#14 10/22/02 – Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco - 2002 World Series Game 3

After going 1-1 at home in their first World Series, the Angels had to win at least one in San Francisco. In a postseason in which the Angels exhibited a knack for coming up with big innings, they provided two such innings in this game. With a flurry of hits, the Angels batted around in both the third and fourth innings - the first team to ever do so in consecutive innings in World Series history.

Down 1-0 as they entered the third, David Eckstein drew a walk. Darin Erstad followed with a double to right. Tim Salmon reached on an error, allowing Eckstein to score. Garret Anderson flied out to left. Troy Glaus rapped a single to left, scoring Erstad. Scott Spiezio ripped a triple to right-center scoring both Salmon and Glaus. Adam Kennedy struck out. Bengie Molina was intentionally walked to get to the pitcher, a strategy foreign to AL ball clubs. It worked as Ramon Ortiz grounded out to end the inning. But former World Series MVP Livan Hernandez, who owned a perfect 6-0 record in the postseason, was forced to throw 42 pitches in the inning, setting the stage for the fourth inning.

In the fourth, Eckstein grounded out. Erstad singled to center. Salmon drew a walk. Erstad and Salmon then pulled a double heist, stealing second and third. Anderson grounded out to first, allowing Erstad to score. With two outs, Dusty Baker went to his bullpen. Bad move! Glaus drew a walk. Spiezio dropped a single into shallow right, scoring Salmon. Kennedy sent Witasick’s second pitch right back to him, and Glaus scored on the ensuing scramble to recover the ball. Molina followed with a single to right, scoring Spiezio. Ortiz struck out looking, once again ending the threat.

With an 8-1 lead after four, the Angels cruised to a 10-4 win on 16 hits, reclaiming home field advantage despite setting a WS record with 15 runners left on base in a nine inning game. Hernandez lost his first postseason decision even though Barry Bonds becoming the first player in history to homer in his first three Series game.