November 1, 2002

Stamford Fights Back

STAMFORD, CT - As the Division Series shifts to Stamford, the three-time champion
Zoots made a statement today that they're not about to suffer the same humiliation
as the Salem Cowtippers, who were swept by the Zoots in front of their own home
crowd in last year's OL Championship Series.  Behind the pitching of longtime ace
Kevin Brown (6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) and yet another post-season ass-kicking
handed to Salem ace Mike Mussina (3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 K), the Zoots
cruised to an easy 6-1 win in Game Three of this Division Series.

Mussina began the game by loading the bases with a double by leadoff hitter Magglio
Ordonez and a pair of walks.  Mussina, who averaged just 2.2 walks per game in the
regular season, then walked his third batter of the inning, Brian Daubach, forcing
home the game's first run.

The Cowtippers tied it up in the second on a double by Lance Berkman and an RBI 
single by Robin Ventura.  Then, in the third, Stamford star Jim Edmonds delivered yet
another clutch hit, driving home a pair of runs with a single to put the Zoots back
in the lead.  With no outs, Mussina intentionally walked Daubach to load the bases.
Chris Gomez attempted to bunt home a run, but the runner was cut down at the plate
for out number one.  Todd Walker followed with a dribbler to third that resulted in
a force-out at the plate.  Brown then grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

After escaping that impossible jam, however, Mussina got himself right back into 
another one the following inning.  A base hit, a stolen base and a throwing error
on a routine grounder to second gave the Zoots another run in the fourth.  Chipper
Jones then connected off Mussina for a two-run home run, making it a 6-1 game.  That
would be the final run of the game.

Salem managed to load the bases in the sixth, but as has happened often this season,
the Cowtippers offense was unable to capitalize on this situation.  Lance Berkman
grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The Cowtippers wouldn't put another runner on base the rest of the way, as Bung-Hole
Kim, Mike Venafro and Masato Yoshii combined to set down the side in order in the
seventh, eighth and ninth.

"Moose just seems to have a mental block when it comes to pitching against this
team," said Salem pitching coach Rick Reuschel.  "I don't know what it is.  All I 
know is that if this series comes down to a Game Seven, there are going to be a lot
of nervous people in the town of Salem."