Monday, October 5,1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
San Diego sends Houston packing
The Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres are going back to the NL championship series after a 14-year absence, thanks in large part to new hero Jim Leyritz.
And Randy Johnson is not going to make it to the World Series as many thought, because the Padres beat the Big Unit and the Houston Astros 6-1 last night to clinch the division series three games to one.
With the crowd of 64,898 fans hanging on every pitch, Leyritz hit his third home run in as many games and 27-year-old Sterling Hitchcock coded in his first playoff start, using a devastating split-fingered fastball to strike out 11 batters in six innings
Johnson lost his fifth-straight decision in the postseason, tying a major league record. He left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh, and reliever Jay Powell gave up pinch-hitter John Vander Wal's two-run triple and Wally Joyner's two-run homer in the eighth.
Trevor Hoffman closed out the ninth inning for the Padres, who move on to face the Atlanta Braves in the NL championship series starting Wednesday night at Turner Field. Atlanta won five
or nine games against the Padres this year.
This is the first time the Padres have been this far since 1984, when they beat the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS but lost the World Series 4-1 to Detroit. Tony Gwynn is the only player left from that team, although Bruce Bochy is the manager and Tim Flannery is the third-base coach.
The Astros go home frustrated for a second-straight year, having been swept by Atlanta in a 1997 division series. Houston has been in five postseason series, and lost all of them.
Johnson was brilliant after being traded from Seattle to Houston on July 31, going 10-1 with a 1.28 ERA. But the Padres beat him twice this series.
Leyritz hit a home run for the third straight game and for the sixth time in 34 postseason atbats.
He sent the crowd into a frenzy with his 422-foot homer to left-center on a 3-1 pitch from Johnson leading off the second. Leyritz had been just 4-for-37 with one home run off Johnson in his career.
The Padres won Saturday night's game 2-1 thanks to Leyritz's solo homer to left field with one out in the seventh.
Thursday, his pinch-hit, two-run shot with two out in the ninth off Billy Wagner sailed just inside the foul pole in right field, tying the game at 4. The Astros came back and won it 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth.
Leyritz is best known for his dramatic homer for the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series against Atlanta. His three-run, eighth-inning shot against Mark Wohlers tied the game at 6-6. The Yankees went on to win in 10 innings and defeated the Braves in six games.
Trailing 2-1, the Astros loaded the bases without a hit off Joey Hamilton in the seventh. Dan Miceli came on and retired the side on four pitches, striking out Brad Anusmus and getting Carl Everett — pinch-hitting for Johnson — to pop up to third base.
Micell came on with the bases loaded and two out Saturday night and struck out Bill Spiers in three pitches.
Jeff Bagwell walked at the start of the seventh inning and eventually reached third base, but was caught in a rundown after Joyner fielded Sniers' grounder to first.
The Padres scratched out an unearned run in the sixth inning to go ahead 2-1. Greg Vaughn hit a
high fly with two outs and left fielder Moises Alou had to run in to attempt the catch.
Alou tried to make a sliding catch and missed, giving Vaughn a double. Ken Caminiti followed with a chopper to third baseman Sean Berry and stumbled coming out of the box, but Berry made a bad throw that bounced past Bagwell at first base, allowing Vaughn to score.
Hitchcock came in overmatched in playoff experience by Johnson, who had thrown 46 1/3 playoff innings. Hitchcock had made just two relief appearances for the New York Yankees in the 1995 division series against Seattle, totaling 12/3 innings.
But the lefty had the Astros swinging at his splitter, which often dove into the dirt. He allowed two hits and one run and walked none.
He was perfect through three innings before a splitter bounced and hit Craig Biggio in the leg. Richard Hidalgo singled and Derek Bell hit into a double play, moving Biggio to third. Bagwil singled to center to score Biggio.
Biggio hit one-out double in the sixth, but Hidalgo popped up and Hitchcock froze Bell with a curveball, ending the inning.
DIVISION SERIES
American League New York vs. Texas
Tuesday, Sept. 29
New York 2, Texas 0
Wednesday, Sept. 30
New York 3, Texas 1
Friday, Oct. 2
New York 4, Texas 0, New York wins
series 3-0
BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Cleveland vs. Boston
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Boston 11, Cleveland 3
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Cleveland 9, Boston 5
Friday, Oct. 2
Cleveland 4, Boston 3
Saturday, Oct. 3
Cleveland 2, Boston 1, Cleveland wins series 3-1
National League Late Games Not Included Atlanta vs. Chicago
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Atlanta 7, Chicago 1
Thursday, Oct. 1
Atlanta 2, Chicago 1, 10 innings
Saturday, Oct. 3
Atlanta 6, Chicago 2, Atlanta wins series 3-0
Houston vs. San Diego
Houston vs. San Diego
Tuesday, Sept. 29
San Diego 2, Houston 1
Thursday, Oct. 1
Houston 5, San Diego 4
Saturday, Oct. 3
San Diego 2, Houston 1, San Diego leads series 2-1
Sunday, Oct. 4
San Diego 6, Houston 1, San Diego wins series 3-1
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
American League (NBC)
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Cleveland at New York, 7:07 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Cleveland at New York, 3:07 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9
New York at Cleveland, 7:07 p.m. Saturday Oct 10
New York at Cleveland, 6:07 p.m.
New York at Cleveland, 3:07 p.m., if
postponed.
Sunday Oct.11
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Cleveland at New York, 7:07 p.m., if
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Cleveland at New York, 7:07 p.m., if necessary
National League (FOX)
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Sunday, Oct. 11
Wednesday, Oct. 7
San Diego at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8
San Diego at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10
Atlanta at San Diego, 3:15 p.m.
Atlanta at San Diego, 6:45 p.m.
Monday Oct. 12
Atlanta at San Diego, 7:10 p.m., if
enquiries.
Wednesday, Oct. 14
San Diego at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m., if necessary
San Diego at Atlanta, 3:20 p.m., if
genetics
Thursdav. Oct. 15
WORLD SERIES
(FOX)
National League at American League winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18
NL at AL, 6:55 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 20
AL at NL, 7:20 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 21
AL at NL, 7:20 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22
AL at NL, 7:20 p.m., if necessary
Saturday, Oct. 24
NL at AL, 7 p.m., if necessary
Sunday, Oct. 25
NL at AL, 4:5 p.m., if necessary
NL at AL, 6:55 p.m., if necessary
Cleveland Indians take on Yankees
Teams meet again in postseason play
Cleveland visited the Bronx this time last year, and the Indians had such a pleasant experience they are coming back for a few days. Like last October, they are not expected to beat the Yankees.
NEW YORK — The Indians swear they will not be afraid. They have been to New York, seen the sights, even won a few games on one of baseball's holiest and most hostile grounds.
The Associated Press
And that is just fine with the Indians.
"Maybe we can it again," shortstop Omar Vizquel said. "I
Showing the same resiliency that helped them surprise New York and Baltimore en route to winning the AL championship in 1997.
know they've been warning for another shot at us, and now it's time to go at it."
we indians earned a chance to defend their title by winning three straight games — two with late-inning comebacks at Fenway Park — to eliminate the Red Sox.
How the Indians defeated a team that beat them eight times in 11 games during the regular season is still a bit mysterious. Cleveland batted .206 to Boston's .252, was outscored 20-18 in four games and had a team ERA of 5.00.
But as the Indians proved last year, the postseason devalues statistics while elevating intangibles like momentum, emotion and good fortune.
kees, who won 114 games during the season before blowing through Texas with startling efficiency in the first round.
"I don't think you get to the postseason by being lucky," Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove said. "You have to be a good ballclub, and if you catch a few breaks along the way, you can piece some wins together and maybe beat some people along the way that the experts say you're not supposed to beat. We feel very good about ourselves and that we can match up with anyone."
But don't expect the Indians to be shaking in their cleats for game one Tuesday night. Cleveland is loaded with experience, and for all the postgame partying in Boston, a been-there, done-that feeling seemed to emanate throughout the Indians' clubhouse.
Cleveland's reward for beating Boston is a best-of-seven series against the highly touted Yan-
"They have a great ballclub from top to bottom." David Justice, Cleveland's Game 4 hero, sald of the Yankees. "But we're confident we can play on the same field with them. The games will dictate who comes up with the big hits and who's going to be the star on any given night."
Last year, the Indians' brightest postseason star in beating
the Yankees in the division series was Jaret Wright. Unfazed by pitching at Yankee Stadium as a rookie, he beat the Yankees in Game 2 then came back in his next start to win the decisive
game five.
Wright, 2:1 with a 8.66 ERA vs.
New York this year, was disgusted with his performance in game one last week against the Red Sox. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed six runs in 41/3 innings in an 11-3 loss, and afterward wrestled with thoughts of waiting all winter before he could redeem himself.
"If you had told me four days ago that I'd be standing in our locker room with champagne flying all over the place, I would have found that very hard to believe," he said. "For me, I'm grateful for the second chance. Because this team refused to fold, I have a champagne bottle in my hand, and we're preparing for New York. You can't beat that."
As underdogs, they've beaten the odds once already this post-season. Now, the Indians intend to prove they're good enough to stay with baseball's best.
"We knew that the way the Yankees were playing all year that we would have to go through them if we wanted to get back to the World Series," reliever Mike Jackson said. "And now they've got to go through us."
Yankees pay Strawberry visit as he recovers from surgery
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Hearing the good news secondhand was not good enough, so half a dozen New York Yankees visited Darryl Strawberry on Sunday, a day after a cancerous tumor was removed from the outfitter's colon.
Pitcher David Cone intended to bring one of the Yankees' caps, which now have Strawberry's number 39 stitched in white on the back.
"We just want to show him how much we care—and we got the job done he wanted us to do." Cone said before joining teammates Chili Davis, Joe Girardi, Derek Jeter and Tim Raines on the trip to Columbia-Pasbysterian Medical Center, about a mile from Yankee Stadium.
Stuart Herson, the Yankees' team physician, held a clubhouse meeting and gave an update on Strawberry's condition.
Hershon told them doctors thought the cancer had not
"I think we felt a lot better because everything came out well," first baseman Tino Martinez said. "There's a lot of relief around here."
spread, but they would not know until tests come back in about 10 days. Doctors removed a 16-inch portion of Strawberry's large intestine to get rid of a tumor almost 2/12 inches long.
"Knowing George Steinbrenner, there'll be very thorough exams." Torre said. "I have a feeling we're going to have more exhaustive physicals."
Strawberry remained in stable condition Sunday. He is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week.
New York manager Joe Torre, who also visited the 36-year-old outfielder, predicted Strawberry's illness would increase the awareness of colon cancer among the Yankees.
Atlanta Braves sweep Chicago in 3 games
"He's doing well. His family is with him," said Columbia-Presbyterian spokeswoman Szuping Di.
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — The surest bet in sports? It might be the Atlanta Braves in the division series.
Although the Braves have struggled in the World Series, winning once in four tries this decade, they have owned the best-of-five round that was added in 1995, treating it as nothing more than some bothersome gnat to be swapped away on the road to the NL championship series.
Atlanta finished off its third straight sweep with a 6-2 victory Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. Overall, the Braves are 4-for-4 in the first round, losing once in 13 games.
The Braves move on to play in their seventh straight NLCS, a feat that's even more remarkable considering the extra round of playoffs they've had to get through the last four years.
"We expect to win," said Greg Maddux, who completed a dominating three days by Atlanta, pitching in the clinching game at Wrigley Field.
"It is a grind," manager Bobby
Cox said. "It is something that will
be hard to do for any club with the format that's out there now."
After beating Colorado 3-1 in 1985, Atlanta swept Los Angeles. Houston and now the Cubs. In the last three years, the Braves have given up 14 runs in nine first-round games.
Atlanta, 4-2 in the championship series since 1991, will meet the winner of the San Diego-Houston series.
In a champagne-soaked clubhouse, the Braves were in no mood for reflection. As usual, the season will-not be considered a success unless they win another World Series title, so the team needs eight more victories this season.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Cox said. "The organization has had tremendous success. We have had great teams for a long time and to be able to (play in the NLCS seven straight times) is really something, trying to keep it all together, keep-
can things do.
As long as the Braves keep their magnificent pitching staff together, they will be a contender. Just ask the Cubs, who averaged more than five runs a game during the season but managed only four in three games against the Braves, hitting a minuscule, 181 as a team.
"I've always thought that good pitching beats good hitting," Maddux said. "We pitched them good and came away with the win."
He'll get no argument from the Cubs — especially Sammy Sosa. After hitting 66 homers in his memorable duel with Mark McGwire, he went 2-for-11 in the division series with no homers or RBIs.
ing your players as healthy as you can, things like that."
"They've got a better team," Sosa said. "They've got better pitching."
said. "They've got better pitching." The Atlanta starters were masterful. John Smoltz went 7 2/3 innings in game one, surrendering five hits and a run. Tom Glavie gave up only three hits and a run in game two. Then Maddux finished it off by allowing seven hits and two runs in game three.
Still, the difference was in the bullpen. While Chicago's relievers surrendered nine runs in 6 1/3
"I've always thought that good pitching beats good hitting. We pitched them good and came away with the win."
Greg Maddux Braves' pitcher
Atlanta did not even need its other two starters, 17-game winner Kevin Millwood and 16-game winner Denny Neagle, who were sent to the bullpen for the division series.
Cox will have to decide if he wants to stick with a three-man rotation for the best-of-seven championship series, or take a chance on Neagle's bursitis-stricken left shoulder in game four.
innings, their no-name Atlanta counterparts — Kerry Ligtenberg, John Rocker, Rudy Seanez and Odalis Perez — pitched 61/3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits.
The Braves expressed no preference about their opponent in the next round.
"I'm just glad we're going." Mad dux said.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF LAW
PRELAW PROGRAM Tuesday, October 6,1998
Presents a
Green Hall, Room 104 7:00 PM
To help you plan a career in the legal profession, law school professors and students will be available to discuss with you your law plans and answer questions about
Prelaw Education Admissions Process Financial Aid
Law School Curriculum
Joint Degree Programs
Law Placement