2001 'WHAT IF' World Series - Arizona at Oakland (Game 5)

Not to be forgotten by the recent 1975 World Series 'WHAT IF' Series... We still have another series to report... The 2001 'WHAT IF' World Series, if Oakland got past the Yankees (Minus miraculous Derek Jeter play) to face Arizona.

Oakland won the first two games of the series on the road, in which Arizona turned around and done the same deal to Oakland in Games 3 & 4, by winning on the road -- tying up the series, 2-2.

Oakland Colliseum may not be taking any beauty pageant awards home soon, but it is home-field advantage none the less & they can try and break this visitors-winning mode, by winning the pivotal Game 5.

GAME 5 (at Oakland)

Arizona sends out Brian Anderson, saving Curt Schilling for Game 6 & Randy Johnson for Game 7 (if necessary) -- Miguel Batista pitched recently in Game 3 & Randy pitched Game 4. The only problem is Anderson is a APBA Grade D-RZ & will have his work cut out for him; While Arizona is basically a 1-2 punch in "Schill" & the "Big Unit" -- Oakland supports a full Grade B rotation, and sends out Cory Lidle (Grade B-YZ).

The game starts off with Craig Counsell hitting a fly to center, but Johnny Damon suddenly misjudges the fly, and the ball drops out of his glove... Counsell is aboard first, on the Damon error. Jay Bell would advance the runner to second on a ground out, while big Luis Gonzalez, with 4 homer runs already in the World Series, strikes out for out number two. Reggie Sanders follows through with an RBI single to right; Erubiel Durazo flies to left for third out. D-Backs strike first with 1-0 lead.

Oakland doesn't stay silent for long, as they answer with a Miguel Tejada game-tying, one-out solo homer in the bottom of the 1st. Jason Giambi draws a walk, followed by a Eric Chavez double, to give Oakland runners on 2nd & 3rd -- setting up a RBI single in which Jason is knocked in by his brother Jeremy Giambi (DH), to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.

Damian Miller for Arizona.

Oakland would add to their lead in the 2nd Inning with RBI singles by both Jason Giambi & Eric Chavez -- making it a early, 4-1 lead for the Athletics.

Top of the 4th -- Cory Lidle would get himself into some trouble... Erubiel Durazo draws a one-out walk, followed by a Mark Grace single. Matt Williams, batting 7th, hits a RBI single to right to score in Durazo; Steve Finley flies to right for second out. Damian Miller entered the game, batting ninth, and was only hitting .133 in the series (2-for-15), singled earlier in the 2nd Inning & would smack a two-run double into the right-center gap, tying the game at 4-4. Craig Counsell would follow play with a single to right, but Miller would force his way to home, to get thrown out by Jermaine Dye's throw for final out of the inning.

The game would remain scoreless for the next 4 full innings. the Diamonbacks have successfully been rolling out relievers with successful results after Brian Anderson's short 2 innings of work (7 hits, 4 ER's allowed) --  in Greg Swindell (3.1 innings), Mike Morgan (1.1 innings) & Troy Brohawn (.1 Innings).

Top of the 9th, Mark Grace would lead off by reaching second on a throwing error by Oakland reliever Mike Magnante, but the next three batters Matt Williams, Steve Finley & Damian Miller would fail to get him home.

Bottom of the 9th, Arizona rookie reliever Bret Prinz on the mound, gets the lead-off man Miguel Tejada to ground out to short to start the inning. The dangerous Jason Giambi would step to the plate, after reaching base all four times tonight (two walks, two singles & an RBI); Giambi hits a double. Eric Chavez, hitting cleanup & 2-for-4 with a double & RBI steps into the box... He entered the game, 3-for-16... Prinz hangs one, and Chavez sends this one to deep center -- GONE!! A Walk-off homer run for "Chavvy"!

Oakland wins a close game, despite having twice as many hits as Arizona (14 to 7), they left many men on base & hit into a few double plays in the process... but they battled through and won the pivotal Game 5; Chavez doubled his series hits totals to a grand total of 6 now, lifting that batting average from .188 to .286 -- he also has 2 HR & 6 RBI now as well.

Chavez watches the ball sail over the center field wall.

This series now goes back to Arizona for Game 6 with the Oakland Athletics leading this 'WHAT IF' 2001 World Series, 3 games-to-2... Arizona will call on Curt Schilling for Game 6 & hope he can make the relay to Randy Johnson for a possible Game 7; Oakland will send Mark Mulder to the mound.