‘Spos take 2 of 3 from Braves in meaningless series

Both teams had their playoff slots secured.  Montreal already clinched the NL East and Boston had the 1st Wild Card slot.  Both are scheduled to face each other in the opening round, so neither manager was going to show his hand or play his fatigued regulars.

GAME 1 – Braves 5, Expos 2

Steve Rogers had a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the 9th when all “heck” broke loose.  After scoring 2 in the top of the 9th via a Gary Carter 2 run homer Montreal looked to put it away with their ace on the hill.  Bob Elliott led off the 9th for the Braves with a smash off the left field wall that resulted in a stand up double.  The next two batter weakly made out and all looked good for Rogers, who was inexplicably told by his manager to walk Roy Hartsfield intentionally.  Pinch Hitter Ebba St. Claire singled home the tying run and put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out.  Sam Jethroe stepped up to the plate and proceeded to hit a bomb that might have salted the clouds as it cleared the fence for a walk off 3 run shot.

GAME 2 – Expos 7, Braves 6

Scott Sanderson (2-2, 5.66) left the game with a 4-3 lead.  The Expo offense was able to “tack on” 3 more runs to make it 7-3.  All looked good, so scrub starter Chris Welsh was inserted to pitch the 9th.  Welsh couldn’t get an out and this laugher turned into a close one.  Jeff Reardon was forced to warm up quickly.  He wasn’t quite ready to enter the game and it showed as he yielded two hit, which allowed the Braves to move within 1 run.  Ebba St. Claire singled crisply to center with 2 outs.  Bob Addis, who previously had an RBI pinch hit single was sent home.  Testing Andre Dawson’s arm is not usually a good thing to do, but with 2 outs you have to take chances.  The Hawk threw a pea to Carter who easily tagged out Addis to end the game and give Reardon a somewhat “tainted” save.

GAME 3 – Expos 8, Braves 7

Bill Gullickson (4-4, 3.20)  had a 5 run lead, but began running out of gas in the 8th.  Boston chipped away at him and made it so close that Reardon again had to come in to save the day.  Once again Reardon allowed an inherited runner to score before bearing down and notching his 9th save of the campaign.  Most of Montreal’s hitting came from some unlikely sources.  Late season call ups Razor Shines (2-5) and Brad Mills (2-4, RBI) had outstanding days.  Sid Gordon hit his 6th homer for the Braves in a losing cause.  Max Surkont went 4 innings for the Braves and was removed due to fatigue in favor of Dan Donovan, who gave up 5 runs in an inning of work.  Tim Raines increased his single season KOD stolen base record to 29.  While attempting to steal his 30th late in the game he was nailed by a whisker on a Ebba St. Claire bullet throw.  Dawson, who was yesterday’s defensive star, turned on the offense today going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s.  After a slow start he finished the season at .296.