#6: The “Trenches” Win Game 2 for
Jays, 1992
Toronto Blue Jays (5) at Atlanta
Braves (4)
Sunday, October 18, 1992
World Series Game 2
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
“The
Trenches”: it was a nickname given to three players who pretty much rode the
bench throughout the 1992 postseason. They were young, talented players who
would go on to have Major League success (two of them, anyway) but weren’t
quite ready to be everyday players. They were outfielders Derek Bell and Turner
Ward, and catcher/infielder Ed Sprague.
But
before the Trenches could do their thing, the Blue Jays’ regulars would compete
against the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the 1992 World Series. Atlanta had
struck first by winning the first game by a score of 3-1. Now they looked to
take advantage of being at home and get themselves a two-game lead before
crossing the border for the middle games of the series.
And
they had future Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz on the hill. He would be opposed by
David Cone, who had arrived in Toronto as a hired gun via a trade in August to
help bolster the Toronto rotation.
After
a scoreless first, the Braves would get to Cone in the second. Braves’
outfielder David Justice would score the first run of the game when Cone
uncorked a wild pitch. 1-0, Atlanta. They would make it 2-0 in the fourth when
Mark Lemke singled in Sid Bream.
Before
Atlanta came to bat in the fourth, however, there was a controversial play at
the plate in the Jays’ half of the inning. Second baseman, Roberto Alomar, who
was on third base with two out, attempted to score when Smoltz threw a wild
pitch. Atlanta catcher, Damon Berryhill, quickly retrieved the ball and flipped
it to Smoltz who applied the tag. While Alomar was called out, replays showed
his hand had clearly touched the plate before he was tagged.
Toronto
would mount a rally in the top of the fifth. With two out, catcher Pat Borders
walked. This was followed by a single to right by shortstop Manuel Lee. This
brought Cone to the plate, who—playing in the American League—didn’t have much
experience in the batter’s box, although he had recorded an infield hit in his
first at bat in the third inning.
Cone
came through again with a single up the middle to score Borders and move Lee to
third base. The next batter, centre fielder Devon White, tied the game at two
on an infield single, allowing Lee to dent the dish.
But
the Braves would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single
off the bat of Justice that knocked Cone out of the game, and a sacrifice fly
by Bryan Hunter. The score was now 4-2 for Atlanta.
The
score remained unchanged until Toronto came to bat in the top of the eighth.
With one out, Alomar doubled to left. The next batter was right-fielder Joe
Carter, who hit a soft single up the middle. Alomar, who had to wait at second
in case the ball was caught, only made it to third. Designated hitter, Dave
Winfield, came through with an opposite field, RBI single, scoring Alomar and
making the score 4-3. Smoltz was removed from the game and one out later, Atlanta
brought in their closer, Jeff Reardon. On a borderline pitch (it looked like an
obvious ball on replay) Kelly Gruber was called out on strikes, leaving two
runners on base and leaving Atlanta with their one-run lead.
After
Toronto reliever, Duane Ward, pitched a one-two-three bottom of the eighth, the
game moved on to the ninth. After Borders lined out to Justice in right, the
Jays called on the Trenches. Derek Bell came into the game to pinch hit for
Manuel Lee. Bell was patient enough and worked Reardon for a walk, putting the
tying run on first base.
Next
up was Sprague, pinch-hitting for Duane Ward. On the first pitch he saw,
Sprague drilled Reardon’s offering into the stands in left field for a two-run
home run, giving the Jays a 5-4 lead and quieting the Atlanta crowd. Reardon
got the next two batters, but Toronto took their lead to the bottom of the
ninth, hoping to win the first World Series game in team history.
And
in to close the game was Tom Henke, the Jays’ closer since 1985. After Henke
got Lemke to fly out to left-fielder Candy Maldonado, he hit Lonnie Smith with
a pitch, putting the tying run on base. After Otis Nixon lined out to Devon
White in centre, Henke walked Deion Sanders, moving the tying run into scoring position.
But
Henke got Terry Pendleton to pop the ball up into foul territory at third base.
Gruber, squeezed it for the final out, then delivered a tomahawk chop in mock
salute to the Braves’ fans who used the gesture, as well as an Indian war cry, as
their rallying symbols.
Toronto
had evened the Series at one, and would head off to Toronto for the first ever
World Series game outside of the United States.
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