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

Moriarty9 · 03-01-2009, 06:11 PM

Indians win the pennant
Devil Rays season finally comes to end
October 18, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tomorrow afternoon, the lockers in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays clubhouse will be cleared out a couple weeks later than when most expected.

The Cleveland Indians brought an end to a surprising season for the second-year Devil Rays, winning the American League pennant by defeating Tampa Bay 8-2 at Tropicana Field in Game 5 of the ALCS.

The Devil Rays turned to ace Pedro Martinez to come up with yet another big game, but even he was unable to right the ship. Martinez did strike out 10 Cleveland batters in six innings, but also gave up three home runs en route to a final line of five runs, four earned, on 11 hits and two walks.

"Pedro still pitched well, but he made a couple mistakes that they took advantage of," said Tampa Bay skipper Christian O'Neal. "If one of those curveballs dropped another eighth-of-an-inch, maybe they're routine fly balls instead of home runs."

Cleveland starter Bartolo Colon, who struggled his first time out against the Devil Rays, pitched well. The hefty Indians hurler gave up one run on two hits and five walks, striking out two in six innings. Relievers Steve Kline and Billy Koch teamed up for three innings of relief in which Tampa Bay picked up one more run.

"Hats off to Cleveland," O'Neal said. "They're a very good team and I'm sure they're going to give the Braves a run for their money in the World Series."

03-01-2009, 06:11 PM	#163 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Indians win the pennant Devil Rays season finally comes to end October 18, 1999 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tomorrow afternoon, the lockers in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays clubhouse will be cleared out a couple weeks later than when most expected. The Cleveland Indians brought an end to a surprising season for the second-year Devil Rays, winning the American League pennant by defeating Tampa Bay 8-2 at Tropicana Field in Game 5 of the ALCS. The Devil Rays turned to ace Pedro Martinez to come up with yet another big game, but even he was unable to right the ship. Martinez did strike out 10 Cleveland batters in six innings, but also gave up three home runs en route to a final line of five runs, four earned, on 11 hits and two walks. "Pedro still pitched well, but he made a couple mistakes that they took advantage of," said Tampa Bay skipper Christian O'Neal. "If one of those curveballs dropped another eighth-of-an-inch, maybe they're routine fly balls instead of home runs." Cleveland starter Bartolo Colon, who struggled his first time out against the Devil Rays, pitched well. The hefty Indians hurler gave up one run on two hits and five walks, striking out two in six innings. Relievers Steve Kline and Billy Koch teamed up for three innings of relief in which Tampa Bay picked up one more run. "Hats off to Cleveland," O'Neal said. "They're a very good team and I'm sure they're going to give the Braves a run for their money in the World Series."