1996 World Series recap

The Braves outscored the St. Louis Cardinals in the last three games of the National League Championship Series, 32-1, and they continued that roll with a 12-1 pasting of the Yankees in the Series opener. Rookie Andruw Jones, only 19, paced the Atlanta attack with two homers and five RBIs. The Yankee bats remained quiet in Game 2, as Greg Maddux and Mark Wohlers combined on a four-hit shutout, the Braves prevailing 4-0.

So the Yankees headed to Atlanta for Game 3, down 2-0, and things looking bleak. But New York got on the board with a 5-2 victory, thanks to some gutsy pitching from David Cone and a three-run rally in the eighth inning. The Yankees showed great heart in Game 4, in which they fell behind 5-0 in the third inning. By the fifth it was 6-0, but the Bombers scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the eighth, the latter three coming on Jim Leyritz's home run. It was still 6-6 after nine. With two out in the 10th, Braves manager Bobby Cox ordered Bernie Williams intentionally walked to load the bases. Wade Boggs then followed with an unintentional walk, giving the Yankees the lead. A Ryan Klesko error led to another run, and John Wetteland finished up for Atlanta to even the Series at two games apiece.

Game 5 was all Andy Pettitte, as the Yankee left-hander allowed five hits and no runs in 8 1/3 innings. The game's only run came in the fourth, when Cecil Fielder's double plated Charlie Hayes, and the Yankees won their third straight, 1-0.

In Game 6, Greg Maddux pitched brilliantly, except for the third inning, when the Yankees collected four hits and three runs. Meanwhile, the Braves could do little with New York starter Jimmy Key and his successors, and they trailed 3-1 going into the ninth. With Yankeee closer John Wetteland on the mound, the Braves scored once and placed the potential tying run on second base, but Mark Lemke fouled out to end the Series, and the Bronx Bombers were World Series Champions once again.

Path to the World Series
ALCS: New York over Baltimore (4 games to 1)
NLCS: Atlanta over St. Louis (4 games to 3)
ALDS: Baltimore over Cleveland (3 games to 1); New York over Texas (3 games to 1)
NLDS: Atlanta over Los Angeles (3 games to 0); St. Louis over San Diego (3 games to 0)

Managers: Joe Torre, NYY; Bobby Cox, ATL

MVP: John Wetteland, NYY: 5 G, 4 Saves, 4.1 IP, 6 K