CINCINNATI — With their backs against the wall and a season on the brink, the Cincinnati Reds turned to Mike Mussina—and the veteran right-hander delivered.
Mussina struck out 12 and held the Kansas City Royals to just one run over eight brilliant innings, lifting the Reds to a 3–2 victory in Game 5 of the League Championship Series at Riverfront Stadium. The win cuts Kansas City’s series lead to 3–2 and sends the series back to Royals Stadium for Game 6 on Friday.
“It’s a do-or-die situation, and I just wanted the ball,” Mussina said. “You don’t think about pressure—you just execute pitches.”
How It Happened
The Royals opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly from Jeromy Burnitz in the top of the first, but that would be their only run until the ninth. Mussina dominated, striking out five Royals in the first three innings and pitching around trouble all night.
The Reds responded in the third with a two-run frame keyed by an RBI single from Bernie Williams and a run-scoring groundout by Eric Davis. Williams came through again in the seventh, ripping a two-out RBI triple to make it 3–1.
Closer Todd Worrell allowed a run in the ninth but secured the final three outs to notch his fourth postseason save.
Box Score Highlights
Cincinnati Reds
- Mike Mussina (W, 3–1): 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K
- Bernie Williams: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI
- Eric Davis: 1-for-4, RBI
- Omar Vizquel: 2-for-3, SB
- Todd Worrell (SV, 4): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K
Kansas City Royals
- Roberto Alomar: 1-for-4, RBI, SB
- John Olerud: 1-for-4, 2B
- Carlos Hoiles: 1-for-4
- Kevin Brown (L, 2–1): 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Mussina Makes History
Mussina’s 12 strikeouts set a franchise postseason record for the Reds. He threw 114 pitches, 72 for strikes, and neutralized a Kansas City offense that had scored 10 runs just the night before.
“I had a good feel for the curveball early,” said Mussina. “That let me work ahead and expand the zone later.”
What’s Next
With the series shifting back to Kansas City, Game 6 will see Joey Hamilton take the mound for Cincinnati against Royals lefty Mark Guthrie. The Reds will try to force a Game 7. First pitch is scheduled for Friday, October 13.
Series Status: Kansas City leads 3–2.