November 3, 2000

Lightning Strikes the Zoots

STAMFORD, CT - The Litchfield Lightning have taken an improbable one game lead
over the Stamford Zoots in the OLDS despite the mound presence of probable OL
Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson.  Johnson lasted just six innings today,
allowing three runs on four hits and five walks.  Pete Harnisch, a surprise
starter for the Lightning, earned the victory with 5 1/3 innings of five-hit,
two-run ball.

The game began on the most unlikely play imaginable: a home run by Brady 
Anderson (a lefty, by the way) off Johnson.  Johnson held left-handed batters
to only a .178 average this season, although six of the 31 hits allowed to 
lefties were of the longball variety.  

In the second, Erubiel Durazo (also a lefty) walked to start the inning.  He
advanced to second on a ground ball by Jorge Fabregas, then attempted to score
on a base hit by Gary DiSarcina.  He was gunned down at the plate by right
fielder Magglio Ordonez.

In the third, Litchfield put runners on the corners with one out for OL MVP
candidate Edgar Martinez.  In the battle of Cy Young candidate against MVP
candidate, Cy Young won.  Martinez grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double
play, preserving the 1-0 score.

The next inning, however, Johnson walked Durazo for the second time in the game,
then watched in horror as Marquis Grissom (playing in place of the suspended
Preston Wilson, who was not missed this game) took him deep into the night for
a two-run homer.  That made it a 3-0 game.

Meanwhile, Harnisch was having no trouble at all mowing down the Stamford offense.
He retired the side in order in the first, third and fourth innings.  Stamford
managed to get a runner to third base in the second, but Edgardo Alfonzo left
him stranded there when he grounded to short to end the inning.

The Zoots finally got on the board in the fifth thanks to a solo homer by 
Michael Tucker.  The next inning, Harnisch allowed base hits to the first two
batters he faced.  Rheal Cormier then entered the game and allowed a base hit
to pinch hitter Chad Curtis, scoring Omar Vizquel to make it a 3-2 game.

Once again, Stamford managed to strand a runner at third in the seventh when 
pinch hitter Marty Cordova grounded out to third against Steve Karsay.  In the
eighth, Rafael Palmeiro led off the Stamford half of the inning with a walk.
Curtis attempted to bunt him into scoring position, but instead bunted into a
double play.  Jeff Shaw then retired the side in the ninth, preserving the 3-2
victory.