| Lewisberry Country Blumpkins @ Kansas City Blues | |
| Series Preview: | Blues try to get a winning effort from the franchise |
| Game #1: | Hershiser pitches CG 5-hit shutout win 11-0 |
| Game #2: | Bunning vs DeGrom Blues out hit Blumkins 10-7 but come up short 4-3 |
| Game #3: | Blues hang on to 9-8 win Ruth gives up 7 unearned |
| Game #4: | Blumpkins 9-run 15-hit barrage win 9-2 |
| Series Summary: | Blues under perform once again lose series 3-1 to the Blumpkins Maybe if I had a cool name like the Blumpkins I would do better |
| Menomonee Minutemen @ Jack Street Hustlers | |
| Series Preview: | It’s a battle of teams with similar records, but different statuses in their division. Menomonee comes in at 48-41, 14 games back and in 5th in the AL West. Jack Street’s record stands at 49-40, but is only 1 game behind Lewisberry in the AL East. Should be a good series. |
| Game #1: | Marv Grissom (6-6) takes the mound for the Minutemen against Frank Viola (4-3) for the Hustlers.
MM 6/8/0 WP – Viola 5-3 It was a merry-go-round for the Hustlers as they took advantage of 16 hits and 12 walks to post 18 runs. Medwick & Scioscia both pick up 3 hits and 4 rbis in the victory. Jack Street loses Joe Hoerner for 7 days. |
| Game #2: | Tommy John (8-5) vs. Dan Haren (4-8)
M 2/5/0 WP – John 9-5 Tommy John comes in and puts out the bat fire going the distance walking 2 and striking out 3. Not much offense in this one, Jose Altuve does pickup up 2 hits, including a double, scores 1 and drives in 1. |
| Game #3: | Jim Scott (9-6) vs. Tom Glavine (9-3)
M 6/8/1 WP – Glavine 10-3 Turns out the bat fire wasn’t out, just smoldering and it relit. Jack Street took an 8-0 lead in the first and never looked back. McGwire gets out of his homer slump with a grand slam and drives in 6 runs on the day. Jeff Kent also drives in 4 for the Hustlers. Harold Baines has a nice day for the Minutemen going 3-4 with a triple and 2 runs. |
| Game #4: | Tom Gordon (1-0) vs. Sonny Siebert (4-9)
M 4/9/0 WP – Hand 4-3 Good battle. Menomonee comes out with single runs in the first and second. Hustlers push across 3 in the third, but Minutemen come back and tie it in the 4th. Jack Street gets 1 in the 7th and Minutemen tie it up in the 8th. Jack Street pushes across the game winner in the bottom of the 8th on David Justice’s solo shot. Hits spread around in this game. Bonds & Seybold pick up 2 hits for Minutemen with Bonds also posting 2 rbi. Hornsby and Medwick both rap two hits and two rbis for the Hustlers. |
| Series Summary: | A couple of really good games in this series. Hopefully, for the Hustler fans, the hitting is back for this team. Nominees for pitcher of the week – Tommy John. Nominee for hitter of the week: Edgar Martinez 8-15 with 5 runs 6 rbis a double, a homer and 5 walks |
| Purry Cowpokes @ Chicago Nine | |
| Series Preview: | The 50-39 Purry Cowpokes travel to Chicago to take on the 46-43 Nine. Stray is out of town and invited me to play the series. |
| Game #1: | NO-HITTER ALERT !!! Neil Walker homered twice but the story of the game was the no-hitter fired by Jake Weimer. Weimer struck out 7 and walked 3 in the Cowpokes 8-0 victory. |
| Game #2: | Mel Stottlemyre fired 8.3 innings of 4-hit ball for the Nine in a 6-2 Chicago win. |
| Game #3: | JD Martinez and Griffey Jr homered for the Nine as they take game 3, 4-1. |
| Game #4: | King Felix fires a 4-hit, 1-run complete game and Hank Thompson collects 3 hits. The Nine win 6-1. |
| Series Summary: | The highlight of the series was Jake Weimer’s game 1 no-hitter. (Side-note. I never had heard of him before the draft but I felt that I had to take him since Weimer is my wife’s maiden name). The rest of the series was all Chicago as the Nine pitching held Purry to 4 runs over the final 3 games. |
| New Westminster Salmonbellies @ Las Vegas Pirates | |
| Series Preview: | The Salmonbellies came in battling for the top spot in the west. The Pirates were looking to get back towards .500. |
| Game #1: | In this game the Salmonbellies put it all together. Messersmith went the distance giving up only 3 ER’s while also giving up 12 hits. The Pirates could not get one clutch hit. The ‘bellies finished with 3 dingers from Jack Clark, Jimmy Wynn, & Dave Concepcion while beating up John Candelaria & Dean Chance. SALMONBELLIES 10, PIRATES 3 |
| Game #2: | In this game both teams banked on their bats. The Pirates behind the bats of Hal Smith’s 4 singles & Dave Cash’s 3 singles while the ‘bellies finished with 3 hits from Fred Clarke & 2 hits by Willie Mays 2 hits, one of which was a 2 run HR in the 1st inning, grabbing an early lead for the ‘bellies in inning 1 which they never gave up the 4-2 lead. Billy Pierce went 8 innings, striking out 7 while giving up only 2 ER’s SALMONBELLIES 9, PIRATES 6 |
| Game #3: | In this game the Pirates scored 2 in the 1st & 1 more in the 9th to finish their scoring, while for the 2nd straight game the Pirates out hit the visitor’s. Here Mays & Concepcion drove in a pair while Doc Gooden went 6.2 innings & only gave up 2 ER’s. SALMONBELLIES 4, PIRATES 3 |
| Game #4: | Here was the Pirates last chance to get a win. That didn’t stop Sam Leever from pitching a 4 hitter & not giving up an earned run. The Pirates again outhit the ‘bellies & lost the game. SALMONBELLIES 3, PIRATES 2 |
| Series Summary: | The Pirates pitchers faired okay but the bellies almost scored at will. They deserved a better fate, but the Salmonbellies had a better idea for them, as the .bellies made every attempt fruitless |
| Cincinnati Knights @ Kansas City A’s | |
| Series Preview: | Cincinnati Knight 54-31 at K.C. A’s 38-47 |
| Game #1: | It’s all A’s 9 -1 behind Three Finger Brown’s 8.2 innings of 1 run ball. Walker Cooper and Roger Maris homer for the A’s. |
| Game #2: | Cincy wins 6-3 as Johan Santana gets the win and Janssen gets the save. Ted Williams doubles and homers and drives in 3 and Northey got a big pinch hit 2 run homer for the Knights. Dale Murphy hoers for the A’s. Goodman and Whitaker collide in short right field and both are injured. Goodman 8 days and Whitaker for 5 days. |
| Game #3: | Cincy scores 8 runs in the last 3 innings for a come from behind 8-4 win. Freehan knocks in 3 and Sal Bando got a big 3 runs homer in the 8th. Ken Boyer, Hale and Tresh all hit solo homers in a losing effort. |
| Game #4: | Cincy scores 5 in the 1st off Eddie Cicotte and cruise to a 12-7 victory. Ted Williams goes 3 for 3 with a homer and 4 RBI and Giambi also homers for the Knights. Don Buford homered for the A’s. |
| Series Summary: | Cincinnati wins the series 3 games to 1. |
| Indiana Indians @ Fort Worth Cats | |
| Series Preview: | Cats sweep holding the Indians to 9 hits total in the first three games then seeing Indiana explode for 7 hits in the finale. Willie Keeler went 5 for 5 in the series including a pinch hit home run in the first game. Hunter Pence had 2 triples in game three. |
| Wrigleyville Whales @ Boston Braves | |
| Series Preview: | The Al Star game is over in is now followed by the battle of the basements of the AL, East vs. West. |
| Game #1: | Johnny Antonelli fell behind 4 -0 in the second inning but righted the ship and held on for a 8-4 win backed by an out of character 15 hit attack. Dom DiMaggio had four hits two of which were doubles and Eddie Mathews and Adrian Gonzalez three hits each for the Braves. Daryl Evans doubled and knocked in half the Whales runs. |
| Game #2: | Pedro Martinez struck out 8 and stranded 11 Wrigleyville run on baser in a 3-1 Braves win. Mathews continued swinging a productive bat in game driving in 2 of the 3 Brave run via a couple of safeties Ernie “Lets play two” Banks had two hit one a double for the Whales.. |
| Game #3: | The Braves cruised to their third series win on the strong arm of Don Newcombe’s three hit shut out 7-0. Adrian Gonzalez had four Rbi’s and Gabby Hartnett three hits in leading the Braves offense. Earle Combs had 2 of the 3 Wrigleyville hits. |
| Game #4: | Wrigleyville powered their way to a win in the series finally 12-11. Bob Muscel had three hits one a homer and Jim Thome was perfect going four for four in the Whales win. Freddie Sanchez and Jeff Cirillo each had three hits for the Braves. Cirillo collected four RBI’s. |
| Series Summary: | The Braves made their miniscule contribution to AL East pride winning three of four from Wrigleyville. The beantown nine’s happiness was tempered by Dustin Pedroia’s second visit to the DL a 15 game vacation |
| Motown Yankees @ Coastline Bobcats | |
| Series Preview: | Motown (40-45) travels to Coastline (56-29) for their final 4 game series against the Bobcats this season. |
| Game #1: | CLB is out quick in the B1 when Becker 1bs and H.Wilson hits a 2-run HR. In the B2 Gehrig 1bs, moves up on a Gordon groundout, and then scores when Bancroft throws away M.Williams grounder, 3-0 CLB. MTY wakes up in the T3 when Ashburn 1bs and Hack 2bs him home. MTY keeps coming and ties the game in the T4 when Bancroft 1bs and Mackey hits a 2-run HR. MTY takes the lead in the T5 when with 2 outs Torriente 1bs, steals 2nd, and Bancroft drives him with an rbi-1b. In the B5 CLB Jenkins 1bs, Ripken’s grounder moves him up, H.Wilson is IW, Howard then hits a grounder to Hack, who makes a errant throw allowing Jenkins to score and tie the game. After a scoreless 6th and T7, CLB Becker 1bs to open the B7 and then scores on Jenkins H&R rbi-2b to give the ‘Cats the lead. Ripken F7, H.Wilson is IW again, Howard F9 bringing up Gehrig. Gehrig makes the home crowd happy as he smacks a 3-run HR for an 8-4 CLB lead. MTY doesn’t roll over as they get an Bancroft 1b and a Mackey 1b to put runners at the corners. Lansford comes on to PR for Mackey, D.Walker comes in to PH for White and lines into a H&R 9-3DP that scores Bancroft. CLB Sutter comes on in the T9 and gives up a 1 out 1b to Hack and then McGriff hits a 2-run HR an out later to pull MTY within a run; Torriente bbs, but Bancroft L5 to end the game. CLB Maglie (3-0) gets the win in relief, Sutter earns his 34th save, and Jansen (2-4) goes the distance and gets the loss.
CLB 8, MTY 7 |
| Game #2: | MTY grabs the early lead in the T2 when Westrum bbs, Bancroft rips an rbi-3b, and F.White hits an rbi-groundout. MTY extends its lead in the T4 when McGriff 2bs, Westrum 2bs him home but is thrown out at 3rd trying to stretch it. Bancroft then 1bs, F.White’s H&R 1b puts runners at the corners, Gehrig then throws away Lofton grounder to score Bancroft, and Ashburn’s rbi-1b closes out the scoring for a 5-0 MTY lead. CLB answers right away in the B4 as Wilson 1bs, Gehrig 2bs with 2 out, Gordon hits a 2-rbi 2b, M.Williams bbs, and PH Goslin rips a 2-rbi 2b to pull CLB with 1 run at 5-4. After a scoreless 5th and 6th MTY adds a run in the T7 when Hack draws a 2 out bb and Olerud hits a tapper in front of the plate that Orosco throws away allowing Hack to score. MTY Mingori is out to pitch his 2nd inning in the B8 and fans Ripken to start the inning. H.Wilson then 1bs and Howard 2bs which brings on PH Burks. Burks doesn’t disappoint as he clubs a 3-run HR to give CLB a 7-6 lead! CLB Sutter comes on and tosses a perfect 9th for his 35th save. Albers (3-0) picks up the win and Mingori (7-5) is tagged with the loss.
CLB 7, MTY 6 |
| Game #3: | MTY out in front in the T2 when Stieb walks Bancroft, White, and Lofton to load the bases and Brown then executes a perfect squeeze bunt to bring home Bancroft. CLB ties it in the B% when Skowron 1bs (1st hit of the game) and M.Williams hits an rb-3b 1 out later. In the T6 MTY Torriente 2bs, Mackey 1bs, and Banroft makes his 1st HR of the season a big one as he hits a 3-run blast to give MTY a 4-1 lead! MTY adds 1 more in the T7 and that’s the way the game would end. MTY D.Brown (11-7) is dominant giving up only 1 run on 3 hits while fanning 10 to earn the win. Stieb (10-5) takes the loss.
MTY 5, CLB 1 |
| Game #4: | CLB scores first with a run in the B2 when Skowron 3bs and eventually scores on M.Williams rbi-groundout. MTY Hubbell settles in and does not give up a another hit through his 7ip of work. But CLB K.Brown is just as tough as he holds MTY scoreless through 5 innings. In the MTY T6 McGriff breaks through and hits a solo-HR to tie the game at 1-1! The remains tied after 9 as the MTY Uehara comes on to toss 2 scoreless innings, and CLB Marshall tosses a scoreless 9th and 10th. In the T10 Uehara is lifted for PH Olerud which brings Mingori into the game in the B10. MTY Mingori fans Skowron, gets Gordon on a 4-3 groundout, but M.Williams connects on a fastball and hits a solo-HR over the LF wall for the win! CLB Marshall (6-2) gets the win and MTY Mingori (7-6) takes the loss.
CLB 2, MTY 1 |
| Series Summary: | Coastline wins the series 3-1 over Motown. But the series was extremely close and could’ve just as easily been a 4-0 Motown sweep. |
| Hollywood Zombies @ West Michigan Retrogrades | |
| Series Preview: | The Hollywood Zombies (NL West 30-55) travel from the west coast of the United States to the west coast of Michigan to take on the West Michigan Retrogrades (NL East 52-33). With warm temperatures in the Great Lakes region, playing conditions were perfect. |
| Game #1: | In a tight, well-pitched game, the Zombies’ Walter Johnson made one mistake in his 7 innings of work. In the 2nd inning, after a Duke Snider double, Bobby Wallace singled him home. Hollywood tied the game in the 7th on a solo homer from Shawn Green. West Michigan’s Curt Davis matched the Hall of Famer with 7 innings of work and only 1 earned run allowed. The starters gave way to the bullpens and the Retrogrades outlasted the Zombies. In the bottom of the 10th, with one out pinch hitter Austin McHenry drew a walk. Marty McManus pinch ran for him. West Michigan put the hit & run on with Max Carey at the plate. Carey ripped a ball into the right field corner and McManus easily scored from first base for the walk of win for the Retrogrades. Miguel Tejada was 2 for 4. ZOMBIES 1, RETROGRADES 2 (10 innings) |
| Game #2: | The Retrogrades sent their ace, Urban Shocker up against another Hollywood Hall of Famer hurlers, Eddie Plank. Both pitched well for 5 innings, only surrendering a run a piece. Hollywood took the lead in the top of the 6th when Shawn Green singled in Jeff Bagwell who reached on a base hit. But in the bottom of the frame, the Retrogrades stormed back. Roy Sievers walked, Tommy Davis singled, Adrian Beltre doubled in a run, Bobby Wallace drove in a run on a ground out, then Bill Dickey hit a 2-run homer. West Michigan would add another run in the 7th when Urban Shocker doubled and then was doubled home by Roy Sievers. Adrian Beltre was 3 for 3 on the day; Bill Dickey was 2 for 4. FINAL SCORE : ZOMBIES 2, RETROGRADES 6 |
| Game #3: | After falling behind by 2 runs after one inning, the Zombies “came alive” in the top of the 2nd, scoring 7 runs off starter George Mullin. Mullin was having control problems and served up a ball that skimmed the ground to Vlad Guerrero who smashed it over the left centerfield fence for 3 runs. The Retrogrades bullpen held Hollywood in check the rest of the game, but the damage was done and the Zombies cruised to victory. In addition to Vlad’s bomb, Tommy Davis also hit a homer for the Retrogrades and went 3 for 4. West Michigan also got 2 hits a piece from Heavy Johnson and George Sisler. The Zombies got 2 hits a piece from Miguel Tejada, Brett Butler, and Eddie Collins. FINAL SCORE : ZOMBIES 8, RETROGRADES 4 |
| Game #4: | This excellent game was scoreless until the bottom of the second when Bill Dickey and Duke Snider hit back-to-back solo home runs. That score remained until the top of the 6th when the Zombies took a one-run lead with a two-run triple from Miguel Tejada and then an RBI single from Yadier Molina. Hollywood took the lead in the 7th when Jeff Bagwell singled home Brett Butler who’d walked and stolen second base. The Zombies clung to the lead until the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Duke Snider ripped a double. Hollywood brought in Mike Meyers to the nightmare inning. With two-outs, Bobby Wallace doubled home Snider. The Zombies walked Robinson Cano to get to the pitchers spot in the order. The Retrogrades pinch hit with Austin McHenry who hit a blooper just behind shortstop which scored Wallace for the walk-off victory. Bill Dickey and Duke Snider each had two hit; Shawn Green and Yadier Molina each had two hits. FINAL SCORE : ZOMBIES 4, RETROGRADES 5 (walk-off) |
| Series Summary: | Even though West Michigan took the series three games to one, it easily could have been a three win series for Hollywood, or even a sweep. Each team won a game easily and the other two ball games were lucky, walk-off wins for the Retrogrades. Hollywood currently stands at 31-58 and will host Nags Head next week. West Michigan improves to 55-34 and will travel to Hoboken next week to take on NL West’s 2nd place club. |
| Detroit DeLoreans @ Clockwork Heros | |
| Series Preview: | Clockwork feeling good after facing the Bobcats for 8 games, and winning 7. But now a solid Detroit team was hoping to take advantage of Clockwork. |
| Game #1: | Mathewson goes a solid 7 innings allowing a Cronin triple to score and giving up a Chuck Klein blast. Reynolds was better allowing 1 in 7.2 innings. But in the bottom of the 9th Clockwork got two off O’Flaherty as Collins made a bad error. Then Aker gave up the game winning hit as Lopata comes through. Clockwork 3 Detroit 2 W- Rowe (6-2) L-O’flaherty (1-3) |
| Game #2: | Uhle was great allowing just 2 hits in 7 innings but a walk by Rice scored. Arky Vaughn homered for Clockwork to send the 1-1 game into the 12th inning. Bradley off the bench singled in the Jet jethroe to win the game 2-1. W_Newhouser 3-2 L-Casey (6-3) |
| Game #3: | Hippo Vaughn is solid for Detroit only mistake is a 3 run homer to Foster. Blyleven did not have it for Clockwork as Rip Collins homers and Herman has a nice game. Detroit 6 Clockwork 3 W-Vaughn(10-5) Romero S (7) L- Blyleven(12-5) |
| Game #4: | Mathewson dominates 9 innings 4 hits one run. the Hero bats woke up as Melton hits 2, Terry 1 and Lopata another. Clockwork 12 Detroit 1 . W-Mathewson (16-3) L-Sallee(9-6) |
| Series Summary: | Clockwork does not let up and wins 3 of the 4 games.Mathewson goes 16 innings and just 3 runs and 9 hits. |
| Hoboken Zephyrs @ Virginia Cavaliers | |
| Series Preview: | Virginia at 42-43 and in 4th place in the East plays host to Hoboken 50-35 and in 2nd place in the West. Virginia hovering around the .500 mark not knowing how to win,…especially at home and Hoboken with a great home record playing around .500 on the road. Not a good situation for Virginia. Joel and I played via TV and it was a great series to play with close games. Thanks Joel, it was fun. |
| Game #1: | Gm.1 HBK 5-4 W-N.Hahn (14-6) L-L.Gomez (7-8)
Well, not much changed for Virginia. Hoboken exploded out of the gate. Eddie Stanky took the first pitch of the game and looped it into right for a single and Stan Spence then smoked one to right that sailed over the wall for his 20th homer of the season and a quick 2-0 Hoboken lead. With the lead and Noodles Hahn on the mound with his sub 2.00 ERA, Virginia was in trouble. However, uncharacteristically, Virginia fought back. Al Rosen singled to lead off the 2nd for Virginia and went to 3rd on a H&R single by Kevin McReynolds. Ralph Kiner walked and suddenly the bases were loaded for the Cavaliers. When lance Parrish lined an RBI single into LF Virginia fans were pumped. But this was Virginia and Hahn was on the mound. Noodles quickly got Pujols to fly out to shallow LF and induced Gomez to ground into an inning ending DP. Still, Virginia had scored and was only down 2-1. An inning later Frankie Frisch and Al Rosen doubled and suddenly it was a new game at 2-2. It didn’t stay that way long. In the 5th Hahn singled, Eddie Stanky walked, Stan Spence flew out, Jeff Heath walked to load the bases, and then Lefty Gomez lost all recognition of where the plate was and walked the next two batters on 8 pitches,…Hoboken 4-2. Back to back doubles from Eddie Yost and Tommy Henrich in the 7th bumped the Hoboken lead to 5-2. Virginia would score 2 more runs in the 8th on a solo homer from Frank Robinson and a RBI single by Andruw Jones. That 5-4 score would hold up for Hoboken as Hahn finished the complete game despite giving up 4 runs and having his ERA jump to 1.74. And once again it was another Virginia home loss. |
| Game #2: | Gm.2 VIR 3-2 W- B.Turley (6-8) L-T.Seaver (12-5) SV- K.Foulke (25)
Another close game, but Virginia was able to scratch its way back for the win. Jud Wilson provided the only offense for Hoboken with a 2nd inning blast over the RF wall for a 2-0 Hoboken lead. Then, after giving up two hits in the first two innings, Virginia’s Bob Turley somehow managed to only give up two more in the next 7 innings without allowing a runner to cross the plate. That opened the door for Virginia if they could take advantage of it. And they did. In the 2nd inning Kevin McReynolds hit his 4th homer of the year to narrow the lead to 2-1 Hoboken. Virginia tied it in the 6th on an error and a FC DP that scored the tying run. The winning run came in the 8th when PH’er Daniel Murphy doubled and scored later on a SF by Alan Trammell. Keith Foulke then came in to register his 25th save and give Virginia the rare win. |
| Game #3: | Gm.3 HBK 3-2 W-Red Faber (11-6) L-J.Guzman (3-4)
Hoboken rebounded quickly from the previous game loss. Continuing to score first, Hoboken plated a run in the second courtesy of a Travis Jackson SF and then added 2 more in the 3rd when Eddie Stanky doubled and scored on a FC and Tommy Herich later drove in Jeff Heath with a double. Frank Robinson then put Virginia on the board with his 11th homer in the bottom of the 3rd but Hoboken was still ahead 3-1. With Red Faber teasing Virginia hitters, Hoboken was able to maintain the lead in spite of Virginia getting one more run in the 7th on Joe Harris’s RBI single. From there Faber kept Virginia at bay and collected his 11th win of the year. |
| Game #4: | Gm.4 HBK 5-1 W-J. Weaver (9-3) L-E.Reulbach (6-7)
After three 1-run games, this one looked like a rout. However, it was basically close until the 9th. After two it was 0-0. Then in the 3rd Hoboken broke through with 3 runs. Pitcher Jeff Weaver knocked in the first run with a RBI single and after Stan Spence singled putting runners at 1st and 3rd, Jeff Heath doubled to the wall driving both runners in for a 3-0 Hoboken lead. (Boy is that a run-on sentence) With that lead, Weaver put up goose eggs until the 7th when Al Rosen doubled in Frank Robinson to make it 3-1 Hoboken. Just for good measure, Stan Spence took a Rafael Betancourt pitch to the opposite field for a 2-run homer in the top of the 9th to finalize the score at 5-1. |
| Series Summary: | Hoboken (surprise! surprise!) took the series 3-1. They were led at the plate by Stan “The Man” Spence who was 7-16 with 4 RBI and a homer. Tommy Henrich chipped in going 4-11 with 3 RBI in 3 games for a .364 BA. On Virginia’s side, Frank Robinson was 7-17 with 2 solo homers and a .412 BA and Al Rosen was 5-12 (.417) with an RBI. The amazing stat (to me) was that Hoboken had 4 complete games. Of course, when you have the numbers those pitchers have you can understand why. Virginia on the other hand, used 5 different relievers 7 times for a total of 8.2 innings,…but it didn’t help, Hoboken was just that good! |
| Wainwright Wranglers Fantomz Force | |
| Series Preview: | Two struggling teams faced off in Force Field this weekend … and are weighing their prospects for this season and next … |
| Game #1: | Game 86 – Nap Rucker ’11 (4-9) v. Satchel Paige ‘41 (11-7)
Fantomz 4-3 (10): Wainwright wasted no time scoring, as leadoff hitter Bip Roberts scored on Tony Gwynn’s 1st-inning double. The Force tied the game in the 5th when Ron Santo scored on an infield groundout. The teams went back-and-forth during the middle innings, with the Wranglers tying the game in the 9th inning when Mark Grace scored on an infield groundout. In the 10th inning, Al Lopez singled home Joe Judge, who beat the throw home for the winning run. W – Russell (2-3) L – Ward (3-2) |
| Game #2: | Game 87 – Lefty Grove ‘87 (11-6) v. Gaylord Perry ’74 (9-6)
Fantomz 2-0: Joe Judge delivered a two-run 2nd inning that accounted for all the game’s runs. Gaylord Perry pitched a six-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking one, while Gil McDougald had Fantomz’ other two hits. Wainwright’s Lefty Grove absorbed a tough loss. W – Perry (10-6) L – Perry (11-7) |
| Game #3: | Game 88 – Vic Willis ’06 (6-15) v. Carl Weilman ’14 (6-11)
Fantomz 3-2: Two struggling pitchers matched up in a classic pitchers’ duel. The Wranglers scored first when Kirby Puckett singled home Darren Daulton in the 2nd inning. The Force tied the game during the following frame when Adam Eaton doubled home Ron Santo. Fantomz inched ahead in the 4th inning when Shin-Soo Choo doubled home Larry Doby. Both offenses went silent after Doby’s run. Weilman limited Wainwright to three hits. W – Weilman (7-11) L – Willis (6-16) |
| Game #4: | Game 89 – Doc White ’03 (8-12) v. Stan Coveleski ‘23 (1-10)
Wainwright 7-6 (10): The Wranglers built a 4-0 lead after five innings, highlighted by Kirby Puckett’s sixth dinger. The Force went ahead with two 6th-inning and three 7th-inning runs, consisting mostly of singles and walks. Wainwright inched ahead in the 8th inning, only to have Fantomz tie the score on Doby’s second double. The momentum shifted to Wainwright after Choo was thrown out at home attempting to score the winning run during the 9th inning. In the 11th inning, George Brett plated Puckett with the winning run. W – Smoltz (4-2) L – Russell (1-3) |
| Series Summary: | The equally-matched teams played three one-run games and one two-run game, as a lucky bounce here and there would have completely changed the series.
Player of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ Gil McDougald, hovering around .200 all season, hit 8-for-18 with three rbi. Pitcher of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ Gaylord Perry for firing a six-hit shutout with seven strikeouts for an 81 Game Score. |
| Iowa Giants @ Nags Head Surf Sox | |
| Series Preview: | IOWA GIANTS (29-56) vs. NAGS HEAD SURF SOX (40-45)
The Iowa Giants, residing in the cellar of the N.L. West, and losers of 10 straight, visit the suddenly hot Nags Head Surf Sox. The Giants are 11-33 on the road, but hoping for some success along the Atlantic. |
| Game #1: | Bob Feller (4-14 4.06 ERA) vs. Nolan Ryan (3-6 4.44 ERA)
Bob Feller is having an off year to say the least. Not sure how a 22 XY gets an ERA of over 4 and has only won 4 of 18 decisions. He faces Nolan Ryan, who returns from the disabled list for his first start since early June. Top 1 – Nolan is looking a little rusty. Bryce Harper starts the game with a single and is followed by Joe Morgan who clubs one over the center field fence, his 5th round tripper on the season. Giants take an early 2-0 lead. Bottom 3 – Back to back singles by McCarver and Jeter put runners at the corners. McCarver scores on a Sandberg SAC fly. IOWA 2-1 The pitching on both sides shut down the offenses the rest of the way and the Giants hold on for the one run victory, ending their losing skid. Feller tosses a good one, going 7, scattering 4 hits and 4 walks and striking out 8 for his 5th win of the year. Gossage tosses 2 scoreless innings for his 12th save. Joe Morgan had 3 hits, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles, and a homerun … all the offense Iowa needed. Jeter went 2 for 2 with a walk for the Sox. Ryan has a decent outing for his return to the rotation, he just didn’t get any support from his offense. IOWA 2 6 0 |
| Game #2: | Dizzy Dean (3-7 4.89 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (5-5 4.34 ERA)
Top 4 – Phil Masi RBI double scores Sosa for a 1-0 Giant lead. Bottom 4 – A Jimmie Foxx walk, Stanton single, and Winfield HBP load ‘em up for the Sox with no outs. Gary Carter bounces into a double play, scoring Foxx to tie the game 1-1 Bottom 7 – Gary Carter scores on a passed ball to give the Sox the lead, 2-1. Following a Samuel walk, that puts runners at the corners, Von Hayes connects for a 3 run blast, his 6th home run of the year, and Nags Head leads 5-1 Top 8 – Rudy York hits a 2 run, pinch hit, homerun off Mitch Williams to cut the Sox lead in half. Sox 5-3 Francisco Cordero comes in and tosses a scoreless ninth, registering his 17th save of the season, and evening the series at a game apiece. Dean goes the distance in a losing effort for the Giants, and Sosa had a pair of hits. Samuel, Hayes, and Stanton each had 2 hits in support of Cole Hamels, who goes 7 and only allows one run on 5 hits. IOWA 3 7 0 |
| Game #3: | Bob Lemon (1-3 9.71 ERA) vs. Joaquin Andujar (4-12 5.37 ERA)
Top 2 – Buck Weaver’s RBI single scores Dale Alexander for a 1-0 Giant lead Top 4 – It’s déjà vu all over again … Dale Alexander scores on a Weaver RBI single, 2-0 Giants Bottom 5 – A Winfield walk, McCarver single, and Andujar bunt single load the bases with none out. Sandberg grounds a double play ball to Judy Johnson who boots it, allowing Winfield and McCarver to score and tie the game. Andujar scores the go ahead run on a SAC fly off the bat of Jeter. Sox 3-2 Top 6 – Iowa strikes back – Judy Johnson redeems himself with a double that puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Andujar strikes out Masi and intentionally walks Buck Weaver to get to the pitcher. Lemon makes the Sox pay, however, smacking a 2 run single to put the Giants back in front 4-3 Top 7 – Josh Hamilton’s 2 run homerun, his 3rd, gives Iowa a 6-3 lead Rincon and Gossage combine to hold the Sox hitless over the final 3 innings, and the Giants are victorious in game 3. Dale Alexander scores 3 times, Weaver, Lemon, and Hamilton each knock in 2. Lemon came into the game with an ERA near 10, but only allows 1 earned run over 6 innings. Andujar drops his 13th. IOWA 6 9 1 |
| Game #4: | Bill Doak (0-3 6.16 ERA) vs. Zane Smith (4-1 2.76 ERA)
Top 1 – For the 4th straight game Iowa takes the early lead. This one really hurt the Sox, literally. Zane Smith retires the 1st 2 batters before Josh Hamilton reaches on a 2 out single. Sammy Sosa follows with a looper to right … Sandberg and Dawson collide going for the ball and it drops … Hamilton scores from first, but the big issue for Nags Head is they lose Dawson for 5 days and Sandberg for 7 … which is going to make for some difficult decisions regarding the D.L. prior to the next series. Giants 1-0 It’s all zeros until the Giant half of the 8th when Sammy Sosa’s solo round tripper, his 9th of the year, gives Iowa an insurance run – Iowa 2-0 Top 9 – Buck Weaver’s SAC fly scores Judy Johnson 3-0 Giants Gossage comes on and pitches a scoreless ninth for his 3rd save of the series. Bill Doak pitches a gem for Iowa, throwing 8 shut out innings, allowing only 5 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 7. Sosa led the Giant offense with 2 hits, including the homerun, and 2 RBIs. Zane Smith had another strong outing for the Sox, going 8, allowing only 2 runs, but the offense is unable to support him. IOWA 3 8 1 |
| Series Summary: | So much for the streaking Sox as they lay an egg against Iowa, dropping 3 of 4. The Giants’ pitching was stellar in the series, holding Nags Head to only 9 runs on 23 hits over the 4 games. |
| San Tan Valley Moonrakers @ Climax Cougars | |
| Series Preview: | A pretty darned good team, San Tan Valley Moonrakers (45-40) sitting in a tie for 3rd place in the NL West heads to central Canuckland for four games against a badly underachieving team in the Climax Cougars (39-45 and 7th in the NL East) hoping to continue the pounding the rest of the league has put on the home team’s pitching that has them worst in the League. |
| Game #1: | What was it that I said about pitching? The only saving grace in this one was that as it turned out good pitching was in short supplies for both teams in this game. Climax starter Greg Harris did what only Greg Harris has done all season for the Cougars – sucked – and gave up a leadoff double high off the wall to Cesar Cedeno. San Tan’s manager mercifully didn’t advance the speedy Cedeno despite a fairly deeply hit fly ball by all-star 3rd baseman Bob Elliott, but it didn’t matter as run-machine Hal Trosky ripped one for a double down the right field line that made it 1-0 for the Moonrakers. But wait … Harris was not done …Vern Stephens was up next and hit a hard grounder through the 1b-2b hole and Trosky raced around 3rd base and home … only Ott threw a bullet in from right field and Chief Meyers applied the tag to end the threat. Monty Stratton’s bottom of the 1st included a one-out walk to Meyers followed by a tape measure blast by Mel Ott which had Climax up 2-1 heading into the 2nd inning. Skip ahead just one inning and the top of the order for San Tan Valley continued to give Harris fits … are we sure we got the right Greg Harris???? Cedeno doubled again (with one out) and then Elliott lined one over the infield to bring Cedeno in and tie it 2-2. The bottom of the 3rd looked like it was going to be a snoozer, but Stratton’s defence crapped out on him when shortstop Vern Stephens muffed a throw on Meyer’s slow grounder. Still cursing his infielder’s sloppiness, Stratton threw one high and inside a little too inside to Ott and nailed him to make it runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. That brought up Jose Bautista who had not done much of anything since the first month of the season. Nothing breaks you out of a slump better than a 3-run homer though and that is what he did, bopping it into the left field cheapies to make it 5-2. With Harris pitching though … Earl Averill led off the 4th with a high high high high fly ball that had it been straight would have gone 700 feet. It did go over 400 feet though which put it about 15 feet over the right field wall and made it 5-3. Harris … hmmm. Bullpen on alert. Sherry Magee was up next and hit one back to the mound … and past Harris and under the glove of sprawling shortstop Jose Mendez for a single. Harris got a chance to redeem himself on the next play as Willie Randolph chopped one back to the mound, but nope … once a useless tool always a useless tool. Harris bobbled the ball and Randolph was easily safe. Fearing that Harris’s next move may be to spontaneously combust, the righty was mercifully removed for Ellis Kinder. Inheriting the mess with none outs, Kinder surprised everyone by getting Mike Piazza to foul out to first base, Stratton popped out to shallow left and Bautista robbed Cedeno of an extrabase hit by making a shoestring catch to left. Frank Smith, one of the more pleasant surprises for the Cougars this season with a 1.38 ERA, was brought in to pitch the 5th with a 5-3 lead. Trouble started immediately for the deadball era righty as the trainer rushed out after Smith’s first pitch had about as much on it as a cheese pizza (not much up here in Canada). Smith said he was good to go but we questioned that after Elliott hammered the next pitch into the gap in left field for two bases. Smith chickened out and rather than face Mr. RBI Trosky, he walked him to bring up Stephens who is just only slightly less dangerous. Smith got Stephens looking (his 3rd K of the game) and then struck out Averill. The most dangerous hitters out of the way, Smith took something off his next pitch and Sherry Magee ripped it into centre field allowing Elliott to score easily and make it 5-4. Smith then walked Randolph to load the bases, bringing up everyone’s fav Piazza (and not the cheese Piazza). Smith couldn’t come anywhere near the plate and walked Piazza on four pitches which brought in the tying run. That brought up San Tan Valley pitcher Stratton and the first pitch Smith unleashed to him bounced halfway to the plate and over Meyer’s head allowing the runners to advance and make it 6-5 for the visitors. El Sid Fernandez came in and ended the bloodshed by getting Stratton to fly out to right field. So the pitchers’ duel moved to the bottom of the 5th with Stratton still out there but for how long? A little too long perhaps as Harlond Clift opened with an opposite field single and then advanced to 2nd base on Meyers’ ground out. Ott then singled to right allowing Clift to score to tit it 6-6, but Bautista (now sporting the nickname Hobo) ground into a double play that ended the inning. Fernandez opened the 6th throwing smoke and got Cedeno swinging for the first out. Elliott followed up by catching up to the fastball and smashed it to the wall and luckily glove of Sam Crawford in centre to make it two down. Well, as we know where there is smoke there eventually is fire and it came in the form of Trosky’s bat. The lefty all-star hammered the ball well over Ott’s head in right field to give the Moonrakers back the lead. Stephens was up next and made it obvious where there was smoke at the start of the inning, Fernandez was just running on fumes as the slugging shortstop mashed the ball into Kelsey’s Pub and Grill across the street from the ballpark. San Tan Valley leads 8-6. Ugh. To quote Climax catcher Meyers on the mound visit following the homer, “If he (Fernandez) was a coonhound I’d take him out back of the woodshed and put one right between his eyes.” ’nuff said Stratton finally ran out of gas in the Cougars’ half of the 6th when he opened the inning by allowing a double off the base of the centre field wall by Crawford and then a walk to George Grantham. Jess Barnes replaced Stratton and got Johnny Mize to pop out to first base and then Mendez grounded out to make it two outs but he advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd base. There was no way Fernandez was going to be allowed to hit and in came Buck Leonard. Leonard launched a ball that still had not come down at the time this series writeup was being completed, but it made it suddenly and shockingly 9-8 for Climax. The Cougars tacked on three more runs against Barnes in the 7th on an RBI double by Bautista, an RBI-single by Grantham and a startling error by gold glove catcher Piazza that allowed a run to score from 3rd base … and that was it. Climax comes from behind in a messy game on both sides to win the series opener 12-8. W-Fernandez (2-5) Sv-Carroll (6) L-Barnes (2-1) HR-SAN: Trosky (22), Stephens (22), Averill (8); CMC: Ott (13), Bautista (15), Leonard (10) |
| Game #2: | San Tan Valley starter Virgil Trucks was perfect heading into the 4th inning against the Cougars, but wound up dying a death of a thousand cuts as the Climax hitters churned out 13 hits over the next five innings that translated to a 7-1 win over the Moonrakers. Smoky Joe Wood earned game MVP honors after allowing just one unearned run over 8 innings with the only San Tan run scoring on a passed ball by Chief Meyers and the pitcher was a slick 3/3 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Not much action in this one compared to the first game other than that the Cougars tattooed a dent in the left field wall with seven doubles to left centre in the game. W-Wood (6-6) Sv-none L-Trucks (4-7) HR-none |
| Game #3: | Bump Hadley and Cannonball Redding brought their A game into Game three so hits and runs were hard to come by. It did not start out that way as Hadley started the game with a bit of a case of the jitters loading the bases with two outs on walks to Mel Ott, Jose Bautista and Harlond Clift (who coincidentally I think are 1-2-3 in walks among hitetrs in the NL) and then gave up a two-run double to Sam Crawford. Hadley gave up pretty much all of nothing after that other than the odd walk here or there, but Josh Gibson got to him in the 6th with a double high off the wall in left field that scored Bautista (who walked three times in the game). Meanwhile, all Redding was doing was trying to qualify for Pitcher of the Week. As with Hadley, Redding went the distance but unlike Hadley he only gave up one hit – a bloop double to Vern Stephens in the 5th – as the Cougars won their 3rd straight 3-0. Hadley’s complete game was a bit of a wild one. He struck out 8 (including George Grantham 3 times) but gave up 7 walks to go with the four hits. Redding’s one-hitter included eight strikeouts and one walk. W-Redding (3-5) Sv-none L-Hadley (7-6) HR-none |
| Game #4: | Climax’s lack of power this season appeared to have become contagious as the two teams were now two games without knocking one out of the park. The power outage didn’t continue too long for Climax as the second hitter of the game for the Cougars, George Grantham, smacked a line drive over the centre field wall that was gone almost before it left Eric Gagne’s hand. Mel Ott then singled and then Johnny Mize crushed one over the left field wall to make it 4-0 after the first inning. … and that is as close as the game got as the Cougars’ Grantham got his second homer of the game off reliever Dave Righetti in the 6th and pinch hitter Ossee Schrecongost bonked one out in the 7th as Climax coasted to a 11-3 win. Oscar Charleston and Cesar Cedeno each had a couple of his for San Tan Valley but the rest of the lineup could only account for a total of two hits – Hal Trosky, of course, hit a two-run double and Jimmy Williams singled and walked twice. Grantham scored three runs in the game for Climax as part of a 4/5 day with the two solo home runs. Fregosi and Mize each had two hits. W-Waddell (7-6) Sv-none L-Gagne (1-5) HR-SAN: none; CMC: Grantham 2 (6), Mize (2), Schrecongost (1) |
| Series Summary: | The series can be summarized by one simple sentence: Climax avoided facing Randy Johnson. The shocking sweep of the Moonrakers leaves both teams scrambling among the unwashed masses of the league as they fight to stay within sight of league-leaders Coastline and Clockwork. |
| Pigtown Bombers @ Fire Lake Segers | |
| Series Preview: | Pigtown traveled to Fire Lake and earned a split of the 4 games. Sorry for the lack of a write up this week. Player of the week nominee, Pigtown’s Hank Greenberg. 7-for-20, 7 rbis, 3 doubles and a grand slam. Pitcher of the week nominee, Fire Lake’s David Cone. 4-hit shutout, all singles, Struck out 5, walked none. Game Score 84. Also, Pigtown’s Luis Tiant, 7 innings of 1-hit ball, Game Score 80. |