In a battle of divisional leaders, it looked like a legitimate contender against a pertender as the scrappy, talented 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks put a crimp in the Cardinals chances with a three game sweep of their series.
Game one featured former Cardinal and local resident Andy Benes on the hill for Arizona, taking on Mike Torrez, Both pitchers were "on" in this one, with the game scoreles through 5 1/2. Torrez couldn't get through the home sixth however, walking Tony Womack to start the frame. He recovered from that situation however, by picking Womack off. But Steve Finley then broke the scoreless duel with a home run just inside the foul pole in right. Luis Gonzales then singled, stole second ,and scored on a Matt Williams double. Travis Lee singled and Damian Miller walked, finishing Torrez.
Another former Redbird, Bernard Gilkey hit a sac fly to left to plate Williams and finish the scoring for the day. Benes had exited the game in the fifth due to an injury, but 3 D-Backs relievers kept up the scoreless pitching to bring home the 3-0 victory.
Game two saw the Cardinals score early off of Armando Reynoso, building a 4-1 lead going into the home third in the second game played in the desert. Jerry Reuss could not hold the lead though, as the Diamondbacks just kept coming, something they would do this entire game. A three run third after two-out, none on, tied the game, keyed by Steve Finley's bases loaded single.
The Cardinals got the lead back in the fourth, and had a chance for a big inning but Jose Cardenal popped up and Ted Simmons grounded out with the bases full.
Arizona tied it in the sixth, and the score remained 5-5 entering the ninth. It looked like the Cardinals might pull out a dramatic win when after two-out and none on in the ninth. Simmons reached on an error by Williams. Carl Taylor then drilled a Darren Holmes pitch to deep left that just missed going out. It hit the top of the wall, Taylor settling for a double with Simmons scoring. Greg Olson came on and intentionally passed the struggling Rich Allen, brought in to pinch hit, before retiring Ed Crosby.
Chuck Taylor has emerged as the Cardinal closer from among a somewhat ragged bullpen group, and was summoned to bring home the victory. But this D-Back club just keeps coming at you, and did again as pinch hitter David Delucci started the ninth with a single. After Tony Womack struck out, Jay Bell singled, Delluci stopping at second. Taylor retired the dangerous Luis Gonzalez on a fly out to left , but lost Matt Williams on a borderline pitch to load the bases. Steve Finley, a tough out all series, then sent the crowd home in a happy mood with a ringing two-run single to center to bring home the tying and winning runs.
Manager Bike Mike was second guessed in post game interviews for not having a lefty reliever ready to go for this situation. But he insisted that Taylor has been the man in the late innings for him, and he was sticking with him in this one. We'll see if he stays that course down the stretch.
Game three shifted to St. Louis, and predictably the Cardinals were routed in this one after the tough loss in game two. Bike Mike started seldom used lefty Frank Bertaina in hopes of slowing down the heavy lefthand hitting D-Back lineup, but to no avail. The D-Backs rolled to a 7-1 win on 13 hits, as Omar Daal and Byun Yung Kim held the Redbirds to just 4 hits.
--submitted by BikeMike--
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