The series opened with Satika leading the Glad division with a 15-15 record and Tupelo right on their heels 1/2 game back at 14-15.   The series winner would take the Glad division lead.

Game One, Game Day 37
Nomar Garciaparra opening the scoring in the 1st inn doubling off Satika starter Derek Lowe.   Nick Johnsons single to cf scored Nomar for a 1-0 Eagles lead.

Consecutive doubles by Santiago and Long in the 4th made for a 2-0 EAgles lead that would be short lived as the Akitas came back in the bottom  of the inn to score 3 runs of their own.  

With two outs in the 4th, Julio Franco singled, Lieberthal walked, and Tatis singled to CF, scoring Franco.   Damon Easley then tripled off Lieter for the winning run.

Santiago would reach 3rd base with 2 outs in the 7th but Ceasar Izturis' diving stop of Andres Galarraga smash would end the inning.

Eagles  100  100  000   2  9  1
Akitas   000  300  000   3  7  0

Pit/Cat:
Tup-  Lieter (L) 6.0,   Cerda 2.0 and Santiago
Sat-  Lowe (W) 8.0,  Wagner (S) 1.0 and Lieberthal

Homeruns:   none either team for series.

Stolen bases: none

Picked off:
Tup-   Soriano by Lowe at 1b.

Inj eject:  none

Montague (N), Shea Stadium,  July day, 80's clear, light wind.

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Game Two,  Game Day 38
Steve Trachsel and Felix Heredia combined for a 2-0 shutout for the Eagles and Akita starter Randy Wolf took a nohitter into the 5th before allowing consecutive hits to Shumpert and Piatt for the Eagles first score.  

Adam Piatt doubled home Terry Shumpert in the 5th for the Eagles first score and Shumpert again in the 9th singled to RF scoring Kevin Mench who had opened the inning with a triple. 

The Akitas threatened in the 8th having runners at 2nd and 3rd with only one out but Heredia came one to retire Franco and Abreu ending the treat.

Eagles   000  010  001   2  7   1
Akitas    000  000  000   0  4   0

Pit/Cat
Tup-  Trachsel (W) 7.1,   Heredia (S) 1.2 and  Barrett 8,  Santiago
Sat-  Wolf   (L) 8.0,  Quantrill 1.0 and  Lieberthal 8, Bard

Homeruns:  none

SB:
Sat-  Abreu

Inj Eject Sus:   none

Vanover (N), Shea Stadium, 90's.cloudy, wind in 10-19

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Game Three, Game Day 39
Ismael Valdes fresh off what will probably be his only All-Star appearance, threw the first pitch of the game high and inside, striking Alfonso Sorianos helmet which brought cheers to jeers from the hometown crowd.   Soriano then stole 2nd base in retaliation and bolted around 3rd, scoring on Garciaparras double to center.    Two batters later, Santiago doubled to left scoring Nomar for a 2-0 lead.    The Eagles would then make it 3-0 with an infuriated Soriano hitting a triple to right with two outs and scoring as he taunted an already shaken Valdes into a throwing error.

The Akitas came back in the bottom of the 3rd to score 2 runs on singles by Abreu and Chipper Jones and a double by Erubiel Durazo.    3-2 Eagles.

Tupelo would have only one baserunner after the 4th inning as Mike Lincoln and Billy Wagner shut down the Birds bats.

Abreu scored on a Sac Fly by Eric Chavez in the 5th to tie the game at 3-3 and then in the 6th, Izturis pinch ran for Lieberthal and scored the winning run on a single by Tony Womack.
The Akitas improve their narrow division leading record to 17-16.

Eagles   210  000  000   2  6  1
Akitas    002  011  00X   4  8  2

Pit/Cat:
Tup-  Haynes (L) 5.2,  Paronto 2.1 and Santiago
Sat-  Valdes 6.0,  Lincoln 2.0, Wagner (S) 1.0 and Lieberthal 6, Bard

HRs:  none

SB's: 
Tup-  Soriano

Inj eject sus:  none

Limits for series:
Tup-  Cerda on roster for all 3 games.
Sat-   none

Laynes crew (L), Shea Stadium, 70's, clear wind light

Stats to follow .......