RL Series Coverage

Series Preview

Game 6

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 13, 2004)

The St. Louis Perfectos advanced to their first Federal Series with a win in one of the most exciting games in NFBL history.

The tension kept mounting throughout the evening as the zeros continued to pile up on the scoreboard.  Oakland's starter Vicente Padilla threw nine shutout innings, allowing just four hits and three walks. 

The Perfectos had a few scoring chances against Padilla, but the Oaks' starter got himself out of the jam each time.  With runners on first and second in the first inning, he got Chipper Jones to hit into a double play.  Juan Pierre tripled with two out in the third, but Padilla retired Endy Chavez.  With runners at the corners in the fourth, Padilla struck out J.R. House.  Felipe Lopez tripled with one out in the eighth, but was stranded when House and Jake Gautreau were unable to bring him home.

Meanwhile, Jake Peavy was mowing down Oaks' batters left and right.  Peavy struck out eleven batters in seven innings and gave up only three hits.  The Oaks had two on in the fourth, and got a leadoff double from Luis Castillo in the fifth, but failed to score either time.  Peavy did walk five batters, but Oakland couldn't cash in, including the seventh inning when Peavy walked two before striking out pinch-hitter Jolbert Cabrera to end the inning.

The St. Louis bullpen picked up where Peavy left off and kept it a scoreless game through nine innings.  Padilla was finally pulled after 114 pitches, and Adam Eaton retired the side in the tenth. 

Then came the fateful eleventh inning.  Juan Pierre led off with his third hit of the game.  Eaton was replaced by Jason Isringhausen.  Pinch-hitter Tommy Whiteman sacrificed Pierre to second, and the Oaks responded by intentionally walking Todd Helton.

Chipper Jones then stroked an opposite-field single off Isringhausen that easily scored Pierre for the game's first run.  Isringhausen got Chase Utley to hit into a double play to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Closer Scott Williamson had already thrown 1 1/3 innings and been hit for by Whiteman, so St. Louis manager Jennifer Gunn turned to Bret Prinz for the save.  Prinz retired Alex Ochoa for the first out.  Neifi Perez beat out a high chopper for an infield single that gave Oakland hope of salvaging its pennant-winning season.

Oakland manager Alex Tamin sent pinch-hitter Mike Kinkade to the plate.  Kinkade bounced one to Gautreau at second, who flipped to Lopez at second.  Lopez leaped over the take-out slide of Perez and fired to Helton at first to complete the double play and the upset.

Williamson was credited with the win.  Combined with his three saves in the series, the closer had a good case for series MVP honors, but that title went to Pierre, who was an offensive sparkplug all series, batting .480 and scoring six runs.

The victory represented redemption for St. Louis, which cruised to the Robinson League pennant in 2003 but was taken out by Kansas City in the LCS.  The Perfectos now have a chance to claim the 2004 Federal Series.

For Oakland, it was a heartbreaking development.  After going all out to put together a fearsome lineup to contend for the 2004 title, the Oaks can only regroup and try to repeat St. Louis' feat in 2005.

Game 5

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 11, 2004)

The St. Louis Perfectos moved to within a game of their first Federal Series thanks to a two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth.

Starters Randy Wolf and Tim Redding pitched well.  Redding retired the first nine Oaks batters in order, then pitched himself out of a jam in the fourth.  The Oaks got their only run in the fifth when Scott Rolen doubled, was bunted to third by Paul LoDuca, and driven in by a Luis Castillo ground ball.  Redding left after six innings, having held Oakland to three hits and a walk.

Wolf went seven innings, also allowing three hits and one walk, but shutting the Perfectos out and handing a 1-0 lead to his bullpen.  The Oaks' defense helped Wolf by turning three double plays.

Oakland's setup man, John Smoltz, began strong in the eighth, striking out Endy Chavez.  But St. Louis shortstop Felipe Lopez, who hit just seven home runs all season, tagged a Smoltz fastball for a solo home run that tied the game.  Chase Utley followed up with a double, and pinch-hitter Javy Lopez doubled as well to score Utley and give the Perfectos a 2-1 lead.

Shane Nance got the Oaks out of the eighth, but Perfectos closer Scott Williamson put the Oaks down 1-2-3 in the ninth for his third save of the series.

The Oaks will now turn to Vicente Padilla (0-0) with their season on the line, while St. Louis is expected to go with Jake Peavy (0-0).

Game 4

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 10, 2004)

Chase Utley's eighth-inning home run broke a 2-2 tie score in the game and created a 2-2 tie in the series.

The Oaks had opportunities early but failed to take full advantage.  St. Louis starter Tom Glavine struggled in the first inning, allowing a leadoff single to Paul LoDuca and, one out later, walking two batters to load the bases.  Scott Rolen smacked a single into left-center that scored one run, but Pat Burrell held up at third rather than challenge Chipper Jones' arm.  That left the bases loaded for Bobby Abreu, but the Oaks' right fielder trickled a check-swing grounder right back to Glavine for an inning-ending double play.

The Oaks' rookie starter Aaron Heilman was shaky in the first also, giving up a single and steal to Juan Pierre and then walking the bases loaded with one out.  Heilman recovered to strike out Chase Utley and got Felipe Lopez to ground out to escape the inning undamaged.

The Oaks hit into another double play in the second and came away empty-handed, but added to their lead in the third on a double by Burrell that drove home Luis Castillo.  Barry Bonds and Rolen stranded Burrell, though, and the lead remained 2-0.

The Perfectos loaded the bases again in the bottom of the third, and this time scored one on Utley's sacrifice fly, but then it was Lopez's turn to tap a double-play ball to the pitcher's mound.

Oakland put two runners aboard in both the fourth and fifth innings, but failed to score either time, with Lopez redeeming his failures at the plate by turning a Barry Bonds grounder into the Oaks' third double play of the game.

Lopez booted a Rafael Furcal grounder in the sixth, but Heilman failed to get a sacrifice bunt down with runners on first and second, and with two strikes on him swung away -- into double play number four.

Heilman had settled down on the mound, though.  He retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth, and was the victim of an unearned run in the sixth when Rolen double-clutched on a J.R. House dribbler with men on the corners.

With the game tied at two, both teams went to their bullpens in the seventh, and neither side threatened.  Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Utley led off against Shane Nance (L, 0-1) with a solo blast to dead center field that brought the Emma Jane Coliseum crowd to its feet.  St. Louis threatened to score more after back-to-back singles by House and Jake Gautreau, but Nance struck out Preston Wilson and retired Javy Lopez to keep it a one-run game.

Brian Giles made it interesting in the ninth with a leadoff triple off Scott Williamson (SV, 2), but the Oaks stranded him there.  However, Giles bears some of the blame.  After Matt Stairs bounced one straight to Lopez for the first out, Mike Kinkade hit a flare into the gap in right-center.  A charging Luis Terrero snagged it with Giles -- who should have been waiting on the bag -- halfway down the third base line.  Giles got back to third with no chance left to tag up and had to hope that the next batter, LoDuca, could bail him out of his miscue.  No such luck for Giles or the Oaks, as LoDuca flied out to end the game.

Game Five will be back at the Emma Jane, with Game One starters Tim Redding (1-0) and Randy Wolf (0-1) set for a rematch.

Game 3

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Box Score     Game Log 

(October 9, 2004)

The Oakland Oaks rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win an extra-inning thriller and take a 2-1 lead in the RLCS.

The Oaks threatened early when the first two batters to face St. Louis' A.J. Burnett singled.  Bobby Abreu hit into a fielder's choice for the first out, then Pat Burrell hit a line drive that was snared by third baseman Chase Utley.  Burnett then walked Brian Giles to load the bases, but sent Scott Rolen down on strikes to end the inning.

The Perfectos drew first blood in the bottom of the inning.  Leadoff hitter Juan Pierre continued his excellent series by hitting a leadoff double and advancing to third and home on ground balls.

Utley made it 2-0 St. Louis with a home run to lead off the Perfectos' second, and the lead increased to 4-0 in the third when Pierre led off with a single and Oakland starter Russ Ortiz issued three walks to force in a run and set up Felipe Lopez's sacrifice fly.

Burnett continued to flirt with disaster but kept the Oaks off the scoreboard into the seventh inning.  Then the wheels came off.  Burnett walked the first three batters of the inning, then gave up a two-run single to Pat Burrell, who advanced to second on the throw home.  Giles was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Scott Rolen beat out the throw on a potential double-play ball to score the Oaks' third run.  Burnett and reliever Ray King got the home squad out of the inning without further damage, but it was now a one-run game.

Endy Chavez doubled that lead with a solo homer (1) in the bottom of the inning, but the Oaks came right back in the eighth with a Mike Kinkade RBI pinch-hit double to close the gap again.

That set the stage for St. Louis closer Scott Williamson to start the ninth with a one-run lead.  Brian Giles worked the count and drew a leadoff walk.  While pitching to Rolen, Williamson sailed one over the catcher's head, putting Giles on second and causing manager Jennifer Gunn to put Rolen on intentionally.

With two on and none out, Jolbert Cabrera tried to advance the runners with a bunt, and partially succeeded when Williamson opted to go for the double play and got only Rolen at second.  With runners at the corners and one out, Gunn decided to pitch to Mike Redmond.  It paid off with a strikeout, putting the Perfectos one out away from the win.

Williamson tried to pitch around the next hitter, Matt Stairs, but lost him to load the bases for Barry Bonds.  The future Hall of Famer patiently worked the count, and when Williamson missed ball four low, it was a tie game.  Rafael Furcal bounced out to short to end the inning, and when the Perfectos went down in order in the bottom of the inning, it meant the first extra-inning game of this 2004 postseason.

The Perfectos had a chance in the 10th when Pierre took another leadoff walk and attempted to steal second.  Oaks' catcher Mike Redmond gunned him down, and it proved to be a game-saver when Todd Helton doubled and was stranded there.

In the top of the 11th, the Oaks staged a two-out rally against Victor Alvarez (L, 0-1).  Redmond singled and Stairs walked to put the go-ahead run in scoring position for Bonds.  This time the veteran slugger slashed a single into the gap that drove in Redmond.  Furcal followed up with a single to bring home Stairs for a 7-5 lead.

The Perfectos came close to tying it off Jason Isringhausen (W, 2-0), putting runners on the corners with none out.  Isringhausen struck out Preston Wilson for the first out, and retired Jake Gautreau on a deep fly ball that scored Utley from third.  But pinch-hitter Luis Terrero bounced out to short, and the Oaks came away 7-6 winners.

The Oaks are expected to go with Aaron Heilman in Game Four, though Game One starter Randy Wolf could be used on three days' rest.  By contrast, Gunn has a dilemma on her hands in choosing a Game Four starter.  Veteran Tom Glavine has the experience, but struggled down the stretch.  Game One starter Tim Redding may not be ready to go on three days' rest.  Game Two starter Jake Peavy only threw 50 pitches and could start on short rest -- but there's a reason he was yanked after 50 pitches.  That may place the Perfectos' fate in the hands of 22-year-old Jerome Williams.

Game 2

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Box Score     Game Log 

(October 7, 2004)

Scott Rolen had a huge day to even the series for his Oakland Oaks.  Rolen scored the tying run in the eighth inning after leading off with a double, and doubled again in the ninth to drive in his fourth run of the game for the win.

Neither starting pitcher acquitted himself well, with each team scoring five runs in the first three innings.  The Perfectos wasted no time getting to Vicente Padilla with a leadoff single by Juan Pierre and an RBI double by Craig Counsell.  Counsell left the game immediately, though, and has been diagnosed with a strained back muscle that will end his postseason.

The Perfectos added another run in the first, aided by a Rafael Furcal error, but the Oaks struck back immediately with three runs in the bottom of the first.  St. Louis hurler Jake Peavy, who struggled in the playoffs last year, picked up where he left off by walking three batters and yielding a Pat Burrell double and a Scott Rolen single that made it 3-2 Oakland.

The scoring continued in the second inning.  Another Rafael Furcal error and a Tommy Whiteman walk set the stage for Todd Helton's three-run home run (1) to left field to restore the St. Louis lead.

Peavy stayed out of trouble in the second, and Oakland reliever Shane Nance -- replacing Padilla after just two innings -- retired the side in the top of the third.  In the bottom of the third, it was Peavy's turn to be chased.  Four of the first five batters had base hits to even the score at 5-5 and end Peavy's evening.  Bret Prinz ended the inning without further incident.

The Oakland bullpen did a terrific job, allowing just one run in the final seven innings.  That run came in the fifth when Chase Utley tripled and scored on Endy Chavez's sacrifice fly.  The St. Louis bullpen was getting the job done as well, taking the 6-5 lead into the eighth.

Rolen led off the inning with a double off Victor Alvarez.  St. Louis manager Jennifer Gunn brought in Valerio de los Santos (L, 0-1), who retired two batters but walked Mike Kinkade and gave up a single to Barry Bonds that tied the game 6-6.

The Perfectos failed to score off Jason Isringhausen (W, 1-0) in the top of the ninth.  de los Santos put down the first two Oaks in the bottom of the inning, but Brian Giles slapped a two-out single to put the winning run on base.

With the game on the line, Gunn went to her closer, Scott Williamson.  Rolen greeted him by knocking the first pitch into the gap in left to score Giles and earn the Oaks a split of the first two games.

Rolen finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, a run, and four RBIs.  Helton was the top performer for St. Louis with his three-run homer, while both bullpens did an admirable job filling in for their beleaguered starters.

The series now shifts to the Gateway City for three games.  St. Louis will go with its ace A.J. Burnett, while Oakland will send either Russ Ortiz or rookie Aaron Heilman to the mound.

Game 1

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Series Preview

Game 6

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 13, 2004)

The Brooklyn Superbas stunned the Philadelphia Quakers with a Game Six victory to end Philadelphia's spectacular season and advance to their first Federal Series.

Starters Jason Schmidt and Josh Fogg kept the game scoreless through three innings.  Brooklyn threatened in the second with two men on, but Schmidt struck out Eli Marrero.  In the bottom of the inning, an Alex Cora error helped the Quakers put runners on second and third with one out, but Fogg struck out Roberto Alomar and got Marlon Byrd to fly out to keep the game scoreless.

It didn't stay that way long.  With one out in the top of the fourth, Schmidt walked Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr.  Geoff Jenkins roped a double into the gap in left-center that scored both men.

A clearly rattled Schmidt struggled with the next batter, Mike Lowell, and hung a curveball that Lowell pulled down the left field line and over the fence for a 4-0 Brooklyn lead.  Schmidt gave up a single to Marrero, but then got out of the inning without further incident.

Sammy Sosa got the home side on the board in the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the season.  Philadelphia threatened to score more in the fifth, loading the bases with one out for consensus MVP Albert Pujols.

The Myers Field crowd was on its feet hoping for another home run from their young superstar, but their hopes were crushed when Pujols grounded sharply to Lowell at third, who set in motion a round-the-horn double play that kept it a 4-1 game.

Marrero made things even bleaker for the home fans with a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. 

The Quakers battled back gamely, with a Hee Sop Choi solo homer, a Henri Stanley double and an RBI single from Jose Hernandez closing the gap to three again. 

That was as close as they came.  Fogg left with one on in the seventh, and the Brooklyn bullpen was flawless.  Tomo Ohka retired four straight batters to get the Superbas to the ninth, where Mike Williams took over.  Williams fanned pinch hitters Tyler Houston and Bobby Hill, leaving Alomar as the last hope for the Quakers.  Alomar hit a Williams offering sharply, but straight at Lowell, who made no mistake in snagged the line drive for the final out.

Jenkins, who batted .368 and led the Superbas with seven RBIs, was named series MVP.

Game 5

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 11, 2004)

The Philadelphia Quakers won 102 games this season, but unless they can win their next two, their season will be over.  The Quakers were shelled 8-1 by the Superbas tonight in Brooklyn, unable to muster much offense off Matt Clement (W, 1-1).

Clement went 8 1/3 innings and gave up only five hits to go with four walks.  Philadelphia's only run came on a solo home run by Hee Sop Choi.

Meanwhile, the Quakers' expected starter Jason Schmidt did not appear, for reasons Philadelphia management refused to divulge.  The Quakers went with a start-by-committee approach, beginning with rookie Chin-Hui Tsao.  Tsao, despite starting yesterday -- thus becoming the first pitcher to start back-to-back games in NFBL playoff history -- put in a respectable performance in his 1 2/3 innings, but was hurt by his defense.

Tsao walked the first Brooklyn batter, Alex Cora, who took off for second on the first pitch.  Philadelphia catcher Jason Kendall sailed a throw over the head of shortstop Jose Hernandez, and Cora scampered to third.  Jose Reyes flied out to Sammy Sosa, but Sosa's throw home was way off-target, and Brooklyn had the early lead.

Kendall almost redeemed himself in the top of the second.  Coming to the plate with runners on first and second and one out, Kendall smacked a line drive down the first base line, but Jim Thome made a leaping snag and stepped on the bag for an unassisted double play.  Thome would repeat the feat in the sixth inning off the bat of Roberto Alomar.

The Superbas increased their lead in the third off Victor Alvarez when Reyes doubled, Hollandsworth walked, and Thome knocked an RBI single past Hernandez's outstretched glove.  Later in the inning, Geoff Jenkins took Alvarez deep to left field, but the ball was caught on the warning track and Jenkins had to settle for a sacrifice fly.

Choi's solo home run in the fifth was the closest Philadephia ever got again.  Brooklyn struck again in the bottom of the fifth on a Jenkins RBI double and a two-run triple by Eli Marrero that made it 6-1.  Brooklyn added another unearned run in the seventh on Sosa's second error of the game, and one on a Reggie Taylor single in the eighth.

In contrast to Philadelphia's three errors, Brooklyn's defense was solid, with no errors and four double plays.

The Quakers return home to the City of Brotherly Love needing to find some offense to salvage their season.

Game 4

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 10, 2004)

The Philadelphia Quakers grabbed a 5-0 lead in the first inning and hung on for a victory to level the GLCS at two games apiece.

Both managers had tough decisions as to who to start in this game -- and both probably regretted their choices.  Brooklyn went with left-hander Kaz Ishii (L, 0-1), and the Quakers bombarded him for five runs in the first inning.

Bobby Hill began the game with a walk, and advanced to third on Marlon Byrd's single.  Ishii walked Albert Pujols to load the bases for Sammy Sosa.  The veteran slugger laced a double into left-center for a 2-0 Philadelphia lead.

A Jose Hernandez single made it 3-0, with Sosa holding up at third.  Mike Lieberthal hit an Ishii offering sharply to the right side; a diving Jim Thome knocked it down and flipped to Ishii for the first out, but Sosa came home with the fourth run.  Hee Sop Choi's double made it 5-0 and got the boo-birds going at Ebbets Field and the relievers going in the bullpen.  Lee Mazilli stuck with his pitcher, though, and Ishii retired the next two batters to end the inning.

Pete Rose's decision to go with rookie Chin-hui Tsao didn't look much better when the first three Superba batters tagged him for doubles.  Tsao battled back to put down the side, striking out Jim Thome and Mike Lowell in the process.

Ishii struck out three of four Philadelphia batters in the second, and Tsao put the Superbas down in order, but in the third both hurlers got into "double trouble" again.

Lieberthal smashed a one-out double off Ishii, and advanced to third on Choi's grounder, but was stranded there.  Brooklyn closed the gap to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning on two-baggers by Alex Cora and Thome.  Geoff Jenkins made it 5-4 in the fourth with a solo home run.

In the top of the fifth, Ishii walked the bases loaded with two out and Tsao due at the plate.  Rose had everyone in the stadium scratching his head when he left his struggling starter go to bat instead of trying to crack the game open with a pinch-hitter.  Sure enough, Tsao hit a liner straight to Thome to kill the potential rally, and was chased in the bottom of the inning after putting runners at the corners.

Jose Jimenez (W, 1-0) ended that threat by fanning Eli Marrero, and threw a scoreless sixth and seventh.

Hill gave the Quakers an insurance run in the eighth when he legged out an infield hit with two out, stole second, and scored on Byrd's single.  Tim Worrell held Brooklyn scoreless in the eighth, setting up for Octavio Dotel (SV, 2).

Dotel surrendered a one-out triple to Cora that brought the tying run to the plate, but struck out pinch-hitter Jason Stokes and got Todd Hollandsworth to pop up for the final out.

The series remains in Brooklyn for another game, with Matt Clement (L, 0-1) looking for a win in his rematch with Philadelphia's Jason Schmidt (W, 1-0).

Game 3

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Box Score     Game Log

(October 9, 2004)

Todd Hollandsworth and Jason Jennings combined to beat the Philadelphia Quakers and give the Superbas a 2-1 lead in the series.

Hollandsworth drove in all three Brooklyn runs, the first on a solo homer in the first inning, and the last two on a two-run round-tripper in the sixth.

Jennings (W, 1-0) was in control throughout the first five innings, allowing just a first-inning walk before retiring 14 straight batters.  The Quakers finally broke through in the sixth when pitcher Jimmy Journell walked and Roberto Alomar singled for the visitors' first hit.  Marlon Byrd then smashed a double into the left-field corner that scored Journell to tie the game at 1-1.  Alomar was waved in, but Brooklyn left fielder Geoff Jenkins fired a strike to the plate, where catcher Eli Marrero applied the tag.

That still left Byrd on second with Albert Pujols at the plate, but Jennings induced him to ground out to short.  In the bottom of the inning, Hollandsworth's second homer (following a Jose Reyes leadoff double) put the Superbas back in front.  Brooklyn had a chance to expand the lead, putting runners on second and third, but Journell recovered to retire Jenkins and end the threat.

Jennings retired the first batter of the seventh inning, but came up grimacing and after a mound conference, left the game.  Relievers Josh Fogg and Tomo Ohka picked up where Jennings left off, putting down the next five batters to bring the game into the ninth with the Brooklyn lead intact at 3-1.

Closer Mike Williams, however, didn't have it so easy.  Alomar stroked a leadoff double and scored on Byrd's single.  Pujols flied out for the first out of the inning, but a walk to Sammy Sosa put the tying run in scoring position for Hee Sop Choi.  The Philadelphia first baseman hit a sharp grounder to Reyes.  The rookie shortstop deftly fielded it and relayed to second baseman Alex Cora, who fired to first to complete the double play and delight the Ebbets Field crowd.

The only bad news for Brooklyn is that Jennings' injury, reported as a strained back muscle, leaves him questionable for the rest of the series.  For Game Four, manager Lee Mazillia may go with lefty Kaz Ishii or bring back Game One starter Matt Clement.  Philadelphia manager Pete Rose faces a similar choice between Kerry Wood or Game One winner Jason Schmidt.

Game 2

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Box Score     Game Log 

(October 7, 2004)

A five-run rally in the fifth, and some faith in closer Mike Williams, helped the Brooklyn Superbas get a split on the road and head back to Ebbetts Field with the series even at 1-1.

The game started quietly, with starters Brandon Webb and Glendon Rusch getting the job done.  Brooklyn threatened in the third, loading the bases for Todd Hollandsworth, but the right fielder bounced a double-play ball to second to end the inning.

The Superbas came right back at Rusch, though, loading the bases with none out in the fourth on singles by Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr. and a bobble by Quaker shortstop Jose Hernandez.  Eli Marrero hit a sharp grounder to the right side that Hee Sop Choi knocked down, but Choi had to settle for the putout at first, putting Brooklyn up 1-0.

Geoff Jenkins promptly made it 3-0 with a double off the right field wall.  Rusch made more trouble for himself by walking the opposing pitcher Webb.  Alex Cora drove in Jenkins with a single for the fourth Brooklyn run.  A Jose Reyes grounder advanced the runners but made the second out.

Rusch continued to struggle, though, walking Todd Hollandworth to load the bases.  Philadelphia manager Pete Rose stood by his pitcher and let him face 59-HR man Jim Thome with the bases loaded.  Rusch battled Thome through a long at-bat but missed the plate with a full count, walking his third man of the inning to force in the fifth Brooklyn run.

That was enough for Rose, who brought in reliever Mike Myers.  Myers struck out Ken Griffey Jr. with the bases still loaded to get out of the inning.

No lead is safe against the Quakers' offense, though, and they went to work immediately.  In the bottom of the fourth, Albert Pujols homered for the second straight game to get Philadelphia on the board.

Hee Sop Choi made it 5-2 with a leadoff homer (2) in the seventh, and Henri Stanley made it a two-run game by doubling, advancing to third on a Jason Kendall bunt, and scoring on a Tyler Houston sacrifice fly.

Webb left after seven innings, handing the two-run lead to his bullpen.  John Riedling struggled, walking three batters in the eighth including one with the bases loaded.  Brooklyn restored its two-run lead in the top of the ninth with a triple by Thome that led to Griffey's RBI single.

They needed the insurance when Roberto Alomar tripled off closer Mike Williams (SV, 1) to drive in Bobby Hill with one out.  Brooklyn manager Lee Mazilli eschewed the intentional walk and brought the infield in against Marlon Byrd.  Byrd bounced one to Thome that provided an easy second out and kept Alomar anchored at third.

That brought Albert Pujols to the plate.  Mazilli stunned the Myers Field crowd by having Williams pitch to the consensus MVP slugger.  Pujols appeared a little surprised himself, but Mazilli proved to be a better gambler than his counterpart in the Philadelphia dugout when Pujols hit a shallow fly ball to right field to end the game.

Games Three, Four, and Five will take place in Brooklyn.

Game 1

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Box Score     Game Log    

(October 6, 2004)

The Philadelphia Quakers used raw power to win their first playoff game.  The home squad hit five home runs to edge the Superbas 8-7 after nearly blowing a 6-0 lead.

Philadelphia's Henri Stanley opened the scoring with a second-inning solo homer (1) to right-center off Brooklyn's Matt Clement (L, 0-1).  Clement, who had a rough time in last year's LCS, made a few too many mistakes, giving up back-to-back home runs in the fourth to Hee Sop Choi (1) and Stanley (2) -- both to almost the same spot in right-center as Stanley's first.  The gopher balls continued in the fifth, with Albert Pujols (1) connecting on a two-run shot to left, and Sammy Sosa (1) following up with a drive over the right field wall to make it 6-0.

Quakers' starter Jason Schmidt (W, 1-0) shut out the Superbas through five innings, allowing just two hits, but Brooklyn finally solved him in the sixth.  Jose Reyes and Todd Hollandsworth hit back-to-back doubles to break the shutout.  Hollandsworth suffered a groin injury beating the throw to second and left the game.  He is officially listed as day-to-day and Brooklyn has not indicated whether he will play Game 2.

Reggie Taylor came in to run for Hollandsworth, and Jim Thome drew a walk.  Ken Griffey Jr. nailed a Schmidt fastball over the right field fence to make it 6-4.  Quakers manager Pete Rose gambled by staying with his starter, who retired Mike Lowell but then gave up two walks and an Adrian Beltre single that made it 6-5.  Rose finally had enough, and brought in Tim Worrell.  Worrell beaned the first batter to load the bases for rookie Jose Reyes, but the youngster went down swinging and missing a tricky slider from the wily veteran.

The Quakers regained some breathing room in the seventh, loading the bases off reliever Rick Roberts to set up Mike Lieberthal's two-run pinch-hit double.  They needed it, because Brooklyn came back with a pair of runs in the eighth on an RBI double by Juan Uribe and a single by Alex Cora that made it a one-run game once again.

But that was it for the Superbas.  Philadelphia closer Octavio Dotel (SV, 1) came in to begin the ninth, and struck out Reggie Taylor and Jim Thome, then got Ken Griffey Jr. to ground out to end the game.

Brooklyn will go with rookie Brandon Webb in Game 2, with Philadelphia sending southpaw Glendon Rusch to seek a 2-0 lead.