#13: Jays Go Back to the World
Series, 1993
Toronto Blue Jays (6) at Chicago
White Sox (3)
ALCS Game 6
Tuesday, October 12, 1993
Comiskey Park II
Back
in 1993, no team had won two consecutive World Series since the New York
Yankees in 1977 and 1978. Only the Oakland A’s had been close when they
returned in 1990 after winning in 1989, but got swept by the heavy underdog
Cincinnati Reds.
Toronto
had gotten off to a bit of a slow start at the beginning of 1993, mainly due to
the fact that free agent pitcher Dave Stewart missed the first few weeks with
injuries. But after he returned, and Pat Hentgen emerged as a legitimate
starting pitcher, the Jays turned their fortunes around. With an offense
capable of slugging it would with anyone, they would win their third
consecutive American League East title.
Going
into Game 6 of the ALCS, the Toronto Blue Jays were a win away from attempting
to defend their title against the Philadelphia Phillies, who had knocked off
the Atlanta Braves in six games in the NLCS. Toronto had taken the first two
games in Chicago, only to drop the next two at home in SkyDome. They rebounded
to take Game 5 by a 5-3 score and now were looking to wrap up the series.
On
the mound for Toronto was Stewart, winner of Game 2 of the series and the owner
of a lifetime 7-0 record in nine ALCS games. Chicago would counter with Alex
Fernandez, who had lost to Stewart in the second game.
After a scoreless first, Toronto
mounted the game’s first offensive threat in the top of the second. First
baseman John Olerud led off with a walk and designated hitter Paul Molitor was
hit by a pitch, after shortstop Tony Fernandez’s sac bunt moved both runners
over, third baseman Ed Sprague walked to load the bases.
This
brought up catcher Pat Borders, who singled on the first pitch to right field
to score Olerud and Molitor to put Toronto up 2-0. The lead would hold until an
inning later when the White Sox would score two runs of their own to tie it up.
Frank Thomas walked with the bases loaded and Robin Ventura grounded into a
force out to bring in the second run.
In
the top of the fourth, Molitor reached on an error, moved to third on a one-out
single by Sprague, then scored when Borders had just enough speed to beat the
throw to first on a potential double-play ground ball. Toronto regained their
lead at 3-2.
After
that, it was a pitcher’s duel with Stewart and Fernandez settling into grooves
and getting out of jams. The Jays had runners on base in the fifth, sixth and
seventh but couldn’t add any runs. Chicago had several baserunners but couldn’t
muster a rally of any significance.
With
one out in the top of the ninth, Jays’ centre-fielder Devon White smacked a
home run over the wall in right field to increase Toronto’s lead to 4-2. One
out later, right-fielder Joe Carter singled and Olerud reached on an error.
Then Molitor tripled into the gap in right-centre to drive them both in and
push the lead to 6-2.
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