SOX SLUG WAY TO ECK LCS

Chicago (AP) - Pitching vs Hitting was the theme
to this Eck League Division Series pitting the
big bats of Chicago against the arms of Pheonix.
Hitting won out in three of the four games to win
the series.  Chicago took the first two games of the series
9-2 and 8-4 behind the big sticks of Manny Ramirez,
Carlos Delgado and Cal Ripken.  Ramirez and Delgado
each hit a homerun in each of the first two games.
Ripken hit two homeruns (including a grand slam)
in game 2.  Chicago was also able to steal 5 bases
while shutting down Pheonix' running game in the
first two games.  Game 3 featured Kevin Appier and 
Ryan Dempster in what turned out to be a pitchers'
duel for 5 and 1/2 innings.  Kevin Appier shut down 
Chicago's offense through 8 innings.  Dempster allowed
a solo homerun to Tino Martinez in the 4th and lost his
stuff in the 6th as Pheonix added a 3 spot thanks to a 2 run
homerun by Chris Singleton.  Chicago got a token 2 run homerun
from Delgado (3rd homer game in a row) to make it close.
Pheonix decided to start game 1 starter Pedro Astacio and pull
to a tie. Astacio pitched 5 solid innings but was pulled for a
pinch hitter in the bottom of the 5th trailing 2-1.  Chicago
added 2 runs in the 7th to pull ahead 4-1, but Pheonix scored
1 in the bottom of the 7th to cut the lead in half.  Chicago
was able to add 4 runs in the top of the 9th to pull out to
an 8-2 lead, but Pheonix would not quit.  In the bottom of the 
9th, with 2 outs, Michael Barrett doubled, Raul Mondesi doubled
and Chicago removed closer Turk Wendell and brought in Lefty Steve
Kline to face Tino Martinez.  Martinez promptly singled to
drive in Mondesi and once again cut the score in half.
Kline was able to get Ed Sprague to ground out to shortstop
Nomar Garciaparra for the final out and the Series win.
which turned out to be the right choice.  Astacio