RESULTS: ROUND 1 - REGION 3:
5) 1995 Atlanta Braves vs. 12) 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates
Probably the best rotation in my lifetime gets their go here. Maddux will start game 1 of course, and he is opposed by Pittsburgh’s Bert Blyleven….who would actually go on to face much of this Braves team in the World Series in 1991, but I digress…. Both starters pitched well and the game featured 12 total hits. Willie Stargell’s run scoring double off Maddux in the 4th gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead, and his single in the 9th off Mark Wohlers gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead. Kent Tekulve closed it out with a perfect 9th and the underdogs have stolen a lead.
Game 2 was a close affair throughout. The Pirates were up 4-1 briefly in the 6th, but the bottom of the 7th was big for Atlanta as they pulled right back to 4-3, and eventually tied it in the 8th on a Ryan Klesko home run. The game would go to the 10th, where Klesko walked it off, literally he drew a bases loaded walk, vs. last night’s closer Tekulve. The series is tied heading to Pittsburgh.
The deeper we go into the rotations the more the advantage is supposed to swing to Atlanta in this series, but the Pirates nabbed another close one to take a 2-1 series lead. They jumped on Smoltz early for a 4-0 lead, and held on as the Braves closed to 4-2 but stopped there. Pittsburgh started Bruce Kison went 8 innings, giving up 5 hits, 1 walk, and 12 Ks.
Game 4 saw the Braves tie up what is becoming a really intriguing series. After taking an early 1-0 lead Atlanta again fell victim to Willie Stargell who hit a two run shot in the 6th. The Pirates would add another before light hitting Jeff Blauser drove in two runs vs Kent Tekulve again, in the 8th. The game would go to the 10th for the second time this series where Marquis Grissom would single in the go ahead run for the 4-3 win.
Game 5 was the first in the series without any drama. Maddux was Maddux, going 8 innings and giving up one run. David Justice’s two home runs lead the offense to an 11-2 win, and the series is going back to Atlanta with the Pirate’s back against the wall.
Game 6 was another fun one. Glavine was cruising into the 7th, leading 4-1, where the key hit was a two-run triple from Phil Garner. Willie Stargell also drove in two in the inning, and after six runs were across the Pirates were up 7-4. Kent Tekulve got his second save of the series, and we are going to game 7!
Game 7 starters Bruce Kison and John Smoltz was a rematch of game 3 and neither was as good as last time. The fireworks started in the top of the first with a two-run homer by, who else? Willie Stargell. Atlanta tied it in the bottom of the 1st when Jeff Blauser drove in two. Omar Moreno hit his 2nd longball of the series in the 3rd for a 4-2 lead and again Atlanta tried to respond in the bottom of the inning closing it to 4-3. Each would score a run in the 6th and it was still 5-4 when, in the top of the 8th, Willie Stargell with another huge hit, a two-run homerun, off Greg McMichael, and made it 7-4. Pittsburgh would push across a couple more in the 8th and win by a final of 9-4.
I’m sure it is no surprise to hear that the series MVP went to Willie Stargel, who finished at .406 with three homeruns and ten RBIs…so many of them at key points in the series. I guess it is also no surprise that a 90’s Braves team failed to advance in the post-season.
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