[PilotMan]

1991 World Series

Game 1

Five lead changes, 3 blown saves (both closers and Doug Jones), and Tom Candiotti winning player of the game despite a 44 game score (lower than the Sox Witt, and he was knocked out in the 5th!). It should have been Eichhorn who was finally able to lock it down for the Astros after they took the lead in the bottom of the 8th.



Astros win 7-6.


Game 2

Astros pitching is again on display as Greg Swindell goes 7, with 7 K's while spreading 5 hits. Benito Santiago had 2, 2-out RBI singles, and that helped push the Astros to a 5-1 win. Bonds and Belle (Killer B's) have been kept totally in check so far. Astros lead 2-0


Game 3

The Sox carried a 3-0 lead late, only to have the Astros rally. Jose DeLeon was pulled in the 7th only allowing 1 hit. The Sox bullpen was on the hook after Doug Jones surrendered 4 hits, and John Henry Johnson couldn't keep them off home plate. The Astros once again used Henke in the 8th and after a lead off double by Jerry Browne, Eichhorn was called on again. A groundout, and a walk to Pagliarulo saw runners at the corners with 1 out. Oil Can Boyd was brought in to face Devon White. He fought back from on 0-2 count, but eventually flied out. One out away from a commanding 3-0 lead, Paul Molitor doubled on a gapper and Browne scored and put the winning run on 3rd. Bonds was walked to load them up for Belle, who singled in the winning run. Sox win 5-4.


Astros lead 2-1.


Game 4

A pitching duel? Bruce Hurst and Jamie Moyer go head to head and the Sox are the first to break a 1-1 tie in the 7th. Pena struggles out of the pen in the series continue and a 2-out double from Molitor propels the Sox to a 4-1 win over the Astros to tie the series up. Sox win 4-1.



Game 5

Tom Candiotti is so clutch. The reigning Cy Young and MVP walks 4 and allows 6 hits over 8, but nobody can score. The Astros get a 2-run jack from McGriff in the 6th and Henke closes to put the Astros on the brink with a 3-0 win as we head back to Houston.


Astros lead 3-2


Game 6

Pitchers duel? Again? Yep. Dave Stewart, who won 60 games over 3 seasons for the Astros got the start for the Sox, back in his old digs of the Astrodome. On the mound for Houston, was the game 2 killer, Greg Swindell. Neither pitcher would yield. It was zeros all night until the bottom of the 7th when a Fred McGriff drive found the seats in right field. Swindell struck out 7 over his 8 shut out innings. While in no less than 3 innings the Astros got the leadoff man on, only to have the next batter get doubled up. Tom Henke pitched a 1-2-3 9th and the Astros won again, 1-0.


Astros take the World Series in 1991.


Final Thoughts

The powerful White Sox got just one home run in 6 games. That stat alone defines this series. We've talked about just how dominant the 'Stros pitching was and that is the proof in the pudding. Bonds was held to .261/.346/.304. Belle was held to .250/.280/.292. Even Fred McGriff only hit .200/.292/.550, but it was that one HR that mattered. Greg Swindell won 2 games with a 0.60 ERA, walked none and struck out 14 to take home World Series MVP honors. He also went 2-3 with the bat. In the postseason he's a career .250/.273/.400 batter in 24 plate appearances. In the regular season he hits .105/.138/.130. Pitching is still a big deal, even if you've got a couple Killer B's.