European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse The stars and stripes october 19,1991 b Page 28atlanta wins first no Flag Catcher circa Olson Pitcher John Smoltz and Mark Lemke begin braves Celebration. By Ben Walker Pittsburgh a so this season of surprises will end with the biggest one yet the Atlanta braves and the Minnesota twins in the most unlikely world series Ever. The braves those longtime losers made winning look easy thursday night. John Smoltz pitched Atlanta to its first Pennant beating Pittsburgh 4-0 in game 7 of the no playoffs. Now the braves baseball a poorest team last year and the twins the Only other team this Century to go from worst to first meet in the world series beginning tonight in the metronome. Jack Morris will pitch for Minnesota while braves manager Bobby Cox will Start 20-game Winner Tom Glavine. A this club came a Long Way from Spring training a Atlanta a Terry Pendleton said. A people said we were out of it at the All Star break but we kept battling. They said we catch the dodgers and we kept battling. This is a team that wont give Pittsburgh did no to give up either. It just looked that Way on the Field and in the stands where there were almost 10,000 empty seats. Pittsburgh did not score in its last 22 innings and was shut out for the third time in the series. As in last year s six game playoff loss to Cincinnati the heart of the order a Barry Bonds Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke a stopped beating. The pirates big three finished 15 for a a 75 with just three Bis none after the third inning of game 1. They also were 1 for 33 with runners on base until Bonilla singled in the eighth. Last year the Middle of the lineup was Only 12 for 63 with five Bis against the reds. A they stuck it to us a Van Slyke said. A there Isnit one person in the stadium that would be told you in Spring training that they d win their division let alone game 7 not even the braves would be believed it. They had finished last for three straight years averaging 100 kisses per season. 1 done to know if anybody knows How it teels to lose consistently a Smoltz said. A i know it feels great to a Day after a playoff map Steve Avery and Alejandro Pena shut out Pittsburgh 1-0, Smoltz won his second game in six Days. He pitched a six hitter for his first shutout of the year striking out eight and walking one. Tie pirates blew a 3-2 series Edge and did Rio score in their last 27 in nags at Home. Atlanta won two of three 1-0 games in the series behind Avery. This time though the braves did t need a shutout to win. Brian Hunters two run Homer capped bears shut Down packers 10-0 or Kiln Bay wis. A the Chicago bears managed Only one touchdown thursday night. It was plenty against the Green Bay packers. The bears shut Down and shut out Green Bay s sputtering offence in a 1 1-0 Victory. It was Chicago s Lith Victory in the Las 13 games against its longtime rival. Jim Harbaugh s 8-Yard touchdown pass to James Thornton late in the second Quarter and Kevin butlers 22-Yard Field goal Early in the fourth sent the bears 52 to a Victory after two straight losses. The packers who had 13s Yards total offence and made just live first Downs fell to 1-6 with their fourth straight loss and Lith in 12 games dating Hack to last season. Don Majkowski in one the worst performances of his career completed Only three of 16 passes for 32 Yards before he Box score on Page 23 a three run first inning and that was plenty for Smoltz and the braves. In reversing their history the braves also stopped the pirates series of game 7 successes a Pittsburgh had played five previous deciding seventh games and won them All. A i m glad this is Over a Smoltz said. A i was a Little nervous at the it really was Over Early. After the braves knocked out 20-game Winner John Smiley in the first inning the pirates had their Best Chance when Orlando Merced and Jay Bell led off the first with singles. But the big three of Van Slyke Bonilla and Bonds each made outs failing for the umpteenth the ninth with 500 braves fans chanting and chopping in the far reaches of the upper deck Smoltz finished it quickly with a 1-2-3 inning. That set off an Exhur Brant Celebration on the Field and triggered an even Wilder scene in the clubhouse. For the pirates the loss marked another disappointment far worse than last years defeat against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh was baseball a Best team during the regular season at 98-64, and came into the playoffs Calm and confident. The pirates won the opener took two of three in Atlanta and returned to three Rivers stadium this week needing Only one win to reach the world series for the first time since 1979. Not Only did they not get one win they did no to get one run. The braves won the fifth Pennant in franchise history and first since 1958 in Milwaukee. Atlanta had been swept in its Only other playoff appearances in 1969 and 1982. The braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, owner Ted Turner who bought the team in 1976, was beaming when he accepted the no championship trophy. A i had hoped for this sooner but better late than never a he said. The pirates went meekly and so did their fans. A crowd of just 46,932, More than 10,000 fewer than watched game 1, saw the season end. A you have to tip your hat to the Atlanta braves a pirates manager Jim Leyland said. A it s very disappointing. They re legitimate champs. What a great performance. What a great Story for Hunter a Rookie drove in three runs. He hit a two run Homer after Ron Gant s sacrifice Tler Emhe first inning and added an rib double in the fifth. Smoltz in danger of losing his spot in the rotation in mid season when he was 211, won for the 14th time in 16 decisions since the All Star break. Was replaced by former Bear Mike Tomc Zak in the fourth Quarter. Juhe packers deepest drive All night Only reached the Chicago 43, Quot Majkowski tumbled a snap out of the Shotgun and Richard Dent recovered for the bears at the Green Bay 14 with 30 seconds to go in the third Quarter. Chicago just missed a first Down and settled Lor butlers 22-Yard Field goal with 13 48 to Piaf. Quot inside sports football on to tonight a Page 22 Ramstein Span Dahlem in playoff collision a Page 25 How world series teams compare a Page 26 huskies picked Over bears Page 27
