World Series - Games 3-5

Game 3	R	H	E
Montreal	10	13	0
Oakland	9	12	2
WP: J. Kent (1-0)
LP: A. Sinclair (2-2)
SV: Kip Glass (7)

Summary:

Oakland once again got the scoring started, taking a 1-0 lead on a home run by DH Nate Cunningham (2) to lead off the 2^nd. C Eduardo Ayala answered for the Expos in the top of the 3^rd with a monster 3-run shot to RCF, his 5^th of the season. Oakland got one of those back when C Jake Rhodes doubled to CF to score RF Shayne Everett. P Larry Wells gave that run right back in the top of the 4^th when CF Manny Martin hit his 4^th of the playoffs. Shayne Everett tied the game by hitting a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 5^th.  Montreal answered in the top of the 6^th on an RBI single by SS Sammy Cruz and a 3-run tater by 3B Hal Purcell. Unfortunately for Montreal, this was not Sawyer Cross’ (5.1IP, 10H, 8ER, 2B, K) night as he gave the lead right back. Cross allowed the first 3 batters to reach, got Thornton to ground into a fielders’ choice which scored the first run, then Rogers tripled in 2 runs, and Everett hit a sacrifice fly down the LF line to score the game-tying run. Manny Martin singled in the go-ahead run in Montreal’s 7^th to put them up 9-8. In the bottom of the 8^th, Oakland’s Rogers singled in the tying run. Martin answered with a triple in the top of the 9^th to put the Expos ahead for good. Kip Glass retired the side in order.
Montreal leads, 2-1.

Game 4	R	H	E
Montreal	5	12	0
Oakland	6	11	0
WP: V. Simas (1-0)
LP: K. Glass (0-1)

Summary:

The follow up to the offensive explosion in game 3, game 4 was exciting as well. Oakland again scored first, taking a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 1^st on doubles by Shayne Everett and Jake Rhodes, and Bert Root’s 8^th HR of the playoffs. Hal Purcell put Montreal on the board in the top of the 2^nd with an RBI single. The top of the 7^th is a good one for the Expos as they put 4 on the board to take a 5-4 lead on the back of a 3-run home run by Ayala and an RBI groundout by Arroyo. Kip Glass hadn’t blown a save all post-season when he took the mound in the bottom of the 8^th. In a sign of things to come, he gave up 2 hits, but survived the 8^th thanks to a 6-4-3 double play. In the 9^th, he struck out the leadoff hitter, walked the next batter, got Everett to line out to the SS, then walked Rhodes and Root…2B Benj Fox steps up in a dream scenario…2 outs, bases loaded, down by one…and smacks a game-winning 2-run single to RCF.

Series tied, 2-2.

Game 5	R	H	E
Montreal	3	7	0
Oakland	1	5	2
WP: P. Priddy (7-0)
LP: M. Polcovich (1-3)
SV: S. Hines (1)

 Summary:

With Kip Glass being sidelined due to overuse, Montreal went back to the formula that saw them winning game 2…a heavy dose of Priddy followed by Hines. Priddy pitched brilliantly, scattering 5 hits over 8 innings while striking out 7 and giving up just one run. Hines’ only blemish was a walk in the 9^th. The Oakland offense and defense really let Mario Polcovich down as he scattered 6 hits across 6 innings while striking out 4…he gave up 3 unearned runs in the 4^th when an error by Alvarez gave the Expos the extra out to allow Butler to hit a 3-run home run. Oakland’s sole run came in the 4^th as well when Fox hit into a fielder’s choice which allowed Rhodes to score.

Montreal leads series, 3-2.