Game 7: Wainwright vs. Kazmir
Here it is...could history be made? No team has EVER come back down three games to none in the World Series. Stopper Adam Wainwright makes his third start of the series for St. Louis. Manager Justin Ryan didn't know who would start game 7, even one hour prior to the game. His three options were Jesse Chavez, who pitched in relief earlier in the series. Jeff Samardzjia, who pitched game 1 and 4. Or lefty veteran Scott Kazmir, who started game 5, on short rest. Kazmir got the ball and vote of confidence from his manager. The understanding was to leave nothing behind. Give as much as you can, and not to worry, everyone was available behind him.
Picking up the action in the top of the 3rd...two out, after a single and stolen bagger from Peter Bourjos...John Jay fires the opening shot through the right side...1-0 Birds.
Meanwhile...Adam Wainwright, making his manager look like a prince. Perfect through the first five innings, he is just mowing down the A's.
Top 6...Kazmir has given all that could be asked of him...he comes out for another inning of work, and gives up a leadoff single to Jhonny Peralta. Ryan gets the hook, as after 5+ innings, and 83 pitches, Kazmir is done, and leaves to a standing ovation after that gutty performance. On comes Drew Pomeranz again...Matt Adams immediately greets him with a single, putting runners on second and third. Runners on 2nd and third now, one out...rookie 2B Kolten Wong up...from the dugout, comes a pivotal play in this game. Pomeranz pitches out, and the suicide squeeze was on...Peralta was a dead Red Bird, trying to steal home. What a call! The crowd went bananas...but not for long. Well...if you can't bunt, swing away...Wong does, and singles to right, scoring Adams from 2nd...2 to zip. You can hear the air coming out of the A's sails.
Meanwhile in the home 6th and...a leadoff walk to DH Derek Norris, but the no-no is still alive. Two out...runner on second...Coco Crisp has seen enough...RBI single breaks up the no hitter and cuts the lead to 2-1.
Fast forward to the bottom of the 7th, still 2-1 Cardinals...Adam Wainwright still working...deep into this game. Donaldson leads off with a double to left, but the ace Wainwright gets the next two A's. With a runner on third and two out, catcher Stephen Vogt is intentionally walked, curious maneuver putting men on the corners. Manager Justin Ryan was microphoned up by FOX in the dugout, and was heard saying this: "They may regret this!". Down 0-2 in the count, DH and Oakland A's post season hero Derek Norris sends a patented Wainwright 12-6 curveball over the wall...he hung it...it never broke! The fans go absolutely ape shit and Norris rounds the bags, and receives a curtain call! 4-2 Oakland through 7!
To the top 8...Pomeranz still on, gives up a leadoff walk. Justin Ryan brings in power lefty Fernando Abad...and well, he was bad. Surrendering a double and a walk...we have a 4-3 game here as he tight ropes through the inning. What a nail biter.
You know it's game 7 of a World Series when out of the pen for St Louis, comes starter Lance Lynn. Working around a single, he works a scoreless 8th, down by a run, headed to the 9th.
Closer Sean Doolittle comes out from the pen to save it, and bring a World Series championship to Oakland...not so fast. Still wired up, Justin Ryan is heard saying: "I don't think this will be easy..". You'd think Justin Ryan was into prediction...maybe he should forecast weather or something. Anyway...After a groundout to start the inning, St. Louis works back to back singles off the Oakland closer. 1 out, two men on...Justin Ryan darts out of the bullpen for lefty specialist Eric O'Flaherty.
Three and two the count...one out...two men on...bottom 9...O'Flaherty deals...here's the call from Joe Buck: "The 3-2...SLIDER....STRUCK HIM OUT...HE STRUCK HIM OUT! THE BIGGEST PITCH OF HIS CAREER, NOW THE CARDS DOWN TO THEIR LAST OUT!".
Justin Ryan races out from the dugout again, signaling for the lefty...Game 1 and 5 starter, Jeff Samadzjia....WOW.
On pins and needles...another full count, against Matt Holliday, we pick up the call from Oakland's home radio broadcast. "Jeff looks off...I know it's all hands on deck, but he is wild and all over the place. The full count offering.....SWING AND A MISS! FASTBALL AT HIS EYES...99 MPH! HISTORY! HISTORY! OAKLAND WINS OAKLAND WINS! HISTORY IS MADE! No team has ever come from three games down to win the World Series...until tonight!".
A's win Series 4-3
--submitted by Justin Ryan--
Here it is...could history be made? No team has EVER come back down three games to none in the World Series. Stopper Adam Wainwright makes his third start of the series for St. Louis. Manager Justin Ryan didn't know who would start game 7, even one hour prior to the game. His three options were Jesse Chavez, who pitched in relief earlier in the series. Jeff Samardzjia, who pitched game 1 and 4. Or lefty veteran Scott Kazmir, who started game 5, on short rest. Kazmir got the ball and vote of confidence from his manager. The understanding was to leave nothing behind. Give as much as you can, and not to worry, everyone was available behind him.
Picking up the action in the top of the 3rd...two out, after a single and stolen bagger from Peter Bourjos...John Jay fires the opening shot through the right side...1-0 Birds.
Meanwhile...Adam Wainwright, making his manager look like a prince. Perfect through the first five innings, he is just mowing down the A's.
Top 6...Kazmir has given all that could be asked of him...he comes out for another inning of work, and gives up a leadoff single to Jhonny Peralta. Ryan gets the hook, as after 5+ innings, and 83 pitches, Kazmir is done, and leaves to a standing ovation after that gutty performance. On comes Drew Pomeranz again...Matt Adams immediately greets him with a single, putting runners on second and third. Runners on 2nd and third now, one out...rookie 2B Kolten Wong up...from the dugout, comes a pivotal play in this game. Pomeranz pitches out, and the suicide squeeze was on...Peralta was a dead Red Bird, trying to steal home. What a call! The crowd went bananas...but not for long. Well...if you can't bunt, swing away...Wong does, and singles to right, scoring Adams from 2nd...2 to zip. You can hear the air coming out of the A's sails.
Meanwhile in the home 6th and...a leadoff walk to DH Derek Norris, but the no-no is still alive. Two out...runner on second...Coco Crisp has seen enough...RBI single breaks up the no hitter and cuts the lead to 2-1.
Fast forward to the bottom of the 7th, still 2-1 Cardinals...Adam Wainwright still working...deep into this game. Donaldson leads off with a double to left, but the ace Wainwright gets the next two A's. With a runner on third and two out, catcher Stephen Vogt is intentionally walked, curious maneuver putting men on the corners. Manager Justin Ryan was microphoned up by FOX in the dugout, and was heard saying this: "They may regret this!". Down 0-2 in the count, DH and Oakland A's post season hero Derek Norris sends a patented Wainwright 12-6 curveball over the wall...he hung it...it never broke! The fans go absolutely ape shit and Norris rounds the bags, and receives a curtain call! 4-2 Oakland through 7!
To the top 8...Pomeranz still on, gives up a leadoff walk. Justin Ryan brings in power lefty Fernando Abad...and well, he was bad. Surrendering a double and a walk...we have a 4-3 game here as he tight ropes through the inning. What a nail biter.
You know it's game 7 of a World Series when out of the pen for St Louis, comes starter Lance Lynn. Working around a single, he works a scoreless 8th, down by a run, headed to the 9th.
Closer Sean Doolittle comes out from the pen to save it, and bring a World Series championship to Oakland...not so fast. Still wired up, Justin Ryan is heard saying: "I don't think this will be easy..". You'd think Justin Ryan was into prediction...maybe he should forecast weather or something. Anyway...After a groundout to start the inning, St. Louis works back to back singles off the Oakland closer. 1 out, two men on...Justin Ryan darts out of the bullpen for lefty specialist Eric O'Flaherty.
Three and two the count...one out...two men on...bottom 9...O'Flaherty deals...here's the call from Joe Buck: "The 3-2...SLIDER....STRUCK HIM OUT...HE STRUCK HIM OUT! THE BIGGEST PITCH OF HIS CAREER, NOW THE CARDS DOWN TO THEIR LAST OUT!".
Justin Ryan races out from the dugout again, signaling for the lefty...Game 1 and 5 starter, Jeff Samadzjia....WOW.
On pins and needles...another full count, against Matt Holliday, we pick up the call from Oakland's home radio broadcast. "Jeff looks off...I know it's all hands on deck, but he is wild and all over the place. The full count offering.....SWING AND A MISS! FASTBALL AT HIS EYES...99 MPH! HISTORY! HISTORY! OAKLAND WINS OAKLAND WINS! HISTORY IS MADE! No team has ever come from three games down to win the World Series...until tonight!".
A's win Series 4-3
--submitted by Justin Ryan--
