Yonge Street vs. Tempe - MWBL World Series
(Played live via logmein on 9/30/06)

Here are the starting lineups for the two superpowers
 

Game #1 – Roger Clemens vs. Chris Carpenter
Tempe put the first run on the board with a 2 out solo homerun by Matsui in the top of the 4th.
In the top of the 5th with Chavez on 2nd and 2 out Carpenter decided to IBB Manny to face Kent. Kent came up big with a double scoring Chavez and a pinch runner 3-0 Tempe. In the bottom of the 5th the Stalkers scored on doubles by Gomes and Furcal. Clemens regained his composure and Tempe unloaded on the Stalker pen for 9 runs in the 8th and 9th.
W – Roger Clemens, L – Chris Carpenter, HR TEM -Matsui, Chavez, Griffey, Jacobs
Tempe 12 – Yonge Street 1

 

Game #2 – Pedro Martinez vs Hector Carrasco.
Griffey went deep with a solo shot in the 1st to put Tempe up. The lead didn’t last long as Wright tied it up for the Stalkers with a solo shot in the bottom of the 1st and Walker took Pedro deep in the 2nd for another solo shot. 2-1 Stalkers. In the top of the 5th Sweeny hit a solo homerun to tie it up. 2-2. In the top of the 8th Carrasco started to tire. He gave up a single to Varitek and Iguchi pinchran for him and stole 2B. The Stalkers decided to go ahead and IBB Manny with no outs to setup the DP. Tempe countered with a pinch runner for Manny and sent Nefi Perez to pinch hit for Jeff Kent. Perez bunted and moved the runners over. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out the Stalkers contemplated walking Griffey but decided not to load the bases for Clark. Griffey crushed a three run homerun. Carrasco recorded the next two outs but the damage was done. Shields closed out the 8th and 9th for Tempe.
W – Brian Shackleford, L – Hector Carrasco, S - Scott Shields HR YSS – Wright, Walker, TEM – Griffey (2), Sweeney
Tempe 5 – Yonge Street 2


Game #3 – Roy Halladay vs Kevin Millwood
The Stalkers scored first with a two run homerun from Edmonds and a follow-up homerun from Gomes in the top of the fourth. Tempe came right back with a two run hr by Young in the bottom of the 4th. In the 5th, Variteck doubled in a run and a pinch runner later scored for him on a sac fly by Kent. 4-3 Tempe. Griffey hit a solo shot in the bottom of 6th 5-3 Tempe. In top of the 7th the Stalkers responded to the pressure of potentially going down 3 games with a big two out double by Freel to tie it up at 5-5. Top of the 8th Wright doubled and a new Tempe reliever (Wise) walked the next two hitters to load the bases. He recorded a strikeout but Furcal slapped a single to drive in two runs and give the Stalkers the lead. Church then doubled in two more runs and an infield throwing error gave up another run. 10-5 Stalkers. In the top of the 9th Gomes hit a 3 run dinger to put the game completely out of reach. 13-5 Stalkers.
W – Justin Speier, L – Scott Shields, HR YSS – Gomes (2), Edmdonds, TEM - Griffey, Young
Yonge Street 13 – Tempe 5

Game #4 – Cliff Lee vs. Roger Clemens
In the 1st, Back to back doubles by Freel and N Johnson and then a 2 run homerun by Edmonds put the hurt on Clemens. In the bottom of the second a hr by Clark put Tempe on the board. 3-1 Stalkers. In the bottom of the 3rd Tempe loaded the bases but Lee got Tempe’s 3 and 4 hitters. Matsui took Lee deep in the bottom of the 4th to make it a one run game 3-2 Stalkers. In the top of the 5th Johnson took Clemens deep. In the top of the 6th Rafeal Furcal came up with a key 2 out double to drive in 2 more runs to give the Stalkers a 4 run lead and dreams of going home with a 2-2 split. Young hit a solo shot and Varitek hit a 2 run hr to bring the Tempers roaring back to within one. 6-5 Stalkers. In the Top of the 7th Freel walked and then moved to third on a good hit and run from Johnson. Wright hit into a double play, but the run scored. 7-5 Stalkers. Bottom of 7th and Tempe got another homerun, this time it was a two run shot from Jeff Kent off Patterson to tie the game. In the top of the 8th , Chavez singled and then stole 2B. Varitek bunted to 1B but Johnson tried to make the play at 3B and both runners were! safe.  A Sac fly from the pitcher Torres made it 8-7. Manny was IBB, Kent popped up, but Griffey socked a double to drive in the pinch runners for Varitek and Manny to make it 11-7. Torres pitched the last three innings for the win. Tempe rallied big time for 9 runs in their last three innings to go up 3-1 in the series.
W – Salomon Torres, L – John Patterson, HR YSS – Johnson, Edmdonds, TEM – Kent, Clark, Young, Matsui, Varitek
Tempe 11 - Yonge Street 7

Game #5 – Chris Carpenter vs. Pedro Martinez
Back to back to back doubles by the first three hitters of the game (Manny, Kent, and Griffey) put Tempe up 2-0. In the top of the 4th Clark took Carpenter deep to lead off the inning. Matsui singled and Mike Sweeny moved him to 3rd with a hit and run. Chavez avoided a Stalker double play and Tempe added another run. Tempe 4-0. Tempe added another run in the 7th and Shackledford relieved Pedro with a scoreless 6th and 7th. Nathan pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th for the Stalkers to try keep Tempe from adding any more runs. In the bottom of the 9th with two outs Gomes hit a pinch hit homerun and eliminated the shutout. Hermida then singled, but Giles grounded out to end the series.
W – Pedro Martinez, L – Chris Carpenter, HR YSS – Gomes, TEM – Clark,
Tempe 5 - Yonge Street 1

BACK to BACK to BACK to BACK – Tempe wins their 7th Championship with what may be the best balanced Tempe offense ever. 2005 MVP Manny Ramirez didn’t go deep but 9 other Tempers did for 15 total homeruns in only 5 games. Pedro (03-06), Manny, (03-06), and Clemens (98, 99, 01, 06) each celebrated their 4th and possibly final Tempe title. Griffey 99,05, 06 and Matsui 04-06 celebrated their 3rd title.

MVP
Ken Griffey Jr. 350 avg, .381 obp 1.100 slg, 4 HR 3 2B, 9 RBI

Runners-up
Pedro Martinez 1-0 1.86 era 2 GS 9.2 Inn 13 SO
Jonny Gomes .385 avg, .467 obp, 1.231 slg, 3 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI