“Whew…Shot J.R.”–‘93 Jints outlast ‘87 Jays in 5

Sorry, I'm a little late at getting this writeup in.....Great series, with most of the games coming down to the late innings. The home team won every game.

Game One: Toronto's Jim Clancy and SF's John Burkett square off in a well-pitched game. SF strikes first, as Willie McGee singles home Darren Lewis in the first, after Lewis hit a bunt single and stole second. It remains that way until the bottom of the sixth, when Clancy leads off the inning by walking a batter and allowing two singles. Two runs crossed the plate for a more cushiony 3-0 SF lead. But then the Jays come back in the eighth as the power comes out: Jesse Barfield and Tony Fernandez hit back to back homers to tie it at three. But in the bottom of the ninth, unheralded J.R. Phillips hits a pinch, two-run shot off reliever Gary Lavelle to send the Giants to a home win. SF 5, TOR 3.

Game Two: Another home win for the Giants, this one in a rout at Candlestick. The Giants score 11 times off rattled Jays starter Dave Stieb, led by two homers and four RBIs from Barry Bonds. Meanwhile, Bill Swift pitches 8.2 innings of shutout, four hit ball. Giants 11, Jays 0.

Game Three: Jimmy Key is again masterful for the Jays, pitching 7.2 innings of two run ball and running his record to 3-0. SF starter Bud Black is victimized by a three run sixth, allowing two balks and another Barfield homer. Tom Henke picks up his second save in a four out, no hit ninth -- he struck out Matt WIlliams but allowed him to reach first on a wild pitch but got the job done. TOR 4, SF 2.

Game Four: Toronto attempts to even the series and stay alive at home. Another tough lefty, Mike Flanagan, holds the hard hitting SF team to two runs in 7.2 innings, a repeat of Key's performance in Game Three. SF starter Trevor Wilson allows four runs and 10 hits in his seven innings, with key fourth innings blasts from Jesse Barfield and George Bell, the fourth homers for each. Henke saves another to even the series at two. TOR 4, SF 2.

Game Five: The rubber game to move to the Sweet Sixteen lives up to its advanced billing. Clancy and Burkett go again, and they keep the offenses in check for the most part. The game is tied at two going into the fifth, as Barfield continues his hot hitting with a key double and SF scratches out two runs on singles. But then Barry Bonds comes alive again, scorching a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth for a 3-2 Giants lead. Burkett continues to dominant Jays hitters after that, shutting down the offense entirely after the fifth. Burkett goes eight innings, only allowing four hits and two runs. The Giants scratch two more runs across the bottom of the eighth with only one base hit -- getting two walks and a passed ball to add to the damage. Rod Beck picks up his third save in the ninth, as the 93 Giants advance. SF 5, TOR 2.

Thanks to Marc for playing this on a late Saturday night.

Regards,

Joe Pryweller