KOD10 World Series Game 6: Halos clinch title in see-saw battle vs Dem Bums

10/24 – Ebbets Field

Game 6 – Angels 6, Dodgers 5

Despite facing elimination, the Dodgers liked their chances at home. Billy Loes made his Series debut as the Brooklyn starter, while the Angels answered with their best starter this season Kevin Appier. Bengie Molina doubled home 2 in the top of the 2nd inning to give Anaheim an early 2-0 lead. Loes settled down after that and kept the Angels off the board for another 4 innings. Meanwhile, Appier allowed Brooklyn runners to reach in each inning, but was always able to make the pitch he needed when he needed it. And after 5 and a half innings, it was still 2-0 Anaheim.

Yet despite his being amongst the AL ERA leaders this season, when Carl Furillo singled with 2 outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the 6th inning, Angels manager Douglas Zaner sensed that Appier was near the bottom of his tank. And with the game and the Series on the line, he called on Al Levine from the bullpen. Levine’s performance the entire season had been nothing short of stellar. In 16.1 innings of work over 11 games he had yielded only 8 hits and 6 walks (0.86 WHIP). More importantly and impressive, his ERA was 0.00; he had not allowed a run all season. Which made what followed all the more remarkable:

Gil Hodges greeted Levine with a single, and the Amoros walked to load the bases. Frank Kellert batted for Hoak and walked to force in a run, making the score 2-1 Anaheim. With the bases still loaded and the pitcher’s spot due, up to the dish stepped Moose Moryn. With only 1 AB the entire season and 1 AB in the post-season, even the hometown faithful had to turn to their scorecards to figure out who was at the plate. But by 2 pitches later they all sure knew who he was when he hit a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right centerfield. A Grand Slam. And suddenly the Dodgers, who just 5 batters earlier had 2 outs and nothing happening in their half of the 6th inning, now led 5-2.

If the Halos were shell-shocked, they didn’t let it show.. In the top of the 8th inning with Karl Spooner on in relief for the Dodgers, David Eckstein singled in a run and Tim Salmon hit a sacrifice fly to pull the visitors within 1. The score was now 5-4 and the Bums were just 3 outs away from sending the Series to a seventh game. Clem Labine came on to close it out.

But Scott Spiezio opened the inning with a walk and Glaus did the same. Labine did manage to find the plate with the next hitter Adam Kennedy. But he slapped the ball into right field for a single loading the bases. The Angels now had 3 tries to tie the game, and turned to their excellent corps of pinch hitters to do it. Jose Molina grounded to Labine, who threw home to force Spiezio. Amazingly, the next pinch hitter Shawn Wooten did the exact same thing, forcing Glaus at the plate. In each instance the Dodgers failed to complete the double play at 1st base. Nevertheless, Brooklyn now stood 1 out away from a bases-loaded, no outs Great Escape. The only thing standing between them and Game 7 was the next batter, 5’7’’ David Eckstein, who promptly lined a single to left field scoring 2 runs, giving Anaheim a 6-5 lead. Troy Percival gave up a 1-out single in the bottom of the 9th. But that as all the Dodgers could muster. And when Jim Gilliam grounded out a few minutes later, the 2002 Anaheim Angels were KOD10 champions.

The Series MVP award was shared between David Eckstein, who led the Halos with 7 RBIs, all of which were achieved when they counted the most, in Angels’ wins, and Troy Percival who was successful 3 times in protecting a 1-run or 2-run lead in the 9th inning against the potent Dodgers lineup. Without these two, the Series could have very easily ended in a 4 game Brooklyn sweep. But instead, Gene Autry could finally ride off slowly into the sunset knowing that his Angles had finally found Heaven.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--