San Francisco/Pittsburgh Playoff Series



The #2 seed San Francisco Giants played the #3 seed Pittsburgh Pirates in a semi-final round best of 7 playoff series. The first two games were to be played in San Francisco, games 3-5 in Pittsburgh, and games 6 and 7 in San Francisco, if necessary. The winner would be playing in the 2001 CBML World Series.



GAME 1
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Inning        1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
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Pittsburgh    3  0  1   0  0  1   1  0  0     6  8  0
San Francisco 0  0  1   0  0  0   0  0  0     1  5  2
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Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh    - Kris Benson
                   San Francisco - Tim Hudson

WP - Kris Benson (1-0)  LP - Tim Hudson (0-1)

E: Pittsburgh    - None
   San Francisco - Tim Hudson 2 (2)

HR: Pittsburgh    - Ryan Klesko (1), Preston Wilson (1), Luis Gonzalez (1)
    San Francisco - Cliff Floyd (1)

INJURIES: Pittsburgh    - None
          San Francisco - Tony Batista - 2 days

Highlights:  A 2-out 3-run HR  by Klesko after a Hudson error in the 1st gave the
             Pirates a lead they would never relinquish.  Benson was strong as he and
             the Pittsburgh bullpen pitched a 5-hitter.


GAME 2 ----------------------------------------------------- Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 San Francisco 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0 ----------------------------------------------------- Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Armando Reynoso San Francisco - Pedro Martinez WP - Pedro Martinez CG (1-0) LP - Armando Reynoso (0-1) E: Pittsburgh - None San Francisco - None HR: Pittsburgh - None San Francisco - Alex Rodriguez (1) INJURIES: Pittsburgh - None San Francisco - Jeff Kent - 2 days Highlights: Pedro Martinez was given a 3-run lead on a 2-out 3-run HR by ARod in the 3rd, and he made it stand up as he pitched a complete game, 7-hit shutout. Martinez struck out 17 in the game.
GAME 3 ----------------------------------------------------- Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------------------------------- San Francisco 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 6 10 0 Pittsburgh 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 7 2 ----------------------------------------------------- Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Cal Eldred Pittsburgh - Sidney Ponson WP - Cal Eldred (1-0) LP - Sidney Ponson (0-1) S - Williamson (1) E: San Francisco - None Pittsburgh - Luis Castillo (1), Richie Sexson (1) HR: San Francisco - Charles Johnson (1), Tony Batista 2 (2) Pittsburgh - None INJURIES: San Francisco - None Pittsburgh - Ryan Klesko - 4 days Highlights: Pittsburgh scored 4 times in the 3rd as Juan Gonzalez, Phil Nevin, and Tim Salmon doubled in the inning. A Batista 3-run shot in the 4th got the Giants close, and HRs by Charles Johnson and Batista in the 6th led the comeback as SF rallied for a 6-5 win. Besides the 3rd inning, Eldred and the SF bullpen gave up only 2 hits.
GAME 4 -------------------------------------------------------- Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E -------------------------------------------------------- San Francisco 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 5 12 0 Pittsburgh 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 6 12 1 -------------------------------------------------------- Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Tim Hudson Pittsburgh - Kris Benson WP - LaTroy Hawkins (1-0) LP - Scott Williamson (0-1) E: San Francisco - None Pittsburgh - Luis Gonzalez (1) HR: San Francisco - Ellis Burks (1) Pittsburgh - Phil Nevin (1) INJURIES: San Francisco - None Pittsburgh - None Highlights: Both teams wasted many baserunners in the first 9 innings as the game was tied at 5. In the 10th, Berkman doubled home the go-ahead run, and Williamson entered the game to try to gain the save. Luis Gonzalez led off the bottom of the 10th with a single, and went to third on a Nevin double. Tim Salmon was the star as he knocked in the tying and winning runs with a single.
GAME 5 ----------------------------------------------------- Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------------------------------- San Francisco 3 4 0 6 0 0 2 0 0 15 20 0 Pittsburgh 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 4 8 1 ----------------------------------------------------- Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Chuck Finley Pittsburgh - Dan Reichert WP - Chuck Finley (1-0) LP - Dan Reichert CG (0-1) E: San Francisco - None Pittsburgh - Juan Gonzalez (1) HR: San Francisco - Brad Fullmer (1), Jeff Kent (1), Ellis Burks 2 (3), Alex Rodriguez (2) Pittsburgh - Jay Buhner (1), Juan Gonzalez (1), Phil Nevin (2) INJURIES: San Francisco - None Pittsburgh - None Highlights: Chuck Finley was sent to the mound to face the all-righty Pirates, but the SF offense was the story. The Giants took advantage of shoddy fielding in the 1st by hitting a 3-run HR (Fullmer). HRs by Kent and Burks in the 2nd tired Reichert. The Giants then used fatigue hits, infield in hits, wild pitches, and passed balls to scored 6 times in the 4th to put the game away. Finley pitched a amazingly strong 7 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Burks was 5-5 with 2 HRs, and 4 runs scored to lead the Giants.
GAME 6 ----------------------------------------------------- Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 4 10 0 San Francisco 0 0 0 2 6 0 0 0 - 8 13 1 ----------------------------------------------------- Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Sidney Ponson San Francisco - Pedro Martinez WP - Pedro Martinez (2-0) LP - Sidney Ponson (0-2) E: Pittsburgh - None San Francisco - Tony Batista (1) HR: Pittsburgh - Richie Sexson (1), Luis Gonzalez (2) San Francisco - Tony Batista GS (3) INJURIES: Pittsburgh - None San Francisco - None Highlights: The Giants scored twice in the 4th, and 6 times in the 5th, and Pedro Martinez coasted to a complete game 8-4 win. PJ tired in the 7th, but the 8-run lead was more than enough to win the game and the series. SERIES MVP: Ellis Burks -- 11-23, 3 HR, 8 runs scored, 7 RBIs HONORABLE MENTION: Tony Batista -- 9-18, 3 HRs, including a grand slam.