Game 1- Greg Maddux takes the mound for Atlanta against
Oakland’s Dave Stewart. Oakland jumps on
Maddux early as Rickey Henderson and Walt Weiss pull off a double steal and
score on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly. Atlanta ties it up 2-2 in the bottom of the 2nd
with a solo HR from Ryan Klesko and a Maddux RBI single. Atlanta would take their first lead in the
bottom of the 4th with an RBI single from Keith Lockhart and a 2 run
double from Chipper Jones. The Braves
would add to the lead with a solo HR in the 5th from Andruw Jones to
go up 6-2. The Braves would add one more
in the 8th and win 7-2 as Maddux allows only 1 hit after the 1st
inning in a complete game win. Andruw
Jones finishes the game 4-4 with 3 runs scored. Atlanta leads series 1-0
Game 2- Atlanta sends out Ace #2 in Tom Glavine and
Scott Sanderson gets the start for Oakland.
Javy Lopez opens the scoring with a solo shot in the bottom of the 2nd. A 2 out error in the 5th allowed
Oakland to finally get to Glavine on a 2- run double by Mark Mcgwire to give
Oakland a 1 run lead. Oakland would
carry the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth with Eckersley pitching. Shockingly, Eck gives up an RBI double to
Ozzie Guillen and we head to extra innings.
Oakland gets 2 baserunners in the 10th but a double play ends
the threat. Eckersley settles down and
gets Atlanta out in order in the bottom of the inning. Harold Baines pinch hits for Eck in the 11th
and leads off with a double. Rickey singles
him home and Oakland gets an insurance run on a Carney Lansford single. Steve
Chitren does his best Eckersley impression by shutting down the Braves in the
bottom of the inning and Oakland gains home field advantage in the series. Series Tied 1-1
Game 3- The series shifts back to Oakland and the A’s
have 27 game winner Bob Welch on the mound against John Smoltz for the
Braves. Both pitchers are on their game
with the notable exception of back to back jacks from the Bash Brothers, Jose Canseco
and Mcgwire, in the bottom of the 2nd. Oakland would hold the 2-0 lead into the 8th
inning when welch tires and the Braves get an RBI single from Chipper Jones off
relief pitcher Joe Klink. Eckersley is
able to do his normal thing this time though and Oakland hangs on for the 2-1
victory. Oakland leads 2-1
Game 4- Atlanta goes with Denny Neagle in Game 4,
a significant drop off from their Big 3, and Oakland takes advantage with 2 runs in the
1st and a 3 run homer from Rickey Henderson in the 2nd. Atlanta is able to get a couple on the board
against starter Mike Moore but Oakland leads 6-2 going into the 8th
inning. Rick Honeycutt comes into pitch
for Oakland and he is not sharp walking 2 and giving up a 2 run double to
Chipper Jones. Honeycutt settles it down
and gets it to Eckersley in the 9th who is dominant with 2
strikeouts and a groundout. Oakland leads 3-1
Game 5- Maddux and Stewart are matched up again
in Game 5. Mark Mcgwire opens the
scoring with a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 2nd. It would remain 2-0 Oakland until the top of
the 7th when Andruw Jones doubled in 2 runs to tie it up at 2. Dave Henderson and Felix Jose would lead off
the bottom of the 7th with back to back singles. Willie Randolph hits a third single and Hendu
rumbles around 3rd looking to score the go-ahead run but he is
gunned down at the plate. Terry Steinbach
however hits Oakland’s 4th straight single and Jose and Randolph both
score to put Oakland up 4-2 and they are starting to smell championship. Joe Klink comes in to pitch the 8th
for Oakland and gives up 2 singles and a walk to load the bases with only 1 out
and slugger Andres Galaragga at the plate.
Tony Larussa decides to go to Eck needing 5 outs for the title. Eckersley gets the big strikeout of Galaragga
and a flyout from Ryan Klesko to end the threat. In the 9th Atlanta gets a couple
more 2 out hits off Eckersley but Walt Weiss grounds out to end the inning and
the celebration is on in Oakland!-Oakland
wins series 4-1
