PITCHING RULES AGAIN

Hellickson vs. Halladay—who ya got? The host New England Yankee Stompers were hoping the veteran “Doc” could rebound from a poor Game One start to tie the series. On the other hand, a strong performance by youngster Hellickson would put the Pottsylvania Creepers on the verge of a championship parade.

Both pitchers were in control from the beginning. The only hit through four-and-a-half innings was an Aramis Ramirez single, and he was quickly erased on a double play. New England appeared to have something going in the bottom of the fourth, as Michael Bourn led off with a double. He got a little over-anxious, however, and attempted to steal third base on the first pitch to Dustin Pedroia (with Miguel Cabrera on deck). A.J. Pierzynski was having NONE of it, as his peg reached third in plenty of time to nab the speedster.

Halladay, meanwhile, was back to his old self. After hitting the first batter of the game and giving up Ramirez’ hit, he had four perfect innings.

And eventually, his offense rewarded him.

J.J. Hardy led off the bottom of the sixth with a single off Hellickson. Halladay helped his own cause by putting down an excellent sacrifice bunt, but Bourn failed to have a productive at-bat with a groundout to third. Pedroia, though, came through. Hellickson left his first pitch just a little too high, and the little second baseman grounded a single directly through the righty’s legs and in to center. Hardy was off the moment the ball hit the bat, and he scored easily as the home crowd roared.

NEW ENGLAND 1, POTTSYLVANIA 0

The Creepers finally put another runner on base in the top of the seventh. Two runners, actually. Matt Kemp stroked a one-out single and wheeled to third on Paul Konerko’s safety. Pottsylvania was in position to tie the game, but Ramirez failed to replicate his second-inning success. He hit one off the end of the bat, a three-hopper to first baseman Corey Hart. An easy 3-6-3 double play was imminent. Hart fired to Hardy and got back to the bag. Hardy…uh oh…double clutched! Still enough time to get the slow-footed Ramirez, right? He finally unleashed a rocket….SAFE

TIE GAME!!!

Kemp had crossed the plate with ease, and he was threw his fist in the air as soon as the first-base umpire’s arms went sideways.

POTTSYLVANIA 1, NEW ENGLAND 1

So the teams battled on. Both the bottom of the seventh and top of the eighth saw two runners reach, but none scored. Hellickson was the first to leave the game; he was pinch-hit for in the eighth. Seven innings, four hits, one run, three walks and nine strikeouts was the line for the young hurler. Grant Balfour took up the cause with a perfect bottom of the inning (which included Halladay leading off and hitting for himself).

Kemp appeared to be on the verge of another rally with a leadoff walk in the ninth, but he was picked off by the Doc and the next two Creeper hitters went quietly.

Now the bottom of the ninth. Could the Yankee Stompers squeeze out a run, or would Balfour put the contest into extra innings?

Cabrera was first, and he finally showed signs of awakening from hibernation as a single was pounded into center field. Instead of pinch-running for their large superstar, Yankee Stomper management sent the runner on a dangerous hit-and-run—but it worked. Carlos Beltran grounded out to second, but Cabrera was still alive, now at second base. After a walk and a flyout, Miguel Montero came up with a chance to be a hero. He was patient; watching three balls while fouling off two that were too close to take. Finally, on a full count, Balfour gave him a pitch to hit.

The liner was straight over the head of Balfour and down in the grass in center. Cabrera picked up steam around third as Kemp fielded and unleashed a laser toward Pierzynski. A PLAY AT THE PLATE…A DUSTSTORM AND RUMBLE AS CABRERA SLIDES…

SAFE!!!

The burly third-sacker had just beaten the tag, though Pierzynski was in the umpire’s face all the way off the field. But the call stood, and a roar came from Fenway that hadn’t been heard since Carlton Fisk!

NEW ENGLAND 2, POTTSYLVANIA 1

A walk-off win! The Series tied, 2-2! Momentum now stood squarely with the Yankee Stompers. If they could take victory once more at home, they would only need to win one of the final two on the road at Pottsylvania!