Thursday, October 10, 1991 - It's All Even, Steven!

IT'S ALL EVEN, STEVEN!

After 26 years, Atlanta finally wins a postseason game   as Avery quiets Pirates 1-0.

By, I.J. Rosenberg, The Atlanta Constitution, Friday, October 11, 1991

         Pittsburgh - With their dream season starting to look like it might head toward a premature end, the Atlanta Braves searched every crack, every corner of Three Rivers Stadium on Thursday night for inspiration. It came, not from their group of veterans, but courtesy of a one-time utility infielder that Braves manager Bobby Cox calls "the original dirt player" and a 21-year-old pitcher that Pirates manager Jim Leyland calls "just awesome."

         With Mark Lemke driving in the game's only run and left-hander Steve Avery silencing the Pittsburgh bats, the Braves shut out the Pirates 1-0 before another record crowd of 57,533, squaring the best-of-seven National League Series at one game apiece. The win was Atlanta's first-ever in eight games in the postseason. The series moves to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for three games beginning Saturday.

         After Wednesday night's dismal 5-1 loss, the Braves are very satisfied returning home with a split. "As far as I know this organization had never won a postseason game so this first one means a great deal," said left-fielder Lonnie Smith. "Now we're going home and playing on our own court. And hopefully we can win two of three there." Added manager Bobby Cox, "a split is okay with me."

         But for a few minutes in the ninth it appeared as if the Braves might arive home empty handed. Avery gave up a lead-off double to Bobby Bonilla and up stepped the always dangerous Barry Bonds. Avery fell behind 3-and-1 in the count and not wanting to put the winning run on base, he delivered Bonds a pitch in his wheelhouse. "There was no doubt that Barry was trying to put them ahead and go home," said third baseman Terry Pendleton. But Bonds popped to shortstop Raphael Belliard in short left. 

         It was still far from over, though, as Cox brought on Alejandro Pena, who had 11 saves in 11 opportunities during the regular season, to face right-handed hitting Steve Buechele. Pena's second pitch was wild and the tying run was only 90 feet away. On the next pitch , Buechele grounded back to Pena for the second out. Now Leyland went to his bench and brought out Curtis Wilkerson, hitting .278 against the Braves this years. but Wilkerson watched third strike and all of Atlanta swallowed.

         Avery allowed just six hits and what is more impressive gave up only one outfield out, tying a team playoff record. "We couldn't have scored on him if we played two more hours", said Leyland. Said Avey, "I was just having fun. How can you not enjoy 100 million people watching you." 

         And Lemke sparked an offense that in the second inning had failed to score after loading the bases against former Brave Zane Smith. Finally in the sixth, with David Justice on second and two out, Lemke bounced a ball over the glove of Buechele at third base, allowing justice to come home. In the eighth, Lemke saved the tying run from coming home when he kept Jay Bell's ball in the infield. "He's been a big part of our season," said Cox.

Braves Hitting Recap:
Lonnie Smith, lf   0 for 3 with 1 bb
Terry Pendleton, 3b   0 for 4
Ron Gant, cf   2 for 3
David Justice, rf   1 for 4 with 1 r and 2 so
Brian Hunter, 1b   1 for 4 with 1 so
Greg Olsen, c   2 for 4 with 1 so
Mark Lemke, 2b   2 for 4 with 1 rbi
Raphael Belliard, ss   0 for 3 with 1 bb
Steve Avery, p   0 for 4 with 3 so 

2B: M Lemke (1, off Z Smith)
IBB: R Belliard (1, by Z Smith)
HBP: R Gant (1, by Z Smith)
GIDP: T Pendleton (1)
RBI: M Lemke (1)
Team LOB: 9
With RISP: 2 for 10 


Pitching Recap:
Steve Avery (W, 1-0), 8.1 ip, 6 h, 0 r, 2 bb, 9 so, 118 p with 78 s
Alejandro Pena, S (1), 0.2 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 0 bb, 1 so, 6 p with 5 s
WP: A Pena (1)

Other Info:
DP: 1, M Lemke- R Belliard- B Hunter
SB: R Gant 3 (3, 3rd base of Z Smith/D Slaught, 2nd Base off Z Smith/D Slaught 2)

Pittsburgh Hitting Recap:

Gary Redus, 1b   1 for 3 with 1 bb and 1 so

Jay Bell, ss   1 for 4 with 2 so

Andy Van Slyke, cf   0 for 4 with 1 so

Bobby Bonilla, rf   2 for 4 with 1 so

Barry Bonds, lf   1 for 4 with 1 so

Steve Buechele, 3b   0 for 3 with 1 bb and 1 so

Don Slaught, c   0 for 3 with 1 so
   Curt Wilkerson, ph 0 for 1 with 1 so

Jose Lind, 2b   1 for 3

Zane Smith, p 0 for 2 with 1 so
   Lloyd McClendon, ph   0 for 1

2B: B Bonilla (1, off S Avery)
GIDP: B Bonds (1)
Team LOB: 7
With RISP: 1 for 7

Pitching Recap:
Zane Smith, L (0-1) 7 ip, 8 h, 1 r, 1 er, 2 bb, 5 so
Roger Mason, 1 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 0 bb, 1 so
Stan Belinda, 1 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 0 bb, 1 so
HBP: Z Smith (1, R Gant)
IBB: Z Smith (1, R Belliard)

Other Info:
DP: 1 J Lind-J bell-G Redus
SB: B Bonds 2 (2, 2nd base off S Avery/G Olsen, 3rd base off S Avery/G Olsen; G Redus (2, 2nd base off S Avery/G Olsen)

E: G Redus (1)
Outfield Assists: B Bonilla (M Lemke at 3rd base)
SB: G Redus (1, 2nd base off M Wohlers/G Olsen)

Atlanta ........ 000 001 000 - 1 

Pittsburgh ... 000 000 010 - 0

Time: 2;46

Attendance: 57,533