Miracle 90 A's upset '98 Braves in 5

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 2^nd with a solo HR from Ryan Klesko and a Maddux RBI single.  Atlanta would take their first lead in the bottom of the 4^th 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 5^th from Andruw Jones to go up 6-2.  The Braves would add one more in the 8^th and win 7-2 as Maddux allows only 1 hit after the 1^st 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 2^nd.  A 2 out error in the 5^th 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 10^th 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 11^th 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 2^nd.  Oakland would hold the 2-0 lead into the 8^th 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 1^st and a 3 run homer from Rickey Henderson in the 2^nd.  Atlanta is able to get a couple on the board against starter Mike Moore but Oakland leads 6-2 going into the 8^th 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 9^th 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 2^nd.  It would remain 2-0 Oakland until the top of the 7^th 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 7^th with back to back singles.  Willie Randolph hits a third single and Hendu rumbles around 3^rd looking to score the go-ahead run but he is gunned down at the plate.  Terry Steinbach however hits Oakland’s 4^th 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 8^th 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 9^th 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