Woodie or won't he ???

[GAME 4 - Shea Stadium - Flushing, NY - MON 1, NYM 0]

After wild and wacky histrionics of game 3, the series finale treated us to a pitchers duel for the ages. The Mets went to their ace, Al Leiter (1-4, 3.33) and the Expos were forced into starting their #4 starter, Dan Schatzeder (5-0, 3.67). Leiter has pitched well all season, but has not received much in the way of run support from the Metropolitans. Schatzeder has pitched well beyond the expectations for a 4th starter and he's helped his cause each and every time out their with his .263 batting average. With the wind blowing in and the blinding sun of a perfect Sunday afternoon for baseball the fans were treated to a

duel in the sun. The first 4 innings were scoreless. Leiter looked dominant, and Schatzeder matched him frame for fram. The top of the 5th saw Ellis Valentine lead off with a bloop parachute single just over the outstretched arms of Edgardo Alfonzo at second. Carter followed with a slicing opposite field hit to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. Perez flew out to center and Dave Cash delivered an RBI single, which would turn out to be the only run scored on the day. Schatzeder followed that with a single of his own and the Expos looked to break this one open. Leiter would have nothing of it and fanned Scott on 3 pitches and got Cromartie to ground weekly back to the box. All in all Leiter went 8 stellar innings and gave up that lonely run in the 5th.

While Leiter was out there competing his offense looked to have already cashed in their chips and packed in the season. That was until the 8th when Dan Schatzeder, who gave up 1 hit on the day began to tire. After fanning Daryl Hamilton to lead off the inning he walked an aging Bobby Bo. That was it for him. What a fantastic day at the office. Now it was time for the Expo bullpen to finish it out. Stan Bahnsen came in and inspired little confidence by walking the light hitting Rey Ordonez to put runners on 1st

and 2nd without the benefit of a ht. Pinch hitter Benny Agbayani popped out to Scott at second for the second out. All Bahnsen needed to do was get Henderson, whom he walked to load the bases for the clutch hitting John Olerud. That was it for Bahnsen as lefty specialist Woodie Fryman came on to get Olerud to ground out to Scott at short to end the Mets threat in the 8th. Montreal went quietly in the 9th and Fryman went out to the mound to close the game out and ensure the sweep. Lefty RObin Ventura fought off a 3-2 slider for a clean single to right

to open the Mets half of the 9th. With the shaky Elias Sosa already warmed in the bulpen the Expos decieded to bypass on that drama and let Fryman have a go at it. Piazza popped out to Parrish at third for the first out. Alfonzo walked to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. McRae, who as pinch hitting for the lefty Hamilton flew out to Valentine on the warning track in right. Every fan was up off his or her seat thinking that one was "outta here", as Gary Cohen (met announcer) likes to say. With two out Bobby Bonilla grounded weakly back to the box and just like that it was over. Montreal completed the improbable sweep and virtually assured themselves a spot in the post season. They will now have to scoreboard watch to see what the division leading Pirates do in their series vs the Cardinals.