NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game 5 Blasting By Phoenix Pushes Shanghai To The Edge

Game 1
Rosen 2-run HR in 5th wins it for Phoenix.

SHD: 2r 5h 1e
PFL: 3r 5h 0e
W- Tanana; L- Wood; S- Wagner
HR- Wood; Rosen

Game 2
Phoenix scores 4 in the 9th (2 unearned) to tie and 1 in the 10th to win.

SHD: 5r 14h 1e
PFL: 6r 11h 1e
W- Acosta; L- Joss
HR- Mattingly

Game 3
    The Dragons, down 2 games to nil, but home at last for Game 3, spotted the Forever Living a pair of runs through six. But in the bottom of said inning, Carew walked, Caruthers reached on a Millwood error and Barry Larkin, coming off a 2-week-long injury, doubled 'em both home. The slumping Mathews walked, then PH Ewing singled home Larkin off relief pitcher Wagner. The Dragons, though forced to use four pitchers, padded the lead and held on for the duke.

PFL: 2r 6h 1e
SHD: 6r 7h 1e
W- Joss; L- Millwood; S- Schupp

Game 4
12 innings
    Game 4 was quite the barnburner, ultimately decided when Eric Davis (who went 4-6) doubled home the ubiquitous Mr. Ewing in the bottom of the 12th. Final: SHA 7, PHO 6. Poor Billy Wagner again got to wear the "goat" horns, although this one goes down in history as an excellently-played game by two teams of approximately equal calibre. Few true "fans" left their seats during this classic contest. Mays and Rosen went deep, but few players or coaches had anything to be ashamed of for their efforts today.

PFL: 6r 11h 2e
SHD: 7r 13h 0e
W- Brecheen; L- Wagner
HR- Gehrig

Game 5
    Game 5, on the other hand, was a ridiculous slopfest, with the Forever Living scoring early and often, and the Dragons going down with only the occasional whimper. It was so one-sided that Phoenix brought in a couple of "itchies" to, in essence, throw late-inning BP.

PFL: 12r 13h 0e
SHD: 3r 7h 2e
W- Grimes; L- Key
HR- Rosen; Robinson (2); Mays

    And so the Dragons take their act on the road in search of their third NL Championship in four RTCBL seasons. Only prediction here: It's unlikely to prove dull!

(S. Morgan)

Phoenix Flies Past Dragons For The NL Pennant

Game 6
    Game 6 of the NLCS matched the 11-18 Silver King for the Dragons against Kevin Millwood 12-6 for Phoenix.

    In the top half of the first, Rod Carew collects his 5th hit of the series, but is left stranded at 2nd. In the bottom of the 1st that pesky little second-sacker Cupid Childs singles for his 4th hit of the series, and promptly steal 2nd. Childs ends up stranded on 3rd.
0-0

    Millwood shuts down the Dragons 1, 2, 3 in the top of the 2nd. Bottom of the 2nd; Ed McKean picks up his 5th hit of the series with a single, he then swipes 2nd base. Bobby Veach attempts to SAC Childs to 3rd when King fields the ball, throws to Carew covering first, Carew bobbles the ball and Veach is safe on an error. Childs moves over to third. Vada Pinson hits one back to the mound and King throws him out at 1st, Veach moves to 2nd. Bill Freehan then hits a hot smash right at Carew who lets it go right between the wickets to commit his second error of the inning, allowing Childs and Veach to score. The rest of the inning is quiet.
0-2

    Bill Dickey leads off the top of the 3rd with his 4th hit of the NLCS. King then SAC Dickey to 2nd. Eric Davis nails one to the wall in right center, Dickey digs around 3rd but runs right through the red light and is thrown out at the plate by Pinson. Davis goes to 2nd on the play. Carew smacks a double off the left-center field wall allowing Davis to score easily. Willie Mays flies out to right. Lou Gehrig starts the bottom of the 3rd for Phoenix with a triple to center. King uncorks a high one that gets by Dickey for a PB allowing Gehrig to score the Forever Living's 3rd run of the game. Al Rosen then takes a walk. King uncorks a wild one that goes all the way to the back stop. Rosen, who is hustling all the way, ends up on 3rd on the play. McKean hits one to short, Larkin fields it, throws home to get Rosen in a run down for the out. McKean goes to 2nd on the play. Veach strolls up to the plate and destroys one to center for a double scoring McKean. Pinson grounds out to SS to end the inning.
1-4

    In the top of the 4th, Bob Caruthers collects a double giving him 3 for the series. Millwood walks Don Mattingly. Millwood unleashes a wild pitch to allow the runners to move up a base. Eddie Mathews slices a triple down the right field line that scores Caruthers and Mattingly. Barry Larkin pops out to short. Dickey hits a good one to short, McKean fires home to nail Mathews. King whiffs to end the rally. Phoenix goes down quiet in the bottom of the 4th.
3-4

    The 5th and 6th innings provide no action.

    The Dragons go down easy in the top of the 7th. With just a 1-run lead, Roger Lemaster, owner/manager for Phoenix, lifts Millwood for pinch-hitter Reggie Smith in an attempt to score more runs. Millwood leaves the game giving up 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 K's and 3 BB's. Smith collects his 3rd hit of the series with a single to right. King then drills Childs in the elbow with a heater. Now there are runners on 1st and 2nd. Billy Walker, manager for Shanghai, pulls King in favor of Guy Hecker. Gehrig hits into a FC. Runners on the corners now. Frank Robinson hits a slow roller to second allowing Smith to score. Robinson is out on the play and Gehrig moves to 2nd. Rosen draws an intentional walk. McKean grounds out to 3rd.
3-5

    Mike Garcia and Bill Wagner come on for Phoenix to shut down the Dragons in the top half of the 8th. No action for Phoenix.

    Top of the 9th sees Warren Spahn and Mariano Rivera close out the Dragons 1, 2, 3; and Phoenix wins the NLCS in 6 games to move onto to their first World Series appearance!

SHD: 3r 8h 3e
PFL: 5r 5h 1e
W- Millwood; L- King; S- Rivera

Al Rosen is the series MVP with a .393 OBP, 2 HR and 7 RBI.

(R. Lemaster)