World Series Phlashback: 1993—Game Two
June 17, 2009 by kevin mcguire
Filed under Fan News
In 1993 the Phillies pulled off a miraculous worst-to-first season and stunned the baseball world by clinching the National League pennant in six games over the heavily favored Atlanta Braves.
Led my MVP candidate Lenny Dykstra, catcher Darren Daulton, first baseman John Kruk and an emerging ace pitcher in Curt Schilling the Phillies faced off with the defending World Series champions, the Toronto Blue Jays.
This World Series had a little bit of everything, from great hitting, clutch pitching (and not so clutch pitching) and of course, rain delays.
We continue our phlashback with a look at game two, played in Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays (95-67) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
Game Two: Phillies Win 6-4, Tie Series 1-1
Mulholland was the steady veteran in the Phillies rotation and he showed no nervousness on the mound in game two. Despite a pair of walks issued in the first inning to Rickey Henderson (who was caught stealing second base) and Paul Moliter, the pitcher kept Toronto’s high powered offense off the scoreboard.
In the third inning the Phillies jumped all over Stewart. As it should be expected, Lenny Dykstra got it all started with a lead off walk. A wild pitch to Mariano Duncan allowed Dykstra to advance to second base without harm.
After Duncan walked the Phillies got the bats working. John Kruk picked up the third hit of the night for Philadelphia, scoring Dykstra from second to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Duncan moved to third on the play. Dave Hollins followed Kruk with another single to center field, scoring Duncan for a 2-0 Phillies lead.
After Darren Daulton grounded out, but advanced the runners to scoring position, Jim Eisenreich came to the plate. Eisenreich, the free agent acquisition from Kansas City had a career year in his first season in Philadelphia, but he was about to hit the biggest hit of his career.
Driving a Stewart pitch to deep right center field, Eisenreich’s three run home run gave the Phillies a 5-0 lead.
Mulholland kept the Blue Jays off the board in the bottom of the inning, but Toronto was able to pick up a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting the Phillies lead to 5-2. they did so with a Joe Carter two run home run. Go figure, right?
Toronto picked up one more run in the sixth inning, cutting the Phillies lead to 5-3 and chasing Mulholland from the game. Dykstra though got the run right back for the Phillies with a lead off home run in the seventh inning.
With the Phillies holding on to a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning, Paul Moliter tried to fuel a late home team rally. Moliter lead off the eighth inning with a double to left center field. After Roger Mason struck out Carter looking, manager Jim Fregosi decided to put the ball in the hands of his closer, Mitch Williams, for a five out save.
As soon as Williams entered the game Moliter stole third base. John Olerud was the first batter Williams faced, and his sacrifice fly scored Moliter to bring Toronto to within one run. Williams then walked Roberto Alomar, but when Alomar tried to steal second base he was thrown out by Darren Daulton to end the inning.
The Phillies would have to hold on to a one run lead in the ninth inning as the offense went down in one-two-three fashion in the top of the ninth, thanks to a ground ball double play. Williams though, looking to keep Toronto off the base paths, walked Tony Fernandez to start things off.
Ed Sprague put down a ground ball, but the only play was to get the lead runner at second base. Alfredo Griffin then came in to pinch run for Sprague but even he could not escape a ground ball double play to end the ball game, as Pat Borders grounded to shortstop Duncan, who tossed to Mickey Morandini who relayed to Kruk to end the game.
The Phillies had won a game on the road and would return to Philadelphia with the home field advantage now on their side.