Fernandez L 0-2 5.0 9 5 5 2 4 25 1 1 0 0 0 0 5.73 Guthrie 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.59 Naulty 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Shuey 2.0 2 1 1 1 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 9.0 12 6 6 3 6 40 2 1 0 0 0 0 RIV: Franco batted for Tapani in the 8th Amaro inserted at rf in the 8th Perez,T inserted at 2b in the 8th CAL: Hudler batted for Fernandez in the 5th Sweeney batted for Guthrie in the 6th Erstad batted for Arias in the 8th Abbott inserted at ss in the 9th Eusebio batted for Shuey in the 9th GWRBI: Velarde Temperature: 79, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: right to left at 10 MPH.