OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 02-24-2009, 11:19 PM

Tampa Bay head home with lead
Athletics on brink of ALDS elimination after 7-3 loss
October 6, 1999

OAKLAND — The Athletics jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, but it was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who came out on top in the end.

The A's jumped on Tampa Bay pitcher Aaron Sele early, as Doug Mientkiewicz hit a RBI single in the first inning and Joey Cora knocked in a run in the second inning. Oakland left the bases loaded as well as the impression they may run away with the game to even the best-of-five series heading into Game 3 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Devil Rays, however, had other ideas.

Tampa Bay tied it up in the sixth inning, only to hand Oakland the lead in the home half of the inning, making it a 3-2 ballgame. In the seventh inning, Charles Johnson hit a RBI double to tie the game and the Devil Rays took the lead with a pair of sacrifice flies to make it a 5-3 advantage.

That lead was padded by a two-run home run off the bat of Paul Konerko, making it 7-3 Devil Rays. The Tampa Bay bullpen held onto the lead and closed out the ballgame with the win.

Rickey Henderson, getting the start in leftfield and batting leadoff, was on the basepaths all day long against his former team. Henderson went 4-for-5 with one run scored and a stolen base. He finished a home run short of hitting for the cycle.

Raul Mondesi went 3-for-4 with a solo home run off Oakland pitcher Scott Erickson in the fifth inning.

Oakland will send Bret Saberhagen (17-10, 4.17 ERA) to the mound in Game 3 with hopes of staying alive while Tampa Bay southpaw Bruce Chen (7-5, 3.92 ERA) tries to clinch the series for the Devil Rays.

02-24-2009, 11:19 PM	#150 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Tampa Bay head home with lead Athletics on brink of ALDS elimination after 7-3 loss October 6, 1999 OAKLAND — The Athletics jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, but it was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who came out on top in the end. The A's jumped on Tampa Bay pitcher Aaron Sele early, as Doug Mientkiewicz hit a RBI single in the first inning and Joey Cora knocked in a run in the second inning. Oakland left the bases loaded as well as the impression they may run away with the game to even the best-of-five series heading into Game 3 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Devil Rays, however, had other ideas. Tampa Bay tied it up in the sixth inning, only to hand Oakland the lead in the home half of the inning, making it a 3-2 ballgame. In the seventh inning, Charles Johnson hit a RBI double to tie the game and the Devil Rays took the lead with a pair of sacrifice flies to make it a 5-3 advantage. That lead was padded by a two-run home run off the bat of Paul Konerko, making it 7-3 Devil Rays. The Tampa Bay bullpen held onto the lead and closed out the ballgame with the win. Rickey Henderson, getting the start in leftfield and batting leadoff, was on the basepaths all day long against his former team. Henderson went 4-for-5 with one run scored and a stolen base. He finished a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Raul Mondesi went 3-for-4 with a solo home run off Oakland pitcher Scott Erickson in the fifth inning. Oakland will send Bret Saberhagen (17-10, 4.17 ERA) to the mound in Game 3 with hopes of staying alive while Tampa Bay southpaw Bruce Chen (7-5, 3.92 ERA) tries to clinch the series for the Devil Rays.