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Heart of the order in the sixth. Ordonez grounds to second, Munson pops up to center, Wells grounds weakly to first and gets tagged out for out number three. Why everyone is hacking like that at an undoubtedly fatigued Schmidt I don't know. It's too bad no one could have bunted or moved a runner up.
That sinking despairing feeling is back. Bottom of the sixth, Giles, Giles and Giambi coming up, it's open question who should pitch. Nannini gets a hypothetical one batter leash and second baseman Giles doubles off the wall. Setup man Aki Otsuka comes in, strikes out right fielder Giles but loses first baseman Giambi to a walk.
And the catcher Lunsford, who entered the game hitting .125, .250-some career in the minors, he becomes the potential hero with a single to left. The pitcher Schmidt bunts, Otsuka improbably retires Jeter on a fly ball to center to keep it a one run game, and we're not out of it just yet. OOTP tells me that the Japanese set-up man is hurt and I wonder for a second just what the hell is going on. Then I remember, this is game 7 of the ALCS and that's what's going on. 2 3 and 4 hitters up for the Yankees next inning, so it's definitely Buehrle time. If we tie it before then I will say a thousand Hail Marys.
Pale Hose 3, Yankees 4, 7th inning
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