Game Six recap, by Tom DiStefano:

Back to Akron where Roy “Kid Magic” Oswalt was set to take on Mark Mulder. For 
whatever reason, my team just can’t hit lefties so I knew this was going to be a
tough game. Mulder had shut me down pretty well in the Game 2 loss and he pretty
much did the same thing here. In fact, 4 of the 5 runs I scored this game (and 
all the runs against Mulder) were unearned. Those 4 runs came in the top of the 
4th. 

With the score tied 0-0, Bonds (who else?) led off with a double. Manny Ramirez 
followed with a walk (not intentional) bringing Shitburger Walker up to the 
plate with nobody out. At this point in the series, Walker was 2 for 21 with a 
pair of singles and 9 strikeouts so I wasn’t exactly thrilled with my chances 
here. Sure enough, he hits a freaking 1 hopper to Rolen and I’m thinking “a 
damn double play!”. But Rolen boots it to load the bases with nobody out. Corey 
Koskie then steps up and singles in the first run, leaving the bases loaded for 
Paul LoDuca. LoDuca then hits into a double play (6-4-3) driving in the second 
run. At this point, it’s 2-0 with 2 outs and a man on third and Julio Lugo at 
the plate (with Oswalt on deck). I know DJ doesn’t like to walk guys but I 
really thought he was going to put Lugo on here. He didn’t and Lugo hit a 2 run 
homer to give Allentown it’s 3rd and 4th runs. 

From there on out, it was all Oswalt. He went 8 innings, allowing only 3 hits 
and a walk and no runs. Akron never even had 2 runners on base at the same time 
the entire game against him. Gagne finished it off with a scoreless 9th and the 
series was over. 

Series Summary 
Barry Bonds stats over the 6 games: 11 for 20 (.550) with 6 walks, 2 doubles 
and 4 homers. He scored 6 runs and drove in 9. His OPS was 1.904! He had two 
9th inning game winning homers. 

Bonds remarkable series masked some truly AWFUL performances by the rest of my 
team. I realize the Ryche pitching is fantastic, but this was ridiculous. Check 
these out: 

Junior Spivey, 3 for 22 with 11 strikeouts. My leadoff hitters OBP was .174. 
Larry “Shitburger” Walker, 3 for 23 with a double. He had ONE rbi the entire 
series. 
Fred McSucks (McGriff, another guy who earned a nickname the past 2 series), 1 
for 12. Believe it or not, McGriff has the highest HR rate (real MLB stats) 
against right handers of anyone on my team (including Bonds!). McGriff also went
4 for 21 against Kansas with 1 homer. 5 for 33 in mostly hitters parks! 

My pitching was solid except for Hendrickson who had another miserable series. 
His line in 4 games: 

1.1 IP, 5 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs. He got tagged with BOTH losses this series. 

For the entire post-season, Hendrickson has thrown 1.1 innings allowing 8 hits, 
2 walks, and 5 runs. Yuk! 

DJ got hosed by: 
Jason Giambi, 4 for 22 (but with 2 homers) 
Robby Alomar, 1 for 9 (and 2 errors) 
Ellis Burks, 2 for 20 
Allen Embree, 7.71 ERA over 2.1 ip 
Arthur Rhodes, 7.71 ERA over 2.1 ip with 2 game ending homers allowed. 
Terry Adams, 15.00 ERA over 3.0 ip


Game Six recap, by D.J. Shepard:

Now I'm in HUGE trouble because Roy "R˙cheslayer" Oswalt is on the mound. Mulder
better not give up a run, because we might not score one off him. Mulder is 
shaky to start, giving up singles to three of the first 5 hitters, but thanks to
a DP in the 1st, he manages to escape the first 2 without any damage. 

Meanwhile, Oswalt is just toying with my lineup. He gets the first 7, before 
Gomez doubles. Mulder then gounds out to first to send the runner to 3rd, but 
Alomar also grounds out to first to end the "threat". 

In the top of the 4th, Bonds leads off with a double and Manny walks. Walker 
then hits one down to 3rd which Rolen boots to load them up. I play the corners 
in, and Koskie grounds one by a diving Rolen to plate the first run. I keep the 
corners in, but LoDuca pounds one to short, 6-4-3 scoring the second run. Lugo 
comes up with two outs, runner on third, and Oswalt on deck. I'm not big on 
walking hitters (see the league record 9 intentional walks in 2001), and as I 
told Tom later, if I can't get Julio Lugo out in a situation like that, I'm in 
trouble anyway. I pitch to Lugo, and he hits one of those fly balls down the 
line..."it's gone if it stays fair...HOME RUN". Oswalt follows by walking, but 
Spivey k's to end the carnage. 

At this point, I'm shocked, stunned, and without hope. I'm ready to tell Tom 
"let's just sim the rest and get it over with". Four freaking unearned runs! 
Mulder ends his day with two perfect innings. He deserved a lot better than he 
got. 

Meanwhile, R˙cheslayer just keeps on rolling. Bernie singles to lead off the 
4th. Ordonez grounds into a 5-4-3, and Giambi a 6-3. Varitek a two-out single 
in the 5th, Gomez k's. Gets them in order in the 6th. Ordonez walks to lead off 
the 7th. Gimabi works the count to 3-1. Another walk coming! Rally time! 
Errrrr...not exactly. 

Giambi taps back to the box, 1-6-3. "Bitchass" follows suit and grounds out. In 
the 8th, he's on his way to another perfect inning when Gomez grounds one back 
to him which he boots. No worries though, Vizcaino follows with a pop up to SS. 
Through 8 innings, we've "worked him" up to 99 pitches. A whole 3 hits and a 
walk. Shields came on after Mulder and had two perfect innings. 

In the 9th, Hawkins gives up a lead-off double to Walker and a one-out single 
to Ochoa to make it 5-0. Gagne comes in to close it out. Ordonez gets a two-out 
single, but in a fitting end, Giambi k's.