Before Chad Ogea on Saturday night, the last Cleveland Indians pitcher to get a hit in any regular or postseason game was Steve Dunning off Detroit's Mickey Lolich in the first game of a doubleheader on Sept. 19, 1972 - the last season before the American League began using the designated hitter.
In Game 6 against the Florida Marlins, Ogea became the first pitcher with two hits and two RBIs in a Series game since Lolich in Game 2 of the 1968 Series, an 8-1 victory for Detroit over St. Louis and Nelson Briles.Ogea had been 0-for-2 in the regular season (both at-bats this year) and 0-for-2 with a sacrifice against Kevin Brown in Game 2.
His RBI was the first by an AL pitcher since David Cone for Toronto in Game 2 in 1993, and he became the first AL pitcher with two RBIs since Oakland's Mike Moore in Game 4 of the 1989 Series. He is he first Cleveland pitcher with two RBIs in a Series game since Jim Bagby went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs against Brooklyn in Game 5 in 1920.
Again facing Brown, Ogea had the first two-hit game for a pitcher since Cone in Game 2 in 1992.
SEITZER'S DREAM: The highlight of Kevin Seitzer's 11-year career was a grounder to third in the ninth inning of Game 6.
Seitzer, retiring after the season, got his first World Series at-bat as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.
"I went up and shook Mike Hargrove's hand and said, `Thanks, you just made my career,' " Seitzer said of his manager.
SPEED-UP TALK: Acting commissioner Bud Selig vowed a crackdown on delaying tactics next season, saying he thought 20-25 minutes could be trimmed from the average gametime.
"We need to quit talking about it. We need to do something," Selig said on the field before Game 6 of the World Series."
Selig has criticized batters for stepping out all the time and pitchers for circling the mound between pitches. The first five games - none of which went extra innings - took 3:19, 2:48, 4:12, 3:15, 3:39, and their average of 3:25 is on track to break the record of 3:20, set the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets in 1986. Game 6 on Saturday night lasted 3:15.
In June 1995, former AL umpire Steve Palermo presented owners with recommendations to speed game but their effect has been slight to none.
"There will be a change next year," Selig said.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Series glance
(Series tied 3-3)
Game 1: Florida 7, Cleveland 4
Game 2: Cleveland 6, Florida 1
Game 3: Florida 14, Cleveland 11
Game 4: Cleveland 10, Florida 3
Game 5: Florida 8, Cleveland 7
Game 6: Cleveland 4, Florida 1
Game 7: Today, Cleveland (Nagy 15-11) at Florida (Leiter 11-9), 5:35 p.m.
Game on Ch. 5