November 4, 2000 Salem Comes Up Just Short...Again LOS ALTOS, CA - The Los Altos Undertakers and Salem Cowtippers both enjoyed big innings today, but the Undertakers once again excelled at their specialty: winning one-run games. A crucial balk by Sterling Hitchcock and a clutch base hit by Shawon Dunston made all the difference in this game. After falling behind in this series with a devastating loss in Game One, Game Two began with some promising hope for America's team. A one-out triple by Chuck Knoblauch was followed by a double by team captain John Olerud. Harold Baines and Jeff Cirillo then flew out to center, stranding a potential run at second. In the Los Altos half of the inning, Salem manager Mike Glander attempted his Game One strategy once again. Javier Vazquez began the game, then gave way to Hitchcock after facing just two batters. Right away, Hitchcock paid dividends to Glander's master plan, as he picked off Terry Shumpert. Unfor- tunately, the legendary speed demon Shumpert stole second anyway. He was advanced to third on a ground ball by Larry Walker, but was left stranded there when Hitchcock got Paul Konerko to fly to right to end the inning. In the second, Hitchcock surrendered a walk and a base hit, putting runners on the corners with one out. After two failed bunt attempts by Alex Fernandez, Hitchcock appeared to be out of the woods with the lefty Kenny Lofton on deck. Instead, he balked home the tying run. "Here's a guy (Hitchcock) who is going to cost this team $4.5 million next year," ranted Glander, "yet in his last game ever as a member of this team, he can't seem to concentrate with the tying run on third?!? I hope Sterling Hitchcock dies a slow and painful death. Say...this mic isn't on, is it?" Lofton followed the balk by ripping a base hit to center. Rich Aurilia, who started from second thanks to the generosity of Hitchcock, tried to score on the play, but was gunned down by Salem's interim center fielder, Shannon Stewart. "You know," said Glander, "the whole point of this strategy of ours was to get the platoon advantage against guys like Lofton, who are supposed to hit around the Uecker line against lefties. Yet we can't keep the man off base this series no matter what we do. It's aggrevating as hell." After the first inning, Los Altos starter Alex Fernandez settled down nicely. He retired the side in order in the second and third innings, got a clutch double play ball out of Harold Baines in the fourth, and worked out of a jam in the fifth (caused by two Los Altos errors) by striking out Armando Rios to end the inning. With a tie game heading into the bottom of the fifth, Hitchcock realized time was running out if he wanted to ensure another defeat for his team. Shawon Dunston began the inning with a harmless grounder to short. Unfortunately, Rey Sanchez - a Gold Glove candidate - couldn't handle it, and Dunston was able to reach base. He was sacrificed into scoring position by Fernandez, then advanced to third thanks to back-to-back walks by Hitchcock (one of them issued to Lofton.) Walker - another lefty who was supposed to be hurt by the fact that Hitchcock is in the game - then ripped a base hit, scoring the go- ahead run. With OL MVP (and Babe Ruth Award) candidate Albert Belle coming to the plate, Salem called upon Danny Graves. Graves, who has made a career out of ruining other pitchers' ERA's, promptly served up a three-run double, driving a stake into the heart of his team. The next inning, with a four run deficit staring them in the face, Salem's offense finally fought back. Three walks and two doubles made it a 5-4 game. A sac fly by Tom Lampkin then brought home the winning run. Momentarily, Salem had hopes of tying this Division Series. That moment didn't last long. Graves sulked back to the mound for the bottom half of the inning. Since the mid-season trade rumors that had him headed to the Kentucky Fox, Graves - an easy target of Salem tabloids all summer long thanks to the countless games he has cost this team - has made no secret of the fact that he couldn't care less whether this team wins or loses. You'd think the magnetism of the post-season would change all that. But no. A leadoff double by Rich Aurilia - yes, RICH AURILIA - set the table. Shawon Dunston - yes, SHAWON DUNSTON - then cleared it with a base hit, bringing home the go-ahead (and, it turns out, game-winning) run. "We're not talking about Ruth and Gehrig here," fumed Glander. "All I asked the guy to do was pitch to the bottom half of this order, against guys who frankly are not all that frightening. It just pisses me off to no end how this guy (Graves) just doesn't give a bleep. He'd better shower and leave here real quick. 'Cuz the next time I see him, I'm going to send him to his Graves. Hey...are you sure that thing isn't on?" The vaunted Los Altos bullpen took over the rest of the way and did what the Salem bullpen could not. John Rocker retired the side - two by strike-out - in the seventh. Scott Williamson retired the side in the eighth. Then Trevor Hoffman retired the side in the ninth. "We couldn't have made it any easier for them, could we?," said Glander. "We sent out our 1-9 hitters - including two damn good pinch-hitters - and our guys just laid down for them like Paul Marazita lays down for Al Gore. It was sad, disgusting and shameful the way this offense has performed this series. I understand our pitching sucks. I accept that. But this offense should be much, much better. This is completely unacceptable." With this win, Los Altos takes a 2-0 lead in the OLDS.