1996 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #1

E. Burks got things started with a bang, a lead-off home run to give the Bootleggers a 1-0 lead to kick off Game 1 of the ALDS. But, that would be all Corktown could put together offensively against A. Fernandez. A 3-run D. Palmer home run in the bottom of the 4th would give California the lead, followed up by a solo home run by T. Steinbach in the 6th and a 2-run home run by T. Salmon in the 7th officially put the game away. California takes the series lead, 1-0.

CBL – 1
CAL – 6

W – A. Fernandez (1-0)
L – S. Trachsel (0-1)

HR – E. Burks (1), T. Salmon (1), T. Steinbach (1), D. Palmer (1)

Corktown does it again, this time with a bomb off the bat of A. Belle. Corktown takes the early lead, 1-0. But, a 2-run shot from T. Steinbach in the bottom of the 2nd turns the tables on Corktown. And with that, California’s hopes were all but lost. Corktown swiftly put the game away, scoring nine runs over the next seven innings. California never had a chance. Corktown 10, California 6. The series is tied at 1-1.

CBL – 10
CAL – 6

W – S. Sanders (1-0)
L – J. Fassero (0-1)

HR – A. Belle (1), R. Lankford (1), T. Steinbach (2)

For the third game in a row, Corktown goes deep to start off the game. This time, twice: a solo home run by R. Lankford, followed up by another solo shot by E. Burks. The lead wouldn’t last long, though. J. Canseco took R. Martinez deep for three in the top of the 3rd, and T. Steinbach and M. Lansing teamed up to score two more in the top of the 4th. Up 5-2 in the bottom of the 4th, California was looking to cruise to a 2-1 series lead. But, back-to-back home runs from M. Johnson and G. Gaetti in the bottom of the 4th brought Corktown back within 1. And so it would go: California scored two more in the top of the 7th, and Corktown two more in the bottom of the 8th. California holds the 7-6 lead heading to the 9th, and T. Hoffman gets the chance to nail down the save. He wouldn’t. A. Rodriguez starts the inning off with a double, and J. Giambi promptly drives him home. The game is tied! Top of the 12th, J. Olerud takes the walk—his first time on base all series—L. Castillo comes in to run and steals 2nd without a thought. T. Steinbach drives him home on a single to right and takes 2nd on the throw. Into the game comes P. Molitor to run for Steinbach, and D. Palmer swiftly drives him home. California picks up 2 in the 12th to win the game 9-7, and re-takes the series lead 2-1.

CAL – 9
CBL – 7

W – T. Hoffman (1-0)
L – T. Percival (0-1)
S – K. Ryan (1)

HR – J. Canseco (1), R. Lankford (2), E. Burks (2), M. Johnson (1), G. Gaetti (1)
SB – L. Castillo (1)

It’s getting ridiculous, but A. Belle does it again—a 2-run home run to give the Bootleggers another 1st inning lead. But, just as it was in Game 1, that would be it for the potent Corktown offense. Meanwhile, California put up a 5-spot in the top of the 3rd thanks to a 3-run T. Steinbach home run and a 2-run T. Salmon home run. A. Fernandez does the rest, going 7 1/3 innings of 2-run ball. California is now up 3-1, and looks to Game 5 to close it out.

CAL – 6
CBL – 2

W – A. Fernandez (2-0)
L – J. Baldwin (0-1)

HR – A. Belle (2), T. Steinbach (3)

For the first time all series, Corktown did not hit a 1st inning home run and did not take the lead to start the game. This time, California burst out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the 3rd inning, with the help of a solo P. O’Neill home run and a 3-run J. Canseco home run. Corktown would never recover. Back-to-back home runs by R. Lankford and A. Rodriguez in the 8th closed the gap to 6-3, but P. O’Neill’s final home run of the night in the top of the 9th put the nail in the coffin. California wins the game 7-3, and the series 4-1.

CAL – 7
CBL – 3

W – J. Fassero (1-1)
L – S. Trachsel (0-2)

HR – P. O’Neill (2), J. Canseco (2), R. Lankford (3), A. Rodriguez (1)
SB – P. Molitor (1), M. Lansing (1)