Game Five summary, by Paul Marazita

Game 5: Buehrle vs. Thomson 

Zoots strike first. A-Rod makes throwing error on Cora's grounder to lead off first. 
After advancing to third on two outs (Olerud continues to SUCK this series 2-14 
(1bb/5k); almost blew it by failing to get Cora in from 3rd with 1 out), Chipper (who 
has also sucked big monkey balls this series; 4-21 2bb/5k) hits sinking liner that 
Shinjo traps...1-0 Zoots. 

BCJ scratches together a run in the 3rd to tie it. One out single by John Thomson...
yes, John Thomson, walk to Henderson, double by Mordecai...1-1. Shinjo leads off bottom 
of fourth with HR. 2-1 BCJ. 

Zoots tie it in top of 5th. Cora single, Payton single, Olerud K (did I mention he 
SUCKS -- leave it to a former Cowtipper to suck monkey nuts in money time...I should 
have known better ) But Jones gets anothe key hit (snapping out of the slump???) to 
tie it 2-2. Buehrle refuses to accept a gift and promptly gives in right back in the 
bottom of the 5th. 

Two outs sandwich a Henderson walk....then Thome gets yet another big hit off a lefty 
in this series. 3-2 BCJ. 

Top of the 6th, Lieberthal leads off with walk off of Crudale. Woodward follows with 
HUGE, no-doubter HR. Zoots lead 4-3. 

Nothing really happens until the 9th - just a lot of match up strategy going on. I keep
Buehrle in longer than I would have...and then go to Guthrie to keep Durazo and 
Justice on bench. 

In ninth, Guthrie gets Buchanan on great play at SS by Cora for first out. That brings 
up Hollandsworth. I would have stuck with Guthrie, but he was up to 20 pitches and had 
gone 17 in Game 3...so I go to de los Santos to get the no-hit vs. LHP Hollandsworth. 
He proceeds to hit a little tapper to de los Santos...but wait...we decide we want to 
make it close so we throw it into right field to put the tying run at 2b with only one 
out. I have Bung Hole Kim up and ready. Larue is up...though we all know he isn't going
to hit (despite the fact that he has no catchers left if he winds up tying the game). 

Matt goes to Durazo (just Durazo and Justice on bench). I actually expected Matt to go 
with Justice. If he had, I probably would have let Justice hit. When he went with 
Durazo (who I fear much more than Justice) I decided to IW him and take my chances 
with Henderson (or Justice if he pinch hit). The only downside is that if Kim walks 
him, that brings up McClemore/Thome/A-Rod. Luckily, Kim gets Henderson to hit back to 
the box. Shockingly...Kim goes to third base for the force. I am still trying to figure
THAT one out...but it worked. Durazo goes down to second base with TWO outs and 
McClemore up. Kim vs. McClemore. If Kim doesn't get him, I have to either walk Thome 
to load bases and face A-Rod or just face Thome with two outs and guys on first and 
second. McClemore hits one on the button...but Cora "goes up for it" and makes the 
catch on the liner to SS. 

I have an aneurysm. Zoots go up in the series 3 games to 2. 

Overall, some really well played, stressful, playoff games. Whoever wins this series 
will certainly be battle-tested for the World Series. The series now shifts back to 
Stamford for the final two games. Looks like no mysteries in Game 6. Lowe vs. 
Reitsma....though I would not be surprised to see a Wolf...or even a Crudale start the 
game or make a very early appearance. I have scouted all the possibilities, and, as is 
tradition, have decided that I can't beat any of them...but really, I am working on 
that optimism thing every day. When Matt beats me in Game 6, then I have a BIG problem.

Finley vs. Maddux in Game 7. NOT what I wanted to see. Every series I say I am going to 
cut Finley. Every series I run him out there to have his head handed to him. Could make 
for a VERY interesting Game 7 with the unhittable Maddux vs. the hitting maching 
Finley. Very interesting indeed.