Updated 28 August 1998

Playoff Statistics

The playoffs returned to Cleveland for the second straight season this time with the Spiders holding the home field advantage against the Gettysburg Lightning. Cleveland announced late last night that starting pitcher Steve Blass had missed curfew and would be suspended for the series. Spider skipper Shifflett said "He missed curfew by the slimmest of margins but team rules are team rules. He won't play". Blass who remained to cheer on his comrades would not comment.

Game 1 - Chrissie Hynde sings National Anthem, Alan Freed throws out the first pitch. Tommy John v Denny McLain.

McLain was shaky in the outset loading the bases in the first with no outs but escaping with no runs scoring. The pitchers then continued their fine regular season into the post season throwing up zeroes early until the fourth when Cleveland gets back to back doubles from Alou and Millan to score the important first run of the series. Cater follows with a two out single and the Spiders lead 2-0.

Tovar cut the deficit to 2-1 with an rbi single in the 6th but the rally fell short and McLain escaped again. That run seemed to inspire the Cleveland offense as Millan walked and scored on Willie Horton's home run to left. Hershberger;s double chased Tommy John from the game but Watt surrendered a single to Wills plating Hershberger for a 5-1 lead.

McLain needed no more. He gave up a solo home run to Joe Pepitone in the 8th to make the score 5-2 but Hoerner pitched a perfect ninth to earn a save and a 1-0 series lead for Cleveland.

Getty. 2 7 0

Clev 5 8 2

WP - McLain 1-0

LP - John 0-1

S - Hoerner 1

HR: Horton (1), Pepitone (1)

Game 2 - Drew Carey throws out the first pitch AND sings the National anthem.

Tom Seaver v Ray Washburn

The offense begins in the fourth, again when Tony Perez and Willie Horton hit back-to-back homers for an early 2-0 lead. Johnson cuts the lead in the next half inning with an rbi single scoring Hunt and the pitchers took over putting up zeroes until the eighth. Matty Alou and Maury Wills pulled off an unexpected double steal with nobody out putting runners at second and third..Jerry Grote, who came on as a defensive replacement in the seventh lifted a fly ball to center that allowed Matty Alou to score from third.

Rick Monday broke out off his long slump lining a single that scored Wills with more insurance and a 4-1 Cleveland lead.

Gettysburg does not go quietly however. Boswell, running for Boog Powell, scores on a Gates Brown double off of Frank Linzy and it's 4-2 with the tying run at the plate and no outs. Allison comes onto pinch hit but strikes out and fails to move the runner. Linzy then gets Johnson and Flood to retire the Lightning and preserve the 4-2 Spider victory and a 2-0 series lead as the venue turns Gettysburg.

Getty 2 8 0

Clev 4 7 1

WP - Washburn 1-0

LP - Seaver 0-1

S - Linzy 1

HR: Perez (1), Horton (2)

Game 3 - Live sings the national anthem, Abe Lincoln throws out the first pitch. J Horlen v Don Drysdale

Cleveland wastes little time scoring on the host Lightning when Rick Monday drives in Tony Perez with a two out single and a 1-0 lead. Gettysburg ties it in the bottom half when Tovar doubles to score Felipe Alou and the game is 1-1. The fourth is magical for the Spiders again when Matty Alou knocks a two run single scoring Cater and Millan. The bottom of the fourth is not so magical for Drysdale as he surrenders a three run homer to Run Hunt sending the Lightning faithful into a frenzy and Gettysburg enjoyed their first lead of the series at 4-3.

In the sixth, Gettysburg puts runners at first and third with no outs. Flood hits a ball back to Drysdale that he turns into a double play but Sudakis score a very big insurance run.

Patterson keeps Cleveland in check in the 7th and 8th and Romo came on for the ninth. After retiring Alou and Millan, Tony Perez hushed the crowd with his second home run of the season cutting the lead to 5-4 but Willie Horton's fly ball was handled with ease and the series stood at 2-1 Cleveland.

Clev 4 9 0

Getty 5 10 3

WP - Horlen 1-0

LP - Drysdale 0-1

S - Romo 1

HR: Hunt (1), Perez (2)

Game 4 - Jeffrey Gaines sings, Gene Garber throws. G Nolan v Denny McLain

An excellent pitching matchup and the primary attractions did not disappoint. Gettysburg moved Flood around to third in the fourth and Tovar's fly ball provided a 1-0 lead for Gettysburg. The masterful pitching continued ut unfortunately, neither starter would factor in the decision.

The bullpens however, continued the starters mastery until the top of the eighth. Jerry Grote singled and was replaced by Blue Moon Odom on the basepaths. Odom's speed was needed when Manny Jimenez doubled and Odom beat the throw to the plate and we were knotted at 1-1.

In the top of the ninth, Rick Moday singled and Danny Cater followed with a double and Cleveland pulled ahead 2-1. Diego Segui pitched a scoreless ninth and Cleveland owned a 3-1 series lead and would look to clinch in game 5.

Clev 2 6 0

Getty 1 6 0

WP - Segui 1-0

LP - Romo 0-1

Game 5 - Jesse sings and throws. Tommy John v Blue Moon Odom

Gettysburg takes the early lead in the very important game when Curt Flood scores on Tovar's sac fly. Tony Perez ties the game in the third with a two out rbi single driving in Odom. In the fourth, Cleveland tried to put the game away when Maury Wills rips a two run triple then scores on Jerry Grote's single giving Cleveland a 4-1 lead but Gettysburg escapes with no more damage.

Unable to solve Odom, the score remained 4-1 until Danny Cater extended the lead with an rbi single in the seventh. But Odom would be the difference giving up four hits and three walks enroute to a complete game and a series clinching victory.

Clev 5 12 1

Getty 1 4 0

WP - Odom 1-0

LP - John 0-2

Tony Perez and Danny Cater were named co-MVPs of the series as Cleveland waits for the winner of the other series. Cleveland management would not comment on who they would rather face but an anonymous player said he hoped Bob Gibson would be making tee times by this time tomorrow.

Congratulations to Jesse on a great season and a thrilling race at the end of the season.

Rumor has it Steve Blass will be left off of the roster for the championship series for further disciplinary reasons.

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