2020 Baseball Draft World Series

The 2020 Baseball Draft World Series was the championship series for the third season of the Baseball Draft, in 2020. The 3rd World Series in BDL history, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the Pennant winners from the Divisional semi-final round-- Lloyd's #1-seed A Shaq of Their Own vs. tom and his #2-seed stone temple seattle pilots, making their return to the final after the First World Series.

A Shaq of Their Own defeated the pilots 4-2, winning on a walk-off hit from Series MVP "Wee" Willie Keeler.

Playoff bracket
* Performance Enhancers defeated Every City Bandwagoners (of course they did) in a one-game tiebreaker to advance as the #4 Seed

Game 1
Sunday, Novembtwits 2nd

Petco Park; San Diego, California

First Pitch: 6:07 PM Eastern

National Anthem Sung by: The Ohio Players

Weather at First Pitch: 64 Degrees, Slight breeze, no precipitation

Addie Joss vs. Pedro Martinez in the World Series.

The hype was real. Could the performance live up to the hype?

In a word. Yes.

Joss worked around a two-out walk in the top of the first, while Martinez got a 1-2-3 bottom of the first. This set the stage for what was to come from both pitchers.

Joss got a 1-2-3 second, while Martinez worked around a one-out single from Wee Willie Keeler. Martinez walked Joss in the third as the only baserunner for either team, but the game remained without a run scored. A Roger Connor error with two outs gave stone temple seattle pilots a baserunner, but again, no runs scored and Lou Gehrig was the only baserunner in the inning.

A Shaq of Their Own threatened with serious fervor in the fifth, as the lone baserunner was a one-out triple from Connor, but Martinez got both Pudge Rodrigez and Joss to ground out to third, keeping Connor there, and keeping the game still in search of its first run.

With one out in the sixth, stone temple seattle pilots got their first hit of the game, ending Joss's bid for a no-hitter as Bill Lange got a one-out, infield single. Lange was caught stealing, before a two-out single from Hugh Duffy, which turned to naught as Nap Lajoie grounded out to end the inning.

John McGraw drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, then stole second, giving A Shaq of Their Own a runner in scoring position with nobody out. But, Martinez got a shallow fly out from Shoeless Joe Jackson, a line out from Ted Williams, and a ground out from George Sisler, and we were headed the seventh inning with high drama, no runs, and a box score about as close as it gets.

In the top of the seventh, George Brett got a two-out single, and Hanley Ramirez followed with a single of his own, giving the pilots two-on and two-out, but Joss got Willie McGee to ground out, ending the threat.

After a local boy - Anakin Skywalker - lead the seventh inning stretch via a Zoom call, A Shaq of Their Own got a one-out single from Arky Vaughan. They would get no more that inning, with Roger Connor and Pudge Rodriguez retired, sending us to the eighth, still in search of our first run.

With Martinez due up to bat, Tom Hanks a Jimmy Dugan had a difficult decision, and decided to pinch hit for Martinez, who had already thrown 106 pitches. Tip O'Neill was the choice to pinch hit, but he fared no better than everyone else who had faced Joss on the evening, as he grounded out to start another 1-2-3 inning.

Martinez's final line: 7 IP, no runs allowed on just three hits, with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan opted for Dellin Betances, and Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan faced the same question Hanks had just answered, with Joss due up to lead off the bottom of the eighth. He made the same choice, sending up Dan Brouthers. But, much like O'Neill, Brouthers was retired to start a 1-2-3 inning, and we would head to the ninth inning of game one of the World Series, still looking for the first run.

Joss's final line: 8 IP, with no runs allowed on four hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

Hong-Chi Kuo was summoned from the bullpen, and he produced another 1-2-3 inning, giving a Shaq of Their Own a chance to have some magic and win it in the bottom of the ninth. But, Betances was up to the challenge, getting his second 1-2-3 inning, striking out Sisler and Keeler to send us to extra innings.

Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan sent Kuo out for a second inning of relief, and he walked George Brett to open the inning. When he walked Hanley Ramirez on four questionable calls, Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan protested and argued, resulting in his ejection from the game, leaving the team to be managed by his bench coach, Mathew Dellavedova-as-Barnes-as-Dugan.

DellyBarnesDugan went to the pen, summoning Ed Walsh to try to get out of the jam, with two on and nobody out.

Walsh, gave up a single to the first batter he faced - Willie McGee - which scored Brett, for the first run of the game. Hanks as Dugan sent up Edgar Martinez as a pinch hitter, and Walsh got him to hit into a double play, but Ramirez scored on the play, putting the pilots up 2-0. A walk to Bill Lange and a single by Hugh Duffy put runners on the corners, and singles from Nap Lajoie and Lou Gehrig scored two more runs, before Jocko Milligan grounded out to end the inning.

Up 4-0, Hanks as Dugan went to Mike Adams to try to finish the game. Adams retired Arky Vaughan to start the inning, but gave up a double to Connor. Pudge Rodriguez popped out, giving us the second out. DellyBarnesDugan sent up Lefty O'Doul as a pinch hitter, and Hanks-Dugan countered with Chad Green out of the pen. Green got O'Doul to fly out to deep right-center, ending the game, and giving the pilots the win on the road.

Players of the Game, brought to you by OMG the pitching in this one: Addie Joss and Pedro Martinez

Final: stone temple seattle pilots 4, A Shaq of Their Own 0 (10 innings)

Win: Betances (1-0)

Loss: Kuo (0-1)

The stone temple seattle pilots lead the Best-of-Seven series 1-0.

Game 2
Monday, Novembtwits 3rd

Petco Park; San Diego, California

First Pitch: 8:47 PM Eastern

National Anthem Sung Performed by: The Ohio State Marching Band, only they "accidentally" play "Across the Field" instead of "The Star Spangled Banner," and then break into "Hang On Sloopy"

Weather at First Pitch: 56 Degrees, Slight breeze, no precipitation

A one-out single from Wee Willie Keeler in the second. A one-out single Pudge Rodriguez and a two-out, infield single from John McGraw in the fifth.

The only hits allowed by Charles Bender through five innings, as A Shaq of Their Own's World Series Scoreless streak reached fifteen innings.

Lucky for them, Doc "Kevin Love Hologram" White was up to the challenge, tossing an equal three-hits shutout through five.

The only hits to that point for stone temple seattle pilots were a leadoff double from Edgar Martinez in the second, a two-out single from George Brett in the fourth, and a Willie McGee leadoff single in the fifth.

But, with runs clearly at a premium once again, both teams entered the sixth inning with goose eggs on the scoreboard.

The Love Doctor gave up a one-out single to Martinez, but retired him on a double play ground ball from the next batter to send us to the bottom of the sixth.

Ted Williams drew a leadoff walk, but both George Sisler and Wee Willie Keeler flew out. Arky Vaughn singled, moving Williams to third, and a single from Roger Connor scored Williams, giving A Shaq of Their Own their first run scored in a World Series game in franchise history, before Pudge Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning.

Buoyed by actual run support, White got a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, sending his offense back up to bat quickly.

Shaq-as-Barnes as Dugan decided that White's night was over, as his spot in the lineup was due up, and he opted for a pinch hitter, Dan Brouthers.

White's final line was seven innings pitched, no runs allowed, on just four hits, two walks, and one strikeout.

Brouthers ... kinda made the decision pay off, as he reached on an error from Hanley Ramirez. A John McGraw single moved Brouthers to second, but a Joe Jackson 5-3 double play ground ball retired Brouthers as third, and gave Bender a chance to escape the inning with no further damage.

But, after an intentional walk to Ted Williams, George Sisler singled to McGraw, and a Nap Lajoie error put Keeler on first and allowed Williams to score, making it 3-0 when Arky Vaughan grounded out to end the inning.

From there, both managers made moves, with Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan brining in Hong-Chih Kuo and Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan going to a pinch hitter for Bender, sending up *checks notes* ... not Ken Griffey Jr. Not Lou Gehrig ... Tip O'Neill. Clearly Hanks-Dugan knows something we don't know?

Apparently not, as Kuo retired O'Neill with ease on his way to a 1-2-3 inning.

Bender's final line was tremendous, though he left trailing, tossing seven innings, giving up three runs (though only two of them were earned), walking five and striking out one.

Dellin Betances was the choice for the pilots out of the pen, and he got a 1-2-3 inning, sending us to the ninth with the pilots still within striking distance, down 3-0.

Kuo was on for his second inning of relief, and got a ground out from Lajoie to start the inning, but after he issued a walk to Edgar Martinez and a single to Jocko "Mightily Quiet in Novembtwits" Milligan to put runners on the corners with one out, S-B-D reluctantly went to the pen and called on Vida Blue.

Blue delivered a strike called to Brett. Then a ball called to Brett. Then on this third pitch ... got Brett to hit a ground ball to John McGraw. McGraw threw it to Roger Connor, with Milligan retired for the second out of the inning, and Connor relayed it to Sisler to retire Brett for the third out, and end the game, with the series even at one game each.

We now get a day off to travel up the coast to Seattle, and see what happens next in a series clearly being dominated by pitching. We've played nineteen innings of baseball, and had runs scored in only three of them so far. Will the Kingdome bring the bats to life? Or will aces continue to be wild?

Player of the Game, Brought to you by Kevin Love: Doc White

Final: A Shaq of Their Own 3, stone temple seattle pilots 0

Win: White (1-0)

Loss: Bender (0-1)

Save: Blue (1)

The Best-of-Seven Series is tied at one game apiece.

Game 3
Wednesday, Novembtwits 5th

The Kingdome; Seattle, Washington

First Pitch: 8:47 PM Eastern

National Anthem Sung by: Hendrix

Weather at First Pitch: it doesn't matter, we're playing indoors

With runs at a premium so far this series, both teams had a fantastic opportunity to get on the board early, as Harry Krause and Jake Arrietta put three batters on base without a hit in the first inning, each.

Krause walked John McGraw to open the game, but got Shoeless Joe Jackson to hit into a double play to erase it. He followed that by issuing walks to Ted Williams and George Sisler, but got a fly out from Wee Willie Keeler to keep the game scoreless through a half inning.

Hugh Duffy drew the leadoff walk for stone temple seattle pilots off of Arrietta, and after a ground out by Nap Lajoie, a Ken Griffey Jr. hit-by-pitch and a walk to Lou Gehrig loaded the bases. But, Arrieta got Jocko Milligan to pop out, and George Brett to ground out, and both pitchers escaped their self-made jams in the first.

A Shaq of Their Own would get runners on the corners with one out in the second, thanks to a walk to Arky Vaughan, a single from Roger Connor, and a fielder's choice from Pudge Rodriguez. But, Arrietta would make a compelling argument for the designated hitter, hitting into an inning-ending, 3-6-3 double play.

But, in the third, the Big Dieselers would get another chance to open the scoring, and this time they would take advantage. McGraw got a leadoff triple, and when Shoeless Joe Jackson hit a groundball to third, McGraw went home. George Brett decided to go home with the throw as well, and in a bang-bang play, McGraw was safe, and Jackson was on first. Krause would retire the next three batters to escape, but A Shaq of Their Own had a 1-0 lead.

We'd stay at 1-0 until the fifth inning, when A Shaq of Their Own would add to their lead.

Hanley Ramirez booted a ground ball, putting Arrietta on base to start the inning, but he was replaced on the basepaths by McGraw, who hit into a fielder's choice. McGraw then stole second, and scored on a single from Jackson. Jackson stole second, and scored on a single from Williams. Sisler hit into a fielder's choice, then stole second and ... you guessed it ... scored on a single from Keeler. Keeler tried to keep the pattern going, but he was thrown out trying to steal, ending the inning with ShaqOTO up 4-0.

But, in the bottom of the fifth, stone temple seattle pilots would give us two things we hadn't seen yet in this World Series: both teams scoring runs in the same game, and a lead change.

Willie McGee doubled to open the inning, then moved to third as Krause sacrificed, again making a great argument for the DH. Hugh Duffy doubled, scoring McGee and proving the sac bunt to be worthless, and an infield single by Lajoie put runners on the corners with one out. A Roger Connor error put Griffey, Jr. on base and scored Duffy, and a walk to Lou Gehrig loaded the bases. But, "Mr Regular Season" couldn't take advantage, hitting a shallow fly ball for the second out. All was not lost for the pilots, though, as George Brett singled to score two runs and Hanley Ramirez tripled to two more. McGee was given the intentional walk, and because we needed more evidence that pitchers shouldn't hit, Krause grounded out to end the inning, with the pilots up 6-4.

Connor tried to make amends quickly for his error, getting a one-out, ground-rule double, then scoring on a Pudge Rodriguez single. The pitcher batting and producing an out reduced the ability for The Big Dieselers to expand the rally, and the inning ended as McGraw grounded out.

With a 6-5 lead heading into the seventh inning, Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan ended Krause's night. His final line was six innings pitched, five runs (three earned) allowed on seven hits, with one strikeout and four walks.

Hanks-Dugan went to the normally reliable Dellin Betances. He struck out Shoeless Joe to start the inning, but walked Ted Williams, and saw Sisler reach base on an error from Ramirez. Keeler singled to score Jackson, tying the game at six, and Vaughan hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Sisler and putting his team back on top, before a ground out from Connor ended the inning.

A single from George Brett then started the bottom of the seventh, and that was all Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan needed to see to pull Arrietta from the game, who we can only assume argued that the ball was flat - like the earth - when S-B-D came to pull him.

Hong-Chih Kuo came on in relief, and struck out Ramirez, and got a fly out from McGee for two quick outs. At that point, Hanks-Dugan went to his bench, calling on Oscar Gamble to pinch hit, and he delivered a double, scoring Brett and tying the game, with Kuo striking out Duffy to end the inning.

Mike Adams was summoned by Hanks-Dugan, and he retired the only two batters he faced: a line out from Rodriguez, and a strike out of the pinch hitting Lefty O'Doul. Hanks-Dugan then pulled Adams, in favor of Chad Green. Green gave up a single to McGraw, who stole second base, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. But, Green got Jackson to ground out, ending the inning with the score still tied.

Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan went to Doc White in relief, and got a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, sending us to the ninth with the score tied for the second time in three World Series Games.

Chad Green stayed on in relief, and retired Williams, Sisler, and Keeler to send it to the bottom of the ninth, with the pilots in position to win it via walkoff, if they could muster a run.

White stayed on and retired Milligan to open the inning, but gave up a one-out single to George Brett. He struck out Hanley Ramirez, and looked like he had sent the game to extra innings when Willie McGee hit a flyball towards Willie Keeler, but the ball ricocheted off of Keeler's glove, and Brett moved to third, and McGee took second.

With a chance to win the game, Hanks-Dugan sent up Kevin Mitchell as a pinch hitter. And Doc White struck him out, sending us to extra innings and even more drama.

Jake McGee was summoned from the bullpen for the pilots, and needed just nine pitches to retire the side in order.

White was on for his third inning of relief for the Big Dieslers. And he gave up a leadoff single to Hugh Duffy. White then tossed a bad throw trying to pick him off, and he took second base, before a passed ball from Rodriguez let him to move to third. White retired Nap Lajoie on a ground ball, with Duffy kept at third. But, Ken Griffey Jr. stepped up and broke a tiny piece of Lloyd's heart ... he hit a fly ball to deep right. Shoeless Joe settled under it and fired it home, but it was off the mark and Duffy scored to win the game.

Player of the game, brought to you by Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball: Chad Green

Final: stone temple seattle pilots 8, A Shaq of Their Own 7 (10 innings)

Win: McGee (1-0)

Loss: White (1-1)

The stone temple seattle pilots lead the Best-of-Seven series 2-1.

Game 4
Thursday, Novembtwits 6th

The Kingdome; Seattle, Washington

First Pitch: 8:47 PM Eastern

National Anthem Sung by: Anthony L Ray

Weather at First Pitch: it doesn't matter, we're playing indoors

Pedro Martinez came out with guns a blazing, striking out the first two batters he faced on his way to a 1-2-3 first inning.

Addie Joss, though, had some struggles in the first inning, showing us this would not be quite the pitching duel we had in game one.

Joss retired Hugh Duffy to open the game, then gave up a one-out single to Nap Lajoie, who then stole second base. Ken Griffey flew out for the second out, and Joss opted to intentionally walk Lou Gehrig, but Jocko Milligan - with his first hit since Aproids, we think - singled to score them both. George Brett was intentionally walked, and this time Hanley Ramirez singled to score Milligan, with a Willie McGee ground out ending the inning at 3-0.

stone temple seattle pilots added a fourth run in the second, with an RBI single from Nap Lajoie, before a rally-killing, inning-ending double play from Ken Griffey Jr, clearly with his head not in the game due to playing left field.

it looked like that be enough, with Playoff Pedro absolutely dominant through five innings, striking out four along the way and carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning.

But, Jack Clements got a leadoff single, ending the bid for the perfecto - right after John Smotlz mentioned it - and a walk to Roger Connor put two on, and gave us a chacne to see how Martinez would respond to pressure. Milligan had a passed ball that moved both runners up, and Martinez walked Joss, loading the bases with nobody out. A walk to John McGraw scored a run, as did a walk to Shoeless Joe Jackson, and a Ted Williams single scored two runs, and ended the night early for Martinez, with Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan calling on Dellin Betances.

Betances got the first out of the inning on a George Sisler ground out, then Sisler made the second out, getting caught stealing. But, a bloop single from Wee Willie Keeler scored Jackson, Keeler stole second, and then scored on a single from Arky Vaughan. A wild pitch from Betances moved Vaughan to second, and an intentional walk to Clements brought Roger Connor to the plate. Connor doubled, scoring both Vaughan and Clements, before a Joss line out ended the inning with A Shaq of Their own up 8-4.

Martinez final line was a disappointing five innings pitched, with five runs allowed, he gave up just two hits, but his four strikeouts were matched by his four walks.

Joss worked around a one-out error and Betances got a 1-2-3 seventh inning, bringing his team to bat down four after the seventh inning stretch.

Oscar Gamble entered the game as a pinch hitter for Betances and got a leadoff single, before getting replaced on base by Hugh Duffy after a fielder's choice. Duffy moved to third as Lajoie singled, bringing Ken Griffey Jr. to the plate, and he scored Duffy with a fielder's choice, but a ground out from Lou Gehrig ended the inning with just the one run in, and the pilots down to six outs in the game.

Mike Adams was the selection from the pen for Hanks-Dugan. Sisler got a leadoff single, but Keeler hit into a fielder's choice and then was caught stealing, with an Arky Vaughan ground out ending the inning with no damage.

Joss struck out Milligan to open the bottom of the eighth, but gave up a one-out single to George Brett. Hanley Ramirez hit into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning, but Joss couldn't escape unscathed, as Willie McGee hit a ball to center field that if "Wee" Willie Keeler was just a little bit taller (or perhaps a baller or a shot caller) he might have been able to leap and catch, but at 5-foot, 4-inches, he had to just watch it barely clear the fence, bringing the pilots to within one run at 8-7. Hanks-Dugan went to the bench and sent up Kevin Mitchell as a pinch hitter, and Mitchell unloaded on a pitch from Joss, sending it high and deep to left field ... but not quite deep enough, as Ted Williams settled under it for the final out, sending us to the ninth inning.

Hanks-Dugan went to Chad Green, and he gave up an infield single to Jack Clements to open the ninth inning. There would be no further damage, though, as a fielder's choice from Conner, a ground out from Joss, and a strike out of McGraw sent us to bottom of the ninth with a one-run game.

A quick camera pan to the bullpen saw all pitchers for a Shaq of Their Own Duct Taped to the bench save Doc White, who turned to the camera and mouthed "I got you bae", apparently encouraging Joss to get the complete game.

And, sure enough, Joss came out for the ninth, facing the top of the order, trying to even the series at two.

Hugh Duffy was the first up in the ninth, and he grounded out to short. Nap Lajoie followed with a ground out to second. And Ken Griffey Jr. - still confused as to why he was playing left field - grounded out to Joss to end the game.

And, just like that, the season is reduced is a best two-out-of-three.

Player of the Game, brought to you by being Left Out in Left Field: You know, this was a team performance and we're not going to single anyone out.

Final: A Shaq of Their Own 8, stone temple seattle pilots 7

Win: Joss (1-0)

Loss: Martinez (0-1)

The Best-of-Seven Series is tied at two games each.

Game 5
Friday, Novembtwits 7th

The Kingdome; Seattle, Washington

First Pitch: 8:47 PM Eastern

National Anthem Sung by: Kurt Cobain

Weather at First Pitch: it doesn't matter, we're playing indoors

Both teams know how important game five is - the team that wins game five in a best-of-seven baseball series when the series is tied 2-2 goes on to win the series about 70% of the time.

And, while A Shaq of Their Own goes by the mantra "don't tell me the odds", they didn't waste any time getting to Charlie Bender in this one.

John McGraw drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and moved to third on a groud out from Shoeless Joe Jackson, giving the Big Dieselers a chance to manufacture a run in the first. But, they didn't need manufacturing, as Ted Williams unloaded on a pitch, homering to right-center to give ShaqOTO a quick 2-0 lead. George Sisler walked, and Wee Willie Keeler singled, setting it up for Arky Vaughan, who singled, scoring Sisler and moving Keeler to third. But, Bender got Jack Clements to foul out, and Roger Connor to ground out, limiting the damage to three runs.

Hugh Duffy tried to jump start things for stone temple seattle pilots, getting a leadoff single and stealing second base. But, a shallow fly out from Nap Lajoie (before the steal) and a ground out to third from Edgar Martinez (after it) gave Doc White a chance to get out of the inning. But, White walked Jocko Milligan, and George Brett delivered an RBI single, scoring Duffy, before Tip O'Neill grounded out to Vaughan to end the inning.

Bender settled back into normal, getting a 1-2-3 inning in the second, and giving the bats a chance to back him quickly.

Hanlery Ramirez got the second inning started with a bang, doubling, and then moving to third on a single from Willie McGee. McGee, though, ran the pilots out of a big inning, getting caught stealing, and a fly out from Bender gave White a chance to escape. However, he, again, could not take that chance, giving up a bloop single to Duffy that scored Ramirez, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Duffy stole second, and the inning did not end on a ground ball from Nap Lajoie, as Vaughan muffed it, putting runners on the corners with two outs for Edgar Martinez ... who struck out.

Bender worked around a two-out single in the top of the third, and White got a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning, sending us to the fourth.

Jack Clements doubled to open the inning. Roger Connor grounded out, and a sac bunt from White simultaneously moved Clements to third and made a strong argument for the Designated Hitter. John McGraw singled, and Clements scored, before McGraw was thrown out to end the inning, with the Big Dieselers up 4-2.

The bottom of the fourth was a "what if" for the pilots, and the top of the fifth was a "what the ****?" for them.

Ramirez singled to opening the inning for the pilots, but White got McGee to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play. Then, with two outs, a walk to Bender and singles from Duffy and Lajoie loaded the bases for Martinez, but again, he would not capitalize, bouncing into a 6-4 ground out to end the inning, and send Martinez on his way to a frustrating evening, with six men left on base.

In the fifth, Bender retired Jackson to start the inning, but singles from Williams and Sisler put runners on the corners with one out. Keeler doubled to score those two, then he scored on a double from Vaughan. Clements singled to score Vaughan, and that brought Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan out of the dugout, and knocked Bender out of the game. Chad Green came on, and gave up a ground-rule double to Roger Connor, and a two-run double to White. A walk to McGraw and a single by Jackson loaded the bases once more, and a Ted Williams fielder's choice scored one more run - giving the Big Dieselers seven in the inning - before Green struck out Sisler to end the inning, with the pilots now down 11-2.

Bender's final line was four-and-one-third innings pitched, with nine runs surrendered on eleven hits, two walks and no strikeouts.

With the narrative in this game done, White was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh. His final line was six innings pitched, with two runs allowed on eleven hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

A Shaq of Their Own added two more runs in the eighth, and Hong-Chih Kuo and Vida Blue tossed a combined three shutout innings - with Martinez making the final out of the game, capping his frustrating night - to seal the win for the Big Dieselers.

A Shaq of Their Own will now head back to Petco Park needing just one win at home to win the first championship in franchise history, while the stone temple seattle pilots will hit the road with no margin for error left - they cannot lose again this season, or their season is over.

Player of the Game, brought to you by squandered chances: Jack Clements

Final: A Shaq of Their Own 13, stone temple seattle pilots 2

Win: White (2-1)

Loss: Bender (0-2)

A Shaq of Their Own Lead the Best-of-Seven Series 3-2.

Game 6
Sunday, Novembtwits 9th

Petco Park; San Diego, California

First Pitch: 2:37 PM Eastern

National Anthem Sung by: The Crowd at the Q

Weather at First Pitch: 71 Degrees, Slight breeze, no precipitation

Win, and it's over - simple enough for A Shaq of Their Own.

Win, or else it's over - simple enough for stone temple seattle pilots.

After a bizarre pre-game interview where he suggested the earth was flat, Jake Arreitta went to work and got a quick first inning, getting all three batters to ground out, sending up his team with a chance to take the early lead in a potential title-clinching game.

With one out in the bottom of the first, a Nap Lajoie error would open the door for A Shaq of Their Own to do just that, with Shoeless Joe Jackson reaching base on the error. Jackson stole second, and when Ted Williams hit a single to right, Jackson sped through third base and went home, giving his team the early 1-0 lead. Matt Harvey would get a fielder's choice from George Sisler and then Sisler would get caught stealing, leaving just that one unearned in the opening frame.

Arrietta made it five ground outs to open the game, before a a George Brett line out finally added some variety. Hanley Ramirez drew a leadoff walk in the third, but a Willie McGee fielder's choice, Harvey pop out, and McGee caught stealing ended any idea of a threat from the pilots, while Harvey got his second consecutive 1-2-3 inning to put one-third of this game in the books, with the Big Dieselers up 1-0.

The pitchers would continue to be the story, with Arrietta getting another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, and Harvey working around a two-out, ground-rule double from Sisler (only the second hit of the game, both of them from A Shaq of Their Own) to send us to the fifth.

The first batter up in the fifth for stone temple seattle pilots was Lou Gehrig, and he would end Arrietta's bid for a no-hitter as well as the shutout, hitting a towering homer to left. Jocko Milligan would then step up and make it back-to-back homers, and give the pilots a 2-1 lead. Arreitta would allow nothing more in the inning, getting ground outs from George Brett and Willie McGee around a pop out from Hanley Ramirez.

Harvey got another 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Arrieta worked around a two-out error and a two-out single, retiring Gehrig with two on and two out in the top of the sixth, and the bottom of the sixth saw a one-out single from John McGraw erased when McGraw was caught stealing, sending us to the seventh inning, with the pilots still clinging to a 2-1 lead.

The top of the seventh would see Arrietta get another 1-2-3 inning and the bottom would see Harvey doing the same.

In the eighth, though, the pilots would get the insurance run they craved.

Willie McGee singled to open the series, boosting his case for an unlikely World Series MVP award should the pilots win. A Matt Harvey fielder's choice followed, as did a Bill Lange fielder's choice. With two-on and two-out, Arrietta had a chance to escape, but I spoiled this for you with the sentence before this paragraph, so you know he didn't. Lange stole second base, and a Nap Lajoie singled brought him home, before Lajoie was caught stealing to end the inning.

Still, now the pilots had a two-run lead, and were just six outs from forcing a game seven.

Arky Vaughan grounded out to open the inning - meaning the pilots were five outs away from a game seven. Jack Clements singled, but a Roger Connor 3-6-3 double play ground ball ended the inning, and put the pilots three outs away from forcing game seven.

Hugh Duffy singled to open the top of the ninth, as the pilots looked to add another insurance run. with one out, he stole second, and with two outs, George Brett joined him on base via a walk. But, Arrietta retired Hanley Ramirez to send us to the bottom of the ninth.

With Arrietta due up and a rally needed, Ramirez would be the final batter Arrietta would face in the game. His final line was nine innings pitched, three runs allowed on just six hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

With Eric Gagne warm and ready in the pen ... Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan let Harvey talk him into trying to finish the complete game.

Shaq-as-Barnes-as-Dugan went to Dan Brouthers as the pinch hitter, and Harvey walked him. Harvey got the first out of the inning, getting John McGraw to hit into a fielder's choice. But, Shoeless Joe Jackson ripped a double off of Harvey, sending McGraw home, and bringing Hanks-Dugan out of the Hanks-Dugout.

Harvey tried - again - to talk him into finishing the game, but this time Hanks-Dugan remembered what Pointy told him, and summoned Gagne to try to get two outs and get them to game seven.

Gagne heaped more pressure on himself, walking Ted Williams and George Sisler to load the bases. With one out and the bases loaded, Wee Willie Keeler stepped in to face Gagne.

And here are the calls.

National Call (Joe Buck): Keeler hits a line drive base hit to left-center, and Lange fields it. He has no play on the lead runner as Jackson scores to tie the game. Ted Williams is going to try to score as well. Lange throws it into the relay man, Ramirez, who sends it home, but it's late, and just like that, A Shaq of Their Own have won the World Series.

Home Call (Thom Brennaman): I made a comment earlier tonight that I guess went out over the air that I am deeply ashamed of. If I have hurt anyone out there, I can't tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart I'm so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith, as there's a drive into left-center field by Keeler and that'll score Jackson to tie the game and the relay is late and that will score Ramirez. And so that'll make it a 4-3 ballgame. I don't know if I'm going to be putting on this headset again. My career might be over, just like this game.

Alt-Home Call (Tom Hamilton): Keeler swings and it's a line drive to left-center that drops in for a base hit. Jackson is going to score easily to tie the game, and WILLIAMS IS GOING TO TRY TO SCORE. Lange fires to Ramirez, Ramirez with the relay throw ... it is NOT IN TIME! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? A SHAQ OF THEIR OWN ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! HOW ABOUT THAT!

Road Call (Rick Rizza): Keeler connects on a base hit, that'll tie the game ... oh no, oh no ... Williams is rounding third, the relay throw is going to Ramirez at short, but he has no shot. oh no, oh no ... so close again, but frustration again for the pilots, left to wait for next year once again.

Player of the Game, Brought to you by The Ultimate Warrior T-Shirt: "Wee" Willie Keeler

Final: A Shaq of Their Own 4, stone temple seattle pilots 3

Win: Arrietta (1-0)

Loss: Gagne (0-1)

A Shaq of Their Own win the Best-of-Seven Series 4-2.

Series MVP: "Wee" Willie Keeler

A Shaq of Their Own are WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS