November 6, 1999

Salem Stays Alive Despite Loss of Maddux

STAMFORD, CT - For the second time this series, Greg Maddux out-dueled Kevin
Brown.  Well, at least for two innings he did.  With a full moon hidden 
behind the dark clouds over Zooterfield in Stamford, this was a game 
plagued with the unlikely and irrational.  Consider: 

-- This game involved two rain delays - one for 54 minutes, another for 
   15.
-- The first rain delay resulted in a stiff arm for Salem ace Greg Maddux,
   who was forced to leave the game after only two innings and 24 pitches.
-- Kevin Brown, Cy-Young candidate of the Ozzie League, was pummeled once 
   again to the tune of five runs (four earned) through four innings.
-- Kevin Brown, who led the Ozzie League in fewest walks allowed, walked 
   three batters in four innings today.
-- Both teams, which finished first and fifth in fielding percentage this
   past season, combined for five errors on the day.
-- A total of three wild pitches and three hit batters for both teams 
   combined.
  
Salem wasted no time roughing up Brown once again.  The game began with an
unlikely error by Carlos Baerga off the bat of Shannon Stewart.  Stewart 
then advanced to second when a pickoff throw by Brown sailed into the stands.
A ground ball by Quilvio Veras advanced Stewart to third.  Stamford manager
Paul Marazita then issued a rare first inning free pass to John Olerud,
bringing Tim Salmon to the plate.  Salmon responded with a double to the gap,
scoring Stewart and putting Olerud at third.  A wild pitch by Brown brought
Olerud across the plate for the second run of the inning and a ground ball by
Dave Magadan plated Salmon for the third run.

After the second inning ended, the rain continued to pour down upon the 
Stamford field almost as if the fantasy baseball gods were trying to stop
the Salem nine from proceding further into the series.  After a rain delay
of nearly an hour, Maddux reported to Salem pitching coach Rick Reuschel that
he had stiffened up and would be unable to continue.  Salem fans everywhere
winced in horror.

But once the rain stopped (or at least slowed down enough to resume play),
Salem's offense provided a big enough cushion to relieve some of the Salem
fans' anxiety.  Two hit batters, a base hit and a ground ball to short loaded
the bases with two outs and Terry Steinbach due at the plate.  Steinbach
rose to the challenge, singling to center to drive home two runs, giving
Salem a 5-0 lead.  Midre Cummings then pinch-hit for the ailing Maddux and 
grounded to short to end the inning.

Derek Lowe came on in relief of Maddux and proved once again his value to 
this team with four scoreless innings of two-hit ball.  Salem increased their
lead to 6-0 in the eighth on an RBI single by Veras and Robb Nen, Graeme 
Lloyd and Doug Brocail closed out the game with thre innings of scoreless
pitching.

"We're going to Game Five," said Glander.  "Back to the Glanderdome where it
all started.  It doesn't get any better than this, people.  Two ancient 
rivals - one more ancient than the other - going at it in a winner-takes-all
sudden-death game to determine who advances to the championships.  This
series has become everything it was advertised to be.  Let's just hope it 
has a happy ending."