2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #10

 

National League Pitcher of the Week – Urban Shocker – West Michigan Retrogrades

1-0 record, 9.0  innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit allowed, 5 strikeouts, & 3 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Mike Scott  – Cincinnati Knights

1-0 record, 9 innings pitched,  .00 ERA, 3 hits allowed, 8 strikeouts, & 1 walk

 

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Ripper Collins  – Detroit Deloreans

.500 avg / 1.357 slg, 7 for 14, 4 home runs, 5  runs, 5 RBIs, & 1 walk

 

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Joe (Ducky) Medwick  – Jack Street Hustlers

.471 avg / 1.176 slg, 8 for 17, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 5 runs, & 9 RBIs

 

Fort Worth Cats vs Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: The Fort Worth Cats (37-20) travel to Jack Street (39-18) in a battle of the first place teams in their respective AL divisions.
Game #1: Game 1 matches Root (5-4) for the Cats against Glav ine (8-0) for the Hustlers. This one was all Hustlers as they scored early and often, led by Rogers Hornsby (3-5 with 2 HR, 3 runs and 6 rbi) and Duck Medwick (5-6 with 2 doubles, 2 homers (including a grand slam) 4 runs and 6 rbi). Final score was 16-2 Jack Street. A bright spot for the Cats, Kenny Singleton goes 4-4 in the loss.
Game #2: Game 2 features Cats’ co-ace Justin Verlander (7-3) against Sonny Siebert (3-4) for the Hustlers. Cats get on the board first by scoring 2 in the first. Jack Street gets one back in the 2nd, but Fort Worth puts it away in the 7th with a 4 spot. Final score 6-1. Verlander goes 7 giving up 4 hits, 4 walks and strikes out 6. Lee May doubles and homers and drives in 2. Palmeiro is injured for the Hustlers for 6 days.
Game #3: Game 3 starters are Cats’ other co-ace Greg Maddux (10-0) against Hustler ace Bill Byrd (5-1). Cats again score 2 in the first and never look back. Final score Fort Worth takes it 4-1. Maddux goes 7 giving up 5 hits, a run, no walks and strikes out 6. Eck picks up his 11th save. Al Oliver’s 2 run single is the big blow of the game.
Game #4: The final game of the series matches Jim Kaat (5-4) for Fort Worth against Frank Viola (3-0) for Jack Street. Fort Worth again scores early, pushing across 2 in the 2nd and again never trailed. Final score Fort Worth 7, Jack Street 2. Kaat goes 7 giving up 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks and 6 Ks. The Jack Street defense forgot their gloves as they commit 4 errors in the game.
Series Summary: Jack Street’s offense is starting to look a little overrated, as they are limited to 4 runs and 14 hits over the last 3 games after their first game outburst. Verlander and Maddux make a terrific 1-2 punch.
Purry Cowpokes @ Lewisberry Country Blumpkins
Series Preview: The Purry Cowpokes (32-25) traveled down the Mighty Susquehanna River to face the Country Blumpkins (34-23) in North Lewisberry. The series was played over TeamViewer and was about as evenly matched as expected.
Game #1: Weimer vs Ruth
Glenn Davis knocks in 3 and Tris Speaker had 3 hits and scored 3 runs as 4 Poke pitchers shutdown the Blumpkins on 7 hits.
Cowpokes 5 Country Blumpkins 0
Game #2: Carlton vs Hershiser
Purry jumps out to a 4-0 lead in the 4th but Steve Sax’s 3run HR in the 5th ties it up at 4. Boggs pinch-hit 2RBI 1B in the 6th gives the Blumpkins the lead for good. Nellie Cruz adds a 2run HR late for LCB and Bernie Williams hit a solo HR in the 3rd. Luke Easter had 3 hits and scored 3 runs for the Pokies.
Country Blumpkins 8 Cowpokes 5
Game #3: Vazquez vs Cooper
Neither starter was very effective. And Zach Britton was worse. After being on the mound in the 9th to watch Brady Anderson steal home on a Double Steal with Rickey, he serves up a meatball to Gorman Thomas in the 10th to hand Purry the win. The NSA is currently scouring Britton’s background to see if he has any connections to foreign governments.
Cowpokes 8 Country Blumpkins 7 10inn
Game #4: Radcliffe vs Morris
Cowpokes again jump out to a 4-0 lead until the bottom of the 4th when the Blumpkins scratch out 2 to cut the lead in half. Bottom 6th, Blumpkins explode for 4. Britton, after being cleared by the Sate department earlier in the day, redeemed himself with a perfect 9th. Speaker had 4 RBI for Purry.
Country Blumpkins 6 Cowpokes 5
Series Summary: Split. An enjoyable and frustrating series. Never playing Rob again live. Just kidding. I love playing my series live.
Cowpokes’ Tris Speaker goes 7-13 (.538) with 5 runs, 5 RBI, 2BB and 5 2Bs. His first 5 hits of the series were doubles. Wish we had Intentional HBP in this league….
Kansas City A’s @ New Westminster Salmonbellies
Series Preview: Kansas City A’s come to town after knocking off 3rd place Menomonee 3 – 1.
Should be an interesting series after last week’s lethargic effort.
Game #1: Kansas City: Ferguson Jenkins 7 – 3 vs New Westminster Jeff Tesreau 4 – 5

Kansas City A’s score 1 in the first inning.
Martin Dihigo hits a 2 run home run in the first
In the second Joe Kuel hits a two run double to make the score 4 – 1
In 5th inning the Salmobellies go crazy and score 5 runs 9 -1
A’s score one more in the top of the 7th on a SF scoring Dale Murphy.
Final, New Westminster 9 and Kansas City 2

WP: Jeff Tesreau 5 – 5 LP: Ferguson Jenkins 7 – 4

Game #2: Kansas City Phil Niekro 2 – 2 New Westminster Sam Leever 4 – 4

The Salmonbellies got off to a rare fast lead in the first going up 2 – 0. The A’s come back
in the 4th to tie up the game with a Bill White, 2 run, home run.
In the 5th the Salmonbellies superstar of superstars, Martin Dihigo hits his 14th home run and 36th rbi to put the game out of reach for the A’s to come back.
The Bellies go on to a 5 – 2 victory with Dihigo bringing his average to .396 with 12 doubles, 14 home runs and 36 rbi.

WP: Sam Leever 5 – 4 S: Bill Caudill 5 LP: LP: Phil Niekro 2 – 3

Game #3: Kansas City Three Finger Brown 4 – 5 vs New Westminster Scott Williamson 0 – 1

Bellies get the scoring started in the 3rd on an RBI single by Bozo Concepcion scoring Ferris Fain.
Top of the 5th and Reggie Jackson leads off with his 2nd homer of the season. Ken Boyer scores on
a single by Hal Morris to take a 2 -1 lead. In the next inning Bobby Bonds hits a 2 run home run
to put KC up 4 – 1. The KC team keeps getting hits as a parade of relievers start coming in for New West.
It is starting to look like a KC run away until the bottom of the 7th.
With a runner on Willie Mays hits a double to make the score 4 – 2. Here comes the bullpen.
Dick Hall comes in and gives up a couple of hits. Now Walker Cooper throws the ball into centre field
and Mays scores. Ferris Fain then knocks in the Lord and we have a tie game. Joe Kuehl runs for
Fain and moves to second on a grounder and scored on a single by Concepcion to go ahead 5 – 4.
In the 8th Campanella hits his 3rd of the year to make the score 6 – 4 which is the final.

WP: Frank Lary 1 -1 S: Bill Caudill 6 LP: Dick Hall 1 – 3

Game #4: Kansas City: Eddie Cicotte 5 – 6 New Westminster: Dutch Leonard 9 – 2

Cicotte looks like has a big smudge of chocolate on his uniform. Probably the ice cream
cone he just ate. It was vanilla.

In the 2nd with the Bellies up by one, Carlos Beltran hits a 2 run double to put the Bellies up 3 – 0.
The Salmonbellies go on to score 6 more to win 9 – 3 in a 14 hit game as Dutch Leonard only allowed
4 hits through 8.1 for the victory.

WP: Dutch Leonard 10 – 2 LP: Eddie Cicotte: 5 – 7

Series Summary: New Westminster Salmonbellies scored 29 runs on 43 hits to Kansas City A’s 11 runs on 27 hits.
Dihigo came through again going 7 for 15 with 3 runs, 4 RBI and 2 home runs.
Bobby Bonds had a couple of home runs for KC.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Cincinnati Knights
Series Preview: The Las Vegas Pirates (27-30 — third place A.L. East) make their first-ever visit to the Cincinnati Knights (35-22 — second place A.L. West) for a four game set. Both teams dropped three of four in their previous series before this and are looking to right their respective ships.
Game #1: LVP 4-8-0, CIN 2-7-1

Las Vegas gets a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings and rides a big boom from Cecil Fielder in the win. The Knights strand a dozen on the basepaths in taking the loss.

Game #2: LVP 5-9-0, CIN 4-6-1 (10 Inn.)

Cincinnati wasted a four-run effort in the sixth inning in coming back to force extra innings. Rollie Fingers worked three scoreless innings to secure the victory, while Prince Fielder delivered the go ahead single in the tenth.

Game #3: LVP 6-10-1, CIN 9-12-5

Mark Belanger would spin in his grave — FIVE, count ’em up — FIVE Knight errors nearly let this one get away. Chick Hafey delivered at the plate for Cincinnati, going two-for-four with a three-run homer. Did I mention FIVE errors nearly cost Clayton Kershaw a win?!?!

Game #4: LVP 0-3-0, CIN 1-9-0

Mike Scott fired a brilliant three-hit, complete game, shutout win. Scott struck out eight and allowed a single walk in his fifth win of the campaign. Ted Williams hammered three doubles, as Sal Bando’s first inning single provided the only offense of the game.

Series Summary: The teams split the series with each taking a pair of wins. The scoring in the series was nearly even (CIN held a 16-15 edge) and the hitting was about the same (CIN 34-30). While the Pirates were flawless defensively, not committing an error all week — the Knights bobbled their way to seven errors
Chicago Nine @ Kansas City Blues
Series Preview: Blues actually win a few hoping to continue
Game #1: Sabathia 3-7 vs Greinke 3-5
Sabathia CG 9-2 win for the Nine
Game #2: F.Hernandez vs Bridges 4-5
Pitching duel won by Hernandez with a 6-hit shutout 2-0 for the Nine
Game #3: J.Richard 5-5 vs Simmons 2-3
The Nine score 5 in 3rd the Blues score 4 in the 4th and that’s how it ends Nine 5-4 win
Game #4: Pennock 3-6 vs Koosman 3-8
another low scoring game Blues manage to be on top for 3-2 win
Series Summary: The Chicago Nine come to Kansas City eat BBQ listen to some Blues and commence to handle the Blues 3-1
Nik prefers Bryant’s BBQ but he’s from Canada Kansas City Best BBQ in the world Gate’s BBQ for me
Middle Channel Sturgeon @ Wrigleyville Whales
Series Preview: Middle Channel Sturgeon (26-31) @ Wrigleyville Whales (20-37)
Game #1: G-1- Scherzer v Welch. Max (8-5, 2.75) and Co. held Whales to 4-hits in 11-0 skunk! Sturgeon pounded out 14-hits with Dave Parker leading attack, going 2-3, HR (7), 2B (15), 3-runs & 3-RBI. Welch (4-7, 4.79) gave up 7-runs on 8-hits and 3-walks in 4.2-IP

FINAL Sturgeon 11 Whales 0

Game #2: G-2- R. Foster v Mays. Sturgeon pounded out 14-hits, again and cruised to a 7-2 victory! Parker struck again, clubbing his 8th homer as part of a 3-5 game! Foster (6-7, 4.66) hurled CG, 4-hitter while Mays was punished with 12-hits & 7-run in 6.1-IP. Salvador Perez added his 7th home run in win.

FINAL Sturgeon 7 Whales 2

Game #3: G-3- A. Leiter v Quinn. Less runs but same results as Sturgeon silence Whales again, this time 2-0. Leiter (5-9, 8.17) tossed 8-innings of 4-hit ball and Chapman (3.80) earned his 6th save. Cobb gave Middle Channel a 1-0 lead in 1st when he hammered his 7th home run! Quinn (5-5, 3.62) gave up 2-runs on 6-hits for Whales.

FINAL Sturgeon 2 Whales 0

Game #4: G-4- Sale v Koufax. Game was 3-1 Middle Channel going into 8th and Sturgeon scored 6-runs and 3-runs in 9th to complete sweep! Sale (6-4, 2.95) gave up only 1-run in 6.1-IP. Cobb (8) ripped another homer and Victor Martinez was 3-4 in win! Salvador Perez drove in 3-runs from 9-hole. Koufax (0-13, 6.59) allowed 5-runs on 5-hits and 4-walks and took another loss.

FINAL Sturgeon 12 Whales 2

Series Summary: Middle Channel (30-31) made short work of Whales (20-41) in sweep!
Menomonee Minutemen @ Indiana Indians
Series Summary:  
Boston Braves @ Madison East Purgolders
Series Preview: Boston visits Madison East in a battle of 6th place teams. The tension is dismal……
Game #1: Johnny Antonelli vs. Mark Buerhle. Boston scores five in the 5th, with the help of a Jim Rice grand slam, to fuel a 6-3 victory.
Game #2: Pedro Martinez vs. Bret Saberhagen. A fine matchup to say the least. Surprisngly, Saberhagen scatters 9 hits over 9 for a 3-0 shutout win, his first of the year.
Game #3: Southpaw Billy O’Dell vs. Southpawer Art Nehf, with his 0-6 record and 6.45 ERA in tact coming in. The Mighty Purgolders walk off in ten as Jose Mesa records his first win of the season. Final 4-3.
Game #4: Juan Marichal (0-6, 5.67) vs. Hooks Wiltse (2-7, 6.59). Something has got to give! And the Hookster has been giving runs away like Oprah does cars and iPods. But not today!!!! The Purgolder score 3 in the third and 2 in the fourth on their way to an 8-3 victory. Hookie gets his third W on the season and watches his ERA plummet to a minuscule 6.10.
Series Summary: The Mighty Purgolders of Madison East take their first series win of the year, getting three of four from the Braves of Boston.
Coastline Bobcats @ Hoboken Zephyrs
Series Preview: The NL East-leading Coastline Bobcats visit Elysian Field to take on the NL West second place team, the Hoboken Zephyrs. An early season preview of a possible playoff series.
Game #1: In his first LEG appearance since his passing, Tom Seaver faced Bill Swift in a strong pitching duel. Seaver prevailed running his record to 10-2, 3.13era. The tough luck loser, Swift, saw his record drop to 6-5, 2.93era. The Bobcat offense was led by Cal Ripken who singled twice and drove in the lone Coastline run in the top of the 8th. Stan Spence led the Hoboken attack by driving in both Zephyr runs with a double and a single.
Hoboken 2 Coastline 1
Game #2: Game 2 featured another tough pitching match-up. After five scoreless innings, the Bobcats were able to cobble together four runs over the next three innings to drop Red Faber’s record to 7-5, 2.30era. Chuck Finley was extremely strong taking his record to 10-1, 2.81era. Even after surviving a vicious curling iron attack by Tawny Kitaen, Finley allowed only four hits over 8 1/3. Bruce Sutter came on to close it out for his 22nd save. Hack Wilson hit a solo shot and Joe Gordon chipped in a big RBI triple. Finley also drove in a run to help his own cause. Stan Spence’s solo blast was the only Hoboken offense.
Coastline 4 Hoboken 1
Game #3: More pitching as these two teams took a 2-2 tie into the 9th. Dave Stieb and Ewell Blackwell both exited after 6 innings to earn no-decisions. The flood gates opened in the top of the 9th as the Bobcats touched up Mike Garcia for 5 earned runs. Lou Gehrig opened the festivities with a solo blast. After loading the bases, Geoff Jenkins ripped a bases-clearing double to the gap in left center to seal the deal. Hoboken could only muster two runs on 11 hits with Jim Bottomley leading the way with a 4 for 4 performance. Mike Garcia’s record fell to 1-4, 4.26era. Santiago Casilla earned the win going two innings in relief and improving to 3-3, 1.64era.
Coastline 7 Hoboken 2
Game #4: The Zephyrs turned to their ace, Noodle Hahn, in the hopes of earning a series split. Noodles definitely showed up pitching a complete game 6-hitter allowing only one earned run. However, the Bobcat pitching staff was more than equal to the challenge. Kevin Brown allowed only 3 hits over the first 7 innings. Mike Marshall pitched a 1-2-3 eighth to earn his 10th hold. Bruce Sutter allowed just one hit in the 9th to earn his 23rd save.
Series Summary: In a series that featured many very strong pitching performances, Coastline prevailed taking 3 of 4 in Hoboken.
Virginia Cavaliers @ Motown Yankees
Series Preview: Matchup of 2 squads looking to create a little more certainty in a run for the playoffs. Virginia comes into the series at 32-26 while Motown stands at 29-29. 13.5 back of 1st place in the ultra competitive NL West.
Game #1: Old school pitchers duel, with both Dave Brown and Preacher Roe tossing shutouts through 8 innings. The game continued through 12, and in the top of the 12th Harris and Pena knocked in single runs each to break the tie. Dave Brown was the tough luck loser, going all 12, while Betancourt came in to earn his 1st W of the season. Virginia wins 2-0.
Game #2: Carl Hubbell was the pitching star, going the CG shut out route and allowing only 4 hits. Bancroft knocked a pair of doubles for the Yanks, but the big blow came off the bat of Biz Mackey in the 2nd in the form of a 2 run shot, dropping Bob Turley to 4-6. Motown takes this one, 3-0.
Game #3: Wainwright v Guzman, but the pitchers did not dominate as in the 1st 2 games. Motown struck first cobbling a run together in the bottom of the 2nd, but Kevin McReynolds came through with the Baltimore Special in the top of the 4th. Torriente hit a long ball of his own, tying the game in the bottom of the 6th, making the 2nd game of the series go extras. Trammell led off the 10th with a double, and Garry Templeton plated the winning run with a following single. Grant Jackson picked up his 2nd win in relief, with Keith Foulke collecting his 20th save. Steve Mingori continued his dismal season as a grade 21 giving up that run and taking another L. Virginia takes this one 4-3.
Game #4: Addie Joss takes the mound for the first time since his wrist injury, and looked great for awhile. d Reulbach, on the other hand, was in trouble from the start. Motown’s sleepy bats woke up, with Biz Mackey coming through yet again with a 3rd inning 3R HR, padding the Yanks early lead to 4-0. Virginia tied it up in the 6th, as Jones PH 3R HR tied it up, but the Virginia happiness was brief. Motown exploded in the bottom of the 7th for their biggest inning of the year, plating 6 runs. Kenny Lofton and Fred McGriff had 3 hits apiece for Motown. Addie Joss picks up his 2nd victory of the year in the 3rd Motown CG of the series. Motown wins 10-4.
Series Summary: Another kissing your sister series, both teams winning a pair, with 3 of the 4 being highly competitive games, and Virginia taking both overtime affairs.
Detroit DeLoreans @ Hollywood Zombies
Series Preview: The Hollywood Zombies (23-34) visit the Detroit DeLoreans (30-27) and square off in a four-game series.
Game #1: HOL 0 – DET 2: A Bob Fothergill 2-run single in the fourth inning was all the scoring in this pitching duel. Hollywood’s Eddie Plank went seven innings but walked five DeLoreans. Detroit’s Cy Morgan pitched a complete game shutout while surrendering only two hits.
Game #2: HOL 1 – DET 3: Detroit’s String Bean Williams went eight strong innings yielding no earned runs for the win. The Zombies could only manage two singles in the game. Bob Fothergill stayed hot, going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 1 run, and 1 RBI. While Ripper Collins went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Game #3: HOL 3 – DET 4: A Ripper Collins homer in the eighth inning was the difference in another close game. Detroit’s Collins went 2 for 4 with two solo shots. Robin Ventura went deep for the Zombies.
Game #4: HOL 3 – DET 2: Hollywood pounded out 12 hits in another close game. The Zombies pushed across the winning run in the top of the ninth after a pivotal Anthony Rendon error. Shawn Green went 3 for 4 falling a homer short of the cycle. While Detroit’s Ripper Collins continued to hit the long ball with two more dingers, numbers 16 and 17 for the season.
Series Summary: The DeLoreans take 3 of 4 in the closely contested series. Ripper Collins made a bid for NL Player of the Week hitting .500 (7 for 14) with 4 HRs, 5 RBI, and 5 runs.
Fantomz Force @ Iowa Giants
Series Preview: A TEAM-VIEWER MATCH UP WITH FANTOMZ FORCE COMING TO IOWA AND TO PLAY THE GIANTS. THE FORCE OFF TO A MODEST START AT 30-27 AND THE GIANTS A DISMAL 23-34 WITH IT ACE BOB FELLER HAVING A RECORD OF 3-11.
Game #1: FAN 3-2-0 LP G. PERRY 6-4
IOW 8-10-1 WP BONHAM 6-2Tiny Bonham another great performance from Bonham as he goes 5 innings giving up 1 hit and 1 er. Chet Lemon goes 2-4 3 RBI and Christian Yelich also goes 2-4 with 2 RBI
Game #2: FAN 2-4-0 LP J RUSSELL 0-2 10 INNINGS
IOW 3-9-0 WP HAWKINS 5-1
Allie Reynolds brought his A game to this one he goes 8 third innings and unfortunately in the ninth inning loses his shutout and gives up tw o runs to the Force to tie the game on a Mickey Cochrane two run single. Rudy York for the Giants has a two homer game but Joe Morgan home run in the bottom of the tenth gives the Giants the win.
Game #3: FAN 7-12-0 WP HARDER 2-2
IOW 3-8-0 LP NIEDENFEVER 1-2
This game was alot closer then the final score the score was tied going in the 6th inning 2-2. Carney Lansford 2 run homer gives the Force a 4-2 lead and they get 2 more in the seventh to coast to a 7-3 lead. Giants Rudy York does have a another 2 homer game. Gil McDoughal also supplied 2 rb
Game #4: FAN 3-3-0 LP S PAIGE 8-5 10 INNINGS
IOW 4-9-0 WP HAWKINS 6-1
What a series another 10 innings game the fans being able to see two of the greatest pitchers in MLB History in Satchel Paige in relief and Bob Feller starting for the Giants. Bob Feller goes 8 innings in a no decision game, Paige goes 5 innings in relief and takes the lost in the 10th on a Chet Lemon rbi double.
Series Summary: First regardless of the outcome it was a real pleasure to play against Gordon what a fine gentlemen as this League lives up to its name, really enjoyed the games and the conversations that took place. All four games could have gone either way pitching was good little hitting and lucky for the Giants some big hits occur in the late innings. The Giants over the last three series have gone 9-3 but without Rudy York and Chet Lemons key hits during the span of games probably would be 3-9.
Clockwork Heros @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: The NL West leading Clockwork Heros bring their high powered offense to West Michigan for a 4-game series with the Retrogrades, who are looking to get closer to the .500 mark.
Game #1: George Foster with an RBI single in the first. Then Tommy Davis tied the score in the bottom of the frame with an RBI triple..though he was thrown out at the plate trying for an inside the park home run. The score was tied until the third inning when Arky Vaughn hit a solo homer. However, Tommy Davis tied the game in the fourth inning when he smashed a solo home run. The winning run came in the sixth
when Bill Bradley hit a solo bomb to put the Heros ahead for good.
The hitting star of the game was Tommy Davis who HIT FOR THE CYCLE, going 4-4 with 10 total bases and 2 RBI on the day. Schoolboy Rowe pitched well for Clockwork for the victory.
FINAL SCORE : HEROS 3, RETROGRADES 2
Game #2: After taking an early 2-1, led by an Arky Vaughn homer, the Retrogrades scored 2 runs in both the 4th and 5th inning and then 3 more in the 8th for the victory. The Retrogrades jumped on Burt Blyleven, tagging him for 5 earned runs in 6 innings of work. Bill Dickey smashed a homer and Tommy Davis went 1-2 on the day. Yet, the star of the game was Hal Schumacher who pitched a complete game, giving up only 2 earned runs, while also hitting a homer, driving in 2 runs and going 2-4 on the day.
FINAL SCORE : HEROS 2, RETROGRADES 8
Game #3: An exciting game that saw West Michigan take a 5-0 lead by the 5th inning, powered again by Tommy Davis and his 2-4 day along with Duke Snider’s 3-5 effort and an Adrian Beltre homer. Again the Retrogrades chased the Heros starter early. This time it was Christy Mathewson who only lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 5 earned runs. Clockworks comeback started with a Buddy Lewis homer in the 8th helping the Heros score 2 in that frame and 3 in the top of the 9th to ties the score. However, the Retrogrades got a walk-off win in the bottom of the 9th on a Duke Snider base hit.
FINAL SCORE : HEROS 5, RETROGRADES 6
Game #4: The story of the final game in the series was Urban Shocker and his brilliant pitching. Shocker pitched a 1-hit shutout against one of the best hitting teams in LEG and even managed to collect a hit himself. The only hit Shocker surrendered was an infield single to Bill Terry in the 5th inning. Again, Clockwork’s bullpen was taxed when Uhle left with arm trouble in the 5th inning (1 day injury). Hal Newhouser pitched tremendously in relief. The only run of the game came on a Duke Snider RBI single, when he plated Tommy Davis who’d reached on a base hit.
FINAL SCORE : HEROS 0, RETROGRADES 1
Series Summary: West Michigan takes 3 of 4 games from Clockwork and are now one game under .500 at 30-31. Clockwork falls to 43-18 but still are at the top of the NL West. Player of the week candidates:
Pitcher: Urban Shocker for his 1-hit shutout
Hitter: Tommy Davis for going 8-13 (.615, 2 double, 1 triple, 1 homer) and hitting for the cycle
Climax Cougars @ Fire Lake Segers
Series Preview: Climax (25-32) traveled to Fire Lake (24-33) to take on the Segers.

This series was played via Team Viewer.

Game #1: Spud Chandler (7-2) vs Denny Mclain (3-6,3.48)

Johnny Bench’s 7th home run, a 2-run shot, put Fire Lake on top in the bottom of the first. Mclain was not up to the task in this one, giving up solo runs in the 4th and 5th and 2 more runs in the 6th. Mel Ott’s 7th home run, this one off John Smoltz, in the 7th was the capper on a 6-2 win for the visitors. Sam Crawford went 3-for-5 for Climax with a double and a triple.

CLIMAX 6, FIRE LAKE 2

Game #2: Sid Fernandez (0-2) vs Ron Guidry (4-8, 5.27)

Guidry’s tough year continued in this one, as Climax sent 8 men to the plate in the top off the first. Harlond Clift drew a 2-out walk with the bases loaded and George Grantham followed with a two run single to put the Cougars on top 3-0. With two out in the top of the 2nd inning, it started raining. And, it didn’t stop. Game called. Visitors frustrated.

RAINOUT

Game #3: Cannonball Dick Redding (2-2) vs David Cone (3-6,3.79)

Josh Gibson scored the game’s first run in this one, coming home on Clift’s 2nd inning double to give Climax a 1-0 lead. That proved to be the only serious offense that the Cougars could muster in this one as the Segers scored six unanswered run to even the series at a game apiece. Fire Lake’s offense was led by Jose Cardenal who went 3-for-4 with his 3rd home run. Vada Pinson and Kal Daniels each contributed two hits as well. David Cone went 6 1/3 to earn the win and Gullett and Soto provided 2 2/3 of scoreless relief.

FIRE LAKE 6, CLIMAX 1

Game #4: Greg A Harris (1-3) vs Eppa Rixey (1-1,3.76)

Jim Fregosi led off the game with his first home run of the season. Johnny Bench hit his 8th, another 2-run shot, in the bottom of the first to give Fire lake a 2-1 lead. It was 2-1 in the bottom of the 5th when Fire Lake’s Mgr pinch hit for Rixey, despite Eppa having allowed just three hits through 5 innings. That was a mistake, as the Segers’ bullpen (namely Smoltz and Gullett) allowed 4 Cougars to score in the 7th, as Climax took a 5-2 lead. It was still 5-2 in the 9th as Climax’ Mgr sent Clay Carroll to the mound so that he could pick up an easy 5th save. It wasn’t to be a thing, as the hometown Segers mustered 4 hits, a walk and a costly Climax error to walk it off behind Reggie Sanders’ two out single!

Rumor has it that Clay Carroll was left behind in Fire Lake, his own choice, after having read a public post about the Climax front office looking for a Closer. This has not been confirmed.

FIRE LAKE 6, CLIMAX 5

Series Summary: Fire Lake wins the series, 2 games to 1. Climax heads home to host Hoboken (good luck with that) and Fire Lake’s home stand continues with the Nags Head Surf Sox coming to town. Until then, Who wants to play those eights and aces? Who wants a raise, who needs a stake? Who wants to take that long-shot gamble? And head out for Fire Lake… Good Night Y’all
Nags Head Surf Sox @ Wainwright Wranglers
Series Preview: Two evenly matched teams pairing up in what should be a tight series
Game #1: Howard Johnson drives in 3 in the top of the ninth to lead Nags head to a 4-3 victory. Doug Jones gave up the three runs charged to Rucker who otherwise went 8.2 solid innings
Game #2: Lefty Grove does what Lefty Grove does for Wainwright and was brilliant in a 7-2 victory winning his 9th. Jimmy Rollins who keeps fighting for more playing time and Darren Daulton went deep for Wainwright. Andujar took the loss falling to 2-11
Game #3: Vic Willis threw a complete game three hitter in the Wainwright 2-0 victory. Manush once again was the key bat for Wainwright driving in his 5th run of the series. Jim Palmer was the hard luck loose falling to 3-3 with a complete game 8 hitter
Game #4: Mike Mussina goes to 4-5 throwing eight solid and Jeter and von hayes drove in a combined 5 runs in a 7-2 Nags head victory. Mark Grace went 2-3 for Wainwright and Manush failed to drive in a run for first time in series but went 1-4
Series Summary: Pretty even series. Manush was the best bat in the series and Vic Willis had the best pitching performance
San Tan Valley Moonrakers @ Pigtown Bombers
Series Preview: San Tan Valley Moonrakers (30-27) come to Pigtown (18-39) for a quick four game series
Game #1: Joe McGinnity evens up his record at 6-6 by pitching 7 strong, 4-hit innings and Pigtown takes the opener 4-1.
Game #2: Bob Hadley goes the distance for the Moonrakers, striking out 10 and giving up only 2 runs to lead San Tan Valley to an easy 6-2 win.
Game #3: San Tan Valley explodes for 6 runs in the 7th inning and coasts to a 7-4 win.
Game #4: Randy Johnson (STV) squared off against Luis Tiant (PIG) in the finale. Both pitchers were great, with Johnson going 7 IP, 3 hits and 1 run and Tiant going 7 IP, 4 hits and 1 run. Both would not factor in the result. In a replay of the 1985 NLCS (one that I remember vividly), Ozzie Smith hits a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 12th inning to walk-off a 3-1 win for Pigtown
Series Summary: Series split 2-2. No huge series for any pitcher. Jim Edmunds went 8-18, scoring 5 runs, 3 RBIs and 2 HR.