Recap of 1993 N.L. Championship Series Replay

Prior to the series, I was expecting this game to go 6-7 games, and why not? Both teams in real life went 6 games, both have strengths in many areas, while both have versatile teams. So it was quite a surprise when the Philadelphia Phillies were making quick work of the Atlanta Braves in Games 1-thru-3... It was so bad, if you told me that we would get this series back to a competitive one, and all tied up, I would have told you that you were crazy.

The Braves looked lousy, while totaling 9 hits in the first 3 games combined. The Phillies' John Kruk, at one point had 6 hits through Games 1-2, while the Braves only had 5 hits!

So a quick recap...

Game 4 was looking much the same, the Phillies jumped out early on John Smoltz, scoring 4 runs in the 2nd inning, making it a short night for Smoltzie. Down 4-1, with 2 outs during the bottom of the 4th, Fred McGriff would hit a grounder to rookie Kevin Stocker, who bobbled it, as McGriff reached safely on a error. Terry Pendleton followed with a single, then David Justice clobbered a three-run home run off Danny Jackson to suddenly make it a 4-4 tie.

That wacky Game 4 would go on to see 5 lead changes, while both teams had leads of 3+ runs at one point. Phillies with their 4-0 lead after the top of the 2nd, while the Braves led 8-5 after 4 innings -- That Braves' 8-5 lead was the first lead Atlanta had all series. It would be an 8th inning RBI single by Ron Gant off of Philadelphia reliever Larry Andersen during the bottom of the 8th that would, along with Greg McMichael's 9th inning save, secure Atlanta's first victory.

The next night, both Curt Schilling (Grade C-XZ) and Steve Avery (Grade B-YZ) provided strong pitching performances for the ball clubs. Avery's big mistake was the two-run homer by Pete Incaviglia during the 2nd inning. Schilling would exit after 7 innings (5 H, 1 ER, 8 K, no walks). Schilling was still a Grade C-XZ, if he stayed in and pitched a scoreless 8th, than he would have had a grade advancement to Grade B-XZ, but felt going to David West (Grade A*-XYW) with a 2-1 lead in the 8th was the better decision. West would do his part, by striking out pinch-hitter Sid Bream and Ron Gant....

Mitch Williams, doing his part? Not so much. Bottom of the 9th, Williams would allow a lead-off single to Fred McGriff, followed by a game-tying RBI triple by David Justice. Still with no outs, Terry Pendleton delivers the walk-off win.

Curt Schilling was only 6 outs away from probably earning the 1993 NLCS Most Valuable Player Award, in which he would have been 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA, 18 strikeouts & 4 walks through 16 innings of work. It should be noted that Schilling actually won that award in real life.

The walk-off win set up the Braves to have their ace Greg Maddux pitch in Game 6. The Phillies' Tommy Greene showed he was no slouch, by going 8 innings, striking out 11 Braves, while only allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs & 2 walks.

The only problem was that Maddux was even better, allowing only 2 hits & 1 earned run (during the 9th), while striking out 7, walking 4. The Phillies' bats could only manage 2 hits, both by Dave Hollins. The Braves' David Justice padded the Braves 3-0 lead with his 3rd HR of the series, a solo home run during the 4th inning. Game 6 would be the first game that John Kruk did not log a hit, he has 10 hits this series, batting .526 while he has reached base on 6 walks as well.

One more thing, the Braves have John Smoltz (Grade B-X) as a bullpen option if need-be, up to this point in his career, Smoltz has never come out of the bullpen since being called up by the Braves in 1988. Smoltz only pitched 2 innings in Game 4, four days ago (3 days rest).

So it all comes down to this, after the Braves trailed 0-3, the series is tied 3-3.


Game 7 - Christmas Day