Tuesday, November 28, 2006

AL Action- Classic Division

Entering this series, the Yankees seemed to have retaken control of the AL Classic division, while Cleveland had all but clinched the AL Modern division. To the action!

Yankees-Browns: St. Louis began action in 6th place, but with an inexplicable advantage over New York through the season. That continued, to the Yanks dismay, as the Browns took 3 of 4, including two in extra innings. Ken Williams went 8-20 in the series, Eddie Foster adding an 8-17 performance. The Browns won big (11-6), small (2-1 in 10) and in between (5-4 in 12). While New York was still in first place at series' end, they lost a big chance to put Baltimore and Boston away...

Orioles-Red Sox: ...because they were playing one another. Boston and Baltimore split the first two games before Buck O'Brien captured his 22nd win for the Sox, tied for the league lead. Baltimore did get Boog Powell and Frank Robinson back from injury for this series, though they lost Paul Blair in the second game. Blair is likely out for the season, though could possibly return for the playoffs.

Nationals-Tigers: The hits kept falling in during this series. Four different Washington players had three-hit days, while five Detroiters pulled off the stunt (including a four-hit, five RBI day by Pete Fox). The Tigers erupted for 17 runs in the course of salvaging the final game, and remain mathematically in contention, 6 games back in fourth place.

White Sox- Phil. Athletics: The series started promisingly for Philadelphia, as George Earnshaw (19-16) pitched a one-hit shutout in a game sloppily played by Chicago (with four errors). The Pale Hose came back to sweep the remaining games, however, foiling Lefty Grove's bid for his 23rd win by scoring two in the 9th, then erupting for four in the first inning the next day to win in less-dramatic fashion. Buck Weaver was 6-12 in the three games, including the only hit off of Earnshaw.

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