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GAME 1- Well the series started off as expected Andy Benes on the hill vs The Gator Ron Guidry. Both pitchers came in having being the aces of their staff through Rounds 1 and 2. The Padres jumped out in front in the 1st on a Gary Sheffield sac fly that scored Tony Gwynn. Roy Smalley then came up in the bottom of the first and hit a solo homer to tie the game. The Yankees would score 2 more runs to get the lead to 3-1. With the game still in reach the Padres stayed with Benes into the 7th and then the flood gates opened. Two walks and three singles and Andy Benes was walking up the runway to the shower, smashing the light as he went. The final score was 7-1 and the Yankees took one game lead in the series.
Game 2- This game sent Dave Righetti to the mound to face left hander Craig Lefferts. The first five innings were all about the pitchers no runs and very few hits. In the sixth Jerald Clark doubled off the wall and Gary Sheffield singled him in. So with one run lead and moving to the top of the 8th the Padres added one more run so with a two nothing lead the game was looking grim for New York. So the bottom of the 8th inning started out with a single by Craig Nettles, and error which lead to Dave Collins reaching base. Willie Randolph singled in Nettles and moved Collins to third. Jerry Mumphrey grounded to second which lead to a double play but it scored Collins from third. So with a tie game, Roy Smalley came to bat where he earned a walk off Lefferts which was followed by a wild pitch and moved Smalley to second. Dave Winfield started his career in Sand Diego and was a true fan favorite for many years but he moved to New York in 1980. With Winfield at bat and Smalley at second danger was in the air. Winfield proceeded to single up the middle and score Smalley to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead going into the 9th. So with the lead manager Jim Waldron called on his stopper Rich Gossage to close the game, and like the plan he finished off the Padres and gave the Yankees a commanding lead going to San Diego.
Game 3- In San Diego Dave Winfield got a rousing ovation and welcome back. The Padres manager AJ Thomas was not as sentimental, down two games it was all about business. Bruce Hurst who has been a stalwart for the Padres was sent to the mound. The Yankees sent Tommy John to try and seal the series. The Padres didn’t even wait with two on and two out, Darrin Jackson blasted the Padres into the lead with a three run homer. The Yankees chipped one run out in the third but then the doors were blown open by Craig Shipley and his two run single and giving the Padres a 5-1 lead. Hurst along with Mike Maddux shut down the Yankees bat and gave the home fans a win and brought the Padres back into the series down only 1 game.
Game 4- Yankees manager Jim Waldron had his players at the park early for batting
practice, in a brief statement “There’s not much to say, we were awful last game and if we don’t get our butts in gear we will be packing our bags and heading home from this tournament.” Shane Rawley, the Yankees starter knew he had to step up and be proactive in his approach. The Padres sent Frank Seminara to try to bring home another Padres win and force the series back to the big apple. The game started out the same with the same guys leading the way. Gary Sheffield and Craig Shipley knock in runs to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. In the sixth with the bases loaded Butch Wynegar grounds into a double play but Roy Smalley scored to tie the game. The game moved to the 8th, the Padres brought in Randy Myers for his first appearance of the series. Jerry Mumphrey is welcomed by Myers with a walk, Smalley follows with a strikeout. Knowing this was the moment, Waldron hit and run Dave Winfield which lead to single and allowed Mumphrey to go to third. So with one out and 1st and 3rd Ken Griffey at the plate, he proceeds to hit a deep fly ball which allowed Mumphrey to score and give the Yankees the lead and the chance to take the series. So moving to the bottom of the 9th the Yankees brought in closer Rich Gossage who mowed down the Padres with three strikeouts to give the Yankees a win in the game and the series.
In the postgame news conference Yankees manager Jim Waldron commended his team for a great effort in game 4. He also went on the say that manager AJ Thomas had his Padres well prepared and they were a very good team and really forced the Yankees to have bear down. The Yankees look forward to the next round.
--submitted by Jim Waldron--
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