The 2001 "WHAT IF" WORLD SERIES between the Oakland Athletics & Arizona Diamondbacks: I'm not sure if Oakland was already starting to daydream about their victory parade, but the Arizona Diamondbacks quickly eclipsed those thoughts.
The D-Backs sent Miguel Batista out to the mound for GAME 3, with Erubiel Durazo playing DH & David Dellucci playing rightfield (Finley started Games 1 & 2 in center, Sanders moves from right to center).
The shake-up pays off, the D-Backs jump all over Oakland in the first by loading up the bases, Mark Grace's sac fly would score the first run -- Durazo, batting 6th would hit a three-run homer off of Barry Zito; Oakland gets two runs back in bottom-half of inning, but that would be the trend of the game... D-Backs would score, and Oakland would cut lead in half, but just couldn't keep up.
The closest Oakland got was in the bottom of the 5th, with 2 outs, Arizona decided to intentionally walk Jason Giambi to face Eric Chavez instead... the gamble pays off with Chavez striking out.
Mark Grace and David Dellucci (3-for-5, a triple short of cycle) would each homer, later on... Batista was far from perfect (4 ER's in 6 innings of work with 7 hits & 3 walks allowed) would earn the win; Zito on the other hand, stunk it up (3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 ER) with 5 K's & 3 walks). Final score: D-BACKS 8, A's 4
GAME 4 -- A rematch between Game 1 starters, Randy Johnson (ARI) and Tim Hudson (OAK).
Luis Gonzalez hits his 3rd HR of the series with a solo shot in the 1st Inning; Matt Williams would add a solo HR of his own in the 2nd Inning (1st hit of the series & moved to the 7th slot prior to game, move pays off).
The "Big Unit" was in complete control, silencing Oakland's bats, allowing only 1 hit, with 9 K's & 4 walks in a complete game shutout; Tim Hudson would get the loss with 7 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs & 5 hits, 3 K's.
Luis Gonzalez would hit HR #4 of the series off of reliever Jim Mecir later; Jason Giambi on the other side has been silent this series (for most part): 2-for-12 with HR & double.
SERIES TIED 2-2; Now Arizona has a huge decision to make, instead of saving Schilling & R.Johnson for Games 6 & 7, or do they pitch Schilling with 3 days rest for Game 5, now that they have momentum? If they do, it will be Schilling, Batista & R.Johnson for that last three starts.. if not, they pitch Brian Anderson for Game 5 & save the big two for last.
Decisions, decisions...
This is why you get paid the big bucks! ;-)
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