After closing out the first half in pitiful fashion, the Cavemen came into this series looking for revenge. Would the Pelicans inflict further damage on the Neanderthals playoff hopes or would the Cavemen bounce back ?

Schilling vs Miller (60's and clear)
Wade Miller got the starting nod for the home team and pitched in and out of trouble the first 2 innings. Derek Jeter lead off the 3rd with a single to left and came in to score on a bases loaded wild pitch. Miller then intentionally walked Ventura and induced an inning ending doubleplay grounder off the bat of Jason Kendall. Raphael Palmeiro lead off the 4th with solo blast to rightfield (where else), and the game was tied 1-1. Over the next 3 innings Miller only allowed 1 baserunner and with 2 out in the bottom of the 6th Palmeiro struck again with his second solo homer of the game. In the 9th, the Pelicans pinch hitter Ricky Ledee drew a leadoff walk to give the visitors hope. Sean Casey grounded out, but moved Magruder (pinch runner) over to second base. Sasaki was then called upon and retired Vina and Zaun to secure the much needed 2-1 victory.

Pelicans 001 000 000 1 6 0
Cavemen 000 101 00X 2 6 0

Pelicans Data
Pitching - Schilling 7 2/3 (L), Plesac 1/3
Catching - Kendall 8
HR - None
SB - None
CS - Suzuki
Inj - None
Eject - None
Limits Used - Zaun 1 ABR

Cavemen Data
Pitching - Miller 8 1/3 (W), Sasaki 2/3 (S)
Catching - Hernandez 9
HR - Palmeiro 2
SB - None
CS - None
Eject - None
Inj - None
Limits Used - None

Pelicans Ineligibles - Please check with Notch. He gave me the list, but I can't find it.
Cavemen Ineligibles - Broussard, Coomer, Dempster, Davis, Inge, Lane, Stinnett.

.

Vazquez vs Hudson (80's, clear)
The Neanderthals drew first blood in this one. Rollins lead off the first with a double. Rollins then stole second and Kingsale struck out for zillionth time this season. Sheffield hit a seemingly harmless groundball, but Jeter misplayed it and the flood gates opened up. Green and Palmeiro drew back to back walks before Polanco struck out. With the bases loaded and 2 out, Damian Jackson delivered with a 2 run single and the neanderthals had themselves an early 3-0 lead. The Pelicans struck back with 2 runs in the 4th thanks to rbi singles from Griffey and Vina. The Pelicans sent Hudson to the showers in the 5th, scoring 3 more. The key hits were an rbi double from Suzuki and a 2 out 2 run homer from Ventura. Trailing 5-3 in the 7th the Cavemen struck back with a pinch hit homer from Matt Stairs to cut the lead to 5-4. Meanwhile the bullpen keep the birds at bay and kept it a 1 run game going into the bottom of the 9th. Kim was called upon to close it out and he retired Jackson and D. Young to start the 9th. With the neanderthals down to their last strike, pinch hitter Ochoa kept the game alive with a double to centerfield. Jimmy Rollins (who hit more first half homers than Bonds) then doubled Ochoa home to tie the game 5-5.

Both bullpens were stellar in the first two extra frames. The Pelicans had their best shot in the 12th with 2 on and 1 out. Sasaki struck out Burrell and Ventura back to back to end the threat. Esteban Yan loaded the bases with walks in the bottom of the 12th. With 2 outs, Polanco delivered with his first base hit of the game to win the marathon 6-5.

Pelicans 000 230 000 000 5 11 2
Cavemen 300 000 101 001 6 10 0

Pelicans Data
Pitching - Vazquez 7, Plesac 1/3, Hasegawa 2/3, Kim 2, Yan 2 (L)
Catching - Zaun 7, Blanco 5
HR - Ventura
SB - None
CS - Vina
Inj - None
Eject - None
Limits Used - Zaun 1 abr and 1 abl, Merloni 1 abr

Cavemen Data
Pitching - Hudson 4 2/3, Rincon 2 1/3, Koplove 2, Crudale 2, Sasaki 1 (W)
Catching - Hernandez 10, Walbeck 2
HR - Stairs
SB - Rollins
CS - None
Inj - None
Eject - None
Limits Used - None

.

A capacity crowd was ready with brooms in hand as the neanderthals looked to avenge the Pelicans first half ending sweep.

Ortiz vs Padilla (50's, clear)
Padilla looked sharp early on in his first start for the Cavemen. Unfortunately that didn't last too long. Ken, I always kill the Cavemen Griffey, hit a clutch 2 out single in the third to make 2-0 Pelicans. The Cavemen quickly struck back with a 2 out rbi single from Sheffield in the bottom of the third. In the 5th the Cavemen started a 2 out rally with a double from Polanco. Sheffield drove him home with a single to left, but was thrown out on the cutoff throw to end the inning. The Pelicans loaded the bases with 1 out in the 7th and Chad Zerbe was called on to replace Padilla. Griffey (who else) then drove home Ortiz with a sac fly to right to put the Pelicans back on top, 3-2. Ortiz was dominating as always against the Cavemen and even chipped in 2 hits and scored twice. Plesac came on with the bases empty and 2 out in the 8th. Shawn Green greeted him with a scorching liner to right. Unfortunately, Suzuki plays rightfield for the Pelicans and had no trouble tracking it down. Plesac came back to pitch the 9th with the Pelicans clinging to a 3-2 lead. Palmeiro ripped a line drive to right, but guess what ? Suzuki caught this one too. After that Ochoa grounded out and Kingsale struck out to end the ballgame. The Pelicans took the 3-2 win, refusing to be swept.

Pelicans 002 000 100 3 8 0
Cavemen 001 010 000 2 6 0

Pelicans Data
Pitching - Ortiz 7 2/3 (W), Plesac 1 1/3 (S)
Catching - Kendall 7, Blanco
HR - None
SB - Suzuki
CS - None
Inj - None
Eject - None
Limits Used - None

Cavemen Data
Pitching - Padilla 6 1/3 (L), Zerbe 1 2/3, Crudale 1
Catching - Walbeck 9
HR - None
SB - None
CS - None
Inj - None
Eject - None
Limits Used - None