‘64 Phightin’s need 5 games to eliminate ‘97 Pinstripes

Game 1 -

Jim Bunning vs David Cone @ Yankee Stadium

The game was tied at 1 when the Yankees broke out the bats in the bottom of the 5th. After Wade Boggs was safe on an error, Joe Girardi singled then Rey Sanchez squeezed Boggs home.Tim Raines singled then it was Derek Jeters turn, Jeters single scored Sanchez then Raines scored on a fielders choice. Bernie Williams capped it off  with a 2 run homer to put the Yanks up 7-1. Philly added a run in the 7th but it was too little, too late as the Yanks cruised to a 7-2 victory.

Cone (W) Stanton (H) Bunning (L)

New York Yankees lead the Philadelphia Phillies 1 game to 0.

Game 2 -

Chris Short vs Andy Pettitte @ Yankee Stadium

The Philly bats came alive starting in the 2nd when Richie Allen had a leadoff triple and scored on a Frank Thomas sac fly. Johnny Callison added a tally after walking and scoring on a Ruben Amaro single. Philly added to the lead in the 5th, after 2 quick outs Philly loaded the bases and Frank Thomas delivered with a big double scoring 3 runs. New York got on the board in the 6th on a Charlie Hays solo home run but the Philly 6th was the nail in the coffin as the Phils put up 4 more highlighted by a Cookie Rojas double. Philly wins big 10-3. Off to Philadelphia!

Short (W) Pettitte (L)

Series tied 1 game apiece.

Game 3 -

David Wells vs Dennis Bennett @ Shibe Park

This one was over in the top of the 1st. when the Yanks put up 5 early runs highlighted by Jorge Posada and Tino Martinez doubles. New York added 2 in the 5th and 2 in the 8th to bomb the Phils 9-1. “The Boomer”, David Wells picks up the win with a 5 hit 1 run complete game victory.

Wells (W) Bennett (L)

New York Yankees lead the Philadelphia Phillies 2 games to 1.

Game 4 -

Dwight Gooden vs Jim Bunning @ Shibe Park

Closest game so far in the series. New York opens strong with 3 in the 1st. Paul O'Neill blasted a 3 run homer and Philly fans at Shibe were thinking the Phils may be on their last leg. Philly answered with 1 in the 1st when Tony Gonzalez scored off a Wes Covington double. The Philly 2nd opened with Johnny Callison hitting a leadoff HR to right to cut the lead to 3-2. Later in the 2nd, Wes Covington blasted a 2 run homer and Philly was alive with a 5-3 lead. That lead held into the 5th when New York got their bats going and tied the game at 5 on a Bernie Williams 2 run homer to right center. The Yanks took the lead in the 7th 6-5 but Philly answered in their half of the 7th to tie the game at 6.The game remained tied and went into extra innings at 6-6. In the bottom of the 10th Tony Taylor lead off with a triple to right center. After an intentional pass, a ground out, another intentional walk, and an infield popout, Danny Cater ended it with a seeing eye single between 1st & 2nd. Philly evened the series with a 7-6 thriller.

Shantz (W) Roebuck (BS) Banks (L)

Series tied 2 games apiece.

Game 5 -

Chris Short vs David Cone @ Yankee Stadium

Back to the House That Ruth Built to settle this competitive series. Philly chased starter David Cone in the 4th after posting 4 in the 3rd and threatening to blow it open in the 4th with a Tony Gonzalez double. Stanton came in and held the Phils in check holding the score at 4-0. New York put 1 on the board in the 5th when Bernie Williams scored off a Curtis double closing the gap to 4-1. The Yanks really made a game of it in the 7th when they rallied and closed the gap to 4-3. Chris Short hung on and was able to get Raines to ground out to end the threat. Short got his mojo back and set the Yankees down in order in the 9th to cling to a 4-3 series ending victory.

Short (W) Cone (L)

Philadelphia Phillies win series 3 games to 2.

Thanks to Yankees Manager Mike Hill for an exciting, competitive series.  --submitted by Gary Mauer--