Game 145: Dave Burba gets bashed around for four runs in the fourth and the Spectre offense is absolutely impotent as they drop the opener to Houston, 5-3. A shakeup is in order.

Game 146: The Spectres are overanxious, drawing no walks in a complete game by Ryan Dempster, but Joe Kennedy is brilliant and Montreal wins 3-1. Eddie Guardado gets his 40th save with a scoreless ninth.

Game 147: Carlos Delgado and Edgardo Alfonzo score three runs each and Tomo Ohka throws a complete game as the Spectres take the series with a 7-1 victory.

A trip to Milwaukee will prepare the Spectres for the final round of divisional play.

Game 148: The Spectres hit three home runs and Chuck Finley dazzles the Krauts into the eighth as Montreal takes the opener, 4-2, reducing their magic number to clinch the division to two.

Game 149: The Krauts get two 4-run innings while the Spectres cannot solve Jimmy Haynes; Milwaukee evens the series with an 8-2 win.

Game 150: Montreal clinches the division title with a 5-2 win in Milwaukee behind Dave Burba. Ruben Sierra homers; he and Michael Cuddyer drive in two apiece.

The Spectres will host Philadelphia for four games next.

Game 151: Edgardo Alfonzo's pinch-hit double in the seventh drives home two runs and gives the Spectres just enough to edge the Seaphils, 2-1, in the series opener.

Game 152: Mark Bellhorn drives in three runs with two doubles to help Tomo Ohka win his 17th game, 5-4 over Philly.

Game 153: Carlos Delgado strands six runners but Geoff Jenkins comes through bigtime, hitting two doubles in regulation and then a game-winning walk-off homer in the 12th as Montreal wins 5-2.

Game 154: Melvin Mora's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth plates two runs and the Spectres finish a four-game sweep of Philly with a tense, 3-2 victory.

The Cosmos are in town next.

Game 155: Melvin Mora continues his hot hitting with a home run and four RBI, and Ken Griffey Jr. adds a pinch-hit, bases-loaded triple as the Spectres beat New York 10-5. The Spectre bullpen pitches five scoreless innings after a shaky outing by Dave Burba.

Game 156: Starting pitcher Joe Kennedy's second triple of the season is one of three three-baggers by the Spectres, who add five doubles and a homer in their 11-1 thrashing of the Cosmos. Kennedy goes eight innings for his 14th win.

Game 157: The Spectres offense goes cold but Edgardo Alfonzo hits a two-run, pinch-hit double and Tomo Ohka makes it stand up as Montreal squeaks by the Cosmos, 2-1. Ohka gets his 18th win. Eddie Guardado picks up his 45th save.

Game 158: Roderick Stier hits a three-run homer to cap a four-run second inning and Chuck Finley goes seven as the Spectres beat New York 6-3.

We close the season at Pittsburgh.

Game 159: Mark Bellhorn snaps a 4-4 tie with a ninth-inning homer and Eddie Guardado pitches a scoreless bottom half for his 47th save as the Spectres run their winning streak to 10 games, beating Pittsburgh 5-4.

Game 160: Bret Boone hits a grand slam in the fourth to put the Spectres up 4-1, but Felix Rodriguez returns the favor in the seventh, allowing a one-out grand slam to Lance Berkman. The Spectres don't score again, and their 10-game streak ends with a 5-4 loss.

Game 161: Joe Kennedy throws eight 3-hit innings and the Spectres beat Pittsburgh 3-1. Eddie Guardado throws a scoreless ninth for his 48th save.

Game 162: Montreal loses the season finale, 6-3, and finishes at 95-67. Ruben Sierra shows up with two homers and three RBI but the rest of the team contributes little.

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Montreal will face Central champion Milwaukee in the first round. Montreal won eight of 12 matchups with the Krauts during the regular season.

GAME 1, at Milwaukee

Tomo Ohka (18-7) vs. Jamie Moyer (19-5)

Milwaukee strikes first, on an RBI single by Jamie Moyer in the second inning. Ohka works out of a two-out jam in the third but is victimized by poor defense two innings later as Mark Bellhorn boots a grounder on the leadoff man. Trot Nixon later singles home that run with two down and the Krauts take a 2-0 lead.

Bellhorn redems himself in the seventh, however, when he clubs a two-run homer after a leadoff walk to Edgardo Alfonzo. Neither team scores again in regulation, with both clubs retired in order in the ninth, so the game goes to extras.

Michael Cuddyer walks to lead off the 10th, then advances to third on a single by AJ Hinch. Ken Griffey Jr. pinch hits and grounds a single to center field to bring home Cuddyer with the lead. Paul Quantrill relieves for Milwaukee but Melvin Mora greets him with a bloop double that scores both baserunners.

The next three Spectres are out but Montreal takes a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the 10th with Eddie Guardado ready to preserve the win. He retires the first two Kraut batters but then allows singles to Carlos Beltran and Pokey Reese. David Eckstein flies to short center, and the Spectres win the opener.

GAME 2, at Milwaukee

Chuck Finley (13-8) vs. Paul Byrd (15-10)

Milwaukee scores first again, this time in the opening frame, as two walks issued by Finley precede a single by Eric Chavez. The Spectres answer quickly in the second; Ken Griffey Jr. singles to lead off and Mark Bellhorn hits another home run. One out later, AJ Hinch launches another one into the stands and Montreal leads by two.

Milwaukee strands two in the bottom half and then there are no baserunners until the Montreal fifth, when Carlos Delgado grounds into a double play with two men on to end a threat. Milwaukee gets another big hit from a pitcher in the bottom half, as Byrd triples and then scores on a hit by Luis Castillo.

The Spectre bats respond again; Geoff Jenkins leads off the sixth with a home run; Griffey Jr. singles; Mark Bellhorn... BOOOOM. That basically decides the game. Griffey Jr. and Milwaukee's Raul Ibanez trade solo homers later in the contest, but Montreal emerges as the winner, 7-3, and heads back home for Game 3.

GAME 3, at Montreal

Mark Mulder (14-4) vs. Omar Daal (11-13)

Milwaukee strands three runners in the first inning, then two more in the second. This gives Montreal a chance to score first, which they do on Michael Cuddyer's second-inning home run.

The Krauts go ahead on Eric Chavez' two-run shot in the third and add another run in the fourth on a single by Chavez. David Eckstein's fifth-inning homer makes it 4-1 in Milwaukee's favor.

Montreal's AJ Hinch homers in the bottom of that inning and an error by Carlos Beltran opens the door to another run in that frame. The game remains 4-3 until the bottom of the seventh, when Hinch leads off with a single. Pinch hitter Ken Griffey Jr. doubles him to third and Melvin Mora draws a walk to load the bases. Bret Boone comes to the plate and blasts a game-changing grand slam.

Jim Brower pitches a perfect eighth and Eddie Guardado allows only a two-out walk in the ninth as the Spectres advance to the LCS with a 7-4 win over the Krauts.

In the NLCS, Montreal will face favorites Los Angeles, the West Division champs. Montreal won 5 of 12 meetings with the Looters this season.

GAME 1, at Los Angeles

Tomo Ohka (18-7) vs. Randy Johnson (23-8)

LA leaves the bases loaded in the first, but put runs on the board in the second (Robert Fick single) and third (Jeff Kent homer). Johnson allows only three Spectre hits through seven innings, but weakens in the eighth, allowing a three-run home run to Carlos Delgado.

Up 3-2 after eight and a half, the Spectres turn the ball over to Eddie Guardado.. for the first time in recent memory, he fails. A walk to Craig Wilson and a sac bunt are followed by an RBI single from Mike Lowell. LA ties the score and the game goes to extras.

Montreal goes down in order in the 10th. Kelvim Escobar pitches the 10th for Montreal. He walks Mike Lieberthal with one out, allows a single to Craig Wilson, and walks pinch hitter Bobby Higginson to load the bases.

in to face Lowell, Escobar fails in the same manner as Guardado. Lowell singles and the Looters take the opener, 4-3.



GAME 2, at Los Angeles

Chuck Finley (13-8) vs. Rick Reed (14-9 overall, 5-4 with LA)

Bret Boone leads off game 2 with a home run off Rick Reed. Unfortunately, it is the only run Montreal will score.

LA ties the score on Jeff Kent's single in the second, then explodes for three runs in the fourth, with Manny Ramirez and Robert Fick contributing RBI singles. Craig Wilson homers in the seventh to make the final score 5-1.

Montreal now trails 2-0, and things look bleak.

GAME 3, at Montreal

Cory Lidle (15-10) vs. Omar Daal (11-13)

Montreal strikes first when Ken Griffey Jr. singles in the second, advances to second on a walk to Ruben Sierra, and scores on AJ Hinch's single.

Daal is brilliant, throwins six shutout innings, but Lidle tightens up as well, and the score is still 1-0 after six.

Mike Remlinger has some difficulty in the seventh, but Felix Rodriguez gets out of a bases-loaded jam when Manny Ramirez flies out. Rodriguez is not so lucky in the eighth as he allows a game-tying home run to Robert Fick.

Jim Brower gives up the lead in the ninth, retiring the first batter but then allowing two consecutive singles followed by two walks to force in a run. Peter Munro relieves and allows a sac fly to Fick.

Down 3-1, the Spectres send Delgado, Jenkins and Griffey Jr. to the plate in the ninth against y LaTroy Hawkins. None of them gets on base, and the Looters have a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

GAME 4, at Montreal

Randy Johnson (23-8) vs. Joe Kennedy (15-9)

Manny Ramirez homers in the first to put LA in front, but the Spectres get RBI doubles from Bret Boone and Ruben Sierra in the bottom half to go up 2-1. Joe Kennedy works out of a bases-loaded jam in the third but otherwise has little problem through six. In the bottom of the sixth, Mark Bellhorn triples to score Edgardo Alfonzo.

Kennedy allows one runner in both the seventh and eighth and leaves at that point having allowed only two hits. Eddie Guardado allows a leadoff single to Jeff Kent in the ninth, but gets a fly out from Carlos Febles and then coaxes a double play grounder from Mike Lieberthal to end the game. Montreal avoids a sweep with a 3-1 win and rewards the home crowd with another game tomorrow.



GAME 5, at Montreal

Rick Reed (14-9 overall, 5-4 with LA)vs. Tomo Ohka (18-7)

Both starters are on top of their games in this one. The game is scoreless through the first five innings, with the Looters collecting five hits to Montreal's one.

In the sixth, Tomo Ohka leads off with a single. He moves to second on a walk to Bret Boone and goes to third on a double play. Carlos Delgado is walked to bring up Geoff Jenkins, who singles to score Ohka.

Ohka works perfect innings in the seventh and eighth... with Guardado tired from recent work, Mike Remlinger gets the ball for the ninth, clinging to a 1-0 lead. He retires all three batters he faces, striking out Manny Ramirez for the final out, and sends the series back to LA for Game 6.



GAME 6, at Los Angeles

Chuck Finley (13-8) vs. Corey Lidle (15-10)

Montreal gets things started early, as four of the first five batters get hits, including a two-run homer by Carlos Delgado. The Spectres strand three runners in the first but still lead 3-0. LA scores on Vladimir Guerrero's single in the bottom half and the Spectres leave three more runners on base in the second.

The Looters rally for three in the third, capped by an RBI single from Lidle, and take a one-run lead. A hit batter, a walk, and a single in the sixth allow the Spectres to tie the score, but they leave the bases loaded for the third time.

Damian Moss enters to pitch the seventh for the Looters and is victimized by a Vlad Guerrero error that puts two on with none out. Pinch hitter Ramon Hernandez grounds into a double play, but Bret Boone doubles to snap the tie. Rocky Biddle relieves Moss and surrenders a home run to Edgardo Alfonzo.

Kelvim Escobar strands two Looters in the seventh, and Montreal adds two more runs in the eighth. Jim Brower pitches a perfect eighth and Eddie Guardado a clean ninth as the Spectres force a seventh game, winning Game 6, 9-4.

GAME 7, at Los Angeles

Omar Daal (11-13) vs. Randy Johnson (23-8)

After a scoreless first inning, Edgardo Alfonzo leads off the second with a walk, followed by a Mark Bellhorn home run.. it's Bellhorn's fourth home run of the postseason. The Spectres load the bases quickly after that and score a third run on a Bret Boone grounder.

Robert Fick singles home Vladimir Guerrero in the bottom half to make it 3-1, but Bellhorn comes through again with an RBI single in the third to make it a three-run cushion again.

Bellhorn is involved in the game's next tally, as well.. he doubles to lead off the sixth and later scores on AJ Hinch's single.

Mike Lowell gets that run back for LA in the bottom half, singling home Manny Ramirez, but the Looters get nothing else from that rally. Montreal strands three runners in the seventh, losing a chance to break the game open, and the Looters pounce in the bottom half, getting a two-run homer from Mike Lieberthal to make it 5-4.

Jim Brower pitches a 1-2-3 eighth and Steady Eddie Guardado enters to pitch the ninth. He gets the first two batters on groundouts, then allows a single to pinch hitter Bobby Higginson. Craig Wilson hits a fly ball to .. and it's caught! Montreal wins 5-4 and advances to the World Series, coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the NLCS.

Montreal will face AL wildcard winner Detroit (99-63) in the Series.

GAME 1, at Montreal

AJ Burnett (17-6) vs. Tomo Ohka (18-7)

After a scoreless top of the first, Montreal draws first blood; Bret Boone leads off with a double and scores on Edgardo Alfonzo's single. The Facerockers tie the score in the second on Jason Varitek's double. Gary Sheffield snaps the tie in the third with a wall-scraping homer to .

After Mark Bellhorn Ks with the bases loaded in the third, Ruben Sierra picks him up, hitting a two-run single to tie the score. In the fifth, Bellhorn is intentionally walked with a man on second and Sierra strikes again, pounding a three-run homer.

An error by Geoff Jenkins in the sixth leads to two unearned runs for Detroit, narrowing the lead to 6-5; Ken Griffey Jr. singles home Carlos Delgado in the bottom half to add an "insurance" run.

Mike Remlinger allows two runners in the seventh but no runs; Felix Rodriguez allows only a single to Doug Mientkiewicz in the eighth. Eddie Guardado gets the ball in the ninth, as usual. He allows a two-out single to Timo Perez but ends the game by striking out Jason Varitek. Montreal takes the opener 7-5.

GAME 2, at Montreal

John Lieber (10-4) vs. Chuck Finley (13-8)

Detroit gets on the board in the first as Doug Mientiewicz leads off with a walk and later scores on Brian Giles' sac fly. Minetkeiwicz is in the middle of the action again in the second inning, driving in two runs with a single after Finley walks the second and third batters of the inning, and later scoring himself to make it 4-0. Jason Varitek extends it to 5-0 with a 5th-inning single.

The Spectres go down in order in five straight innings before getting two singles to start the seventh. Jenkins pops out, Griffey Jr. grounds out, and Mark Bellhorn flies out - no runs score. Detroit adds another run in the bottom of that frame.

Lieber throws a scoreless eighth and Joe Borowski pitches the ninth. Montreal gets two on but Bellhorn once again makes the last out of an inning with two runners on base... Detroit earns a split on the road with a 6-0 win.

GAME 3, at Detroit

Tim Wakefield (6-3) vs. Omar Daal (11-13)

There's not much to say about this game.. neither team can break through offensively. The Spectres strand a ton of runners, while the Facerockers finally manage to score a run in the fifth on Omar Vizquel's single.

Montreal loads the bases with one out off Tim Wakefield in the seventh, but Jose Mesa comes in and gets out of the jam. The Spectres get a runner in the eighth and ninth as well, but neither gets past first base, and the Facerockers record their second straight shutout, 1-0 over the Spectres.

GAME 4, at Detroit

Joe Kennedy (15-9) vs. Wade Miller (11-9)

Brian Giles is the first baserunner of the game, as he leads off the second with a walk. He later scores on a Craig Biggio grounder to give Detroit an early lead. Detroit adds another run in the third on Gary Sheffield's single.

The Spectres have a few threats, but strand two runners in each of the fourth and sixth innings. Detroit extends their lead in the bottom of the sixth on Craig Biggio's bases-loaded single (after a Mark Bellhorn error).

Montreal still trails 4-0 with two gone and none on in the seventh when they finally find a little luck. Bret Boone doubles and scores on Ken Griffey Jr.'s single, Montreal's first run in three games. Mike Williams comes in to pitch; Carlos Delgado hits a weak grounder to short but Cristian Guzman botches it and Delgado reaches. Ruben Sierra pounces with a double to drive home both runs; 4-3 now. Joe Borowski relieves; Edgardo Alfonzo singles to tie the score. Mark Bellhorn is walked and AJ Hinch singles to right center, giving Montreal a lead. Billy Koch enters and retires Melvin Mora to stop the rally.

Kelvim Escobar allows two runners in the eighth but keeps the lead; Eddie Guardado works a 1-2-3 ninth to even the series at two games apiece.

GAME 5, at Detroit

Tomo Ohka (18-7) vs. John Lieber (10-4)

Montreal gets out of the gate fast, as a first-inning double by Ruben Sierra drives home two runs. Detroit takes the lead in the second, however, on a three-run homer by Jason Varitek.

Mark Bellhorn doubles to lead off the fourth and scores on AJ Hinch's single, but Varitek homers again in the bottom half to restore the lead to the Facerockers. Varitek's passed ball in the fifth, however, helps the Spectres tie the game again as Edgardo Alfonzo singles home the runner who moved to second on the miscue.

It is here that Tomo Ohka runs into some major trouble. He hits Mientkiewicz to lead off the inning, then walks a batter one out later. Scott Rolen triples and both runners score. Peter Munro is brought in to relieve the laboring Ohka. Timo Perez and Varitek (again) greet him with run-scoring hits; Detroit leads 8-4 after five innings.

Montreal loads the bases with one down in the seventh, and Mark Bellhorn snaps out of his RBI slump with a triple, making it an 8-7 game. Detroit's Mike Matheny returns the favor in the bottom half, driving in three runs with a double. Timo Perez adds a two-run double in the eighth and the Facerockers go up 13-7.

With one down in the ninth, AJ Hinch smashes a three-run homer, but Armando Benitez enters the game to retire Ramon Hernandez and Carl Crawford to end it.

Montreal heads back home, but they need to win both games there to win the series.

GAME 6, at Montreal

AJ Burnett (17-6) vs. Chuck Finley (13-8)

Entrusted with extending the season, Chuck Finley fails miserably. He retires the first two Detroit batters, then allows four straight baserunners, three of which score, and the Spectres start the game in a 3-0 hole.

Montreal does get two back in the first off a somewhat wild Burnett, but Scott Rolen chases Finley in the third with a three-run bomb. Omar Daal enters to no better results; two batters later it's Jason Varitek going yard, and the Spectres trail 8-2.

Long story short, Montreal doesn't score again, Detroit tacks on three more runs in the late innings, and the Facerockers defeat the Spectres four games to two to win the 2002 Centennial League championship.

Congrats to rsp77 and his crew.

congrats kermit on making it to the World Series!

Montreal gets the 18th pick in the 2003 player draft.

In the first round, the Spectres pick up a piece (hopefully) for the starting rotation in Jeremy Bonderman.

Still looking to shore up the SS position, Montreal selects Khlalil Greene in the second round.

Another guy who could find himself in the 2004 rotation is taken in the third: Jimmy Gobble.

With their fourth and final pick, the Spectres take y reliever Trever Miller.

2003 Preview:

The Spectres have a decent offense, even if Ken Griffey Jr. continues to suffer from injuries, but there is a decided lack of talent in the starting rotation. This team is unlikely to contend unless they can outslug the opposition.

The Spectres open the season at San Diego.

Game 1: Tomo Ohka avoids trouble early, but Einar Diaz snaps a 1-1 tie in the fifth with a double and the Conquistadors add two more in the sixth on singles by Alex Rodriguez and Vinny Castilla; the Spectres rally late, getting solo homers from Bret Boone in the eighth and from pinch hitter John Flaherty in the ninth, but fall short 4-3.

Game 2: Montreal records its first win of the season, 11-5 over San Diego, as Carlos Delgado clubs two home runs and drives home five. Bret Boone contributes four hits, including a double.

Game 3: Rookie Jeremy Bonderman goes 7.1 innings and allows only two runs in his first major league start as the Spectres unexpectedly take their first series of the season, winning the finale in San Diego, 5-2. Carlos Delgado drives in two more runs and Ramon Hernandez homers.

The Spectres will have their home opener against St. Louis.

Game 4: The Cthulu are rude hosts, scoring six runs in the fifth and blasting four home runs in the game, cruising to a 13-6 win over the Spectres. Joe Kennedy takes the brunt of the six-run fifth and the bullpen offers little resistance thereafter. Edgardo Alfonzo hits his first home run for Montreal.

Game 5: History repeats itself, and how. St. Louis has another 6-run fifth inning and beats Montreal again, 7-5. Carl Crawford hits his first home run for the Spectres.

Game 6: St. Louis provides evidence that the bottom half of the Spectre 6-man rotation is substandard, punctuating a sweep of Montreal with a 15-7 win. They have a six-run inning again, this time in the sixth, and add another five in the seventh, saving Greg Maddux, who allows six runs in two innings.

The Spectres head west again to face Los Angeles.

Game 7: Montreal stages 4-run eighth AND ninth innings to rally for a 10-4 win over the Looters in the series opener. Carlos Delgado blasts three home runs and adds and RBI single for five RBI; Geoff Jenkins caps the outburst with a three-run homer in the ninth.

Game 8: Ramon Hernandez hits two RBI singles and a two-run homer to pace an 11-hit Spectre attack as they win in LA, 10-6. Bret Boone hits three doubles and Geoff Jenkins adds a home run. Montreal evens their record at 4-4.

Game 9: Carlos Delgado crushes two more homers, giving him seven for the season, and the Spectres outslug LA, 9-8, to sweep the series at Dodger Stadium. Jim Brower throws two scoreless innings and Eddie Guardado throws a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.

Montreal returns home to face Chicago, who is scoring runs at a ridiculous rate while racing off to an 8-1 start.