With both division winners bounced from the post season the Mets
and Bucs found themselves as two unlikely foes for the NLCS. New York made it’s way to the LCS via the Wild
Card route, whereas Pittsburgh knocked off the NL West champ Dodgers in 4. Games 1 and 2 would be played in PNC Park, a
beautiful venue just across the river from the downtown area. Take a quick 5 minute stroll across the
Roberto Clemente Bridge and you are standing right next to the outfield gates.
GAME 1
Koosman vs Burnett
Mets 3, Pirates 1
Mets manager Raylesberg had an easy choice for his game 1
starter: Jerry
Koosman. “Kooz” compiled a
4-0 World series record over his 20 year career, so post season heroics were
nothing new to him. New York’s lefty was
efficient and stingy yielding just 6 hits and 1 run over 7.2 innings. Ron Taylor and Tug McGraw combined to get the
final 4 outs to send the Amazin’s to victory.
Lenny Dykstra (3-5) and Kevin McReynolds (HR) supplied 5 of New York’s 7
knocks.
METS lead series 1-0
GAME 2
Seaver vs Locke
Pirates 2, Mets 1 (13 inn)
The Metsies just couldn’t find a way to get a run for Tom
Terrific, who pitched 8 innings of
shutout ball (2 hits). Kudos for Pittsburgh’s Locke, who went toe to
toe with the future HOF’er by not allowing a run either. The real excitement occurred in the 13th
inning where the full emotional roller coaster of the post season was
felt. First in the top of the 13th
HoJo hit a 1-2 pitch into the Allegheny River to silence the partisan Pirate
crowd. They didn’t stay silent for long
when Gary Redus led off the bottom of the inning with a walk off or reliever
Ray Sadecki. On a botched pick off
attempts Redus moved up 90 feet to 2nd. Sadecki, who’s throwing error allowed Redus
to get to second doubled down on bad by throwing away Barry Bonds’ comebacker
to put runners on the corners. Manager
Raylesberg had seen enough and came to the mound and brought in enigmatic
fireballer Nolan Ryan in hopes of a strikeout.
Ryan was wild as Lloyd McClendon worked the count full. On a 100 mph heater that was right down Grant
Street, McClendon lined one into left to score Redus to tie the game. Ryan walked Bobby Bo to load the bases before
striking Morton out. “Spanky” LaValliere lofted
one deep to center that was far enough to allow Bonds to stroll home for the
winning run.
Series tied 1-1
The series headed to the Big Apple for games 3, 4 & 5 and
would be played in Shea Stadium, which is sometimes better known as “The Big
Blue Toilet in Flushing”. Shea, which
opened in 1964 was a wind tunnel masquerading itself as one of the first
multi-purpose stadiums. It was home to
the Mets from 1964-2008 and the NFL’s Jets from 1964-1983. If it was 70 degrees outside it felt like 45
degrees inside. Bring your earplugs,
because at least 10 planes from nearby Laguardia Airport will be taking off
during the game each hour.
GAME 3
C.Morton vs McAndrew
Pirates 9, Mets 3
All 9 of Pittsburgh’s runs were yielded by Met starter Jim
McAndrew, who would have been better suited pitching behind an L-Screen than on
a professional mound. Pittsburgh’s Barry Bonds (3-4,
3 RBI, 3 Runs) was the chief victimizer of McAndrew. The young / skinny version of Barry could
really swing that lumber. He wasn’t
alone as his teammates banged out 14 total hits. Bobby Bo and Jose Lind also chipped in 3 hits
as the Bucs took the series lead.
PIRATES lead series 2-1
GAME 4
Rodriguez vs Gentry
Pirates 7, Mets 4
When New York gets poor pitching they get poor results. Typically New York gets amazing pitching, but
that was not to be the case for the 2nd straight game as starter
Gary Gentry fooled no one and was yanked after 5.2 innings of work. The Keystone Combo of Jay Bell (3-5, 2RBI)
and Jose Lind (3-5, 2RBI) beat the Metsies with both their bats
and their gloves today. Bell went deep
off Gentry in the 3rd. 1st
baseman Gary Varsho did the same the following frame. Pittsburgh now has a commanding lead.
PIRATES lead series 3-1
GAME 5
Koosman vs Burnett
Mets 1, Pirates 0
Facing no tomorrow manager Raylesberg gave the ball to Kooz. In
the bottom of the 6th Keith Hernandez’ sac fly scored Len Dykstra to
break a scoreless tie. That one run must
have seemed like 10 runs with Kooz throwing darts and allowing just 1 hit
through the first 8 innings of play.
With 2 out in the 9th Jeff King singled to keep the game
going. When Ron Taylor was called in to
get the final out Pirates manager Bill Schneider answered with a pinch hitter
named Andy Van Slyke. AVS ows righty’s
and in one mighty swing took Taylor deep to center field. Thankfully for the Mets, Shea Stadium is a
huge pitcher’s park and that long ball found it’s way into the leather of Len
Dykstra to end the game. New York
survived it’s first elimination game of the series.
PIRATES lead series 3-2
The series headed back to PNC.
The Bucs needed just 1 win to clinch, while the Metsies had to stave off
2 more elimination games if they hoped to clinch the pennant.
GAME 6
Seaver vs Locke
Mets 1, Pirates 0
The game 6 story can be summed up in 2 words: “The Franchise”! For those of you who didn’t follow baseball
between 1967 and 1986 that’s the nickname for arguably the best right handed
pitcher of the latter part of the 20th century. George Thomas Seaver,
who is also referred to as “Tom Terrific” was just that in game 6. With his team needing another virtuoso
performance just to stay alive, Seaver threw a tidy 2 hit shutout on a day when
he needed to do just that as the Mets would score just once on a Darryl
Strawberry RBI single in the top of the 3rd. The rest of the way it was all about
pitching, and nobody can “drop and drive” better than #41, who finished out the
game in grand style by fanning Redus and Bonilla to end it.
Series tied 3-3.
GAME 7
Gentry vs Liriano
Pirates 6, Mets 4
Both managers had their respective starting pitchers on short
leashes in this winner take all game 7 matchup for the NL Flag. Met starter Gary Gentry’s leash lasted just
one inning, where he gave up 3 runs on 5 hits.
Pirate starter Liriano was gone after giving up 4 runs in 4.1
innings. This was going to be a battle
of which bullpen cracked first. Sadly
for the boys from Flushing it would be their pen that would go up in flames as
Jim McAndrew would give up 3 runs in 5 innings of long relief. The law firm of Watson, Grilli, Wilson and
Melancon combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings to hold the Amazin’s in check and
clinch the NL Pennant. Somehow lost in
the shuffle was another 3 hit performance by young Mr. Bonds, who led a
balanced Buc attack that plated 6 runs on 10 hits. Bobby Bonilla (2-4) had a key RBI and remained hot all series. It is rumored that he will keep victimizing the Mets franchise until the year 2035.
PIRATES win series 4-3
Congratulations to Bill Schneider on piloting the Bucs to the NL pennant.
Special Kudos to Mr. Raylesberg for battling back and taking the Bucs to the precipice.