Redneck Roundup200LCS

In spite of posting a 113-48 record and cruising to a 12 ½ game finish over the second place Pegasus Bay Pirates, the 2000 regular season ended on a tragic note for the Rednecks. In game number 156, while the Rednecks were pounding the Denham Springs Duds in a 19-10 pasting, all-star Tony Gwynn was beaned by a Jason Schmidt fastball and lost to the team for 17 days -- effectively making him ineligible for LCS.

Even more devastating than the loss of Gwynn was the shoulder injury sustained by Boomer Wells on the last day of the regular season. Wells lasted only 1 2/3 innings in what was to be his tune-up against the Dunstable Sticks before walking off the mound with a 7-0 lead. The Rednecks went on to pound out a 10-5 win over the eventual World Series champs; but Wells was lost for 12 days --- the entire LCS.

Wells had posted a 20-7 record with a 3.75 ERA in his 33 starts. Gwynn's season ended with him batting a solid .322 in 381 plate appearances. The combination of the two tragedies spelled doom for the defending world champs.

Game One @ Livingston - Game one of the Spaulding LCS was played over NetMeeting. The Rednecks unleashed their pent-up frustration and Jose Lima tossed a complete-game 4-hitter as the homeboys walloped the Catawba Creek Critters 18-1. Mark Grace led the 23 hit attack with a 5 for 5 night. Edgar Martinez and Deivi Cruz each drove in 5 runs. Cruz hit the game's only homer. Livingston had 5 stolen bases, 5 doubles, and 5 hit-and-run singles off the Catawba trio of Chris Carpenter, Ron Mahay, and Darren Holmes. Tino Martinez doubled home the lone Catawba run.

Game Two @ Livingston - Bernie Williams' dramatic 8th inning 2-run homer off Scott Sullivan earned Catawba a split at Livingston 5-4. Sullivan took the loss and a blown save for starter Bret Saberhagen. Brad Clontz, in relief of Pedro Astacio, got credit for the win and Scott Saurbeck pitched a scoreless 9th for the save. Bernie's blast was the only homer of the game and was his first hit of the series. The Rednecks outhit the Critters 12-11, but squandered several opportunities to put the game away early. The series now moves to Catawba where Jose Rosado will host Curt Schilling in game 3.

Game Three @ Catawba Creek - Curt Schilling pitches into the 7th and Jason Varitek's 2-run HR and Edgar Martinez's and Roberto Kelly's solo shots pace the Rednecks. A 9th inning rally falls 90 feet short as Brocail retires Caminiti.

Game Four @ Catawba Creek - Bernie Williams's HR pushes the Critters to a 5-0 lead after two while chasing Pat Rapp, but the Rednecks get two back on Kenny Lofton's 3rd inning HR off Charles Nagy. Ken Caminiti's PH grand slam off Turk Wendell blows the game open in the 6th and the Critters add four more on 3 HRs in the 7th en route to a 13-2 drubbing of the Rednecks. Series tied at two games each.

Game Five @ Catawba Creek - Kenny Lofton knocks in Rickey Henderson twice and Dave Nilsson and Robin Ventura add solo shots in the 6th to ruin a great performance by Pedro Astacio. Lima goes 7 innings and wins his second of the series. Again, a 9th inning rally falls short for another 4-3 defeat of the Critters. The series returns to Livingston with the Rednecks up 3-2.

Game Six @ Livingston - Bret Boone leads off the third with a solo homer to break up the scoreless duel between Jose Rosado and Brett Saberhagen. The Critters make it 2-0 on a 2-out double by Tom Goodwin in the seventh scoring Gerald Williams. Bernard Gilkey leads off the bottom of the seventh with a ringing double for the Rednecks, spoiling Rosado’s bid for a no-hitter. Turk Wendell and Tim Crabtree blank the Critters over the last two innings, but the Rednecks only manage a pinch-hit homer by Benny Agbayani in the 8^th. Rosado retires Edgar Martinez and fans Gilkey and Grace in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the 2-1 victory and square the series at 3 games each.

Game Seven @ Livingston - An error by Eric Young and Fernando Tatis' 2-run homer off Curt Schilling keyed a 3-run rally in the third. The Critters add another unearned run in the sixth following a throwing error by Dave Nilsson. Schilling allows only 6 hits and 1 earned run in his 8 innings; but Charles Nagy pitches the game of his career, blanking the Rednecks on two singles while fanning 8 and walking 3. The Critters post the 4-0 win and the series victory.

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