Flashback Fridays

On the heels of Matt Cain's perfect game against the Houston Astros, today we look back at another great game thrown against Houston. The date was May 6th, 1998. My Astros were taking on the Chicago Cubs and some rookie I'd never heard of. Kerry Wood? Wood entered the game with a record of 2-2 and an ERA of 5.89. Nothing special, so I didn't pay the game much mind thinking it likely that my guys (who would win 102 games in 1998), would make short work of the Cubbies behind the arm of our opening day starter, Shane Reynolds. I mean, this was one of the best Astro teams we ever had: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Moises Alou, Derek Bell... In the end, if not for Kevin Brown and the San Diego Padres, Houston likely would've been headed on their first ever trip to the World Series, but that's another story.

Photo Credit: espn.go.com

On this May day, Wood faced a lineup of Craig Biggio, Derek Bell, Jeff Bagwell, Jack Howell, Moises Alou, Dave Clark, Ricky Gutierrez, Brad Ausmus and Shane Reynolds. Little did the 15,758 fans in attendance know they were about to witness something historic. Wood struck out the first 5 Astros he faced setting the tone in what would be a long day for Houston hitters. Only a Ricky Gutierrez infield single to lead off the third, and a hit batsman (Craig Biggio) with two outs in the sixth kept Wood from perfection. Wood would strike out the side in the 7th and 8th and finished the game off by fanning Derek Bell in the 9th to tie the major league record of 20 strikeouts in a single game and capping off a 1-hit shutout and a 2-0 win. Wood's final line: 9 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 20 strikeouts. Wood allowed only 2 balls to get hit out of the infield (both flyouts) and threw 84 of his 122 pitches for strikes in the win, and struck out every Astro to set foot in the batter's box. It is thought to be one of the greatest games EVER pitched. The Astros 3, 4 and 5 hitters (Bagwell, Howell and Alou) combined to go 0 for 9 with 9 strikeouts. Not a bad day for a rookie.

Photo Credit: thenbr.wordpress.com

While much of Wood's career would be marred by injuries, few will ever forget just how good he was before his arm started acting up. Wood retired on May 18th of this year after fittingly striking out the only batter he faced (Dayán Viciedo of the Chicago White Sox).

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Flashback Fridays

Photo Credit: nba.com

Today we look back at Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. The Knicks had eliminated the Pacers in both the 1993 and 1994 postseasons, and the matchup had turned into quite a rivalry. Game 1 of the '95 series was a back and forth affair, but the Knicks appeared to have them match in hand late in the 4th quarter leading 105-99. Unfortunately for the Knicks, it was 'Miller Time.' Indiana had the ball at halfcourt with just 18.7 seconds to play and the inbounds pass went straight to Pacers star Reggie Miller who buried a three pointer in John Starks' face. New York went to inbound the ball, but Anthony Mason fell down and the inbounds pass was stolen by Miller who took a step back and buried a second consecutive three-pointer to tie the game at 105. 

Still, the Knicks had their opportunities to close out Indiana. John Starks was fouled on the ensuing possession and went to the free throw line. A career 77% free throw shooter, the odds were in New York's favor, but Starks missed both free throws. The Knicks' nightmare continued when the rebound of the second miss was grabbed by Knicks center Patrick Ewing, but he promptly clanged a 10-footer and Miller, of all people, grabbed the rebound and was fouled, leaving the Knicks and Madison Square Garden in utter shock. The reliable Miller drained both free throws giving him 8 points in a span of 8.9 seconds and putting the Pacers ahead 107-105. The Knicks collapse was completed a few seconds later when point guard Greg Anthony fell down while driving to the basket as time ran out giving the Pacers and unlikely Game 1 win on the road. The Pacers would go on to win the series in 7 games cementing Reggie Miller's place in history as one of the NBA's great clutch performers. 

Photo Credit: faniq.com

Miller finished with 31 points in the game, but it was Rik Smits, the Dunkin' Dutchman, who led all scorers with 34. John Starks led 7 Knicks in double figures with 21.

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Flashback Fridays

We're starting a new segment on the blog this week called Flashback Fridays where we look back on past sports events and figures and sort of pay a tribute to them. I can't take 100% of the credit for coming up with this idea as my muse, aka my loving wife, was really the inspiration here, but I like the idea so we're going to run with it. So without further ado, we're going to kick off Flashback Fridays with a look back at Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

Photo Credit: theemblemsource.com

The 1991 World Series pitted the AL West Champion Minnesota Twins (yes, once upon a time, the Twins were in the AL West) against the NL West Champion Atlanta Braves (hey, if the Falcons could play in the NFC West, why not the Braves in the NL West). After six games, four of them decided by just one run, the two clubs found themselves deadlocked at 3 games apiece setting up a 7th Game showdown between aces Jack Morris and John Smoltz.

Photo Credit: baseballprospectus.com

Morris was starting his third game of the World Series having won Game 1 against Charlie Leibrandt, and having outpitched the 24 year old Smoltz in Game 4 only to have his bullpen blow a 2-1 lead. Morris ensured the Twins bullpen wouldn't be a factor in Game 7 though. The 15 year veteran,whom Smoltz had grown up idolizing as a kid in Michigan, was absolutely sensational throwing ten - not a typo - scoreless innings against the Braves allowing just 7 hits and 2 walks and fanning 8. It has to be one of the greatest Game 7 pitching performances in World Series history.

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Smoltz was no slouch either throwing 7 1/3 scoreless himself before giving way to Mike Stanton in the 8th, but the game would be decided in the 10th inning, the third game of the series to end in extra innings. Twins leadoff hitter Dan Gladden, mullet and all, legged out a bloop double to start the bottom of the 10th off of Alejandro Peña. AL Rookie of Year Chuck Knoblauch would sacrifice Gladden to third, and then after intentional walks to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek, pinch hitter Gene Larkin would deliver a fly ball single to left field to score the game's only run and give Minnesota their second World Series title in five years. It was Larkin's only RBI of the series.

Photo Credit: nytimes.com

Morris was named the Series MVP allowing just 3 runs in 23 innings of work and capping it off with the 10 inning shutout in Game 7. If you're one of those folks who doesn't think Morris belongs in the Hall, all you have to do is watch Game 7 of the '91 Series.

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