THE SIDELINES : Teams Go to ‘Absurd’ Lengths

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Nashville Sounds are the champions of the American Assn. East, but only after 18 innings of what manager Pete Mackanin called “the most absurd game I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Nashville used 20 players, blew four scoring opportunities in extra innings and staved off five rallies by the Buffalo Bisons before Chris Jones doubled in Billy Bates for a 4-3 victory early this morning in the Class AAA divisional playoff.

Charlie Mitchell, who entered the game for Nashville in the bottom of the 12th, pitched seven innings for the win--his longest outing of the year by far.

From the eighth until the 18th inning, only zeroes appeared in the line score--but appearances were deceiving. Nashville blew bases-loaded opportunities in the ninth and 15th and a two-on, none-out chance in the 17th. Buffalo failed to score a runner from second with none out in the ninth, blew bases-loaded chances in the 10th, 11th and 12th and another opportunity in the 15th.