November 20, 2002

Dunston Spoils Salem Comeback

LOS ALTOS, CA - The Salem Cowtippers did the impossible today, mounting a comeback
against the vaunted Los Altos Undertakers bullpen to tie the game in the seventh 
inning of Game Two of this OL Championship Series.  But it wasn't enough, as the
bottom-third of the Undertakers lineup wreaked havoc with the Salem bullpen in the
eighth, capped by a two-run blast by the ageless Shawon Dunston.  The victory gives
the Undertakers a two games to none lead in this best-of-seven series.

After three scoreless innings, Salem jumped out on top thanks to a leadoff home run
by Lance Berkman off Tom Glavine in the fourth.

The next inning, the Los Altos offense began by collecting the second of their FOUR
hit batsmen in this game.  The second hit batter of the inning loaded the bases with
one out and Glavine due to hit.  Glavine attempted to bunt a run home, but it was
cut down at the plate for out number two.  Danny Bautista then ripped a two-run 
double off Salem starter Rolando Arrojo, giving Los Altos a 2-1 lead.  Arrojo walked
the bases full, then handed the Undertakers another run by walking Larry Walker as
well.

"Two hit batters, a two-run single and two walks," said Arrojo.  "Not my best 
inning."

In the sixth, Salem reliever Chad Fox added gasoline to the fire by hitting yet
another batter, walking yet another and allowing yet another base hit to load the
bases with no outs.  Once again, the Los Altos pitcher was due to bat with the bases
loaded.  This time, Undertakers manager Jeff Paulson went to pinch hitter Ramon
Hernandez.

"About the only thing Hernandez did all year for them was bunt," said Salem manager
Mike Glander.  "So I expected to see a squeeze.  We pitched out twice in a row, and
there was nothing going on."

The very next pitch, of course, Hernandez squared around as the runner on third 
raced home.  Unfortunately for Los Altos, Hernandez missed the pitch and the runner
was a dead duck.  The very next pitch, Hernandez connected for a two-run single.

"Sometimes, no matter what you do to avoid it, you end up losing," said Glander.

With a 5-1 lead, Los Altos sent their dominant closer, John Riedling, to the mound.
To the shock of everyone in attendance, Riedling walked the first two batters he 
faced.  After David Eckstein pushed both runners into scoring position, Todd Helton
drew a walk as well, loading the bases for team MVP Sammy Sosa.  Sosa looped a base
hit over the shortstop, plating one run.  Lance Berkman followed with a hit-by-pitch,
forcing home another run.  Then, with Craig Wilson standing at the plate, Riedling
uncorked a wild pitch, resulting in yet another run.  Wilson then grounded to short,
scoring the tying run from third.

"What a wild, wacky inning that was!," said Glander.  "And to think some people 
actually believe that random luck has no place in the post-season!"

After being given that gift in the seventh, Salem wasted it away when Norm Charlton
was called upon to face Shawn Wooten in the seventh, with Craig Biggio (.168/.270/
.336 against lefties) on deck.  Charlton retired Wooten, but somehow, Biggio managed
to line a base hit against the lefty Charlton.  Los Altos then called upon Dunston
to pinch hit, and Dunston connected for the game-winning two-run blast.

Octavio Dotel ran into a bit of trouble in the ninth, putting runners on first and
second with two outs, but struck out Wilson to end the game.

"I was surprised to see Charlton pitch to Dunston," said Paulson.  "Glander played 
the corners in expecting a bunt.  I'm known to play for one run in that situtation. 
But I really thought Dunston matched up well against Charlton.  I figured Glander 
would bring in a righty to face Dunston, and I was prepared to bunt then.  But 
against Charlton, I wanted Shawon swinging away.  He made me look like I know what 
I'm doing."

"Unfortunately, our options were pretty limited at that point," explained Glander.
"We burned through six relievers in the first game of this series, and because Arrojo
only lasted five, we'd already used Fox and Weathers in this game.  The only righty
we had left, really, was Karsay, who was warmed up and ready to go.  But with 
Bautista on deck, I wanted to save Karsay to pitch to Bautista and Aurilia back-to-
back.  Norm isn't a lefty specialist.  He can throw pretty well against righties,
too, and I honestly didn't think Dunston was that much of a power threat.  I mean,
the guy was playing shortstop when I was in high school.  He's got to be my dad's 
age.  I figured the worst he'd do is maybe poke a single somewhere.  If I brought in 
Karsay, I thought Jeff would counter with Todd Hollandsworth.  I liked the 
Charlton/Dunston match up far better than Karsay/Hollandsworth.  Turns out I was 
wrong."

"What an unbelievable feeling," said Dunston.  "The emotion and energy. I've never 
been involved in such nail-biting games that meant so much. Every pitch meant
something.  To see that tying run come home...and then the wining run.  What an 
unbelievable feeling...If the Cowtippers doubted our ability to play with them...
they don't anymore."