Royals 7, Pirates 1 – Kansas City Seizes Control Behind Kevin Brown’s Gem
Game 5 was about tone-setting—and Kevin Brown set it early. With the series tied 2–2, the Royals right-hander delivered a complete-game gem in Pittsburgh, scattering 9 hits while allowing just one run and striking out 7. Brown’s performance handed Kansas City a commanding 3–2 series lead and quieted a sold-out Three Rivers Stadium crowd.
A first-inning homer by Jeromy Burnitz sparked a 3-run rally that gave Brown all the cushion he needed. Quinton Veras reached base three times and swiped a bag, while John Olerud drove in two with a pair of singles.
Player of the Game: Kevin Brown (9 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 7 K)
Series: Royals lead 3–2
Box Score:
yamlCopyEditKansas City Royals 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 – 7 9 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 9 3
W: Brown (1-0) | L: Appier (0-1) | HR: Burnitz (KC)
Reds 3, Cubs 1 – Mussina Silences Wrigley, Series Heads to Game 6
Mike Mussina was masterful. The Reds’ ace went 8 innings and gave up just one run in a must-win game at Wrigley Field. With their backs against the wall, Cincinnati stayed alive, trimming the series deficit to 3–2 and shifting momentum back to Riverfront.
Shannon Stewart’s 2-run double in the fourth and Bernie Williams’ RBI double in the eighth proved to be the difference.
Player of the Game: Mike Mussina (8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K)
Series: Cubs lead 3–2
Box Score:
yamlCopyEditCincinnati Reds 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 – 3 7 0
Chicago Cubs 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 6 1
W: Mussina (2-0) | L: Tomlin (0-2) | SV: Worrell (2)
Senators 6, Expos 0 – Burkett Dominates as Washington Clinches
The Expos’ 110-win season came to a crashing halt. Washington shut the door on Montreal’s hopes with a 6–0 win behind John Burkett’s brilliant complete-game shutout. Pedro Martinez, who had been so dominant all year, was tagged for 3 homers—including a grand slam from Mike Stanley.
Albert Belle and Carl Everett also homered as the Senators punched their ticket to the League Championship Series.
Player of the Game: John Burkett (9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER)
Series: Senators win 4–1
Box Score:
yamlCopyEditMontreal Expos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 6 0
Washington Senators 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 X – 6 4 1
W: Burkett (2-0) | L: Martinez (0-2) | HR: Belle (WAS), Everett (WAS), Stanley (WAS, GS)
Giants 4, Mets 1 – Sebra Silences Shea, Puts San Francisco One Win Away
Bob Sebra might not have been the name fans circled before the series started—but after his 8-inning shutdown of the Mets in Game 5, they know it now. Sebra allowed just 4 hits and one solo homer (O. Saenz) while striking out six.
Steve Finley crushed a 3-run homer in the 9th to break it open, following a solo shot from Delino DeShields earlier in the game. The win gives San Francisco a 3–2 lead as the series heads back west.
Player of the Game: Bob Sebra (8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 K)
Series: Giants lead 3–2
Box Score:
yamlCopyEditSan Francisco Giants 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 – 4 3 0
New York Mets 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 1 4 1
W: Sebra (1-1) | L: Isringhausen (0-1) | SV: Myers (2) | HR: DeShields (SF), Finley (SF), Saenz (NYM)