The two-time defending champions crawled home at 2-9, ready to blow this whole thing up if they had a bad showing against Chico.
Game 1 - Halama vs. Roa
The Jailbirds welcomed Halama back to Kauffman Stadium as a hero, presenting the Elvis Cup co-MVP with his Championship ring, then proceeded to beat him senseless. The Cons opened the game with their biggest inning of the season, matching or beating the TOTAL OFFENSIVE OUTPUT of 8 of their first 11 games by throwing four runs up on the board in the first, highlighted by a two-run single by Todd Hundley. Felipe Lopez singled in the final run of the frame, then belted a two-run homer in the third to make it 6-0 Cons. All the while, the newly-acquired Roa is cruising, taking a two-hit shutout into the 6th, when Chico awoke. Johnny Damon led off the 6th with a home run, and Jason Giambi belted a two-run shot later to make it 6-3. Mizzou answered with two of their own in the bottom of the 6th, and despite another Giambi dinger, the game was in hand - the four-game losing streak was done.
Thespians 000 003 020 5 8 0
Jailbirds 402 002 00x 8 13 0
Thespians:
Pitching - Halama (L) 3, Villone 2.1, Bradford 1.2, Eischen 1
Catching - Piazza 8
Home Runs - Damon (off Roa, 6th inn., 0 on, 0 out), JaGiambi 2 (off Roa 2, 6th inn., 1 on, 1 out; 8th inn., 1 on, 1 out)
Injuries - None
Limits - Mackowiak (4 ABR), Minor (1 ABR)
Jailbirds:
Pitching - Roa W (1-0) 7.1, Soriano SV (1) 1.2
Catching - Hundley 6, Wilson 3
Home Runs - Lopez (1, off Halama, 3rd inn., 1 on, 2 out)
Injuries - None
Limits - Perez (2 ABL)
Night game, 60s, Partly Cloudy, Light Wind, Normal ump
Game 2 - Kevin Millwood vs. Tomokazu Ohka
Against a tough pitcher like Millwood, the Jailbirds' offence reverted to its usual flaccid self, pounding out one whole run (on an Alex Cora RBI triple) while the Thespos had their way with Ohka. An unearned run in the second, two runs in the fourth on another Giambi big fly and Marquis Grissom's second RBI single of the night, and three more in the seventh, capped by a deep drive homer by Johnny Damon, of all people. The Cons got two unearned runs back in the 7th, and were within 6-3, but Grant Roberts throw a doobie on the fire in the ninth, giving up a two-out, three-run homer to Mike Piazza to put it out of reach.
Thespians 010 020 303 9 13 2
Jailbirds 010 000 200 3 8 1
Thespians:
Pitching - Millwood (W) 7, Kim (SV) 2
Catching - Piazza 9
Home Runs - JaGiambi (off Ohka, 4th inn., 0 on, 1 out), Damon (off Ohka, 7th inn., 1 on, 2 out), Piazza (off Roberts, 9th inn., 2 on, 2 out)
Injuries - None
Limits - Mackowiak (1 ABR)
Jailbirds:
Pitching - Ohka L (0-3) 6.2, Rhodes 0.1, Roberts 2
Catching - Wilson 9
Home Runs - None
Injuries - None
Limits - Palmeiro (5 ABR), Cora (3 ABR)
Night game, 60s, Clear, Wind Blowing Right to Left 10-19 MPH, Normal ump
Game 3 - Ryan Rupe vs. Pedro Martinez
What appeared to be an incredible pitching mismatch turned out to be anything but. Under threatening Missouri skies, Shannon Stewart took Rupe deep in the first inning to give the Cons a 1-0 lead, and Pedro made it stand up into the 7th, but Rupe didn't let the Champs add to it, shutting down Mizzou on one hit after the first inning until getting lifted in the 7th for a pinch-hitter. That pinch-hitter was Scott Hatteberg, who drilled a double down the right-field line, beyond the semi-stretched reach of Manny Ramirez, scoring Marquis Grissom (who Pedro has hit with a pitch) and tying the game at ones.
Joey Eischen came on to work the bottom of the inning, and immediately walked pinch-hitter Eduardo Perez. Felipe Lopez ran for him, and went to third on a one-out single by pinch-hitter Todd Hundley. After Pedro struck out, head Thespian Icebox went to his 'pen for Byung-Hyun Kim to face Junior Spivey. But Spivey was called back for Alex Cora, who came off the bench to lash a line single to left to break the tie. In the 8th, Felipe Lopez came through with a clutch two-run single to give the Cons some breathing room that they wouldn't need, because the skies finally opened after that inning to put an end to the proceedings.
Stop the presses - the Jailbirds win a series for the first time this season!!!!!!!!
Thespians 000 000 10x 1 5 0
Jailbirds 100 000 12x 4 7 1
Game called after eight innings; rain
Thespians:
Pitching - Rupe 6, Eischen (L) 0.2, Kim 1.1
Catching - Piazza 8
Home Runs - None
Injuries - None
Limits - None
Jailbirds:
Pitching - P. Martinez W (1-2) 8
Catching - Wilson 7, Hundley 1
Home Runs - Stewart (1, off Rupe, 1st inn., 0 on, 1 out)
Injuries - None
Ejections - Edmonds, 1st inn., arguing called third strike
Limits - Cora (1 ABR)
Day game, 80s, Cloudy, Threatening Skies, Wind Blowing In 10-19 MPH, Normal ump