Two Former Cougars to Compete in MLB Playoffs
10/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 4, 2004
HOUSTON - Two former University of Houston pitchers will compete for their teams during the 2004 Major League Baseball playoffs, which begin Tuesday afternoon.
Reliever Jesse Crain (2002) and starter Woody Williams (1987-88) will compete on the playoff rosters for the Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.
This season, Crain has pitched to a 3-0 record with 14 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA in 22 games. He was a late addition to the Twins roster after being called up from Triple A Rochester in early August.
The Twins open their best-of-5 series at New York at 7 p.m. (CT) Tuesday, on FOX.
Williams has been a regular in the Cardinals' starting rotation in 2004. This season, the Houston native has pitched to an 11-8 record with 131 strikeouts and a 4.18 ERA in 189.2 innings of work.
Williams is expected to take the hill for the Cardinals in Game One of the National League Division series, which begins at noon (CT), Wednesday in St. Louis on FOX.
Both players were key performers for the Cougars during their collegiate playing days. Although he played only one season with the Cougars in 2002, Crain made an immediate impact. He became the first-ever player in Conference USA history to be named to the league's First Team at two different positions -- shortstop and relief pitcher.
His 35.2 consecutive scoreless innings is the second longest in school history. However, he was also a menace for UH opponents at the plate, batting .309 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. Crain joined Brett Cooley and current Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder as the greatest home-run hitting trio in school single-season history.
By the time that the 2002 season was finished, he was named a First-Team All American utility player by Baseball America and USA Today Baseball Weekly.
Like Crain, Williams was a versatile player, playing shortstop when not throwing on the mound. In two years, he batted .281 with 11 home runs and 69 RBIs. He also combined with Mickey House and Ross Goolsby to hit the only back-to-back-to-back home runs against Texas Southern on March 29, 1988.
Both players will be looking to advance to the World Series, which begins Oct. 23. Ben Weber is the only Cougar to play for a World Series champion as a member of the Anaheim Angels in 2002.
Williams played for the World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, and Gary Weiss played for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 but neither competed during the playoffs.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS LINEUP
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
GAME -- DAY, DATE, TIME (TV)
Game 1 -- Tue., Oct. 5, 8 p.m. (FOX)
Game 2 -- Wed., Oct. 6, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3 -- Fri., Oct. 8, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 -- Sat., Oct. 9, TBD (TBD)
Game 5 -- Sun., Oct. 10, TBD (TBD)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
GAME -- DAY, DATE, TIME (TV)
Game 1 -- Tue., Oct. 5, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2 -- Thu., Oct. 7, 8 p.m. (FOX)
Game 3 -- Sat., Oct. 9, TBD (TBD)
Game 4 -- Sun., Oct. 10, TBD (TBD)
Game 5 -- Mon., Oct. 11, TBD (TBD)
* -- if necessary
All times Eastern