Charlotte storms back to win Game 1

Matt O'Brien

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999 | 9:51 a.m.

The home team had a dramatic, come-from-behind victory Monday night at Cashman Field. Unfortunately for local baseball enthusiasts, it wasn't the Las Vegas Stars.

The triple-A World Series invaded Cashman Field on Monday night, and those who stuck around for the three-hour affair were duly rewarded. The Charlotte Knights, representing the International League, scored five runs in the final three innings to nip the Pacific Coast League champion Vancouver Canadians 6-5 in Game 1 of the best-of-5 series.

The Knights earned a trip to the second World Series by defeating the Durham Bulls three games to one in the IL championship series. The PCL championship series also went four games, with the Canadians besting the Oklahoma Redhawks.

The Stars, who finished the regular season 67-75, didn't qualify for post-season play.

Game 1 was a pitchers' duel through six innings, then someone must have reminded the teams they were playing at Cashman Field.

After Vancouver posted three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-1 lead, Charlotte responded with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to pull within one. The Knights tied the game in the eighth when former major-leaguer Dave Hollins singled to right, then won it in the ninth on an infield hit by catcher Eric Christopherson that plated Chad Mottola.

"With my wheels, it's amazing I was able to leg it out," said Christopherson, who finished the game 3-for-4. "I was just trying to put the ball in play and it worked out."

Losing the opening game of a World Series on a ball that didn't leave the infield has to be deflating, but the Canadians only have themselves to blame. Reliever Anthony Chavez walked Mottola to start the ninth, then threw wild to first on a pick-off play two batters later. Mottola advanced to third on the errant throw and scored when Christopherson's slow chopper bounded over Chavez. Vancouver's second baseman Joey Espada fielded the ball, but had no play at first.

"When you put yourself in a situation where an infield hit can hurt you, you're asking for trouble," said Vancouver manager Mike Quade.

* GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE: The announced paid attendance Monday night was 5,092, but the gate appeared closer to 3,000. Despite the disappointing turnout, director of marketing Jon Sandler remained optimistic.

"I was moderately happy (with the crowd)," said Sandler, who handles play-by-play duties for the Stars and served as an on-field reporter for ESPN2's Game 1 coverage. "We were going up against Monday Night Football, which is a huge event in Vegas. In addition, prior to (the World Series), we were competing with the (De La Hoya-Trinidad) fight and Rebel football for publicity.'

* GAME 2: In the second game of the best-of-5 series tonight, Charlotte will send Pat Daneker (1-0, 2.84 ERA in the postseason) to the mound to face Vancouver starter Kevin Jarvis (0-1, 1.20 ERA in the postseason).