AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #2
Chicago Demolition @ California Quakes |
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 NL  West leading California Quakes and Wild Card Chicago Demolition meet for their first post-season match up in the MWWL. California enjoyed a successful season in which it gave up the fewest runs of any MWWL team and scored more runs than any other team, while Chicago reached the playoffs for the first time in what will be a long stretch of successful seasons after a rapid rebuild. California enters the series with the edge both offensively and defensively after posting a .318/.402/.493 triple slash, 7.4 RC/G, .984 FLD %, and 3.14 ERA, compared to Chicago’s .237/.314/.380 triple slash, 4.1 RC/G, .983 FLD %, and 4.23 ERA. |
| GAME #1 – Todd Stottlemyre 10-6 (3.50) vs. Jeff Fassero 12-1 (3.60)
California started the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd with a single by P. Molitor, back-to-back doubles by J. Valentin and J. Leyritz, and back-to-back-to-back singles by L. Whitaker, W. Boggs, and P. O’Neill. Down 4-0, Chicago closed the lead with a 2-run 5th with RBI by M. Whitten and D. Valle. But, California extended the lead further with a W. Boggs single and J. Olerud double in the bottom of the 6th, and a P. Molitor 2-RBI single in the 8th, putting the game out of reach. Final Score: California 7 – Chicago 2 W – J. Fassero (1-0) |
| GAME #2 – Pedro Martinez 9-6 (3.06) vs. Alex Fernandez 18-3 (2.71)
Down 1 game to none, Chicago started the scoring in the top of the 2nd with hopes of tying up the series. A solo home run by R. Velarde gives Chicago a 1-0 lead until the 5th. California and Chicago traded 2-run home runs (L. Whitaker in the 5th and C. Delgado in the 6th), making it 3-2 Chicago in the bottom of the 6th. California tied it up at 3 all with a K. Mitchell single and J. Valentine double in the bottom of the 6th. It would remain tied until the 11th inning, when T. Salmon would bring home the speedy P. Molitor for a 4-3 victory. Final Score: California 4 – Chicago 3 W –Dave Leiper (1-0) |
| GAME #3 – Bobby Munoz 13-4 (2.62) vs. Roger Clemens 10-8 (2.81)
Sacramento leads the series 2-0. Once again, Chicago jumps to an early lead, this time with a B. Hunter 2-run home run in the bottom of the 1st. Chicago would maintain the lead behind the stellar pitching of R. Clemens, who had given up only 1 hit in the first 6 innings. But, he would see the wheels fall off in the top of the 7th. Seven hits, including 3 doubles and 1 triple) and two walks later, California would take a 7-2 lead entering the bottom half of the 7th. Chicago clawed back in the 7th and 8th innings with a solo home run by B. Hunter and RBI from M. Whiten and M. Gallego, but it wouldn’t be enough. California rides the big inning to a 3-0 series lead. Final Score: California 7 – Chicago 5 W – B. Munoz (1-0) |
| GAME #4 – Jeff Fassero 12-1 (3.60) vs. Todd Stottlemyre 10-6 (3.50)
Up 3 games to none, California jumped to an early lead in Game 4 on a K. Mitchell 2-run home run in the top of the 1st. Chicago answered back with back-to-back doubles by P. Kelly and M. Gallego to lead off the bottom half of the 1st, and took the lead with a bases loaded 3-RBI double by R. Velarde in the bottom of the 3rd. Down 4-2 in the top of the 4th, California tied it up off a 2-run home run by J. Leyritz, and took the lead for good with a 3-run 5th with the help of a 2-run K. Mitchell home run. Final Score: California 8 – Chicago 5 W – K. Foster (1-0) |
| California sweeps the series 4-0, outscoring Chicago 26-15 for the series. While both teams struggled defensively (California with a .976 FLD% and Chicago with a .963 FLD%), it was California that took advantage of the miscues by scoring 6 unearned runs to Chicago’s 1 unearned run. California held Chicago to a 3.32 ERA while Chicago took home a 4.95 ERA; and California sported a .269/.355/.421 triple slash with 15 XBH, while Chicago held a .229/.306/.410 triple slash with 18 XBH. For California, it would be Lou Whitaker, the No. 9 hitter, who would be the series MVP, batting .357/.438/.571 with 4 runs and 3 RBI. |