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Pass ball ends 10-inning affair
Devil Rays win streak ends at five
September 26, 1999

NEW YORK — With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the tenth, Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Paul Quantrill was one out away from giving his team a chance to win another big game. Instead, a pitch squirted out of Charles Johnson's mitt and the winning run scampered home for the Yankees.

Quantrill opened up the tenth inning of a 3-3 ballgame set to face Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Rafael Palmeiro. After Jeter grounded out to start the inning, Williams reached on an error by Devil Rays shortstop Wilton Guerrero. Palmeiro singled, moving Williams to third base. Jorge Posada tried to laid down a sacrifice bunt toward first base for the second out as Palmeiro advanced to secondbase and Williams was held at third as Paul Konerko made a quick play on the bunt. Quantrill walked Fernando Vina to load the bases with two outs and bring Ruben Sierra to the plate. Sierra was pinch hit for by Tino Martinez, who quickly fell behind Quantrill, 1-2. Looking to pick up a strikeout to end the inning, Quantrill threw a fastball low and away that squirted out of the mitt of Johnson, far away enough for Williams to score from thirdbase.

"It's a disappointment but you can't win them all," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We'll go back out there tomorrow and with any luck we'll have a different result when the final play is made."

Johnson, who went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts at the plate, told reporters after the game that the loss should have been pinned on him rather than Quantrill.

"I should have caught that ball, no doubt about it," Johnson said. "It popped out of the glove and its nobody's fault but my own."

The loss was especially tough as the Toronto Blue Jays won this afternoon, narrowing Tampa Bay's Wild Card lead to one game. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Anaheim Angels today as well, leaving Seattle 2 1/2 back and Anaheim 3 games behind.

The Devil Rays hope to rebound in tomorrow's series finale, sending Kip Wells (3-4, 5.66 ERA) to the mound against New York's Kenny Rogers (15-8, 4.16 ERA). The Mariners fly south to Arlington, Texas to take on the Rangers. Doc Gooden (7-9, 6.01 ERA) will be opposed by Texas hurler Russ Ortiz (3-4, 6.42 ERA). The Angels and Blue Jays will be off tomorrow. THe Blue Jays will be heading to St. Petersburg, Florida to begin a crucial series with the Devil Rays beginning Tuesday.

[Moriarty9]

Yankees pick up series split
Devil Rays drop final two games of series
September 27, 1999

NEW YORK — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have lost two in a row as they try to hold onto their lead in the American League Wild Card race.

The Devil Rays lost to the New York Yankees 10-4 today as Kenny Rogers kept Tampa Bay off balance enough to improve to 16-8 on the season.

With the loss, and the Toronto Blue Jays being idle today, Tampa Bay's lead in the playoff hunt is down to just a half game. The Devil Rays and Blue Jays will play a brief two-game series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida tomorrow and Wednesday. The Devil Rays will wrap up the season with the Yankees coming to Tropicana Field for three games while Toronto travels to Cleveland for four games with the Indians.

[Moriarty9]

Jays overtake Rays
Toronto leads Wild Card race
September 28, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-5 tonight, putting themselves ahead in the Wild Card race with less than a week to go.

The Blue Jays hit Devil Rays pitcher Chad Ogea for six runs in 4 1/3 innings of work, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Jeff Kent in the third inning.

With the loss, Tampa Bay has fallen to second in the Wild Card race, just a half-game behind Toronto. The Seattle Mariners are two games back while the Anaheim Angels are clinging to life, three games behind.

The Devil Rays will send Pedro Martinez (18-3, 3.02 ERA) to the mound tomorrow for the finale of this two-game series against Toronto in hopes of reclaiming the Wild Card lead. The Blue Jays will counter by putting Javier Vazquez (10-3, 3.56 ERA) on the slab.

[Moriarty9]

Rays overtake Jays
Tampa Bay leads Wild Card race
September 29, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have regained the lead in the American League Wild Card race after topping the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3 at Tropicana Field.

Pedro Martinez was strong, giving up three runs on eight hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in seven innings of work. Gabe White and Rich Garces combined on a scoreless eighth inning before handing the ball off to Paul Quantrill for the ninth inning. Martinez improved to 19-3 with the win while Quantrill recorded his 29th save of the year.

The Devil Rays have a magic number of four with three games remaining on their schedule, at home with the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays have four games to go, taking on the Cleveland Indians in Ohio.

[Moriarty9]

Jays clipped by Indians
Pineiro impressive in win over Toronto
September 30, 1999

CLEVELAND — The Toronto Blue Jays took a step backward today as they fell to the Indians, now one full game behind the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. in the American League Wild Card race.

Joe Pineiro improved to 10-6 for the Central division champions, holding the Blue Jays to one run on five hits and two walks over 8 1/3 innings.

Toronto will have a tough opponent tomorrow as Bartolo Colon (18-8, 4.00 ERA) toes the slab for Cleveland while the Blue Jays put Kelvim Escobar (13-9, 4.64 ERA) on the mound. In Florida, the Devil Rays will send Aaron Sele (13-10, 4.52 ERA) to the mound against Omar Daal (13-9, 4.55 ERA) of the New York Yankees.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays win wild one
Tampa Bay on verge of clinching berth
October 1, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were down 7-1 early but managed to make a come back and then almost blow it in the ninth agains the New York Yankees.

In the end, it was a 10-9 ballgame that brings Tampa Bay within one win — or one Toronto Blue Jays loss — from winning the American League Wild Card in the franchise's second season.

"It wasn't an easy one but these guys just don't quit and games like this show it," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We were a little sloppy early on and the Yankees took advantage of that before these guys stepped up and took care of business."

Veteran outfielder Rickey Henderson pulled a number of the Tampa Bay players aside in the home dugout after a four-run fourth inning for the Yankees. Whatever Henderson said, seemed to work as the team outscored their guests 9-2 from that point on.

"I just talked to the guys about not putting their heads down and drew off experiences," he said. "That's what Rickey does."

Devil Rays slugger Paul Konerko, who hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, credited Henderson with providing a moral boost to the team.

"He's been around this game a long time and has been in playoff races, pennant races, the World Series," Konerko said of Henderson. "He knows his stuff and he's helping us out whether he's in the lineup or not."

[Moriarty9]

Tampa Bay wins Wild Card
Rays go to second season in second season
October 2, 1999

CLEVELAND — The Toronto Blue Jays lost 9-3 to the Indians today, eliminating them from playoff contention and giving the Tampa Bay Devil Rays the American League Wild Card title.

The Devil Rays, scheduled to play at 7 p.m., have won the Wild Card without yet stepping onto the turf at Tropicana Field thanks to Cleveland's win this afternoon.

Bruce Chen, Tampa Bay's scheduled starter, will take the mound against Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees, however, reports out of St. Petersburg, Florida, indicate Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal will alter his originally planned starting lineup with a playoff berth now guaranteed.

[Moriarty9]

Wells, D-Rays trump Yankees
Tampa Bay wraps up regular season with win
October 3, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The only people who thought the Tampa Bay Devil Rays would be hopping a team plane for the playoffs after today's ballgame were the Devil Rays themselves.

Tampa Bay will head to Oakland tomorrow as they prepare for the American League Division Series, but first they had to play their 162nd and final game of the regular season. The Devil Rays ended the season on a positive note, defeating the American League East champion New York Yankees by a score fo 7-1 at Tropicana Field.

Devil Rays pitcher Kip Wells was strong on the mound, giving up one run on nine hits and two walks, striking out six in 7 1/3 innings. Wells threw 114 pitches, 77 for strikes, before handing the ball over to southpaw Benj Sampson and right-hander Tanyon Sturtze.

"These guys did well," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Its good to end the season on such a positive note for these guys."

Offensively, a couple of bench players took advantage of their starts in the lineup. Ryan Radmanovich, who played in 119 games last year but has had just 42 big league at bats this year, went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run for Tampa Bay while Chad Fonville went 1-for-4 with a double, run and RBI.

"We wanted to let some of the younger guys get some at bats and give some fo the regulars a little rest before heading to Oakland," O'Neal said.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays sting Oakland Game 1
Johnson slam, Pedro punchouts pace Tampa bay
October 5, 1999

OAKLAND — The improbable Tampa Bay Devil Rays took Game 1 of the American League Division Series with a convincing 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Tampa Bay catcher Charles Johnson performed well in the clutch, hitting a a two-out Grand Slam off A's starter Mark Buehrle in the fourth inning. In the sixth inning, again with two outs, Johnson hit a RBI double off Buehrle. Johnson finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs and five RBI.

"C.J. came through when he was up there with men on base, with clutch situations," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "He was huge tonight."

Pedro Martinez was also strong, holding Oakland to one run on eight hits and one walk, striking out nine over seven innings.

"Pedro has come up big for us just about every time out this year and tonight was no exception," O'Neal said. "There may not be anyone out there right now that I'd rather have in a big game than Pedro Martinez."

In Game 2, the Athletics look to even things up by sending Scott Erickson to the mound while Aaron Sele toes the rubber for Tampa Bay. Erickson went 9-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 19 starts. He is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against the Devil Rays this year, giving up eight runs on 12 hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. Sele went 14-10 with a 4.54 ERA in 33 starts with Tampa Bay. In his lone start against Oakland this year, Sele gave up three runs on five hits and one walk in eight innings, striking out three.

[Moriarty9]

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.

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Saberhagen strong in A's win
Chen falters as Devil Rays lose ALDS Game 3
October 8, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Game 3 of the American League Division Series was the first home playoff game in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history, but it was also the first post-season loss in franchise history.

More than 44,500 fans packed into Tropicana Field tonight, but most left disappointed as Bruce Chen and the Devil Rays were unable to win Game 3 and the series.

The AL West champion Oakland Athletics scored three runs in the first after a couple hits and a handful of walks, and the A's never looked back. Oakland won 6-2, but the game didn't feel as close as the final score indicates.

Chen, making his first postseason appearance, struggled right out of the gate. Joey Cora opened the game with a single and was joined by Miguel Tejada after a four-pitch walk. Chen struck out left-handed hitter Ben Grieve before walking Mark McGwire to load the bases with one out. Tony Batista hit a sacrifice fly to score Cora before Gabe Kapler hit a two-run double to cap off the top of the first inning. Chen danced out of trouble in the second inning, keeping Oakland off the board after giving up two hits in the inning. A couple walks and a Wil Cordero sacrifice fly led to another run in the third inning, and three consecutive hits led to another run in the fourth.

When all was said and done, Chen gave up five runs on seven hits and five walks in four innings of work. The southpaw left the game early but also left the game with a feeling that Tampa Bay was lucky the damage wasn't worse.

"I'm sure there were plenty of butterflies in the kid's stomach out there tonight," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "His control just wasn't there and that's really what did it. Walks kill you; they put guys on base, they drive up the pitch count, they prolong the inning, they put the guys in the field on their heels a little, and it gives the other team free scoring opportunities."

On the flip side was a fine performance from veteran right-hander Bret Saberhagen. Saberhagen gave up two runs on six hits and one walk over nine innings. No Tampa Bay batter had multiple hits.

"Sabes knows what he's doing out there, he's been here before," said Oakland skipper Ron O'Farrell — a rookie manager. "He's got talent but he's also so intelligent about the game and knows how to execute, what to execute, what works, what doesn't."

The A's hope to even the series at 2-2 tomorrow night when they send Mark Buehrle to the mound against Chad Ogea. Buehrle, a lefty who went 13-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 22 starts this year, was hit hard by Tampa Bay in Game 1, giving up seven runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work. Ogea went 8-15 with a 5.28 ERA in 31 starts this season and will be making his first post-season appearance.

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Devil Rays advance to ALCS
Ogea shuts down Oakland lineup in Game 4
October 9, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The improbable Cindarella story that is the 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays season became even more remarkable tonight as the team topped the Oakland Athletics 8-1 to advance to the American League Championship Series.

"It's a great feeling, one that is unparalleled for me in my career," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "These guys have put in hard work all year, from spring training to the playoffs so far. They deserve this."

Tampa Bay exploded for five runs in the home half of the third inning, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Raul Mondesi with two out and a 2-2 count.

Erubiel Durazo, 3-for-4, had a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI. Leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

The real story of the game for the Devil Rays was pitcher Chad Ogea, owner of an 8-15 record during the regular season. Ogea held Oakland to just one hit in the first seven innings before the A's could score their only run in the eighth inning. Oakland catcher Einar Diaz fouled off 10 pitches in a 15-pitch at bat to open the eighth before hitting a double to left-centerfield. He later scored on a RBI groundout by Doug Mientkiewicz. Ogea's final line was one run on two hits and six walks, striking out five in eight innings. Closer Paul Quantrill pitched a perfect ninth, retiring the side on six pitches in his lone playoff appearance so far.

"I was a little wild out there at times today but it worked out in our favor, I guess," Ogea said. "These guys are such good players, such good hitters, so strong in the field, the guys in the bullpen do their jobs, you have guys like Pedro (Martinez) and Aaron (Sele) heading the rotation, coaches who know what they're doing."

The Devil Rays will play the American League Central champion Cleveland Indians in a best-of-seven series to see who will win the pennant and advance to the World Series.

[Moriarty9]

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
A look at the stats from the ALDS

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
BRET SABERHAGEN, RHP (17-10, 4.17 ERA, 35 starts in 1999)
Saberhagen made just one appearance in the ALDS, but it was the Oakland's most impressive pitching performance of the series. Saberhagen gave up just two runs on six hits and one walk, striking out five, in a complete game victory in Game 3.

MARK BUEHRLE, LHP (13-3, 3.81 ERA, 22 starts in 1999)
Buehrle had just three losses in the regular season but suffered two in the playoffs. The lefty gave up seven runs in 5 2/3 innings in Game 1 and then was hit for five runs in three innings in Game 4. Overall, he posted a 12.46 ERA in 8 2/3 postseason innings, giving up 12 earned runs on 11 hits and three walks, striking out eight.

SCOTT ERICKSON, RHP (9-4, 4.16 ERA, 19 starts in 1999)
Erickson was hit with the loss in Game 2 of the series, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out three in 6 2/3 innings.

BEN GRIEVE, OF (.334, 28 HR, 115 RBI in 1999)
Grieve was a huge disappointment for Oakland as he was held hitless in 16 playoff at bats, walking twice and striking out seven times.

JOEY CORA, 2B (.293, 6 HR, 80 R, 396 AB in 1999)
Cora was the most productive A's player in the playoffs, hitting .533 (8-for-15) with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBI, two walks and two strikeouts.

TONY BATISTA, 3B (.271, 42 HR, 131 RBI in 1999)
Batista was nothing like the monster run producer he was during the season as Tampa Bay pitching held him hitless in 14 at bats. Batista had just one RBI, walked three times and struck out three times as part of the offensive collapse.

EINAR DIAZ, C (.265, 12 HR, 66 RBI in 1999)
Diaz played well in the playoffs, handling would-be basestealers well while also hitting .308 (4-for-13) with three doubles, a walk, a run scored and four strikeouts.

GABE KAPLER, OF (.293, 10 HR, 36 RBI, 328 AB in 1999)
Kapler performed as better than many of his teammates, hitting .250 (3-for-12) with three doubles, two walks, two runs, two RBI and two strikeouts.

DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ, 1B (.261, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 142 AB in 1999)
Mientkiewicz struggled at the plate in the playoffs while playing a solid firstbase defensively. He hit .167 (2-for-12) with a double, a walk, a RBI and two strike outs.

MARK McGWIRE, DH (.288, 61 HR, 169 RBI in 1999)
Publicly identified as "the guy we can't let beat us," Big Mac was held hitless in the postseason but still managed a .389 onbase percentage. McGwire was 0-for-11 with six strikeouts but was walked seven times, including a handful of intentional walks. He scored two runs in the series.

DAVE MAGADAN, 3B (.269, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 369 AB in 1999)
Magadan went 3-for-9 with a walk, RBI and strikeout. Only two Oakland batters had more hits than Magadan even though seven had more at bats.

JASON McDONALD, OF (.241, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 187 AB in 1999)
McDonald went 2-for-9 with a walk, a run and a strikeout.


TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
CHAD OGEA, RHP (8-15, 5.28 ERA, 31 starts in 1999)
Nobody would think the Devil Rays would win the ALDS if Chad Ogea had the most innings or lowest ERA of any of the starters in the series, but that is just what happened. Ogea started and won the deciding Game 4, holding Oakland to one run on two hits and six walks with five strikeouts in eight innings.

PEDRO MARTINEZ, RHP (19-3, 3.04 ERA, 34 starts in 1999)
Martinez struck out nine in Game 1, picking up an impressive win in his lone start of the postseason thus far. He gave up one run on eight hits and a walk in seven innings.

AARON SELE, RHP (14-10, 4.54 ERA, 33 starts in 1999)
Sele stumbled in Game 2 but the Devil Rays still managed to win. The right-hander gave up three runs on six hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven.

BRUCE CHEN, LHP (7-5, 3.92 ERA, 17 games/16 starts in 1999)
Chen is the only pitcher to be charged with a loss in Devil Rays playoff history (all four games of it ). He was hit for five runs on seven hits and five walks with four Ks in four innings.

PAUL KONERKO, 1B (.314, 38 HR, 135 RBI in 1999)
Konerko went deep in Game 2, but the homer was one of only three hits he picked up in the ALDS. Konerko hit .176 (3-for-17) with a home run, a walk, four runs scored, four RBI, and one strikeout.

CARLOS BELTRAN, OF (.303, 17 HR, 75 RBI, 446 AB in 1999)
Beltran also struggled, hitting .188 (3-for-16) with a double, one RBI, two runs, three walks and three strikeouts.

ERUBIEL DURAZO (.287, 30 HR, 100 RBI in 1999)
Durazo went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in Game 4, making up for a lousy series in the first three games. Overall, the left-handed slugger hit .250 (4-for-16) with two doubles, a home run, three runs, three RBI and four strikeouts.

CHARLES JOHNSON, C (.265, 20 HR, 67 RBI, 388 AB in 1999)
Johnson kicked off the ALDS strong, picking up five RBI in Game 1 alone. For the series, the catcher hit .333 (5-for-15) with two doubles, a home run, three runs, six RBI and three strikeouts.

RAUL MONDESI, OF (.264, 24 HR, 75 RBI, 492 AB in 1999)
Mondesi may have been the most productive hitter throughout the series, hitting .429 (6-for-14) with a double, two home runs, five runs, five RBI, two walks and four K's.

JOSE HERNANDEZ, 3B/SS (.240, 14 HR, 58 RBI in 1999)
Hernandez struggled in the ALDS, hitting .154 (2-for-13) with a double, a RBI, a run, a walk and four strikeouts.

RICKEY HENDERSON, OF (.295, 5 HR, 59 R, 295 AB in 1999)
Brought in partly for his experience and knowledge, Henderson was as key to the ALDS win as any other position player. The 40-year-old showed his old team he still has something in the tank by hitting a Devil Rays team high .583 (7-for-12) with two doubles, a triple, two walks, three runs, one strikeout.

JEFF FRYE, 2B (.241, 1 HR, 52 R, 440 AB in 1999)
Frye slipped from last year and it continued into the playoffs as the scrappy infielder went 2-for-11 with two walks and three RBI. He had two RBI in Game 1.

WILTON GUERRERO, SS (.306, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 337 AB in 1999)
Guerrero played in Games 1 and 3 but was offensively ineffective, going 0-for-8 with a strikeout.

[Moriarty9]

ALCS Schedule

GAME 1 (Oct. 13) — Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Cleveland Indians — Pedro Martinez v. Bartolo Colon

GAME 2 (Oct. 14) — Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Cleveland Indians — Aaron Sele v. David Wells

GAME 3 (Oct. 16) — Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Devil Rays — Chad Ogea v. Orlando Hernandez

GAME 4 (Oct. 17) — Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Devil Rays — Bruce Chen v. Ismael Valdez

GAME 5 (Oct. 18) — Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Devil Rays — Pedro Martinez v. Chad Ogea — if necessary

GAME 6 (Oct. 20) — Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Cleveland Indians — Aaron Sele v. David Wells — if necessary

GAME 7 (Oct. 21) — Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Cleveland Indians — Chad Ogea v. Orlando Hernandez — if necessary


NLCS Schedule

GAME 1 (Oct. 13) — Montreal Expos at Atlanta Braves — Dustin Hermanson v. Greg Maddux

GAME 2 (Oct. 14) — Montreal Expos at Atlanta Braves — Mike Thurman v. John Smoltz

GAME 3 (Oct. 16) — Atlanta Braves at Montreal Expos — John Halama v. Shawn Boskie

GAME 4 (Oct. 17) — Atlanta Braves at Montreal Expos — Eric Milton v. Terrell Wade

GAME 5 (Oct. 18) — Atlanta Braves at Montreal Expos — Dustin Hermanson v. Greg Maddux — if necessary

GAME 6 (Oct. 20) — Montreal Expos at Atlanta Braves — Mike Thurman v. John Smoltz — if necessary

GAME 7 (Oct. 21) — Montreal Expos at Atlanta Braves — John Halama v. Shawn Boskie — if necessary

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays pound Colon, Tribe
Tampa Bay takes Game 1 of ALCS
October 13, 1999

CLEVELAND — A pair of five-run innings, coupled with strong pitching from Pedro Martinez, has given the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 1-0 lead over the Indians in the American League Championship Series.

The Devil Rays jumped on Cleveland ace Bartolo Colon, winner of 19 games this season, with five runs in the first inning. After walks to Rickey Henderson and Carlos Beltran opened the inning, Paul Konerko got things started with a RBI single. Erubiel Durazo followed with a basehit to load the bases and Jose Hernandez, after a Raul Mondesi strikeout, hit a three-run double to right-centerfield. Hernandez then scored on a Charles Johnson single.

"You look at some of the matchups, some of the numbers, and the top of the lineup has had some decent success against Colon but he's also really done well against the bottom half of the lineup," said Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal. "We planned to be aggressive with him out there and hope to force some mistakes on their part. Fortunately for us, he dug himself a hole with two walks to start the game and we took advantage."

The Devil Rays scored five more in the seventh inning off relievers Bobby Howry, Steve Kline, and Mike Munoz. In that inning, Durazo hit a two-run shot off Howry, Johnson hit a two-run double off Kline, and Dave Berg knocked in a run with a two-out single. Tampa Bay added one more run in the eighth with a RBI single from Konerko, scoring Henderson.

"Our guys did a great job out there swinging the bats, getting on base, making it count," O'Neal said.

The pitching was equally impressive for the Devil Rays as Pedro Martinez worked seven shutout innings before heading to the clubhouse with a commanding 11-0 lead. Byung-Hyun Kim pitched the final two innings, giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

"Pedro was Pedro," O'Neal said. "He kept them out of the game."

Martinez allowed six hits and no walks in his seven innings, striking out nine.

Tampa Bay will send Aaron Sele to the mound in Game 2 while Cleveland has announced David Wells will toe the rubber for the Indians.

Sele went 14-10 with a 4.54 ERA in 33 starts this season. He was hit for three runs in 5 1/3 innings by the Oakland Athletics in the American League Division Series. He struggled against Cleveland this year, going 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts.

Wells, a left-hander, went 11-8 with a 5.17 ERA in 33 starts for Cleveland. He is known as a big-game pitcher and held the New York Yankees to one run on nine hits and one walk in 7 1/3 innings in the ALDS. He went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay this season.

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Maddux, Braves win Game 1
Montreal's Hermanson assaulted by Atlanta
October 13, 1999

ATLANTA — The Braves have taken a 1-0 lead in the NLCS with a 6-3 win over the Montreal Expos at Turner Field.

Montreal starter Dustin Hermanson was unable to get through the third inning, giving up six earned runs in two-plus innings of work. Conversely, Atlanta's Greg Maddux gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts in eight innings. Paul Shuey struck out three in the ninth inning to record his third save of the playoffs.

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Indians hold off Devil Rays
Cleveland evens series with Game 2 win
October 14, 1999

CLEVELAND — The Indians have turned the American League Championship Series into a best-of-five by winning Game 2 by a final score of 3-2 tonight.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays outhit their guests 10-7, but its the runs that matter most and in that department it was Cleveland in the lead.

Indians pitcher David Wells was held Tampa Bay to two runs on 10 hits and no walks, striking out three in eight innings. Billy Koch allowed the tying run to reach second base with two outs in the ninth inning as he recorded his first save of the playoffs.

Aaron Sele is charged with the loss after giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven. Left-handed reliever Gabe White pitched the seventh and eighth innings for Tampa Bay, giving up one hit and striking one batter out.

Sele struggled with his control in the second inning, but was fortunate to give up just one run in the inning. He hit Richie Sexson and Matt Williams with pitches, leading to a RBI single from Orlando Palmeiro with two outs.

"I felt pretty good out there but a couple pitches just got away from me," Sele said after the game. "

With an off-day tomorrow, the ALCS will resume Saturday in St. Petersburg, Florida for Game 3. Ismael Valdez will go for Cleveland while Bruce Chen takes the mound for Tampa Bay.

Valdez went 8-15 with a 4.65 ERA in 34 games this year. He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks in 8 1/3 innings during his start against the New York Yankees in the ALDS.

Chen went 7-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 17 games with Tampa Bay. In the lefty's lone post-season appearance, he was hit for five runs in four innings against the Oakland Athletics.

Neither starting pitcher has faced their opponent this year.

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Braves have 2-0 advantage
Chipper goes deep twice in 8-2 win
October 14, 1999

ATLANTA — The Braves are halfway to the National League pennant after winning Game 2 of the NLCS tonight.

Chipper Jones went 3-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored, and five RBI to lead Atlanta to an 8-2 win over the Montreal Expos.

[Moriarty9]

Indians scalp Devil Rays
Cleveland pounds Tampa Bay 13-1
October 16, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays played a bit more like the team most expected them to be this season as they fell to the Cleveland Indians, 13-1, in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

Devil Rays starter Bruce Chen struggled early on but was hammered in the fourth inning before being relieved by right-hander Kip Wells. Chen gave up nine runs on 10 hits and thee walks in just 3 1/3 innings of work. Wells would give up four runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings of relief.

"It was one of those nights where everything we threw seemed to be hit, and hit hard," said Tampa Bay skipper Christian O'Neal. "We've got to go out there tomorrow and tie things up again."

[Moriarty9]

Cleveland wins slugfest
Ogea hammered by Indians lineup
October 17, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The clock may have struck midnight for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as they've lost their third straight ballgame, their second blowout loss in a row.

Tampa Bay fell to the Cleveland Indians 13-8 tonight at Tropicana Field. Cleveland is now one win away from winning the American League pennant.

The Indians jumped out on top of the Devil Rays quickly, taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Tampa Bay responded with a four-run fourth, but Cleveland regained its lead with a seven-run third inning. The two teams continued to trade blows, but it was Cleveland that stood tall when the dust had settled.

Devil Rays starter Chad Ogea was hit hard, giving up nine runs on nine hits and three walks with one strikeout in two-plus innings. Cleveland starter Orlando Hernandez gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in four innings.

The Devil Rays are now one loss away from ending their season after an improbable run that has brought them to at least tomorrow's Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.