Infinite Cleveland

Matt Williams Walkoffs

Matt Williams @ baseball-reference.com

Matt Williams @ Wikipedia

Timeline 1: Walkoff Double vs. Hernandez (15-14)

In a high-scoring slugfest that closely resembles the real Game 3, Florida and Cleveland entered the 9th inning with Cleveland up 13-10. But in the top of the 9th, a Darren Daulton solo home run and several base hits off of Cleveland reliver Michael Jackson put the Marlins up 14-13, with Jose Mesa coming in for Cleveland to get the third out with the bases loaded, keeping it a one-run game and keeping the hope of a walkoff alive.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jim Thome got a single, and a 2-out walk put Tony Fernandez on first base. On a 2-2 pitch from Livan Hernandez, Williams hit a fly ball double to center field, scoring Thome and Fernandez and leading the Indians to a walk-off 15-14 victory.

Timeline 1 Box Score

Timeline 1 Game Log

Timeline 14: 12th-Inning Walkoff 2-Run Home Run vs Hernandez (10-8)

In Timeline 14, the Marlins started out strong in Game 3, but every time they rallied, the Indians answered back with a rally of their own. The Indians scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to tie it up at 8 apiece, and the game remained locked in a stalemate, going from the 9th, to the 10th, to the 11th, and finally into the 12th inning - around 1:30 AM Cleveland time.

Thome hit a single off of Marlins reliver Dennis Cook to start the inning, and advanced to second on a 2-out wild pitch by Livan Hernandez. On a 1-1 count, Hernandez delivered a 100 MPH fastball that Williams took deep, a 414 foot blast into enter field, to finally bring an end to a an exhausting and freezing 5-hour marathon of a World Series game.

Timeline 14 Box Score

Timeline 14 Game Log

Timeline 26: Play At The Plate Walkoff

Timeline 26 was a pitchers' duel, with fine performances by both Nagy (8K, 6.3 IP) and Leiter (6K, 7IP). Each pitcher gave up only one run, and the game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth. With Rob Nen on the mound for Florida, Matt Williams reached first base on a routine fly ball to left field that was mishandled by Jim Eisenreich.

Williams advanced to second on a single by Vizquel, then Bip Roberts hit a single to left field. Williams charged home and barely beat out Eisenreich's throw from left by sliding just under Johnson's tag, for a dramatic walkoff play at the plate.

Timeline 26 Box Score

Timeline 26 Game Log

Timeline 32: Near-Miss Not-Quite-A-Walkoff Solo Home Run vs Nen

In Timeline 32, Florida's pitching staff was dominating Cleveland in a 4-hit game. The Indians held on to a 3-2 lead going into the 9th, but gave up a run and couldn't come up with anything in the bottom of the 9th. The game was tied 3-3 going into the 10th. Florida scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th, and it was Cleveland's last chance.

With one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the 10th, Matt Williams hit a solo home run off of Rob Nen to make it 4-5, but nobody else could muster a hit. A near-walkoff solo shot by Williams.

Timeline 32 Box Score

Timeline 32 Game Log

Timeline 69: 10th-Inning Walkoff 3-Run Home Run vs Heredia

It is fitting that the hero of the first timeline drawn from the infinite pool - Timeline 1 - would also be the hero of the last one. Timeline 69's Game 3 was tied up at 3-3 in the bottom of the 4th, and stayed that way all the way through the 9th inning. Among the many timelines full of high-scoring routs and sloppy, error-filled games, this timeline ended up being a clean battle between two evenly-matched pitching rotations.

In the top of the 10th inning, the Marlins struck first, taking advantage of a hit by pitch and an intentional walk. Jim Eisenreich hit a go-ahead RBI single, and the Marlins ended the inning on top 5-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Marlins gave up a walk and a hit, bringing Matt Williams to the plate as the go-ahead run. On an 0-1 count, Heredia delivered a fastball down the middle, and Williams crushed a line drive over the right field fence for a 3-run walk-off home run.

Timeline 69 Box Score

Timeline 69 Game Log