Monday, November 05, 2001
Sanders benched for Game 7
Brenly goes with Bautista instead
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PHOENIX — It's not often that an everyday player coming off a four-hit game is benched for the most important game of the year. But that's what happened to Arizona's Reggie Sanders. Sanders, a former Red, was benched in favor of Danny Bautista for Game 7 of the World Series Sunday.
It was not a decision that Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly made easily. But it looked like a good one when Bautista hit an RBI double in the sixth inning.
“I told Reggie this was the single toughest lineup decision I had to make all season,” Brenly said. “It was not because he did something wrong or he wasn't a good player.”
Sanders was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI in the 15-2 Game 6 victory Saturday. Bautista was the only Diamondback to have a bigger night. He was 3-for-4 with five RBI in Game 6.
Brenly liked Bautista's chances against New York Yankee starter Roger Clemens better than Sanders'. Sanders was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Clemens in Game 3. Bautista did not play.
“It's strictly the matchup against Clemens,” Brenly said. “Danny is better suited to handle the pitches Clemens figures to throw.”
Clemens throws heat and he throws it high and inside. Those are the kind of pitches that have given Sanders trouble his whole career.
“I came in early (Sunday) and looked at the videotape of Game 3,” Brenly said. “I checked all the career numbers against a guy like Clemens. This is the lineup we came up with.”
Sanders, 33, was second on the Diamondbacks in home runs (33) and RBI (90). Bautista hit .305 with five homers and 26 RBI in 222 at-bats. He struck out about half as often as Sanders.
“I told Reggie that we would not be here without him,” Brenly said. “That's obvious. We're not going to win this ballgame without him, either. (So I told him to) be ready to go.”
Sanders entered Sunday hitting .304 in the World Series and led the D'backs with seven runs scored. He was 0-for-12 at Yankee Stadium and 7-for-11 (.636) at Bank One Ballpark.
Still, Brenly had to get Bautista in the lineup. He entered Sunday 6-for-9 (.667) with six RBI.
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Covington Catholic 44, Harrison Co. 22
Highlands 49, Bourbon County 30
Holmes 24, Montgomery County 0
Lexington Catholic 54, Grant County 14
Lloyd 46, East Carter 0
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Paris 37, Holy Cross 6
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Indiana playoff pairings
Indiana playoff scores
Sanders benched for Game 7
