WORLD SERIES - GAME RECAPS

Game 6 - November 3rd - Arizona 15 New York Yankees 2 - Attendance 49,707.

The largest crowd in Bank One Ballpark history was on hand as Arizona tried to battle back from a 3-2 deficit in games. It didn't take them long either as Yankee starter Andy Pettitte was terrible. Tony Womack led off the first with a double and scored on Danny Bautista's single to give Arizona and starter Randy Johnson a 1-0 lead. In the second, the Arizona bats started their explosion. Matt Williams singled to lead it off and Reggie Sanders doubled. After Jay Bell grounded out, Damian Miller was intentionally walked to load the bases. Johnson then grounded into a fielder's choice, Williams out at home. Womack was up and worked a full count before smacking a 2-run single. Bautista followed with another single and the D'Backs were up 4-0. The fans were pumped as Johnson went to the mound in the 3rd. Although the Yankees loaded the bases, Jorge Posada struck out to end the threat. 

In the Arizona 3rd, records began to fall. After a Greg Colbrunn walk and a Matt Williams double chased Pettitte, Jay Witasick came in and quickly yielded 4 straight Diamondback hits, including an RBI single by Johnson, that gave Arizona a commanding 7-0 lead.  After Womack struck out,  the next four hitters all reached; the score was 12-0 and Yankee fans were leaving in droves.

Three more runs in the fourth made it 15-0 and every Arizona starter had a hit and an RBI. It was an amazing offensive display and the Yankees pretty much threw in the towel, replacing key starters in the 6th inning. Todd Greene and Luis Sojo contributed a double and a single respectively, and the Yankees managed two runs, but that was all Johnson would give up as he cruised and the Yankees suffered their worst World Series loss ever.

The final score

At first glance, this game may appear to be boring, but it was anything but - the fans were great and it was a lot of fun to see New York get spanked - this game gets an 8/10.

Game 7 - November 4th - Arizona 3 New York Yankees 2 - Attendance 49,589.

This was it - the last game of the major league season and the MLB Road Trip's ultimate destination. It turned out to be the best game we had seen on the trip and the first and only major league game to get a 10/10 rating.

Curt Schilling started on 3 days rest against Roger Clemens, and both pitchers were up to the task. Schilling gave up one hit through six innings, that being a 1st-inning double to Paul O'Neill, who was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Clemens was equally good, although Arizona was getting runners on base, they were being stranded, with 5 men left on after 5 innings. 

First pitch

In the 6th, the excitement truly began. Steve Finley led off with a single and Danny Bautista followed with a first-pitch double to the left-center field wall. Finley scored the first run of the game but Bautista was thrown out at third and Clemens got the next two batters.

The fans were excited, but Schilling couldn't hold the lead. Derek Jeter led off the 7th with a single and Paul O'Neill followed with another. It appeared that Schilling was tiring, and after Bernie Williams grounded into a fielder's choice, Tino Martinez singled to right to tie the game. Schilling bore down and got Posada and Shane Spencer to fly out. In the bottom of the 7th, Schilling amazingly was not pinch-hit for. Fans second-guessed Brenly, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Schilling struck out but then Womack singled, sending Clemens from the game. Mike Stanton came in but Womack was caught stealing, ending any real threat.

The last game of the season was down to two innings. Alfonso Soriano led off the 8th and after fouling off 2 0-2 pitches, he launched a splitter over the left field fence, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Schilling remained in the game, striking out Scott Brosius before giving up a single to pinch-hitter David Justice. Finally Brenly came to the mound, and in came Miguel Batista, the game 5 starter. He retired Jeter on a fielder's choice, and then Brenly came to the mound again - the crowd went nuts as Randy Johnson came in, only one day after throwing over 100 pitches. Unbelievable! Johnson induced pinch-hitter Chuck Knoblauch to fly out to end the Yankee 8th, but the damage had been inflicted by Soriano.

It looked like the game was over when Mariano Rivera came in to start the 8th and promptly struck out Luis Gonzalez and Matt Williams. Steve Finley singled, but Bautista also struck out and we were down to one last inning.

Johnson remained in the game and retired Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, and Posada in order. It was down to the last 3 outs for the D'Backs, and Rivera looked sharp as the inning began. But Mark Grace led off with a single to center, and Damian Miller followed with a bunt that Rivera fielded. What followed is probably the most shocking play of the season, as Rivera threw wildly to second and the rally was on. Jay Bell pinch-hit for Johnson and promptly bunted to Rivera, who threw accurately to third to retire David Delucci who was pinch-running for Grace. The tension was incredible as Tony Womack came to bat. After working the count to 2-2 he reached out and pulled the ball down the right-field line. It fell in and pinch-runner Midre Cummings raced around from second to score the tying run. Womack had a double and the winning run was on third. Craig Counsell was up and Rivera promptly plunked him, loading the bases. 

Counsell hit by the pitch as Gonzo watches

Luis Gonzalez was up and the Yankee infield was brought in. Gonzo took the first pitch for a strike as the fans roared for a hit. The next pitch was thrown, Gozno swung, the ball flared over Jeter's head, he ran back but was not even close as the ball fell in and Jay Bell ran home with the World Series winning run, capping one of the greatest games ever played.

The fans went insane as the D'backs piled onto the field in a massive celebration. Schilling and Johnson were named co-MVP's but they both acknowledged that this was a team win, which is was. A great ending to a great season and a great trip.

Jeter walks off as the D'backs celebrate