NL East Play in Game #1: Dem Bums fry Fish in 11

Dolphin Stadium
Newcombe vs J.Johnson 

Dodgers 4, Marlins 2 (11 inn)
At the conclusion of the regular season the NL East featured a 3 way tie that was hopelessly deadlocked thanks to the Dodgers taking 3 of 4 from the Cardinals and the Marlins and Pirates splitting.  With 3 teams tied the play in structure becomes a step ladder with the team with the best record in the division getting a bye.  That left the Marlins hosting the Dodgers with the winner having the right to host the Pirates in order to crown a champ.  To quote Marlins manager Justin Ryan, "Its a real cluster &%$#".

With the winner advancing and the loser heading home for good the Dodgers decided to put the ball in the hands of Big Newk, a man who has enjoyed numerous success in the regular season, but has been snake bit in all of his post season outings.  Newk is the only man in baseball history to have won the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP Awards.  When he is on he is frightening.  When he is off, it usually means we are in October.  On the other side the Marlins went with late season call up Josh Johnson.  "JJ" has great stuff and a real live arm, but he only had 12 innings worth of experience in 2005 and the fish bowl (all puns intended) of a play in game might be too much for any rookie.

The Fish struck first with a solo run in the bottom of the 3rd.  With the corners in to take away the bunt, Juan Pierre slapped one by third baseman Charlie Neal and wound up with a stand up triple.  With one out and runners on the corners Carlos Delgado singled home Pierre.  At this point the Marlins had Newcombe on the ropes and judging by his previous post season folly any sane observer would have thought the flood gates were about to open.  Instead Newk was able to reign it in and get an inning ending 3-6-3 DP off the bat of Juan Encarnacion.  With a light misty rain falling the Dodger right hander had to battle the elements as well as the Marlins.  All the while rookie Josh Johnson was cruising, until he walked the bases loaded in the top of the 7th.  That's when Jim Mecir was brought on and handed the unenviable task of protecting a 1 run lead with nobody out and the bases loaded.  Mecir was dynamic.  He fanned Neal then got pinch hitter Roy Campanella to ground into an inning, and what some thought, season ending DP.  To make matters worse for the Dodgers with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th Carlos Delgado doubled home Cabrera.  The end of an era in Brooklyn looked to be upon us.

The top of the 9th saw Florida go to closer Todd Jones, who served up a lead off double to

Geno Cimoli, who would score when Duke Snider tripled him home 3 pitches later.  Next up was Gil Hodges, who lined a single through the hole to tie the game up at 2-2.  There was life in Brooklyn.  Dem Bums still had something left.  With all the air let out of the mulit purpose venue in South Florida the game went to extra innings.  Neither team did a thing in the 10th.  Brooklyn went to 42 year old Sal "the Barber" Maglie in long relief.  Maglie, who left his last start with a sore shoulder was running on fumes.  His fabled overhand curve barely had any bite in it, but he was the best man left in Brooklyn's pen since the Dodgers had already burned through Clem Labine and Ed Roebuck.  The top of the 11th saw the Marlins go to Moehler, who easily got Cimoli to ground out to short.  Snider followed by launching a majestic shot that hit the top of the wall and wound up as a stand up double.  Hodges was then given and intentional pass and Perisho was brought in to face Neal, who he promptly walked to load the bases.  He then walked Campy to force in the go ahead run.  Captain Pee Wee Reese lifted a fly to deep right center to score Hodges and give Brooklyn a 4-2 lead.  Maglie went back out to the mound and struck out Lenny Harris, then got Lo Duca to fly to deep center.  After he walked Willingham he got Easley to ground to short for the final out.  Brooklyn's return from the abyss meant the elimination of the Marlins and a second one game play the following night vs the Pirates at the little ballpark on Bedford Ave.