HOU 3 8 1
CLE 2 6 0
WP – Miller LP – Sabathia Sv – Wagner
HR: Everett, Peralta
Fresh of their Game 7 9th
inning win in LA, the Astros headed to Cleveland for G1 of the KOD 26
World Series. Houston sent Wade Miller to the mound against the Round
Mound of the Mound, CC Sabathia. Adam Everett led off the 1st with a double down the line in right and scored on Jeff Bagwell’s one out single. In the bottom of the 3rd Aaron Boone reached 2nd
on a wild pitch and scored on Jody Gerut’s gap double to right center.
Gerut was in for the injured Grady Sizemore who left the game in the
bottom of the first. In the top of the 6th the Astros retook the lead when Jeff Kent doubled in Morgan Ensberg, and they added on more when Adam Everett led of the 7th with a solo HR. Miller went 6.1 innings and gave way to Miceli and Dotel who brought the Astros to the top of the 9th with a 3-1 lead. Billy Wagner came in for the 9th and gave up a leadoff HR to Peralta before getting the next three for the save.
Game #2
HOU 4 10 0
CLE 2 6 0
WP – Redding LP – Lee Sv – Wagner
HR: Hidalgo
The
Astros game out swinging against Cliff Lee and put a quick 4 on the
board before Tim Redding took the hill. Bagwell and Ensberg each had an
RBI single and after a Jeff Kent double, Richard Hidalgo hit one 412
feet to center for a 2 run HR. And that was the Astros offense in this
one. Redding cruised through the first 5 innings before Victor Martinez
and Travis Hafner each drove in a run with RBI singles. Lidge pitched
the 7th and Dotel took on the 8th and 9th.
Wagner was brought in to get the last out after Dotel put two runners
on with 2 out. The Astros head home with a 2 game lead.
Game #3
CLE 6 12 0
HOU 7 15 2
WP – White LP – Miller
HR: Blake, Berkman, Hidalgo
With
2 wins on the road the Astros were looking to gain a big advantage with
a win at home. The Indians started Keith Millwood against the Astros
Roy Oswalt. Houston scored first in the bottom on the first when
Bagwell laced a single to right to score Berkman from 2nd. In the 3rd
inning the Indians scored three to take their first lead of the
series. With 2 on and 1 out, Coco Crisp brought in Millwood from 2nd
and then Martinez brought in two with a single of his own. VMart
missed a sign and attempted to steal with 2 out and ended inning sliding
into 2nd. Crisp led of the 6th with a triple and Martinez brought him in with a single. In the bottom of the 6th Berkman walked, stole 2B and scored on another Bagwell RBI single. Casey Blake led of the 7th with a solo HR and Ben Broussard hit a PH double in the 9th to drive in another run and but the Tribe up 5-1 going into the bottom of the 9th. Houston fans will tell their grandchildren about the bottom of the 9th. Bob Wickman came to pitch and was not treated like a guest – Everett led off with a double and went to 3rd
on a deep fly by PH Vizcaino. Orlando Merced PH for the pitcher and
brought in Everett with an RBI single to up the middle. Biggio followed
with another single, putting men at 1st and 2nd with one out. Kent grounded to SS, but the Indians could only get Biggio at 2nd.
The next batter was Berkman who blasted a game tying HR to right
center. And then Richard Hidalgo poked one down the left field line
that just made it into the seats (319 ft) for the walk off win.
Game #4
CLE 5 10 0
HOU 3 6 0
WP – Westbrook LP – Villone Sv – Howry
HR: Peralta, Ensberg
Backs against the wall, the Indians came out swinging and scored three runs in the 1st. After a one out walk by Crisp, Jhony Peralta hit his 2nd
HR of the series. Jose Hernandez ripped a double off the wall in left
center that brought in Blake for the quick 3-0 lead. Ensberg put
Houston on the board in the 4th, but Cleveland game right back and scored 2 in the top of the 5th
when Martinez singled, Blake doubled and took third on the through home
that did not get Martinez, and Hernandez hit a sac fly to bring in
Blake. Kent, Berkman and Hidalgo hit back to back to back doubles to
open the 6th, but Westbrook toughen and got the next three batters to stop the damage. Miller came in for the 7th and 8th and Howry pitched a perfect 9th to preserve the win for Cleveland.
Game #5
CLE 3 9 1
HOU 4 6 0
WP – Dotel LP – Howry Sv – Wagner
HR: Hidalgo, Bagwell
A
Game #1 rematch with Sabathia throwing for the Indians and Miller
starting for Houston. Both starters pitched very well in this one.
Jeff Kent singled in Berkman in the 1st to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. In the 6th,
Hidalgo game Miller some breathing room with a solo HR to left to put
the Astros up 2-0. Miller went 7 shutout innings, allowing 6 hits with
no walks and 5 K’s. Dotel came on for the 8th hoping to shut the Tribe down and turn the game over to Wagner for the 9th. But…, with 2 outs and a runner on 1st, Hafner walked. Peralta singled in Sizemore from 2nd,
and then Ronnie Belliard cranked a triple to right that scored Hafner
and Peralta and Cleveland took the lead, 3-2. David Riske had pitched a
no run 7th for Cleveland, but gave up a lead off walk to
Berkman. With Bagwell coming up, the Tribe called on righty Bob Howry
to hold. But Bagwell deposited a 1-2 pitch from Howry into the left
center field seats to put the Astros back up 4-3. Wagner did come in
for the 9th and set the Indians down in order for the save and the series.
Great series! Three 1 run games and two 2 run games. A great season by the Tribe.
--submitted by Tom Landers--