Sunday, October 03, 1999Harnisch carries hopes on final day
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerMILWAUKEE — 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.”
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.
THE BIG IF... 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.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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