Day 64 -- Valdes v. Schilling
More hijinks involving a Schilling start, instead of a rain delay or an ejection though, this one saw him injure his elbow after facing two batters.

Terry Mulholland saved the day, pitching 5.1 shutout innings in relief as the Akitas refused to switch the half of their team platooned to face Schilling, and the Pelican offense provided a balanced attack throughout the lineup and the game as they took the first one against the Foofy Dogs.

SA 000 000 100 -- 1 6 1
NO 200 101 02X -- 6 12 0

Akitas info:
Pitching -- Valdes (L) 6 IP, Lincoln 2
Catching -- Varitek 8
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- Biggio (hand injury) out until Day 67
Limits -- N/A

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Schilling 0 IP, Mulholland (W) 5.1, Plesac .2, Mecir 2, Lyon 1
Catching -- Piazza 9
HR -- Piazza (1 on, 2 out in 1st)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- Schilling (arm injury) out this game only
Limits -- Infante % and 1 AB v. R

.

Day 65 -- Fossum v. Ortiz
Pelicans baseball done right. Excellent starting pitching, and the offense again scored early and often (especially late) as the Pelicans remain in contention and push the Akitas to the brink of elimination.

SA 000 000 104 -- 5 10 1
NO 201 100 35X -- 12 20 0

Akitas info:
Pitching -- Fossum (L) 4 IP, Tucker 2, Munro 2
Catching -- Varitek 8
HR -- Castro (solo shutout-ruiner with 1 out in 7th)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- Chavez (ankle injury) out until Day 70
Limits -- None

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Ortiz (W) 7 IP, Borbon 2
Catching -- Piazza 9
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- Infante %

.

Day 66 -- Wolf v. Schilling
The Pelicans decided that with a win they would eliminate the Akitas and be tied with the Cavemen, so they brought Schilling back. The Karma Police also made an appearance.

For those who have not been following the travails that is New Orleans Pelicans baseball, earlier this season Barry Lewis decided to steal a base with a big lead. It was noted that the Karma Police would be visiting Mr. Lewis soon.

They visited all right, and they performed a Rodney King on his team, as Mr. Lewis was unable to attend. Mike Wilner was witness to a game that made the earlier display of 12 runs and 20 hits seem like nothing.

How one-sided was this affair?

Five batters into the bottom of the 1st, it was 5-0 Pelicans.

After they batted around in the 3rd, it was 12-0 Pelicans.

After they batted around in the 4th (3rd time in 4 innings), it was 17-0 Pelicans.

Danny Graves, pitching in relief, finished his 1.2 innings of work in the 4th. 13 hits and 11 earned runs later.

Trot Nixon led off the Akitas' 5th with a single up the middle. This was the first hit (and second baserunner) allowed to that point by Schilling.

Ichiro (4-for-6) was a homer away from the cycle from the 4th inning on.

Henry Blanco replaced Piazza and was 4-for-5, needing a triple for the cycle.

Every Pelican batter who made a plate appearance had at least one hit. Ricky Ledee and Jay Bell, both substitutions in the middle of the game, were the only Pelicans who did not score.

SA 000 000 002 -- 2 5 0
NO 516 502 00X -- 19 26 1

Akitas info:
Pitching -- Wolf (L) 2 IP, Graves 1.2, Redding 3.1, Wagner 1
Catching -- Varitek 8
HR -- None
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- None
Limits -- None

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Schilling (W) 9 IP
Catching -- Piazza 1, Blanco 8
HR -- Piazza (2 on, 0 out in 1st), Ventura (solo, 0 out in 1st), Burrell (grand slam, 2 out in 3rd), Blanco (solo, 2 out in 3rd)
Injuries/Suspensions/Ejections -- Piazza (groin injury) out until Day 70
Limits --Infante %

After the sweep, the Akitas are eliminated from playoff contention and the Pelicans join the Cavemen at the top of the Gladys at 28-29 going into their season-ending series with the same Cavemen.