RBI singles by Brad Franklin and Matt Webb plated two runs off Team Cardinal starter Dave Shaffer in the first as Team Black jumped out to the early lead. 

"Who would ever have thought three singles, a walk, and three stolen bases would lead to two runs like that?" asked Shaffer. "Coach (Craig) Rapp has told us all fall just throw strikes, and the outs would take care of themselves. Then, he shows up late, with a bag from McDonald's and wants to know what happened. I'll tell you what happened, if he can't bring enough for everybody, then he should can the lunch trip and be here on time."

While Shaffer mulled over dietary issues, rookie Conrad Smith was impressive, facing just seven hitters in the first two innings. In  the third, two singles, an error and two walks led to two game-tying runs.  Only a two-out bases loaded popup kept Smith in the game. 

"We had (Michael) Idol ready," said a relieved Zach Whicker, "But it just didn't seem like a nice day for a white wedding." To which fellow Team Black manager Tim Huie echoed, "more, more, more."

Shaffer worked out of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, but was touched for a single run in each. Consecutive two-out singles by Huie, Whicker, and Franklin in the fourth and some shoddy fielding by his infield mates in the fifth allowed Team Black to stretch the lead to 4-2. In the sixth, Shaffer was relieved by centerfielder Steve Danis, who allowed a leadoff double to Whicker and escorted him home with a wild throw to first on a come-backer to the mound. 

With the game now a 5-2 affair, Danis settled down and was impressive in retiring five of the last six Team Black hitters. "I had to pitch today," was Danis' answer to, "Why did you bring yourself into a game with a two-run deficit?" "I felt if I could get in there and give up just one runner, it might eliminate any hope we had of coming back and winning this game."

It turned out he was as prophetic with that statement as he had been with Anthony Ramakis' triple two days earlier, as Team Cardinal rallied for two runs on two hits and a walk.  The key blow a two-out triple by Gabe Staub, who was stranded on third to make the final score, 5-4. Ian Clement picked up the save in relief of Smith, who went six in a gutsy performance that saw him overcome four hits and seven walks. 

Smith seemed to have another agenda. "I out-pitched Shaffer.  He walked eight and I only walked seven. I knew I could do it."

With the series 2-1, Team Cardinal faces elimination in Sunday's 1:00 Game 4. At press time, starters had not been announced, but both GMs had been on the phone to Atlanta to inquire as to whether Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine needed work between starts. While both were available to pitch, details regarding a night's stay in the Greensboro area could not be hammered out for the two financially strapped Atlanta hurlers.