Tom Glavine scattered 8 hits over 8 innings, allowing 2 runs while striking out 3 as the 1998 Atlanta Braves topped the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Gerald Williams led off the 3rd inning with a solo home run against Andy Benes, before Benes retired the next two batters. That’s when Benes allowed 5 straight base runners, capped by back-to-back two-run hits by Andrés Galarraga and Ryan Klesko. Benes left in the 5th inning, allowing 7 runs and 8 hits in 4 2/3 innings. The Braves scored two more runs off Todd Stottlemyre in the 8th inning. Every Atlanta batter had a hit. Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect 9th to end the game. The series will head to Phoenix, as the DBacks hope to come back and avoid the Loser’s Bracket.

’99 Diamondbacks @ ’98 Braves – 9/9/24

1993 Toronto Blue Jays starter Pat Hentgen allowed the 1998 New York Yankees just 3 hits in 6 innings. One of those hits was a solo home run by Paul O’Neill in the 6th inning. That added to a Derek Jeter sacrifice fly put the Jays in a 2-0 hole. They never got out of it. Yankees starter David Cone took a 4-hit shutout into the 9th, striking out 9. Joe Carter led off the 9th with a single, and after Paul Molitor flew out, Tony Fernández walked. The game was too close for a tiring Cone to stay in. Mariano Rivera got Devon White to foul out, and Ed Sprague grounded out to end the game for his 2nd save in as many games. One more loss and Blue Jays will be knocked to the Loser’s Bracket. The series heads back to Toronto for Game 3.

’93 Blue Jays @ ’98 Yankees – 9/9/24

Jeff Bagwell homered in Game 1 against the 1994 Montreal Expos only to watch his Astros lose in extra innings. He made sure it didn’t happen again. Bagwell hit a 2-run home run in the 1st against Pedro Martínez, and added another 2-run shot in the 5th inning. He finished 3 for 4 as the 1998 Houston Astros romped to a 7-2 win. Martínez picked up the loss, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings. Shane Reynolds was great for the Astros. Reynolds allowed 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 6 in a complete game victory. Derek Bell was the other Astros standout, going 3 for 4 and scoring 3 runs. Gil Heredia pitched 2 innings of relief for the Expos, allowing a run on 4 hits. The win evens the best-of-5 series between the two teams. They have a day off before heading to Montreal for Games 3 and 4.

’94 Expos @ ’98 Astros – 9/9/24

One day after the 1990 Oakland Athletics lost Carney Lansford due to injury, the 1995 Cleveland Indians lost Jim Thome and backup third baseman Álvaro Espinoza. Despite the injuries, the Indians used the longball, hitting 3 home runs off Bob Welch to top Oakland 7-3 and take a 2-0 series lead in the Best of the 1990s Tournament. Willie McGee led off the 3rd inning with a triple off Dennis Martínez. Thome ranged into foul territory. He caught the ball, but fell into the stands out of play, allowing McGee to score, and exiting the game. In Espinoza’s 1st at-bat in the 4th, he pulled a muscle swinging, bringing in Herbert Perry, the 3rd third baseman of the game for Cleveland. Meanwhile, Kenny Lofton led off the homers with a solo shot. Manny Ramírez and Sandy Alomar added 2-run homers in the 4th and 6th innings. Chad Ogea got McGee to ground into a double-play and pitched two more scoreless innings to hold the lead for the Indians. Lofton finished 3 for 5, scoring twice and adding a stolen base. The win puts the Athletics one loss away from heading to the Loser’s Bracket as the series moves to Oakland for Game 3.

’90 Athletics @ ’95 Indians – 9/9/24