Sunday, October 03, 1999
Harnisch carries hopes on final day
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MILWAUKEE Pete Harnisch is an ideal choice to pitch the game that determines whether the Reds' season lives or dies.
He's a true soldier, left fielder Greg Vaughn said. He leaves everything he has in between the lines and that's what we need.
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THE BIG IF...
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Final-day scenarios: IF REDS WIN, ASTROS LOSE, METS LOSE: Reds win Central Division. Astros win wild-card. IF REDS WIN, ASTROS LOSE, METS WIN: Reds and Astros hold playoff at 2:05 p.m. Monday at Cinergy Field for Central Division title. Mets win wild-card. IF ALL 3 WIN OR ALL 3 LOSE: Reds and Mets hold playoff at 2:05 p.m. Monday at Cinergy Field for wild-card. Astros win Central Division. IF REDS LOSE, METS LOSE: Reds and Mets hold playoff at 2:05 p.m. Monday at Cinergy Field for wild-card. Astros win Central Division. IF REDS LOSE, METS WIN: Reds go home. Mets win wild-card. Astros win Central Division.
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Harnisch, 33, thrived in another pressure-packed situation in his last start. Tuesday in Houston, he allowed four hits in eight innings to pace a 4-1 victory.
Asked if that game gave him any momentum for today's assignment, Harnisch said, I think so. But it doesn't guarantee anything. Does it give you a positive feel? Yeah. But each game's different.
Harnisch insisted he was unfazed on the eve of the most critical game of his 11-year career. You try to treat it like another start and see how it goes, he said.
It's a tough game to pitch. You don't want to have to play a game like that. But that's the situation we're in. You do the best you can and you don't look back, simple as that.
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