1996 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Santa Rosa Beach Bums @ Winnipeg Goldeyes |
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  The two best teams in the NL go at it for a chance to be in the world series.
Santa Rosa managed to finish their series in 4 and thus had their #2 and #3 pitchers going while Winnipeg had their #3 and #4 starters going. |
| GAME #1 – Kevin Appier 19-10 (3.31) vs. Andy Benes 14-9 (3.36)
Santa Rosa had the better pitcher going and Appier did his job 6+ and only 2 hits and 2 runs. that was enough to beat Benes who allowed 4 homers and 5 runs as Ken Caminiti stayed red hot with 2 long balls. Santa Rosa 5 Winnipeg 2 |
| GAME #2 – Jose Rosado 11-4 (2.47) vs. Huck Flener 7-1 (3.23)
Now its #4 vs #3. Winnipeg bats got to Rosado with 3 runs in 5 innings then killed the bullpen for 9 runs in 4 innings. McGwire homered and the bottom of the order Vizquel and Frye were a nightmare scoring 5 runs. Winnipeg 12 Santa Rosa 3 |
| Series tied 1-1 going for 3 in Santa Rosa. Selkirk has their aces going Glavine, Schilling, and then Benes as we try to win 2 of the 3 on the road.
Santa Rosa Beach welcomes the Winnipeg Goldeneyes their old confines in Germantown, MD for the middle three games of the National League Championship Series. The teams split their games in Winnepeg. |
| GAME #3 – Tom Glavine 19-7 (2.35) vs. John Smoltz 20-6 (2.55)
The Goldeneyes call on ace Glavine (19-7, 2.35) to face the Bums ace Smoltz (20-6, 2.55). Goldeneyes Lofton doubled in the 1st but was gunned down by MacFarlane trying to steal third. In the bottom half Alomar doubled and Thomas rolled an infield single to set up a scoring situation. With 2-out Hudler grounded to the left side, Vizquel dove to keep it in the infield but Alomar is plated & the Bums lead 1-0. In the bottom of the 2nd, the Bums fill the bases with 1-out and Alomar came to the plate. Glavine got him to ground into a double play. In the Goldeneyes next at-bat Vizquel led off with a walk and Frye followed with a double scoring Vizquel, tie game. After Glavine bunted Frye over to third, he scored on a Becker single, 2-1 Goldeneyes. McFarlane threw out Becker stealing taking the bat out of McGwire’s hands. In the bottom half Caminiti went yard with a solo shot, tie the game. In the bottom of the 5th Sanders and Alomar singled and Thomas drew a walk to fill the bases with 0-out. Caminiti grounded into a double play scoring Sanders. In their next at-bat, Lofton singled and stole second and third scoring on a Ventura single with the infield in, tie game. McFarlane leadoff the bottom half with a homer to center and Smoltz capped the inning with a 2-out solo shot, Bums 5-3. Alomar led off the 7th with a double and advanced on a ground out. Goldeneyes intentionally walk Caminiti to set up the double play. No double play, but Shaw induced two ground outs. Top of 9th, Crabtree in to close it out and allowed Vizquel to reach on an error to leadoff. Frye grounded into fielder’s choice. Pinch hitter Roberts reached on an infield grounder, first and second 1-out. Becker flew to center and Lofton grounded to Gagne to end it. |
| GAME #4 – Curt Schilling 17-3 (3.05) vs. Kevin Appier 19-10 (3.31)
Goldeneyes send Schilling (17-3, 3.05) to the mound to face the Bums Appier (19-10, 3.31). In the 2nd, Goldeneyes Buhner doubled and advanced to third on a Lopez single. Vizquel followed with a fly out to center and Sanders gunned Buhner down at the plate trying to score. 0-0. Meanwhile, Schilling mowed down the Bums until Alomar drew a walk in the 4th which lead to nothing. Bums Hudler doubled to leadoff the 5th and advanced to third as Lofton kicked the ball away. Infield in. Next batter MacFarlane grounded it through second. Ventura tied it in the 7th with a solo shot. In the bottom half White doubled. After Cangelosi drew a walk Alomar banged an RBI single, 2-1 Bums. In the 8th Goldeneyes, Vizquel leadoff with a double and Frye followed with an infield single, 0-out. With the infield in, pinch hitter, Pemberton doubled to deep left scoring two. Just like that Goldeneyes up 4-3. Pemberton advanced to third on the throw home. Becker then banged a double. In the bottom half (9th), White drew a walk to lead it off. Pinch hitters Stillwell (strikeout) and Sanders ground out advance him to second. Goldeneyes Holt is pulled for Beck. Alomar lined to Vizquel to end it. |
| GAME #5 – Andy Benes 14-9 (3.36) vs. Jose Rosado 11-4 (2.47)
Goldeneyes hope to carry the momentum back to Winnepeg with Benes (14-9, 3.36) and the Bums call on Rosado (11-4, 2.47). Goldeneyes fill the bases in the 1st but do not convert. Vizquel led off 2nd with single and Frye executed a perfect hit-and-run. 0-out. After Benes K’ed, Becker lined to right and White threw out Frye at first double play. In the 4th Lopez and Vizquel banged back-to-back doubles, later Lofton banged a single, Goldeneyes 2-0. In the bottom half, Thomas and Caminiti combined for back-to-back doubles, 2-1. And Hudler followed that feat with a homer, Bums 3-2. After a Hudler single in the 6th MacFarlane went yard, Bums 5-2. In the top of the 8th Goldeneyes pinch hitter, Pemberton doubled and Vizquel singled with 1-out. Frye lifted it to center Pemberton scored from third, but Vizquel was thrown out at second trying to advance, 5-3. And that would be how it ended. |
| The Series is be headed back to Winnipeg. It’s been a back and forth series with teams winning every other game. Santa Rosa Beach is up 3 games to 2.
Santa Rosa is up 3 games to 2 heading to Winnipeg with aces Smoltz and Appier going. Selkirk answers with Glavine and Flener who has been getting in the playoffs as Schilling could not get ready for game 7 as hoped. |
| GAME #6 – John Smoltz 20-6 (2.55) vs. Tom Glavine 19-7 (2.35)
Classic Smoltz vs Glavine in a Winnipeg must-win game 6. Glavine did as Winnipeg hoped to shut down Frank Thomas and Robbie Alomar to 2 runs in 7 innings? But would it be enough to beat Santa Rosa ace, John Smoltz. Yes, it was as Smoltz game up 6 runs in 5 innings as Ventura homers in the 5-2 Winnipeg win to force a game 6. |
| GAME #7 – (Kevin Appier 19-10 (3.31) vs. Huck Flener 7-1 (3.23)
Alomar homered in the 1st and Appier was up 1-0. It would be a Winnipeg bullpen day as Flener was out after 3 innings down 1-0. in the 6th Thomas walked and scored on a two-out Caminiti triple and suddenly it was 2-0 and Winnipeg fans were quiet. Appier was up 2-0 in the 7th when Mcgwire got on and Castillo came into pitch even though Appier had a 2 hitter going that was a horrible mistake as Lopez finally pulls out of his slump and tied the game 2-2 with one swing. With the game tied 2-2 Lofton walked off Castillo and James came in to hold the line but Pemberton hits a rbi double and Winnipeg was up 3-3 in the 9th. Shaw came in giving up a walk but the was it 3-2 Winnipeg. |
| Like the first year the Goldeyes won a championship every series went 7 games, they have played 7 games in their first two series to move onto the Championship series. Santa Rosa out homered Winnipeg 12 to 4 and had a better slash line of .258/.339/.489 vs Winnipegs .246/.312/.386. that should result in a huge advantage for Santa Rosa but APBA Gods were cruel and Winnipeg outscored them 33-25. How can you hit 12 homers and score only 25 runs in 7 games! Winnipeg fielding was better as the Goldeyes only made three errors and gave up no unearned runs or steals while SantaRosa game up five errors 5 steals and two unearned runs. The two blown saves by Santa Rosa were killers. LCS MVP is Caminiti as he hits .292 with 3 homers and 6 RBIs in the tough series loss. Congrats on a great year by Jay and Santa Rosa. They deserved better as Winnipeg did not hit up to their potential as Winnipeg hit when it mattered and it was guys like Lofton Vizquel that made the difference. The big hitters Mcguire, Buhner, Lopez did not hit as expected and will have to do so in the Championship series if Winnipeg is to win the title for the NL. |