Orioles 7 Cubs 2
In the first game 3 in league championship history, the O's locked up their third straight
league title with a 7-2 win over the Cubs. Rob Gray went the distance, giving up 8 hits and two
unearned runs while striking out 4. The win pushed Gray's 2003 playoff record to 4-0 with
a 0.44 ERA. Gray pitched 32 playoff innings, giving up 21 hits and striking out 34.
The O's drew first blood in fourth as Carlo Galvani started things with a one out single. After
Dean Bennett doubled to put runners on second and third it looked like a big inning for the O's. But
Carlo Galvani was called out on an appeal play for missing second base leaving Bennett on third with
two outs. Jeff Merzel came through with a clutch two out RBI double to give the O's a 1-0 lead. The
Cubs tied it in the fifth as Paul Sonnett doubled home Dennis Fontecchio.
The O's broke open the tie game in the bottom of the seventh putting up 6 runs with the aid of just
one hit. Similar to game one, Earl Carpenter relieved Barnes in the seventh with the O's rallying.
With two on and no one out, Carpenter induced a grounder back to the box from the first batter
he faced, Rob Gray. But Carpenter mis-played the ball and everyone was safe. With the bases loaded,
Carpenter issued back to back RBI walks to John Malone and Carlo Galvani, a bloop RBI single to Dean
Bennett and another RBI walk to Jeff Merzel. Andy Schultz relieved Carpenter and after giving up an
RBI ground out to Bunkie Smith got the final out to end the threat without further damage. Schultz
pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to keep the game at 7-1. The Cubs put the first two runners on in the ninth
but could only push across one run to finish out the scoring at 7-2.
Rob Gray has now won 25 consecutive decisions breaking the old Orioles record of 24 straight set by
Steve Saraceno.
League Championships, 09/21/2003
Orioles 4 Cubs 2, Cubs 2 Orioles 1
The Orioles took game one 4-2 behind a complete game effort from ace Rob Gray. Gray gave up two
runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out 5. The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the
fourth inning as Eddie Murray lead off with a walk and later scored on Paul Sonnett's single for
the 1-0 lead. The O's tied it in the bottom of the fourth as Steve Saraceno lead off with a single
and later scored on an error. The Cubs came right back in the top of the fifth to again take the
lead as Andy Luckhardt lead off with a single and stole second and moved to third on Tim Shaver's
single. Shaver then attempted to steal and Luckhart scored when the throw went into center
field to push the score to 2-1.
The score stayed 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth. Tom Galvani lead off with a double to right
center and came home when Mark knowlton lined the first pitch he saw into right for the game tying
hit. Earl Carpenter relieved Barnes but Earl struggled with his control hitting the first batter
and then after a bloop single by Dean Bennett loaded the bases Carpenter hit Steve Saraceno to force
in a the go ahead run. Dick Scullary then singled to make the score 4-2 but Carpenter escaped further
damage when he enticed an inning ending 1-2-3 double play. The Cubs put the lead off man on in the
top of the seventh but a slick 5-4-3 double play by the O's defenses ended the game and gave the O's
1-0 series lead.
More details to come on game 2, a game the Cubs won 2-1 to force a decisive game 3 on 9/28/03.
Round 2, 09/14/2003
Orioles 7 Mariners 2, Orioles 10 Mariners 6 Game 0ne
Rob Gray threw a no-hitter in game one and Steve Saraceno went six for the win in game two
as the Orioles advanced to the finals with a 2-0 series win over the Mariners.
Gray struck out eight in the seven inning no-hitter and faced just 3 batters over the minimum
21. The Mariners scored two unearned runs in the sixth on a walk, hit by pitch and two errors.
Aubrey Doyle and Steve Saraceno were each 2-2 with an RBI each to pace the Orioles attack.
Bob Solat pitched well for the Mariners giving just 6 hits in six innings but was hurt by the
walk giving up nine over the six innings.
Game two
Steve Saraceno and the Orioles settled down after a shaky first to win 10-6 and advance to the
finals. After the O's got a run in the top of the first, the Mariners put up five unearned runs
in their half. Saraceno gave up two walks and four hits in the inning and was hurt by a costly
error by stiff shortstop Tom Galvani. Saraceno settled down and did not allow a run over the
next five innings. He went six full, giving up 7 hits, striking out three with two walks and
two hit batsmen. Saraceno did not allow an earned run and Rob Gray pitched the seventh giving up
a meaningless unearned run to finish out the scoring.
Down 5-1 after one the O's began the come back in the second. After two were out, Mark Knowlton,
Aubrey Doyle, Barry Bennett and Steve Saraceno hit consecutive singles to cut the lead to 5-3.
After a scoreless third the O's struck again in the fourth. With one out, Bunkie Smith and Brendan
Doyle hit back to back doubles to cut the Mariner lead to one. Bob Galvani then tripled to knock
in Doyle and tie the score and Bill Stickney singled to give the O's the lead. Tom Galvani followed
Stickney with a double to close the scoring in the fourth and give the O's a 7-5 lead. The O's added
three more in the sixth on a two run double from Bunkie Smith and an RBI double from Brendan Doyle.
Smith was 3-3 with 3 doubles and two RBI while Brendan Doyle was 2-3 with three RBI to lead the O's.
Tom Galvani and Mark Knowlton also had two hits in game two.
Cubs 4 Cardinals 0, Cubs 2 Cardinals 1
No recaps available yet.
Round 1, 09/07/2003
Orioles 11 Yankees 1
No recap available.
Mariners 6 Indians 3
No recap available.
Cardinals 10 Braves 4
Matt Sandock pitched three just good enough innings to set up another Paul Murphy Pitching Gem.
First inning Card's go down 1,2,3 and the Braves followed with 2 singles to score previously walked
Callaghan.
Cardinals followed in the second with hits by Sandock, Finnegan, Garvin, Masiello, and a run scoring
HBP Hugh Cornwell to set up Howie Simons' 2 RBI Double to left.
Braves Bryson and Mclaughlin both single in the bottom of the second and both score on Card's spirited
game of hot-potatoe. End of Second inning tied 3-3.
Third inning Card's Tim Ryan singles and scores. Braves answer with a 2 out double by Lagos who
eventually scores on Wild Pitch. Shaping up to be a barnburner (whatever that means) at 4-4 after three.
Cardinals bring on Murphy to pitch shutting down the Braves the rest of the way. The only remaining
Braves scoring threat in the seventh inning was cut down by a Trey Garvin Throw from left relayed
From Finnegan to Sandock at home, ending the bid.
Matt Sandock's two run fifth inning Mother of All Bombs scoring Paul Murphy turned out to be the game
winner.
The Cardinals put up a four run eighth inning which included hits by Murphy, Sandock, Finnegan, Run
scoring Masiello and Simon walks, and the Human Target Hugh Cornwell HBP.
Final score Card's 10, Braves 4
This marks the first Playoff win in Cardinals History, which topped off the best winning record in team
history.
Cubs 11 Phillies 4
The Cubs defeated the Phillies 11-4 in a first round playoff game on 9/7. The Phillies jumped to
an early 3-0 lead in the second inning on a HBP to Owen Cunnigham, a single to DiLuzio and a booming
triple to right by Chris Decatur. Chris scored on a Mark Rogers sac fly. Unfortunately for the
Phillies they were only able to muster 1 more hit the rest of the day. The Cubs started their comeback
in the 3rd inning by scoring 2 runs. Peter DiNatale led off with a single but was erased on a fielders
choice off the bat of Andy Luckhardt. Tim Shaver walked. Chris Greig singled home Andy and a Will
Lessard groundout made the score 3-2 after 3 innings.
The Cubs took a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a 5 run outburst. Bruce Diaz led off with a
single. Andy Schultz and Rich Schwarz laid down sac bunts, but both reached base to load the bases
with no outs. Glenn Legault, Dennis Fontecchio and Eddie Murray followed with RBI singles. A Paul
Sonnett RBI groundout followed by an RBI double by Earl Carpenter closed out the inning.
The Cubs scored 4 more times in the 6th. Chris Greig led off with a single and was standing at third
with 2 outs. Bruce Diaz reached on a key error which continued the inning and put the game out of reach.
Andy Schultz and Rich Schwarz singled, followed by a HBP on Glenn Legault. Dennis Fontecchio
(3-3 with 3 RBIs) followed with a 2 run single to close out the scoring for the Cubs.
The Phillies picked up their final run in the top of the 8th on a bases loaded double play grounder to
second base.
Rick Huckins went 6 innings for the Phillies and pitched pretty well but was let down by a few key
errors. Shawn Boardman pitched 2 scoreless innings. For the Cubs, Andy Schultz started and went
3 innings before leaving with leg cramps. Earl Carpenter pitch 4 critical shutout innings while
the Cubs mounted their comeback. Tom Barnes pitched the 8th. Will Lessard and Chris Greig finished the
9th. Will had to leave with an injury to his throwing arm.
There were several great plays made in the outfield during this game. Andy Luckhardt made 2 great
catches in center field for the Cubs robbing Jeff Langan of two hits. The Phillies left fielder made
one of the greatest catches I've ever seen in the bottom of the 7th. Andy Luckhardt hit a bomb to
left and the Phillie left fielder got a great jump going straight back. He made an over the shoulder
catch with his back to the plate. What a play!!!
The Cubs return to the National League Championship for the 7th consecutive season. They will host
the Cardinals in a 10AM double header on Sunday 9/14.