AL Play In Game: M's score 2 in the 9th to break 0-0 deadlock

Seattle at Milwaukee
Dave Fleming vs Jerry Augustine
Neither team could go to their ace pitchers for this all important 1 game playoff match. Both teams had used them in the final series of the season. Which by chance was against each other. Milwaukee in a hard fought battle won that series and overtook Seattle for 2nd place. Today's match-up would be no different. Milwaukee went with Jerry Augustine 2-2 and 7 appearances in the KOD 16 regular season. Seattle countered with Dave Fleming who was 2-1 in 4 appearances.

Both pitchers knew the season was on the line and they both delivered in this classic match-up. Seattle was off to a fast start as Ichiro Suzuki singled to left and Rich Amaral bunted him to 2nd. Augustine then got Bret Boone to flyout and Alvin Davis to ground out. Over the next inning and a half both pitchers pitched 3 up and 3 down ball. In the third with two out Suzuki singled to right, stole 2nd. Amaral grounded to SS Pat Listach but an error by Listach put runners on the corner. Augustine then struck out Bret Boone to end the threat. With one out in the 3rd Wayne Comer lined a single to left but Fleming got the next two to groundout to end the inning. In what seemed to be a repeat of the 3rd inning for Seattle with 2 out Donnell Nixon singled to left, advanced to 3rd on a Darnell Coles single between third and short, but once again Augustine shut the door with a Kenji Johjima groundout.

The fifth inning saw both pitchers give up a hit. Seattle a double by Amaral and a single by

Milwaukee's BJ Surhoff but each retired the other batters. The sixth inning was more 3 up and 3 down ball. In the top of the seventh Augustine walked Coles who was replaced on 1st with speedy Julio Cruz once again Augustine shut the door striking out Johjima, forcing Cruz at second on a fielders choice and then when Darren Bragg attempted to steal 2nd Surhoff gunned him down to end the top half of the inning. In the bottom of the 7th Edgar Martinez went to play 3rd and Ryan Braun lead off with a single. Fleming barred down and struckout Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee but walked Surhoff. Danny Walton popped to short to end the inning. Augustine went 3 up and 3 down. With two out in the bottom of the 8th Listach singled to right, with Paul Moiltor coming to bat Seattle went to Karl Best who struck out Molitor to end the 8th.

With 8 innings played it was still 0-0. Alvin Davis walked to start the Seattle 9th, Milwaukee brought in setup man Jayson Durocher, and Danny Tartabull grounded to short advancing Davis to 2nd. With Nixon coming to the plate Milwaukee prepared for a bunt by the speedy centerfielder but he was called back and Rupert Jones came to the plate who singled to left scoring Davis. Edgar Martinez flew out and Johjima tripled scoring Jones. Ray Searge came in to strikeout Bragg to end the inning. Down 2-0 and their last 3 outs Milwaukee's Ryan Braun lead off with a single to right. Seattle then pulled Best and brought in their ace reliever Ed Vande Berg who was 0-1 with 8 saves in the regular season. He got Prince Fielder to ground into a double play and struck out Casey McGehee to end the game. Seattle wins 2-0.

This was a classic playoff battle scoreless until the 9th. Pitchers were at their best with many 3 up and 3 down innings. Between the two teams only 3 walks were issued. Both coaches coached a masterful game but alas only one team could win and Seattle was able to get a little restitution for the season ending series. Karl Best was credited for the victory, Jerry Augustine the loss, Ed Vande Berg the save and Game MVP was Seattle starter Dave Fleming.

Thanks to Ron for a hard fought playoff classic.
--sumbitted by Robert Chisholm--