ATLANTA BRAVES vs. MINNESOTA TWINS
Game 1: Tom Glavine vs. Jack Morris, The Metrodome
BRAVES SEIZE GAME 1 BEHIND GLAVINE, PEN
Olson, Hunter Homer for Atlanta
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 19 (AP) – Tom Glavine held the Twins to two runs in 5 2/3 innings and the Atlanta bullpen tossed 3 1/3 scoreless frames as the Braves defeated Minnesota 4-2 in the opening game of the World Series at the Metrodome. Greg Olson belted a two-run homer and Brian Hunter added a solo shot to pace the offense. Twins starter Jack Morris struggled with his control early, issuing five free passes and surrendering four runs in the first three innings, but found his footing and tossed three more scoreless fames. The Twins bullpen added three shutout innings.
The Braves picked up a run off Morris in the top of the first. Lonnie Smith drew a leadoff walk and Jeff Treadway, getting the start at second base for Atlanta, singled Smith to third. Terry Pendleton’s fielder’s choice forced Treadway at second, but Olson scored to put Atlanta on top.
Minnesota knotted the score against Glavine in the bottom half of the inning. Dan Gladden lead off with a base hit and was forced at second on Chuck Knoblauch’s fielder’s choice grounder. A wild pitch moved Knoblauch to second and he scored on Kirby Puckett’s ensuing double.
But the Braves jumped ahead for good in the second. Hunter walked to open the inning and Olson’s homer into the seats in left give the Braves a 3-1 advantage. And they made it 4-1 in the third on Hunter’s two-out solo home run. Morris set down the next 10 batters he faced before being lifted prior to the start of the seventh inning, but the damage had been done.
Glavine yielded a second run to the Twins in the bottom of the fourth, when Brian Harper started a two-out rally with a base hit. Glavine’s second wild pitch of the contest advanced the runner to second and Harper scored when Brian Harper doubled into the left field corner. Glavine’s third wild pitch—and second of the inning—advanced Mack to third, but Kent Hrbek grounded out to end the inning.
The Twins threatened to draw closer in the bottom of the sixth when Knoblauch led off with a single and, two outs later, advanced to second on Harper’s base hit. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox brought Mark Wohlers into the game at that point and he escaped damage by inducing Mack to fly to right.
And that was just about it. Both bullpens were extremely effective. In the bottom of the eighth, Puckett smacked his second double of the game off Jim Clancy, bringing the tying run to the plate, but Cox brought Alejandro Pena into the game and Pena retired Chili Davis on a foul ball, before setting down the Twins in order in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the postseason.
The Twins will try to draw even in Game 2 when they send Kevin Tapani to the hill to face John Smoltz.
10/19/1991, Atl91-Min91, Metrodome
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
1991 Braves 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 0 5 0
1991 Twins 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 5 0
Braves AB R H BI AVG Twins AB R H BI AVG
Smith,Lo dh 2 1 0 0 .000 Gladden lf 4 0 1 0 .250
Treadway 2b 2 0 1 0 .500 Knoblauch 2b 4 1 1 0 .250
Blauser ph 1 0 0 0 .000 Puckett cf 4 0 2 1 .500
Lemke 2b 0 0 0 0 .000 Davis,C dh 4 0 0 0 .000
Pendleton 3b 4 0 0 1 .000 Harper c 4 1 2 0 .500
Justice rf 4 0 1 0 .250 Mack rf 4 0 1 1 .250
Gant cf 3 0 0 0 .000 Hrbek 1b 4 0 0 0 .000
Bream 1b 4 0 0 0 .000 Leius 3b 3 0 0 0 .000
Mitchell,Kei lf 0 0 0 0 .000 Gagne ss 3 0 0 0 .000
Hunter,B lf 3 2 1 1 .333 34 2 7 2
Olson,GW c 4 1 1 2 .250
Belliard ss 4 0 1 0 .250
31 4 5 4
Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Glavine W 1-0 5.2 6 2 2 0 5 98 60 3.18
Wohlers H 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0.00
Stanton H 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 6 5 0.00
Clancy H 1 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 11 7 0.00
Pena,A S 1 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 10 9 0.00
9.0 7 2 2 0 7 127 83
Twins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Morris,Ja L 0-1 6.0 4 4 4 5 4 106 57 6.00
Leach 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0.00
Guthrie 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 13 9 0.00
Bedrosian 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 17 12 0.00
9.0 5 4 4 5 5 138 80
Atl: Blauser batted for Treadway in the 7th
Lemke inserted at 2b in the 7th
Mitchell,Kei inserted at lf in the 9th
Hunter,B moved to 1b in the 9th
2B-Puckett 2(2), Mack(1). HR-Hunter,B(1), Olson,GW(1). RBI-Pendleton(1),
Hunter,B(1), Olson,GW 2(2), Puckett(1), Mack(1). K-Smith,Lo, Pendleton,
Justice, Olson,GW, Blauser, Gladden, Puckett, Davis,C 2, Mack, Leius, Gagne.
BB-Smith,Lo 2, Treadway, Gant, Hunter,B. WP-Glavine 3.
GWRBI: Olson,GW
Temperature: 70, Wind: none.
Attendance: 55,811
Game Time: 2:42
Game 2: John Smoltz vs. Kevin Tapani, Three Rivers Stadium
TWINS SQUARE SERIES ON GLADDEN’S WALK-OFF
Guthrie, Willis Continue Minnesota Pen Dominance
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 20 (AP) – Dan Gladden’s one-out single in the bottom of the ninth scored Greg Gagne with the game-winning run, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the World Series at the Metrodome. Gagne’s double in the ninth was his third two-bagger of the game, and allowed the Twins to complete the comeback win. Starters Kevin Tapani of Minnesota and John Smoltz of Atlanta both struggled at times, but ultimately it was the two bullpens that decided the outcome. Twins relievers have now thrown 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the Series.
The Braves touched Tapani for a pair of runs in the top of the second. David Justice led off with a double and, one out later, came home on Sid Bream’s two-bagger. After Brian Hunter popped to third, Greg Olson singled home Bream for a 2-0 Atlanta lead.
The Twins got a run back in the bottom half of the frame. Gagne led off with his first double of the contest, took third on the first of three wild pitches uncorked by Smoltz and, after a walk to Gladden, scored on Chuck Knoblauch’s sacrifice fly.
Minnesota knotted the score in the third. Kent Hrbek led off with a double, took third on another Smoltz wild pitch, and scored one out later on Brian Harper’s slow grounder to third.
The Braves regained the lead in the fourth. Ron Gant drew a lead off walk, stole second base and took third on Bream’s base hit. Hunter’s sacrifice fly put Atlanta ahead 3-2.
But the Twins got the equalizer in the bottom of the sixth. Another Hrbek leadoff double was the key. Smoltz walked Chili Davis, leaving runners on first and second, and was replaced on the mound by Randy St. Claire. It appeared that the Braves might get out of the inning with the lead intact when Harper rolled into an around-the-horn double play, but Shane Mack’s two-out single plated Hrbek to tie the game. Mike Pagliarulo followed with a double, advancing Mack to third, but Gagne grounded out to end the inning.
Minnesota relievers Mark Guthrie and Carl Willis kept Atlanta at bay through the top of the ninth; the Braves never advanced another runner past first base.
With Kent Mercker on the mound for the Braves, Gagne’s third double of the game came with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Mark Wohlers came on to face Gladden, but on the very first pitch from the right-hander Gladden grounded a single through the middle. Gagne easily came around to score and the Twins had knotted the World Series at a game apiece.
After an off-day, the two teams will meet for Game 3 at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta. Scott Erickson will get the start for Minnesota while Steve Avery is expected to take the mound for Atlanta.
10/20/1991, Atl91-Min91, Metrodome
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
1991 Braves 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 0 8 1
1991 Twins 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 9 0 8 0
Braves AB R H BI AVG Twins AB R H BI AVG
Smith,Lo dh 4 0 0 0 .000 Gladden lf 4 0 1 1 .250
Treadway 2b 3 0 0 0 .200 Knoblauch 2b 2 0 0 1 .167
Lemke ph 2 0 0 0 .000 Puckett cf 4 0 0 0 .250
Pendleton 3b 4 0 1 0 .125 Hrbek 1b 3 2 2 0 .286
Justice rf 3 1 1 0 .286 Davis,C dh 3 0 0 0 .000
Gant cf 3 1 0 0 .000 Harper c 4 0 1 1 .375
Bream 1b 4 1 2 1 .250 Mack rf 4 0 1 1 .250
Hunter,B lf 3 0 0 1 .167 Pagliarulo 3b 3 0 1 0 .333
Olson,GW c 4 0 2 1 .375 Larkin,G ph 1 0 0 0 .000
Belliard ss 4 0 2 0 .375 Gagne ss 4 2 3 0 .429
34 3 8 3 32 4 9 4
Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Smoltz 5.0 4 3 3 4 1 82 44 5.40
St.Claire BS 1 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 26 19 0.00
Mercker L 0-1 1.1 2 1 1 0 0 22 13 6.75
Wohlers 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.00
8.1 9 4 4 4 2 131 77
Twins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Tapani 6.1 7 3 3 2 2 94 60 4.26
Guthrie 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 12 7 0.00
Willis,C W 1-0 1.1 0 0 0 1 3 21 14 0.00
9.0 8 3 3 3 5 127 81
Atl: Lemke batted for Treadway in the 7th
Lemke moved to 2b in the 7th
Min: Larkin,G batted for Pagliarulo in the 9th
2B-Justice(1), Bream(1), Olson,GW(1), Hrbek 2(2), Pagliarulo(1), Gagne 3(3).
RBI-Bream(1), Hunter,B(2), Olson,GW(3), Gladden(1), Knoblauch(1), Harper(1),
Mack(2). SB-Gant(1). K-Pendleton, Hunter,B 2, Olson,GW, Belliard, Gladden,
Puckett. BB-Smith,Lo, Justice, Gant, Gladden, Knoblauch, Hrbek, Davis,C.
SF-Hunter,B, Knoblauch. WP-Smoltz 3, Tapani.
GWRBI: Gladden
Temperature: 70, Wind: none.
Attendance: 56,088
Game Time: 2:56
Game 3: Scott Erickson vs. Steve Avery, Fulton County Stadium
AVERY’S BRILLIANCE GIVES BRAVES 2-1 SERIES LEAD
Twins Held to 1 Hit; Avery Drives in Game’s Only Run
ATLANTA, Oct. 22 (AP) – Steve Avery fired 8 1/3 innings of one-hit, shutout ball and Alejandro Pena recorded the final two outs as the Atlanta Braves eked past the Minnesota Twins 1-0 in Game 3 of the World Series at Fulton County Stadium. The Braves now lead the Series two-games-to-one. Avery, who was the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player after winning both of his starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates, extended a brilliant postseason run that has seen him go 3-0 in three starts, with a 1.29 earned run average across 21 innings of work. Avery has held opposing batters to a .127 average in the postseason.
Twins starter Scott Erickson was almost as good. He allowed one run on just three hits over seven innings of work, striking out five while walking no one. The game was played to completion in an astonishing two hours and two minutes.
The contest’s first hit came in the bottom of the third when Atlanta scored the game’s only run. Mark Lemke blooped a double just inside the left field foul line to lead off the inning. After Rafael Belliard grounded back to Erickson for the first out, Avery came to the plate. Avery hit a respectable .211 in 71 at bats during the regular season and on this occasion he worked the count full before lining a single to center. Lemke beat Kirby Puckett’s throw to the plate and the Braves led 1-0.
Atlanta managed only one more baserunner in the entire game. Sid Bream doubled with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but was stranded on second when Greg Olson bounced out to short. Erickson and reliever Steve Bedrosian combined to retire 17 of the last 18 Braves batters, including the final 13 to come to the plate in the game.
But as good as Erickson, with an assist to Bedrosian, was, Avery, with an assist from Alejandro Pena, was just a touch better. Avery pitched around a two-base Belliard error in the second and held Minnesota hitless until Puckett doubled with one out in the top of the fourth. The left-hander pitched around Shane Mack, ultimately walking him, then retired Scott Leius on a weak roller back to the mound, with the runners advancing to second and third. After pitching around and walking Greg Gagne, one of the Twins heroes in Game 2, Avery retired Junior Ortiz on a soft line drive to short.
The walk to Gagne, which loaded the bases in the fourth, was the last baserunner of the game for Minnesota. So for the final five innings of the contest, no one on either team reached base.
With Bedrosian on the mound in the bottom of the eighth, Avery was due up with two outs and the bases empty. Braves manager Bobby Cox allowed his starting pitcher to bat for himself. At that point, Avery had retired 13 straight Twins batters, and the lefty swinging Kent Hrbek was due to lead off the ninth for the Twins. Avery struck out at the hands of Bedrosian, then took the mound to begin the ninth.
With a pair of right-handed batters due next, Avery retired Hrbek on a comebacker. Cox then came out of the dugout and called for Pena to enter the game. Avery left the mound to a thunderous ovation from the sellout crowd of 52,237.
Pena, who had recorded five postseason saves in as many opportunities, retired Puckett on a routine fly ball to center, then got Mack on a foul pop to catcher Olson to close out the game. Avery and Pena combined to retire the final 16 Minnesota hitters.
Any thought of the Twins going with #4 starter David West in Game 4 were dashed when they fell to the Braves in Game 3. Instead, Jack Morris will start Game 4 on three days rest. Charlie Leibrandt will be on the mound for Atlanta.
10/22/1991, Min91-Atl91, Fulton County Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
1991 Twins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
1991 Braves 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 x 1 3 1 2 0
Twins AB R H BI AVG Braves AB R H BI AVG
Gladden lf 4 0 0 0 .167 Smith,Lo lf 3 0 0 0 .000
Knoblauch 2b 4 0 0 0 .100 Mitchell,Kei lf 0 0 0 0 .000
Hrbek 1b 4 0 0 0 .182 Pendleton 3b 3 0 0 0 .091
Puckett cf 4 0 1 0 .250 Gant cf 3 0 0 0 .000
Mack rf 3 0 0 0 .182 Justice rf 3 0 0 0 .200
Leius 3b 3 0 0 0 .000 Bream 1b 3 0 1 0 .273
Gagne ss 1 0 0 0 .375 Olson,GW c 3 0 0 0 .273
Ortiz,Ju c 3 0 0 0 .000 Lemke 2b 3 1 1 0 .200
Erickson p 2 0 0 0 .000 Belliard ss 3 0 0 0 .273
Davis,C ph 1 0 0 0 .000 Avery p 3 0 1 1 .333
Bedrosian p 0 0 0 0 .000 Pena,A p 0 0 0 0 .000
29 0 1 0 27 1 3 1
Twins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Erickson L 0-1 7.0 3 1 1 0 4 93 58 1.29
Bedrosian 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 13 11 0.00
8.0 3 1 1 0 5 106 69
Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Avery W 1-0 8.1 1 0 0 3 5 104 65 0.00
Pena,A S 2 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 9 7 0.00
9.0 1 0 0 3 5 113 72
Min: Davis,C batted for Erickson in the 8th
Atl: Mitchell,Kei inserted at lf in the 9th
E-Belliard. 2B-Puckett(3), Bream(2), Lemke(1). RBI-Avery(1). K-Knoblauch,
Hrbek, Puckett, Mack, Erickson, Pendleton, Gant, Justice, Belliard, Avery.
BB-Mack, Gagne 2.
GWRBI: Avery
Temperature: 69, Sky: clear, Wind: right to left at 8 MPH.
Attendance: 52,327
Game Time: 2:02
Game 4: Jack Morris vs. Charlie Leibrandt, Fulton County Stadium
LEIBRANDT, BRAVES MOVE TO EDGE OF TITLE
Smith, Gant Homer for Atlanta
ATLANTA, Oct. 23 (AP) – Charlie Leibrandt allowed two runs—one earned—in seven innings, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Fulton County Stadium in Game 4 of the World Series. The victory gives the Braves a three-games-to-one Series lead. Lonnie Smith and Ron Gant belted home runs in support of Leibrandt. Alejandro Pena got the last out of the game for his seventh postseason save in as many appearances.
Minnesota scored first, courtesy in part of an Atlanta miscue. Rafael Belliard’s throwing error on Shane Mack’s grounder put Mack on second base to open the top of the second. After Brian Harper grounded out to third, Scott Leius flied to right, advancing Mack to third. Greg Gagne was walked intentionally, but pitcher Jack Morris shocked everyone by looping a single to center, scoring Mack with the game’s first run.
The Braves set the tone for the game by taking the lead in the bottom of the second. Gant drew a leadoff free pass from Morris and promptly stole second. Sid Bream grounded to short and Greg Olson flied to center. But Mark Lemke followed with a base hit, scoring Gant to tie the game. Belliard then singled, with Lemke advancing to second. And Leibrandt matched Morris by dumping a base hit into right-center, plating Lemke to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead.
After shaky second innings, both starters stiffened and the game remained 2-1 until the top of the fifth when the Twins knotted the score on Kent Hrbek’s solo home run.
But again, the Braves roared back. Lonnie Smith’s one-out home run in the bottom of the fifth gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead. And after Terry Pendleton lined to right, David Justice drew a walk. That brought Gant to the plate and he quickly fell behind on the count 0-2. Morris then hung a splitter and Gant crushed it to the back of the lower tier of seats in left field, sending the sellout crowd into a frenzy.
Leibrandt didn’t allow another batter to reach base, retiring the final eight hitters he faced before leaving for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. And that pinch hitter, Tommy Gregg, singled to lead off the inning. One out later, Pendleton’s single off Mark Guthrie put runners on the corners. Justice followed with a sacrifice fly to right, putting Atlanta on top 6-2.
Mike Stanton and Jim Clancy combined to hold the Twins off the scoreboard in the eighth and, in the ninth, Clancy retired the first two batters before yielding a single to pinch hitter Chili Davis. Paul Sorrento then lined a single of his own, moving the potential tying run into the on-deck circle. That brought Braves manager Bobby Cox to the mound to summon Pena into the game. On the very first pitch, Pena retired pinch hitter Mike Pagliarulo on a fly ball to right to earn his third save of the World Series and seventh of the postseason. Pena has saved every single Atlanta postseason victory.
Game 5 will be tomorrow. Tom Glavine will take the mound for the Braves and Kevin Tapani will try to keep the Series alive for the Twins.
10/23/1991, Min91-Atl91, Fulton County Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
1991 Twins 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 9 0
1991 Braves 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 x 6 8 1 8 0
Twins AB R H BI AVG Braves AB R H BI AVG
Gladden lf 3 0 0 0 .133 Smith,Lo lf 4 1 1 1 .077
Sorrento ph 1 0 1 0 1.000 Mitchell,Kei lf 0 0 0 0 .000
Knoblauch 2b 4 0 0 0 .071 Pendleton 3b 5 0 1 0 .125
Pagliarulo ph 1 0 0 0 .250 Justice rf 2 1 1 1 .250
Hrbek 1b 4 1 1 1 .200 Gant cf 2 2 1 2 .091
Puckett cf 4 0 1 0 .250 Bream 1b 2 0 0 0 .231
Mack rf 4 1 1 0 .200 Hunter,B ph 1 0 0 0 .143
Harper c 4 0 1 0 .333 Willard ph 0 0 0 0 .000
Leius 3b 3 0 0 0 .000 Stanton p 0 0 0 0 .000
Bush ph 1 0 0 0 .000 Clancy p 0 0 0 0 .000
Gagne ss 3 0 0 0 .273 Pena,A p 0 0 0 0 .000
Morris,Ja p 2 0 2 1 1.000 Olson,GW c 4 0 0 0 .200
West p 0 0 0 0 .000 Lemke 2b 3 1 1 1 .250
Larkin,G ph 1 0 0 0 .000 Belliard ss 4 0 1 0 .267
Leach p 0 0 0 0 .000 Leibrandt p 2 0 1 1 .500
Guthrie p 0 0 0 0 .000 Gregg ph 2 1 1 0 .500
Aguilera p 0 0 0 0 .000 31 6 8 6
Davis,C ph 1 0 1 0 .111
36 2 8 2
Twins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Morris,Ja L 0-2 4.2 6 5 5 2 0 76 47 7.59
West 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 20 14 0.00
Leach 0.1 1 1 1 0 0 8 5 13.50
Guthrie 0.1 1 0 0 1 0 6 2 0.00
Aguilera 1.1 0 0 0 3 2 30 15 0.00
8.0 8 6 6 6 2 140 83
Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Leibrandt W 1-0 7.0 5 2 1 2 3 87 58 1.29
Stanton 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 0.00
Clancy 1.1 3 0 0 0 1 26 19 0.00
Pena,A S 3 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.00
9.0 8 2 1 2 4 118 81
Min: Larkin,G batted for West in the 7th
Bush batted for Leius in the 9th
Davis,C batted for Aguilera in the 9th
Sorrento batted for Gladden in the 9th
Pagliarulo batted for Knoblauch in the 9th
Atl: Hunter,B batted for Bream in the 5th
Hunter,B moved to 1b in the 6th
Gregg batted for Leibrandt in the 7th
Willard batted for Hunter,B in the 7th
Gregg moved to 1b in the 8th
Mitchell,Kei inserted at lf in the 9th
E-Pendleton. 3B-Puckett(1). HR-Hrbek(1), Smith,Lo(1), Gant(1). RBI-Hrbek(1),
Morris,Ja(1), Smith,Lo(1), Justice(1), Gant 2(2), Lemke(1), Leibrandt(1).
SB-Gant(2). K-Puckett, Leius, Gagne, Larkin,G, Belliard, Gregg. BB-Gladden,
Gagne, Smith,Lo, Justice, Gant 2, Lemke, Willard. SF-Justice. WP-Morris,Ja.
GWRBI: Smith,Lo
Temperature: 60, Sky: clear, Wind: right to left at 10 MPH.
Attendance: 51,838
Game Time: 2:52
Game 5: Kevin Tapani vs. Tom Glavine, Fulton County Stadium
HRBEK, DAVIS SEND SERIES BACK TO MINNESOTA
Twins Pen Tosses 4 Scoreless Innings
ATLANTA, Oct. 24 (AP) – Kent Hrbek belted a pair of home runs and drove in four and Chili Davis hit a tie-breaking pinch hit three-run homer in the sixth to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the World Series. The Braves lead the Series three-games-to-two; Game 6 will take place on October 26 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Kevin Tapani was credited with the win, allowing two runs in five innings of work. The Minnesota bullpen tossed four scoreless frames, allowing just one hit. Steve Bedrosian recorded the final four outs to earn his first postseason save.
The Twins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Chuck Knoblauch drew a one-out walk from Braves starter Tom Glavine in the top of the first and, after Kirby Puckett flied to center, Hrbek ripped his second home run of the Series.
The Braves pulled to within a run in the fourth. David Justice led off with a base hit. One out later, Sid Bream doubled to right center. The relay throw from Knoblauch to the plate was late and wild, and the error allowed Bream to move into third. But Tapani was able to wriggle out of further trouble.
Atlanta evened the score in the fifth. Rafael Belliard drew a leadoff walk from Tapani and Glavine sacrificed the runner to second. Lonnie Smith popped out, but Terry Pendleton singled to center, scoring Belliard with the tying run.
The top of the sixth was the pivot point for the game. With one out, Brian Harper singled to left. Scott Leius flied out, but Greg Gagne’s base hit to left put runners on first and second. Tapani’s spot in the order was due and Twins manager Tom Kelly had a couple of decisions to make. Should he hit for his starting pitcher with two outs and if so, who should be sent to the plate? Given the situation, with the Twins facing elimination, the decision of whether to pinch hit wasn’t that difficult. And with that out of the way, Davis was the obvious choice. Mostly strapped to the bench with the DH-rule suspended for Games 3-5, Davis was champing at the bit. Glavine got ahead in the count 1-2, but left a change-up elevated and Davis didn’t miss it, drilling it over the left field fence for a massive three-run home run. The Twins now led 5-2. They wouldn’t surrender that lead.
Carl Willis kept the Braves off the scoreboard in the sixth and pitched around an error to hold Atlanta scoreless in the seventh as well. Mark Guthrie and Bedrosian combined to retire the Braves in order in the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Minnesota salted the game away. Dan Gladden doubled off of Randy St. Claire to open the frame and Knoblauch sacrificed the runner to third. Puckett grounded out with Gladden holding at third, and Kent Mercker was brought on to face Hrbek. But Hrbek cracked his second home run of the game on a drive that cleared the wall in right-center and the Twins now led 7-2.
Bedrosian had to overcome another error in the ninth, and cooly took care of business to preserve the win and send the Series back to Minnesota.
Game 6 will feature John Smoltz for the Braves and Scott Erickson for the Twins.
10/24/1991, Min91-Atl91, Fulton County Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
1991 Twins 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 7 9 3 8 1
1991 Braves 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 1 7 0
Twins AB R H BI AVG Braves AB R H BI AVG
Gladden lf 5 1 1 0 .150 Smith,Lo lf 4 0 0 0 .059
Brown,J lf 0 0 0 0 .000 Pendleton 3b 4 0 2 1 .200
Knoblauch 2b 2 1 0 0 .063 Justice rf 4 1 1 0 .250
Puckett cf 5 0 1 0 .238 Gant cf 4 0 0 0 .067
Hrbek 1b 3 2 2 4 .278 Bream 1b 2 0 1 1 .267
Mack rf 5 0 1 0 .200 Hunter,B ph 1 0 0 0 .125
Harper c 5 1 1 0 .294 Olson,GW c 4 0 1 0 .211
Leius 3b 2 0 0 0 .000 Lemke 2b 2 0 0 0 .200
Pagliarulo ph 1 0 0 0 .200 Treadway ph 2 0 1 0 .286
Newman 3b 0 0 0 0 .000 Belliard ss 1 1 0 0 .250
Gagne ss 4 1 2 0 .333 Gregg ph 1 0 0 0 .333
Tapani p 1 0 0 0 .000 Blauser ss 1 0 0 0 .000
Davis,C ph 1 1 1 3 .200 Glavine p 1 0 0 0 .000
Willis,C p 0 0 0 0 .000 Wohlers p 0 0 0 0 .000
Sorrento ph 1 0 0 0 .500 Willard ph 1 0 0 0 .000
Guthrie p 0 0 0 0 .000 St.Claire p 0 0 0 0 .000
Bedrosian p 0 0 0 0 .000 Mercker p 0 0 0 0 .000
35 7 9 7 Cabrera ph 1 0 0 0 .000
33 2 6 2
Twins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Tapani W 1-0 5.0 5 2 2 1 2 70 45 3.97
Willis,C H 1 2.0 1 0 0 1 0 20 14 0.00
Guthrie H 1 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 6 4 0.00
Bedrosian S 1 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 13 9 0.00
9.0 6 2 2 2 4 109 72
Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Glavine L 1-1 6.0 5 5 5 3 3 99 58 5.40
Wohlers 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 15 7 0.00
St.Claire 1.2 1 1 1 0 2 17 13 2.45
Mercker 0.1 2 1 1 0 0 14 9 10.80
9.0 9 7 7 4 5 145 87
Min: Davis,C batted for Tapani in the 6th
Pagliarulo batted for Leius in the 8th
Sorrento batted for Willis,C in the 8th
Newman inserted at 3b in the 8th
Brown,J inserted at lf in the 9th
Atl: Treadway batted for Lemke in the 7th
Gregg batted for Belliard in the 7th
Willard batted for Wohlers in the 7th
Treadway moved to 2b in the 8th
Blauser inserted at ss in the 8th
Hunter,B batted for Bream in the 8th
Hunter,B moved to 1b in the 9th
Cabrera batted for Mercker in the 9th
E-Knoblauch, Leius, Newman, Belliard. 2B-Gladden(1), Pendleton(1), Bream(3).
HR-Hrbek 2(3), Davis,C(1). RBI-Hrbek 4(5), Davis,C 3(3), Pendleton(2),
Bream(2). K-Puckett, Hrbek, Mack, Pagliarulo, Sorrento, Smith,Lo, Justice,
Belliard, Blauser. BB-Knoblauch, Hrbek 2, Leius, Bream, Belliard.
SH-Knoblauch, Tapani, Glavine. HBP-Knoblauch. HB-Glavine.
GWRBI: Davis,C
Temperature: 72, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 4 MPH.
Attendance: 52,130
Game Time: 2:34
Game 6: John Smoltz vs. Scott Erickson, The Metrodome
SMOLTZ PITCHES BRAVES TO WORLD SERIES TITLE
Gant, Smith Shake Off Slumps, Provide Offensive Spark
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 26 (AP) – John Smoltz fired a six-hit shutout, leading the Atlanta Braves to a World Series title clinching 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Game 6 at the Metrodome. Smoltz allowed only two baserunners after the third inning, and retired 22 of the last 24 batters he faced. Ron Gant and Lonnie Smith both overcame Series slumps to pace the Braves offense in Game 6.
Smoltz and Twins starter Scott Erickson matched zeroes through four innings. But in the top of the fifth, the Braves broke through. David Justice led off with a single and Gant followed with a base hit, putting runners on first and second. Erickson then walked Sid Bream to fill the bases. Greg Olson’s fly ball to deep right scored Justice to give the Braves a 1-0 lead and Gant advanced to third. The Twins elected to bring the corners in with Rafael Belliard at the plate and it paid off when Belliard chopped a grounder to third. Mike Pagliarulo cut down Gant at the plate for the second out and Brian Hunter flied to center to end the inning with Atlanta on top 1-0.
Pagliarulo led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, but Smoltz retired Greg Gagne, Dan Gladden and Chuck Knoblauch in order to retain the one-run lead.
In the top of the sixth, the Braves extended their advantage. Smith drew a leadoff walk and Mark Lemke advanced Smith to second with a sacrifice. Terry Pendleton grounded out, with Smith taking third. The Twins decided to walk Justice intentionally to face Gant, who was 2-for-17 in the Series to that point, but Gant foiled the move and cranked a double to the gap in right-center, scoring both Smith and Justice and advancing to third himself on Knoblauch’s relay throwing error. Atlanta now led 3-0. Mark Guthrie came on and got the third out two batters later, but the damage had been done.
Smoltz was on cruise control by now. After allowing the double to Pagliarulo to open the fifth, he retired 13 consecutive batters.
The Braves pushed across an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a two-our rally. Smith singled—just his second hit of the Series to that point—and stole second base. Lemke followed by doubling to left-center to plate Smith with the fourth Atlanta run.
With Alejandro Pena warming up in the bullpen behind him, Smoltz came out for the ninth inning. He retired Kirby Puckett on a fly to center, but allowed a single to Kent Hrbek, the first Minnesota baserunner since Pagliarulo’s fifth inning double. Cox came to the mound, but left Smoltz in the game. Chili Davis rolled into a fielder’s choice, with Hrbek forced at second, for out number two. Randy Bush came on as a pinch hitter, but, on a 2-2 pitch, lifted a routine fly ball to right. Justice made the catch and the Braves were world champions.
In a Series dominated by pitching—both teams barely reached the collective .200 mark in battinhg--Smoltz was named the MVP, posting a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings. Pena was considered as a candidate, having saved three games in as many opportunities, but with only 2 1/3 innings pitched, was passed over. The Twins’ Hrbek was the strongest offensive performer, with three home runs and an OPS of 1.133. But ultimately, to the victors go the spoils.
10/26/1991, Atl91-Min91, Metrodome
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
1991 Braves 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 4 8 0 7 0
1991 Twins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 6 1
Braves AB R H BI AVG Twins AB R H BI AVG
Smith,Lo dh 4 2 2 0 .143 Gladden lf 4 0 1 0 .167
Lemke 2b 4 0 1 1 .214 Knoblauch 2b 4 0 0 0 .050
Pendleton 3b 4 0 0 0 .167 Puckett cf 4 0 1 0 .240
Justice rf 3 2 1 0 .263 Hrbek 1b 4 0 1 0 .273
Gant cf 4 0 3 2 .211 Davis,C dh 4 0 1 0 .214
Bream 1b 1 0 0 0 .250 Harper c 3 0 0 0 .250
Blauser ph 0 0 0 0 .000 Bush ph 1 0 0 0 .000
Mitchell,Kei lf 1 0 0 0 .000 Mack rf 3 0 1 0 .217
Olson,GW c 3 0 1 1 .227 Pagliarulo 3b 3 0 1 0 .250
Belliard ss 4 0 0 0 .200 Gagne ss 3 0 0 0 .278
Hunter,B lf 4 0 0 0 .083 33 0 6 0
32 4 8 4
Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Smoltz W 1-0 9.0 6 0 0 0 4 97 69 1.93
9.0 6 0 0 0 4 97 69
Twins INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Erickson L 0-2 5.2 4 3 3 3 0 95 57 2.84
Guthrie 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 7 3 0.00
Leach 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 17 11 10.80
Willis,C 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 22 14 0.00
Aguilera 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 17 9 0.00
9.0 8 4 4 4 3 158 94
Atl: Blauser batted for Bream in the 6th
Mitchell,Kei inserted at lf in the 6th
Hunter,B moved to 1b in the 6th
Min: Bush batted for Harper in the 9th
E-Knoblauch. 2B-Smith,Lo(1), Lemke(2), Gant(1), Mack(2), Pagliarulo(2).
RBI-Lemke(2), Gant 2(4), Olson,GW(4). SB-Smith,Lo(1). K-Justice, Belliard,
Hunter,B, Knoblauch 3, Mack. BB-Smith,Lo, Justice, Bream, Blauser. SH-Lemke.
SF-Olson,GW. WP-Aguilera.
GWRBI: Olson,GW
Temperature: 70, Wind: none.
Attendance: 55,968
Game Time: 2:27