November 19, 2000

Zoots Back On Top

STAMFORD, CT - The Stamford Zoots regained their series lead today with a 5-3 
victory over the Los Altos Undertakers in Game Five of this best-of-seven
series.  Randy Johnson, who dominated in Game Two of this series, was a little
less than dominating on three days' rest today.  Through just 4 2/3 innings,
Johnson yielded two runs on seven hits, striking out just four.  In very 
Undertaker-like fashion, Stamford used a grand total of six pitchers in today's
effort.  The group effort paid off.

Stamford wasted no time reaching Los Altos starter Alex Fernandez.  A two-run
homer by Rafael Palmeiro, his third this series, gave the Zoots an early lead.
Post-season hero Brad Ausmus added another run in the fourth on a clutch RBI
double.

Los Altos mounted a threat in the third when Fernandez somehow managed to lead
off the inning with a base hit off Johnson.  Terry Shumpert then singled, 
putting a runner on third with no outs.  But Johnson then whiffed Jerry 
Hairston, got a fly ball out from Jeff Barry, and a lineout by Albert Belle
to escape the inning.

Los Altos finally scored in the fifth when Rich Aurilia, pinch-hitting for
Fernandez, jacked a solo homer off Johnson.  Hairston later tripled that 
inning, and scored on a double by Barry.  That signalled the early exit of
Johnson, who gave way to Donne Wall.  Wall struck out Albert Belle for the 
final out of the inning, stranding Barry at second.

With a one run lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, Stamford tested 
their bullpen against the vaunted Los Altos bullpen.  Jose Cabrera began the
fifth inning for Los Altos, and after two quick outs, surrendered Palmeiro's
solo homer.  In the sixth, Cabrera once again had two outs, but made a mistake
pitch to Brad Ausmus.  And just as he has done every time in every post-season
game he has ever played, Ausmus made the pitcher pay for his mistake.  A base
hit up the middle scored Magglio Ordonez, giving Stamford a 5-2 lead.

Meanwhile, Stamford's bullpen was having little difficulty against the Los
Altos lineup.  Wall retired the side in the sixth before giving way to Bobby
Chouinard with one out in the seventh.  Chouinard, who has pitched nearly as
many innings in this series as he did in the Major Leagues in 1999, retired
both batters he faced, escaping any harm.

John Johnstone, who is making his Stamford debut in this series, then retired
the first two batters he faced in the eighth.  But the third batter he faced,
Larry Walker, cranked a solo homer that cut Stamford's lead to two.  Johnstone
then surrendered a walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases before he
finally recorded out number three.

In the ninth, C.J. Nitkowski and John Wetteland combined forces to shut the
door on the Undertakers' hopes of a stirring ninth inning comeback.

With the series shifting across the country for Game Six, the Stamford Zoots
are just one win away from earning their second trip to the BDBL World Series.