2020 PLAYOFFS – NATIONAL LEAGUE – WILD CARD ROUND

Motown Yankees vs Coastline Bobcats
Series Preview: National League playoff series Round One with #7 seed Motown meeting National League wins leader (tie) and #2 seed Coastline. Coastline took 7 of 8 during the regular season.
Game #1: Motown’s Dave Brown, 19-13, 2.07 faces off against Coastline’s Kevin Brown, 16-11, 4.07.

Motown struck first, with Stan Hack muscling a 2R HR for a quick 2-0 lead. Kevin Brown settled in from there and threw goose eggs through the 7th. Meanwhile, Coastline’s bats went to work, pushing a pair across in each of the 3rd and 5th innings, and tacking a single run on in the 6th for a 5-2 lead. Motown scrambled for 3 in the top of the 8th off Casilla to tie, only to have season-long arsonist Steve Mingori give up the lead on his first pitch to Joe Gordon in the bottom of the inning, with Gordon smacking a LONG home run to give Coastline the lead. Sutter continued his regular season dominance with a clean 9th, giving Coastline Game 1 and the early series lead.

2 hitters stood out – Motown’s Cristobal Torriente, batting leadoff for the first time this season, went 3-5 with 2 doubles and scored 2 runs, while Moose Skowron knocked in 4 with 2 hits, including a double.

Coastline wins – 6-5

Game #2: Motown’s Adam Wainwright, 16-7, 2.49 facing Coastline’s Dave Stieb, 18-7, 3.04

Scoreless through 3, Motown pushes across single runs in the 4th and 5th, with more goose eggs through 7. With Motown leading 2-0, Stan Hack smacks his 2nd home run of the game, and 3rd of the series, to give Motown some cushion with a 5-0 lead. Adam Wainwright was the star, going the full 9 and scattering 3 hits for the CG shutout and tying the series at 1 game apiece.

Motown wins, 5-0

Game #3: Coastline’s Chuck Finley, 20-7 2.80 v. Carl Hubbell, 15-12 2.45.

Motown’s single run in the bottom of the 2nd staked them to the lead until Coastline’s Cal Ripken singled across pinch runner Ian Kinsler with 2 down in the top of the 6th. 1-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th, Motown’s Richie Ashburn got on and stole 2nd, and was quickly followed by back-to-back doubles by Dixie Walker and Fred McGriff off Coastline’s Mike Marshall for a 3-1 Motown lead. Hubbell held on through the 9th and completed the game, giving Motown the game 3 win and 2-1 series lead.

Motown wins, 3-1

Game #4: Coastline’s Kevin Brown, 16-11 in the regular season and Game 1 starter, faces off against Motown’s Addie Joss, 12-13 2.53

This game was all Brown and Joss – literally. Only 3 hits between the teams heading into the 9th. Joss shut down Coastline in the top of the inning, allowing only 1 Hack Wilson single earlier in the game. Bruce Sutter entered in the bottom of the 9th for Coastline. Dave Bancroft rocked a 1 out double, and Motown pinch hit Elmer Valo for 2B Frank White – Sutter promptly put Valo on to set up the double play. Kenny Lofton grounded out for out #2, bringing Joss to the plate. Motown pinch hit Heinie Groh, who laced a Sutter splitter to RF – Coastline RF Geoff Jenkins bobbled the ball, allowing Dave Bancroft to score the winning (unearned) run.

Motown wins, 1-0

Game #5:  
Series Summary: Motown realizes they had no business winning this series – Brian is an awesome manager with a great team, and the dice just could not have been worse for him, scoring only 1 run in the final 27 innings.
Fire Lake Segers @ Clockwork Heros
Series Preview: NL tied for best Clockwork got to face the Fire Like Segers who should be the reds. Terry built a really nice team focused on Cincinnati’s finest. Clockwork Heros went all in this year but so far the first round of the playoffs has been a nightmare for the better regular-season records. The series was played over team viewer.
Game #1: Mclain for Fire Lake Christy Matheson for Clockwork. Rolen plays the hero and drills a 3 run homer off the hall of fame Clockwork ace. Clockwork clawed back to make in 4-3 after 4 as Bradley homered. But Bench in for injured Roseborro hits a game-winning double. 5-4 Fire Lake! w-Gullett (1-0) s-lavalle(1) L-Uhle(0-1)
Game #2: A Terry triple and Clockwork was up 4-1 after 6 innings. Blyleven gave up a run in the 7th but it was still 4-2 Clockwork when Tekulve the closer came in for two innings. He was solid in the 8th but in the 9th he fell apart allowing a Bench homer two runs then with two out and a fast runner trying to score Clockwork’s LF Foster plays hero and nails the winning run at home! But Fire lake did tie it 4-4 as Tekulve blows the save. But in the bottom of the 9th Lavalle give up a solo homer to Terry! Clockwork wins 5-4 W- Tekulve (1-0) L-Lavelle(0-1)
Game #3: Terry hits a 3 run homer in the first and clockwork added more as Davey Lopes hits 2 homers and drives in 3 more. up 7-1 in the 9th Fire Lake did get 2 runs off Matheson as Zisk hits a 2 run homer. Valverde allowed a hit then Nehouser ended it. 7-3 clockwork w-Matheson(1-0) L-Guidry (0-1)
Game #4: ouch…Arky Vaughn and George Foster homer and Clockwork score 8 of Mclain and crew. Donovan allows just 2 hits as Tony Perez hits his 3 rd double in 5 at-bats. But this time Tekulve closes out the blowout. 8-1 Clockwork W-Donovan(1-0) L-McLain (0-1)
Series Summary: Clockwork changed the entire series on getting the game two winning run at home by George Foster the one missing Big Red Machine piece. Terry’s underdog team played great and had me sweating through the series, A 5 game series is a nightmare…
Santop the hero catcher was great .375 5 runs and steal. Terry through had the big hits with two homers and 4 RBIs. Bench was the best Seger hitting .308 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Perez was amazing off the bench, going 4 for 6 with 3 doubles and 3 rbi while Votto was a disappointing 1 for 13
Climax Cougars @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: This National League round one playoff matchup between the Climax Cougars and the Detroit DeLoreans was played over Zoom.
Game #1: #1 CMC 7 – DET 5: After one inning the DeLoreans were up 4-1 led by an Anthony Rendon 2-run HR. However, the Cougars stormed back with four runs in the fifth inning on five hits, including a double from Smokey Joe Wood and a triple from Mel Ott. Then George Grantham and Mel Ott added solo shots in the sixth and ninth innings to complete the Climax victory.
Game #2: #2 CMC 0 – DET 4: Hippo Vaughn spun a 2-hit, 11 strikeout shutout to tie the series at a game apiece. Detroit’s Nap Lajoie and Chuck Klein each had two hits and an RBI to lead Detroit.
Game #3: #3 DET 2 – CMC 3: The series shifted to Climax. The Cougars jumped out 3-0 and never looked back. Chief Meyers and Buck Leonard led the attack, each with two hits. While Leonard and George Grantham hit homers.
Game #4: #4 DET 9 – CMC 1: Backs against the wall, the DeLoreans responded with a 9-1 rout. Babe Herman went 4 for 5 with three doubles, a triple, and three RBI. Johnny Schmitz carried a shout into the ninth but surrendered one unearned run in 8.2 innings.
Game #5: #5 CMC 5 – DET 6: The series finale shifted back to Detroit. Both teams scored in the first inning on a homer from George Grantham and then an RBI double from Babe Herman. By the sixth inning, Detroit held a 6-1 lead guided by Ripper Collins, Herman, and Chuck Klein. However, the Cougars battled back with three runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth. Jim Fregosi, Grantham, and Mel Ott led the near comeback.
Series Summary: As expected, it was a close and exciting series that literally “could’ve gone either way.” There were some excellent hitting and pitching performances. The biggest star was George Grantham, who led all hitters with a .444/.500/.944 slash and 3 HRs. He did everything he could to guide the Cougars to victory.
West Michigan Retrogrades vs Hoboken Zephyrs
Series Preview: West Michigan and Hoboken will face off as the #4 and #5 seeds respectively. Only 3 games separated these teams in final standings so expect a tight series.
Game #1: Adrian Beltre and Duke Snider both homered to hand Noodles Hahn the Game 1 loss. Willie Foster allowed just one hit over 6 innings and three relievers held the Zephyrs scoreless over the final three frames. The Retrograde defense turned three double plays.
West Michigan 4 Hoboken 1
Game #2: Jeff Heath hit a huge 3-run blast off Joe Sambito to cap a 4-run 8th inning. George Sisler went 3 for 4 for WM. Red Faber allowed just two runs over 7 innings as Bryan Harvey came on to close out with a 6-out save.
Hoboken 4 West Michigan 2
Game #3: Stan Spence and Jim Bottomley led the Hoboken attack combining for 5 hits and 5 RBIs. The Zephyrs scored 8 runs in the first four frames to cruise to a pivotal Game 3 win.
Hoboken 9 West Michigan 6
Game #4: Noodles Hahn was breezing along with a 3-1 lead into the 9th with two outs and one on. Hahn then allowed an ill-timed walk and Manager Kevin Weber made a brilliant move bringing on Roy Sievers to pinch-hit. Sievers delivered a clutch three-run blast to give Hahn his second loss of the series. The Retrogrades had all the momentum going home for a decisive Game 5.
West Michigan 4 Hoboken 3
Game #5: Red Faber hurled a brilliant 5-hitter allowing just one first-inning run. Tommy Henrich capped off a strong series with a 3 for 4 performance as the Zephyrs scraped out two runs against Urban Shocker.
Hoboken 2 West Michigan 1
Series Summary: Hoboken won a hard-fought series that could have gone either way. Red Faber took home series MVP honors by going 2-0, 1.69era in two starts. The Retrogrades were led by George Sisler(.400BA) and Duke Snider(.400BA/.500OBP). Strong performers for Hoboken included Jim Bottomley(.429BA), Tommy Henrich(.389BA) and Eddie Stanky(.333BA).

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #30

 

National League Pitcher of the Week (co-winner) – Doc WHITE – Wainwright

2-0 record, 17.2  innings pitched, 1.53 ERA, 11 hits, 8 strikeouts, & 1 walk

 

 

 

National League Pitcher of the Week (co-winner) – Bob FELLER – Iowa

1-1 record, No HITTER vs Fire Lake, 14.0  innings pitched, 1.93 ERA, 5 hits, 12 strikeouts, & 6 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Don NEWCOMBE – Boston

2-0 record, 16.0 innings pitched, 0.56 ERA, 12 hits, 7 strikeouts, & 1 walk

 

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Shin Soo CHOO  – Fantomz

13/33 .394 avg, 0.758 slg, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 5 runs scored, 13 RBIs & 4 walks

 

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Barry BONDS  – Menomonee

10/28 .357 avg, 1.107 Slg, 3 doubles, 6 home runs, 10 runs scored, 11 RBIs & 4 walks

Boston Braves @ Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: Bob and I played the game over Zoom. As always, a lot of fun to talk baseball with him.

Jack Street comes in at 87-68 needing 1 win to capture the division title. Boston is in 6th at 70-85.

Game #1: Game 1 features Don Newcombe 12-10 on the hill against little used Cy Young at 1-0.

Boston picks up 2 in the third and 1 in the fifth to give Newcombe all he would need in the game. Braves put up 4 more in the 8th just to rub it in.

Newcombe goes the distance for the shutout giving up 5 hits, no walks and striking out 3. Dom DiMaggio, Dustin Pedroia and Jim Rice all drive in 3 in the victory.

B 7/15/1
J 0/5/1

WP – Newcombe 13-10
LP – Young 1-1
Sv – None
HR – B – Rice (30), Cirillo (6)

Game #2: Conley 8-8 for the Braves for Sadecki making his debut in the last series of the year.

Boston jumped on top early in this one, as well, as they plated one in the first. The big inning was the 6th, as they scored 5 big runs and the Hustlers had no answers. Dustin Pedroia continued his RBI binge with a 3 run homer in the 6th. Conley went 8 giving up 5 hits, a run, 3 walks and striking out 6.

B 8/11/0
J 1/5/0

WP – Conley 9-8
LP – Sadecki 0-1
Sv – None
HR – B – Pedroia (4)

Game #3: Jack Street, still looking for that division clincher sends Sonny Siebert 9-11 to the mound to face all time great Juan Marichal, having a rough season at 2-14.

Braves put up 1 each in the 1st and 3rd before Jack Street plates 2 in the bottom half of the third and then gets another run in the 4th to take their first lead of the series. Siebert and friends shut down the Braves after the third, as Jack Street moves on to a 6-2 win. Jerry Priddy was the hero in this one, as he goes 3-5, with a run, 3 rbis and misses the cycle by a triple.

B 2/5/0
J 6/14/3

WP – Siebert 10-11
LP – Marichal 2-15
Sv – Brantley 32
HR – J – Priddy (2)

Game #4: Boston sends the 2nd half of their Dominican Dynamic Duo, Pedro Martinez (8-14) to the bump to face Frank “sweet music” Viola (8-7)

The runs came early and often in this one, as the Braves plated 4 in the 2nd and 5 in the third in addition to singles in the 3rd and 6th and run away with this one 11-6. Jimmie Hall and Dave Robertson led the way in this one with 4 and 3 rbis, respectively.

The Hustlers Jeff Kent was injured for 5 days.

B 11/13/2
J 6/9/1

WP – Martinez 9-14
LP – Viola 8-8
Sv – None
HR – B – Robertson (2), A Gonzalez (24), Hall (11) J – Palmeiro (22), Pratt (1)

Game #5: Possibly the most fun game of the series as 12-10 Billy O’Dell took the hill for Boston against 6-3 Carl Lundgren.

The game started out as a real pitcher’s duel with both starters shutting down the opponents for 6 innings. In the 7th, 9th hitter Pagliaroni works a one out walk, which is followed by a 2 run homer by Dom DiMaggio to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. That held until the bottom of the 8th when pinch hitter Raffy Palmeiro worked a leadoff walk. After O’Dell strikes out Justice he beans Lance Berkman, sending him to the trainer’s room and to a 29 day injury and chasing O’Dell in favor of Jeff Shaw. Shaw’s first batter, Rogers Hornsby picks up a single to load the bases with 1 out. Ducky Medwick follows with a 2 run single scoring Palmeiro and PR Larry Hisle. Shaw then gets pinch hitter Mark McGwire to line into a DP to end the inning. Dave Veres comes in to work the 9th and gets the Braves 1-2-3. In the bottom half, Shaw gets Priddy and Bartell to bring up Mike Scioscia. With a deep bench because of the roster expansion, Scioscia is bypassed at the plate for Bob Meusel who, on the 2nd pitch, lined one over the boards for a game winner.

B 2/9/0
J 3/6/1

WP – Veres 6-2
LP – Shaw 6-1
Sv – None
HR – B – DiMaggio (5) J – Meusel (27)

Game #6: With the series at 3-2 Boston, the Braves send Antonelli 9-17 to the mound to face Cy Young 1-1.

A game of big innings, as Jack Street gets on the board first with 4 runs in the 1st and another in the third. Boston ties it in the 6th with 5, before Jack Street put 3 more up in the 7th and closes it out. DiMaggiio, Gonzalez, Pedroia and Cirillo all pick up a pair of hits for Boston. Bob Meusel picks up his 2nd homer in as many at bats in the first, hitting a 3 run homer and finishing the day with 4 rbi.

In a real oddity, Larry “no hassle” Hisle, he of the 25 arm, throws out Pedroia and Cirillo at the plate.

B 6/10/0
J 8/8/1

WP – Hoerner 1-0
LP – Antonelli 9-18
Sv – Brantley 33
HR – J – Meusel (28)

Game #7: The rubber game of the 7 game series feature Don Newcombe 13-10 against Ray Sadecki 0-1

In the top half of the 2nd, Hall draws a two out walk and is driven in by a double by Pedrioa (Hisle tried to throw him out at the plate, but had used all his energy the previous day). Boston scores again in the third as Gabby Harnett launches a two run homer with 1 out in the inning scoring DiMaggio who had singled right before him. Jack Street pushed a run across in the third, but that was it for the scoring and Boston takes the series 4-3.

B 3/6/0
J 1/8/1

WP – Newcombe 14-10
LP – Sadecki 0-2
Sv – Corsi 11
HR – B – Hartnett (14)

Series Summary: Always a lot of fun to play “face to face”, especially with Bob and all his Boston Braves/Red Sox knowledge. Boston takes the series 4-3.

Nominations for players of the week
Boston – Conigliaro 3g 6-11, 1 run, 1 rbi, 2 doubles 545/583/727
Jack Street – Palmeiro 6g 7-14, 6 runs, 3 rbi, hr, 7 walks 500/667/714

Pitcher of the week nomination:
Don Newcombe 2 GS 16IP, 12 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K 2-0

Chicago Nine @ Las Vegas Pirates
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Kansas City A’s @  Lewisberry Country Blumpkins
Series Preview: KC A’s travel to North Lewisberry to face a Blumpkin team playing like it doesn’t care
Game #1: Blumpkins win 7-4
Game #2: Blumpkins win 4-3 in 10 inn. A walkoff Freeman solo HR.
Game #3: A’s win 7-0
Game #4: Blumpkins win 2-1. A Dave Philly PH walkoff RBI 2B in the 9th.
Game #5: A’s win 8-5
Game #6: A’s win 10-9 on a Hale solo HR in the 9th.
Game #7: A’s win 4-1
Series Summary: A’s win series 4-3. Blumpkins suck and blow.
Indianapolis Indians @ Middle Channel Sturgeon
Series Preview: Indiana visits the Middle Channel
Game #1: a 3 run 9th wins it for Indiana 5-4
Game #2: The Sturgeon don’t blow this one 2-1
Game #3: Indy 8-3
Game #4: More Indy 9-2
Game #5: The Indians hang on 1-0
Game #6: Indy wins a slugfest 12-10
Game #7: The Sturgeon hang on 1-0
Series Summary: Indy flexes their muscles at the end of the year taking 5 of 7
Fort Worth Cats @ Wrigleyville Whales
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Cincinnati  Knights @ Purry Cowpokes
Series Preview: Cincy travels to Purry
Game #1: Jake Weimer gets his 16th win. Purry 8 Cincinnati 4
Game #2: Mike Scott shuts out the Cowpokes. Cincinnati 6 Purry 0
Game #3: Chick Hafey homers 3 times and drives in 5. Cincinnati 7 Purry 1
Game #4: Billy Wagner blows his 7th save as the Knights score 3 times in the 9th. Cincinnati 7 Purry 6
Game #5: Clayton Kershaw out-pitches Johnny Cueto. Cincinnati 3 Purry 1
Game #6: Joe Sewell homers in the 15th to break a 2-2 tie. Cincinnati 3 Purry 2 (15)
Game #7: Graig Nettles and Joe Rudi both homered to drive in all 5 Cowpokes runs. Purry 5 Cincinnati 4
Series Summary: Purry wins the 1st and last game of the series and the Knights win the 5 in between. Cincinnati wins the series 5 games to 2. I screwed up and created a franchise file after game 6, no idea why game 7 didn’t come up automatically. I’ve attached 2 f-files.
Kansas City Blues @ New Westminster Salmonbellies
Series Preview: Last series of the season. Should be good.
Game #1: The game goes back and forth. In the first the Blues get off to a 2 – 0 lead. In the 4th, the Bellies go ahead 3 – 2 on a Billy Werber HR. Top of the 5th Blues put up a 2 spot to go ahead 4 – 3. The Bellies then put up 3 runs in the 6th and one in the 7th to take 7 – 4 lead.
The Blues don’t quit. Top of the 8th they put up 2 runs to make the score 7 – 6 Bellies. Bill Caudill finishes the game off with his 23rd save.
Game #2: Bellies put up 11 runs on 15 hits while the Blues managed 5 runs 6 hits
on home runs by Rico Carty, Gary Sheffield and Dewey Creacy. Jimmie Wynn hit his 33rd for New Westminster.
Game #3: Kansas City gets off to a 2 – 0 lead after 2 innings against Jeff Tesreau but New Westminster scores 5 in the third to win 6 – 2
Game #4: The Salmonbellies took a 9 – 0 lead after 3 innings on a 3 run home run from Dave Concepcion. The Blues score 2 in the 8th with a homerun from Earl Williams. Final was 9 – 2 for the Bellies.
Game #5: Kansas City Blues, Fernando Valenzuela had a tough go of it giving up 5 runs in the first 2 innings. Dwight Gooden comes back from his owie and pitches a complete game in the 11 – 0 victory. Jimmie Wynn and Roy Campanella homered for the Bellies.
Game #6: New West hammers 5 home runs in the game and KC hits 3 but New West goes on to a 12 – 6 victory.
Game #7: This was quite a game. The game goes into the 7th tied at 4 when New West takes a 7 – 4 lead but KC battle back into the top of the 8th to tie the game at 7. The game goes to the bottom the 10th and fittingly, after having a great season, Martin Dihigo hits his 31st home run to win the game.
Series Summary: Jimmie Wynn had quite a series chasing the rbi crown hitting 5 HR’s and 15 RBI New Westminster sweeps the series and now can look forward to the playoffs.
Madison East  Purgolders @ Menomonee Minutemen
Series Preview: The Purgolders travel 2 hours to face the Minutemen in the season finale.
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Series Summary: MEN wins the series 4-3,

The overachiever of the series is Barry Bonds who went 10-28 with 6 HRs and 10 RBIs

Coastline Bobcats @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: Coastline visits West Michigan looking to wrap up the division championship. West Michigan looks to stop an unbelievable losing streak.
Game #1: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 8, RETROGRADES 3
Game #2: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 17, RETROGRADES 1
Game #3: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 6, RETROGRADES 4
Game #4: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 3, RETROGRADES 1
Game #5: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 3, RETROGRADES 1
Game #6: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 2, RETROGRADES 1
Game #7: FINAL SCORE: BOBCATS 0, RETROGRADES 3
Series Summary: The Bobcats are NL East champions! Congratulations Brian! The Retrogrades end the season with a victory after spinning around in the toilet on an unbelievable FOURTEEN game losing streak. However, West Michigan has the #4 seed in the NL wrapped up and hopes for better results in the playoffs.
Detroit DeLoreans @ Virginia Cavaliers
Series Preview: The Deloreans from Detroit (103-52) brought their 16 game win streak East, to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, to take on the Cavaliers of Virginia (71-84). The Deloreans are chasing Coastline for title rights of the East Division and are looking to take advantage of the downtrodden team from Virginia.
Game #1: VIR 3-1 W-B.Turley (10-13) L-J.Schmitz (3-1)

Little used, but highly graded, Johnny Schmitz got the rare start against Virginia’s Bob Turley. DET got on the board in the first when J.Cronin reached on an error and scored on a Babe Herman single, the second hit of the inning. Unfortunately for DET, Turley was lights out from then on as he allowed only one more hit. VIR got the winning runs on a Baltimore special from Lance Parrish in the 4th and it was all Turley from there on.

Game #2: VIR 12-2 W- L. Gomez (17-11) L-L.Tyler (1-2)

A 2-run double from Andruw Jones in the 4th followed by a SF, broke a 2-2 tie and gave VIR 5-3 lead. They tacked on 2 more runs in the 5th on a A.Rosen RBI single and a K.McReynolds RBI double. A 3-run homer from A.Jones highlighted a 5-run 7th as VIR padded an already large lead, DET got RBI’s from Ripper Collins and Chuck Klein. Andruw Jones was 2-3 with 5 RBI for the Cavaliers.

Game #3: DET 5-3 W-A.Reynolds (16-8) L-R.Betancourt (1-6) SV-J.Romero (11)

Deloreans get into the win column on the arm of A.Reynolds and the bat of Ripper Collins. Reynolds scattered 5 hits over 8 innings while striking out 7 in his 16th win of the year. Collins meanwhile cranked 2 RBI doubles in 4 appearances to lead an 11 hit attack. Joe Cronin also chipped in with 3 hits and 2 runs for DET. Tied at 3-all when VIR plated 3 runs in the 7th, DET jumped on hard-luck reliever R,Betancourt in the top of the 9th, Joe Cronin struck first with a RBI single and Nap LaJoie followed with a double to the gap scoring Cronin. That gave DET a 5-3 lead and Romero made sure it stayed that

Game #4: VIR 7-6 W-G.Jackson (5-4) L-J.Aker (8-6) SV-K.Foulke (37)

This one slipped away from DET. They came out fast with 3 runs in the first thanks to a 3-run blast by Babe Herman, his 16th of the season. After VIR put up 1 in the 4th, DET put up 3 more in the 5th on a 2-run double off the bat of Ripper Collins and a GO RBI from Babe Herman, giving him 4 RBI for the day. That would be it for the Deloreans as three VIR relievers shut down the boys from DET on 1 hit the rest of the game. Down 6-2 in the 7th, VIR began their comeback. Andruw Jones blasted a 2-run oppo taco to RF and PH’er P.Whitney popped one over the LF fence to make the score 6-5 DET. When F.Robinson walked in the 8th, J.Akers came in for DET to protect the lead. He faced 3 batters and gave up 3 hits. But it was A.Rendon’s throwing error that was costly. The first batter he faced dribbled one to 3rd and Rendon threw it past Collins putting runners at 1st and 3rd with 1 out. H.Heilmann lined the next pitch into CF to tie the game at 6-6. K.McReynolds then knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to left-center and DET found itself on the wrong end of a 7-6 score. K.Foulke kept it that way with his 37 save as VIR pilled out a wild win.

Game #5: VIR 3-2 W-L.Day (2-1) L-C.Morgan (14-9) SV- K.Foulke (38)

VIR only got 4 hits in the game. But, two of them were back-to-back doubles by F.Frisch and D.Murphy that produced 3 runs in the 3rd. With L.Day pitching out of jams and scattering 6 hits over 8 innings, VIR was able to hold the lead and claim their 4th win of the series. Ripper Collins and Sam Rice tried to get DET back in the game, but their RBI efforts in the 7th and 8th fell 1 run short as Foulke again came in for the save.

Game #6: DET 13-1 W-S.Sallee (18-7) L-B.Turley (10-14)

Great pitching from the DET pitchers and lots of hits from their batters. DET put it to VIR. They only allowed the Cavaliers 3 hits. One happened to be R.Kiner’s 8th homer. It didn’t matter. N.LaJoie was 2-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Ripper Collins only got 1 hit,…but it was a 3-run smash. A.Rendon was 2-3 with 3 runs and 2 RBI with a homer. Sam Rice had a 3-run triple and even Sallee got in the act with a hit, a RBI and 2 runs. Both teams unloaded their benches and lots of players got playing time as DET enjoyed the blow-out.

Game #7: DET 5-3 W-L.Tyler (2-2) L-L.Gomez (17-12) SV-J.Aker (17)

DET got out 2-0 on a R.Collins RBI and a PB. VIR, having a hard time getting hits, tied it with 1 out in the 6th on a 2-run double off the bat of A. Trammell. But, Tyler regrouped and got out of the inning without any more damage. His team rewarded him by scoring 3 runs in the next inning on a N.LaJoie RBI single and Ripper Collins 2-run double. Even though A.Trammell would knock in another VIR run, it wouldn’t be enough. J.Aker’s came in to nil down his 17th save and preserve the win for DET.

Series Summary: Not the outcome Detroit was hoping for. Virginia stopped their winning streak and went on to take the series 4-3. Detroit now awaits the scores in the Coastline / West Michigan game. For Detroit, Nap LaJoie had 10 hits and 5 RBI. Ripper Collins had 10 hits and 12 RBI. For Virginia, Harry Heikmann 6 hits and 5 RBI, Andruw Jones 3 hits and 7 RBI. Detroit now prepares for the playoffs and Virginia prepares for next year.
Climax Cougars @ Nags Head Surfsox
Series Preview: Climax Cougars (82-73) at Nags Head Surf Sox (67-88)

The Climax Cougars visit Nags Head in a rematch of the series that started the season for both clubs. Thanks to Nik for an enjoyable TeamViewer matchup.

Game #1: Rube Waddell vs. Cole Hamels

Chief Meyers’ 2 hits and a run scored, Buck Leonard’s 2 run double, and Jose Mendez’s 2 runs scored lead the Cougars to a series opening victory. Rube Waddell tosses 6 innings of 3 hit ball, surviving 4 walks, to win his 14th.

CLI 4 2 1
SOX 2 4 0

WP – Waddell (14-11)
LP – Hamels (9-13)
S – Plunk (22)

Game #2: Cannonball Redding vs. Mike Mussina

Strong pitching performances on both sides in this one. Redding and Mussina exchange zeroes until the top of the 5th. Johnny Mize leads off the visitor 5th with a double. Jose Mendez follows with a single to put Cougars on the corners. Redding helps himself with a single to score Mize and put Climax on the board. Following a Grantham walk that loads the bases, Mussina gets Mel Ott to bounce into a double play, but Mendez scores putting Climax up 2-0.

Redding is sharp, pitching 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, until Von Hayes breaks through with a 2 out single, but other than a Giancarlo Stanton double, the Sox would manage nothing else. Redding goes the distance, earning the 2 hit shutout.

CLI 2 7 0
SOX 0 2 1

WP – Redding (7-8)
LP – Mussina (14-12)

Game #3: Sid Fernandez vs. Jim Palmer

The Cougars come out firing in the first. Bankhead singles home Chapman for a 1-0 lead. White doubles scoring Mize for the early 2-0 lead. The Sox bats finally awaken, however. Dave Winfield’s 2 out, bases clearing double puts the Sox in front 3-2. Gary Carter follows with a blast to right center, for homerun #7 and a 5-2 Sox lead after 1.

Jimmie Foxx’s 2 out RBI double scores Sandberg – 6-2 Sox after 2. Climax gets a run back in the 4th, but Nags Head breaks it open in the 5th, with another 2 out rally. With 2 out, Winfield and Carter walk and Longoria is plunked by a Frank Smith pitch to load the bases. Climax calls on Clay Carroll to face pinch hitter Dave Kingman who connects with a bases clearing double – Sox lead 9-3.

Both teams use the score to share some playing time and Nags Head holds on for a 9-6 victory. Pop Lloyd led the way for Climax, going 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Carter had 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBIs for the Sox. Palmer goes 5 innings to earn his 9th win of the season.

CLI 6 13 0
SOX 9 9 0

WP – Palmer (9-8)
LP – Fernandez (6-7)
S – Cordero (28)

Game #4: Smokey Joe Wood vs. Joaquin Andujar

Climax strikes first again – Josh Gibson’s 2 run triple starts the 1st inning scoring barrage. Clift singles in Gibson for a 3-0 lead. Following a Mize double, the Cougars have runners at 2nd and 3rd. Andujar gets Peckinpaugh to ground out. The Sox manager decides to issue a free pass to Jose Mendez to load the bases and take his chances with the pitcher, Smokey Joe Wood … a move that Nik quickly applauded. And … Wood makes the best of the opportunity, whacking a 2 run single to right, plating Clift and Mize, and Climax leads 5-0 before Nags Head bats.

A Stanton RBI double scores Sandberg, cutting the Cougar lead to 5-1 after 1. The Sox would get within 2, but end up falling 7-4. Grantham has a 4 for 4 day for Climax, knocking in 2. Bautista, Gibson, and Clift each have a pair of hits for the Cougars. Stanton and Dawson each have 2 hits and 2 RBIs for Nags Head. Wood wins #11, Andujar wraps up a disappointing season, dropping his 20th.

CLI 7 14 0
SOX 4 7 0

WP – Wood (11-9)
LP – Andujar (5-20)
S – Plunk (23)

Game #5: Van Lingle Mungo vs. Nolan Ryan

Cougar bats once again bash the Sox pitch staff. Jose Bautista leads the attack with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored. Pop Lloyd and Chief Meyers each had 2 hits, and Peckinpaugh knocked in 2. Mungo was sharp on the mound, only allowing a walk and 3 hits over 7 innings. Sandberg’s RBI double was the only blemish on Mungo’s line.

CLI 8 11 1
SOX 1 3 0

WP – Mungo (12-8)
LP – Ryan (5-15)

Game #6: Waddell vs. Hamels

The Sox pitching finally quiets the Climax offensive attack. Cole Hamels pitches 7 innings of 2 hit shutout ball, and a trio of relievers, Street, Charlton, and Cordero combine to shutout Climax. Waddell was almost as good, but a HOJO 4th inning RBI double scores Jimmie Foxx, with the game’s only run.

CLI 0 2 0
SOX 1 3 0

WP – Hamels (10-13)
LP – Waddell (14-12)
S – Cordero (29)

Game #7: Redding vs. Mussina

The Cougars plate single runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th to take a 3-0 lead. Redding is cruising until the bottom of the 5th. Chris Hoiles hits his only double of the season to lead off the inning. Pinch hitter Mike Marshall singles to put runners at the corners. The Sox get their first run on a Samuel FC ground out. Jimmie Foxx follows with a 2 run shot, his 30th of the season, to tie the ball game 3-3.

Sox are feeling good after clawing their way back in this one! On to the 7th. Chief Meyers and Pop Lloyd singles put 2 on with one out. Light hitting Roger Peckinpaugh steps to the plate and drills a Giusti pitch over the fence for his first, and only, homerun of the season, to give Climax the 6-3 lead … the Cougars would add 2 more in the 8th, but it was the Peckinpaugh hit that did in the Sox, a fitting end to a disappointing season!

CLI 8 11 0
SOX 3 7 1

WP – Kinder (9-3)
LP – Giusti (6-6)

Series Summary: Climax wins 5 of 7 and gains some momentum heading into the postseason.

It’s a wrap on the Surf Sox season. Jimmie Foxx and Von Hayes had solid seasons, but generally speaking, the NL East pitching was too much for the Nags Head lineup, as no one approached their actual numbers. Mussina lead the starters with a strong season. Ryan and Andujar were particularly disappointing. Cordero has a great season out of the pen … he’s still stewing after being left off the All Star squad.

Next for the franchise, the team plans a 2021 move up the East Coast to Baltimore for season 2.

Thanks to Nik for running a great season!

Fantomz Force @ Pigtown Bombers
Series Preview: Final series of the year…
Game #1: Pigtown wins 5-4 (12)
Game #2: Fantomz win 15-0
Game #3: Fantomz win 4-1
Game #4: Fantomz win 9-5
Game #5: Fantomz win 8-3
Game #6: Fantomz win 3-2
Game #7: Fantomz win 6-4
Series Summary: Fantomz win the series 6-1…Pigtown does not get to 50 wins for the season. To quote the Cubs, there is always next year
Clockwork Heros @ Motown Yankees
Series Preview: Closing the season with a series that will have practically no impact on the standings, Motown is hoping Clockwork is bringing on the scrubs and resting the starters
Game #1:  
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Game #6:  
Game #7:  
Series Summary: Given there is little standings impact, just a few fun facts:

Motown somehow scrapes out 5 of 7
5 games decided by 1 run
One 13 inning game (won by CWH)
One 14 inning game (Won by Motown)
Motown won the first 4
Motown won a game started by Christy Mathewson
Every time George Foster swung it seemed like it went to the wall or the warning track, if not over the fence
Kenny Lofton and Dixie Walker had 12 hits apiece and seemed like they were on base all series
Motown is happy for the end of the season with 2 injured SP’s and the top 2 bullpen options used up…..

Motown has no interest in seeing Clockwork in the playoffs……

Hoboken Zephyrs @ Hollywood Zombies
Series Preview:  
Game #1:  
Game #2:  
Game #3:  
Game #4:  
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Game #7:  
Series Summary: Hollywood takes 3 with smoke and mirrors
Fire Lake Segers @ Iowa Giants
Series Preview: FIRE LAKE SEGERS COME IN ONE GAME OVER 500 4TH PLACE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST DIVISION AND IOWA GIANTS UNDER FIVE HUNDRED AND LAST PLACE IN THE WESTERN DIVISION BEEN A LONG SEASON.
Game #1: FLS 0-0-0 LP MCLAIN 11-14
IOW 5-1-2 WP bob Feller 15-22
yes yes Bob Feller no no 9 innings three baserunner on one walk and two errors, he was just cruising along 11k’s Vic Power two run shot in the 8th sealed the win for the Giants
Game #2: FLS 6-9-0 WP Gullet 5-7 SV Lavelle 1
IOW 3-6-3 LP Bonham 8-6
Tony Perez three run homer in 5th power Seger to the win
Game #3: FLS 1-5-1 LP Guidry 9-13
IOW 3-7-0 WP Lanier 3-14
Giants used 8 pitchers in game to get win Morgan Sosa both homer in the win
Game #4: FLS 7-15-0 WP Smoltz 7-4 Sv 1 Cone
IOW 2-5-1 Niedenfeur 1-6
Dave Cone throws 4 innings 1 hit relief and Dennis Menke goes 4-5
Game #5: FLS 9-13-0 WP McLain 12-14
IOW 1-4-2 LP Feller 15-23
Menke 2-4 homer, McLain complete game 4 hits 1 er
Game #6: FLS 1-5-1 LP Morris 8-6
IOW 4-10-1 WP DEAN 10-13 SV Rincon 1
Dean 6 2/3 4 hits 1 unearned run and Sosa homer
Game #7: FLS 5-10-0 WP LaVelle 9-8
IOW 1-7-1 LP Oswalt 1-6
Votto homer LaVelle and Smoltz in relief shut down the Giants
Series Summary: A REAL JOY PLAYING AGAINST TERRY HE RUNS HIS TEAM VERY WELL MAKES ALOT OF GOOD STRATEGIC MOVES YOU AS THE OPPONENT NEED TO BE ON YOUR TOES. FELLER GOT HIS NO HITTER SO HE, MY PLAYER OF THE SERIES, I ALSO BELIEVE HE WAS FOR THE TEAM THIS YEAR.
Wainwright Wranglers @ San Tan Valley Moonrakers
Series Preview: San Tan Valley and Wainwright, middle of the pack mates, end the season.
Game #1: San Tan’s Bump Hadley had a 6-0 lead in the 8th and then I decided to get cute. Scott Garrelts and Jessie Barnes give up 6 9th inning runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, a Devon White 3 run homer starting it. In the bottom of the 10th Hal Trotsky doubled home Ken Keltner for the 7-6 win. Trotsky had a double and a homer in the game.
Game #2: A 2-2 tie in the 9th and, again, Devon White cracks a two run homer off ace Randy Johnson. It holds up in a 4-3 Wrangler win. Oscar Charleston and Vern Stevens homer for the Moonrakers. Duane Ward gets his 17th save.
Game #3: Ken Keltner hits 2 three run homers, Mike Piazza adds a solo shot and Virgil Trucks holds Wainwright to 8 hits and a single run. Nap Rucker loses, walks 6 and drops his record to 6-24. San Tan wins 7-1.
Game #4: Left Grove wins his 16th for Wainwright, allowing only one run ( another Keltner homer). Darren Daulton hits a solo homer in the 3-1 win.
Game #5: Daulton hits a two run homer in this game, sparking a 5-3 win for Vic Willis (14-23).
Game #6: Doc White evens his record at 19-19, Hiene Manusch goes 3-3 and Wainwright wins it’s 3rd in a row 3-2. Trotsky hits another homer for San Tan.
Game #7: Last game of the season, last chance for Randy Johnson to win his 20th…He wasn’t really sharp, giving up 10 hits and three runs but the Moonrakers put on a power display with homers from Stephens, Keltner, and two 2 run homers from the white hot Hal Trotsky. Johnson wins his 20th 7-3.
Series Summary: Wainwright takes 4 of 7 with a pretty diverse offense. San Tan was powered by Trotsky (6-29, 3 runs, 9 RBI, a double and 4 homers) and Keltner (6-25,3 runs, 9 RBI, and 4 homers.

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #29

National League Pitcher of the Week – Stan COVELESKI – Fantomz

2-0 record, 16.1  innings pitched, 1.10 ERA, 5 hits, 10 strikeouts, & 7 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Greg MADDUX – Fort Worth

2-0 record, 18.0 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 3 hits, 9 strikeouts, & 5 walks

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Chuck KLEIN  – Detroit

12/23 .522 avg, 1.217 slg, 4 double, 4 home runs, 5 runs scored, 12 RBIs, & 1 walk

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Billy WERBER  – New Westminster

12/27 .567 avg, 1.037 Slg, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 8 runs scored, 10 RBIs, & 1 steal

Jack Street Hustlers @ Indianapolis Indians
Series Summary: Teams split first four games then Hustlers win last 3 to take 5 out of 7.
Lewisberry Country Blumpkins @ Chicago Nine
Series Preview: Third place Chicago takes on second place Lewisberry in a heated division race.
Game #1: The Country Blumpkins kick @$$ and take names. Steve Sax has 3 RBI’s at the top of the order & Justin Turner has 4 RBI’s at the bottom.

Final Score: Lewisberry 16 – Chicago 3

Win: Orel Hershiser 17-10 (3.13)
Loss: C.C. Sabathia 12-15 (5.08)

Game #2: J.R. Richard is a stud & goes the distance allowing only 2 Runs. J.D. Martinez has a Home Run & 2 RBI’s.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Lewisberry 2

Win: J.R. Richard 13-13 (4.46)
Loss: Babe Ruth 10-16 (3.17)

Game #3: Ramon Martinez goes long in the Complete Game Shutout.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Lewisberry 0

Win: Ramon Martinez 6-1 (2.35)
Loss: Josh Beckett 8-11 (4.54)

Game #4: Roger Clemens gets left in and gives up 3 Runs in the 9th, but he had such a big lead it didn’t matter. The middle of the Chicago lineup, J.D. Martinez 3 RBI, John Mayberry Home Run & 3 RBI’s, & Joe Cunningham 2 Home Runs & 4 RBI’s did most of the damage for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 11 – Lewisberry 5

Win: Roger Clemens 5-5 (4.38)
Loss: Jack Morris 12-14 (4.37)

Game #5: C.C. Sabathia pitches well over 7.1 Innings. Latroy Hawkins closes the door. J.D. Martinez has a Home Run & 3 RBI’s for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Lewisberry 2

Win: C.C. Sabathia 13-15 (4.99)
Loss: Orel Hershiser 17-11 (3.14)
Save: Latroy Hawkins #4

Game #6: J.R. Richard outduels Babe Ruth. Nothing spectacular for either of these teams in this one, Though J.R. Richard did pitch well.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Lewisberry 1

Win: J.R. Richard 14-13 (4.33)
Loss: Babe Ruth 10-17 (3.26)
Save: Brad Lidge #6

Game #7: The Blumpkins were pissed off in this one & came out screaming at the Demolition. Steve Sax has 3 RBI’s & Billy Williams chimes in with 2 RBI’s himself. Wilbur Cooper goes the distance in a Complete Game 1-Hit Shutout.

Final Score: Lewisberry 11 – Chicago 1

Win: Wilbur Cooper 9-9 (3.89)
Loss: Rick Reed 1-2 (4.85)

Series Summary: The Blumpkins take the bookends of the seven-game series, with big wins. However, the middle is all Chicago & they jump ahead of the Blumpkins in the standings now by 1 Game.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Kansas City A’s
Series Preview: Las Vegas (60-88) at K.C A’S (70-78)
Game #1: Walker goes 7 innings for a 3-2 Vegas win, John Romano hit a 2 run homer for the A’S in a losing effort.
Game #2: The A”S even the series winning 6-3 behind 2 run homers from Billie Williams and Travis Fryman.
Game #3: Warren Spahn tosses a 4 hit shutout in a 7-0 Vegas win.
Game #4: Vegas wins 7-4 as Dean Chance gets his 5th win, Willie Stargell hit a 2 run homer in the win.
Game #5: Reggie Jackson hit a pinch hit 2 run shot off M. Rivera in the bottom of the 8th for a come from 6-5 win for the A’S.
Game #6: Eddie Cicotte goes 6.1 innings for his 16th win and Hank Aaron hits 3 straight homers and drives in 6 for a 9-4 K.C. win.
Game #7: Bill White singles off of Warren Spahn in the bottom of the 10th to score pinch runner Luis Aparicio for a 4 -3 K.C. walkoff win.
Series Summary: Kansas City wins the last 3 games to win the series 4 games to 3.
Middle Channel Sturgeon @ Boston Braves
Series Preview: The Middle Channel Sturgeon’s a couple games ahead of the Boston Braves in the LEG AL East standings visited Braves field for a seven game tussle between two teams with similar track records.
Game #1: In 11 innings the Sturgeon’s won a 3-2 game paced by Jake Daubert’s three hits and a Nellie Fox double knocking in 2 of 3 Sturgeon runs. Adrian Gonzalez had 3 hits for the losing team.
Game #2: The Braves recovered in game two winning 6-4 with fireworks provided by Jeff Cirillo’s two run HR and pairs of hits from Dominick DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett and Jimmy Hall. Billy O’Dell won his twelfth game for the Braves.
Game #3: Middle Channel roared back with a 6-3 win allowing Mat Scherzer to collect his sixteenth win of the season. The offense was provided by Willie Horton with 2 hits, a homer and 3 RBI’s along with pairs of hits from Ty Cobb, Jake Daubert, and Charlie Hollocher.
Game #4: Boston evened the series again with a 7-6 win in game four. Sal Perez had a perfect four for four day, Ty Cobb homered and Nellie Fox banged out three hits for the Sturgeons. Cobb’s homer was his twenty seventh of the season and you thought he wasn’t a power guy! Freddie Sanchez homered and picked up three RBI’s to pace the Braves winning offense.
Game #5: Al Leiter and two relievers limited the Braves to one run in a 9-1 Sturgeon rout in game five. Willie Horton homered and smashed 2 hits while driving in three runs for Middle Channel. Matt Carpenter had four Sturgeon hits.
Game #6: Middle Channel assured themselves of winning the series in game six with a 4-2 complete game win twirled by Jack Coombs collecting his third win of the season. Sal Perez had 3 hits and Matt Carpenter 2 hits for the Sturgeon’s.
Game #7: The Braves took the adios game 8-3. Herb Score won his second game in two series for the Braves with strong help from three relievers. Jim Rice and Gabby Hartnett each had three hits, one of Rice’s went into the stands for the Braves. Jake Daubert and Billy Cox had two hit each for Middle Channel.
Series Summary: The series played out as you might expect with two evenly matched teams. Middle Channel extended their lead on the Braves with a 4-3 game winning of the series.
Menomonee Minutemen @ Fort Worth Cats
Series Summary: Both teams had 10 run blowouts. Cats won 13 to 3 in game 1 and the Minutemen won game 4 by a score of 10-0.

Keith Hernandez and a pinch hit walk off 2 run homer in game 3.

Greg Maddux had two complete game shutouts allowing just 3 hits while striking out 9

Ft. Worth takes the series 5 games to 2

New Westminster Salmonbellies @ Cincinnati Knights
Series Preview: The much anticipated showdown for second place in the A.L. West between third-place New Westminster and second-place Cincinnati comes to Glenn Sample Field. The Knights enter with a three-game lead over the Salmonbellies, but the tables could turn quickly in this seven game set.
Game #1: NWM 6-10-2, CIN 4-11-0
Game #2: NWM 8-11-1, CIN 1-7-1
Game #3: NWM 5-8-0, CIN 2-6-1
Game #4: CIN 10-10-1, NWM 4-4-2
Game #5: CIN 7-11-0, NWM 2-6-1
Game #6: CIN 16-20-1, NWM 1-4-2
Game #7: NWM 11-15-2, CIN 8-12-0
Series Summary: New Westminster takes the series four games to three and climbs to within two games of second place with just one series left in the regular season. Both teams will head to the postseason. The Salmonbellies won the first three games and nearly did major damage to the Knights’ postseason thoughts.
Virginia Cavaliers @ Coastline Bobcats
Series Preview: Virginia (68-80) travel to Coastline (102-46) for a 7 game series to close out the ‘Cats home schedule for LEG Season 1.

Series played via TeamViewer

Game #1: VIR R. Sewell vs CLB B. Swift
CLB opens the scoring in the B1 on a C.Ripken solo-HR. VIR ties it up in the T2 when Whitney 2bs and scores on a Pena rbi-1b. CLB retakes the lead in the B2 with a Skowron solo-HR. CLB starts to pull away with 2 runs in the B4 when Skowron 2bs, Gordon rbi-3b, and a S.White rbi-1b. VIR stays within reach with a run in the T6 on a McReynolds solo-HR.In the CLB B6 Skowron bbs, Gordon reaches on a FC, M.Williams with a H&R rbi-2b, followed by a Simmons rbi-2b for a 6-2 CLB lead. CLB then puts the game away with a 3 spot in the B7 with the big hit being a C.Ripken 2-run HR. CLB add 1 more in the B8 to close out the scoring.CLB Swift goes 5IP giving up 4 hits and 1ER, and the bullpen takes it home for the ‘Cats win.CLB B.Swift (17-8) gets the win and VIR R.Sewell (0-3) with the loss.CLB 10, VIR 2
Game #2: VIR B.Turley vs CLB D.Stieb
CLB out in front quickly with a run in the B1 on a C.Ripken 3b and Wilson rbi-1b. In the VIR T5 Whitney bbs, Parrish 1bs and both runners move up on M.Williams throwing error. T.Taylor follows with a SF to tie the game and Turley helps himself with an rbi-1b.VIR Turley settles in after the 1st inning run and tosses 7 scoreless innings giving up only 4 hits and fanning 7 before being lifted for a PH in the T9. R.Hernandez tosses a scoreless B8 before giving way to Foulke in the B9. CLB Gordon reaches on a 1-out 1b, moves to 2nd on M.Williams groundout, and then PH Burks ties the game with an rbi-1b. Becker then follows with an rbi-1b to RF as the ‘Cats get an unexpected come from behind win!CLB M.Marshall (9-4) gets the win and VIR Foulke (3-8) blows the save and takes the loss.CLB 3, VIR 2
Game #3: VIR L.Gomez vs CLB C.Finley
CLB Finley going for his 20th win on the season against VIR ace L.Gomez.
VIR opens the scoring in the T2 when Heilmann hits a solo-HR. Its a short lived lead as CLB comes back in the B2 when Skowron 1bs, Gordon 1bs, M.Williams bbs to load the bases and S,White rips a 2 rbi-1b.In the B3 CLB Kemp bbs and Burks hits a 2-run HR for a 4-1 ‘Cats lead. VIR would get one back in the T6 when Trammel bbs, Rosen1bs, and Heilmann rips an rbi-2b. C.Finley bears down and gets McReynolds and Kiner to end the inning.That would be all the scoring in the game as CLB turns the game over to its bullpen and Casilla, Albers, and Sutter close out the game.CLB C.Finley (20-6) gets his 20th win, Sutter with Save#61, and VIR L.Gomez (16-11) with the loss.CLB 4, VIR 2
Game #4: VIR J.Key vs CLB K.Brown
In the B1 CLB Kemp 2bs, and 1 out later C.Ripken 1bs to CF, and VIR F.Robinson guns out Kemp at home to snuff out a CLB run. That would be as close as CLB would come to scoring for the rest of the game as VIR J.Key dominates giving up only 1 more hit in the game (7th inning 1b by Ripken). Key would toss the SHutout giving up the 3 hits, walking none and fanning 6.The lone run of the game came in the VIR T5 when F.Robinson1bs, steals 2nd, moves to third on a Whitney groundout, and scores on a Mitchell SF to deep CF.CLB K.Brown pitches well giving up only 2 hits in his 6IP of work but is still stuck with the tough loss.VIR J.Key (7-8) earns the win and CLB K.Brown (16-11) takes the hard luck loss.VIR 1, CLB 0
Game #5: VIR P.Roe vs CLB S.Maglie
VIR opens the scoring in the T3 when Frisch 1bs with 2 out, steals 2nd, and then scores on S.Finley’s 2-run HR.CLB finally breaks a 20 inning scoreless streak with a Gordon solo-HR in the B7. But VIR puts the game away with 4 runs in the T8 on a Finley 1b, F.Robinson 1b, Heilmann rbi-1b, Trammell rbi-1b, Harris rbi-1b,
and a D.Sutton wild pitch. VIR adds another run in the T9 on another Sutton wild pitch and CLB gets a token run in the B9 to close out the scoring.VIR P.Roe is strong going 7IP giving up only 4 hits and 1ER while fanning 4.VIR P.Roe (4-7) with the win and CLB S.Maglie (8-2) takes the loss.VIR 7, CLB 2
Game #6: VIR E.Reulbach vs CLB D.Stieb
VIR gets the first run in the T2 on a Trammel 2 out 1b and a Kiner rbi-2b. CLB takes the lead in the B3 when Stieb 1bs, Becker bbs, Jenkins rbi-1b, C.Ripken rbi-1b (#100 rbi on the season), and then get a freebie on a VIR Parrish passed ball letting Jenkins score.CLB keeps the pressure on in the B4 with a Gordon solo-HR. In the CLB B6 PH Gibson bbs with 2 out, Becker H&R 1b, and Jenkins with an rbi-1b to make it 5-1 CLB. In the T7 VIR gets a run on Heilmann’s solo-HR but Heilmann gives it back to CLB in the B8 with a throwing error.CLB Marshall and Roebuck close out the 8th and 9th for the ‘Cats win.CLB D.Stieb (18-7) with the win and VIR E.Reulbach (10-12) gets the loss.CLB 6, VIR 2
Game #7: VIR R.Sewell vs CLB C.Finley
CLB M.Williams hits a solo-HR in the B3 for a 1-0 ‘Cats lead. CLB Finley is looking good through 6 innings of shutout ball. Sewell is matching him inning for inning having only given up the HR (the only hit he has given up in the game)But lightning would strike in the VIR T7 when Pena leads off with a 1b, PH Whitney with an inf-1b, and then PH Trammell clubs a 3-run HR!VIR would get 1.2IP of scoreless ball from Betancourt, 1IP of scoreless ball from R,Hernandez, and Foulke gets the 1 out save. R.Sewell gives up 1 hit in 6IP of work,VIR R.Sewell (1-3) gets his first win on the season and CLB C.Finley (20-7) gets the loss.VIR 3, CLB 1
Series Summary: Coastline takes the series 4-3 as they close in on winning the NL East Division. VIR plays the ‘Cats tough and gets some unexpected strong performances from their backup players.
West Michigan Retrogrades @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: While playing over Zoom, the NL East’s third-place West Michigan Retrogrades (92-56) visit the second-place Detroit DeLoreans (96-52). Both teams entered the series with playoff spots secured but still had an opportunity to improve their seeding positions.
Game #1: #1 WMR 2 – DET 3: A Tommy Harper sac fly and Steve O’Neill RBI single put Detroit on in the bottom of the second inning. However, West Michigan tied it in the top of the fifth on RBIs from Bobby Wallace and Bill Dickey. A Bob Fothergill single in the sixth inning pushed across Joe Cronin for what would result in the game-winning run for the DeLoreans.
Game #2: #2 WMR 1 – DET 5: Ripper Collins hit a 2-run HR (49) in the bottom of the first to put Detroit on top. The Retrogrades got one back in the sixth inning when George Sisler went deep. However, Detroit added three more runs on RBI from Chuck Klein, Babe Herman, and Yogi Berra to pad their lead. Allie Reynolds went the distance for his 14th win.
Game #3: #3 WMR 7 – DET 8: One of the most exciting games of the series saw both teams combine for 22 hits and six HRs. Max Carey (4), Tommy Davis (28), and Cy Seymour (1) went deep for West Michigan. While Ripper Collins (50&51) and Chuck Klein (22) hit shots for Detroit. The DeLoreans held a 7-3 lead heading into the seventh inning until West Michigan tied the game on a Max Carey 3-run HR. However, in the bottom on the ninth MVP candidate, Ripper Collins hit his league-leading 51st HR for a walk-off Detroit victory.
Game #4: #4 WMR 6 – DET 11: West Michigan jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings led by Heavy Johnson, George Sisler, and Tommy Davis. It wasn’t enough though, as Detroit scored 11 runs, led by a 4 for 5, 3 RBI performance from Chuck Klein.
Game #5: #5 WMR 1 – DET 7: Detroit jumped out early in the first inning on a 2-run HR from Ripper Collins (52) and cruised to a 7-1 victory. West Michigan’s George Sisler went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. While Detroit’s Joe Cronin, Ripper Collins, Anthony Rendon, and Frank Howard all had two hits each. The DeLoreans’ Hippo Vaughn through a complete game for his 19th win.
Game #6: #6 WMR 2 – DET 6: The Retrogrades jumped out 1-0 in the third inning on a George Sisler triple that he was thrown out trying to stretch into an inside-the-parker. The Detroit scored four runs in the 4th inning led by a 2-run Chuck Klein HR (24). Babe Herman led the offense for the DeLoreans by going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Also of note, Detroit’s Sam Rice swiped his 50th base of the season.
Game #7: #7 WMR 1 – DET 5: A Tommy Davis sac fly in the first inning was the only run the Retrogrades could muster. Detroit snatched back the lead in the bottom of the first with RBIs from Anthony Rendon and Chuck Klein. The only other scoring in the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Chuck Klein hit a 3-run HR. Slim Sallee, back from injury, pitched a complete game for his 17th win of the season.
Series Summary: A tough series for West Michigan who suffers the sweep but still holds their playoff position. They hit into 11 double plays and could never collect a key two-out hit. Detroit’s Chuck Klein had 12 hits in the series, including four HRs.
Pigtown Bombers @ Climax Cougars
Series Preview: Two team owners take advantage of self-imposed and government imposed isolation to crank out 7 games as they tried to get in some much needed innings and plate appearances for players at season end.
Game #1: Joe McGinnity (PIG) v. Rube Waddell (CMC)
The Bombers started off by Jim Edmonds (one of my fav players of the last 20 years or so) hitting a shallow fly ball to Jose Bautista (one of my least fav players of the last 20 years) who promptly bobbled and dropped it and allowed the hitter to move to 2nd base. Two hitters later Manny Ramirez (another of my least fav players of the past 20 years) slapped the ball into the gap in left centre and while Bautista was trying to nag centrefielder Sam Crawford into chasing it down for him Edmonds scored and ManRam made it to 2nd base. 1-0 Pigtown
Move to the bottom of the 2nd base and the Cougars tie it up after McGinnity gives up a couple of walks and a single to load the bases with none out and then Jose Mendez hits into a fielder’s choice that allowed the runner on 3rd to score. The Cougars moved into the lead 2-1 when Randy Velarde bobbled the 2-out grounder by Jim Fregosi and George Grantham danced home.
No need to get excited though as that was it for the Climax offense on the day – one run on a ground out and one on an error – simply awe-inspiring.
Pigtown, however, was not done.
Edmonds crushed a Waddell offering to tie it up in the 3rd and then they added a pair in the 6th on a two-run shot by Jackie Robinson (what a bum!) that made it 4-2.
Climax bullpen mainstays Clay Carroll and Ellis Kinder took over in the 8th and combined to poop the bed and allowed three runs with Robinson getting a bloop RBI double, Jim Gentile an RBI single, and cannon-armed Benny Kauff an RBI on a Sac fly.
… and that was it.
FINAL – PIGTOWN 7, climax 2
W-McGinnity (12-15)
L-Waddell (12-11)
HR-PIG: Robinson (8), Edmonds (18)
Game #2: Luis Tiant (PIG) v. Greg W. Harris (CMC)
The teams could have saved a lot of time and effort by just playing the 6th inning.
The fearsome Climax offense comes through again by relying on the ineptitude of others with Jose Bautista opening the 6th with a double into the gap that Jim Edmonds could not handle and le voila the two-base error = 1 unearned run and a 1-0 Cougars lead. Luis Tiant then walked Mel Ott – no crime since it was his 130th of the season – who scored two batters later on Buck Leonard’s triple into the right field corner. George Grantham then launched a deep fly ball that was far enough out Leonard was able to score easily and … nothing else for either team.
The Bombers squandered some chances in the game stranding 9 baserunners, but Greg Harris did a good job of scattering four hits in his 8-1/3 innings and combined with closer Eric Plunk to get the shutout 3-0.
FINAL -CLIMAX 3, pigtown 0
W-Harris (8-7)
L-Tiant (8-13) only 1 earned run
Sv-Plunk (21)
Game #3: Jim Abbott (PIG) v. Smoky Joe Wood (CMC)
A few runs early and one early late and that was it in this game.
Pigtown opened the scoring in the 2nd inning when Mike Schmidt led off with a double and then Mickey Tettleton hit the ball into the right field corner. Schmidt scored easily, of course, but somehow Tettleton and his Baserunning 3 made it all the way to 3rd base while Mel Ott was hastily scarfing down a meatball hoagie.
On a side note, I have to mention that the catching duo of Ernie Lombardi and Mickey Tettleton are probably about the slowest in history. the only thing that moves slower than this is CSPAN’s coverage of a filibuster. Combined, the two dudes have a baserunning speed of 4. Pigtown owner Tim Braue commented that he once saw Lombardi (normally a 1) reduced to 0 after being hit by a pitch. That puts him at a point where probably any shambling zombie from the Walking Dead with at least one leg could outrace him.
Oh and despite the fact that Elmer Flick bopped a flyball to the edge of the warning track Tettleton was nailed at the plate by Mel Ott. Speed kills.
I can only figure that Fruit Loop was still tired from the triple and then trying to race home from 3rd from the prior inning cuz he opened the bottom half of the inning by bobbling a ball Harlond Clift hit all of two feet from home and put him on 1st base. Sam Crawford then followed with a long drive to right field that cleared the fence and it was 2-1 Climax.
The lead lasted all of a few minutes as Edmonds and Hank Greenberg combined to bring in the game-tying run and it was 2-2 after 3.
Move ahead to the 6th … nothing’s happening.
Move ahead again to the 9th … still nothing happening. Well actually, the Bombers had runners on 1st and 2nd with one out, but Manny Ramirez ground into a double play to end the Pigtown threat.
Climax was not at all interested in generating any offense though so into extra innings we went.
In the top of the 10th, the Bombers once again got runners on 1st and 2nd but this time with 2 outs when Edmonds reached on a bad throw to 1st base by catcher Josh Gibson and then speed demon Lombardi walked. Ellis Kinder came in to replace Sid Fernandez on the mound and got Hank Greenberg to foul out to 3rd base.
Felix Rodriguez was the reliever of choice to open the bottom of the 10th for Pigtown. He opened with a walk to Gibson then got Pop Lloyd to live up to his name and foul out to the catcher to make it one out. Soon to be free agent Roger Peckinpaugh hit a hard grounder back to the mound off Rodriguez’s shins and it was men on 1st and 2nd. Exit Rodriguez, enter lefty John Franco (would his career have lasted as long had the 3-batter minimum been in play back then?). Anyway, Franco walked Ott (#132) to load the bases and in came Darren (Happy) O’Day to face pinch hitter Ben Chapman who himself was pinch hit for by Johnny Mize. Mize hit a fly ball to the right fielder and Gibson (more than 3 times as fast as Lombardi and Tettleton together) raced towards home. The throw home from Benny Kauff nailed Gibson at the plate … or rather would have had he been playing right field instead of Elmer Flick … so instead Gibson got the very unsexy winning run on the sacrifice fly.
FINAL – CLIMAX 3, pigtown 2 (10)
W-Kinder (8-2)
L-Rodriguez (2-2)
HR-CMC: Crawford (16)
Game #4: John Tudor (PIG) v Dick Redding (CMC)
This game was decided pretty much in the early going with Redding being generally sharp and striking out 10 in a 6-2 Climax win.
Climax’s shortstop Jim Fregosi started things off right in the bottom of the 1st with a home run off Tudor, but the Bombers erased the lead with an RBI triple by some guy named Jackie Robinson in the top of the 2nd base.
No matter as the next inning with two outs and two on Fregosi cranked one down the left field line that just stayed fair to make it 4-1 and pretty much put an end to Tudor’s day.
Jose Mendez got a rare hit in the 3rd to bring home Harlond Clift and extend the lead to 5-1, but Manny Ramirez got that one back with a huge blast into the bleachers. Clift doubled a few innings later to bring in the final run of the day and complete the 6-2 win.
FINAL – CLIMAX 6, pigtown 2
W-Redding (6-8)
L-Tudor (3-9)
HR-PIG: Ramirez (16); CMC: Fregosi 2 (6)
Game #5: Joe McGinnity (PIG) v. Van Lingle Mungo (CMC)
This was a really close game until late with the Bombers leading 6-5 – and then the 8th inning happened.
I should note to set this up that the Cougars had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the 7th and were on the verge of tying it and hopefully moving into the lead, but Game 4 hero Jim Fregosi hit into what seemed like the 20th inning-ending double play.
Jackie Robinson opened the Pigtown 8th by walking. Several subs later on both sides pinch hitter Duke Sims hits one to Fregosi – not his day – who threw it past Buck Leonard at 1st and made it runners on 1st and 3rd. In comes Mickey Tettleton who walks and loads the bases (really slowly). The next hitter, Jim Edmonds, hits a hard grounder to 2nd base and with the infield in the Cougars cut off the run at home and set up the double play for pinch hitter Max West to hit into. That was the plan anyway but West had his own script which included him crushing a ball over the fence for a grand slam and quickly turning a close game into one where the Cougars were just looking at their feet, kicking rocks and wondering if the new episode of Snowpiercer would be any good.
FINAL-PIGTOWN 10, climax 5
W-McGinnity (13-15)
L-Mungo (11-8)
HR-PIG: West (2), Greenberg (29), Schmidt (21)
Game #6: Luis Tiant (PIG) v. Rube Waddell (CMC)
Mel Ott launched two into the cheap seats and Rube Waddell was on his game as the Cougars got past Pigtown 5-2.
Other than Ott (who also walked twice), the Cougars did not much, but they didn’t have to as the Deadball Era lefty made really just one mistake on the day – solo homer by Bobby Grich – while allowing just four hits and striking out eight. Pigtown got its other run by Mike Schmidt driving home Jim Edmonds on a SAC fly.
FINAL-CLIMAX 5, pigtown 2
W-Waddell (13-11)
L-Tiant (8-14)
HR-PIG: Grich (2); CMC: Ott 2 (23)
Game #7: John Tudor (PIG) v. Greg Harris (CMC)
In a very close game in which the home team clawed it’s way back from a 5-2 deficit to tie it 5-5 heading into the bottom of the 9th this game went down to the wire.
Mel Ott opened the Climax side of the 9th with a double (his 2nd of the game) that eluded Elmer Flick in center field. Darren O’Day made short work of Mr. Personality Jose Bautista by striking him out, but Buck Leonard was the next hitter and slapped one over first base and down the line into right field sending Ott flying around 3rd. The difference in this game was Benny Kauff was in right and nailed Ott. O’Day then got Sam Crawford to ground out and end the threat. Just like that a good chance at a win turned into a free ticket to extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Edmonds ripped a one-out double and then came around to score when the next hitter – Flick – lined the ball between 1st and 2nd.
end of story
FINAL-PIGTOWN 6, climax 5 (10)
W-O’Day (5-11)
Sv-Rodriguez (1)
L-Kinder (8-3)
HR-CMC: Bautista (24)
Series Summary: A pretty enjoyable series with some soul-crushing frustration at just the right moments to keep us honest with Climax taking 4/7 against Pigtown.
Nags Head Surf Sox @ Fantomz Force
Series Preview: Two NL East division rivals on the outside looking in wrapped up Fantomz’ home season
Game #1: Game 149 – Joaquin Andujar ‘84 (5-19) v. Gaylord Perry ’74 (12-14)

Fantomz 3-2: Nags Head crossed the plate first with a 1st-inning homer by Jimmie Foxx. The Force responded in the 6th inning on Larry Doby’s sacrifice fly. Andre Dawson’s single in the following frame inched the visitors ahead. In the 8th, Fantomz tied the game on Johnny Mostil’s solo shot. Mickey Cochrane provided the game-ending heroics when his 9th-inning pinch-hit sacrifice fly scored John Stone with the walk-off winning run.

W – Russell (6-4) L – Watson (2-2)

Game #2: Game 150 – Nolan Ryan (5-12) v. Mel Harder ’32 (4-11)

Nags Head 8-5: The Surf Sox banged out 17 base hits, including six doubles, as they feasted on Force pitching. Giancarlo Stanton paced the offense with a homer, two doubles, and three rbi. Nags Head’s relievers thwarted any comeback attempts by pitching four scoreless innings, allowing a lone hit over the final four frames. Ray Lankford hit a grand slam for Fantomz.

W – Ryan (5-13) L – Harder (5-11)

Game #3: Game 151 – Cole Hamels ’15 (9-11) v. Stan Coveleski ’14 (4-14)

Fantomz 5-2: Coveleski picked up where he left off. The Force gladly supported his effort, building a 4-0 lead through seven innings. After throwing two complete games during the previous series, Coveleski tossed seven shutout frames before allowing an eighth-inning three-run homer to Howard Johnson. Jeff Russell silenced Nags Head’s bats with 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his 14th save.

W – Coveleski (5-14) L – Hamels (9-12)

Game #4: Game 152 – Mike Mussina ’97 (13-11) v. Carl Weilman ’14 (9-18)

Nags Head 12-4: When the Surf Sox start hitting, they don’t stop. A six-run 7th-inning and three-run 3rd-inning included a 19-hit barrage. Von Hayes hit 4-for-6 with two rbi while Gary Carter had three hits and scored three runs.

W – Mussina (14-11) L – Weilman (9-19)

Game #5: Game 153 – Jim Palmer ’79 (7-8) v. Gaylord Perry ’74 (12-14)

Nags Head 3-2: The Surf Sox built a 3-0 lead and the Force’s rallies never materialized. Once again, the starters were solid but not brilliant while the relievers slammed the door shut. Stanton homered and Carter enjoyed another three-hit night.

W- Palmer (8-8) L – Perry (12-15) SV – Street (6)

Game #6: Game 154 – Joaquin Andujar ‘84 (5-19) v. Mel Harder ’32 (4-11)

Fantomz 4-2: Fantomz pieced together a two-run 7th-inning rally to break a 2-2 tie, led by Ray Lankford’s triple and Don Mattingly’s single. Relievers were the key once again as Russell and Felipe Vazquez combined to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

W – Russell (7-4) L – Giusti (6-5)

Game #7: Game 155 – Nolan Ryan (5-13) v. Stan Coveleski ’14 (5-14)

Fantomz 4-0: Coveleski continued his late-season surge, firing a one-hitter to close out Fantomz’ home season. The spitballers has pitched incredibly well after a dreadful 1-14 start, going 4-0 with two complete game shutouts and minuscule 0.78 ERA over four starts and 34 1/3 innings. Two Fantomz starts appropriately played well in the final home game, with Wiley hitting 3-for-4 and Doby two doubles. John Stone’s pinch-hit two-run 6th-inning single provided insurance.

W – Coveleski (6-14) L – Ryan (5-14)

Series Summary: Fantomz won 4 of 7 and likely ended any playoff opportunities for either team. On the bright side, the evenly-matched clubs spread out playing time.

Player of the Week nominee: Nags Head’s Gary Carter, who hit 9-for-23 and scored four runs.

Pitcher of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ Stan Coveleski was solid, going 2-0 with 1.10 ERA in two starts totaling 16 1/3 innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing only five hits.

Hollywood Zombies @ Clockwork Heros
Series Preview: Clockwork hosts Hollywood.
Game #1: Terry goes four for four and Matheson (26-7) was great 3 hits in 8 innings 1 run.7-1 clockwork
Game #2: Foster a homer and 4 rbis. Vlad homeredin the loss 7-2 Clockwork
Game #3: Foster a homer and 3 rbis in another 7-2 win.
Game #4: Crazy blowout 24-3 by Matheson and Lopes has a monster game 3 homers, triple and a single. Terry also went 5 for 5. Matheson wins his 27th
Game #5: Clockwork wins 8-5 as Blyleven wins his 25th
Game #6: Vlad homers as Holywood wins 3-1
Game #7: Matheson goes for the trifecta and wins his 3rd start of the series and his 28th and exceeded 300 strikeout b4-2 clockwork
Series Summary: Clockwork wins 6 of the 7 games.
Pitcher of the week: Matheson 3 wins 4 runs in 21.2 innings 3 walks 23 strikeouts.
Santop 12 for 26 .462 average
Motown Yankees @ Hoboken Zephyrs
Series Preview: The Yankees travel to Hoboken as both teams gear up for the playoffs.
Game #1: Noodles Hahn took a no-no into the 9th but had it ruined by Stan Hack’s two-out pinch-hit single.
Hahn improved to 25-9, 2.11era. Dave Brown was brilliant in the loss, lowering in his era to 2.15.
Hoboken 1 Motown 0
Game #2: Red Faber and Addie Joss hooked horns in another pitchers’ duel. Faber won his 18th going ten innings allowing no earned runs. Faber improved his era to 1.92. Joss was very strong allowing only two hits and one earned run over 9 frames. Tommy Henrich hit a two-out solo blast in the 10th to get Faber the win.
Hoboken 2 Motown 1
Game #3: Tom Seaver won his 17th in a strong complete game performance. Bill Dahlen went 3 for 3 with two blasts and 4 rbis to lead Hoboken.
Hoboken 6 Motown 2
Game #4: Carl Hubbell put a stop to the Motown skid allowing just two runs. The Yankee offense was led by Fred McGriff and Kenny Lofton.
Motown 5 Hoboken 2
Game #5: Hahn and Brown matched up for another duel. Hahn left in the 6th inning with a shoulder issue and may return late in the Zephyrs’ next series. Brown was brilliant again but got a no decision. Stan Spence provided the walk-off rbi in the bottom of 13th.
Hoboken 2 Motown 1 – 13 innings
Game #6: Jered Weaver was brilliant in his final start of the season shutting out Motown on just 6 hits. Eddie Yost and Wally Schang led the Hoboken offense.
Hoboken 4 Motown 0
Game #7: Addie Joss pitched a brilliant two-hitter to beat Hoboken in the get-away game.
Motown 3 Hoboken 0
Series Summary: Hoboken take 5 of 7 at home from Motown as the Zephyr pitching staff limps to the finish line.
San Tan Valley Moonrakers @ Fire Lake Segers
Series Preview: San Tan Valley (70-78) makes it’s first ever trip to Fire Lake (74-74) to play those eights and aces.
Game #1: Monty Stratton (6-5,3.68) vs Ron Guidry (9-12,3.70)

Tied 2-2 with 2 on and 2 out in the top of the 9th, Mgr Muddy Harris let Stratton hit and the home team was much obliged. Barry Larkin’s 1-out double in the bottom of the 11th scored Tommie Agee to give Fire Lake a walk off victory and earn Gary Lavelle (7-5) his 7th win. Vern Stephens hit his 36th homerun for San Tan Valley, who were limited to just 5 hits by Guidry/Gullett/Soto/Morris/Lavelle.

FIRE LAKE – 3, SAN TAN VALLEY – 2 (11 INNINGS)

Game #2: Ed Walsh (4-6,3.41) vs John Smoltz (6-3,4.37)

Walsh allowed just 6 singles and a walk in shutting out the Segers for his 5th win. Hal Trosky hit his 34th homerun and Charlie Keller added two doubles help lead the Moonrakers to victory.

SAN TAN VALLEY – 3, FIRE LAKE – 0

Game #3: Virgil Trucks (7-14,4.14) vs David Cone (9-14,2.85)

Fire Lake jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 4th, on rbis from Scott Rolen and Denis Menke. Cone cruised through 5 innings, before Earl Averill’s 2-run homerun tied it up in the 6th – his 12th. Gus Triandos, who had a 3-hit day, broke the tie with a solo shot (his 6th) in the 7th and that was it. Trucks pitched a scoreless 7th and Sparky Lyle retired all 6 hitters he faced for his 9th save.

SAN TAN VALLEY – 3, FIRE LAKE – 2

Game #4: Bump Hadley (11-9,2.99) vs Denny McLain (10-13,3.43)

McLain allows 3 hits and an unearned run in 7th innings. Hadley allows just 1 hit, 7 walks, one earned run in his 7 innings of work. Garrelts followed Hadley with three perfect innings of work and it was off to the 11th inning with the score tied 1-1. In the top of the 11th, Gary Lavelle pitched his second perfect inning of the game. In the bottom of the 11th, Sparky Lyle was not up to the challenge. Lyle faced 5 hitters, retired just one. The 5th and final hitter of the inning, Tony Perez, smashed a grand slam walk off homerun (his 11th homer) to tie the series at 2 games apiece.

FIRE LAKE – 5, SAN TAN VALLEY – 1 (11 INNINGS)

Game #5: Randy Johnson (18-8,2.04) vs Matt Morris (8-5,3.68)

The Big Unit cruised in this one, allowing just 2 hits, a run and striking out 9 to win his 19th game. Vern Stephens hit his 37th homerun for the visitors. Tony Perez’ 12th homerun in the 2nd inning gave the early lead to Fire Lake, but the Segers had no late rally on this day.

SAN TAN VALLEY – 2, FIRE LAKE – 1

Game #6: Monty Stratton (6-5,3.53) vs Ron Guidry (9-12,3.67)

Fire Lake rapped out 10 hits and 5 runs against Stratton in this one, with Scott Rolen’s 11th homerun in the 8th inning proving to be the game winner. Charlie Keller had two of San Tan Valley’s 5 hits, including a 3-run shot (his 7th) that gave the visitors a brief 3-2 lead.

FIRE LAKE – 5, SAN TAN VALLEY – 4

Game #7: Ed Walsh (5-6, 3.14) vs John Smoltz (6-4,4.20)

Fire Lake jumped out to a 5-0 lead with some timely hitting and a Vern Stephens’ costly error. John Smoltz had not allowed a hit through the 6th, before Bob Elliot (15th) and Gus Triandos (7th) both homered to cut the lead to 5-3. It was 5-3 in the top of the 9th when Mario Soto allowed Triandos and Keltner to reach. Gary LaVelle was called on to retire Oscar Charleston and he couldn’t. Charleston’s 2-run triple knotted the game at 5-5 and there was more free baseball. Fire Lake rolled out Cone and McLain in extras, while the Moonrakers put their trust in Will Harris. In the bottom of the 13th, the Segers finally made a loser out of Harris, as Barry Larkin’s second hit of the game was the winner. Jose Cardenal had a 4 hit game for Fire Lake, while Charleston, Elliott and Triandos each had two of the visitors 10 hits.

FIRE LAKE – 6, SAN TAN VALLEY – 5 (13 INNINGS)

Series Summary: Fire Lake wins the series 4 games to 3, with three of the wins coming in extra innings against a San Tan Valley bullpen not up to the task. The Segers have all but clinched the final playoff spot in the National League, sitting at 78-77. But first, they travel to Iowa to finish up the big 162.
Iowa Giants @ Wainwright Wranglers
Series Preview: Iowa vs Wainwright a couple of bottom feeders square off in what should be a draft position battle
Game #1: Krby Puckett goes 3 for 4 driving in 3 in leading Wainwright to a 5-4 victory
WP White 16-19
LP Feller 14-21
Game #2: York goes 3 for four and drives in 4 in a 5-0 victory for Iowa
WP Bonhan 8-6
LP Rucker 6-23
Game #3: Puckett goes 2-4 and drives in another 3 in a 7-3 Wainwright victory
WP Lefty Grove 15-11 complete game
LP Lemon 4-12
Game #4: Bip Roberts goes 2-3 in 2-0 Wainwright victory
wp Willis 13-23
lp Lanier 2-14
Game #5: Fernandez Gwynn and Daulton all go 2-3 in 3-2 Wainwright victory
wp White 17-19
lp Feller 14-22
Game #6: Hamilton drove in 3 in an Iowa 7-4 victory in extras
wp Richart 1-3
lp Jones 1-3
Game #7: Daulton staying hot goes 2-3 in 2-1 Wainwright victory
wp Bradford 2-2
lp Dean 9-13
Series Summary: Wainwrights 80’s bats had a decent series and they won series 5-2 . Id say Doc White winning two games was Wainwrights star for the series

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #28

 

National League Pitcher of the Week – Bob FELLER – Iowa

2-0 record, 18.0  innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 7 hits, 14 strikeouts, & 10 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Charlie ROOT – Fort Worth

2-0 record, 13.0 innings pitched, 0.69 ERA, 6 hits, 14 strikeouts, & 8 walks

 

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Heavy JOHNSON  – West Michigan

10/26 .385 avg, 1.077 slg, 3 double, 5 home runs, 10 runs scored, 9 RBIs, 2 walks, & 4 steals\

 

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Martin DIHIGO  – New Westminster

17/30 .567 avg, 1.033 Slg, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 8 runs scored, 14 RBIs, & 4 walks

 

 

PLAYOFF RACE UPDATE

American League

   The Jack Street Hustlers currently have a 5-game lead over Lewisberry for top honors in the division and what should be an easier schedule over the final two weeks with the Hustlers taking on Indiana and Boston while the Country Blumpkins square off against the Chicago Nine and KC A’s. 

   The West is a much tighter race with Fort Worth holding a slim 1-game edge over Cincy for 1st place with New Westminster only 3 games back of them. Still very much anybody’s race there. Wrigleyville and Menomonee will be trying to derail the Cats while the Knights will go toe-to-toe at home against the upstart Fishbellies this week and Purry next week. A split by NWS and CIN could result in Fort Worth putting some distance between themselves and the other contenders as the 2nd and 3rd place teams could trip themselves up. New Westminster closes out the season against the KC Blues.

   Now for the pack … 

   Assuming things stay as they are now, the playoff qualifying teams will be:

  1. Fort Worth (100-48) clinched a playoff berth
  2. Jack Street (82-66) 
  3. Cincinnati (99-49) clinched a playoff berth
  4. New Westmister (96-52) clinched a playoff berth
  5. Purry (82-66) needs 3 wins to clinch a playoff birth
  6. Lewisberry (77-71)
  7. Chicago (75-73)
  8. KC A’s (70-78) 

     But hold on there! Only the Wrigleyville Whales (53-95) have been statistically eliminated and the other teams all have a shot at trying to grab a playoff spot. 

     Middle Channel (69-79) is hot on the heels of the A’s only one game behind them with 1 game each separating Menomonee (68-80) and Boston (67-81). Also very much alive and in the hunt are the Indiana squad (65-83) at only five games behind the A’s and the KC Blues (64-84) who overcame a sluggish first half of the season to come within 6 games of the final playoff spot. 

   Las Vegas (60-88) and Madison East (57-91) are not statistically eliminated but if the fat lady ain’ singin’ she be hummin’ awfully loudly.

National League 

   Things in the NL are relatively dull compared to the free-for-all going on in the AL race. 

     The NL is dominated by Clockwork (104-44) and Coastline (102-46) as the division leaders in the West and East respectively.

     Yeah … yeah … but Detroit (96-52) and West Michigan (92-56) could still catch Coastline. True, but they only count together as one team so it’s not really the same (the two brother-led teams are reminiscent of when I watched women’s roller derby back in the early 80s and teammates would slingshot each other trying to catch the girls who were ahead of them).

   Ahem … but I digress.

   Both Detroit and West Mishmash are assured of a playoff spot while the others in the race have not clinched but are close. 

   The rest of the pack after these four bottom feeders consists of Hoboken (81-67), Motown (79-69), Climax (78-70), and Fire Lake (74-74). 

    Of the eight other teams in the division only four have an outside shot at the playoffs.

     The San Tan Valley Moonrakers (70-78) are masters of their own destiny as their next series is on the road against the team that they are trying to dislodge from the 8th and final playoff spot – Fire Lake. The week after, San Tan Valley hosts Wainwright. 

     Don’t count out Virginia (68-80). If they make the playoffs they’ve definitely earned it as their final two series are against Coastline and Detroit … eeeeeeeeek!

     Nags Head (64-84) and Fantomz (63-85) are in a dangerous spot where they really can’t afford to lose any of the games they have left. These two teams may wind up knocking themselves out if a clear winner isn’t declared from their upcoming series against each other. 

     Unfortunately for Wainwright (58-90), Hollywood (56-92), Iowa (54-94), and Pigtown (45-103) it’s kind of like a neutered dog humping someone’s leg … just going through the motions. 

Jack Street Hustlers @ Chicago Nine
Series Summary: The Hustlers pick up a game on Chicago. The Nine win the 1st three and then crap the bed.
Lewisberry Country Blumpkins @ Indiana Indians
Series Preview: Lewisberry Country Blumpkins (74-67) travel to Indiana to face the 61-80 Indians.
Game #1: A couple of Dodger greats face off in Game 1. Hershiser goes for the Blumpkins versus Drysdale for the Indians.
This game was all Indians 10-2. Carr with 4 hits and the trio of Teixeira, Walker and Lindstrom had
3 hits each for the Indians. Steve Sax with 3 hits for the Blumpkins. Drysdale strikes out 9 for the
CG win. Fourth consecutive win for the Indians
Game #2: Lon Warneke scatters 5 hits over 8 innings and Broxton pitches the 9th for his 17th save as the
Indians win 3-1 for their 5th straight W. Babe Ruth win the CG tough loss.
Game #3: Indians tally a 5-spot in the bottom of the 1st to chase Jack Morris and give the Indians
their 6th straight win, 8-4. Carr and Walker with 3 hits each and Walker also with
3 RBI. Bernie Williams had 3 H for the Blumpkins.
Game #4: Indians push across 7 in the bottom of the 2nd to chase Josh Beckett and the Indians
win their 7th in a row 11-1. Grover Alexander evens his record at 11-11 with 6
efficient innings.
Game #5: Blumpkins halt the Indians winning streak as Hershiser throws CG
for the 6-2 Blumpkins win. Sax and Brock each have 3 hits for Lewisberry.
Game #6: Indians commit 2 errors in the top of the 10th to lead to the go ahead run
and the Blumpkins prevail 6-5 in 10. Drysdale and Ruth both had rough
outings and Lewisberry proved to have the better bullpen on this day.
Hitting highlight is Teixeira with a GS in bottom of the 6th to tie the
game. Sax with 2 more hits for the Blumpkins.
Game #7: Lewisberry raps 16 hits and tallies 14 runs for the 14-8 win in the series
finale. Game was not as close as score as the Indians had to put up
6 in the last of the 8th to make it respectable. Freddie Freeman had 4 RBI for
the Blumpkins and Wade Boggs had 3 RBI. Jack Morris was very effective for
6 innings to notch his 12th W. Warneke, not so much.
Series Summary: Indians came into this series with a 3-game winning streak and proceeded to stretch
it to 7. Blumpkins bats came aive for the final 3 games to make the series
respectable. Next week Lewisberry continues it’s road trip with a series versus
Chicago while Indiana finishes it’s home slate for the inaugural LEG season versus
1st place Jack Street Hustlers.
Middle Channel Sturgeon @ Kansas City A’s
Series Preview: A’s in 4th place in A’L East against 5th place Middle Channel.
Game #1: Middle Channel at KC A’s: Sale goes 7 strong innings giving up 2 runs for a Sturgeon 8-5 win. Odell Hale has a single and homer and 5 RBI in a losing effort.
Game #2: Sturgeon’s win 4-3 behind Foster’s 11th win. McDowell falls to 1-12.
Game #3: Joel Horlen goes 7.1 innings allowing only 2 runs in A’S 5-2 win.
Game #4: Sturgeon’s win 14-4 getting 20 hits without a homer in the win.
Game #5: Ty Cobb hits a 2 run homer in the top of the 10th off Wade Davis for a 4-2 Sturgeon’s win.
Game #6: Sturgeon’s blow a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth as the A’s score 4 to send it to extra innings. Ty Cobb does it again with a 2 run game winning double in the top of the 12th.
Game #7: A’S win going away 10-4 as Reggie Jackson goes 3-3 with a homer and 3 RBI.
Series Summary: Middle Channel wins the series 5 games to 2 to get to 1 game back of the A’s.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Boston Braves
Series Preview: Las Vegas travels to Boston to tussle with the Braves a team that they had dominated in an early season series winning five of seven games. Both teams have firmly settled into the lower eschaton of the AL east division.
Game #1: Mike Cuellar tossed seven and a third innings of 2 hit shutout ball leading the Bucs to a 6-2 win. Lee Maye had three hits including a double, a triple and 2 RBI’s for the Pirates’ and was aided by 3 Willie Stargell hits.
Game #2: The Braves turned game one results around 6-2. Six different players had RBI’s and Gabby Hartnett, Nomar Garciaparra, and Dustin Pedroia each got two hits for the Braves. Willie Davis had three hits and a stolen base for LV.
Game #3: The Braves came from behind with a 2 run ninth for a 4-2 win. Jimmy Hall collected two homers and three RBI’s for the Braves. Vince DiMaggio drove in two runs with three hits for the Pirates’.
Game #4: Buc’s and Braves battled for 11 inning before the Braves provided enough offense for Billy O’Dell, who pitched the entire game notching his 11th win 3-2. Gabby Hartnett and Jeff Cirillo got 2 hits for the Braves a feat matched by Lee Maye, Cecil Fielder, and Bib Faulk of the Buc’s.
Game #5: The Pirates’ Warren Spahn picked up his eighth win of the season in the city where his MLB career began in 2-1 win. Willie Davis and Bibb Faulk each had 2 hits in a game dominated by the mound men.
Game #6: Pedro Martinez spun a 3 hit 6-0 shutout for the Braves. Adrian Gonzalez three hits, a homer and three RBI’s for the Braves. He partnered with Freddie Sanchez who also had 3 Brave hits.
Game #7: Anything can happen in Baseball a game with no clock and this game proven anything can happen in APBA baseball as well as this game’s improbable pitching performance proved the Braves won 5-3. The game began with Jake Arrieta grade 11 tossing for the Buc’s vs. Herb Score grade 1 with a 7+ era for the Braves. Score was touched for 3 runs in the fifth but put up zeros in all the other innings with 10 whiffs gaining his first win of the season. Johnny Edwards of the Pirates and the Braves Freddie Sanchez each had two hits.
Series Summary: Seven interesting games played over the phoneline to Las Vegas with good conversation with Ron Moidel and has assistant Gary. The Braves matched the Pirates’ early season performance vs. the Braves with a 5-2 series win.
Purry Cowpokes @ Fort Worth Cats
Series Preview: Ft. Worth enters the series tied for first in the AL West with Cincinnati at 94 and 47. Purry comes in still in the hunt for a playoff spot at 81 – 60.
Game #1: Reserved second baseman Robby Thompson doubles home two in the 5th and the Cats hang on to win behind a strong pitching performance by Charlie Root who struck out 8 in 7 innings of work.

Final Score: Cats 3, Cowpokes 1

Game #2: Smokey Joe Williams was yanked after a lead off hit in the 4th and after he had given up 4 runs and the Cats couldn’t come back despite 3 hits each from Willie Keeler and Homerun Baker.

Final Score: Cowpokes 6, Cats 3

Game #3: Cats leap ahead 5-0 through 4 innings behind doubles by Pete Hill and Andy Van Slyke and didn’t look back as Justin Verlander wins his 20th.

Final Score: Cats 6, Cowpokes 3

Game #4: Keith Hernandez hit two doubles and drove in two runs and Moises Alou also drove home 2 to provide the offense for Greg Maddux to win his 21st game of the year for Ft. Worth. Ricky Henderson hit a home run for Purry.

Final Score: Cats 4, Cowpokes 2

Game #5: Ricky hit a two run homer in the third for Purry, but the Cats scored the last 4 runs of the game. Home Run Baker doubled home two, Keith Hernandez hit his 9th triple, and home runs by Ken Singleton and Gene Alley led the attack for the Cats. Jim Kaat wins his 20th game of the year.

Final Score: Cats 4, Cowpokes 2

Game #6: Ft. Worth outlasted Purry in this pitching duel and although things got a little interesting in the 9th Dennis Eckersley was still able to close out the game for the Cats.

Final Score: Cats 2, Cowpokes 1

Game #7: Smokey Joe Williams was again hit hard early as he gave up a three-run homer to Purry catcher, Ed Bailey in the 2nd inning, but he settled down after that and was able to pitch 7 innings. After the Cats had gone up 4 to 3 Willie McCovey tied the game with a solo blast in the 8th. Hank Severeid came on defensively in the 10th and threw out Ricky Henderson to end the inning and then he walked off the game in the bottom of the 10th when he led off with his first home run of the year.

Final Score: Cats 5, Cowpokes 4

Series Summary: Ft. Worth takes the series 6 games to 1 to put the pressure on the Knights who host the last place Whales.
Wrigleyville Whales @ Cincinnati Knights
Series Preview: The Wrigleyville Wahles made their first visit to Glenn Sample Field for a seven-game set with the A.L. West co-leaders, the Cincinnati Knights. Fort Worth the other co-leader in the West took six games this week to put the pressure firmly on the home club.
Game #1: CIN 5-12-1, WRI 3-12-1 Ted Williams went two-for-four with a homer
Game #2: CIN 5-13-0, WRI 1-3-0 Joe Sewell went three-for-five with a homer and two runs scored
Game #3: WRI 3-7-0, CIN 2-4-5 Ivan Meusel delivered the game winning hit, as the Whales scratched out a pair of runs in the top of the ninth.
Game #4: WRI 8-10-0, CIN 6-9-0 Ivan Meusel went three-for-five with a double and homer in the win
Game #5: CIN 11-14-1, WRI 1-4-0 Ted Williams went two-for-four with a homer and three RBI
Game #6: CIN 8-9-0, WRI 6-9-0 Ted Williams went one-for-three with a homer and three RBI
Game #7: CIN 7-15-4, WRI 3-9-0 Ted Williams…..had the day off! Jason Giambi went two-for-five with a pair of homers and five driven in.
Series Summary: Cincinnati takes five of seven and is a game back in the A.L. West.

Ted Williams makes a bid for Player of the Week, going eight-for-21 (.381) with five runs scored, 11 RBI, two doubles, three homers and six walks. His on base percentage was .518, his slugging percentage was .905 for an OPS of 1.423.

New Westminster Salmonbellies @ Madison East Purgolders
Series Preview: New Westminster, the best of the Minster’s, head to Madison to try to make up some late ground in their quest for the playoffs.
Game #1: Billy Pierce vs. Hooks Wiltsie. Hookie may be the leader for most underperforming player of the year in LEG this year, or at least among the hurlers. Jason Bay hits a 3-run shot in the bottom of the first, giving Wiltsie some room to breathe as he tries to avoid his 19th loss of the season. The Salmonbellies chip away, and then drop a three spot on the Purgolders in the top of the sixth to take a 5-3 lead, chasing Wiltsie from the game. Despite Joe Jackson going deep with two outs in the ninth Madison East drops the opener 8-5.
Game #2: Dizzy Trout goes up against Vinegar Bend Mizell. Scoreless until the bottom of the 5th when Pie Traynor hit s a two-run single, followed immediately by an RBI knock from Dave Nillson. In the top of the 8th Jason Bay guns down Ferris Fain at the plate to end the inning, preserving Mizell’s team leading second shutout of the season. Joe Jackson connects on a three-run blast in the bottom of the 8th for some insurance. Purgolders even the series 1-1 with a 6-0 win.
Game #3: Andy Messersmith faces off against Jose Mesa. The Mighty Purgolders take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with the assistance of two Salmonbellie errors. Martin Dihigo reminds us all that Joe Table is dealing as he cashes in on the lead-off walk to Ron Hunt to start the second with a mega blast to tie the game at 2. Ryan Braun leads off the bottom of the 5th with a homer, giving the Golden Purs a 3-2 lead. Mesa goes 8, leaving a 4-4 tie in his wake. Curt Schilling comes on and goes four without giving up an unearned run yet takes the loss in 12, 5-4 on a walk-off by Paul Waner. Waner looked highly confused at the concept of a Gatorade bath during the post-game celebration. Both teams have three errors in the game. Bill Caudill gets the save for the Salmonbellies.
Game #4: Sam Leever vs. Guy Bush. A scoreless battle through 6, including Martin Dihigo getting gunned down twice trying to steal by Frank “Howitzer” Snyder. Bush loads the bases in the top of the 7th and then beanes Roy Campanella to plate the game’s first run. Ferris Fain hits a one-out triple in the 8th and scores on a sac fly from Felipe Alou for a 2-0 lead. Placido Polanco hits a sac fly in the bottom of the 9th, and the Purgolders manage to get runners on 2nd & 3rd with two outs but Frank Snyder grounds out to Dave Concepcion to end the game. Fishguts beat the rodents 3-1 as Leever goes the distance.
Game #5: Up in the series 3-1 New Westminster goes with Jeff Tesreau against Art Nehf. The Salmonbellies plate three in the top of the first, hampered by Jason Bay cutting down Ron Hunt while trying to score on a flyout. Tesreau, a grade 22, promptly gives up two in the bottom of the frame and Felipe Alou takes out Albert Belle at the plate. I didn’t think I would get any runs off of Tesreau so I feel like this is a victory of some sorts already. Tesreau retaliates for the Campanella dotting yesterday by plunking Jason Kendall in the second, resulting in the fluffball Kendall being injured for six games. Albert Belle takes Tesreau deep in the bottom of the third and shouts all around the bases “Throw at me! Throw at Me!” Game tied at 3 after three. Jason Bay finally does something that doesn’t improve the pitching statistics for an opposing starter, plating Hanley Ramirez with an RBI base hit. F’ing Martin Dihigo does his Albert impersonation, blasting a two-run shot out of the stadium to take a5-4 lead in the top of the 6th. All looking great for the Bellies until Frank Snyder plates Dave Nillson with a two-out double to tie it up at 5 after 8!Quiet until the 12th, when Jimmy Winn hits a 2-run triple off of Bob Forsch for the7-5 lead. Bill Caudill comes in again and slams the door and New Westminster takes a 4-1 series lead.
Game #6: A rematch of game one with the Hookster having his first chance for his 20th loss of the season! The tension in stadium is THICK! As is typical, Purgolders are down 2-0 four batters in to the game on a Felipe Alou triple, Paul Waner single and Jimmy Winn double. The Purgolders toss a half dozen on the board in the bottom of the3rd, highlighted by a Dave Nillson 3-run bomb. Hooksie, being Hooksie, gives up a slam to Winn in the top of the 6th, with New Westminster returning the favor with their own six spot to take a 9-6 lead. Martin Dihigo solidifies his player of the week campaign with a final two-run blast in the 8th off of Jim Lonborg to extend the lead to 12-6. Just in case, Dihigo adds a three-run shot in the ninth to prove that he is just a stat collector…. 4-5, 5 RBI, 10 total bases…. Final score 16-6.
Game #7: Dizzy Trout vs. Bret Saberhagen. Maybe Sabes can slow this offense down? Big Roy connects for a two-run shot in the top of the fourth for a 2-0 lead. Jimmy Winn does the same in the 5th. Harvey Kuenn takes his turn in the 6th with a 2-run shot of his own to move the lead to 6-0. Three straight innings with a two-run homerun for New Westminster. George Scales and John Kruk aren’t giving up, hitting back-to-ack two-out RBI doubles in the bottom of the 6th to pull within 6-2. Two runs in the top of the offset three in the bottom of ninth, which necessitated Caudill earning his third save of the series for a final of 8-5.
Series Summary: The Salmonbellies take the series 6-1, but it wasn’t that close. Martin Dihigo, per his usual, had a month’s worth of offense in six games, Wiltsie get his much earned 20th loss of the season and continued head scratching for the brain trust at Madison East.
Menomonee Minutemen @ Kansas City Blues
Series Preview: Two division teams go at it
Game #1: Rico Carty’s 2-HR 3-rbi help the Blues win 5-4
Game #2: Bonds 2-HR Altuve 1-HR Adcock 1-HR Minutemen 12-2 win
Game #3: Rommel CG 2-hitter shutout the Blues 2-0
Game #4: Sheffield Boog and Delgado for homer for the Blues as they go on to win in extras 10-9
Game #5: Minutemen win a close one 8-7 Blues mount a comeback come up short
Game #6: Greinke and Hudson both go the distance Grienke gets the CG 3-hit shutout 2-0 for the Blues
Game #7: Minutemen pull out 4th win in 12 8-5
Series Summary: good series between division rivals Minutemen come out on top 4-3
Nags Head Surf Sox @ Coastline Bobcats
Series Preview: Coastline (96-45) hosts Nags Head (63-78) for a 7 game series.
Game #1: NAG M.Mussina vs CLB B.Swift
CLB on the board in the B1 when Jenkins 1bs, a Ripken groundout, and H.Wilson rbi-1b. CLB strikes again in the B3 when Jenkins bbs, Ripken H&R 1b puts runners at the corners, Howard with an rbi-1b, and Gehrig cleans the bases with a 2-run 2b. CLB Ripken closes the scoring with a Sac Fly in the B7.On the mound CLB B.Swift is strong giving up only 4 hits while walking 2 and fanning 5 as he tosses the CG Shutout. NAG Foxx added his 41st double on the season.CLB 5, NAG 0CLB B.Swift (16-8) gets the win and NAG M.Mussina (13-10) with the loss.
Game #2: NAG J.Palmer vs CLB C.Finley
Good old fashioned pitcher’s duel through 7 as both Palmer and Finley are in control and the score is till 0-0. In the B8 CLB finally break through when M.Williams gets a 1-out 2b, Kinsler PRs, and then with 2 out Becker 1bs him home for the 1-0 lead. CLB calls on Sutter in the T9 (Finley was lifted for PH Goslin in the B8) as has been the case this year.But NAG H.Johnson leads off the T9 and tees off on a Sutter fastball hitting it over the CF wall for a 1-1 tie and giving Sutter his 7th blown save. Sutter settles down and gets the next 3 hitters to keep the game tied at 1-1.In the B9 Charlton is on for SAN and after Jenkins Ks, Ripken 1bs, and then moves all the way to 3rd on a Charlton WP, H.Wilson is IW bringing up Howard. NAG plays the infield in and Howard hits a grounder to Foxx who throws home to nail Ripken. But Ripken beats the throw with a neat slide to give CLB the win!CLB 2, NAG 1CLB B.Sutter (5-4) gets the win and NAG N.Charlton (3-3) takes the loss.
Game #3: NAG J.Andujar vs CLB K.Brown
CLB out in front again as they score 1 in the B1 on a C.Ripken solo-HR. CLB Brown manages to pitch 2 scoreless innings before he implodes one again. In the NAG T3 Jeter 1bs, Sandberg 2bs, and with 2-out Foxx hits a 3-run HR followed by a Stanton solo-HR for a 4-1 NAG lead!NAG keeps it coming with 2 more in the T5 when Hayes bbs and Foxx hits a 2-run HR, his 2nd of the game. CLB Brown is yanked and his stat line is 4IP, 8 hits, and 6 ER. Not bad for a Grade 20 whose season ERA has now ballooned to 4.28. Brown has pretty much been real bad or somewhat good this year, with a few more bad than good.NAG adds a run in the T7 on a H,Johnson rbi-2b and 2 more in the T9 on a Dawson 2-run HR.Besides Foxx, the big story for NAG in this game was Andujar as he went 7IP giving up only 4 hits, walking none and fanning 7. Andujar’s lone blemish was Ripken’s HR as he avoids his 20th loss on the season.NAG 9, CLB 1NAG J.Andujar (5-19) with the win and CLB K.Brown (15-10) takes the loss
Game #4: NAG N.Ryan vs CLB D.Stieb
CLB opens the scoring in the B3 when Becker 1bs, Jenkins on by a FC, Ripken H&R 1b, and H.Wilson swats a 3-run HR. NAG comes right back in the T4 when Foxx bbs, Dawson 1bs, and H.Johnson rips an rbi-2b and Carter follows with a SF to RF.CLB Jenkins gets one run right back with a solo-HR in the B4. CLB adds another run in the B6 on a M.Williams solo-HR. That’s all the scoring in the game. CLB Steib gives up the 2 runs and then turns things over to the bullpen. CLB Albers, Marshall, and Sutter close out the game.CLB 5, NAG 2CLB D.Stieb (17-7) with the win, Sutter notches Save#59, and NAG N.Ryan (4-13) gets the loss.
Game #5: NAG C.Hamels vs CLB D.Sutton
CLB with their big 4 starters tired, and Maglie itchy, elects to give D.Sutton the start. Most likely his lone start of the season and he actually is respectable going 5IP giving up only 2ER on 5 hits while fanning 4.CLB needs to score with Sutton on the mound and that they did to NAG frustration as the Surf Sox bullpen comes apart in the later innings.CLB opens the scoring in the B1 on a Kemp 1b, Burks H&R 1b, and a C.Ripken SF. CLB adds 2 more in the B3 with 2 out Kemp 1bs and Burks hits a 2-run HR.CLB Sutton’s lone bad inning was the T4 when Foxx 1bs, Stanton 1bs, Dawson rips a rbi-2b, Winfield with an rbi-1b and then Sutton throws away McCarver’s grounder to the mound to tie the game at 3-3.CLB Gordon hits a 2-out solo-HR in the B4 to get the lead back for Sutton and give him a chance to earn the win. Sutton helps his cause by tossing a scoreless T5 before being lifted in favor of the bullpen.But as stated earlier, the NAG bullpen of Slocumb and D.Weathers implodes giving up 3 runs in the B7 and 5 more in the B8 as CLB cruises to the win. CLB bullpen closes out the last 4 innings to preserve the win.CLB 13, NAG 3

CLB D.Sutton (1-1) with the win and NAG C.Hamels (9-11) takes the loss.

Game #6: NAG M.Mussina vs CLB C.Finley
Another good old pitcher’s duel. Mussina and Finley toss scoreless innings through the 3rd. IN the B4 CLB Ripken 2bs, Wilson 1bs, and Howard bloops an rbi-1b for the 1st run of the game. CLB adds another in the B5 when M.Williams 2bs, Finley with a SAC, and Becker follows with a SF for a 2-0 CLB lead.That’s how the game would end as NAG Mussina buckles down and doesn’t give up any further runs and CLB Finley is on point going the distance for a CG 4-hit shutout win. Finley fans 9 and walks none as well.CLB 2, NAG 0CLB C.Finley (19-6) with the win and NAG M,Mussina (13-11) gets the loss.
Game #7: NAG J.Palmer vs CLB K.Brown
As is the case in every game he starts, which K.Brown will show up in this game.Well, to NAG disappointment the good K.Brown showed up as he goes 7.2IP of shutout ball before giving way to Sutter. I really wanted to let him try for the shutout, but with his track history this year I went with Sutter with a runner on in the 8th. Sutter closed out the game for his 60th save.CLB got all the runs it would need in the B1 as Becker 1bs, Jenkins reaches on a FC, a Ripken H&R 1b moves Jenkins to 3rd, but he then tries to score and is pegged at the plate as Ripken moves into 2nd. Wilson salvages the inning with an rbi-2b.CLB adds 2 more in the B3 on a Becker solo-HR, Jenkins 2b, and Wilson rbi-1b. CLB closes out the scoring with a Gordon FC-rbi in the B8.CLB 4, NAG 0CLB K.Brown (16-10) with the win, Sutter with Save#60, and NAG J.Palmer (7-8) with the loss.
Series Summary: Coastline takes the series 6-1 over Nags Head. Except for the lone loss the Coastline pitching controlled the series.

Coastline’s Finley has a strong series tossing 17IP and allows 0 runs while fanning 12, walking 4 and giving up 10 hits. Finley pitches a shutout and only gets 1 win as Sutter blows the save in the other game.

Pigtown Bombers @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: The NL East’s eighth-place Pigtown Bombers (45-96) visit the second-place Detroit DeLoreans (89-52).
Game #1: PIG 7 – DET 8: Indicative of many of the games in the series, Pigtown jumped ahead early and carried a 7-6 lead into the ninth innings. A 3-run HR from B. Kauff put Pigtown ahead in the seventh inning. However, in the ninth inning, a S. Rice double brought in the winning run for Detroit. Pigtown’s M. Ramirez had 4 RBI, while Detroit’s N. Lajoie went 3 for 5 with a double, triple, and 2 RBI.
Game #2: PIG 2 – DET 3: A M. Schmidt RBI double in the first inning gave the Bombers an early 1-0 lead. In the fifth inning, S. Sallee took a J. Tudor pitch off his shoulder and was lost for nine games. Then a R. White double in the bottom on the ninth gave Detroit a 3-2 win. Pigtown’s M. Schmidt had two doubles. Detroit’s R. Collins had a triple and a homer.
Game #3: PIG 6 – DET 7 (10): A back-and-forth affair that went an extra inning until B. Fothergill drove in the winning run. M. Ramirez went 2 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI. Five players for Detroit had two hits including R. Collins who had a double and his 47th HR.
Game #4: PIG 4 – DET 10: Detroit jumped out to a 7-0 lead after five innings. Pigtown’s E. Lombardi went 2 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBI. While Detroit’s A. Rendon went 3 for 4 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs.
Game #5: PIG 4 – DET 7: A 4-run first inning gave the DeLoreans enough momentum to hold on to a 7-4 victory. In the fifth inning, a 3-run J. Robinson double brought the Bombers within two, but they never got any closer. Pigtown’s A. Radcliff went 3 for 4 with a double. Detroit’s Y. Berra went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. The DeLoreans also lost A. Rendon five days to injury.
Game #6: PIG 4 – DET 5 (10): After seven innings the Bombers held a 4-2 lead behind a 2 for 5 effort from B. Kauff. However, the DeLoreans battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a J. Cronin double. Then Detroit won it in the bottom of the tenth on a R. Velarde error as he misjudged a B. Fothergill popup. DeLorean R. White went 3 for 5 with a double, run, RBI, and SB.
Game #7: PIG 1 – DET 4: A 3-run fourth inning led by F. Howard, B. Fothergill, and A. Pafkowas all the DeLoreans needed as they cruised to a 4-1 victory. Pigtown’s catcher D. Sims went 2 for 4. While Detroit’s F. Howard went 3 for 4 in a rare start.
Series Summary: Another tough series for Pigtown who didn’t deserve to be swept. They held the lead in four games and lost on walk-offs in four of the contests. Some fortunate hitting from Detroit led to some heartbreaking Pigtown defeats. As for performances, Detroit’s Ripper Collins belted four more HRs to give him 48 for the season with 14 games remaining.
West Michigan Retrogrades @ Climax Cougars
Series Preview: Well, in retrospect I wish Kevin Weber had invited me along on his weekend ski trip instead of sticking me with playing against his evil micromanager. A bit of a spoiler alert as the Climax Cougars hosted and tried to eat up some ground between them and the West Michigan Retrogrades.
Game #1: Starting off with Climax starter Jarrod Washburn has been brilliant since coming off the DL a few weeks ago and inserted as a starter.
Unfortunately, his shipment of stupid pills arrived and this game started off by him offering up a tater to Heavy Johnson (23) and before you could say “who drank my beer?” WMR was up 1-0 and Washburn was already a little twitchy.
The Cougars drew even when Jose Bautista came out of his coma and single down the right field line which allowed Chief Meyers to waddle home with the tying run in the bottom of the 1st.
The Retros regained the lead in the 3rd inning thanks to George Sisler (a fabulous ball player by the way – look him up) who singled home Marty McManus (who would wind up with three hits on the day) for a 2-1 West Mish lead.
They upped the ante in the 4th with Duke Snider (one of my childhood favs as the Expos broadcaster guy) smacking a Washburn pitch on a line into the Molson concession stand in right field. The homer enraged fans not so much that the hit gave the Retrogrades a 4-1 lead but more that nothing gets between a Canadian and his beer.
Sam Crawford continued to climb the popularity ladder in Climax by launching his 13th of the season into the right field stands when West Mish starter Urban Shocker hung one in the bottom of the 4th.
Unfortunately, that was as charitable as Shocker would get on the day as he cruised through to the 9th and despite giving up a run on an RBI single by Johnny Mize in the bottom of the 9th the Cougars couldn’t mount anything resembling a comeback.
With the Retrogrades tacking on two runs in the top of the 9th the game ended 6-3 with the boys from Michigan outclassing Climax and outhitting them 14-4 in the contest.
W-Shocker (19-11. 2.67)
L-Washburn (2-6, 2.49)
HR-WMR: Snider (16), Hv. Johnson (23); CMC: Crawford (13)
Game #2: World class pain in the ass Heavy Johnson once again led the charge for West Michigan with a home run in the top of the 8th that gave the Retrogrades the winning run in a 3-2 ball game.
Johnson’s antics spoiled what started out as a promising game with Climax jumping to a 2-0 lead on Sam Crawford’s second homer in as many games with a runner aboard in the 2nd inning. Smoky Joe Wood was fantastic for 6 innings but struggled in the 7th and allowed a couple of runs on an RBI ground out b Adrian Beltre and another run in off a Bobby Wallace single.
Wood lasted 8 innings in all and allowed just six hits and a walk while fanning seven. His mound opponent, Curt Davis, was a little dodgy and gave up two runs on eight hits and three walks over 7 innings.
Joe Sambito self-destructed on the mound when he came in for the save for West Michigan allowing two hits and a walk in the 9th, but was rescued by the AI which ended the game on George Grantham’s 4th hit of the day that sent Chief Meyers to his death at the plate and then had Grantham nailed when he tried to advance to 2nd base. Wham back, thank you, ma’am indeed.
The baseball gods were angry this day and they made the Cougars their bitches. What can you do?
W-Davis (14-9, 3.28)
Sv-Sambito (14), BBW Artificial Intelligence (100)
L-Wood (10-9, 4.82)
HR-WMR: Hv Johnson (24); CMC: Crawford (14)
Game #3: Well, Heavy Johnson didn’t hit a homer for the Retrogrades … he hit two including his 2nd leadoff homer of the series as the visitors bashed their way to a 9-4 win.
Sadly, the Retrogrades only outhit the Cougars 11-10 in the game, but where the Climax hits were scattered all over the place the West Michigan hitters clumped theirs together (six walks didn’t hurt either).
West Michigan was up 5-1 on Rube Waddell and the Cougars after two innings and just put it on cruise control after that.
Johnson drove in three runs and scored four times adding a double to his two home runs and to add insult to injury he even stole a base. Prick.
Waddell was terrible and was pulled after two horrific innings in which he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks. Reliever Frank Smith did his part to ensure there was no chance of Climax coming back in this one by allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in just an inning. This clown did nothing right and I’m surprised he could even find the ballpark.
W-Schumacher (16-5, 4.15)
L-Waddell (12-10)
HR-WMR: Hv Johnson 2 (26)
Game #4: Oh for Pete’s sake … Heavy Johnson again launched a homer to lead off the game as the Retrogrades re-enacted the Defenestration of Prague on the Cougars in a 13-4 laugher.
The Retros pounded out 18 hits in the game with Johnson falling a triple short of the cycle (that one went to Bill Dickey) as he scored three times and drove in as many. George Sisler was a cool 4/4 with three runs and two RBIs while Bill Dickey did not too badly with a 4/6 … and yes, Virginia, he did hit for the cycle.
The line score for the day award goes to Cliff Melton, who had been pitching quite well, who got one out but in doing so gave up four runs on five hits. Nice.
W-W.Foster (19-9, 2.58)
L-Harris (7-7, 3.84)
HR-WMR: Hv Johnson (27), t.Davis (27), Dickey (20); CMC: Gibson (11), Mize (11)
Game #5: Lots of runs again, but no Heavy Johnson factor.
The Cougars kept Heavy at bay with him going 0/4 with two strikeouts and meanwhile exacted some revenge on the West Michigan pitching staff in a 12-1 victory.
Chief Meyers and Sam Crawford each had three hits in the game with Jose Bautista pulling a Gary Carter and having a great offensive game when it was not needed and driving in four runs on two home runs.
W-Redding (5-8, 4.46)
L-Shocker (19-12, 2.88)
Hr-CMC: Ott (21), Bautista 2 (23)
Game #6: A George Sisler single in the top of the 9th off Eric Plunk unraveled the Cougars bid for a win as two runs scored to lift the Retrogrades to a 6-4 triumph over Climax.
The Sisler heroics spoiled what was a minor victory for Climax holding Heavy Johnson to just one hit in 3 at bats. Bobby Wallace came out of nowhere to keep West Michigan in the game in the early going with what I have to believe was a wind-assisted homer to left in the 4th with a runner aboard that tied the game 3-3.
Chief Meyers had three hits for Climax.
… and that’s all I have to say about that.
W-Sambito (5-2, 2.81)
L-Plunk (3-5, 2.11)
HR-WMR: Wallace (3)
Game #7: Kind of like finding a 4-leaf clover after your house burns down, the Cougars come back to win the final game 7-1.
Highlights included no hits for Heavy Johnson and homers by Sam Crawford and Buck Leonard.
Van Lingle Mungo was in fine form allowing just the one run over 8 quiet innings with two walks and just one K.
W-Mungo (11-7, 2.99)
L-Schumacher (16-6, 4.24)
HR-CMC: Leonard (13), Crawford (15)
Series Summary: I have sadness
Virginia Cavaliers @ Fantomz Force
Series Preview: Two Virginia-based teams squared off this weekend, with the Cavaliers in the playoff hunt and the Force looking at players for next season …
Game #1: Game 142 – Bob Turley ’55 (9-11) v. Mel Harder ’32 (4-9)

Fantomz 6-3: Virginia struck first when Alan Trammell started the series with a solo shot. The Force struck back with four runs during the bottom half, highlighted by a Don Mattingly two-run single. Joe Judge, inserted as a leadoff hitter for the first time this season, responded with two runs and three singles. Fantomz’ bullpen held the line, allowing a lone unearned run over four innings to preserve the win.

W – Harder (5-9) L – Turley (9-12)

Game #2: Game 143 – Lefty Gomez ’38 (15-9) v. Stan Coveleski ’23 (2-14)

Fantomz 4-0: A struggling Stan Coveleski, who lost his first eight decisions, delivered his best performance this season. Coveleski fired a two-hitter with three strikeouts. The Force scored two 1st-inning runs, then received some insurance from a pinch-hit Doc Wiley 8th-inning two-run single.

W – Coveleski (3-14) L – Gomez (15-10)

Game #3: Game 144 – Juan Guzman ’99 (5-11) v. Carl Weilman ’14 (9-17)

Fantomz 5-2: Virginia’s Juan Guzman cruised through seven innings of one-run ball, striking out five and allowing four hits, as back-to-back 4th-inning singles by Joe Harris and Ralph Kiner provided run support. Fantomz bats waited until the 9th inning to awaken; Larry Doby scored on a passed ball to tie the game then Gil McDougald delivered a three-run clout into the left-field seats for a dramatic win.

W – Cishek (5-3) L – Foulke (3-6)

Game #4: Game 145 – Preacher Roe ’52 (3-7) v. Gaylord Perry ’74 (12-14)

Fantomz 3-2: The Cavaliers benefited from another strong start – this time Roe pitched six shutout innings – but the Force thrilled their fans with another dramatic victory. Adam Eaton, angling for playing time, took the plate for the first time in weeks during the 9th inning with the bases loaded and one out. He promptly delivered a bases-clearing triple to send Fantomz’ fans into a wild frenzy.

W – Russell (5-4) L – Foulke (3-7)

Game #5: Game 146 – Ed Reulbach ’09 (9-11) v. Mel Harder ’32 (5-9)

Virginia 2-0: The Cavaliers had seen enough nonsense, and Reulbach took matters into his own hands. He fired seven innings one-hit innings with six strikeouts while Frank Robinson’s 1st-inning longball was more than enough offense. Kevin McReynolds added a 6th-inning insurance run to break Fantomz’ four-game winning streak.

W- Reulbach (10-11) L – Harder (5-10) SV – Betancourt (4)

Game #6: Game 147 – Bob Turley ’55 (9-12) v. Stan Coveleski ’23 (3-14)

Fantomz 8-1: Fantomz starting pitcher Stan Coveleski made his case for NL Pitcher of the Week by firing a three-hitter for his second victory this week. After a 2-14 start, the spitballers doubled his win total and dropped his ERA from 4.91 to 4.44. Al Lopez, Larry Doby, and Eddie Miller all scored twice and had two hits, with Doby hitting his 26th homer.

W – Coveleski (4-14) L – Turley (9-13)

Game #7: Game 148 – Lefty Gomez ’38 (15-10) v. Carl Weilman ’14 (9-17)

Virginia 5-0: The Cavaliers figured the best way to win was preventing Fantomz from scoring. The strategy worked as Gomez tossed seven shutout innings and the bullpen didn’t disappoint. Frank Robinson and Al Rosen homered.

W – Gomez (16-10) L – Weilman (9-18)

Series Summary: Fantomz won 5 of 7 – unfortunately for Virginia, this was the Force’s best series this year.

Player of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ backup catcher Al Lopez, who hit 7-for-15 and scored five runs. Lopez increased his batting average from .178 to .201, rather notable for this late in the season.

Pitcher of the Week nominee: Fantomz’ Stan Coveleski was brilliant, going 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA, pithcing two complete games, allowing one run only five hits over 18 innings, doubling his win total this season!

San Tan Valley Moonrakers @ Clockwork Heros
Series Preview: San Tan Valley visits Clockwork
Game #1: hadley 4 hitter san tan 6-0
Game #2: Big Unit and San Tan beat Matheson 4-1
Game #3: Blyleven wins his 23rd as Santop triples and homers 8-3 clockwork
Game #4: Vaughn homers Gromek wins 2-1 clockwork
Game #5: Matheson loses again this time 3-1 to Trucks and San Tan
Game #6: Tekulve blows the save but gets the win 5-4 Clockwork
Game #7: Tekulve saves his 35th as Blyleven wins his24th beating Randy Johnson 4-2
Series Summary: Clockwork manages a series win 4-3 but two Matheson losses hurt his cy young drive. Trotsky drove in 7 for San Tan Valley

STRAY

Iowa Giants @ Hoboken Zephyrs
Series Preview: The Giants travel to Hoboken as the regular season winds down.
Game #1: Bob Feller and Red Faber each pitch 10 scoreless innings in a classic duel. Jeff Heath’s 3-base error in the 11th gave Iowa the win.
Iowa 1 Hoboken 0
Game #2: Ewell Blackwell pitched a 3-hit gem to shutout Iowa. Eddie Stanky led the Zephyr offense with a homer and 3 rbi’s.
Hoboken 4 Iowa 0
Game #3: The Giants scored 4 runs on only two hits taking advantage of 6 free passes. Bob Lemon and Goose Gossage teamed up to hold Hoboken to just two runs.
Iowa 4 Hoboken 2
Game #4: Noodles Hahn improved to 24-9, 2.18era. Curt Flood and Bill Dahlen each homered to lead the Hoboken attack.
Hoboken 6 Iowa 3
Game #5: Bob Feller was brilliant again allowing just two hits over 8 innings. Goose Gossage earned his 25th save.
Mike Garcia allowed just 4 hits and one earned run over 8 innings in a hard loss.
Iowa 1 Hoboken 0
Game #6: Red Faber earned his 17th win allowing just two hits and one earned run in a complete game victory.
Hoboken 3 Iowa 1
Game #7: Dizzy Dean allowed just three runs over 7 innings and pitched a 3-run blast of his own to outduel Ewell Blackwell.
Iowa 4 Hoboken 3
Series Summary: Iowa takes a tough road series in Hoboken 4-3. Bob Feller starred for the Giants winning both his starts. Feller allowed just 7 hits and no earned runs over 18 innings!!
Motown Yankees @ Wainwright Wranglers
Series Preview: Yankees vs Wranglers and Yankees win the series 4-3 a pretty uneventful series with only one highlight Curt Hubble three a 12 inning 3 hit shut out to out last Left Groves complete game in a 2-0 victory
Series Summary: 4-3 Yankees
Hollywood Zombies @ Fire Lake Segers
Series Preview: Hollywood (53-88) at Fire Lake (70-71)
Game #1: Hollywood – 5, Fire Lake – 4 (12 innings)
Game #2: Fire Lake – 6, Hollywood – 3
Game #3: Fire Lake – 3, Hollywood – 1
Game #4: Fire Lake – 10, Hollywood – 7
Game #5: Hollywood – 5, Fire Lake – 3 (12 innings)
Game #6: Fire Lake – 5, Hollywood – 4 (10 innings)
Game #7: Hollywood – 4, Fire Lake – 3
Series Summary: Hollywood traveled to Fire Lake and the Zombies did not go down quietly. The Segers win the series 4 games to 3, but they’re not going to brag about it… Fire Lake sits at 74-74, with 14 to play. Apparently, it’s all been one giant Twisted Sister party through 148.

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #27

 

National League Pitcher of the Week – Lefty GOMEZ – Virginia

1-0 record, 9.0  innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts, &3 walks

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Johan SANTANA – Cincinnati

2-0 record, 17.0 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA not bad, 9 hits, 9 strikeouts, & 4 walks

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Vern STEPHENS  – San Tan Valley

11/29 .379 avg, 1.103 slg,  2 double, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 7 runs scored, 12 RBIs, & 1 walk

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Jason BAY  – Madison East 

13/28 .464 avg, 1.000 Slg, 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 6 runs scored, 12 RBIs, & 1walk

Kansas City A’s @ Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: Kansas City travels to Jack Street hoping to gain some ground.

Sorry not much time for writeups.

Game #1: K 2/6/0
J 4/10/1WP – Siebert 8-10
LP – Jenkins 12-14
Sv – Brantley 27
HR – J – Drew (8)
Game #2: K 7/12/0
J 10/10/0WP – Viola 6-5
LP – McDowell 1-11
Sv – Brantley 28
HR – K – Bonds (13) J – Hisle (12)
Game #3: K 6/8/0
J 2/4/0WP – Brown 10-8
LP – Byrd 11-8
Sv – Adams 20
HR – K – Jackson (5) J – Justice (14)
Game #4: K 4/8/1
J 10/9/0WP – Haren 9-13
LP – Cooper 3-5
Sv – None
HR – K – Aaron (21) J – Hornsby (34), Medwick (26), Justice (15)
Game #5: K 4/9/1
J 5/7/1WP – Garber 1-0
LP – Adams 4-7
Sv – None
HR – K – Boyer (4), Doerr (13) J – Hornsby (35), McGwire (38), Justice (16)
Game #6: K 2/4/3
J 1/5/1WP – Cicotte 15-12
LP – Veres 5-2
Sv – None
HR – K – Doerr (14)
Game #7: K 3/11/1
J 0/3/0WP – Maloney 3-1
LP – Viola 6-6
Sv – none
HR – None
Series Summary: Jack Street takes 4 of 7. Might have been a different story, but KC had 3 runners thrown out from the outfield and were caught stealing 10 times.
Boston Braves @ Lewisbury Country Blumpkins
Series Preview: Blumpkins trying to catch the Hustlers. Again.
Game #1: A Gone racks up 3 RBI, 2 with a dinger, for Boston as Blumpkins fall limp.
Braves 6 Country Blumpkins 1
Game #2: In nhis 1st of 3 losses this series, Britton shits the bed in the 9th allowing 2 runs to score. Hall hits a solo HR for the Braves.
Braves 5 Country Blumpkins 3
Game #3: Jerry Rice clubs a 3run Jack in the 1st for Boston. Cruz knocks in 2 in the 4th to make it 3-2. Bottom 9th magic from Freeman to tie it with an RBI 2B and a PH RBI 1B from Dave Philley to win it.
Country Blumpkins 4 Braves 3
Game #4: Britton shits the bed again allowing a 2run blast from Rice in the 9th to tie it up at 3. Gil Hodges 3run bomb in the 12th wins it for Lewisberry.
Country Blumpkins 6 Braves 3
Game #5: 3 RBI 1B scored all the runs in this game. A snoozer. Newcombe goes 8 strong for Boston.
Braves 2 Country Blumpkins 1
Game #6: Britton takes a 2-1 lead into the 9th and promptly gives up RBIs to Rice and Conigliaro to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Braves 3 Country Blumpkins 2
Game #7: Blumpkins get full release of frustrations scoring 5 in the 1st. No homers for the 3rd game in a row.
Country Blumpkins 6 Braves 3
Series Summary: Braves win 4 and piss on Blumpkin playoff corn flakes. No pitching standouts except for Britton. A Gone 11/28, 3 runs, 6RBI, 2 2B, HR and Rice 10/30, 3runs, 10RBI, 2B, 2 HR, BB.
Chicago Nine @ Middle Channel Sturgeon
Series Preview: Middle Channel hosts the always tough Chicago Nine
Game #1: 3-1 Sturgeon victory
Game #2: Middle Channel doubles up the Nine 6-3
Game #3: Chicago’s turn to double up the Channel 6-3
Game #4: home team walks it off 6-5
Game #5: Mayberry and the Nine take it 7-5
Game #6: Another big win for Chicago 7-2
Game #7: The home team wins the rubber match in 12 innings 6-5
Series Summary: The Middle Channel wins the series 4-3
Indiana Indians @ Las Vegas Pirates
Series Preview: Two great teams who have been underappreciated all year long. Just because they’re fighting to get out of the cellar doesn’t make them any less appreciated. May the best team win out!?!?! #1!!!
Game #1: This game started out as a pitcher’s duel, & that got us nervous. Fear not, as it didn’t last beyond inning #6. With the Pirates taking a 1-0 lead in the 3rd, on a solo HR by little used Vince DiMaggio, & went into the 6th before a 2 run HR by another little used player in Lee Maye. Another run in the 8th, & the scoring was complete. Howie Camnitz went 6 1/3 for his 12th win, & Rivera finished the 9th with his 22nd save & finished with a crisp 1.23 ERA.
FINAL: Pirates 4, Indians 0
Game #2: The game started out with Kerry Wood & John Candelaria trading 1 run apiece in the 2nd & 3rd, & the 6th. Mickey Mantle led off the 2nd with a solo HR. Joe Carter hit a solo HR in the 6th to take the lead for good. Vince DiMaggio hit his 2nd HR in 2 games but to no avail. Broxton finished the last 2 innings for his 15th save, while Candelaria got his 9th hard luck loss.
FINAL: Indians 5, Pirates 2
Game #3: Here the Bucs started off with a 1st inning run, while the Tribe came back at their next opportunity to score a couple in the 2nd. When the Bucs tied it in the 4th, again the Indians said nope, & scored 3 in the next half inning to take the lead for good. 3 hits each by Freddie Lindstrom & Jose Abreu off HOFer Warren Spahn who took the loss., while another HOFer, Don Drysdale, picked up his 10th win. Scarcely used catcher Johnny Edwards also finished with 3 hits for the losers.
FINAL: Indians 6, Pirates 2
Game #4: In this game the Bucs took a 1-0 lead in the 1st on a Clemente single & a Cecil Fielder double & that was it through 4. That was the only run given up by Lon Warneke. Unfortunately the Indian bullpen wasn’t as good, with all 3 relievers giving up runs. Bob Buhl picked up his 9th win with only 5 innings of work. Rollie Fingers & Jesse Crain went 2 innings a piece & Crain picked up his 4th save. The Pirate weakness reared it’s ugly head again by giving up 8 walks. Fortunately it mattered not. Multi hit games by Clemente, Cecil Fielder, & Vince DiMaggio highlighted the game.
FINAL: Pirates 5, Indians 0
Game #5: This game was a definite pitchers fight. Howie Camnitz coming back after 4 games rest & David Price, pitched their way to a 1-1 tie through 7 before the Indians scalped the Pirates for 2 in the 8th, lowlighted by Don Kessinger’s error. 2 hits a piece by Carter & Markakis & Price’s CG win for his 6th win. The Bucs only run came on a 4th inning solo HR by Joe DiMaggio.
FINAL: Indians 3, Pirates 1
Game #6: The Indians dominated this game from the 4th on. They took the lead for good on a Tim Wallach 2 run HR. Willie Stargell tried to get the Bucs closer, with a solo shot in the 4th bringing the score to 3-2 Tribesmen. But it was clear sailing the rest of the way. Multi hit games by Franco, Wallach, Munson, & Suzuki by the Indians, Stargell & Edwards for the Bucs. Warneke picked up his 3rd win while Broxton saved his 16th.
FINAL: Indians 6, Pirates 3
Game #7: In this game Andy Petitte & Larry Walker were the stars here. Petitte went 6innings for his 9th win & Rob Nen finished for his 7th save. For the Bucs, Bill Walker gave up two HR’s by Larry Walker & 1 by Nick Markakis. Cecil Fielder broke out of his 2 month long homerless time.
FINAL: Indians 5, Pirates 2
Series Summary: An amazing series with 2 amazing strategists leading the way, coincidentally both named Ron, & I don’t mean Hunt, Santo, Fairly, & or Ron Reagan. The Indians outplayed the Pirates 5 games to 2, sinking the Pirate ship to last place in the AL East.
Fort Worth Cats @ New Westminster Salmonbellies
Series Preview: Two AL west teams looking to do some damage to high priced pitching.
Game #1: Greg Maddux for Fort Worth and Bob Rush for New Westminster

Bob Rush runs into trouble in the 2nd giving up 2 runs on 3 hits with an RBI single by Pee Wee Butts. That will end Rush’s night when facing somebody like Maddux.

Bottom of the 6th with 2 out, Ron Hunt rips a double and Felipe Alou bangs a shot to his son in RF, Moises Alou, to knock in Hunt.

In the bottom of the 7th New Westminster gets to Maddux knocking him around for 5 runs on a 1 out walk to Dihigo to get things started.

With the score 5 – 2 for the Bellies, they manage to score one more in the 8th to go on to a 6 – 2 victory.

Game #2: Jim Kaat for Fort Worth and Dutch Leonard for New Westminster

Fort Worth scores 2 in the 3rd off of a Hunter Pence double and Frank Chance SF. New Westminster gets one back in the bottom of the 3rd.
Martin Dihigo ties it up on the 5th with an RBI single. Top of the 8th Hunter Pence comes through with an RBI triple and scored on a single by Willie Keeler to wrap up the game. Fort Worth wins 4 – 2.

Game #3: Charlie Root for the Cats and Jeff Tesreau for the Salmonbellies

Tesreau pitches a 5 hit shutout and Charlie Root goes 5 innings and takes the loss when New West scores a 3 – 0 victory.

Game #4: Smoky Joe Williams for Fort Worth against Sam Leever of New Westminster.

This is a pitcher’s duel until the 7th when Johnny Bassler manages a SF scoring pinch runner Carlos Beltran. In the 8th with one run in and runners at 1st and 3rd Craig Kimbrel comes in but he can not hold down the Bellies as they get 3 hits off of Kimbrel to score 3 more runs to go on to a 4 – 0 victory

Game #5: Justin Verlander for Fort Worth and Bob Rush for New Westminster

Another pitchers duel until the top of the 5th when the Cats get to Rush for a couple of runs and one off of reliever Eddie Watt for a 3 – 0 lead. After being shut out for 23 innings the Cats put up home runs by Keith Hernandez, Hunter Pence and Home Run Baker to score 9 runs.
The Bellies manage to score 6 runs off of Verlander in the 8th and 9th but it is not enough in a 9 – 6 victory for the Cats.

Game #6: Greg Maddux for the Cats and Dutch Leonard for the Salmonbellies

For the fourth game of six Fort Worth gets off to the lead in the top of the 2nd on a homer by Felipe’s son. In the 4th inning the Bellies stop flopping and come to life with a 3 run inning off of Maddux.
Jack Clark leads off with a single which is near impossible because 7 and 11 are the only hits, and a 0 changes to 7 so that must be the hit.
Willie Mays comes into run. With Fred Clarke at the plate, Willie tries to steal 2nd but catcher Harry Danning picks up a throwing error and Mays goes to 3rd. Fred Clarke grounds to Pee Wee Butts who gets Mays in a rundown and Mays makes it back to 3rd and Fred just keeps on running and ends up at 2nd on a FC. Now up comes Jimmy Wynn and he smacks a triple past Keeler scoring 2 runs. After a flyout, Ferris Fain hits a SF scoring Wynn for a 3 – 1 lead. Top of the 5th and the Cats come back and Harry Danning squiggles a single and Pee Wee Butts comes up miserable and gets HBP. Robbie Thompson lays down a bunt for a nice SAC. Hunter Pence hits a SF scoring Banning. With Pee Wee on 2nd Frank Chance hits a single to tie up the game.
With the game tied in the bottom of the 10th in comes Craig Kimbrel to shutdown the Bellies once again. Roy Campanella leads off with a single. He steals 2nd. Campanella on 2nd now with 2 out and Willie Mays at the plate hits a single to Pence and Campanella scores the winning run for a 4 – 3 Bellies victory.

Game #7: Jim Kaat for the Cats and Jeff Tesreau for the Salmonbellies

Both pitchers are pitching a helluva game until top of the 6th when
Hank Severeid gets on with an error to Martin Dihigo, first in 44 games.
Rusty Greer and Pete Runnels get on base with an infield hit and a walk. Moises Alou comes through with a 2 run single for a 2 – 0 lead.
Bottom of the 6th and Chick Stahl hits a single and goes third on when Martin Dihigo hits hard single. Fred Clarke then hits SF to make it 2 – 1. Top of the 7th and Home Run Baker walks. Tesreau then throws a 2 base WP and Hank Severeid brings him home with a SF. Cats go up 3 – 1. Bottom of the 9th and Kaat pitching a whale of a game but here comes trouble. Fred Clarke hits a single. In comes Isringhausen and Willie Mays comes in to run and Jimmy Wynn swings and misses but Willie steals 2nd base. Wynn flys out. Here comes Kimbrel. Off to the bench and in comes light hitting Harry Lord and he bangs a double scoring Willie. Johnny Bassler comes in to pinch hit for Campy and hits a double tieing the game at 3 – 3. Game goes to the bottom of the 13th with Jack Clark walking and Craig Stammen pitching. Billy Werber comes in to run and steals 2nd and Beltran grounds out and Werber to 3rd. Dihigo coming up but Stammen IBB walks Dihigo to get to Mays.
Mays hits a 3 run home run to end the game and series.

Series Summary: It was a hard fought series with some good pitching
Cincinnati Knights @ Menomonee Minutemen
Series Preview: The 87-47 Cincinnati Knights travel north to face the 64-70 Menomonee Minutemen. The Minutemen are looking to turn their year around and have a chance to make the playoffs. the Knights are looking to gain on Fort Worth to get the #1 seed.
Series Summary: The Knights embarrass the Minutemen and sweep them on their home turf. CIN out scored MEN 62 to 21 throwing 2 shutouts in the series. In fact, Santana threw a 4 hit shut out in game 2 and then comes back in game 7 and throws another 8 shut out innings before Wickman closed that game. 17 innings of shutout ball, the only way he doesn’t get the pitcher of the week is if someone throws a perfect game… or 2 full shutouts. LOL Apparently the MM for CIN pull Santana before his head could get to big.
Kansas City Blues @ Wrigleyville Whales
Series Preview: Kansas City Blues (57-77, .425, 35-GB) @ Wrigleyville Whales (48-86, .358, 44-GB)
Game #1: G-1- Valenzuela v Hunter. Blues jump on Catfish for 2-runs in 2nd as Schulte led off 2nd with a long home run! Ray Durham drew a 2-out walk and stole 2nd. Ray Ray scored on a Creacy single up the middle for a 2-0 Blues lead! Durham would turn a 2-1 game in 6th into 4-1 lead when he drilled a 2-run-2B over Meusel’s head in RF. Whales would sink 5-2 as Fernando (3-8, 5.54) would have help getting “W” from Aguilera (2.13) and Koosman (5.11, Sv-3). O’Doul (8) cracked a solo homer for Whales.

FINAL Blues 5 Whales 2

Game #2: G-2- B.Gibson v Rudolph. Wrigleyville’s Ritchey (11,12) smashed 2-HR’s and drove in 3 of their 6-runs as Whales even series with 6-2 victory! Meusel (8) added a solo homer. Rudolph (3-7, 4.12) tossed 7.2-innings of 2-run ball, 1-earned and Burke earned his 2nd save. Gibson’s (2-7, 6.32) game was loaded with 5’s and they weren’t high 5’s as he hurled 5.1-innings and allowed 5-runs on 5-hits, 5-walks while striking out 5.

FINAL Whales 6 Blues 2

Game #3: G-3- Greinke v Coveleski. Zack (10-10, 3.68) fell behind 1-0 in 6th but Rico Carty doubled in 2-runs in 7th and 2-runs in 9th with his 13th home run as Blues clobber Whales 7-2. Carty was 4-4 to raise his average to .333. Lollar (12) clubbed a homer for Whales.

FINAL Blues 7 Whales 2

Game #4: G-4- deGrom v Ruether. Fun time in Wrigleyville as deGrom (5-13, 4.51) and Koosman (5.11) allowed a combined 5-HR’s as Whales even series with 7-1 win! Seven of Whales 9-hits went for extras, as Ritchey (13) hammered his 3rd home run of series and O’Doul (9), Banks (7), Fisk (14) and Thome ran circles around Kansas City. Ruether (9-14, 4.77) hurled CG, allowing just an unearned run on 4-hits while K’ing 8.

FINAL Whales 7 Blues 1

Game #5: G-5- C.Simmons v Hunter. Simmons (8-4, 3.17) silenced Whales with 2-hit, 9-K, 7-0 Shut-out! Southworth (1) launched his 1st home run and Sheffield his 13th as part of a 16-hit assault. Schulte was 5-5, including his 26th double. Carty was 2-4 raising his average to .335.

FINAL Blues 7 Whales 0

Game #6: G-6- Valenzuela v Rudolph. An error by Southworth led to 2-unearned runs as Whales prevail 5-4. Irish Meusel (9) homered for Wrigleyville and Rudolph (4-7 4.00) dominated, going 7.1-innings and giving up only 2-runs on 5-hits, 1-walk with 6-K’s. McMichael earned his 8th save, as ugly as it was. Carty pounded his 14th home run and drove in 2-runs and Creacy popped a solo home.

FINAL Whales 5 Blues 4

Game #7: G-7- Gibson v Coveleski. Blues took a 1-0 lead in 3rd of the rubber game when Earl Williams ripped his 9th home run and Ray Ray made game 3-0 in 4th as he doubled in 2-runs. Gibson (3-7, 6.06) picked up win, going 5.1-innings allowing 2-runs on 5-hits, while Benton, Koosman & Worrell combined for 3.2-innings of hitless ball preserving 3-2 win.
.
FINAL Blues 3 Whales 2
Series Summary: Blues (61-80, .433, 34.5-GB) won 4 of 7 and have won 7 of last 10-games, while Wrigleyville (51-90, .362, 44.5) fell back to earth.
Coastline Bobcats @ Pigtown Bombers
Series Preview: The best team in the NL East versus the worst…Brian and I played the first 5 games live
Game #1: This one was all Coastline taking a 8-0 lead into the bottom of the 9th. Pigtown woke up, scoring 6 runs on 3 HRs, but fell short with Bruce Sutter came in for one batter to close out the game and get his 54th save. Coastline 8 – Pigtown 6.
Game #2: A good game, but Coastline was just a little too tough, winning 5-2. Again, Bruce Sutter came in for one batter to notch save #55.
Game #3: Another close game. The teams were tied 2-2 going into the 9th. Coastline eked out a run and held on to win 3-2. Once more time, Bruce Sutter comes in for the final batter and gets his 56th save.
Game #4: Pigtown jumps out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st. Coastline battles back in the middle innings to take the lead 5-3. Guess what happened…yep, Bruce Sutter came in for one batter and was gifted his 57th save. For those keeping score, Sutter has pitched to 4 batters thus far in the series and has 4 saves.
Game #5: Yet another close game as the teams were tied at 2 going into the 9th. Mike Schmidt hits a walk-off 3-run HR to give Pigtown a 5-2 win and finally a positive result in the series
Game #6: Another close game, but 4 HRs by Coastline gave them a 7-5 win. Bruce Sutter came in and pitched a whole inning to get his 58th save.
Game #7: Led by Lou Gehrig’s 4 RBIs, Coastline battled out to 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the 9th. Once again, Bruce Sutter came in to get yet another save…this time he gave up a walk and then a walk-off, 2-run HR to Edmonds with 2 outs to lose the game 7-6.
Series Summary: Coastline takes the series 5-2, with Bruce Sutter getting saves in all 5 wins. Pigtown is actually really happy with the results in that they played 7 tight games against a team that leads them by 51 games. Two walk off homers are the highlight for Pigtown.
Detroit DeLoreans @ Nags Head Surf Sox
Series Preview: Detroit Deloreans (84-50) at Nags Head Surf Sox (61-73)

The Detroit Deloreans, sitting 7 games out of 1st place, travel to Nags Head hoping to make a late season push for the top of the N.L. East.

Game #1: Slim Sallee (15-7 2.75) vs Nolan Ryan (4-11 4.78)

Top 1 – Didn’t take long for the Deloreans to get on the board. Joe Cronin leads off the game with a base hit. Following a Lajoie ground out, Ripper Collins pounds a Ryan fastball over the right centerfield fence for his 40th homerun of the season and a 2-0 Detroit lead.

The pitchers then take over, preventing any scoring until the top of the 8th. Dave Giusti on for the Sox. Cronin and Lajoie back to back singles put runners at the corners. Giusti uncorks a wild pitch allowing Cronin to score. Collins follows with an RBI single and the Deloreans’ lead is doubled to 4-0.

That was all the scoring Sallee would need. He tosses a complete game, 4 hit shutout, to win his 16th game of the season. Ripper Collins went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, Joe Cronin had a pair of hits and runs for Detroit. Ryne Sandberg collected 2 of the 4 Sox hits off of Sallee.

DET 4 8 0
NAG 0 4 0
WP – Sallee (16-7)
LP – Ryan (4-12)

Game #2: Cy Morgan (13-7 3.32) vs Cole Hamels (8-9 4.12)

Top 2 – Babe Herman opens the inning with a solo homerun (#13) for a 1-0 Detroit lead.

Bottom 2 – Sox finally score … a HOJO walk, and singles by Jeter and Hamels, put Nags Head on the board. Following a Sandberg single that loads the bases, Von Hayes’s SAC fly scores Jeter for the 2-1 lead. Jimmie Foxx loads the bases with 2 outs, but Morgan gets Dawson to strike out and strand the runners.

Bottom 8 – Sox add some insurance with a 2 out Mike Marshall pinch hit single. 4-1 Sox.

Cordero comes on for Nags Head in the 9th, and despite allowing a Roy White solo homerun (#4), he earns save #25. Cole Hamels had one of his best performances of the year, going 7 and allowing only a run on 3 hits. Morgan was a little wild, issuing 7 walks. HOJO had 3 of those walks and he scored 2 of the Sox runs.

DET 2 4 0
NAG 4 7 0
WP – Hamels (9-9)
LP – Morgan (13-8)
S – Cordero (25)

Game #3: Hippo Vaughn (14-7 3.63) vs Mike Mussina (13-8 3.24)

Top 4 – After exchanging zeroes over the first 3 innings, Detroit strikes first when Ripper Collins leads off the 4th with a solo homerun (#41) 1-0.

Top 6 – Rendon SAC fly scores Lajoie to put Detroit up 2-0

Top 7 – Sam Rice singles, steals second, and scores on a Berra RBI single

Top 8 – Another Collins solo homerun (#42) greets Dan Quisneberry for a 4-0 Detroit lead. Rendon then singles, steals his 13th base of the season, and scores on a Rice RBI single. Berra knocks in Rice with another single and the Deloreans have broken it open 6-0

Top 9 – Back to back doubles by Collins and Herman close out the scoring 7-0

All Detroit in this one, led by Ripper Collins’ 4 hit, 2 homerun, 2 double day. Rice and Berra each added a pair of hits. Vaughn dominated the Sox batters, tossing 8 shutout innings while allowing only 2 hits to earn his 15th victory of the season.

DET 7 10 1
NAG 0 2 0
WP – Vaughn (15-7)
LP – Mussina (13-9)

Game #4: Allie Reynolds (11-8 2.58) vs Jim Palmer (7-6 3.38)

Top 6 – Jim Palmer was cruising through the 1st 5 2/3 innings until the Detroit bats finally delivered. After retiring the first 2 batters in the 6th, Lajoie doubles, for the 58th time this season. The Sox decide to intentionally walk Ripper Collins to face Babe Herman. Herman delivers with a base hit to right scoring Lajoie. Rendon follows with a bases clearing double to put Detroit in front 3-0

Top 7 – Zane Smith on in relief of Palmer. He doesn’t retire a batter as Rice, Berra, Reynolds, and Cronin single and Smith leaves the game with Nags Head down 5-0. Detroit scores 2 more in the inning to extend the lead to 7-0

Bottom 9 – After 17 straight shutout innings, Nags Head finally scores. HOJO delivers a one out solo shot off (#9) off Joe Smith.

Detroit pitching once again silences the Sox bats. Reynolds goes 8 shut out innings, allowing only a pair of hits while striking out 10.

DET 7 10 0
NAG 1 4 0
WP – Reynolds (12-8)
LP – Palmer (7-7)

Game #5: Slim Sallee (16-7 2.64) vs. Joaquin Andujar (4-19 5.44)

Bottom 1 – HOJO picks off where he left off in game 4, clubbing a solo home run (#10) to put the Sox up 1-0

Top 6 – The Deloreans’ bats slumbered for awhile … but it couldn’t last forever … Herman and Rendon start the inning with singles, Klein walks to load the bases. Andujar gets Sam Rice to fly out for the 1st out. Norm Charlton comes in to face the leftie Yogi Berra. Berra delivers a 2 run single, scoring Herman and Rendon. Klein scores on a Sallee SAC fly to put Detroit in front 3-1. (I should have pinch hit for Andujar in the bottom of the 5th with McCarver on 3rd and 2 out … but he had a shutout, which is RARE for him, so I kept him in)

Bottom 6 – Juan Samuel leads off the inning with a solo homerun (5), reducing the Detroit lead to 3-2

Bottom 8 – Sox rally … Von Hayes pinch hits to lead off the inning and draws a walk. Derek Jeter singles to put runners at the corners. With 2 out, Jimmie Fox lines a double to center, scoring Hayes and Jeter to put Nags Head in front 4-3

Cordero survives a Ripper Collins double to earn his 26th save.

DET 3 9 0
NAG 4 6 2
WP – Giusti (6-4)
LP – Aker (5-5)
S – Cordero (26)

Game #6: Charlie Hough (0-0 0.00) vs Nolan Ryan (4-12 4.70)

With projected Deloreans starter Cy Morgan still tired from his previous start, Charlie Hough takes the mound for his LEG debut and the Sox get to him right out of the gate. Juan Samuel leads off the Nags Head first with a triple and he scores on a Von Hayes ground ball – 1-0 Sox.

Top 4 – Ripper Collins smacks his 4th homerun of the series, this one a 2 run shot, to put Detroit in front 2-1.

Bottom 4 – Eddie Taubensee picks up his first LEG RBI, with a SAC fly that scores Stanton to tie the game 2-2.

Top 9 – Yogi Berra’s 2 out RBI single scores Rendon to put Detroit up 3-2. Jack Aker comes in to toss a shutout 9th to pick up his 15th save and preserve the Detroit win.

Charlie Hough overcomes the shaky start to have a strong debut against an anemic Sox offense. Hough goes 8, allows 2 runs on 4 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 4.

DET 3 6 0
NAG 2 5 1
WP – Hough (1-0)
LP – Street (4-5)
S – Aker (15)

Game #7: Hippo Vaughn (15-7 3.51) vs Cole Hamels (9-9 4.00)

Top 1 – Ripper Collins’ 5th homerun of the series puts Detroit up 2-0 early

Bottom 2 – 3 straight singles by Stanton, HOJO, and Winfield load the bases with no outs. Jeter follows with the 4th straight single to score 2 and tie the game.

Top 3 – Roy White’s RBI single puts Detroit back in front 3-2

Bottom 3 – Jimmie Foxx’s solo homerun (#25) ties the game at 3

Top 5 – Rendon RBI double and the Deloreans are up again 4-3

Top 7 – White SAC fly scores Lajoie for the 5-3 lead. Collins scores on a Klein ground out and Detroit is up 6-3

Bottom 7 – A Ryne Sandberg solo homerun (#9) cuts the Deloreans lead to 6-4

Top 8 – Lajoie’s 2 out, 2 run double extends Detroit’s lead to 8-4

Bottom 9 – Jeter singles and Hoiles walks to start the inning. Detroit goes to the pen and Aker comes on to face Sox pinch hitter Ellis Valentine. Valentine’s 1st LEG hit is a doozy, a 3run homerun to bring Nags Head to within a run, with still no one out and the top of the lineup coming up. Ryne Sandberg singles, and that’s all for Aker. On comes the leftie Jim Brewer. Von Hayes reaches on a fielders choice, for the inning’s first out. Brewer strikes out Foxx for the second out. Stanton’s drive to right is tracked down by Pafko, the rally falls short, and Detroit holds on for the victory.

Rendon, Lajoie, Fothergill, and Berra each had 3 hits for Detroit, Collins and Lajoie each scored 3 times.

DET 8 16 0
NAG 7 12 1
WP – Vaughn (16-7)
LP – Hamels (9-10)

Series Summary: Detroit wins the series 5-2. Sox pitching had a hard time controlling the potent Deloreans attack, led by Ripper Collins – 9 runs, 10 hits, 10 RBIs, 3 doubles, 5 homeruns, and 4 walks.
Fantomz  Force @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: Fantomz Force, looking towards the draft, visits probable playoff-bound West Michigan for a seven-game showdown.
Game #1: A 1-1 game after 7 innings…took 10 more innings of NO BEER to decide a winner. That’s more than a regulation game! Let’s just say the bars were busy after the game when Bobby Wallace won it on a sacrifice fly. Wagner, Lankford, and Mattingly had 2 hits apiece for the Force. The Retrogrades got two hits each from Sisler and Dickey.
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 1, RETROGRADES 2 (17 innings)
Game #2: Some tired ballplayers slogged through this game. M. Andrews and A. Lopez had 2 hit apiece for Fantomz. T. Davis went 2-4 with a HR, 2B, and 2 RBI. Heavy Johnson managed to get hit by his 15th pitch of the season…
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 2, RETROGRADES 4
Game #3: West Michigan had their hitting shoes on, pounding out 17 hits. S. Coveleski only lasted 2/3 of an inning. H. Johnson, B. Wallace, G. Sisler, and Willie Foster each had 2 hits. Tommy Davis went 3-5 with a HR, SB, and 3 RBI. Willie Foster went 6 innings giving up 1 earned run.
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 1, RETROGRADES 11
Game #4: Another extra-inning affair, this time with the Force ended up on the winning end of things. Adam Eaton led off the game with an HR and went 3-5 while adding a triple. D. Wiley added 2 hits. The Retrogrades did get 2 hits from Bobby Wallace. However, the 3 runs the Force scored in the top of the 11th was the difference.
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 4, RETROGRADES 1 (11 innings)
Game #5: West Michigan cruised to a victory behind a strong 7 innings and 1 ER from Curt Davis. Robinson Cano was 3-3 with a HR, 2B, and RBI.
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 2, RETROGRADES 4
Game #6: The third extra-inning game of the series was a good one. The Force got 2 hits each from M. Andrews, D. Wiley, and L. Doby. West Michigan was led by Heavy Johnson who went 3-6 with a 2B, 3B, and HR. The home runs was a walk-off in the bottom of the 12th.
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 5, RETROGRADES 6 (12 innings)
Game #7: On the surface, this looks like a boring, lopsided game. However, there was high drama until the end. The Retrogrades built a 7-0 lead behind 2 hits each from G. Sisler, B. Dickey, and D. Snider. The highlight of the game was Willie Foster taking a no-hitter into the 9th. With 2-outs and a runner on third, Larry Doby spoiled Foster’s gem with a base hit. However, Foster had a great series, going 2-0 and only giving up 2 earned runs in 15 innings of work.
FINAL SCORE: FORCE 1, RETROGRADES 7
Series Summary: West Michigan takes the series 6-1 over Fantomz. With three extra inning games, it was truly a close series. Only two games were lopsided.
Climax Cougars @ Virginia Cavaliers
Series Preview: Climax (71-63) takes it’s rising playoff hopes to Virginia (64-70) whose only hopes now are to get as many players as possible their usage requirements. Well, and win a few games along the way. The last time the two played, VIR eked out a 5-2 series win,…Nik wants revenge. This series was played via Team Viewer and I thank Nik for taking the time to do this, It was great fun.
Game #1: VIR 8-5 W-R.Hernandez (9-1) L-C.Carroll (2-5) SV-R.Betancourt (3)

CMC got off on the right foot and had J.Key scratching his head after 3 innings of play. In the 1st, H.Clift and M.Ott singled and scored on a two out double by B.Leonard. Two innings later CMC had the bases loaded with no outs and managed a run on a groundball double play. The Cougars manager was a little disappointed at this outcome, but a smile came to his face a batter later. “GIBSON ’32 drives one down the left field line … if it stays fair … and it’s … gone!…home run for GIBSON ’32 … and two runs scored…COUGARS 5, CAVALIERS 0.” J.Key stood and scratched his head as Gibson rounded the bases. VIR got two of those runs back in the 4th when K.McReynolds crushed a 2-run blast to center and made it 5-3 in the 6th on an RBI single from F.Robinson. C.Carroll took over for CMC in the 7th and kept VIR at bay. But in the 8th he got into trouble. After a walk to F.Frisch, and a 1-out single by D.Murphy, Carroll beaned K.McReynolds (in retaliation for the homer I’m sure) to load the bases. Not wanting an altercation, CMC’s manager replaced Carroll with E.Kinder. That move worked great,…for VIR. F.Robinson lofted a 3-run triple to LF and VIR suddenly led 6-5. Whitney would double Robinson home and score on an A.Rosen single as VIR erupted for 5 runs in the 8th and surprised CMC with a come-back 8-5 win. F.Robinson’s 2 hits and 4 RBI highlighted VIR’s win.

Game #2: CMC 4-2 W-V.Mungo (9-7) L-E.Reulbach (9-10) SV_E.Plunk (18)

VIR had a hard time figuring out CMC’s pitching as they were only able to scratch out 3 hits. One of those hits, A.Rosen’s 2-out RBI single, put VIR on the board in the 1st with a 1-0 lead. It stayed that way till the 3rd, when CMC showed VIR how to make the best of a 2-out situation. After a double play started the inning, G.Grantham singled, H.Clift doubled him home, M.Ott doubled him in, and J.Mize singled Ott in for a 3-1 CMC lead. And that’s what you do when you have two outs. The teams would trade runs in the 7th but VIR could never solve the Cougars’ pitching. It was just too good.

Game #3: CMC 3-0 W-J.Washburn (2-5) L-B.Turley (9-11)

Another good very good pitching performance from the Cougars. Washburn went all the way in scattering 5 hits and walking only one over 9 innings. G.Templeton was the only Cavalier batter to have any success against Washburn as he managed 2 hits in 3 trips to the plate. While Washburn was baffling the VIR batters, the Cougars decided to concentrate their energy on one inning,…and once again show their skill in scoring with two outs. J.Fregosi led off the 6th inning of a scoreless game by doubling off the CF wall. That was followed by two quick outs and it appeared the Cougars would strand Fregosi at second. But that’s not what the baseball gods had in mind. J.Mize looped one to RF and Fregosi scampered home as Mize went to 2nd on the throw. J.Bautista then creamed one over F.Robinson’s head for an RBI double and C.Meyers completed the trifecta by driving in Bautista with a RBI single. Once again, a lesson in 2-out scoring. Well, it was all Washburn from there on out as he continued to put goose eggs on the board on his way to the shut-out. Fregosi and Bautista led the Climax offense with 2 hits apiece.

Game #4: VIR 9-0 W-L.Gomez (15-9) L-S.Wood (10-8)

Every time VIR has a pitcher become player of the week eligible by throwing a 1-hit shut-out, someone else tosses a no-hitter. Wonder who it will be this week. L.Gomez did the honors for VIR. A CG 1-hit shut-out. J.Bautistas’ bingle was the only blemish on Gomez’ day. Meanwhile, VIR teed off on CMC for 12 hits and 9 runs. Big bats for the Cavaliers were, F.Robinson and A.Rosen with 3 hits each and H.Heilmann and K.McReynolds going deep while driving in 2 RBI each.

Game #5: CMC 7-2 W-R.Waddell (12-9) L-J.Guzman (5-11)

R.Waddell got off to a shaky start in this game. Right off the bat, two singles and an A.Rosen double put VIR up 2-0 with no outs in the game. A fly out, walk and another single loaded the bases with 1 out. Waddell stepped off the mound, glanced around, and suddenly remembered where he was, Two batters later,…end of inning,…no more runs. From there on out, Waddell buckled down and only allowed 2 meaningless singles to VIR. Waddell didn’t get any help from his offense until J.Fregosi pulled a surprising 2 out steal of home in the 5th to make the score 2-1 VIR. CMC pulled ahead in the 6th when G.Grantham stepped to the plate, “It’s a shot down the line to right … near the foul pole … and it’s … long gone!…a three-run homer for GRANTHAM ’24 … GRANTHAM ’24 will touch all the bases
…and he’s sure taking his time … he’s greeted at home plate … congratulations all around
COUGARS 4, CAVALIERS 2.” With Waddell continuing his domination of VIR batters, J.MIze led off the CMC top of the 9th with a homer to right. Then, just because he could, J.Fregosi added to his very good day,…”The pitch … it’s corked to left field … on the fly … hey, this may go! … and it does!…touch ’em all, FREGOSI ’64 … a two-run shot…COUGARS 7, CAVALIERS 2.” Fregosi finished 2-4 with a homer, 2 RBI and a steal of home. M.Ott was also 2-4 and G.Grantham and J.Mize provided the long ball.

Game #6: CMC 2-1 W-G.Harris (7-6) L-R.Betancourt (1-5) SV-E.Plunk (19)

A J.Gibson RBI single in the 1st was good start for CMC. But, VIR followed suit in the 3rd with an A.Trammell RBI single and the game was tied 1-1 after 3. It stayed that way going into the 9th as both pitchers settled in and kept the game scoreless over the next 5 innings. Several times, both teams had runners in scoring position only to see a good defensive play end the threat. But in the top of the 9th,…”J. BAUTISTA ’11 facing R. BETANCOURT ’09, T 9th, No Outs, Bases Empty, Tied 1-1 …The offering to BAUTISTA ’11 … it’s hit deep to ROBINSON ’69 … over his head…say good-bye to this one…it’s gone! … home run for BAUTISTA ’11…BAUTISTA ’11 will touch them all … and he’s sure taking his time…COUGARS 2, CAVALIERS 1.” That would be the game winner as E.Plunk notched his 19th save for CMC.

Game #7: CMC 4-2 W-V.Mungo (10-7) L-E.Reulbach (9-11) SV-E.Plunk (20)

Down in the series 4-2, VIR needed a win to look respectable. Climax ended any hope of that happening by taking the air out of VIR with a 4-run 2nd inning outburst. And who was in the middle of it? You guessed it. J.Fregosi. With 1 out in the 2nd, J.Bautista tripled and scored on a single from J.Mize. G.Grantham singled and when J.Mendez ripped a single to CF, Climax had the sacks full. After V.Mungo closed his eyes and swung at strike 3, J.Fregosi grabbed his bat and stepped into the box. “The runners take their lead … the pitch … shot like a rocket to left center…HEILMANN ’18’s racing back … and he won’t get it … one run scores … two runs score…MENDEZ ’21 will score …FREGOSI’64’s trying for three … the throw … not in time!…three-run triple for FREGOSI ’64
COUGARS 4, CAVALIERS 0.” And there you have the game in a nutshell. VIE would get runs on a A.Trammell homer and a WP, but it would not be enough.

Series Summary: Climax took the series 5-2 as their pitching baffled Virginia and their hitters,…well, they hit when it counted and they hit often. Mel Ott and Jose Bautista both went 7-23 for a .304 BA. Jim Fregosi was 6-20 with 4 runs and 5 RBI and a homer for a .300 BA. Grantham also chipped in at 5-20 with a homer and 4 RBI. On the mound, Van Lingle Mungo won 2 games and Eric Plunk got 3 saves. The best pitched game for Climax was thrown by Jarrod Washburn,…a CG, 5-hit, shut-out. With the win Climax inched ever closer to securing one of the playoff spots.
Virginia on the other hand,…they can only hope to get their players enough time to satisfy usage requirements. VIR did have Lefty Gomez throw a 1-hit shut-out. Let’s just hope no one else throws a no-hitter.
Again, I thank Nik for taking the time to play via Team Viewer. It was a lot of fun with some crazy play results at nonappropriate times. We just laughed.
Clockwork Heros @ Iowa Giants
Series Preview: First place Clockwork Heros come to Iowa and take four of seven great pitching on their part
Series Summary: Clockwork Hereos pitching was all they really needed. Giants score five runs in one game others were lucky to get three runs.
Hoboken Zephyrs @ San Tan Valley Moonrakers
Series Preview: Hoboken brings it’s brilliant pitching to the desert to face the bottom dwelling San Tan Valley Moonrakers.
Game #1: San Tan gets back to back homers from Vern Stephens and Bob Elliot to take a 3-0 lead in the 1st. Tommy Henrich and Tim Bottomly drive is 2 each in a 4 run 4th to take the lead. San Tan ties it in the 6th and wins it in the 7th on an Oscar Charleston homer. Moonrakers take the opener 5-4.
Game #2: 4 more San Tan homers, two by Ken Keltner and a grand slam from Earl Averill all off Tom Seaver negate 3 solo blasts by Curt Flood, Eddie Yost, and Wally Schang. San Tan wins again 12-6.
Game #3: OK. Here comes Hoboken’s big boys…Noodles Hahn wins his 22nd on a 3 hit shutout. Bump Hadley is San Tan’s hard luck loser, giving up only 2 hits and one earned run. Hoboken wins 2-0.
Game #4: Vern Stephens goes wild with a double, two homers, and 5 RBI in support of Randy Johnson, who wins his 17th 7-2 despite another homer from Curt Flood. San Tan beats one of the best, Red Faber, who’s a 22.
Game #5: A back and forth affair. a 6-5 San Tan lead evaporates in the 9th when Jim Bottomly crushes a 3 run homer off closer Jessie Barnes. Stephens has another huge game ( 2-4, 3 RBI, a triple, and a homer) but Hoboken wins 8-7.
Game #6: Tom Seaver comes back to win one with help from long balls from Babe Dalhgren and Jeff Heath. Stephens homers again. So does Hal Trotsky but Hoboken wins 5-3.
Game #7: The rubber game goes to Hoboken 7-2. Hahn wins again, raising his record to 23-9. Bottomly hits another 3 run homer. Virgil Trucks drops to 6-14.
Series Summary: A surprisingly close series won by Hoboken 4-3.
Huge series for Vern Stephens: 11-29, 7 runs, 11 hits, 12 RBI 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 5 homers!!!
That’s a .379/.400/1.103 series!!!!
Fire Lake Segers @ Motown Yankees
Series Preview: Tight race for one of the last playoff spots – and I am too tired for write ups
Series Summary: Fire Lake loses the first 3 but comes back to win the final 4 to take the series and gain a game in the standings……FL scored 2 in the first 3 games and 15 in the final 4….Motown scored 14 in the first 3 and 6 in the last 4…..all about the dice……Larry Jansen’s game 1 – CG 4 hit Shutout was the pitching highlight for Motown while David Cone tossed a 3 hit shutout in the rubber game…Dave Brown should get some consideration for pitcher of the week going 1-1 with 2 CG’S, only 1ER in 18 IP’s and losing the rubber game 1-0 on an UER……I don’t think any hitters qualify but I will let Terry submit – nobody from Motown (not unusual at all)
Hollywood Zombies @ Wainwright Wranglers
Series Summary: Hollywood drops 5 of 7

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #26

National League Pitcher of the Week – Addie JOSS – Motown

1-1 record, No-Hitter vs Hollywood, 17.0  innings pitched, 1.06 ERA, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, & 5 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Justin VERLANDER – Ft. Worth

1-0 record, No-Hitter vs Madison East, 17.1 innings pitched, 2.60 ERA, 7 hits, 9 strikeouts,  &10 walks

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Anthony RENDON  – Detroit

12/27 .444/1.000 Slg, 4 double, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 9 runs scored, 6 RBIs, & 6 walks

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Monte IRVIN  – Cincinnati

14/31 .450 / .650 Slg, 3 doubles, 1 home runs, 6 runs scored, 6 RBIs, 4 walks, & 1 stolen base

Lewisberry Country Blumpkins @ Las Vegas Pirates
Series Preview: This series pitted the 1st place Country Blumpkins vs. the spiraling Las Vegas Pirates.
Game #1: In this game, Pirates Ace, Howie Camnitz went an admirable 7 innings giving up only 1 run on 3 hits, while Willie Davis opened up the Buc half of the 1st with his 3rd round-tripper of the year. Willie Stargell also clubbed his HR #17. Johnny Edwards had his game of the year, with 3 hits, including a 2B & 3B. Jesse Crain lowered his microscopic ERA to 0.81.
FINAL SCORE Pirates 4, Blumpkins 1
Game #2: This game was ALL Blumpkins!!! Babe Ruth proved his pitching dominance as he went the distance for a 4 hit, 6 K shutout win, while the Blump’s 7 hits were all hit by 7 different players. For the Pirates, catcher Hal Smith, borrowed Roberto Clemente’s 39 arm & threw out Maury Wills & Steve Sax.
FINAL SCORE Blumpkins 5, Pirates 0
Game #3: This game came down to one inning… the 3rd. With the Pirates nursing a modest 2-1 lead, the 3rd is where the Blumpkins blew the socks off the Bucs. Dean Chance’s 6 walks & 2 IBB, blew him up fresh off of Pitcher of the week. Jack Morris went 8 innings, giving up only 5 hits & 2 runs in chalking up his 11th victory. Lou Brock & B. J. Surhoff had multi-hit games.
FINAL SCORE Blumpkins 8, Pirates 2
Game #4: This game started out as a great game for John Candelaria. The Bucs were cruising along with a 4-0 lead going into the 8th before Bernie Williams went deep on the “Candy man”. He then followed with a single to Freddie Freeman, & that’s when the Pirates went to the pen & brought in Crain. Jesse then gave up his 1st HR of the year to Gil Hodges & bringing the score to a very close, 4-3. That’s when the Pirates went to their stopper in Mariano Rivera. Rivera faced the minimum of 3 batters in the 9th for his 19th save of the year & lowering his ERA to 1.30. The Blumpkins out hit the Pirates 9-5, but to no avail.
FINAL SCORE Pirates 4, B’kins 3
Game #5: This game was the most enjoyable to everyone except the pitchers. The 1st inning started with those B’kins, notching 3 on a 3 run HR from Bernie Williams even before the first out. In the bottom half, the Pirates followed suit with 3 on a 2 run HR by Hal Smith, & back to back 2B’s by Clemente & Joe DiMaggio. After the 1st, the bats were silent until the 5th, 6th, & 7th, when both teams changed leads. That’s when the smoke cleared & the Pirates finished off the Blumpkins with a 2 run HR by the other DiMaggio, Vince. That’s when Crain & Rivera did their stuff. Rivera finished with his 20th save.
FINAL SCORE Pirates 6, Blumpkins 5
Game #6: A great pitcher’s duel between Babe Ruth & Howie Camnitz occurred. The B’kins finished with 5 hits while the Bucs had a whopping 6. The difference was a Pirate run in the 1st when Davis scored from his 2B on a single by Hal Smith. He not only borrowed Clemente’s arm but his bat as well. Both Ruth & Camnitz might be considered for Pitcher OTW honors.
FINAL SCORE Pirates 1, Blumpkins 0
Game #7: This was Orel Hershiser’s game. He went 7.1 innings giving up a pair of runs & striking out 5 until giving way to the quintessential reliever in Zach Britton for a perfect 1.2 innings. 3 Stolen bases, & Maury Wills steal of home in the 8th for the winning run. 2 hits a piece for Surhoff & Sax, & bupkiss from the Pirates, except a solo HR from Vince DiMaggio.
FINAL SCORE Country Blumpkins 3, Pirates 2
Series Summary: This was an epic series for the ages (at least this year). The last 4 games could not have been closer. This is the kind of series I love being part of. I found out too late that the manager of Lewisberry is a terrific guy (that I would have loved to have played through Team Viewer). We are done with head to heads for this year, Mr. Boyd, but I’d be honored to play you exhibition games for this year’s teams or even next year’s. Good luck the rest of the way out!
Middle Channel Sturgeon @ Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: Middle Channel (59-68), 5th in the AL East, and winners of 8 of their last 10 travels to Jack Street (68-59) to battle the first place Hustlers.
Game #1: Foster (10-11) takes the hill agaiinst Haren (6-13)

The Sturgeon draw first blood in the first pushing a run across, but Jack Street picks up a pair in the bottom half and three more in the third and hold on from there. Rogers Hornsby falls a triple short of a the cycle. Middle Channel loses Ty Cobb for 5 days.

M 3/8/1
J 7/11/0

WP – Haren 7-13
LP – Foster 10-12
Sv – Brantley 24
HR – J – Hornsby (33), Justice (13)

Game #2: Coombes (2-6) for Middle Channel against Glavine (14-5) for the Hustlers.

Jack Street scores 5 in the first and 2 in the second and cruise from there. Kelley and Horton each pick up 2 hits for Middle Channel. Ducky Medwick goes 3-3 for the Hustlers and Bob Muesel hits a slam. The injury parade continues for the Sturgeon who lose Bissonette for 24 days and Perez for 5 days.

M 2/8/0
J 8/12/1

WP – Glavine 15-5
LP – Coombs 2-7
Sv – None
HR – J – McGwire (36), Muesel (22)

Game #3: In game 3, Harry Breechen 3-3 faces off against Sonny Siebert 6-10.

In the 3rd, the Sturgeon score on a double by Hollocher and a single by Daubert. That leads holds until the 6th when Jack Street pushes across a single run and follows that up with one in the 7th and 3 in the 8th to take the victory.

M 1/5/1
J 5/7/0

WP – Siebert 7-10
LP – Breechen 3-4
Sv – Brantley 25
HR – J – McGwire (37)

Game #4: Scherzer 14-8 vs Viola 5-5

Middle Channel scores first in the first inning. Selbach drives a one out triple into the corner and scores on a Frank Thomas sac fly. In the bottom of the 4th, Martinez walks followed by a single by Hornsby (the first hit off of Scherzer). Ducky Medwick grounds into a 1-6-3 DP, but Big Mac follows with a duck snort to tie the game. In the bottom of the 5th, Ted Simmons dribbles one up the middle with two outs. Jeff Kent dumped one into right and a communication issue causes Selbach and Maz to collide. More injuries for Middle Channel – Selbach 15 day and Maz for 9. That’s now 5 injuries for the series, the bench is getting thin. Oh, and Simmons scored on the play. 2-1 Jack Street. In the top of the 7th, Whitey Kurowski leads off the inning with a homer to tie the game. It stays that way until the bottom of the 8th when Bob Meusel hits a 3 run homer. Brantley comes in and slams the door for the victory.

M 2/9/1
J 5/7/0

WP – Veres 5-1
LP – Romo 2-3
Sv – Brantley 26
HR – M – Kurowski (7) J – Meusel (23)

Game #5: Chris Sale 9-9 for Middle Channel against Bill Byrd 10-7 for the Hustlers.

A real pitcher’s duel on this one. In the bottom of the first, Edgar Martinez led off the game with a double, followed by a walk to Rogers Hornsby. After a strikeout by Medwick, McGwire singles scoring Martinez after a collision at the plate. Meusel hits a sac fly to make the score 2-0 after 1. And the scoring is done, as Byrd, with a little help from Brad Hand, close out the game. Chris Sale goes 7 1/3 giving up 5 hits, 2 unearned runs, 4 walks and strikes out 6. Byrd goes 8 giving up 3 hits, no walks and striking out 4.

M 0/3/1
J 2/5/1

WP – Byrd 11-7
LP – Sale 9-10
Sv – Hand 4
HR – none

Game #6: Rematch of game 1 as Foster (10-13) faces off against Haren (8-13)

Jack Street scores 1 in the 2nd and, although they scored some more, that would be enough, as the Sturgeon bats stayed ice cold. VMart provides 2/3 of the hits for Miccle Channel. Bob Muesel goes 2-2 with a double, a homer, 2 runs and 3 rbi. Haren goes 7 giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and striking out 5.

M 0/3/0
j 7/8/1

WP – Haren 8-13
LP – Foster 10-13
Sv – None
HR – J – Meusel (24)

Game #7: Rematch of game 2. Coombs (2-7) against Glavine (15-5). The Sturgeonn trying to avoid the sweep.

Hustlers open the scoring in the 2nd. Larry Hisle bombs a two out homer to give Jack Street the lead. Ty Cobb, back from his earlier injury, knots it up with a 2 out solo of his own. In the top of the 9th, Ty Cobb leads off the inning with a double. Dave Veres comes in to replace Glavine and gets Frank Thomas to pop out. Horton then lines out. Jake Daubert is brought in to pinch hit for Kurowski and rewards the manager wit a single to score Cobb. Aroldis Chapman, making his first appearance of the series, sends the Hustlers down in order to preserve the win.

M 2/6/1
J 1/3/2

WP – Romo 3-3
LP – Glavine 15-6
Sv – Chapman 18
HR – M – Cobb (24) J – Hisle (11)

Series Summary: Jack Street takes the series 6-1.
Chicago Nine @ Kansas City A’s
Series Preview: Chicago Nine 3rd place A.L East at K.C A’s 4th Place A.L. East
Game #1: K.C wins in a 3-2 walk off in the bottom of the 9th. Billy Williams 1 out single scores Odell hale for the winner.
Game #2: JR Richard goes the distance with a 2 hitter in a 9-3 win for the Nine. Griffey Jr. homers and drives in 3 and Eddie Murray also drives in 3. Bill White had a bases loaded triple for the only runs for the A’s.
Game #3: The A’s trailing 3-2 again win in walk off fashion with a pinch hit 2 run double by Dale Murphy to win it 4-3.
H. Thompson had a homer and drove in all 3 runs for the Nine in a losing effort.
Game #4: Nine win going away 12-5, led by J. Martinez’s 4 hits, including a triple and homer and 3 RBI’s. Bill White had 4 hits, including a homer and 3 RBI’s in a losing effort.
Game #5: Phil Niekro tosses a 5 hit shutout to outduel CC Sabathia in a 1-0 A’s win. Rocky Colavito hit a homer in the 5th for the games only run.
Game #6: A’s win 3-2 as Jim Maloney outduels Felix Hernandez, Wade Davis pitched the 9th for the save. Walker Cooper and Odell Hale homered for the A’s.
Game #7: JR Richard gets his 2nd win of the series as the Nine win a 10-4 blowout .Trout, Mayberry and Martinez all homer for the Nine and Bobby Richardson chipped in 4 singles. Roger Maris hit a 2 run shot for the A’s.
Series Summary: Kansas City wins the series 4 games to 3.
Boston Braves @ Indiana Indians
Series Preview: Braves travel to Indiana to take on the Indians in 7-game series. Braves in 6th place in AL East and Indians in last place.
Game #1: Boston 5-9-0
Indiana 4-8-1
Jonathon Lucroy (.156) with a HR in the top of the 12th for a 5-4 Braves win. Kerry Wood with 8.2 innings in relief of Grover Cleveland Alexander for the loss. Braves hit 4 HR. Corsi pitches 2 innings of relief for the win and Shaw with his 6th save. Teixeira with 2 of the Indians 4 hits.
Game #2: Boston 3-6-2
Indiana 7-12-0
Don Drysdale goes 8 strong and the Indians put up a 6 spot in the last of the 8th for a 7-3 win. Zobrist, Mantle and Walker all have 3 hits each.
Game #3: Boston 0-6-0
Indiana 1-3-1
Johnny Frederick with walk-off HR in 10th for the 1-0 win. Pedro Martinez with CG L. Price, Robertson and Nen combine for the shutout.
Game #4: Boston 0-4-0
Indiana 6-7-3
Indians with 3rd in row behind shutout for Andy Pettitte. Joe Carter with 3 RBI for Indians. Don Newcombe takes the L.
Game #5: Boston 11-14-1
Indiana 4-10-2
Adrian Gonzalez with 5 RBI (including a grand slam) for the Braves. He and Freddy Sanchez with 3 hits each. O’Dell with W and Warnecke with the L.
Game #6: Boston 0-5-0
Indiana 5-11-0
Don Drysdale with 5-hit CG for the W. Frederick, Shively, Walker and Lindstrom all with 2 hits for the Indians. Marichal takes the loss.
Game #7: Boston 1-5-1
Indiana 6-8-0
Mickey Mantle hits grand slam in 1st to lead Indians. Antonelli takes the loss. Price with CG for the W.
Series Summary: Indiana takes 5 of 7. A couple AL pitcher of the week nominees:
Don Drysdale 17 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 2-0 1.59 ERA
David Price 16 IP, 10 H, 1 ER, 1-0 0.56 ERA
Fort Worth Cats @ Madison East Puregolders
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Cincinnati Knights @ Kansas City Blues
Series Preview: The 2nd place Knights come to KC Blues who hang around the bottom of the division let’s get it on
Game #1: Freehan 3-hit 4-rbi 1-2b powers the Knight’s pass the Blue’s 10-1
Game #2: Canseco 2-hit 3-rbi 1-hr helps the Blues win a close 5-4 win
Game #3: Cincy comes back puts another 10 runs on the board M.Irvin 4-hit 1-rbi 1-2b, I.Goodwin 2-hit 3-rbi 1-hr
10-3 win
Game #4: Santana gets his 20th win CG 9-3 win
Ted Williams 3-hit 3-rbi 2-2b 1-hr
Game #5: Greinke CG 9th win 7-3 Blues
Sheffield 3-hit 5-rbi 2-hr
Game #6: Blues win a close one 2-1
Degrom goes 9 strong Lopat gets win
Game #7: Blues 10 runs on 11 hits
Boog Powell 2-hit 5-rbi Grand Slam
Kershaw 9 runs 1-er
Series Summary: The Blues play a decent series win 4 of 7 against a very good team
New Westminster Salmonbellies @ Purry Cowpokes
Series Preview: Purry hopes to pick up ground as they are 8 games back of visiting New Westminster fr the 2nd wildcard spot.
Game #1: Billy Pierce only surrendered 1 run over 7 inning for the Salmonbellies but Frank Sullivan was better, pitching a complete game shutout for the home team. Purry 1 New Westminster 0
Game #2: Frank Clarke had 3 hits for NW and Jim Wynn batted in 3 as the visitor prevented Javier Vazquez from getting his 19th win. Dwight Gooden started for the Salmonbellies but only lasted 2 innings before leaving with an 11 day injury. New Westminster 6 Purry 2
Game #3: Martin Dihigo homered twice and Davey Concepcion added a solo shot (really?) to power NW. New Westminster 6 Purry 2
Game #4: Purry scores 4 times off of semi-regular POW Dutch Leonard in the 1st 3 innings. Leonard proceeds to plunk Glenn Davis for the 2nd time in the game which leads to his ejection in the 3rd. Ted Strong went 3-4 with a homer, 4 rbi’s, and 3 runs scored while “El Dieblo” Wellls also went 3-4 with a homer, 3 rbi’s, and 2 runs scored to lead the home team. Purry 12 New Westminster 6
Game #5: Frank Sullivan tosses his 2nd complete game of the series with his only big mistake leading to a Carlos Beltran solo homer. Tris Speaker answered with a solo shot of his own and Willie McCovey drives in Rickey to give the home team the win. Purry 2 New Westminster 1
Game #6: Rickey goes 3-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, 2 rbi’s, and scores the walk-off run on a Neil Walker single. Purry 6 New Westminster 5
Game #7: Ray Collins throws a 4-hit shut-out and Tris Speaker goes 3-5 with a triple, a homer, 3 rbi’s, and 2 runs scored as Purry wins in a blow-out. Purry 8 New Westminster 0
Series Summary: Purry picks up 3 games in the standings by taking 5 games out of 7. The stars of the series were Purry’s spot starters who are just trying to get their innings in. Frank Sullivan pitched 18 innings giving up only 1 run on 12 hits, striking out 8 while walking only 1. Sullivan’s 2 wins improves his record to 5-0 out of 8 starts. Ray Collins added 15.3 innings giving up 5 runs on 11 hits, striking out 8 and walking 2.
Menomonee Minutemen @ Wrigleyville Whales
Series Preview: Menomonee Minutemen (65-65, .488, 25-GB) @ Wrigleyville Whales (43-84, .339, 44-GB)

In early season series Menomonee won 5 of 7 from the Whales. Four games were decided by only 1-run, as they split those games. Wrigleyville was blanked 7-9 by Jim Scott, who allowed only 4-hits. Menomonee outscored Wrigleyville 36-23 and outhit them 72-68

Game #1: G-1- Rommel v Rudolph. Menomonee scored 2 runs in 1st on ground ball outs by Bonds and Adcock and Fisk cracked a 2-out, 2-run-HR, his 13th. Minutemen broke a 3-3 tie in 4th as Appling drew a lead-off walk and McCutchen delivered a H/R single moving Appling to 3rd. Hebner singled in a run and another scored when Santiago grounded into a 6-4-3 DP.

Minutemen would make it 7-3 as they pushed across 2-runs in 9th and H. Bell earned his 1st save. Bonds drove in 3-runs for victors and Rommel (2-1, 4.75) allowed 3-runs on 3-hits and 3-walks.

FINAL Minutemen 7 Whales 3

Game #2: G-2- J.Scott v H.Coveleski. Whales even series on 2-hit, 2-0 Shut-Out by Coveleski (2-4, 4.28). He walked 10 but Minutemen stranded 12. Horner led Whales offense, going 3-3, 2B, BB and run scored. Scott (11-11, 4.61) gave up only 1-earned run on 7-hits in his CG loss.

FINAL Whales 2 Minutemen 0

Game #3: G-3- T.Gordon v Ruether. Both teams had 6-hits but 4 of the Whales hits came in first 3-innings, as they scored 2-runs in opening inning, 3-runs in 2nd and a run in the 3rd and held on for a 6-5 win! Ritchey’s 2-out, 3-Run homer inside RF foul pole put Wrigleyville up 5-0 in 2nd.

Rizzo (2-3rd,4th) and Adcock (13) homered for Menomonee with Rizzo going 3-4, 2-runs and 2-RBI.

FINAL Whales 6 Minutemen 5

Game #4: G-4- John v Hunter. Menomonee broke a 1-1 tie in 7th when pinch-runner Crisp stole 2nd and Santiago singled and Baines walked to load em up. Rizzo singled in a run & Bonds picked up RBI with a FC. They tacked on 2-runs in 8th and evened series @ 2-2 with 5-2 victory! John (13-9, 3.56) hurled 8-innings of 2-runk 5-hit ball and Jansen earned Save # 17. Thome (9) smashed a solo homer for Whales.

FINAL Minutemen 5 Whales 2

Game #5: G-5- Rommel v Rudolph. Rudolph (2-7, 4.37) limited Menomonee to 1-run on 6-hits in CG win for Wrigleyville. O’Doul was 2-3, BB and scored 2-runs and Horner doubled in 2-runs for Whales. Bonds (17) was 2-4 to push his average to .303.

FINAL Whales 5 Minutemen 1

Game #6: G-6- Scott v Mays. Mays (9-10, 4.48) had a No-No going for 6-innings but Jose Altuve doubled (37) to lead off 7th. Carl would finish the game with a 1-hit, 10-0 Shut-Out for Wrigleyville! Irish Meusel drove in 4-runs, going 3-4 with 2-2B’s and Yaz had a 3-5 day, including his 22nd double, while driving in 3-runs. Scott (11-12, 4.85), who had blanked Wrigleyville 7-0 on 4-hits earlier in the season allowed 8-runs, 7-earned over 4-innings.

FINAL Whales 10 Minutemen 0

Game #7: G-7- T.Gordon v Ruether. Stan The Man came through with a bases loaded double in 7th, clearing the bases to give Whales a 6-0 lead. But Ruether (8-14, 5.03) needed help in 9th from Melancon for final out as Menomonee scored 4-runs and had runners on 1st and 3rd , 1-out and Bonds @ bat but he lined out to Banks. Melancon relieved and retired Adcock on a liner to Meusel to preserve the win. Bonds was 3-5 and raised his average to .305. Fisk caught Altuve and Appling trying to steal.

FINAL Whales 6 Minutemen 4

Series Summary: Wrigleyville (48-86, .358, 42.5-GB) surprise Menomonee (64-70, .478, 26.5-GB) as well as their fans by winning 5 of 7 games!
Coastline Bobcats @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: The top two teams in the NL East meet as the Coastline Bobcats faceoff against the Detroit DeLoreans over TeamViewer.
Game #1: CLB 6 – DET 5 (10): A Beals Becker RBI single in the top of the tenth inning gave the Bobcats the win. Cal Ripken and Anthony Rendon each drove in two runs.
Game #2: CLB 10 – DET 2: Four Coastline HRs and a 5-run fifth inning, fueled the Bobcats to an easy win. Ellis Burks had three RBI.
Game #3: CLB 3– DET 4: A Nap Lajoie single in the bottom on the ninth scored Roy White to give the DeLoreans their first series win. Anthony Rendon went 3 for 3 with a HR, while Cal Ripken went 2 for 2 for Coastline.
Game #4: CLB 4 – DET 3: The Bobcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on as Detroit battled back. Coastline was powered by four solo HRs from Burks, Gordon, Williams, and White. The DeLoreans Anthony Rendon hit his third HR of the series.
Game #5: CLB 3 – DET 1: Again, Coastline got out to another early lead and held on for a win. Runs in the second, third, and fifth innings were all they needed. Cal Ripken went 3 for 4 with two doubles. Yogi Berra went 2 for 3 with an RBI double for Detroit.
Game #6: CLB 7 – DET 8 (15): Detroit’s Chuck Klein smashed a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game a seven. Then a Nap Lajoie single in the bottom of the fifteenth inning scored Joe Cronin for the DeLoreans comeback win. Many excellent hitting performances in the game with eight players having multi-hit games. Kemp, Burks, and Rendon each had three hits.
Game #7: CLB 4 – DET 5 (15): A Geoff Jenkins 3-run HR put Coastline on top 4-2 in the top of the eighth inning. However, Detroit battled back with an RBI single from Babe Herman in the eighth and a squeeze bunt from Sam Rice in the ninth inning to tie it at four apiece. Then an RBI double from Yogi Berra won it for the DeLoreans in the bottom of the fifteenth for another dramatic finish. Berra went 3 for 6 with three doubles and two RBI.
Series Summary: Coastline wins the series 4-3. Of the seven games, five were decided by one run and three went extra innings. Other than game two, any of the other six games could’ve gone either way. Anthony Rendon had at least one hit in all seven games of the series. He went 12 for 27 (.444) with 5 doubles, a triple, 3 HRs, and 5 RBI.
Virginia Cavaliers @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: The Virginia Cavaliers look to improve their playoff position while the West Michigan Retrogrades look to hold on to the #4 seed in the NL.
Game #1: Lefty Gomez and Hal Schumacher both pitched 7 strong innings giving up a single earned run. The game was tied 1-1 until the Retrogrades put 4 runs on the board. Tommy Davis put West Michigan ahead with a sacrifice fly. Bobby Wallace had 3 hits for the Retrogrades.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 1, RETROGRADES 5
Game #2: Another strong starting pitching performance for the Retrogrades, this time from Willie Foster who tossed 7 innings of 1 run baseball. Tony Taylor had a big homer for the Cavaliers. George Sisler had 2 hits for the Retrogrades.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 1, RETROGRADES 5
Game #3: Bob Turley and Urban Shocker both pitched well. The game was tied until the 8th when Tommy Davis delivered a 2-out single to put the Retrogrades ahead. Frisch, Heilmann, and Robinson had 2 hits each for the Cavaliers. West Michigan got 2 hits from Tommy Davis and Adrian Beltre.
Unfortunately, Virginia lost the services of Joe Harris, ” J. HARRIS ’26 facing U. SHOCKER ’20, T 2nd, No Outs, Bases Empty, Tied 1-1 He lets it go … strike three! … and HARRIS ’26 is hopping mad … he’s jumping up and down no, wait … he’s not angry … he’s hurt … the pitch hit him that’s the 6th time he’s been decked this season … the umpire is calling time the trainer’s out … HARRIS ’26’s in pain … it doesn’t look good HARRIS ’26 has some choice words for SHOCKER ’20 … he’s still yelling as he enters the dugout he may be lost to the CAVALIERS for a long time … The report from the clubhouse…
Joe HARRIS ’26 … injured for 11 days” Luckily cooler heads prevailed and a brawl was avoided.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 2, RETROGRADES 3
Game #4: A combined shutout for West Michigan from Curt Davis and Bob Stanley was the story of the day. Kevin McReynolds collected 2 hits for Virginia. Juan Guzman pitched well over 6 innings. Adrian Beltre had 2 knocks for West Michigan.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 0, RETROGRADES 5
Game #5: Virginia finally got on the winning side of things, with an excellent pitching performance from Ed Reulbach. West Michigan could only manage a Tommy Davis solo homer. The Cavaliers got two hits each from Lance Parrish and Kevin McReynolds. Tony Taylor had his big boy bat again and hit another homer.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 5, RETROGRADES 1
Game #6: The Retrogrades got to Lefty Gomez early, scoring 4 runs off the southpaw in 4 innings to cruise to an easy victory. West Michigan collected 11 hits, 2 each from Heavy Johnson and Bobby Wallace. Willie Foster pitched 6 strong innings.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 1, RETROGRADES 7
Game #7: Another tremendous pitching performance for West Michigan, this time by Urban Shocker. Shocker pitched a complete game 3-hitter (SC 82) to improve to 18-11 with a 2.62 ERA for the season. Preacher Roe struggled over 6 innings for Virginia. Adrian Beltre collected 2 more hits for the Retrogrades.
FINAL SCORE: CAVALIERS 0, RETROGRADES 5
Series Summary: West Michigan takes the series 6-1. The big difference in the series was the Retrogrades’ pitching, which was often dominant. Adrian Beltre was the hitting star of the series, going 10-33 (.435).
Climax Cougars @ Fantomz Force
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Pigtown Bombers @ Nags Head Surf Sox
Series Preview: Pigtown Bombers (40-87) at Nags Head Surf Sox (57-70)

The Pigtown Bombers, last place in the N.L. East, pay a return visit to Nags Head to take on the 6th place Sox.

Game #1: Luis Tiant (8-9 3.75) vs. Jim Palmer (5-6 3.42)

Sox take a 1st inning 1-0 lead off Tiant, thanks to a Giancarlo Stanton RBI that scores Von Hayes. Jim Edmonds’ 4th inning RBI single scores Hank Greenberg to tie the game at 1. The game moves to the home half of the 6th. Stanton leads off with a walk, followed by a Kingman single, which sets the stage for a Dave Winfield blast to left, his 10th homerun of the season, putting NH up 4-1. The Sox will add another run in the 7th for a 5-1 lead. Jim Palmer tosses 8 strong innings, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits, Mitch Williams pitches a scoreless 9th.

PIG 1 4 0
NAG 5 9 1
WP – Palmer (6-6)
LP – Tiant (8-10)

Game #2: Joe McGinnity (10-12 3.84) vs. Joaquin Andujar (4-18 5.70)

Sox score another 1st inning run on a Jimmie Foxx RBI double that scores Jeter. Pigtown promptly erases the lead with a run of their own in the top of the 2nd, with Manny Ramirez scoring on an Ozzie Smith ground ball. An Andujar double, Jeter single, and Foxx double plate 2 Sox runs in the 3rd to put NH up 3-1. Bombers bounce back in the 4th. Manny Ramirez, who doubled, scores on a Duke Sims ground out to cut the Nags Head lead to 3-2. A Foxx SAC fly scores Von Hayes to up the Sox lead to 4-2 after 5. In the 6th, Pigtown fights back once again. Greenberg doubles, moves to third on a Ramirez single. With runners at the corners, Duke Sims singles home Greenberg. Ramirez scores the tying run when Andujar throws away a Velarde come backer to the mound. Andujar works his way out of a one out bases loaded jam to preserve the 4-4 tie. Nags Head seizes the lead, once again, in the 8th when Foxx scores on an Andre Dawson RBI double. Cordero comes in to pitch a scoreless 9th, to record his 23rd save. Manny Ramirez had 2 hits and scored 3 times for the visitors. Jimmie Foxx had a pair of hits and knocked in 3, and Jeter had 3 hits and scored twice to lead Nags Head.

PIG 4 7 0
NAG 5 9 2
WP – Giusti (5-4)
LP – McGinnity (10-13)
S – Cordero (23)

Game #3: John Tudor (2-7 3.76) vs. Nolan Ryan (4-10 4.51)

Bombers bounce back in a big way, scoring a pair of runs in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 8th innings to cruise to a 9-2 victory. Pigtown bashed 18 hits, led by Mike Schmidt, Benny Kauff, and Max West, who each had 3 hits. Schmidt knocked in 4 and clubbed his 17th homerun of the season. John Tudor pitched 7 innings of 3 hit shutout ball.

PIG 9 18 0
NAG 2 6 0
WP – Tudor (3-7)
LP – Ryan (4-11)

Game #4: Johnny Taylor (3-9 4.29) vs. Cole Hamels (8-8 4.05)

Pigtown ties up the series at 2 games a piece behind 8 1/3 strong innings by Johnny Taylor. Taylor scatters 6 hits and allows on 1 earned run. Kauff had 3 more hits, including a double, and Bobby Grich had 2 hits to propel the bomber offense.

PIG 5 11 1
NAG 2 6 1
WP – Taylor (4-9)
LP – Hamels (8-9)
S – Smith (2)

Game #5: Jim Abbott (5-16 3.55) vs. Mike Mussina (12-8 3.32)

Sox take an early 2 run lead following a Von Hayes solo homerun, #9 on the year, and a SAC fly from Mussina that scored Kingman. Mussina pitched well, only allowing 4 hits, including a solo homerun by Greenberg (#24), and survived issuing 9 walks over 7 innings, to earn his 13th win of the season. Cordero pitched a shutout 9th for his 24th save. Jim Abbott went the distance for Pigtown, and was the hard luck loser.

PIG 1 4 0
NAG 2 3 0
WP – Mussina (13-8)
LP – Abbott (5-17)
S – Cordero (24)

Game #6: Luis Tiant (8-10 3.83) vs. Jim Palmer (6-6 3.28)

Another back-and-forth affair as the teams combined to hit 5 homeruns: Greenberg (25) and Tettleton (3) for the Bombers; Hayes (10), Dawson (17), and Marshall (2) for the Sox. Greenberg had a 4 hit day for Pigtown, scoring 2 times, knocking in one. Ultimately Nags Head survives and Palmer defeats Tiant for the 2nd time in the series.

PIG 5 10 0
NAG 6 8 0
WP – Palmer (7-6)
LP – Tiant (8-11)
S – Street (5)

Game #7: Joe McGinnity (10-13 3.92) vs. Joaquin Andujar (4-18 5.55)

Mike Schmidt’s 2nd homerun of the series, a 2 run, 1st inning blast, stakes McGinnity to an early lead. Greenberg homers for the 3rd straight game, a solo shot in the 6th, and that was all McGinnity would need, as he goes the distance, allowing only 1 earned run on 4 hits. Andujar pitches a decent game, but takes loss #19 on the season.

PIG 3 6 0
NAG 1 4 2
WP – McGinnity (11-13)
LP – Andujar (4-19)

Series Summary: Nags Head takes the series 4 games to 3. Hank Greenberg had a HUGE series – 9 runs scored, 10 hits, 5 RBIs, 2 doubles, a triple, and 3 homeruns.
Clockwork Heros @ Hoboken Zephyrs
Series Preview: The first place Heros travel to Hoboken to face the second place Zephyrs.
Game #1: George Uhle outduels Tom Seaver in a brilliant shutout.
Clockwork 2 Hoboken 0
Game #2: Noodles Hahn outduels Bert Blyleven with a brilliant 3-hit shutout.
Hoboken 2 Clockwork 0
Game #3: Christy Mathewson runs his record to 23-4 in a strong 3-hit performance.
Clockwork 4 Hoboken 2
Game #4: Jeff Weaver shut down Clockwork allowing only one earned and five hits. Eddie Stanky provided a three-run blast for the win.
Hoboken 4 Clockwork 1
Game #5: The Zephyrs battled back from a 4-1 deficit scoring two in both the 7th and 8th innings to grab a hardfought win.
Hoboken 5 Clockwork 4
Game #6: In another strong pitchers duel, Bert Blyleven allowed only two hits over 8 innings for his 21st win. Kent Tekulve closed out the 9th for his 33rd save.
Clockwork 2 Hoboken 1
Game #7: Entering the final game tied at 3, the Hoboken offense broke out for 7 runs powered by two rbis each from Jeff Heath, Stan Spence and Wally Schang. Red Faber improved his era to 2.05 in his 16th win.
Hoboken 7 Clockwork 1
Series Summary: Hoboken takes the series 4-3 to avenge an early season 7-game sweep in Clockwork. The Zephyr pitching staff allowed just 14 runs over the series. Both teams are gearing up for the playoffs.
Hollywood Zombies @ Motown Yankees
Series Preview: No time for nice write ups this week!
Game #1: Brown picks up win # 15 as Yanks prevail 2-1
Game #2: Joss finally gets win #8 in grand style with the no-hitter as Yanks win 3-0
Game #3: Yanks win 3rd straight as Larry Jansen tosses the CG – Yanks 6-1
Game #4: Hollywood takes game 4 in 10 as Hubbell gives up 1 R in 10 innings but loses on an unearned run in the 10th. Plank goes 8 strong but does not get the decision.
Game #5: Brown takes his 2nd W of the series for his 16th – Yanks take game 5 3-2
Game #6: The Big Train does what he does – CG 3 hit shutout, supported by Hollywood bats waking up with 7 extra base hits – Hollywood wins 6-0.
Game #7: Adam Wainwright picks up W # 15 is his lone appearance of the series, Yanks win 5-2.
Series Summary: Motown takes the series winning 5 of 7 – no hitting heroes but Joss has to be in the pitcher of the week discussion on the back of the no-no and only 2 runs allowed in 17 IP
Wainwright Wranglers @ Fire Lake Segers
Series Preview: Wainwright (48-79) traveled to Fire Lake (61-66), both teams coming off their previous 14 games having been played against Hoboken and Clockwork.
Game #1: Doc White (12-17,4.55) vs Denny McLain (9-11,3.42)

White throws a 3-hit shutout, backed by Darren Daulton’s 6th inning 2-run HR (22nd).

WAINWRIGHT – 2, FIRE LAKE – 0

Game #2: Denny Neagle (0-4,4.57) vs Ron Guidry (8-11,3.81)

The Segers rough up Neagle for four 1st inning runs. Scott Rolen has 2 hits for the home team and Bucky Walters hit his 4th homerun. Guidry pitches 8.1 innings for his 9th win.

FIRE LAKE – 5, WAINWRIGHT – 2

Game #3: Nap Rucker (5-18,5.63) vs Eppa Rixey (5-4,3.40)

For the second consecutive game, Fire Lake scores four 1st inning runs. Eric Davis’ 3 run HR (his 6th) capped the 1st inning rally. Rixey allowed 4 runs in his 6 innings of work, and the Fire Lake bullpen pitched three scoreless innings to close it out. Bip Robert and Eugenio Suarez each had 3 hits for Wainwright, Davis and Jose Cardenal each had 2 hits for Fire Lake.

FIRE LAKE – 5, WAINWRIGHT – 4

Game #4: Lefty Grove (12-10,3.66) vs David Cone (8-12,2.59)

Grove pitches 8.2 innings, allowing just a single run and Darren Daulton’s 3 hits and 3 rbi paces the visitors to an easy win.

WAINWRIGHT – 5, FIRE LAKE 1

Game #5: Vic Willis (9-21,4.25) vs Denny McLain (9-12,3.39)

Fire Lake erases a 4-2 Wainwright lead in the 7th, as the visiting manager leaves a laboring Willis in the game to suffer his 22nd loss. Tony Gwynn has 3 hits for the visitors, Vadas Pinson has 3 hits for the home team.

FIRE LAKE – 7, WAINWRIGHT – 5

Game #6: Doc White (13-17,4.37) vs Mario Soto (6-3,2.70)

Both starters pitch 7 strong innings, with Soto besting White while allowing just 2 hits and a single run to earn his 7th win. Kirby Puckett’s rare error was the difference in this one, as Wainwright loses on an unearned run.

FIRE LAKE – 2, WAINWRIGHT – 1

Game #7: Nap Rucker (5-19,5.46) vs Eppa Rixey (6-4,3.51)

Fire Lake’s Tony Perez (9), Johnny Bench (10) and Denis Menke (3) all smashed homeruns off Rucker to send him to his 20th loss of the season. Edwin Encarnacion (12) and Mark Grace (8) homer for the visitors, but it was a little too late.

FIRE LAKE – 10, WAINWRIGHT – 3

Series Summary: Fire Lake wins 5 of 7.
Iowa Giants @ San Tan Valley Moonrakers
Series Preview: Two also rans in the NL West play for pride and practice.
Game #1: San Tan rides 2 homers and 6 RBI from Charlie “King Kong” Keller and a 2 run shot from Vern Stephens to beat Bob Feller and the Giants 10-2. Poor Bob.. a grade 22 gets mashed for 8 runs in 1 2/3 innings and drops to 10-19 on the season…What???
Game #2: Randy Johnson wasn’t sharp ( 3 Ks in 7 innings) but wins his 15th anyway, 8-3.
Game #3: San Tan’s Jimmy Williams beaks up a 1-1 tie with a grand slam and Earl Averill adds a two run homer later in the inning. Ed Walsh wins it 7-1.
Game #4: The Giants get a good start from Dizzy Dean and a homer from Josh Hamilton to beat the Solar Sox 5-1.
Game #5: Feller loses his 20th, 2-1. Averill and Oscar Charleston hit run scoring doubles. Iowa manages only 4 hits
Game #6: Monte Stratton hurls a 4 hit shutout. Averill drives in both San Tan runs. Solar Sox win 2-0.
Game #7: Randy Johnson wins his 16th, but the story was the long ball. Stephens hits 2 homers, good for 5 RBI. Hal Trotsky goes 3-4 with a homer and 4 RBI. Cesar Cedeno chips in with a long ball, too. San Tan 12-4
Series Summary: Not many Iowa highlights as San Tan takes 6 of 7.

Earl Averill went 14-28 with 4 runs, 6 RBI, and a HR.

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #25

 

National League Pitcher of the Week – Christy MATHEWSON – Clockwork (co-winner)

1-0 record, 18.0  innings pitched, 1.00 ERA, 8 hits, 17 strikeouts, & 2 walks

 

 

 

National League Pitcher of the Week – Red FABER – Hoboken (co-winner)

2-0 record, 16.0 innings pitched, 1.12 ERA, 8 hits, 10 strikeouts, & 2 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Dutch H. LEONARD  – New Westminster (co-winner)

1-0 record, 9.0 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 10 strikeouts, & 2 walks

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Chris SALE  – Middle Channel (co-winner)

1-0 record, 18.0 innings pitched, 0.50 ERA, 9 hits, 16 strikeouts, & 2 walks

 

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Bill DAHLEN  – Hoboken

9/25 .360 / .880 Slg, 1 double, 4 home runs, 8 runs scored, 11 RBIs, & 4 walks

 

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Ted WILLIAMS  – Cincinnati

11/22 .500 / 1.091 Slg, 1 double, 4 home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBIs, & 7 walks

Jack Street Hustlers @ Lewisberry Country Blumpkins
Series Preview: The battle for 1st in the AL East was played over TeamViewer
Game #1: A 3run bottom of the 8th gives the Blumpkins a 6-3 win
Game #2: Blumpkins blow out Byrd and Hustlers 9-1
Game #3: Jack Street finds their hitting shoes and wins 6-4
Game #4: Blumpkins score 3 in the bottom of the 8th again and win 4-3
Game #5: McGwire’s 2 HRs lead the Hustlers to a 5-1 win
Game #6: Ruth finally pitches like Ruth allowing only 2 hits over 8 innings as Blumpkins win 4-1
Game #7: Jack Street releases frustrations but still has to hang on to win 12-7
Series Summary: Blumpkins win 4.Hodges goes 7/19, 6R, 6RBI, 4HR
Indiana Indians @ Chicago Nine
Series Preview: Indians make short trip across the stateline to take on the Nine.
Game #1: Nine score 4 in the bottom of the 8th to win 5-3. Ramon Martinez gets the W while Broxton takes yet another L. Cunningham and Richardson with 2 hits each for the Nine.
Game #2: Freddie Lindstrom plates Mickey Mantle in the top of the 9th for a 1-0 Indians win. Steve Bedrosian goes 3 innings in his first appearance of the season for the W. Sabathia takes the L.
Game #3: Kerry Wood goes 7.1 for the W as the Indians hold on for a 3-2 win. Felix Hernandez takes the loss. Indians tally 3 runs in the 2nd inning and make it stand.
Game #4: Grover Cleveland Alexander with the CG as Indians with their 3rd in a row 6-4. Zobrist and Frederick each with 2 RBI. J.R. Richard takes the loss.
Game #5: Ken Griffey Jr. with walk-off HR in bottom of the 9th for a 3-2 Chicago victory. William Bell with the CG for the win while Drysdale hurls 8+ for the L.
Game #6: Lon Warneke with 12-hit CG for the Indians 4-1 win. Ron Reed takes the L. Ivan Rodriguez 4-4 for the Nine.
Game #7: The Nine take an early 4-0 lead and hold on for the 4-3 win. C.C. Sabathia over Andy Pettitte.
Series Summary: Indiana takes series 4-3.
Kansas City A’s @ Boston Braves
Series Preview: The Kansas City A’s and the Boston Braves both ensconced in the second tire of the AL East meet at Braves Field for a seven game set. The Braves trailed the A’s in the standings but the teams seemed evenly matched. It will be a personal treat to see a major childhood hero of mine Hank Aaron play in the same series with his partner in setting the all time tandem record for home runs by teammates Eddie Mathews of the Braves.
Game #1: Eddie Cicotte bested Billy O’Dell in a pitcher dominated game 2-1. Eddie gave up just three hits in his gem of a game. Don Buford had two hits while Billy White and Bobby Doerr split the 2 RBI’s
Game #2: The Braves flipped the script from game one with a 2-1 win. Don Newcome spread out 9 A’s hits in his complete game win. Jim Rice homered for the Braves. Walker Copper pounded out three hits for A’s.
Game #3: Juan Marichal and 5 Brave relief pitchers held the A’s to a sole run in a 6-1 win. Bill White homered and doubled for the A’s. Dustin Pedroia’s three run dinger was the key Brave hit. Johnathan Lecroy was among the Braves with two hits.
Game #4: Kansas City evened the series with a 5-2 win. The A’s Roger Maris and Odell Hale collected two RBI’s. Odell Hale socked two hits, one when over the fence. Adrian Gonzalez paced the Braves with two hits.
Game #5: The A’s won 7-4. Bobby Doerr and Odell Hale both had two A’s hits and Rocky Colavito homered in the win. Adrian Gonzalez and Tony Conigliaro homered in a losing Braves effort.
Game #6: Billy O’Dell pitched the Braves to a narrow 3-2 win in the rematch with Cicotte. Rice and David Robertson each had 2 hits for the Braves and six different A’s had a hit.
Game #7: With the series tied and Don Newcombe sporting a 2 run lead going into the 9th a call went to the bullpen for help. My hero Hammering Henry Aaron came off the bench lofting a long two run homer to send the game into extras. The A’s won 8-6 in the twelfth. Louie Aparicio had 3 hits including a double and triple and Bobby Bonds homered for the A’s. Jim Rice homered, doubled and had 4 hits, Eddie Mathews homered for the Braves.
Series Summary: What portended to be a close series sure turned out to be true as it took 12 innings in the tie breaking last game for the A’s to win the series 4 gams to 3. I had a jolly good time playing this series.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Middle Channel Sturgeon
Series Preview: Ron Moidel brings his Pirates to the Middle Channel
Game #1: 5-1 home team
Game #2: Sturgeon win it in 11 2-1
Game #3: 7-4 victory for the Middle Channel
Game #4: Las Vegas gets in the win column 4-2
Game #5: Sturgeon 7-3
Game #6: Sturgeon 7-3
Game #7: Chris Sale and the Sturgeon shut out the Pirates 9-0
Series Summary: The second half of the season continues to be kind to the Sturgeon as they win 6 of 7
Kansas City Blues @ Fort Worth Cats
Series Preview:  
Game #1: Ft. Worth explodes for 13 runs off 19 hits. Four Cat players had 3 hits led by Moises Alou, who drove in 3 runs off a single, double, and homer. Jim Kaat goes the distance for his 4th CG of the year.

Ft. Worth wins 13 to 1

Game #2: Craig Kimbrel can’t keep the game tied in the top of the 9th for the Cats. After a lead off walk is erased on a caught stealing he gives up a double to Gary Sheffield and a single to AROD. Luckily for the Cats the single was to right fielder Andy Van Slyke and his 39 arm so Sheffield was held at third, but the Blues clean up hitter came up next and executed a squeeze bunt to score the winning run while Ft. Worth was playing for the double play. Three home runs for KC while the Van Slyke drove in 4 and hit his third homerun of the season for the Cats.

KC wins 6 to 5

Game #3: Another blow out for the Cats as they score 11 runs off 14 hits. POW candidate Alou went 4 for 5 with 3 doubles and a homerun with 6 RBI to lead the way.

Ft. Worth wins 11 to 0.

Game #4: Todd Bridges …er Tommy Bridges cooled the Cats with his 5th CG of the year allowing only 6 hits and striking out 7.

KC wins 6 to 0.

Game #5: Greg Maddux wins his 20th as the Ft. Worth hitters return to form with 6 runs off 12 hits.

Ft. Worth wins 6 to 1

Game #6: Jim Kaat tires in the 9th for the Cats as Juan Gonzalez hits his 2nd homer of the game off him, but Ft. Worth holds on for the victory. Catcher Harry Danning leads the attack for the Cats with 3 hits, including two doubles.

Ft. Worth wins 7 to 4.

Game #7: Even though they’re 20 games under .500 don’t be fooled by KC’s record. They play a lot of close games (20-18 in one run games and 7-3 in extra innings) and they would add to those victory totals as Dennis Eckersley couldn’t preserve a 4-4 tie in the 12th. With two outs Frank Schulte singled and stole 2nd base then Boog Powell followed with a double.

KC wins 5 to 4.

Series Summary: Ft. Worth wins the series 4 games to 3, but things are getting tight in the AL West as news out of Cincinnati is that the Knights swept the Purgolders to pull within 3 games of the first place Cats and the New Westminster Salmonbellies were also looking to get closer as they hosted the cellar dweller Whales of Wrigleyville in week 25 LEG action.
Wrigleyville Whales @ New Westminster Salmonbellies
Series Preview: Wrigleyvale comes upstream in New Westminster to face the Salmonbellies
Game #1: Dutch Ruether for the Whales and Andy Messersmith for the Salmonbellies

In the 5th the Whales go ahead 3 – 1 but in the bottom of the 5th Salmonbellies take a 6 – 3 lead on a Roy Campanella 2 run home run. Lefty O’Doul had a 2 run home run for the Whales. Salmonbellies take home a 6 – 3 victory.

Game #2: Catfish Hunter starts for the Whales and Jeff Tesreau for the Bellies

In the second inning something I have never seen before. Jim Thome walks for the Whales. Tesreau then throws a WP. Thome on 2nd and Tesreau throws a WP. Thome on 3rd and next pitch is a run scoring PB.
Stan Musial hits a 3-run HR in the 6th to win the game. Whales win 5 – 2.

Game #3: Dave McNally for the Whales and Bob Rush for the Salmonbellies

Salmonbellies jump off to a 5 – 2 lead in the 3rd but cannot hang on as the Whales score one in the 8th and 3 in the 9th for a 6 – 5 victory. Lefty O’Doul comes through again with a HR and 4 RBI’s in the game.

Game #4: Dick “Baldy” Rudolph for Wrigleyville vs. Sam “The Goshen Schoolmaster” Leever

The Salmonbellies get off to a 4 – 0 lead in the 4th off of a solo home run from Willie Mays. The hung in until the 7th when. who else, Lefty O’Doul hits 2 run homer going 3 for 4 in the game. This is Lefty’s 3rd home run in the series giving him 7 on the season.
Bellies hang on to win the game 4 – 2.

Game #5: Sandy Koufax pitches for Wrigleyville and Dutch Leonard for the Bellies

In the first Roy Campanella hits a double and Jimmy Wynn follows with his 27th HR. Dihigo has a double and triple and Campanella hits his 12th home run in the bottom of the 8th. Bellies go on to a 9 – 0 victory with Dutch Leonard pitching a 1 hitter getting his 17th victory. Leonard struck out 10 during the game. The one hit, Lefty O’Doul.

Game #6: Dutch Ruether for the Whales and Andy Messersmith for the Salmonbellies

Bottom of the 1st and Chick Stahl starts the game off with a HR for the Bellies. They go on to score 3 runs in the first with 3 doubles to go with the HR. Bellies score 4 more in the 5 on a few doubles. Carlos Beltran comes back in this game off of injury and has a couple of doubles, scores a couple of runs and knocks in a run. Bellies go on to win 9 – 2 with Lefty O’Doul picking up 2 more hits to bring his average up to .228.

Game #7: Catfish Hunter for Wrigleyville vs Jeff Tesreau for New West

Chick Stahl led off the game for the Bellies with a home run, his 3rd in the series. The Bellies build up a 6 – 0 lead until the top of the 6th when Ritchie doubles home Lefty O’Doul who had reached on a FC.
Thome homers as well for the Whales for their only 2 runs of the game.
New Westminster wins 7 – 2

Series Summary: Chick Stahl is the star of the series hitting .444, scoring 8 runs, knocking in 6, hitting his first HR’s of the year, 3 of them, hitting a couple of 2b’s and stealing a couple of bases. Dutch Leonard pitches a 1 hitter while striking out 10. Lefty O’Doul was the main man for the Whales clubbing 3 HR’s.
Madison East Puregolders @ Cincinnati Knights
Series Preview: A showdown among A.L. West teams as third place Cincinnati welcomes the sixth place Maidson East Puregolders to Glenn Sample Field.
Game #1: CIN 12-13-1, MAD 4-8-1
Game #2: CIN 7-12-0, MAD 1-5-0
Game #3: CIN 19-20-1, MAD 0-5-2 – the Knights score seven in the sixth inning and nine in the seventh
Game #4: CIN 10-13-0, MAD 1-4-2 – the Knight score five in the fifth inning
Game #5: CIN 5-8-1, MAD 2-7-0
Game #6: CIN 6-7-0, MAD 0-8-1
Game #7: CIN 4-7-1, MAD 2-6-0
Series Summary: Cincinnati turns loose one of its best pitching performances of the year in the series. Is it impossible to have an entire starting rotation win Pitcher of the Week? The Knights starters went 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA and limited Madison East to 37 hits in 52 innings of work (10 ER and 40 strikeouts).

Ted Williams put up a strong bid for Player of the Week. In six games (he got a day off in there), he batted .500, delivering an 11-for-22 performance with a double, four home runs, seven walks, ten runs and ten RBI. His on-base percentage was .621, slugging percentage was 1.091 and he recorded a 1.712 OPS.

Purry Cowpokes @ Menomonee Minutemen
Series Preview: The Cowpokes travel to Menomonee to face an old friend.
Game #1:  
Game #2:  
Game #3:  
Game #4:  
Game #5:  
Game #6:  
Game #7:  
Series Summary: Purry takes games 1 thru 4 with ease then Altuve comes back for the Minutemen and they take the last 3. So, Purry takes the series 4-3.
Fantomz Force @ Coastline Bobcats
Series Preview: Fantomz (53-67) travels to Coastline (83-37) for a 7 game Division series.

Games played via TeamViewer

Game #1: FAN C.Weilman vs CLB D,Stieb
CLB opens the scoring in the B1 when Kemp 1bs and scores on Burks H&R rbi-2b. In the FAN T3 Lankford bbs, steals 2nd, and Stone hits a 2-run HR to take the lead. FAN adds on in the T4 when Miller bbs, Weilman with a botched sac, Choo bbs, Andrews rbi-1b, and a Lankford rbi-1b kake it 4-1 FAN.FAN isn’t done as they add another in the T5 when Stone 1bs and moves to 2nd on Wilson’s error, Santo 1bs, and Lopez brings Stone home with a groundout. In the CLB B6 Gordon 2bs, moves to 3rd on a Weilman WP, and then scores on M.WIlliams groundout.That would be all the scoring as Weilman closes out the 6th and 7th and Cishek tosses two scoreless innings for his 2nd save. FAN C.Weilman (8-15) with the win and CLB Stieb (15-6) takes the loss.FAN 5, CLB 2
Game #2: FAN S.Paige vs CLB S.Maglie
CLB again opens the scoring in the B1 with a C.Ripken solo-HR. FAN ties things up in the T3 with a Judge 1b, Wagner FC, Paige SAC, and a Choo rbi-1b. In the CLB B5 Becker 1bs, moves up on a C.Ripken groundout, and then scores on a Wilson rbi-2b.FAN comes right back in the T6 when Paige bbs, Choo 1bs, a McDougald sac, and a Wiley Sac Fly ties the game at 2-2. But it was short lived as in the CLB B6 Williams 1bs and after a groundout scores on a Becker rbi-1b. FAN, again, ties the game in the T7 when Judge 3bs with 2 out and then scores on PH Cochrane’s rbi-1b.CLB manages to put away Paige in the T7 when C.Ripken 1bs, Wilson hits into a FC, a Howard groundout, followed by a Gehrig rbi-2b put CLB up 4-3. Gordon then rips an rbi-1b and moves to 2nd on the throw, and then scores on M.Williams rbi-2b.CLB would bring on Casilla in the T8 for 2 outs followed by Sutter, who gets the last 4 outs for Save#50. CLB Albers (4-1) with the win and FAN S.Paige (13-12) with the loss.CLB 6, FAN 3
Game #3: FAN G.Perry vs CLB B.Swift
FAN opens the scoring in this game in the T2 when Lankford 1bs, Swift throws away Santo’s grounder, and Lopez rips an rbi-2b. In the CLB B4 with 2 out Howard bbs and Gehrig hits a 2-run HR. FAN retakes the lead in the T6 when with 2 outs Lankford 3bs, Marshall comes on for CLB, PH Doby draws a bb, and then PH Cochrane hits a 2-rbi 2b.In the CLB B7 Gordon bbs, and 1 out later, PH Burks hits a 2-run HR chasing Perry. FAN brings on Vazquez who proceeds to give up back-to-back 2bs to Becker and Jenkins for a 5-3 CLB lead.CLB Orosco would throw a perfect 8th followed by Sutter with a perfect 9th to nail down the ‘Cats win. CLB Marshall (7-2) with the win, Sutter with Save#51, and FAN G.Perry (11-12) with the loss.CLB 5, FAN 3
Game #4: FAN M.Harder vs CLB K.Brown
In the FAN T2 Doby 1bs, Lankford H&R 1b, and Judge with a 2-run 2b. In the CLB B4 Jenkins 1b and scores on a C.Ripken H&R rbi-2b. CLB takes the lead in the B6 when Becker bbs, Jenkins FC, C.Ripken H&R rbi-2b, followed by a WIlson 2-run HR (breaking a 22 game HR less streak).But FAN strikes back in the T7 when Judge 1bs, PH Stone bbs, and PH Eaton hits a 3-run HR off CLB Albers. CLB ties it in the B8 when Burks 2bs and scores on a C.Ripken rbi-1b.The game goes into extra innings where FAN breaks through in the T11 as Coveleski 1bs, Cochrane FC, Choo is HBP, Donaldson rbi-2b, Doby bb, and a Wagner rbi-bb followed by a Lankford 2-rbi 1b puts FAN up 9-5. CLB M.Williams hits a token solo-HR in the B11 to close out the scoring.FAN S.Coveleski (2-11) with the win and CLB M.Marshall (7-3) takes the loss.FAN 9, CLB 6
Game #5: FAN C.Weilman vs CLB C.Finley
CLB needed a big start from Finley as their bullpen was stretched pretty thin from the previous couple of games. Finley comes through tossing a 6-hit shutout as he benefited from 2 DPs by his defense. All the runs were scored by CLB in the B1 with the big hit being a J.Gordon Granslam.CLB C.Finley (16-6) with the win and FAN C.Weilman (8-16) with the loss.CLB 5, FAN 0
Game #6: FAN G.Perry vs CLB D.Stieb
CLB opens the scoring in the B2 with a M.Williams bases loaded rbi-1b, Gehrig would be nailed at the plate which would prove to be a key play in the game. FAN ties it in the T4 on a Lankford 1b and Miller rbi-2b.No more scoring until the FAN T8 when Santo 1bs, CLB Albers comes in, Lankford bbs, and with 2 out PH Cochrane comes through again with an rbi-1b, and Lankford comes around to score on Wilson’s throwing error.In the FAN T9 Donaldson hits a solo-HR, which would turn out to be needed, as CLB plates two in the B9
on a PH Burks rbi-3b and Gordon rbi-1b. But FAN Cishek retires Williams and Skowron for his 3rd save.FAN G.Perry (12-12) with the win and CLB D.Stieb (15-7) takes the loss.FAN 4, CLB 3
Game #7: FAN M.Harder vs CLB S.Maglie
The game was close trough 4 1/2 innings with CLB in front 3-2. But CLB erupts for 3 runs in the B5 and 3 more in the B6 to blow the game open. CLB ends up with 10 runs on 15 hits as M.Harder was left in to take the beating through 6 innings. Jenkins is 3-4 with 4 runs, 2 rbi, and a HR. C.Ripken is 3-5 with 2 runs and 2-rbi and a 2b, H.Wilson is 4-4 w/ 5 rbi and his 32nd HR. FAN Choo is 2-3 with 2 runs, a 2b, and Stone is 2-4 w/ 2-rbi and a 2b in a losing cause.CLB S.Maglie (8-0) earns the win and FAN M.Harder (4-8) gets the loss.CLB 10, FAN 2
Series Summary: Coastline takes a tough series 4-3 over Fantomz and ends up splitting the season series 7-7. Ripken and H.Wilson have good series for CLB. Choo, Andrews, and Lankford are solid for FAN.
Detroit DeLoreans @ Climax Cougars
Series Preview: A series that could very well determine the fate of all of mankind, the Detroit Deloreans travel north for a cross-border battle with the Climax Cougars. Prior to the game, the Climax president of marketing and media relations filed an application to revoke the charter of the Detroit franchise as the DeLorean was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland … Detroit, the Motor City … ha!
Game #1: A pummelling we will go, a pummelling we will go … hi ho the dario ….
A combined Grade 33 between them, Detroit’s Hippo Vaughn and Climax’s Van Lingle Mungo barely lasted past the exchange of lineups with each of the “aces” allowing six runs within the first three innings.
The Deloreans wasted no time with Joe Cronin leading off with a walk and then Nap Lajoie got an infield hit. Mungo breathed relief after he struck out Ripper “The Terror” Collins but then Babe Herman tripled to score both runners and Chuck Klein added some overkill by hitting yet another triple into the right field corner to put the Double Ds up 3-0 with most of the fans still in line for beer.
The Cougars fought back with a couple of runs in the bottom half of the 1st with Mel Ott doubling home Jim Fregosi and then with the bases loaded they managed a meagre run on a George Grantham sac fly to make it 3-2.
Sam Crawford evened the score with an RBI single in the 2nd and then Josh Gibson dealt the coupe de grace with a 3-run shot to make it 6-2. Adios Hippo …
Mungo was not long behind him though in departing from the game after giving up a solo shot to Klein in the 3rd and then an RBI single to Jake Beckley which made it 6-5 for Climax.
The Climax manager placed what turned out to be blind faith in Mungo by leaving him in to start the 4th and was rewarded with a bloop single by Nap Lajoie who would later come around to score with Cliff Melton on the mound on Herman’s single cuz, of course, it would be too much to ask to stop anyone from scoring.
Detroit moved into a 7-6 lead “reliever” Clay Carroll issued a walk (Klein), hit a batter (Sam Rice) and then watched as his team loaded the bases when 1st baseman Buck Leonard dropped a ground ball to load the bases. Cronin brought the go-ahead run in on a ground out that was nearly an inning-ending double play but oh well.
The Detroit pen held the Cougars in check until the bottom of the 6th inning when Eric O’Flaherty opened the inning by plunking pinch hitter Chief Meyers in the head. Meyers stole second base and then scored on Harlond Clift’s game-tying double who in turn scored when Collins threw Gibson’s grounder into left field on a badly aborted double play. The Cougars then loaded the bases and with the infield drawn in Anthony Rendon’s poor throw in the dirt at home allowed Ott and Gibson to score.
And mercifully that was it … Eric Plunk tossed a perfect 9th and Climax won 10-7.
Game #2: Joe Cronin filled up the box score and went 2/2 with a single and his 17th homer of the season in a 15-5 mulching of the Cougars’ pitching staff.
Cronin also walked four times, scored three runs and drove in four runs in the game. Nap Lajoie provided solid support with a 3/6 day which included four runs scored and two RBIs. Anthony Rendon started his streak of being a huge pain in the ass by going 3/6 and driving in three runs on his 9th homer of the season.
Detroit starter Allie Reynolds pitched poorly (5 runs on 10 hits in six innings), but hit well (two hits) and earned the win to improve to 11-7.
Not much good news for the Cougars in this game except that Jose Bautista kamikazeed into the left field wall and knocked himself out of action for 8 days.
Game #3: Jake Beckley plunk-ed the Plunkman and slammed a line drive over the left field wall in the top of the 12th with Nap Lajoie on base to play hero in a 6-4 Detroit win.
The story of the game was not so much on the field as it was in the infirmary with three players going down to significant injuries and Detroit starter Slim Sallee receiving anger management therapy (he was tossed in the 3rd after being picked off first base and becoming unglued at the call).
Yogi Berra and Ripper Collins collided chasing a pop up in the bottom of the 1st inning which knocked them out of action for five and nine days respectively. Climax starter Dick Redding blew out his shoulder in the top of the 3rd inning and will miss almost a month of action. No big deal as he was only one of our best performing starters this season.
Beckley’s homer was his 6th of the season and before leaving the game Collins managed to mash his 39th which gave Detroit the early 1-0 lead.
Mell Ott (19) and Josh Gibson (9) homered in response for Climax. Sam Crawford was 3 for 6 for Climax.
JC Romero (6-4) pitched two shutout innings to get the win for Detroit.
Game #4: The Deloreans were within one out of finishing off Climax for a 4-2 win but a Jim Brewer mound meltdown resulted in the Cougars scoring three runs with two out to come from behind for a 5-4 win.
Brewer (1-3) came into game in place of JC Romero with two out and newly acquired Ben Chapman on 1st base. Brewer walked pinch hitter Buck Leonard and then the next hitter, Jim Fregosi, laced a ball into the gap that scored both runners to tie the game 4-4. George Grantham was up next and hit a shot into left centre that landed between Roy White and Bob Fothergill which allowed Fregosi to scamper home with the winning run.
Fothergill had three hits in the game including a triple while Joe Cronin (18) and Anthony Rendon (10) proved the power.
For Climax, Fregosi was 2/3 with two runs, two RBIs and two walks.
Game #5: A rematch of the series opener saw both starters pitch much better, but Hippo Vaughn’s wildness proved to be his Achillles heel as the Cougars came away with it 4-1.
Vaughn went the distance for Detroit and gave up just four hits but walked seven to go with seven strikeouts.
Ben Chapman drove in a pair of runs and walked twice to lead the Climax attack while Babe Herman was a cool 3/3 for Detroit.
Game #6: The Climax Cougars pounced on Allie Reynolds for six runs in the first two innings en route to a 8-3 win over Detroit.
Johnny Mize, Sam Crawford and Chief Meyers each had two hits for the Cougars with Crawford doing the bulk of the damage with three RBIs.
Chuck Klein (20) homered for the Deloreans.
Sid Fernandez (6-6) was mediocre and allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings but was good enough to win.
Game #7: Jarrod Washburn’s first start of the season was a good one and he allowed just one run on three hits in six innings, but the home team seemed more interested in marvelling at Slim Sallee’s pitching than hitting it and were blanked 2-0 as a result.
Joe Cronin (19) had a two-hit day and crushed an Eric Plunk pitch in the 9th to provide an insurance run with Anthony Rendon driving in the only other run in the 4th inning.
Sallee and company limited the Cougars to just two hits and Jim Aker nailed down his 14th save.
Series Summary: The secret of my success appears to be if you can’t beat them, beat them up or at least injure them as key injuries to Yogi Berra and Ripper Collins took just enough offensive wind out of the Detroit sails to enable Climax to take the series 4-3. The near split was not enough to make much of a difference in the standings but was probably annoying to the Deloreans as it hampered their pursuit of Coastline for the division lead.
West Michigan Retrogrades @ Pigtown Bombers
Series Preview: West Michigan vs Pigtown. Sorry, no time for detailed writeups…
Game #1: West Michigan wins 2-1. Foster goes 8 innings, gives up 4 hits and a run for the win.
Game #2: Pigtown wins 6-1. McGinnity gets a CG, giving up 6 hits and 1 run. Greenberg hits two HRs. Schmidt injured (again) for 8 games.
Game #3: Pigtown wins 7-3. Sisler goes 5-5 in a losing effort. Greenberg hits another HR. Flick has 4 RBIs.
Game #4: West Michigan wins 4-3. Beltre goes 3-4.
Game #5: Pigtown wins 3-2, scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off. Foster and Halladay both go 8 innings and only give up 1 run.
Game #6: West Michigan wins 11-3. Sisler and Cano both have 3 hits as West Michigan cruises. Robinson and Flick both hurt for 7 games.
Game #7: Rubber match taken by Pigtown 4-3. Velarde goes 3-3 in a rare start in replacement of Jackie Robinson.
Series Summary: Pigtown surprisingly wins the series 4-3
Nags Head Surf Sox @ Virginia Cavaliers
Series Preview: Nags Head (54-66) surfs into Virginia (59-61) for a match-up of NL East 5th and 6th place teams. Nags Head, with a slight edge in hitting, hopes it can overcome Virginia’s solid pitching.
Game #1: VIR 12-2 W-B.Turley (9-9) L-C.Hamels (7-8)

Virginia’s pitching asserts itself quickly. Turley goes 8 allowing but 2 hits. His 6 walks account for the only two NAG runs, both coming off SF’s. VIR pounds out 9 hits in the first 3 innings and that’s good enough for 5 runs and a 5-1 lead. The Surf Sox pen didn’t fare any better, as they gave up 11 hits and 7 runs over the next 5 innings. H.Heilmann blasted 2 homers in a 2-5, 3 RBI performance and F.Robinson added another homer with 2 hits and 3 RBI. K.McReynolds was 4-5.

Game #2: VIR 4-3 W-G.Jachson (4-3) L-N.Charlton (3-2)

VIR starter E.Reulbach did his part. Over 7 innings he held the Sox to 2 hits and 1 run. The VIR bats secured a run in the 1st on a RBI single by F.Robinson. And even though NAG tied it in the 6th on a couple of walks, a GO and a SF, VIR led 2-1 after 7 on a RBI double from P.Whitney. But, rather than ask K.Foulke for a 2 inning save, VIR trotted out R,Betancourt for the 8th. “G. STANTON ’12 facing R. BETANCOURT ’09, T 8th, 2 Outs, Bases Empty, Behind 1-2 …BETANCOURT ’09 brings it … and STANTON ’12 takes BETANCOURT ’09 for a ride…going back is MCREYNOLDS ’89 … he’ll look … but he won’t touch it … it’s long gone!…SURF SOX 2, CAVALIERS 2.” For the next 3 innings both teams’ bullpens put up zeros. In the top of the 12th H.Johnson punches a 1-out single to CF, steals 2nd and goes to 3rd on a GO. D.Jeter then slips one into LF scoring Johnson and putting NAG up 3-2. In the bottom half of the 12th, K.McReynolds bounces a single into left-center and steals 2nd. “A. JONES ’03 facing N. CHARLTON ’96, B 12th, 1 Out, Runner on 2nd, Behind 2-3 . … the two-strike pitch … JONES ’03 drives it…deep to left … I think it can … I think it can! … it can! … home run for JONES ’03
it’s all over! … Andruw trots around the bases … he loves a trip downtown…SURF SOX 3, CAVALIERS 4.”

Game #3: NAG 2-1 W-J.Palmer (5-6) L-P.Roe (3-5) SV-D.Guisti (1)

A pitchers game all the way. J.Palmer scattered 5 hits over 7 innings, giving up a first inning F.Robinson solo shot for VIR’s only run of the game. D,Guisti pitched like a grade 23 reliever facing 7 batters in 2 innings of 1-hit ball for his first save of the year. Did I say it was a pitchers’ game all the way? Yeah, well, J.Foxx did contribute a solo shot in the first to put NAG up 1-0 and you saw that Robinson hit one out for VIR to tie it in the bottom of the 1st. So it all comes to pitching. “J. PALMER ’79 facing P. ROE ’52, T 2nd, 1 Out, 1st and 3rd, Tied 1-1 …Infield drawn in a few feet … KINGMAN ’72 with a good lead off third … here he comes…PALMER ’79 clubs a high drive to right … it could be … but isn’t…ROBINSON ’69 short of the track … and he takes it in … KINGMAN ’72’s tagging…they’re waving KINGMAN ’72 in … here comes the throw…and he’s … safe easily … PALMER ’79 picks up a sac fly and an RBI.” SO it all comes down to pitching,…to win it on the mound and drive in the winning run at the plate.

Game #4: VIR 3-2 W-L.Gomez (14-8) L-J.Andujar (4-18) SV-K.Foulke (34)

Back-to-back doubles by G.Carter and J.Samuel helped NAG take a 2-0 lead after 2 innings. These would be the only 2 runs L.Gomez would surrender. In another tight 1-run game, VIR would get to J.Andujar in the 5th. A.Jones led off with a single and went to 2nd on a WP. A.Pujols singled and L.Parrish walked to load the bases. L.Gomez lined one to LF for a RBI single. T.Taylor grounded out to score Pujols and A.Trammell produced the winning run on a liner to CF. Gomez would finesse his way through 8 and hand it off to Foulke for the save as VIR took a 3-1 series lead.

Game #5: NAG 9-3 W-N.Ryan (4-10) L-J.Guzman (5-9)

This one was over as soon as it started. The NAG’s came out gunning for a win and they got it. A lead of single by V.Hayes followed by a D.Jeter double put runners at 1st and 3rd for Mr. James Foxx, “CAVALIERS playing for the out at first … the runners take their lead … the pitch…FOXX ’34 clobbers it … a moon shot to left … this one might poke a hole in the ozone layer…outta here! … a three-run blast.” and just that quick, NAG was up 3-0 and VIR was in trouble. One out later D. Kingman strode to the plate, “GUZMAN ’99 comes to the plate … uh-oh! … way back … HEILMANN ’18 looks up…put it on the board.” D.Winfield then ropes a double to the wall and J.Samuel chases him home with a single to CF. While Guzman was trying to figure out what was happening, NAG was enjoying a 5-0 lead before VIR even came to the plate. Even though that was more than NAG would need to win, they tacked on 4 more including solo bombs by G.Stanton and D.Winfield. Ryan left the game in the 7th and the NAG pe faced 10 batters over the last 3 innings to seal the victory and close the series gap to 3-2.

Game #6: NAG 10-5 W-C.Hamels (8-8) L-B.Turley (9-10)

Turley could not duplicate his game 1 effort against the still hot Surf Sox bats. After scoring single runs in the first and second on a SF and back-to-back doubles by A.Dawson and H.Johnson, the SOX exploded for 5 runs in the 3rd.. J.Foxx started off the 5th with a big fly to left. G.Carter’s single drove in Stanton and J.Samuel got hold of a fastball, “The pitch to SAMUEL ’95 … SAMUEL ’95 puts a charge into this one … a big fly to deep left…ROBINSON ’69 will run out of room … that’s a Baltimore special … a three-run homer…SURF SOX 7, CAVALIERS 0.” Turley scratched his head and looked at the scoreboard. NAG would continue with 3 more runs and even though VIR would eventually get on the board, it would not be near enough. The powerful Surf Sox bats were not to be denied as they tied the series at 3 all.

Game #7: VIR 6-1 W-E.Reulbach (8-9) L-M.Mussina (12-8)

Somebody had to win the game and therefore the series. Fortunately for VIR, their pitching showed up at the right time and the bats came alive to provide the runs necessary to win. E.Reulbach threw 8 strong innings of 4 hit ball and a trio of relievers finished off the win. Six different hitters drove in runs for VIR with P.Whitney providing the long ball and R.Kiner a 3-3 performance.

Series Summary: Virginia somehow took the series 4-3. Pitching may have been the reason, but luck was a big factor.
For NAG – D.Winfield 8-21 a homer and 2 RBI, J.Foxx 6-27 a homer and 4 RBI, G.Stanton 5-19 2 homers 2 RBI.
For VIR P.Whitney 7-28 2 HR 4RBI, T.Taylor and G.Templeton 8 hits each.
Fire Lake Segers @ Clockwork Heros
Series Preview: First place Clockwork has built a huge unexpected lead – and will now host Fire lake for seven games,
Game #1: Kluber and Rixey both go 6 innings. But it’s Fire Lake’s Perez that hits a 2 run homer off Valverde who blows the save and gets the loss in the 8th inning. FireLake 4 Clockwork 3 w-Lavalle 6-4 s-Stewart 5 L-Valverde1-4
Game #2: Blyleven wins his 20th as Terry hits a 3 run homer and Melton a 2 run shot. Clockwork 5 Fire lake 2 W-Blyleven (20-5)S-Tekulve (32) L-Cone(8-11)
Game #3: Matheson was his solid 2 in 9 but so was who was also 2 in 9. In the 1oth Gromek gave up 2 runs but in the 10th Foster hits a 2 run homer and Terry a solo for the 5-4 Clockwork win, W-Gromek 7-0L-Stewart(3-4)
Game #4: Foster homer and4 rbis Uhle 4 hitter. 7-0 Clockwork. W-Uhle(14-7) L-McLain(9-11)
Game #5: Foster and Watson homer Kluber throws a 8 hitter. Clockwork7-0 w-kluber(4-0)Morris (5-5)
Game #6: Bad game for Clockwork pen Tekulve allows 2in the 9th for the blown save. and Valverde allows 5! in the 13th for the loss. Valverde loses both games for Clockwork and his 7.38era is amazing for a 21*. Pinson a triple and 4 rbis for Fire Lake. Fire Lake 9 Clockwork 4 (13) w-stewart(4-4)L-Valverde(1-5)
Game #7: Injuries hit Clockwork as Terry and Vaughn get hurt again this year luckyits 5 and 7 days,. But Matheson wins his 22 as he allows 4 hits and one unearned run in the 7-1win. Bradley and Lopes homer in the win.
Series Summary: Clockwork wins 5 of the 7.
Pitcher of the week christy matheson (1-0) 18 innings 1.00 era 18 strikeouts and just 8 hits and 2 walks,
Player of the week Foster 9 for 26 10 rbis
Hoboken Zephyrs @ Wainwright Wranglers
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Motown Yankees @ Iowa Giants
Series Preview: Yankees come into Iowa in third place West Coast Divsion of National League and Iowa at the bottom.
Game #1: MTY 1-2-0 WP Wainwright 14-6
IOW 0-5- LP Feller 9-18
Adam Wainwright shutout 5 hitter, Feller gives up only two hits and 1 run in loss
Game #2: MTY 4-9-0 WP Hubbell 11-9
IOW 1-4-1 LP Lemon 3-7
Carl Hubbell complete game 4 hitter 1 er 9 k no walks
Game #3: MTY 0-2-0 LP Jansen 4-5
IOW 1-8-0 WP Dean 6-9
Dizzy Dean throws 2 shit shutout with 9 k’s
Game #4: MTY 7-13-0 WP Joss 7-12
IOW 0-3-2 LP Oswalt 0-2
Joss 3 hit shutout complete game
Game #5: MTY 0-3-0 LP Brown 14-11
IOW 2-3-0 WP Feller 10-18Bob Feller three hit shutout
Game #6: MTY 2-8-0 WP Uehara 7-5 SV Ames 3
IOW 1-3-0 LP Dean 6-10
Adam Wainwright started went 6 inning only gave up one hit a Harper homer
Game #7: MTY 13-15-0 WP Hubbell 12-9
IOW 3-7-0 LP Lemon 3-8
Series Summary: A great series 5 games were really close and little runs scored Bob Feller had is best series 18 innings 4 5 hits one run. Yankees moved to 67-60 and Giants keep moving the other way 45-82
San Tan Valley Moonrakers @ Hollywood Zombies
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Series Summary: San Tan takes 4 of 7

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #24

National League Pitchers of the Week –  Cy MORGAN – Detroit

2-0 record, 17.0 innings pitched, 0.53 ERA, 6 hits, 13 strikeouts, & 7 walks

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Sonny SIEBERT – Jack Street

1-0 record, 17.1 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA 9 hits, 12 strikeouts, & 4 walks

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Adrian BELTRE – West Michigan

.423 avg / 0.769 slg, 11 for 26, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 4 runs, 7 RBIs, & 3 walks

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Jayson WERTH – Chicago

.517 avg / 0.966 slg, 15 for 29, 7 doubles, 2 homers, 10 runs, 5 RBIs, 3 walks, & 1 stolen base

 

 

Feature – There’s the Best and then there’s the Rest

Who Was Best,…Ruth, Hornsby, Cobb?

Ruth, Hornsby, and Cobb. LEG Inaugural Draft picks 1.2.3. Who was the best player of the era between those three? Well. Personally, I think they were all great in different ways. I’m a Yankee fan so I normally gravitate to Ruth. Brian Devine has a personal affection for Hornsby. Supposedly nobody likes Cobb. But what about the people who should know which player was best by playing with them or against them,…the players from that era? According to Jim Thielman, baseball author, sports writer and SABR dues payer, who covered baseball for 16 years, the players definitely had an opinion.

“In ‘46, a decade after Hornsby retired, a poll of players and managers overwhelmingly voted Cobb the greatest player in baseball history. And remember, Cobb played about 10 more years in the dead ball era, about which it was said hitting a baseball during that span was like kicking a coconut.” That poll showed Wagner second, far, far behind Cobb. Ruth was a distant third. And Hornsby? Oh, he was fourth,…garnering TWO votes from players and managers. In fact, “Hornsby was not named to any position as the greatest, losing to Pie Traynor and Jimmy Collins at third and by Eddie Collins and Nap Lajoie at second.”

Poor Babe. Yes he was good. In fact he was great. But only third in the eyes of his peers. Yes, he literally changed baseball and in 1920 when he went to the Yankees, the era he began launching long balls forever became know as the live ball era. But, Cobb, a product of the dead ball era “continued to hit singles, doubles, and triples in his ruthless style of old school, smarts baseball. Bunting, stealing, and yes, sometimes homering Cobb would use a variety of tactics to win.” At the age of 35, in 1922, Cobb put together his last .400 season with a .401 batting average. And to this date, no one has a higher lifetime batting average.

So who was the best? Who knows? Depends on your opinion. That’s one of the reasons I like baseball,…you can always make an argument for something. Maybe that’s why they created umpires.

“I never could stand losing. Second place didn’t interest me. I had a fire in my belly.” – Tyrus Cobb

“I don’t like to sound egotistical, but every time I stepped up to the plate with a bat in my hands, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the pitcher.” – Rogers Hornsby

“If I’d tried for them dinky singles I could’ve batted around six hundred.” – Babe Rurh

Paul – Virginia 

Feature – A Tale of 32 Cities

“We’ll miss you,” bellowed the collective teams of the AL West to the AL East when the cross division games ended in Week 23. And indeed they will.

No team in the league benefitted more from playing the “other” division than did the Fort Worth Pussycats. The Cats treated the teams of the AL East much the same way that Godzilla treated small Japanese villages and registered a 50-14 record!!! Oy vey!

The New Westminster Salmonbellies will miss the Eastern teams almost as much. They used them as a springboard to leap frog over the Cincinnati Knights (pronounced as K-Niggits in the ol’ Monty Python way) with the Fishbellies going an obscene 46-18 while the sadsack Cincy squad could only manage a 41-23 record … oh for shame!

In fact, all of the AL West teams save for Menomonee (28-36) did at least as well or better against the AL East teams than they did against their divisional rivals. The freaky Minutemen were actually a good 31-25 within their own division. Go figure.

“Our division just isn’t all that good,” said team owner Joe Schall who asked not to be identified earlier this season when explaining his team’s early success and then their mini-collapse when they started playing the AL West teams.

Across the board, the AL East teams fared poorly against the West except of course for the Chicago Nine. Relying heavily in the past few months on micromanagers and visiting team owners to manage his teams for him, Stray discovered the secret to success is to leave his team alone. And success they had indeed as the only AL East team to have a winning record against the West at 37-27. In comparison, division-leading Jack Street was a woeful 25-39 while the Blumpkins blundered their way to a near .500 record at 31-33.

The story in the National League is a far less exciting one when it came to inter-divisional play.

Coastline and Clockwork continued to kick the snot out of everyone they played against so at least they cannot be accused of discriminating. Coastline was 46-18 against the West while Clockwork was 46-18 against the East. Pretty close as Yogi would say.

The Brothers of Collusion, Kevin and the other Weber, also made out like bandits against their brethren from the West with Detroit going 43-21 and West Michigan putting up a 45-19 smackdown.

The Fire Lake Segers and Virginia Cavaliers were the most volatile teams in the NL so far this season. The Segers enjoyed lots of success against the East going 37-27, but against their own Western teams not so much … 22-34. With the remainder of their games against teams in their own division, the Segers will need more than Night Moves to hang onto a playoff position. Meanwhile, Paul Roe’s Cavs unfortunately lacked their owner’s eloquence when it came to playing baseball on the other side of the continent. The Cavs are a sublime 35-21 against the East so far this season but were 24-40 contre le Ouest as they say in New Orleans. The Jekyll/Hyde play does not end there for the Cavaliers as they are 35-25 on the road but only 24-36 at home. As Love & Rockets sang, that’s one “Ball of Confusion.” Only two games back of Climax for 4th in the division though, a return to games within the East is probably a welcome thing.

… and on the 8th day God sayeth “Let there be Ball.”

Nik

Lewisberry Country Blumpkins @ Middle Channel Sturgeon
Series Preview: Top dog Lewisberry visits The Middle Channel
Game #1: The Sturgeon squeeze one out 3-1
Game #2: Another win for the home team 5-2
Game #3: Lewisberry wins it in the 10th 10-8
Game #4: The CB’s score 2 in the 9th to win it 6-4
Game #5: Sturgeon hold on 6-4
Game #6: Another 6-4 win for the Sturgeon
Game #7: A grand slam in the 10th wins it for the Blumpkins
Series Summary: Hopefully, the second half of the season will go better for the Sturgeon. They hung with the top dog Lewisberry squad winning the series 4-3
Chicago Nine @ Boston Braves
Series Preview: The second-place Chicago Nine closing in on the first place Lewisberry Country Blumpkins visited their cousins the Boston Braves who dropped 4 of 5 games to the Nine in their first meeting for a potential repeat 7 game feast.
Game #1: Felix Hernandez picked up his 13th win as the Nine won 7-3. Jayson Werth homered, had 4 hits and 2 RBI’s pacing the Nine offense. The Braves outhit the Nine 9 hits to 8 but King Felix was able to limit the Braves to 3 runs.
Game #2: J.R. Richard tossed a 2 hit. 9 strikeout, shut out gem in a 6-0 Nine win. Bobby Richardson and Mike Trout smacked 2 hits each for the Nine.
Game #3: Don Newcomb dropped his ERA to 2.33 for the Braves in 3-0 win. The Braves keystone combo Dustin Pedroia and Nomar Garciaparra each had 2 hits for the Braves.
Game #4: Chicago recovered in game four with a 5-3 win. Jayson Werth continued to swing his hot bat with 3 hits for the Nine offense aided by 2 hits each from Bobby Richardson, Jose Martinez, and Hank Thompson. Adrian Gonzalez had 3 hits for the Braves.
Game #5: Boston won an 11-8 26 hit slugfest. Hank Thompson of the Nine with a 5 for 5, 3 RBI game was the days best hitter. Jim Rice homered and knocked in 4 runs and Dom DiMaggio collected 3 hits for the Braves.
Game #6: The Nine won a 7-6 11 inning nail bitter in game six. Joe Cunningham and Bobby Richardson each tripled and singled for the Nine. Dave Robertson had 3 hits and 2 RBI’s for the Braves.
Game #7: In the final game, the Braves won 7-4. Bobby Richardson had another 2 hit game while knocking in half the Nines runs. Jim Rice powered the Brave offense plating 3 runs with a double and homer.
Series Summary: The Braves played the Nine tougher than in their first series but still came out of the encounters losing four of the seven games.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: Back to division battles. Las Vegas, currently in 6th place, and their recent Pitcher of the Week award winner Dean Chance invade 3rd place Jack Street for an epic TeamViewer battle.
Game #1: Jake Arrieta 2-3 takes the mound for Vegas against Tom Glavine 12-4.

Las Vegas draws first blood in the first when Prince Fielder singled in Vince DiMaggio who had doubled with one out. That was the highlight for the Pirates as the Hustlers, powered by their 7 walks and 6 home runs cruised from there for a 11-1 victory.

L 1/4/0
J 11/15/0

WP – Glavine 13-4
LP – Arrieta 2-4
Sv – None
HR – J – Medwick (23), McGwire (32), Justice 2 (9), Palmeiro (14), Hisle (10)

Game #2: Howie Camnitz 9-8 vs. Sonny Siebert 4-10

Doesn’t necessarily look like it would shape up as a pitcher’s duel from the records, but it certainly did. Howie goes 8 2/3 IP giving up 4 hits, 9! walks and striking out 4 and giving up no runs. Sonny goes 8 1/3 giving up 7 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and striking out 6. So, both pitchers go into the 9th. Siebert leaves with one out in the 9th after a single by Stargell. Brad Hand comes in and gets 2 ground outs to end the inning. In the bottom half, Edgar Martinez picked up a leadoff walk (Camnitz’ 9th), Hornsby grounded out moving Martinez to 2nd. Ducky Medwick grounded out to Camnitz moving EMart to 3rd. So, after facing 39 batters, Camnitz gave way to Mariano Rivera who got Big Mac to ground to short to end the inning and send us to bonus baseball. Dave Veres replaced Hand for the 10th. Beckert and Groat fly out and Hoak strikes out to end the inning. In the bottom half, Mark Guthrie was brought in to replace Rivera. It wasn’t his day. Bob Muesel led off with a single, Dave Justice followed with an infield single and Raffy Palmeiro sent the home fans home happy with a 3 run walkoff homer.

L 0/7/0
J 3/7/0

WP – Veres 4-1
LP – Guthrie 1-1
Sv – None
HR – J – Palmeiro (15)

Game #3: Game 3 featured a matchup of Mike Cuellar (8-6) against Bill Byrd (9-5)

Still feeling the sting of the extra inning loss from the day before, the Pirates wasted no time in taking control of this one. With two outs in teh 1st, Vince DiMaggio sent a Byrd fastball over the boards for a 2 out homer for his first homer of the season. In the second, Vegas plated 4 highlighted by back to back jacks by Don Hoak and Willie Davis, which were the first homers of the season for both of them. Las Vegas cruised from there taking the game 9-4.

L 9/14/0
J 4/8/2

WP – Cuellar 9-6
LP – Byrd 9-6
Sv – None
HR – L – V DiMaggio (1), Hoak (1), Davis (1) J – McGwire (33), Kent (10)

Game #4: Reigning pitcher of the week Dean Chance (4-13) against Carl Lundgren (6-2)

One of the oddest games I think I have ever been involved with. 2nd inning . . . Pirates catcher Edwards gets beaned and is injured for 11 day. Later in the same innings, Raffy Palmeiro falls into the dugout and is injured for the Hustlers for 5 days. So, scoring after each inning: Jack Street 2-0 after 1. Vegas 4-2 after 2. Vegas 4-3. Jack Street 7-4. Jack Street 7-6. Tied 7-7 after 6. Vegas scores 1 in the top of the 7th and Jack Street scores 3 in their half. 10-8 after 7. Unbelievably, no scoring in the 8th, so it’s 10-8 going to the 9th.

In the 9th, Jeff Brantley was trying to close it out for a Hustler victory and Mike Scioscia was brought in to catch and English to play shortstop to shore up the defense. Willie Stargell is the first hitter and he leads off with a double to the gap. Prince Fielder flies out to right for the first out. Smith is the next hitter and he drives one to the left-centerfield gap. Medwick and Hisle collide and right fielder Bob Meusel runs over and gets the ball to hold Smith to a double. Uh-oh, both Medwick and Hisle are still down. Both are injured, Medwick for a day and Hisle for 11. Let’s send in the subs. Hey, Kaline, you go into center and ???, hey no one else on the bench. Hey Hoerner, you suck as a pitcher this year, you and your 20 rated arm go to left. So, runner on 2nd, 1 out, 10-9 and a pitcher in left field. Dave Cash is sent in to pinch hit. Ground ball to 2nd and Hornsby GOES TO 3RD WITH IT!! Manager yelling. . . “what the hell. . . oh nice play” as Smith is tagged out at 3rd for the 2nd out. Dick Groat strides to the plate to be the hero and sends a fly to, get this, deep left field. Joe Hoerner makes the play to end the game.

L 9/12/1
J 10/12/1

WP – Jones 4-4
LP – Fuentes 1-1
Sv – Brantley 21
HR – Medwick (24)

Medwick had 7 rbi in the game.

Game #5: After a wild game 4, Buhl (8-5) takes the mound for the Pirates against Dan Haren (4-13) for the Hustlers.

Hustlers score 4 in the 4th and pretty much had it from there. Davis and Prince Fielder each pick up 2 hits for the Pirates, while EMart, Simmons and Kent all pick up 3 for the Hustlers.

L 3/8/0
J 8/15/0

WP – Haren 5-13
LP – Buhl 8-6
Sv – None
HR – L – Stargell (15) J – Kent (11)

Game #6: Arrieta (2-4) vs. Glavine (13-4)

A rematch of game 1, but a much different game. Jack Street opens the scoring in the 3rd when Scioscia leads off the inning and reaches first on an error by Biggio and is driven in on a 2 out double by Rogers Hornsby. It stayed that way until the 7th when Clemente drew a 1 out walk, moves to 2nd on a single by C Fielder and third on a single by Groat. Dave Cash drove him in with a sac fly to tie the game at 1 going to the bottom half of the 7th. The tie doesn’t last long as David Justice sends the first pitch of the bottom half into the bleachers for a 2-1 lead. Glavine and Brantley shut the Pirates down the rest of the way for the 2-1 victory. Great pitching outings. Arrieta went 7 giving up 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 1 walk and strikes out 8. Glavine goes 7 2/3 giving up 4 hits, a run, walks 1 and strikes out 3.

L 1/4/1
J 2/5/0

WP – Glavine 14-4
LP – Arrieta 2-5
Sv – Brantley 22
HR – J – Justice (10)

Game #7: Camnitz (9-8) matches up with Siebert (4-10) in a rematch of game 2.

It was a pitcher’s duel in game 2 and it was another in game 7. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, Jack Street pushed across 3 thanks to infield hits, hit by pitches and walks. That was all that Siebert needed, as he throws a 2 hit shutout (in an oddity, both hits were triples) giving up 2 walks and striking out 6. Camnitz deserved a better fate, as he only gave up 5 hits in 7 2/3 innings.

L 0/2/0
J 4/5/2

WP – Siebert 5-10
LP – Camnitz 9-9
Sv – None
HR – J – Medwick (25)

Series Summary: Jack Street take 6 of 7, but most of the games could have easily gone either way.

Recommendations for weekly honors:
Player of the week –
Ducky Medwick – 6 games 9-26 5 runs, 11 rbi, 3 doubles, 3 homers slash 346/370/808
Mark McGwire – 7 g 6-20, 6 R, 7 rbi, 2 double, 2 homers, 12 walks slash 300/563/700
Pitcher of the week –
Sonny Siebert 2 GS 1-0 17 1/3 IP, 9 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 12 K
Tom Glavine 2 GS 2-0 14 2/2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 9 K

Kansas City A’s @ Indiana Indians
Series Preview: KC A’s visiting Indiana.
Game #1: KC 2-8-0, IND 1-9-0

Ferguson Jenkins with 10 K to lead KC. Joe Carter 3-4 for the Indians.

Game #2: KC 4-10-0 , IND 3-8-3

Joe Horlen over John Donaldson.

Game #3: KC 3-8-2 , IND 2-9-0

Mort Cooper over Don Drysdale.

Game #4: KC 5-11-0 , IND 0-3-0

Cicotte with a 3-hit complete game. David Price with the loss.

Game #5: KC 4-9-0, IND 3-9-0

A’s come back from 3-1 deficit with single tallies in the 7th, 8th and 9th for their 5th win in a row in this series and 7th overall. Niekro over Broxton.

Game #6: KC 0-2-1 , IND 6-11-0

Jenkins strikes out 10 again but also allows 6 runs on 10 hits. Grover Alexander with CG 2-hit shutout.

Game #7: KC 4-11-1 , IND 5-11-2

Tim Wallach with walkoff HR in last of 10th.

Series Summary: KC 5-2
Fort Worth Cats @ Cincinnati Knights
Series Preview: The much anticipated showdown between the A.L. West leading Fort Worth Cats (81-32) and second-place Cincinnati Knights (72-41), heats up at Glenn Sample Park. Trailing the division leaders by nine games, the Knights need wins to stay ahead of the pack in the playoff race.
Game #1: FWC 3-8-0, CIN 0-3-0

Justin Verlander allowed just one hit in seven dominating innings, as Hunter Pence delivered three hits.

Game #2: CIN 8-10-0, FWC 3-6-0

Reggie Smith delivered three doubles, as the Knights erupted for seven extra base hits in the win.

Game #3: CIN 4-8-0, FWC 3-9-0

Reggie Smith delivers a three-run walk-off homer for Cincinnati.

Game #4: CIN 7-9-0, FWC 3-10-3

Ted Williams socked a pair of triples and the Knights took advantage of three Cats errors to score five unearned runs in this one.

Game #5: CIN 6-10-0, FWC 1-8-0

Clayton Kershaw scattered seven hits over seven innings and held Fort Worth to a single run. The bottom third of the Knights lineup went four-for-eight with a triple, a homer and two RBI to pace the attack.

Game #6: CIN 3-7-0, FWC 0-7-0

Ted Williams and Jason Giambi each homered and Dazzy Vance fanned ten, as Cincinnati beat Verlander for the first time this season.

Game #7: FWC 9-14-0, CIN 3-8-0

The Cats sent the final message of the series with the win. Ken Singleton (three hits) was one of four Fort Worth players to deliver multiple hits and Greg Maddux held things in check for seven innings for the victory.

Series Summary: Cincinnati takes five of the seven games to create some breathing room over the pack of playoff-hunting teams. Despite the wins, the Knights are still six games back of the Cats for the Al. West lead and there are just 42 division games remaining in the season.
Menomonee Minutemen @ New Westminster Salmonbellies
Series Preview: Menomonee Minutemen come to New Westminster to face the highest-scoring team in all of LEG baseball. Should be fun facing superstar Socks Seybold for the Minutemen,
Game #1: Minutemen start Tom Gordon against Bob Rush for the Salmonbellies

Benito Santiago hits his first homer of the year, a 3 run smash to take the Minutemen to a 5 – 2 victory. Santiago goes 4 for 4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI. Gordon picks up the victory and Abernathy picks up his 5th loss in relief.

Game #2: Tim Hudson starts for Menonomee and Dutch Leonard for New Westminster.

Things are quiet to the top of the 7th when Socks Seybold knocks in two runs with his 47th double and then scores on an RBI single by Buster Posey. New West gets a run back in the bottom of the 7th on an RBI triple by Chick Stahl. Minutemen take a 3 – 1 lead into the ninth. Ron Hunt picks up a single off of reliever Kenley Jansen and scores on an RBI double by Chick Stahl. Billy Werber runs for Stahl and Beltran walks. They both steal bases and Concepcion strikes out. Comes down to Fred Clarke with one out and two men on and he comes through with a two run single for an exciting 4 – 3 win for the Bellies fans. Socks Seybold ends up with 3 doubles in the game.

Game #3: Marv Grisson gets the start for the Minutemen and Dwight Gooden for the Salmonbellies

Bellies get on the board first in the third on an RBI single by Dihigo. Top of the 4th and Ike Boone comes through with a 2 run home run making the score 2 – 1 for the Minutemen. Bottom of the 4th and the Bellies tie up the game. Beltran scores after doubling. Bellies go ahead in the 6th and Menomonee ties the game in the 9th on a walk to Judnich, a sac and a throwing error by Concepcion.
In the bottom of the 10th the Bellies win the game on a single by Fred Clarke, a groundout moving Clarke to 2nd and he steals 3rd and scores on a Campanella single for the 4 – 3 Bellies victory.

Game #4: Tommy John for the Minutemen and Jeff Tesreau for the Salmonbellies.

Top of the 2nd and Buster Posey scores the first run of the game on an Anthony Rizzo RBI. That is the only run and Bellies go on to score 9 runs on 12 hits. All 9 starters were on base and 7 of them scored runs in a 9 – 1 victory.

Game #5: Jim Scott goes for the Minutemen and Sam Leever for the Bellies

The Bellies go up 5 – 0 in the first to virtually put the game out of reach. The final is 12 – 1. Jimmy Wynn goes 3 for 4 with a couple of HR’s and 6 RBI. Martin Dihigo ends up going 4 for 5 with 2 runs, HR, and 4 RBI bringing his average up to .353.

Game #6: Tom Gordon pitches for Menomonee and Bob Rush makes his 2nd start of the season for New West.

The Bellies get off to a 4 run lead in the 3rd on a 3 run home run by Jack Clark. New Westminster scores 4 more times to go on to an 8 – 1 victory.

Game #7: Tim Hudson for the Minutemen and Dutch Leonard for the Bellies

In the top of the 1st Chuck Knoblauch, replacing the injured Jose Altuve leads off with a single. With 2 out Chipper Jones hits an infield single and Buster Posey jacks one to give the Minutemen a 3 – 0 lead. Top of the 5th and another mess for the Dutchman. Leonard walks Baines, Rizzo hits a double to put the runners and 2nd and 3rd.
Knoblauch knocks in Baines but Fred Clarke throws out Rizzo to relieve the baserunning problems. McCutchen comes up to hit a 2 run home run to make the score 6 – 0. The Dutchman is done. Bottom of the 5th and Jack Clark leads off with a HR. Beltran walks and scores on a Billy Werber single. Bottom of the 6th and Johnny Bassler hits a single and Roy Campanella comes into run. Campy steals 2nd and Jack Clark knocks him home with a single. Hunt runs for Clark and Beltran at the plate and he gets hit with a pitch bringing Felipe Alou to replace the injured Beltran. Martin Dihigo comes up and seems to be pointing his old bat to left field. Bang, he hits a 3 run home run to tie the game at six. All is quiet until the bottom of the 11th with runners on first and third. Martin Dihigo knocks a single over first to win the game.

Series Summary: Salmonbellies take the series 6 games to 1 with 3 one-run games, 2 extra-inning games. Martin Dihigo was the star of the series going 10 for 27 with 5 runs, 10 RBI, 2 HRs.
Wrigleyville Whales @ Purry Cowpokes
Series Preview: Wrigleyville (39-74) travels into Purry County to face the Cowpokes (63-50). Excited to get back to divisional play.
Game #1: Frank Sullivan pitches 8.2 innings and holds the Whales to 2 runs on 8 hits. Purry’s 5 run 3rd inning puts the game out of reach early. Purry 10 Wrigleyville 2
Game #2: Wrigleyville gets homers from Lefty O’Doul, Sherm Lollar, and Ray Chapman as Sandy Koufax improves his record to 3-14. Wrigleyville 7 Purry 5
Game #3: Javier Vazquez throws 8.2 innings of 1 hit ball to improve his record to 17-6. Rickey gets injured for 5 days. Rickey’s not happy. Purry 3 Wrigleyville 0
Game #4: Tris Speaker hits a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off for the Cowpokes. Purry 5 Wrigleyville 4
Game #5: Neil Walker’s 2 run blast in the 5th puts Purry on top for good. Purry 6 Wrigleyville 3
Game #6: Graig Nettles goes 2-4 with a homer, 4 rbi’s and 3 runs scored. Purry’s 10 run 4th inning puts this game out of reach early. Purry 16 Wrigleyville 7.
Game #7: Claude Ritchey goes 4-5 with 2 doubles and 3 rbi’s while Dwight Evans homers and adds 3 homers of his own. Sandy Koufax strikes out 5 and surrenders only 1 run on 4 hits over 8 innings. Wrigleyville 9 Purry 1
Series Summary: Purry has it’s way with Wrigleyville but they couldn’t figure out Sandy Koufax. Koufax entered the series with a record 2-14 and doubled his win total in this series. Purry takes the series 5-2.
Madison East Puregolders @ Kansas City Blues
Series Preview: Two teams side by side in the standings meet up for dominance
Game #1: J.Mesa goes 7 strong for a 6-2 win Purgs
Game #2: Blues leading 6-2 early on Purgs score 6 more to take 8-6 lead never look back
Fernando gives up 7 ER
Game #3: Saberhagen goes the distance gives up 3 hits and a 7-1 win for Purgs
Game #4: Greinke and the Blues finally win one 7-3
Game #5: Mizell goes a strong 8 2/3 for a 5-1 Purgs win Koosman goes to 6-14 for the Blues
Game #6: Creacy and Canseco provide 8 rbis 14-run 18-hit attack on Purgs Blues win
Game #7: G.Bush goes the distance for Purgs but gets the loss Fernando gets the win 5-2
Series Summary: Purgs win series 4-3
Climax Cougars @ Coastline Bobcats
Series Preview: Climax (58-55) in 4th place in the NL East visits Coastline (79-34) in 1st place for a 7 game series. Climax is looking to cut into the Bobcats lead and solidify their quest for a playoff spot.

Series played using TeamViewer

Game #1: CMC S.Fernandez vs CLB K.Brown
The series starts off with a bang as CLB K.Brown continues to pitch like a Grade 5 rather than a Grade 20. In the CMC T1 after Fregosi bbs and is CS on a busted H&R, Meyers 1bs, Ott flys out, Bautista 1bs, Crawford bbs to load the bases and Grantham rips a 2-rbi 1b followed by a Clift 2-rbi 2b. Its 4-0 CMC before CLB comes to bat!Well, what to expect in the B1 as the ‘Cats come to bat. Kemps bbs, Burks bbs, H.Wilson hits an rbi-2b, Skowron belts a 2-rbi 3b, and Gordon follows with a 2-run HR. Just like that its now 5-4 CLB!So, lets see, CLB K.Brown heads out for the T2 and he can’t be as bad as he was in the T1. Correct, but he’s almost as bad as he gives up 3 more runs when Fregosi bbs, steals 2nd, Meyers bbs, Bautista hits an rbi-2b, and Albers comes in and gives up a 3-run HR to Crawford. It’s now 8-5 CMC!On to the B2 we go and what can you expect, more bad pitching or good hitting, whichever way you look at it. CLB strikes back again when Howard 1bs (in the game on a double switch), Kemp 1bs, and Burks clouts a 3-run HR to tie the game at 8-8! CMC calls on Carroll and after he gets 2 outs Skowron hits a solo-HR to give the ‘Cats a 9-8 lead!After a scoreless 3rd, Glory be! In the T4 CMC ties the game when Ott bbs, steals 2nd, and then scores on a Grantham rbi-1b. The hitters must have gotten tired as we have a scoreless 5th and 6th.CMC brings on S.Wood in the in the B7 and after 2 outs Skowron draws a bb and then scores on a Gordon rbi-2b as Gordon is pegged at 3rd on the cut-off play. In the CLB B8 they add an insurance run when Gehrig 2bs and then scores on a Kemp rbi-1b.CLB calls on Sutter to close out the game and he tosses a perfect 9th for his 48th save. CMC S.Wood (8-7) takes the loss and CLB S.Casilla (6-3) gets the win.CLB 11, CMC 9
Game #2: CMC C.Redding vs CLB C.Finley
CMC again opens the scoring in the T1 when Fregosi 2bs, Clift 1bs, Ott rips an rbi-1b moving Clift to 3rd but is cut down at 2nd, J.Gibson adds an rbi-1b for a 2-0 CMC lead. In the B2 CLB strikes back when Howard bbs, Gehrig 1bs, and then with 2 out M.Williams clubs a 3-run HR.In the CMC T5 Fregosi bbs, steals 2nd, Ott bbs, and Gibson comes through with a 2-run 2b for a 4-3 CMC lead! CLB comes back and ties it in the B6 on a G.Jenkins solo-HR. But in the CMC T7, the star of the game, J.Gibson comes through again with a solo-HR which would prove to be the game-winner. Plunk pitches out of a 2nd and 3rd jam in the B9 by fanning Becker and getting G.Jenkins to P3 to earn the save.CMC C.Melton (1-0) earns the win and Plunk gets his 11th save, CLB C.Finley (15-6) takes the loss.CMC 5, CLB 4
Game #3: CMC R.Waddell vs CLB B.Swift
This game would be all about CLB B.Swift as he tosses a 3-hit Shutout. Swift gets more DPs (3) then he does Ks (2) as he only faces 28 batters in the game. CLB opened the scoring in the B1 when Burks 3bs and Ripken 2bs him home. CLB adds a run in the B6 on a Skowron rbi-2b and 3 more in the B8 on a Burks solo-HR, and rbi-2bs by Gordon and M.Williams.CLB B.Swift (13-8) with the win and CMC R.Waddell (10-8) gets the loss.CLB 5, CMC 0
Game #4: CMC V.Mungo vs CLB D.Stieb
Both pitchers open the game strong and the game is scoreless through 5 innings. In the CLB B6 Becker 1bs, with 2 outs Ripken slashes a H&R 1b to move Becker to 3rd, and H.Wilson hits an infield rbi-1b for a 1-0 CLB lead. CLB adds one in the B7 on a 2 out M.Williams solo-HR,CMC finally breaks through against Stieb in the T8 with a Leonard solo-HR. But CLB gets the run right back in the B8 when Becker bbs, Jenkins 1bs, and Clift throws away Ripken’s grounder.CLB goes to Sutter in the T9 and after he gives up a lead-off bb to Ott, he gets Bautista to hit into a 543 DP and gets Crawford to pop out to end the game.CLB D.Stieb (15-5) with the win, Sutter with Save #49, and CMC V.Mungo (7-7) gets the loss.CLB 3, CMC 1
Game #5: CMC S.Fernandez vs CLB S.Maglie
Another game where the starters toss 5 scoreless innings to open the game. In this game CMC strikes first with a run in the T6 on a Mize solo-HR. CLB finally gets a run on Fernandez in the B8 when M.Williams 1bs, steals 2nd, PH Simmons 1bs, Goslin PRs for Wilson, and Kemp hits a SAC fly to tie the game at 1-1.CLB calls on Sutter in the T9 and the normally dependable reliever gives up a solo-HR to Crawford to give CMC a 2-1 lead. CMC sends Plunk out in the B9 and he tosses a perfect 9th for his 12th save.CMC S.Fernandez (5-6) with the win, Plunk with Save #12, and CLB B. Sutter (3-3) with the loss.CMC 2, CLB 1
Game #6: CMC C.Redding vs CLB K.Brown
Will the real K.Brown please show up. Yes! Finally K.Brown pitches a game worthy of his pitcher rating. K.Brown tosses the shutout, his 1st of the season, giving up 5 hits while fanning 3. CLB opened the scoring in the B1 when Becker 1bs, Jenkins 2bs, and after a Ripken FC, H.Wilson rips a 2-run 3b. CLB would put the game away with 4 runs in the B3 highlighted by a Jenkins solo-HR and a Gordon rbi-2b.CLB K.Brown (13-9) with the win and CMC C.Redding (4-8) with the loss.CLB 8, CMC 0
Game #7: CMC S.Wood vs CLB C.Finley
CLB out early with a run in the B1 when Kemp 1bs, steals 2nd, and Burks rbi-2b drives him home. CMC ties it up right away in the T2 with a Grantham solo-HR. In the CLB B3 Skowron his a solo-HR to regain the lead.CMC takes the lead in the T5 when Crawford 2bs and eventually scores on Wood’s rbi-2b followed by a Fregosi rbi-1b. CLB then ties it back up in the B5 when Becker 1bs and gets around to 3rd on Ott’s error and then scores on Jenkins SAC fly.In the CMC T7 Wood bbs and then scores on a Fregosi rbi-3b for a 4-3 CMC lead! CMC Wood would come out and toss a scoreless B7 and get 2 out in the B87 before giving way to Plunk. Plunk would close out the B8 and then toss a perfect B9 to earn the save,CMC S.Wood (9-7) with the win, Plunk gets Save#13, and CLB M.Albers (3-1) takes the loss.CMC 4, CLB 3
Series Summary: Coastline wins the series 4-3 over Climax. There were some close games and some not so close games but all in all a fun series.
Fantomz Force @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: The NL East sixth place Fantomz Force (52-61) visit the second-place Detroit DeLoreans (72-41) for a seven-game NL divisional series.
Game #1: FAN 1 – DET 2: Detroit’s 2-run fourth inning was enough for the win. An RBI single by A. Rendon and double by C. Klein held up. The Force’s J. Donaldson homered in the seventh to tighten the score. N. Lajoie went 3 for 4 for the DeLoreans, scoring a run, hitting his 50th double, and stealing his 10th base.
Game #2: FAN 2 – DET 8: A 2-run homer from the Fantomz’s J. Mostil put them on top in the first inning. Their 2-0 lead held up until the bottom of the eighth inning when Detroit exploded for eight runs. The DeLoreans were led by N. Lajoie’s 4 for 5, 2 RBI performance, and C. Klein’s 3 for 4.
Game #3: FAN 0 – DET 6: Detroit’s C. Morgan pitched a complete game 2-hit shutout. While N. Lajoie remained hot, going 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI.
Game #4: FAN 2 – DET 3: The DeLoreans jumped out 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning on RBI hits from R. Collins and B. Herman. However, the Force battle back to tie the game in the second and third innings with solo HRs from S. Choo and L. Doby. Detroit won on a walk-off RBI from pinch hitter J. Beckley in the ninth.
Game #5: FAN 3 – DET 2: The Force flip the score for their first series win. L. Doby led the charge for the Fantomz, going 2 for 3 with a HR and 2 RBI. Detroit’s B. Herman went 2 for 3 with a triple (7) and RBI.
Game #6: FAN 0 – DET 5: Detroit’s S. Sallee was the story, pitching a complete game 1-hit shutout. The DeLoreans had multiple hits from N. Lajoie, R. Collins, and A. Rendon.
Game #7: FAN 1 – DET 3: The game was scoreless for the first five-inning until Detroit scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Fantomz’s J. Donaldson tacked on a solo shot (9) in the top of the seventh. Donaldson went 2 for 3. Detroit’s J. Cronin went 2 for 4 with a double and one run scored.
Series Summary: While Detroit won six of seven, each game in the series was close. They were fortunate. The DeLoreans just had a little more offense helped by some timely hits.
 Nags Head Surf Sox @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: The Nags Head Surf Sox visit the West Michigan Retrogrades for a seven-game series. The Retrogrades are looking to position themselves for a playoff spot; the Surf Sox are looking to finish the season strongly.
Game #1: NAG 0-WMR 5
Great pitching performance by Urban Shocker who threw a complete game 2-hit shutout (SC 88). Tommy Davis was 3-4 with 2 SB with a run and RBI.
Game #2: NAG 2-WMR 8
Tommy Davis had his hitting shoes on again, going 3-5. Foxx and Winfield had 2 hits each. Curt Davis pitched a solid game
Game #3: NAG 2-WMR 8
Same score, different pitcher shutting down the Surf Sox. This time it was Hal Schumacher who went 7 and gave up 1 earned run. Schumacher also got a hit and is hitting .321 this season. Winfield had 2 hits again.
Game #4: NAG 6-WMR 2
Mike Mussina pitched 7 strong innings only giving up 1 earned run. Jeter and Standon had 2 hits each. The Retrograde bullpen imploded in the final two innings.
Game #5: NAG 2-WMR 6
Another solid pitching performance by Curt Davis, 7 innings 1 earned run. Kingman went 2-4 with a homer and stolen base.Bill Dickey got hit by a BBW shot put pitch and is out 5 games. The Retrogrades would field potential trades for a third catcher to serve as a #3 the rest of the season.
Game #6: NAG 2-WMR 6
Another solid pitching performance by Curt Davis, 7 innings 1 earned run. Kingman went 2-4 with a homer and stolen base.Bill Dickey got hit by a BBW shot put pitch and is out 5 games. The Retrogrades would field potential trades for a third catcher to serve as a #3 the rest of the season.
Game #7: NAG 4-WMR 3
The Retrograde, again, blow a lead. Andre Dawson acted like a Hall of Famer and hit the go-ahead home run. Hal Schumacker hit his FIFTH home run of the season and still sits at .321. If there’s a silver slugger for pitchers, he’s got to be near the top of the list.
Series Summary: In a close series, West Michigan takes is 5 games to 2. A couple of close games could have swung the other way. Urban Shocker might be considered for the pitcher of the week for his game one performance and his overall 16 innings giving up only 2 earned runs. The standout hitter of the series was Tommy Davis, who went 11-30 (.367) with 2 2B, 3 RBI, 4 runs, and 2 SB.

Again, West Michigan is looking to trade for a backup catcher but will use a franchise point to reduce Dickey’s injury by 50%.

Pigtown Bombers @ Virginia Cavaliers
Series Preview: The last place Pigtown Bombers (35-78) fly into Virginia to face the (53-60) Cavaliers. Both teams are struggling to keep team batting averages above the Mendoza line. However, the Bombers pitching staff, like their hitters, claim the bottom slot as well with an ERA over 4.00. The Virginia staff ranks 6th with a 3.04 ERA. But, it should be a good series with few runs (probably based on lack of hitting rather than pitching)
Game #1: Gm.1 VIR 5-3 W-L.Gomez (12-8) L-J.Franco (0-6) SV-K.Foulke (31)

The game didn’t start out so good for Pigtown,…starter J.McGinnity injured his wrist in the 3rd inning and will be unavailable for 7 days…ouch! What makes it worse is that he had a no-hitter going. With McGinnity gone, the Cavaliers finally got to the Bombers in the 4th. Trammell blooped a 1-out single and F.Robinson’s sharp single to CF sent him to 3rd. K.McReynolds’ FC grounder scored Trammell for a 1-0 VIR lead. However, PIG would tie it in the 6th. With one out M.Schmidt hit a rocket into LF, slid into 3rd with a triple and then scored on a J.Robinson squirter into RF. VIR was not finished though. In the bottom of the 6th F.Frisch led off with a single and Trammell stepped to the plate, “ the offering…
a big fly to left … RAMIREZ ’05 backpedals … still drifting back … look out now!…it’s outta here! … RAMIREZ ’05 thought he had a play but the ball carried just beyond his reach … home run for TRAMMELL ’88 … and two runs score…Alan trots around the bases … he loves a trip downtown … he’s greeted at the plate…BOMBERS 1, CAVALIERS 3.” M.Ramirez made up for watching that ball go over his head by sending out one of his own in the 8th. After J.Edmonds drew a walk, “GOMEZ ’38 comes home with it … a blast to right…no doubt about this one … it’s gone! … way over the fence … two-run shot for RAMIREZ ’05…he seems to like base runners … Manny RAMIREZ ’05 will circle the bases…and he’s sure taking his time … he’s greeted at the plate…BOMBERS 3, CAVALIERS 3.” And it looks like Manny has designs on playing extra innings, Not so for VIR. Bottom of the 8th,…Trammell draws a 1-out walk and steals 2nd. PIG decides to put F.Robinson on and play for the DP. K.McReynolds ruins that tactic by slicing one down the RF line for a 2-run double and a 5-3 VIR lead. K.Foulke comes in. Bing-bang-boom! Save #31.

Game #2: Gm.2 VIR 6-4 W-J.Guzman (4-8) L-J.Abbott (2-16) SV-R.Betancourt (2)

PIG outhit VIR 12-8, but VIR made their hits count and used 3 SF’s to garner 3 of their 6 runs. With J. Guzman struggling through 6 innings he was able to exit with a 1-run lead and the VIR bullpen handled the last 3 innings. PIG came out of the gates fast in the 1st inning with J.Edmonds dropping a single into RF and scoring on E.Flick’s triple into the RF corner. Flick waltzed home as the next batter, H.Greenberg, singled into LF. That quick, PIG was up 2-0. A SF by VIR in the bottom of the 1st closed the gap to 1. But PIG added 1 in the next inning on a RBI double from E.Flick and led 3-1 only to see VIR add a run in the bottom half of the inning when P.Whitney planted one in the LF bleachers. It stayed PIG’s favor at 3-2 until the 6th. With one out, J.Harris singled to RF and scored on A.Jones double to LF. Jones went to 3rd on the throw home and scored on a SF by P.Whitney to give VIR a 4-3 lead after 6. VIR would increase the lead to 6-3 in the 8th on a J.Harris RBI double and a SF by A.Jones. Back-to-back doubles in the 9th by F.Rodriguez and J.Edmonds closed out the scoring for PIG and VIR’s pen held on for the win.

Game #3: Gm.3 VIR 4-3 W-R.Hernandez (8-1) L-D.Day (1-8)
A nice pitching duel between starters L.Tiant and B.Turley,…for a while. Unfortunately, the Pig’s pen would let them down. Tiant scattered 6 hits over 7 innings while allowing 2 runs before leaving with a 3-2 lead. Turley went 6 innings allowing 2 hits and no runs before he ran into trouble in the 7th. A 2-run double by F.Robinson in the 1st had given VIR a 2-run lead that Turley lost in the 7th. Turley walked the first two batters he faced in the 7th and D.Sims singled in the first PIG run of the game.L.Tiant, of all people, then lined an RBI single into left CF to tie the game at 2-all. M.Ramirez put PIG ahead with an RBI double to CF and Tiant smiled as he left the game with a 3-2 lead. But the baseball gods were not smiling back, L.Parrish led off the bottom of the 8th as a PH’er for T.Pena…”Here he comes … cut on … hit deep to left field … way back … VELARDE ’92 is racing back…it’s long gone! … Lance ties the game! … he got all of that one…Lance trots around the bases … he loves a trip downtown … he claps his hands…BOMBERS 3, CAVALIERS 3.” Not good for the PIG pen,…and it gets worse. H.Heilmann leads off the 9th with a double. T.Taylor pinch runs for him. After K.McReynolds’ groundout moves Taylor to third, PIG walks J.Harris to set up the DP and K’s Templeton for the 2nd out. But up comes the man that tied it up in the last inning,…”L. PARRISH ’89 facing D. O’DAY ’15, B 9th, 2 Outs, 1st and 3rd, Tied 3-3 …TAYLOR ’73 with a good lead off third … the pitch … lined to left center … base hit…it’s all over! … TAYLOR ’73 scores…BOMBERS 3, CAVALIERS 4.”
Game #4: Gm.4 VIR 2-1 W-J.Key (6-8) L-J.Taylor (3-9) SV-K.Foulke (32)
Another tight game between two struggling teams. This time, VIR got a solid performance from J.Key as he held PIG to 7 hits and only one run through 7 innings. After that the tough VIR bullpen closed it out. H.Greenberg was the only batter to put a blemish on Key’s day. Batting just .232, Greenberg crushed his 20th homer of the season deep over the CF wall for what would be PIG’s only run of the game. Ironically this homer would come in the 4th inning,…the same inning VIR would score there only runs. For VIR it would be R.Kiner who did the honors. Batting a robust .184, Kiner turned on a fastball and watched his 7th homer of the season clear the wall with a runner on base. With a 2-1 lead, VIR put the game in the hands of their pitching and they answered the call as Key held PIG at bay and Foulke closed it out.
Game #5: Gm.5 PIG 7-5 J.Abbott (3-16) L-E.Reulbach (7-9) SV-D.Day (14)
One bad inning made this look closer than it was. PIG pretty much controlled this game from beginning to end. With 2 outs in the top of the 2nd, PIG loaded the bases with the pitcher, J.Abbott, coming to the plate…”J. ABBOTT’ 95 facing E. REULBACH ’09, T 2nd, 2 Outs, Bases Loaded, Tied 0-0 …The runners take their lead … here’s the pitch … base hit right field…MCREYNOLDS ’89 is after it … he cuts it off deep in the gap … FLICK ’03 scores…ROBINSON ’54 is well around third…he scores…BOMBERS 2, CAVALIERS 0.” And just like that Abbott helps himself and sets the tone of the game. Two innings later, in the 4th, Abbott does it again. After a base hit and an error puts runners at 1st and 3rd, Abbott sneaks one into RF for a RBI single and a 3-0 PIG lead. With Abbott pitching a 3-hit shutout through 6, PIG tacks on 3 more runs in the 7th. M.Ramirez puts 1 run on the board the short way…”that’s rocked to deep left center … it is high … and long … and gone!…RAMIREZ ’05 with a monster shot.” H.Greenberg follows with a double to the gap in left-center and then…”SCHMIDT ’76 jacks one to deep left … KINER ’53 retreats … still going back…to the track … to the wall … gone! … home run for SCHMIDT ’76…BOMBERS 6, CAVALIERS 0.” The drubbing is on,…or is it? Abbott takes the mound for the bottom of the 7th. R.Kiner singles, L.Parrish singles, T.Taylor follows with a RBI single, PIG 6-1 now, H.Heilmann singles to load the bases. A.Trammell pinch hits for Templeton. “BOMBERS playing for the double play … the pitch … hit deep to left center … way back…RAMIREZ ’05 is racing back … it’s gone! … grand slam for TRAMMELL ’88… ABBOTT’ 95 hung one…and TRAMMELL ’88 made him pay … and ABBOTT’ 95 is just hanging his head.” Suddenly it’s a 1-run game. PIG makes the obvious move and goes to the PIG pen. And boy was that the right call. Over the next 3 innings they allow but 1 measly hit and don’t allow any VIR runners to even sniff home plate. For good measure, E.Flick adds a RBI single in the 9th to push the score to 7-5 and D.Day throws a 3-up 3-down bottom of the 9th for save #14.
Game #6: Gm.6 VIR 4-0 W-L.Gomez (13-8) L-T.Thomas (1-2)
This was all L.Gomez. CG 3-hit shutout with 10 K’s. There’s nothing else to say other than F.Frisch had 2 doubles, 2 walks, and 2 RBI. This was Gomez’ game.
Game #7: Gm.7 VIR 3-2 W-J.Guzman (5-8) L-L.Tiant (8-8) SV-K.Foulke (33)
Another close game (weren’t they all?). VIR got to Tiant early when back- to-back doubles by J.Harris and A.Jones produced a run. Two outs later, T.Pena bounces one off the wall to score Jones and VIR is up 2-0. PIG gets one back in the 3rd when D.Sims leads off…”SIMS ’66 lofts a high fly … down the line to right…MCREYNOLDS ’89 looks as if he’s got it covered … on the warning track…now his back’s to the wall … the leap … and he comes down … empty handed!…SIMS ’66 eases into his home run trot … that ball just wouldn’t die.” Tiant then helps himself in the 5th with a SF that ties the game at 2-all. But he’s not too happy in the 6th when he faces K.McReynolds and watches as KMac airmails a fastball over the leftfield wall for a 3-2 VIR lead. After that, Tiant sadly watches the VIR pen take over and VIR pulls out the 3-2 victory with K.Foulke getting his 33rd save of the season.
Series Summary: A surprising 6-1 series win for VIR, all close games (except Gomez’ shutout) and a run here or there could have altered the outcome. VIR outscored PIG 29-20 and only outhit them 56-54 and out homered them 6-5 as neither team is known for their power. Manny Ramirez was the big gun in the Bombers attack. He hit .321 (9-28) with 2 runs, 4 RBI and 2 homers. Hank Greenberg also had 7 hits for PIG and drilled 2 homeruns while hitting .250.
Virginia had several bats going for the series. Kevin McReynolds was 9-24 .375 with a homer and 5 RBI, Harry Heilmann .7-18 ,388, Pinky Whitney 5-15 .333, a homer and 3 RBI, and Alan Trammell 5-17 .294, 5 runs, 6 RBI and 2 homers (including a GS).
Virginia also had a great pitching performance from Lefty Gomez who threw a 3-hit shutout.
Pigtown goes from the frying pan into the fire as they go home to take on the 3rd place West Michigan Retrogrades. Virginia stays home to host Nags Head, who is 1 game behind them in the middle of the pack.
Clockwork Heros @ Wainwright Wranglers
Series Preview: Powerhouse Clockwork comes to Wainwright AS HEAVY FAVORITES TO WIN THE SERIES
Game #1: Arky Vaugh goes 3 for four and light hitting this season Bill Melton drives in 3 in an easy 8-3 victory. Kirby Puckett goes 3 for 4 with two homers and drove in all three Wainwright runs
Game #2: Mathewson vs Grove in a battle of aces. One throws a complete game and one lasts an inning and it wasn’t my guy grove that threw a complete game. Mathewson won his 20th and Bill Melton had another big game driving in 6 in another 8-3 Clockwork victory. Puckett was Wainwrights only bright spot hitting his third homer of the series
Game #3: Uhle goes 7 strong in leading Clockwork to a 4-2 victory. Bob Watson goes 3 for three and once again Kirby Puckett is Wainwrights lone bright spot going 2 for 4 and driving in a run
Game #4: Kluber goes 7 strong in leading clockwork to another 4-2 victory. Foster drives in a couple and Wainwrights bats continue to struggle. Puckett goes one for 4 to continue his streak of a hit in every game
Game #5: Blyleven wins his 19th and clockwork cruises to a 7-1 victory. Foster drove in a three and Melton a couple to lead the attack Bip Roberts was the only Wanger to get a couple of hits and Puckett went o for 4
Game #6: Mathewson outlasts Neagle and wins his 21st in an uneventful 4-2 victory
Game #7: Uhle wins his 13th and Willis loses his 20th in a 6-5 victory for clockwork. George Foster drove in a couple with a bomb
Series Summary: So the series lived up to its billing as Clockwork made short work of Wainwright in sweeping the series
Hoboken Zephyrs @ Fire Lake Segers
Series Preview: The Zephyrs visit Fire Lake leading the Segers by 5 games in the NL West playoff race.
Game #1: In a hard fought pitchers’ duel, Red Faber improved his record to 13-9, 2.03era. David Cone was brilliant for Fire Lake but to a tough loss.
Hoboken 1 Fire Lake 0
Game #2: Mike Garcia pitched a complete game 5-hitter to improve to 3-7, 3.70era. Stan Spence led the Hoboken attack with a triple, home run and 3 RBIs.  Denny McLain’s record dropped to 9-10.
Hoboken 4 Fire Lake 1
Game #3: Jeff Heath hit a big 3-run blast in the 16th inning to get the win. Ewell Blackwell pitched 6 scoreless innings in relief to get move his record to 4-7, 2.94era. Ron Guidry pitched well enough to win but takes a no-decision. Pete Rose led Fire Lake with 3 hits.
Hoboken 5 Fire Lake 2
Game #4: Noodles Hahn improved to 19-7, 2.14era as Frank Duncan, Tommy Henrich and Kevin Youkilis starred offensively for Hoboken. Eric Davis hit a 3-run blast off Hahn for the only Seger offense.
Hoboken 6 Fire Lake 3
Game #5: The Segers scored two runs late off Faber to snap their 11-game losing streak. Scott Rolen had a big two-run blast early. Mario Soto picked up the win in relief. Soto improved to 6-3, 2.43era.
Fire Lake 4 Hoboken 3
Game #6: Dennis Menke delivered a clutch 2-run blast in the bottom of the 9th to force extra innings. Gary Lavelle improved to 5-4, 2.15era in three scoreless innings of relief.
Fire Lake 5 Hoboken 4
Game #7: Vada Pinson finished the series with a walk-off steal of home. Denny McLain pitched well but took a no-decision. Mike Garcia left with a 6-day injury.
Fire Lake 3 Hoboken 2
Series Summary: Hoboken won the first 4 games of the series and seemed to be cruising along. Fire Lake proceeded to win the next three each by one run. Fire Lake is battling to hold that 8th NL playoff spot.
Motown Yankees @ San Tan Valley Moonrakers
Series Preview: No time for a detailed write-up. Needless to say, Motown put a whoppin’ on San Tan, taking 5 in a row before the Moonrakers saved some face and won the last 2.
Game #1:  
Game #2:  
Game #3:  
Game #4:  
Game #5:  
Game #6:  
Game #7:  
Series Summary: Motown does a number on San Tan, winning the series 5-2.
Hollywood Zombies @ Iowa Giants
Series Preview: Hollywwod Zombies come in at 41-72 tied with the Giants last place in the NHational League West hoping for a exciting series.
Game #1: HOL 2-6-0 WP Zimmerman 3-4 SV Myers 3-4
IOW 1-8-1 LP Feller 8-17
Zimmerman goes 8 innings and Jeff Bagwell 3-4
Game #2: HOL 5-15-0 LP Owens 0-2
IOW 7-7-1 WP Dean 5-9
Rudy York 2-4 Homer Dizzy Dean goes 8 innings and also hut homer
Game #3: HOL 10-15-0 WP W Johnson 12-11
IOW3-8-0 LP Fidrych 1-2
Tim Raines 3-4 5 RBI Homer
Game #4: HOL 6-5-0 WP Plank 5-15
IOW 3-7-0 LP Lemon 3-5
Zombies lose Ron Leflore for 22 games
Game #5: HOL 2-6-1 LP Rogers 7-15
IOW 4-8-1 WP Feller 9-17
Zombies another injury Ventura 9 days
Game #6: HOL 2-6-0 WP F Rodriquez 2-3 Sv Johnson 3
IOW 1-6-1 LP Bonham 7-5
11 inning game
Game #7: HOL 5-13-0 WP Woodeshich 2-5 Sv Johnson 4
IOW 4-11-1 LP Lemon 3-6
12 inning games
Series Summary: Well it was an exciting series all close games, Zombies take 5 of 7 so Iowa falls deeper into the hole

 

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #23

 

National League Pitchers of the Week – Noodles HAHN – Hoboken

1-0 record, 9.0  innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 1 hit, 8 strikeouts, & 3 walks

 

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – Dean CHANCE – Las Vegas

1-0 record, 9 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts,  & 1 walk

 

 

 

National League Player of the Week –Tim RAINES  – Hollywood

.471 avg  / 1.176 slg, 8 for 17, 1 double, 1 triple, 3  home runs, 6  runs, 8 RBIs, & 1 SB

 

 

 

American League Player of the Week –Willie McCOVEY  – Purry

.500 avg / 1.188 slg, 8  for 16,  2 doubles, 3 homers, 4 runs, 9 RBIs, & 2 walks

 

 

Feature : Roe Roe Rock the Boat

As we go into the final months of the season, it’s always nice to look at predictions so we can complain about them later. So, here you go.

American League

Jack Street will overtake Chicago and Lewisberry and win the East Division by 3 games. Chicago will fall to 4th because Stray’s wife Stacey will entice him to spend more time with her rather than LEG. Lewisberry will claim 2nd and the Kansas City A’s will take over 3rd because I like their name.

Fort Worth will hold off a late charge by Ted Williams and his Cincinnati Knights to take the AL West by 6 games. New Westminister will get 3rd all to themselves. Menomonee will overtake Purry for a short time only to see the Cowboys Tris Speaker and Javier Vazquez lasso the 4th spot back again.

National League

Coastline wins it in the East but not because Detroit wasn’t trying. Detroit makes it close by getting within 3 games, but they run out of gas and Doc Brown isn’t around to feed plutonium into the Delorean and have it time travel into the future and ambush the Bobcats.

West Michigan gets 3rd and Climax remains in 4th because we all want Nik to do well.

Clockwork is in another league and has already won the West. I’m going to take the safe pick and go with Hoboken for 2nd place.

I’d normally take Motown because I like the music and I’m a Yankee fan going back to 1957, but Hoboken has a better record against the West Division.

I’m going with San Tan in the 4th spot because I like the way Randy Johnson is throwing the ball and Trosky and Stephens are pounding the ball.

As for the individual awards, that’s all conjecture, but what the heck, that’s what this is about. So, I have predictions for the top 5 spots in a few major areas for batting and pitching. There is not much (if any) difference in what is now the top 10 in each category. I have just predicted (guessed) what end of season stats will look like.

So read and remember. Then you can laugh at me for how far off I am at the end of the season. Enjoy.

American League   National League   American League   National League
             
Wins    Wins   RBI    RBI
Maddux FWC 26-3    Mathewson CWH 28-6   Hornsby JSH 142    Spence HBZ 123
Santana CIN 24-5    Hahn HBZ 26-10   Mayberry CHI 118    Trosky SAN 116
Verlander FWC 23-6    Blyleven CWH 24-7   Bando CIN 110    Collins DET 112
Leonard NWS 20-8    Finley CLB 21-7   McGwire JSH 112    Foster CWH 108
Vazquez PUR 18-10    Seaver HBZ 19-12   Medwick JSH 110    Ripken CLB 107
             
ERA    ERA   HR    HR
Verlander FWC 2.05    Johnson SAN 1.96   Mayberry CHI 47    Collins DET 53
Maddux FWC 2.34    Mathewson CWH 1.99   McGwire JSH 46    Wilson CLB 43
Leonard NWS 2.66    Donovan CWH 2.18   Hornsby JSH 43    Trosky SAN 39
Leever NWS 2.79    Reynolds DET 2.31   Fielder LVP 39    Ripken CLB 35
Newcombe BOS 2.82    Hahn HBZ 2.40   Bando CIN 35    Stephens SAN 33
             
  K   BA    BA
Leonard NWS 250    Mathewson CWH 301   DiHigo NWS .344    Ripken CLB .314
Vance CIN 207    Feller IOW 267   Williams CIN .339    Ott CMC .310
Scherzer MCS 177    Paige FAN 260   Keeler FWC .314    Santop CWH .304
Santana CIN 172    Johnson,R SAN 242   Cobb MCS .320    Hayes NAG .292
Jenkins KCA 166    Uhle CWH 228   White KCA .309    Davis,T WMR .294
Menomonee Minutemen @ Lewisberry Country Blumpkins
Series Preview: The Menomonee Minutemen tried to show their stamina against Orel, BJ and the rest of the barely 1st place Blumpkins but they mostly shot blanks…
Game #1: Hudson vs Hershiser
Orel hurls a 6H CG Shitout for the Blumpkins as Freeman drives in 2 and Ruth hits a solo HR.
Country Blumpkins 4 Minutemen 0
Game #2: Grissom vs Cooper
Ike Boone’s 8th inning RBI 2B off pseudo-reliever Zach Britton gives Menomonee the lead and win. Freeman drives in another for Lewisberry.
Minutemen 2 Country Blumpkins 1
Game #3: Scott (replacement for scheduled starter) vs Ruth
Took 10 innings but Nellie Cruz’s RBI 1B walks it off for the Blumpkins. Seybold (MEN) and F-B Williams (LEW) hit solo HRs. Maury Wills out 5 days for LCB.
Country Blumpkins 4 Minutemen 3
Game #4: Rommel (replacement starter) vs Langston (replacement starter)
Blumpkins score 4 by the 5th. Minutemen chase Langston in the 7th after cutting the lead in 1/2, 4-2. Blumpkins couldn’t hold back anymore and exploded for 5 in the bottom of the 7th to cruise to victory.
Country Blumpkins 9 Minutemen 2
Series Summary: Country Blumpkins win 3. POTW candidate Orel Hershiser goes 9ip, 6H, 1BB, 1K. BJ Surhoff goes 5/12, 3R, 2RBI, 3BB, 2B, HR.
Purry Cowpokes @ Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: Jack Street (56-53) currently 2nd in the AL East host the AL West 4th place Purry Cowpokes (62-47). When it comes to the American League, placement in the division can be deceiving with the West being noticeably better West division. The Hustlers come in with a 4-6 record in their last 10, while Purry comes in 7-3 in their last 10 and on a 5 game winning streak.

This series was played using teamviewer. Thanks to Rob for taking the time to play.

Game #1: In game 1, Purry sends Frank Sullivan, making only his 4th start with no decisions but 2 saves to face Sonny Siebert who has struggled his way to a 4-10 record this season.

Purry jumps out early with a 3 run first powered by a Neil Walker 3 run blast. The Cowpokes rode that wave, carrying a 6-2 lead to the bottom of the 5th. However, in the bottom of the 5th, the Hustlers tie up the game with a 4 spot helped by two run homers by both Rogers Hornsby and David Justice. After single runs in the 6th and 7th by Purry, Jack Street roars back in the bottom of the 8th with 2 of their own to tie it up. In the bottom of the 9th, Rafael Palmeiro walks it off with a one out, solo home run.

P 8/8/0
J 9/11/2

WP – Hand 6-4
LP – Soria 2-4
Sv – None
HR – P – Walker 2 (10), Anderson (1) J – Hornsby 2(29), Justice (6), Palmeiro (13)

Game #2: Javier Vazquez 16-5 takes the mound for Purry against Jack Street ace, Bill Byrd 8-5.

Willie McCovey has a day in this one going 2-4 with rbi for Purry, but it wasn’t enough as Jack Street scores 3 early runs and 4 single runs in later innings to hold off Purry and their 3 run 7th.

P 6/9/0
J 7/10/1

WP – Byrd 9-5
LP – Vazquez 16-6
Sv – Brantley 19
HR – P – McCovey (14) J – McGwire (30), Meusel (18), Justice (7)

Game #3: Johnny Cueto 2-4 toes the rubber for Purry against Carl Lundgren 5-2 for Jack Street.

Another great battle. Purry opens the scoring in the 3rd with Brady Anderson’s second homer of the series and of the year. Jack Street answers in the bottom half with 2 of their own. Purry ties it in the top of the 4th on a McCovey double, a ground out and a wild pitch. Jack Street jumps back ahead in the 5th on a Graig Nettles error and a 2 run shot by Medwick. They pick another up in the bottom of the 7th and take a 5-2 lead to the 9th. In the top of the 9th, with closer Jeff Brantley on the mound, Rickey leads off with a single. After a ground out by Speaker, McCovey sends one over the boards to make the score 5-4. Brantley settles down, however, and gets pinch hitter Ed Bailey and Carlos Santana for the save.

P 4/6/2
J 5/7/0

WP – Lundgren 6-2
LP – Cueto 2-5
Sv – Brantley 20
HR – P – McCovey (15), Anderson (2) J – Hornsby (30), Medwick (22)

Game #4: In the final game of the series, Purry sends Jake Weimer (13-5) to try and avoid the sweep against Dan Haren (4-12).

Hustlers open the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd, when Woody English pickup up a one out walk and scores on a double by Jerry Priddy. In the 4th, Jack Street loses a chance to extend the lead when Mark McGwire got thrown out at the plate. Purry takes the lead from Jack Street in the 5th on a McCovey homer, a Wells double and a single by Carlos Santana. 2-1 after 5. Cowpokes extend the lead in the 7th on a double by Santana, a single by Walker, a sac fly by Blackmon and a double by Rickey. 4-1 after 7. Hustlers make it a game again in the 8th when Ducky Medwick leads off the inning with a single and McGwire follows with a bomb, cutting it to 4-3. After a Meusel strikeout, Ted Simmons sends a triple to the gap, but Soria comes in and shuts down the threat by striking out Larry Hisle and getting pinch hitter David Justice to fly out to center. The score stayed 4-3 to the bottom of the 9th, as Billy Wagner came in to close it down. Raffy Palmeiro led off the inning with a walk, but Wagner gets the next three to close it out.

P – 4/10/1
J – 3/8/0

WP – Weimer 14-5
LP – Haren 4-13
Sv – Wagner 12
HR – P – McCovey (16) J – McGwire (31)

Series Summary: Entertaining series that Jack Street was fortunate to come out with a 3-1 series win.

Player of the week nominee – Willie McCovey – 8-16 with 4 runs, 9 rbi, 2 doubles, 3 hr and 2 walks. 500 BA/556 OBP/ 1188 SLUG

Fort Worth Cats @ Chicago Nine
Series Preview: Into the Windy City comes the best team in LEG. Fort Worth is the team to beat & everyone knows it. Can the Nine compete with the big cats from Texas? We shall see.
Game #1: J.R Richard normally strikes guys out. He didn’t do that for Chicago today. He got grounders and flyouts and even had 4 Double Plays behind him on Defense. Hank Thompson had a Triple & 2 RBI’s to lead Chicago’s offense. In the end it was J.R. Richard who did the deed, going the distance in a Complete Game 6 Hit, 1 Walk, 6 K game. Former Nine player Kris Bryant was on hand for the game, yet Ramon Martinez was quietly absent & not even at the park. Issue was resolved later in the series as they both figured out, they were in the wrong cities. It all worked out in the, except for Fort Worth.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Fort Worth 0

Win: J.R Richard 8-10 (4.59)
Loss: Justin Verlander 16-4 (1.79)

Game #2: Fort Worth forgot how to score runs, but their pitching was awesome as Charlie Root went 7 allowing only 1-Run before Criag Kimbrel shut out the Nine for the final 2 Innings. Chicago’s lone run was a solo Home Run in the 1st Inning by John Mayberry. It was however the game winner. Ramon Martinez was a stud for the Nine, once he flew in that morning, not even realizing he was starting that afternoon.

Final Score: Chicago 1 – Fort Worth 0

Win: Ramon Martinez 2-0 (1.76)
Loss: Charlie Root 9-7 (3.60)

Game #3: 5 Hits, 5 Runs, & 10 Innings wasn’t enough for the big cats from Texas as they couldn’t get past the Nine for the 3rd game in a row. However, Keith Hernandez was 4 for 4 with 2 RBI’s & Wee Willy Keeler and Hunter Pence each chipped in with 3 Hits as well. Chicago’s big man was once again “Big” John Mayberry who blasted 2 Home Runs, had 3 Hits & drove in 5 RBI’s for Chicago. His walk off Home Run in the 10th won it for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 7 – Fort Worth 5 (10 Innings)

Win: Rick Reed 1-0 (3.24)
Loss: Ricardo Rincon 1-1 (4.29)

Game #4: C.C Sabathia climbed the hill for Chicago & went 8 strong Innings allowing only 1-Run on 4 Hits, 2 Walks, with 4 K’s. Mike Trout had a Home Run & 3 RBI’s. Chicago easily routed the Fort Worth squad in this one.

Final Score: Chicago 7 – Fort Worth 1

Win: C.C Sabathia 11-10 (5.01)
Loss: Stan Williams 7-8 (4.43)

Series Summary: Chicago did the impossible as they take all 4 games from the Cats from Fort Worth. John Mayberry & the lack of offense from Fort Worth surely helped the Nine. Questions still arise such as, will the Chicago have enough to make it to the playoffs? Will het flounder like fish come next series? As high as they are now, next week will bring a whole new challenge.
Kansas City A’s A Madison East Puregolders
Series Preview: Kansas City A’s come in to Madison looking to pad their stats.
Game #1: Sam McDowell vs. Guy Bush. A 6-6 tie going in to the 9th, the A’s win the 9th inning 5-1. Albert Belle goes 4-4 with 2 HR’s, only to have Dan Plesac waste his effort. Reports are that Belle was looking for Plesac after the game…..
Game #2: Joe Horlen vs. Bret Saberhagen (even number season). Should be some souveniers going into the bleachers with this one. Per normal, the Purgolders scratch out six measly hits and lose 2-0. Babe Adams picks up the save. Belle goes 2-4 and screams the entire team down for wasting his time and efforts.
Game #3: Phil Niekro vs. Hooks Wiltse. Wiltse has his ERA down to an even 5.00 coming in, possibly making him a candidate for a 2nd half All-star candidate. Hooksie was the MAN, until the 5th inning. He ended up giving up 8 earnies to bump that ERA to 5.34. Nowhere near the plump 7plus he was boasting earlier, but there is still time for him to rebound to the upper 6’s for sure. The A’s dominate 9-2 as Belle goes 1-2 and then fear set in and the A’s just walk him twice…..
Game #4: Eddie Cicotte vs. Vinegar Bend Mizelle. Cicotte was seen with four different substances on the brim of his cap in the first inning, and a pocket knife blade sewn in to his glove. Belle went to get his special “Black Betty.” Who is gonna win this battle? Both. Eddie went eight, scattering 6 hits, including an RBI double to Big Al en route to a series sweep and contest final of 9-2. Vinegar Bend stunk up the joint, allowing eleven runners in 5 1/3, with six of them scoring.
Series Summary: Another terrible performance for Madison East resulting in a sweep again. Kansas City bats caused the Purgolders nightmares, again. Manager Roeth was quoted after the finale “We suck. We are 2-8 in the last ten, four losses in a row and Menomonee, the fricken Minutemans for Christ’ sakes are 10 games ahead of us….”
Middle Channel Sturgeon @ New Westminster Salmonbellies
Series Preview: Sturgeon come to town to watch the Salmonbellies
swimming upstream through the Sturgeon spawning grounds
on the Fraser River. Some very good pitching in this series
Game #1: Jack Coombs for Middle Channel faced off against Dutch Leonard for the Bellies.

Bellies got a 3 – 0 lead in the third and then piled it on from the 5th through the 8th. Dihigo was his usual dependable self scoring 3 runs and knocking in 2 while going 3 for 4.

The Salmonbellies go on to win the game 15 – 4 out hitting the Sturgeon 16 – 7.

Game #2: Al Leiter for Middle Channel and Dwight Gooden New Westminster

The Sturgeon score runs in the third and fourth, one a HR by Jose Azcue to go on to a 4 – 1 victory. Bostock went 2 for 4 with a run, RBI and a triple. Al Leiter gave up 2 hits and 4 walks for the victory. Ty Cobb had a double on his birthday.

Game #3: Max Scherzer for the Sturgeon and Jeff Tesreau for the Salmonbellies

The Bellies scored 3 in the 3rd and then the Sturgeon come right back and score 3 in the fourth. The score remained tied until the bottom of the tenth. Fernando Rodney came on for the Sturgeon and walked Concepcion. Dave stole 2nd and Rodney got Ralph Garr. He then IBB to Dihigo to face Campanella. Roy comes through for a 3 run home run and a 6 – 3 victory.

Game #4: Chris Sale for Middle Channel and Sam Leever for New Westminster

The Bellies got off to a good start with a lead off homer from Jack Clark
In the second the Sturgeon come right back and score 3 runs to take a 3 – 1 lead. In the 4th Martin Dihigo connects on his 21st HR. Ty Cobb connects in the top of the 5th for his 21st home run to give the Sturgeon a 4 – 2 lead. But in the bottom of the 5th Campanella picks up another 3 run homer to give the Bellies a 5 – 4 lead. The Bellies go on to score 5 more for a 10 – 4 final.

Series Summary: The superb Middle Channel pitching did not come through in the series
as Middle Channel drops 3 of 4 games to the Salmonbellies.
Dihigo had a big series going 7 for 14 with 8 runs, 1 HR and 3 RBI
Campanella scored 5 runs and had 6 RBI with a couple of HR
Cobb was dangerous throughout with 6 for 18 scoring 3 runs, 1 HR and a couple of RBI.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Wrigleyville Whales
Series Preview: Las Vegas Pirates (48-61, .440, 10-GB) @ Wrigleyville Whales (37-72, .339, 44-GB)
Game #1: G-1- Arrieta v Welch. Ugly game as both starters allowed 6-runs. Welch was fortunate to have plenty of offense backing him, as Whales held a 9-3 lead going into 8th inning. Las Vegas did score 3-runs to close within 3-runs but Whales prevail 9-6. Welch had dropped 3 in a row and 7 of last 9.

Whales outhit Pirates 13-11 with Combs, Musial & Darrell Evan collecting 3-hits apiece. Combs led Whales with 4-RBI, slugging his 2nd homer. Mr. Cub had a clutch, pinch hit 2-run-1B.

Joe D was 3-4 for Vegas and Price Fielder hammered his 20th home run while driving in 4-runs!

FINAL Whales 9 Pirates 6

Game #2: G-2- Spahn v Ruether. There were only 7-hits total as Spahn & Ruether were locked in a 0-0 game until Whales 7th when Mr. Cub drove in Bob Horner with a SF. Goose eggs would fill remainder of game and Wrigleyville would make it 2-straight over Las Vegas with a 1-0 victory! It was 2nd Shut-Out for Ruether who improved his record to 6-11, 4.68-ERA. Ruether faced only 30-Pirates.

Spahn hurled a gem, allowing 1-run on 5-hits, as his record fell to 6-13, 4.15-ERA.

FINAL Whales 1 Pirates 0

Game #3: G-3- Chance v Mays. Pitching dominated again, this time Dean Chance (4-13, 5.13) comes out on top 2-0 on a CG, 3-hitter! Pops Stargell drove in a run with his 11th double in 4th and Bibb Falk drove in 2nd run in Las Vegas 9th. Chance faced only 31-batters and allowed just 3-singles.

Mays (8-10, 4.77) has lost 3-games in a row and 5 of 6.

FINAL Pirates 2 Whales 0

Game #4: G-4- Cuellar v McNally. In a match-up of former O’s pitchers, it was all Cuellar (8-6, 3.92), as he blanked Wrigleyville 6-0 on 4-hits to run their Shut-out string to 19-innings over the Whales! Las Vegas racked up a dozen hits as Joe D. led attack going 3-4, 2B and his 20th home run! Roberto joined DiMaggio (67-RBI) with 2-RBI, going 2-4, 2B and a walk.

FINAL Pirates 6 Whales 0

Series Summary: Las Vegas out-scored Wrigleyville 12-10 and outhit the Whales 33-25 with both smashing 2-HR’s.
Cincinnati Knights @ Boston Braves
Series Preview: Second place Cincinnati 31 games over the 500 mark journeyed to Braves Field to play the Braves 17 games under the 500 mark. Would the worm turn?
Game #1: The Braves plated three runs in the eight inning for a come from behind 5-3 win. Adrian Gonzalez, Freddy Sanchez, and Jeff Cirillo all hat 2 hits for the Braves as did Sweet Lou Whitaker for the Knights.
Game #2: Johnny Antonelli and Steve Howe whitewashed the Knights on four hits in a 3-1 Brave win. Monte Irvine counted a triple among his team leading two hits in the game.
Game #3: The Braves three run eight allowed the Braves to experience a 5-3 comeback win in game three. Chick Hafley with two hits pacing the Knight offence. David Robertson and Jimmy Hall stroke two hits and Jim Rice two doubles for the Braves.
Game #4: Pedro Martinez backed by a 13 hit, 9 run offense collected his sixth win in this 9-2 Brave win. Gabby Hartnett had three hits, Jim Rice, Dominic DiMaggio, and Nomar Garciaparra all had two Brave safeties, one of Nomar’s the major Brave blow a 3 run homer. Sal Bando homered and Billy Goodman two Knight hits.
Series Summary: The worm turned in a surprise second consecutive series win for Braves make more surprising by the fact the Cincinnati Knights with a slight turn of fortune could have won the series 3-1.
Kansas City Blues @ Indiana Indians
Series Preview: Kansas City Blues visit NW Indiana to take on the Indians. Both teams playing the string out as both are way below .500 and no shot at playoffs.
Game #1: Valenzuela vs. Price – The Blues use 11 walks and 9 hits to pound the Indians 8-0. Earl Williams goes 3-4 with 5 RBI to lead the Blues attack. Valenzuela goes 8 shutout innings for the W. Price takes the L.
Game #2: Degrom vs. Alexander. Grover Cleveland Alexander tosses the 4-hit shutout for a 4-0 Indians win. Tiexiera with a 2-run HR for the Indians.
Game #3: Greinke vs. Pettitte. Rico Carty drives in 7 to lead the Blues to an 11-3 win. Blues collect 14 hits off of 3 different Indian pitchers. Indians get 13 hits but only manage 3 runs. Greinke gets the win and Pettitte takes the loss.
Game #4: Koosman vs. Drysdale. Sheffield and Schulte drive in 3 each to lead the Blues to a 10-9 win. Indians plate 4 in the bottom of the 9th to make it closer than it really was.
Series Summary: Blues take 3 to drop the Indians 23 games under .500 and looking forward to the end of season.
Wainwright Wranglers @ Coastline Bobcats
Series Preview: Wainwright (46-63) travels into Coastline (75-34) for a 4 game series.
Game #1: WWW N.Rucker vs CLB B.Swift
This game would be a good old slugfest! WWW opens the scoring in the T2 on a Grace 2b, Pucket bb, and Rucker 2-rbi 2b. (yep…. Rucker with the big hit) CLB strikes back in the B4 when C.Ripken 1bs, Wilson 2bs, Skowron inf rbi-1b, Gordon rbi-2b, and a M.Williams 2-rbi 1b.WWW gets a run back in the T5 when Gwynn 2bs with 2 out and scores on a Daulton rbi-1b. CLB gets the run right back in the B5 as Kemp 1bs and scores on Burks rbi-3b. In the B6 Wilson leads off with a bb, Skowron bbs, and that’s all for Rucker as D.Jones comes in for WWW. Gordon greets hin with an rbi-2b and M.Williams follows with a 3-run HR for a 9-3 CLB lead!CLB brings Sutton on for some work with the big lead and it doesn’t work out well as WWW knocks him around. Roberts bbs, Fernandez 1bs, Daulton rips a 2-run 3b, and Manush lines an rbi-1b off Burks glove (but is nailed at 3rd trying to stretch it) CLB lead now sits at 9-6. CLB gets 2 back in the B7 when Wilson bbs and Skowron hits a 2-run HR.CLB Sutton is still on the hill in the T9 and PH Carew leads off with a 1b, Roberts rips an rbi-3b, Fernandez follows with an rbi-2b which knocks out Sutton. Sutter comes on and only gives up a Daulton 1b as he closes out the game for his 46th save.CLB B.Swift (12-8) gets the win, Sutter earns Save#46, Rucker (5-14) takes the loss.CLB 11, WWW 8
Game #2: WWW L.Grove vs CLB C.Finley
This game would be all about CLB C.Finley and the CLB bullpen. CLB opens the scoring in the B3 when Williams 2bs, White 1bs, and a Kemp rbi-2b. WWW ties it in the T4 when Grace 1bs, Puckett is HBP, and Fernandez strokes an rbi-1b. But that would be all the scoring for WWW in the game.CLB takes the lead in the B5 on a Burks rbi-1b and put the game out of reach in the B8 behind a Gordon 2-rbi 2b, M.Williams rbi-1b, and White rbi-3b.CLB Finley goes 6 scattering 7 hits and a walk but gives up only the 1 run. CLB Albers, Casilla, and Marshall come out of the pen and go 3 scoreless innings.CLB C.Finley (15-5) picks up the win and WWW L.Grove (12-9) gets the loss.CLB 6, WWW 1
Game #3: WWW V.Willis vs CLB D.Stieb
WWW scores 1st in the T4 when Gwynn bbs, Daulton reaches on Stieb’s error, and Grace hits an rbi-1b. WWW adds another in the T5 when Brett 1bs, Willis is HBP, and Roberts has an rbi-1b, 2-0 WWW lead. It doesn’t last as CLB ties it in the B5 when Gordon bbs, M.Williams H&R 1b, and Becker hits a 2-rbi 2b.But WWW comes right back in the T6 when Daultonbbs, Manush with a sac, and Puckett with the eventual rbi-1b. CLB retakes the lead in the B7 on back-to-back solo-HRs by Gordon and M.Williams. In the T8 WWW Gwynn bbs, Daulton 2bs, CLB calls on Orosco for the lefty on lefty match-up against Manush. Manush then ties the game with an inf rbi-1b. But with no out Orosco comes through getting Grace, Puckett, and Brett to preserve the tie.The game goes into extra frames and WWW gets 1.1IP of scoreless relief out of D.Ward before giving the ball to French in the 11th. In the B11 CLB Howard 1bs, Bresnahan PRs and steals 2nd, Gehrig is then IW, Gordon P4, and M.Williams F7. Kemp is then called on to PH for Sutter and he comes through with the PH 3-run HR for the game winner!CLB B.Sutter (3-2) gets the win and WWW L.French (1-2) is handed the loss.CLB 7, WWW 4
Game #4: WWW D.White vs CLB S.Maglie
CLB strikes first in the B2 when Wilson 2bs, Skowron bbs, and Gordon hits a 3-run HR. WWW White and CLB Maglie then trade scoreless innings through the 6th. In the T6 WWW gets on the board when Puckett 1bs, Brett 1bs, and White 1bs to load the bases; Roberts gets a rbi-FC to plate the run. Maglie then gets Fernandez on a FC grounder to put out the fire. CLB would get the run back in the B7 on a White throwing error.In the T9 Sutter, as is the norm, is called on to close out the game but things would not go as smoothly as they usually do. After Grace grounds out to open the inning, Puckett smacks a solo-HR to make it 4-2, and Grace 2bs. WWW brings in PH Encarnacion who draws a bb, Suarez PRs, and Roberts then 1bs to load the bases. Fernandez then strides to the plate and hits into a game ending 5-2-3 DP!
Coastline breathes a great sigh of relief!CLB S.Maglie (7-0) gets the win and stays perfect on the season, Sutter works hard for his 47th save, and WWW D.White (11-15) take the loss.CLB 4, WWW 2
Series Summary: Coastline earns the tough 4-0 sweep over Wainwright. Wainwright actually out hit Coastline in 2 of the 4 games, but the difference in the series was the long ball. Coastline hit 6 HRs to Wainwright’s 1, and several of the ‘Cats HRs were crucial big hits.
Fantomz Force @ Hoboken Zephyrs
Series Preview: The Force travel to Hoboken hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Zephyrs look to hold onto a playoff spot as they struggle through the second half of the season.
Game #1: Red Faber and Satchel Paige locked up in a brilliant pitching duel. Paige threw 8 scoreless innings while Faber dropped 10 goose eggs on the Force. The game was decided by a two-run throwing error in the top of the 11th inning.
Fantom 2 Hoboken 0
Game #2: Jered Weaver and Gaylord Perry gave solid performances in Game 2. Weaver faltered in the 9th to blow a 4-3 lead. Ray Lankford and Stan Spence led their teams offensively both driving in two runs each.
Fantom 5 Hoboken 4
Game #3: Tom Seaver came into Game 3 determined to stop the Zephyrs’ 6-game losing streak. He was more than up to the task. Seaver improved to 15-8, 3.24era scattering 7 hits, allowing just one run and striking out eight in a complete game victory. Stan Spence had two big RBIs to lead the Hoboken offense.
Hoboken 3 Fantom 1
Game #4: Noodles Hahn was brilliant allowing just one hit in a complete game shutout to lead the Zephyrs to a series split. Hahn’s record improved to 18-7, 2.10era. Stan Spence provided the only offense with a two-run blast as he recorded two RBIs in three consecutive games.
Hoboken 2 Fantom 0
Series Summary: The series was characterized by very strong pitching and resulted in a hard fought split. Noodles Hahn Game 4 one-hitter was likely the most impressive showing of the series.
Fire Lake Segers @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: The Fire Lake Segers (56-53) visit the Detroit DeLoreans (68-41) for a rematch four-game NL divisional crossover series.
Game #1: FLS 1 – DET 3: Segers jumped out first with a fourth-inning homer from Gus Bell. However, a 2-run double from Sam Rice in the fifth inning put the DeLoreans ahead for good. Detroit’s Roy White added an insurance solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Allie Reynolds with another strong pitching performance for the DeLoreans, striking out 10 in 7.2 IP.
Game #2: FLS 1 – DET 2: Three solo home runs were all the scoring in this one. Fire Lake’s Pete Rose went deep in the top of the fourth inning, then Detroit’s Anthony Rendon tied it in the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Roy White hit his second homer of the series to give the DeLoreans a 2-1 lead.
Game #3: FLS 1 – DET 5: Detroit jumped out to a 5-0 behind two Joe Cronin home runs. Cronin, N. Lajoie, C. Klein, A. Rendon, and Y. Berra all had multi-hit games for the DeLoreans.
Game #4: FLS 1 – DET 2: Pete Rose led the game off with a triple and scored on a Jose Cardenal sac fly. Detroit tied it in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI sing from Sam Rice. In the bottom of the fifth, the DeLorean’s pitcher Hippo Vaughn helped himself out with his second homer of the season.
Series Summary: Detroit with a sweep in a very tight series. Not much offense for either team. Timely hits were the only major difference.
San Tan Valley Moonrakers @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: The San Tan Valley Moonrakers visit the struggling West Michigan Retrogrades in a four game tilt.
Game #1: After Heavy Johnson led off the game with a homer, the Retrogrades raced out to a 6-0 lead. Behind a solid pitching performance from Urban Shocker, West Michigan cruised to victory. V. Stephens and Mike Piazza had 2 hits each for San Tan. West Michigan got 2 hits R. Cano and A. Beltre.
FINAL SCORE : MOONRAKERS 2, RETROGRADES 6
Game #2: After an inning, it was a 2-1 West Michigan lead. However, San Tan strung runs together and had a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th. Joe Tinker started the Retrogrades comeback with a pinch-hit homer. West Michigan tied the game in the bottom of the 8th and then won it in the 10th on a Bob Boone base hit. Unfortunately, the Retrogrades lost the services of Heavy Johnson for 7 game after he was, again, hit by a pitch. LEG, like all BBW games, uses shotputs for baseballs that leave hairline fractures to batsmen. If Ron Hunt played in LEG he’d be out for a week every other at bat. For San Tan, H. Trosky had 2 hits, including a homer and V. Stephens had 3. T. Davis and J. Tinker collected two knocks a piece for West Michigan.
FINAL SCORE : MOONRAKERS 4, RETROGRADES 5 (10 innings)
Game #3: The wind was blowing out in West Michigan as both teams combined for 27 hits and 18 runs. Fortunately for the Retrogrades, they scored 13 of the runs. G. Sisler and T. Davis each had 3 hits for the Retrogrades. The Moonrakers got 2 hits a piece from the top 3 spots in their order including a homer from V. Stephens.
FINAL SCORE : MOONRAKERS 5, RETROGRADES 13
Game #4: Once again, the Moonrakers had a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th but couldn’t hold on. However, San Tan got great performances from H. Trosky (homer and 2 hits) and V. Stephens (3 hits). Duke Snider had 3 hits for the Retrogrades. Also, Snider tied the game with a base hit in the bottom of the 8th. Then, Austin McHenry (filling in for Heavy Johnson) hit a booming homer in the bottom of the 10th for the walk-off winner.
FINAL SCORE : MOONRAKERS 4, RETROGRADES 5 (10 innings)
Series Summary: With two extra inning games, the series easily could have been a split rather than a West Michigan sweep. Vern Stephens should be considered for player of the week for his 9-17 (.529), 1 homer, 1 double, 4 RBI series.
Clockwork Heroes @ Climax Cougars
Series Preview: Thunder and lightning rolled into the sleepy Saskatchewan town of Climax this week in the form of the Clockwork Heros. Unlike their good fortunate when playing San Tan Valley earlier this month where the team was able to dodge a start from Randy Johnson, there would be no avoiding uber pitcher Christy Mathewson in Game 3 of this series. Brace yourselves, kids – it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
Game #1: This game was to feature George Uhle taking the mound for Clockwork against Sid Fernandez, but the lefty complained of fear of being made to look like an idiot before the game so was swapped for another lefty – this one era compatible – in Rube Waddell who was heard to say “shur, I’ll f-in’ start” when he was asked to take the mound.
A pretty inauspicious (that means “sucky”, Bob) start for the Cougars as it looked like Lenny Dykstra was going to register an out courtesy of the awe-inspiring popout to the catcher, but Chief Meyers had trouble with his 21st century-style catcher’s mitt and dropped the pop up just inside fair territory. Bob Watson followed with a flare over 2nd baseman George Grantham and then usually reliable right fielder Mel Ott let the ball bounce past him to make it runners on 2nd and 3rd with two errors committed and none out. Arky Vaughan ripped a single up the middle off Waddell and that sent both baserunners home and just like that it was 2-0.
Pretty miraculously Waddell was able to hold the Heros there for a while and the next scoring did not occur until the 5th inning and even more miraculously it was by the Cougars. Uhle had been cruising along this point with walks being a bigger problem than hits and the two problems came together in the 5th. Uhle game up a double to Jim Fregosi and then walked Meyers bringing up Ott who more than made up for the elusive ball he muffed in the first inning by depositing the Hero’s starter’s pitch deep into the right field stands at old Comiskey giving Climax a 3-2 lead.
The effect of the homer was immediate. The Heros were pissed.
George Foster and Bill Terry continued their march towards 100-RBI seasons with Foster singling home two runners and then Terry knocking in another as the game’s fortunes reversed into a 5-3 Clockwork lead.
Fregosi cut the margin to 5-4 with a single that scored Jose Mendez – the latter entering the game after 2nd baseman Grantham was tossed for arguing a call at 1st base two innings earlier.
So the trend continues … Climax scores, Clockwork gets ticked and scores some more.
In this case, the Heros added two runs again thanks to the top of the order with Foster and Terry combining with pinch hitter Dick Wakefield to make it 7-4.
With Uhle out of the game, the Cougars could do nothing against Steve Gromek in the 7th, but Gromek was removed for pinch hitter Bill Melton in the 8th and was replaced by Schoolboy Rowe. Rowe didn’t quite work out as planned and led off the inning by giving up a mammoth homer to Jose Bautista to start the inning. He did register two outs in the inning but not before having problems with some control which led to him loading the bases and being replaced by Terry Forster who walked Harlond Clift to bring in the game-tying run.
Extra frames here we go …
The bullpens kept the hitters at bay into the 12th with Kent Tekulve in control for Clockwork and Greg Harris for Climax.
Tekulve went into the 12th having pitched a perfect 11th and the 12th began the same way with Tekulve striking out Fregosi and getting Meyers to ground out. Walks to Ott and Bautista (the third of the game for each of them) brought up Johnny Mize who had a single in five trips at this point in the game in a rare start at 1st base. Mize made no mistake and smacked a rocket into the right field cheapies for a walkoff 10-7 Climax win that stunned everyone (me the most).
W-Harris (4-5. 3.94)
L-Tekulve (3-5, 3.05)
HR-CMC: Ott (17), Bautista (18), Mize (5)
Game #2: Game 2 had modern day ace Corey Kluber hitting the mound against Negro League Hall of Famer Dick (Cannonball) Redding.
Redding and the Climax fans were hoping to see him continue to pitch over his head and make a bid for pitcher of the week. Instead, we should have been hoping for him to be able to make it out of the 1st inning … which he didn’t.
Redding’s mechanics were FUBAR from the opening pitch (later blaming his lack of control to being unable to wash Omar’s Cajun Stick to Yer Ribs Rib Sauce off his hands). Redding’s 2/3 of an inning were eventful – he gave up a walk to Lenny Dykstra, induced a pop out by Louis Santop, walked Arky Vaughan, loaded the bases on an infield single to Bob Watson, gave up an RBI SAC fly to George Foster, got Bill Terry to ground into a fielder’s choice that scored a run, smacked Bill Bradley in the chops with a fastball to load the bases again, liked the sound so much he repeated the deed with the next hitter (Red Schoendienst) bringing in another run and the last straw was the RBI single he gave up to Kluber. When the dust settled Clockwork had a 7-0 lead after one.
Climax’s field boss was already looking forward to possible subs for his more fragile players, but for now was content with keeping things as is (cuz they were going so well).
Sid Fernandez, who had put out the 1st inning inferno, stayed in for the Cougars through to the end of the 4th inning without any further damage.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Cougars edged closer with a 3-spot on an RBI groundout by George Grantham and a two-run double by Sam Crawford.
The 5th inning saw the two teams trade single runs on a solo homer by George Foster for Clockwork and an unearned run by the Cougars thanks to a muffed play on a fly ball to Bob Watson.
In the bottom of the 7th, Mel Ott connected on a Kluber fastball to drive in two with the two-out home run and that was the end of the day for Kluber. Almost as bad as Redding had been in allowing six runs compared to seven, but stretched out over a more palatable period. Hal Newhouser got Johnny Mize to fly out to shallow right to end the inning at 8-6 for Clockwork.
Dykstra did his part to crush the hometown crowd’s hopes by golfing a ball over the center field wall courtesy of an Ellis Kinder grotesquely hanging curve which made it 9-6 for Clockwork.
Schoolboy Rowe popped in to say hello and try and close out the game with his 2nd inning of work against the Cougars but continued to have problems with this team. He left the game with Ott on 2nd and one run in. Steve Gromek was called in to face Jose Bautista and put out the fire, but Bautista had his team and the entire crowd on their feet with a fly ball to left that carried and carried and carried until it cleared the wall and tied up the game. Extra innings here we go again.
Kinder stayed in for Climax and continued to make things interesting in the 10th by giving up base hits to Dykstra and Watson, but managed to strike out two in the inning to strand the runners at 1st and 3rd.
Clockwork turned to funky armed Kent Tekulve who opened the inning by getting a soft groundout from Crawford. Tekulve was not so lucky with the next hitter – Clift – who was already 3/4 with two doubles high off the outfield wall in left. Clift managed to improve upon those two extra base hits with just enough extra loft on Tekulve’s first pitch and it was all over with another dramatic walkoff home run. Fans who went home stunned after the first game were still wandering for hours after the game in the concourses and parking lots with stupid grins and blank stares thanks to the 10-9 win.
W-Kinder (5-2, 3.73)
L-Tekulve (3-6, 3.20)
HR-CWH:Dykstra (4), Foster (19); CMC: Ott (18), Bautista (19), Clift (7)
Game #3: … and here cometh the undodgeable bullet – Christy Mathewson.
Looking for his 20th win … seriously? We’re only just over 100 games into the season. Good grief. Mathewson took the mound to end the mini-slump and two game skid by the Heros. Facing him was none other than Greg Harris who was such a household name that there were two of him pitching in the majors in the early 90s.
The unthinkable happened in the 1st inning and the Cougars got on the board 1st on a home run by George Grantham that barely cleared the glove of leaping Lenny Dykstra in left field. Grantham felt so genuinely bad of committing the crime against the legendary righty that he had to be restrained from rushing the mound and grovelling for forgiveness.
The Heros restored order in the cosmos in the 3rd inning when Dykstra walked, stole 2nd base and then scored on Louis Santop’s line drive single down the right field line.
Mathewson was in his groove heading into the 6th inning already having notched 8 strikeouts and having allowed all of one hit (a double by Sam Crawford in the 2nd). Mathewson got Jim Fregosi and Grantham out to start the inning, but then Mel Ott was able to reach on an infield roller to 3rd base that he was able to leg out. Jose Bautista followed that with a solid single over short that dunked into left field. Johnny Mize then one-upped things by missing a homer by a few inches when he bashed the ball off the right field wall and limp-armed rightfielder Bob Watson could only roll the ball back to the infield as both runners raced around to score and make it 3-1.
… and that was it.
Harris unbelievably went the distance with the 2-hitter and guaranteed the Cougars the series win.
W-Harris (5-5, 3.58)
L-Mathewson (19-4, 1.74)
HR-CMC: Grantham (8)
Game #4: We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.
Dick Donovan continued his National League dominance even when coming into the game Itchy.
Donovan tossed eight innings out shutout ball and all that the Cougars could muster in this one was two unearned runs off Jose Valverde in the 9th in a 6-2 Clockwork win.
This game was doomed from the outset for Climax with shortstop Jim Fregosi bobbling Arky Vaughan’s grounder which loaded the bases. George Foster brought in a run with a one-out single and then with two outs Bill Bradley brought in two to make it 3-0 after the 1st.
Pitcher Donovan crushed a Clay Carroll pitch in the 7th to make it 4-0 and then in the 8th the Heros added two more on a single by Bradley.
In the 9th with Sam Crawford and Buck Leonard on base, Chief Meyers singled to centre field where Foster was patrolling. Foster had a bit of trouble finding the ball and threw to home trying to nail Crawford. The ball sailed past catcher Louis Santop’s head and off the backstop allowing Leonard to scamper home from 3rd as well.
Way too little, way too late and Donovan was way too good as Clockwork closed out the series with a 6-2 win.
W-Donovan (11-1, 1.91)
L-Mungo (7-6, 2.80)
HR-CWH: Donovan (1)
Series Summary: Well much better a result than we could have ever hoped for against arguably the best team in the National League. Most importantly for the Cougars was the awakening of the hitters home run stroke with 7 in the series against some top flight pitching. Still, we’re not delusional and without the comebacks and the extra-inning heroics we could just as easily been on the other side of a 3-1 series.
Virginia Cavaliers @ Iowa Giants
Series Preview: Cavaliers and Giants both come in struggling for the season, Cavaliers a slighting better record but the Giants hope to improve their record
Game #1: VIR 4-6-3 WP Gomez 11-8
IOW 1-6-3 LP Feller 8-16
Gomez has a great game going 7 innings allowing 5 hits and 1 er
Game #2: VIR 2-6-1 LP G Jackson 3-3
IOW 3-6-1 WP Rincon 3-2 SV Fidrych 1
Preacher Roegets gets the start and on first pitch hurts his arm and now out for 12 games, Dizzy Dean gets the start goes five innings 6 hits 2 er, and Mark Fidyrch gets his first save of the year. Lou Broudeau hits a homer in the Giants win.
Game #3: VIR 2-5-0 WP Turley 8-9 Foulke SV 29
IOW 0-2-0 LP Oswalt
Turley has a great start goes 7 innings allowing 1 hit and no runs, hope he is consider for player of the week. Heilman 2-3 homer and 2 rbi’s
Game #4: VIR 4-4-0 WP Reulbach 7-8 Foulke SV 30
IOW 2-6-2 LP Dean 4-9
Foulke records his 30th save
Game #5: 6-6 Cole Hamels v 12-6 Adam Wainwright – Wainwright was the story – a critical game after the 14 inning, bullpen blowing loss from game 1, Wainwright tosses a 2 hit CG shutout for win#13, 7-0. He allowed only 4 base runners, and lowered his RA to 2.61. Fred McGriff and Wes Westrum did the damage for Motown, combining to go 3-8 with 3 runs, 5 RBI’s, on a 2B and 2 HR’s.
Series Summary: All games were close Cavaliers pitching was just to much for Giants to score. Iowa just moves closer to a nice pick in the draft, on a side note Giants have traded LaTroy Hawkins and wish him luck, LaTroy went 6-1 with a 4.10 ERA in 37 1/3 innings
Nags Head Surf Sox @ Motown Yankees
Series Preview: Two teams struggling to find their place – playoffs or draft position? Neither team has much room for error if the answer is playoffs……
Game #1: Nolan Ryan v. Larry Jansen – after opening scores for both squads, it was a pitchers duel…..Motown taking a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth……Steve Mingori and his grade 21 comes in to blow his 7th, yes 7th, save of the season. Motown punished him by making him throw 6 more innings, facing 26 batters, and taking the loss in the 14th (also incurring RUse fines for Motown). It was Mingori’s 7th loss to go with those 7 blown saves. Both teams squandered plenty of chances, but the top of Nags Head order delivered, with Von Hayes and Derek Jeter combining to go 6-12 with 2 runs, 2 RBI’s, 2 2B’s and a triple. Convesele, Motown’s top 2 combined for a nice 0-10 effort.

Nags Head takes game 1 3-2 in 14. Side note – Mingori cannot fail any more this season.

Game #2: 6-6 Cole Hamels v 12-6 Adam Wainwright – Wainwright was the story – a critical game after the 14 inning, bullpen blowing loss from game 1, Wainwright tosses a 2 hit CG shutout for win#13, 7-0. He allowed only 4 base runners, and lowered his RA to 2.61. Fred McGriff and Wes Westrum did the damage for Motown, combining to go 3-8 with 3 runs, 5 RBI’s, on a 2B and 2 HR’s.
Game #3: Mussina, 10-7, v Dave Brown, 12-10. Motown was confident with Brown and his 2.41 toeing the rubber, but Nags Head busted that confidence up with 7 earned between the 3rd and 4th. Nags Head offense was on fire, posting 12 hits and scoring 9 in a lopsided 9-3 victory.
Game #4: Palmer v. Joss – Nags Head continues their offensive attack with a 3 run 1st, but Motown fought back to tie it at 3 through 6. Motown’s other grade 21 couldn’t hold up, with Nags Head pushing across the lead run in the top of the 9th, and Cordero shutting the door for his 22nd save. Stanton was the hitting star going 3-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s and an HR. Nags Head takes game 4 4-3.
Series Summary: Nags Head took the series, 3-1, kicking Motown down as they fight for their playoff lives. Not that righties are great, but don’t throw lefties at this squad – they destroy them! Wainwright should get pitcher of the week honors for the 2 hit CG SO. Von Hayes went 7-17 with a handful of runs and RBI’s – don’t know that it’s enough for Player of the week but I will let Nags Head decide if they want to back him.
Hollywood Zombies @ Pigtown Bombers
Series Preview: An epic battle for the Toilet Bowl trophy between last place teams, Hollywood and Pigtown.
Game #1: Hollywood pounds out 12 hits and gets a strong game from Walter Johnson to win the opener 5-4. Four players for the Zombies had multiple hits (Butler, Collins, Guerrero and Tejada). Pigtown got only 5 hits, but they included a solo HR from Manny R and a 3-run shot from Ernie Lombardo.
Game #2: A 13 inning game where both starters (Owens and Abbott) failed to get quality starts (therefore the bullpens were gassed). Hollywood pulls it out 8-6. Raines led the way for Hollywood going 4-7 with a 2B and HR. Collins had 3 RBIs and Guerrero had 3 more hits.
Game #3: Another extra inning game…Pigtown jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but could not hold on. Hollywood battled back led by Rock Raines (3-6 with a 3B, HR and 5 RBIs) and take the game 8-5 in 11 innings. Pigtown drops to 1-15 in extra innings games.
Game #4: And another extra inning game…This time Pigtown pulls it out and wins 3-2.
Series Summary: A 1-run game and 3 extra inning games in the battle for the 1st pick of the 2021 LEG draft. Pigtown takes a step towards that achievement, but loses the series 3-1. No PoW pitchers, but Tim Raines deserves to win the award this week for hitting. He played 3 games and went 8-17 with 3 HRs, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 runs and 8 RBIs. If he doesn’t win this week, I give up…

2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #22

National League Pitchers of the Week – randy JOHNSON – San Tan Valley

1-0 record, 9.0 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts, &  3 walks.

 

 

American League Pitcher of the Week – David PRICE – Indiana

1-0 record, 9 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, & 2 walks

 

 

 

National League Player of the Week – Anthony Rendon – Detroit

.500 avg / 1.063 slg, 8 for 16, 6 doubles, 1 home run, 4 runs, 6 RBIs, 1 SB, & 2 walks

 

 

American League Player of the Week – Jack Clark  – New Westminster

.417 avg / 1.167 slg, 5  for 12,  3 homers, 6 runs, 5 RBIs, &6 walks

 

Feature: This week in LEG Ball

As we prepare to end our inter-division play and go back to divisional play, there is not much change.

In the AL East, Lewisberry, Jack Street and Chicago are struggling to decide who wants the top spot as all three teams are in the midst of losing streaks. Kansa City (A’s), Middle Channel and Vegas are locked in a battle for king of the middle spots and Boston and Indiana are trying to get out of the cellar.

In the AL West, Ft. Worth sits soundly in first with a 9-game lead. Cincinnati claims the number two spot with New Westminster nipping at their heels as they continue on an upstream coarse. Purry and Menomonee, with records good enough to be in the top tier of the AL East, seem to have been pushed into the middle of the AL West. Madison and Kansas’ other team (the Blues) are looking toward next year and poor Wrigleyville is pinning its hopes on securing one of the top draft picks. As they prepare to face one another over the remainder of the season, we should see more separation as the top tier teams start jockeying for playoff positions.

          In the NL East Coastline continues to maintain a comfortable lead over Detroit and West Michigan as those two teams try to figure out how they can overtake Coastline. Hint: beat them head-to-head cause nobody else is doing it. Climax, Fantomz, Virginia, and Nags Head are fumbling around

trying to figure out whether they are going to be playoff contenders or whether they can start worrying about player usage. And Pigtown? They’re going to get a real good draft pick.

Over in the NL West Clockwork has pretty much wrapped up the Division crown with a 21-game lead. Hoboken, Fire Lake, Motown, and San Tan Valley are in their own race for second place with only 6 games separating those four teams. Iowa and Hollywood? Yes, they’re still there. I like to see them as the foundation of their Division…everyone else is building powerhouses on top of them.

          With the Division titles pretty much decided, with the exception of the AL East, the fun thing to watch is the playoff races. Several teams are in the running for spots and a battle is sure to develop as we head down the back stretch headed for the far turn. Good luck to all.

Finish last in your league and they call you idiot. Finish last in medical school and they call you doctor. –

Abe Lemons

New Westminster Salmonbellies @ Lewisberry Country Blumpkins
Series Preview: The New Westminster Salmonbellies ambushed the Country Blumpkins as they were looking upstream along Mud Run for their arrival The PR guy forgot to tell the team they swim upstream…
Game #1: Clark (solo & 2run), Dhigo (2run) and Campanella (solo) all homer for the Bellies as it wasn’t much of a game as Ruth loses again. I should trade him.
Salmonbellies 9 Country Blumpkins 2
Game #2: It took 10 innings, but Beltran’s solo HR in the top of the inning proved to be the game winner. NWS had tied it up in the 8th. Freddie Freeman hits a solo shot for Lewisberry.
Salmonbellies 5 Country Blumpkins 4 10inn
Game #3: Jeff Tesreau was getting too many outs after 7ip, allowing only 4 hits as his manager costs him a POTW nomination. Campanella hits 2 HRs and Clark adds a solo in a laugher.
Salmonbellies 10 Country Blumpkins 0
Game #4: Blumpkins’ David Ortiz’s solo Hr was no match for Dihigo’s 3run blast or Wynn’s solo as Bellies cruise to victory.
Salmonbellies 4 Country Blumpkins 1
Series Summary: Salmonbellies win 4 as scoring 7 runs in a series just isn’t gonna cut it in this league. Dihigo goes 6/17, 6RBI, 4R, 2HR.
Chicago Nine @ Cincinnati Knights
Series Preview: The Chicago Nine come to Cincinnati for a four game set.
Game #1: CIN 4-5-0, CHI 2-7-2
Game #2: CIN 11-19-2, CHI 5-9-0 Sal Bando rips his 25th homer of the year and the his LEG-leading third GRAND SLAM.
Game #3: CIN 7-9-1, CHI 2-12-0
Game #4: CIN 6-11-1, CHI 4-10-0
Series Summary: The Knights avenge an earlier series loss in the Windy City. Ted Williams makes his bid Player of the Week by going four-for-11 (.364 batting average), walks EIGHT times (.632 OBP — including his 100th walk of the year), clubs two homers (.909 slugging), scores five times, drives in five and has a 1.541 OPS for the series.
Wrigleyville Whales @ Jack Street Hustlers
Series Preview: The Wrigleyville Whales 36-69 travel to Jack Street to take on the Hustlers 53-52 in an interdivision matchup. The matchup was played live over Teamviewer. Thanks to Paul for the fun. I had saved the scripts to help my memory, but I forgot where I saved them. . . so it will kind of be from memory (which if you can’t remember where you store a file, this probably won’t be good).
Game #1: Dutch Ruether (5-10) takes the mound for Wrigleyville against Hustler supposed ace Bill Byrd (7-5). Jack Street set the tone for this one, as they scored 5 in the first. The story of the game was Bill Byrd who completed 6 hitless innings against the Whales. The 7th was a little odd to say the least. An error and 3 walks led to the first run of the game for the Whales. Then up steps Yaz who belts a pinch hit grand slam to give Wrigleyville 5 runs on 1 hit. That’s all the hits and runs Wrigleyville could muster, as Jack Street takes the opener 12-5.

W 5/1/0
J 12/14/1

WP – Byrd 8-5
LP – Ruether 5-11
Sv – None
HR – W – Yaz (8) J – Hornsby (27) McGwire (29), Hisle (9)

Game #2: Carl Mays 8-8 for the Whales against Carl Lundgren 4-2 for the Hustlers.

After game 1’s run fest, this game took a different route. Jack Street once again scored first in the bottom half of the first on a Medwick 2 run homer. That was all that they would get and were depending on Lundgren to pick them up. Carl was up to the task, giving up only a solo shot to Stan the Man in the fourth, as Jack Street takes game two 2-1. Rogers Hornsby shows the offense the way by going 4-4 with a double and a run. Stan the Man goes 2-2 with a double, homer, run and an rbi.

W 1/4/0
J 2/10/0

WP – Lundgren 5-2
LP – Mays 8-9
Sv – Brantley 17
HR – W – Musial (8) J – Medwick (21)

Game #3: The Whales, looking for a little revenge, sends Dave McNally 1-3 to the mound to face Dan Haren 4-11.

Both starters were dealing donuts until the bottom of the 6th, when the Hustlers, once again, took the early lead on a solo shot by JD Drew. That was the last runs that they would score but, unlike Lundgren in game 2, Haren couldn’t make it hold up. In the top of the 7th, Wrigleyville plated 4 runs on RBIs by Combs, Musial and Meusel. Dave McNally was dealing the whole game, going the distance giving up 4 hits, a run, 3 walks and striking out 10.

W 4/7/0
J 1/4/1

WP – McNally 2-3
LP – Haren 4-12
Sv – None
HR – J – Drew (6)

Game #4: The final game of the series. Wrigleyville was hoping Dick Rudolph 1-3 could gain a series split against Tom Glavine 12-4 for Jack Street.

As has been a series staple, Jack Street scored first in the bottom of the 1st with a single run and followed that up in the second and third with a run in each to take a 3-0 lead after 3. The Whales stormed back in the 5th posting a big 5 on the scoreboard and posted single runs in the 6th and 7th to take a 7-3 to the bottom of the 7th and things were looking bleak for the home team. The Hustlers went nuts in the bottom of the 7th and posted 7 to take the game 10-7. Lots of hitting in this one as Bob Horner and Johnny Bates each picking up a pair of hits (including a double for each) and Bates and Lazzeri (ph double) each droive in a pair. The Hustlers were lead on offense by Bob Meusel who went 2-3 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, a walk and 3 rbis. Crash in LF sends Drew (7 days) and Bartell (12 days) to the injured list for Jack Street.

W 7/10/3
J 10/9/0

WP – Jones 3-4
LP – Burke 0-3
Sv – Brantley 18
HR – W – Davis (7)

Series Summary: Jack Street takes a hard fought series 3-1.

Nominees for weekly awards:
Pitcher – Bill Byrd 9 IP 1 H 5 R 0 ER 5 BB 5 K
Hitter – Rogers Hornsby 8-11, 3 runs, 4 rbi, double, homer 2 bb

Middle Channel Sturgeons @ Purry Cowpokes
Series Preview: The Sturgeons of Middle Channel (48-61) travel to Purry to face the Cowpokes (62-47).
Game #1: Rickey Henderson, Ted Strong, and Shane Victorino each drive in 3 runs as the Cowpokes take game 1, 13-5.
Game #2: Javier Vazquez records his 16th win and Carlos Santana and Graig Nettles drove in 2 runs apiece as Purry wins 7-4.
Game #3: Steve Carlton holds Middle Channel to 1 run on 3 hits over 6.3 innings. Purry wins 3-1.
Game #4: Willie McCovey homered for the 3rd game in a row and Carlos Santana drove in Shane Victorino in the bottom of the 9th for a 3-2 Purry victory.
Series Summary: Purry sweep the visiting Sturgeons. Javier Vazquez improves his record to 16-5. Willie McCovey goes 7-17, with 3 homers, 4 rbi’s, and 4 runs scored.
Las Vegas Pirates @ Fort Worth Cats
Series Preview:  
Game #1: Prince Fielder drove home two on a single and a solo home run – his 18th while Jake Arrieta stymied the Cats offense as they could only score twice. Homerun Baker had his 5th homer of the year bringing Ft. Worth to within one in the 8th, but they went down quietly in the 9th.

Final Score: Pirates 3, Cats 2

Game #2: Back to back two out doubles by Moises Alou and Al Oliver gave the Cats a 2-0 lead after one inning. In the third two 1 out doubles by Alou and Hunter Pence padded the lead to 4-0. In the 4th Prince Fielder nearly erased the lead with a three run jimmy jack for his 19th blast of the year. Joe Dimaggio would however tie the game in 5th for Las Vegas with a two out RBI single. It didn’t take long for the Cats to take back the lead. After Hunter Pence singled in the go ahead run, Ken Singleton pinch hit for Pete Runnels, “The runners take their lead … the pitch … SINGLETON ’77 puts a charge into this one a big fly to deep left … FALK ’26 will run out of room … that’s a Baltimore special … a three-run homer … SINGLETON ’77 has his 12th homer … and the CATS are out in front 8-4” Ft. Worth would another run in the 5th and hang on to win game two.

Final Score Cats 9, Pirates 7

Game #3: Kaat allowed a leadoff walk in the first and it came back to bite him when Joe Dimaggio singles home Craig Biggio to give Las Vegas a 1-0 lead. Ft. Worth would tie the game in the 5th on a sac fly by Toby Harrah in the 5th. The Pirates go back in front in the 7th on a fielder’s choice, but the Cats tie the game in the bottom of the 7th on a double by Keith Hernandez. The Cats would take the lead for good in the 8th on an error by the Pirates shortstop, “CHANCE ’25 with the pitch grounded to short … KESSINGER ’74’s there … this should do it … and he fires it right by MADLOCK ’85 … OLIVER ’83 rounds third … he’s headed for home … he’ll score … CATS lead! … ALLEY ’68 never made the turn toward second and has to settle for first … that should be an error on KESSINGER ’74 … and it is…E6 … oh! … the streak is over … 25 straight games without a miscue. And the CATS break the tie and now lead 3-2”

Final Score Cats 3, Pirates 2

Game #4: Three different Pirates drove in a run and two other hitters had triples, but the Cats scored three times in the 6th for the win. They could have score more if not for a weird play, “Infielders back … the runners take their lead … the pitch … DANNING ’38 lashes one to right base hit … MAY ’69 scores … ALOU ’00’s around third … they’re waving him home two runs score … tie game! … going first to third is Ken SINGLETON ’77 the throw comes into second … and DANNING ’38 is on with a single BUTTS ’47 with a bat in hand … Steps up to face FINGERS ’84 … in the box now wait a minute … what’s this … FINGERS ’84 steps off the rubber … throws to HOAK ’54 there’s an appeal at third … and he’s out! … ALOU ’00 missed third base … one run scores DANNING ’38 loses the hit and an RBI” Not sure why Danning had to lose the hit. Thankfully for Ft. Worth home crowd Tommy PeeWee Butts followed with a double officially scoring the 2nd and 3rd runs of the inning.

Final Score: Cats 4, Pirates 3

Series Summary: Cats take the series 3 games to 1.

The Cats are a little sad to see their interdivision time on the schedule come to an end after next weeks series in Chicago as they’ve gone 50-10 against the AL East. Overall Ft. Worth has gone 71 and 17 since starting the season at 10 and 11.

Starting next week the Cats begin a difficult stretch playing 25 of the next 32 games on the road including series at Cincinnati and at New Westminster as those two teams hope to narrow the gap between them and Ft. Worth. Even with their great record after 109 games anything can happen the last third of the season among the top 5 teams of the AL West. Buckle your seat belt it’s gonna be a wild ride to the end!

Kansas City A’s @ Menonomee Minutemen
Series Preview: The KC A’s head to the state of Beer and cheese to face the Minutemen of Menomonee.
Series Summary: KC took 3 of 4 from the struggling men of minutes and ran from town with cases of beer and cheese curds laughing about how they stole the series. Let’s be honest all they stole was the alcohol for which we drown our tears. Although that would be a lie because there was plenty of brandy and whiskey to go around still. So happy drinking A’s
Boston Braves @ Kansas City Blues
Series Preview: Bottom feeders face each other
Game #1: Blues 14 hit attack win 8-4
Game #2: Blues pull it out in bottom of the 12th win 6-5
Game #3: The Braves A. Gonzalez and Mo Vaughn both homer 4 rbi each win easily 12-2
Koosman gives up 10 er
Game #4: Braves 14 hits too much for Blues win 13-8
Series Summary: Boston and the Blues split 2-2
Madison East Puregolders @ Indiana Indians
Series Preview: Series split. Indians take first two then lose 2 in a row.
Series Summary: Series split. Indians take first two then lose 2 in a row.
Coastline Bobcats @ Fire Lake Segers
Series Preview: Coastline (72-33) leading the NL East travels to Fire Lake (54-50), 3rd in the NL West, for a 4 game series.

Series played using TeamViewer

Game #1: CLB C.Finley vs FLS R.Guidry
This game was a good old fashioned pitcher’s duel. Finley and Guidry trade scoreless inning through the 5th. After Guidry strands Kemp on third in the T6, the Segers come looking for some runs in the B6. FLS Bench answers with a lead-off solo-HR to start things, Sanders 1bs, Rolen 1bs and Sanders moves to 3rd on M.Williams throwing error. Finley then throws a WP letting Sanders socre and a 2-0 FLS lead. That’s all the scoring as FLS Louisiana Lightning tosses the CG Shutout giving up only 4 hits. FLS Guidry (8-10) with the win and CLB C.Finley (14-5) with the loss.FLS 2, CLB 0
Game #2: CLB S.Maglie vs FLS E.Rixey
FLS opens the scoring in the B1 when Pinson 2bs, Votto bbs, and Rolen rips an rbi-1b. CLB wastes no time evening the score in the T2 on a Skowron solo-HR. In the B5 FLS retakes the lead when Menke 1bs, PH Daniels 1bs, Rose 1bs to load the bases, and Pinson gets an FC-rbi on a grounder to 3rd. But Maglie, as in the 1st, manages to get out of the 5th giving up only 1 run.FLS brings in Soto in the T6 and CLB wastes no time as PH Becker 2bs; FLS then brings in Gullett to face PH G.Jenkins and he fans him. But CLB C.Ripken follows with a 2-run HR for a 3-2 CB lead, Wilson 1bs chasing Gullett, and Skowron rips an rbi-3b off new reliever J.Smoltz.FLS came storming right back in the B6 when Cardenal 1bs, Menke executes a perfect H&R 1b with 2 out, and Evers follows with a 2-run 2b to tie the score at 4-4! But the theme of this game holds true as CLB regains the lead in the T7 when PH Goslin 1bs, steals 2nd, and scores on a Becker rbi-1b.However, this time, the CLB bullpen of Albers, Marshall, and Sutter close out the game for a CLB win.
CLB S.Maglie (6-0) gets the win, Sutter earns Save#44, and FLS J.Smoltz (5-3) takes the loss.CLB 5, FLS 4
Game #3: CLB D.Stieb vs FLS D.McLain
After 3 scoreless innings CLB opens the scoring in the T4 with a Howard solo-HR. On the mound CLB Stieb is in control giving up only 4 hits through 7 innings. In the CLB T8 G.Jenkins hits a solo-HR for a 2-0 CLB lead. CLB then puts the game away with a Gordon 3-run HR in the T9. CLB Stieb gives up 1 more hit but no runs for the CG Shutout.CLB D.Stieb (14-5) with the win and FLS D.McLain (9-8) gets the loss.CLB 5, FLS 0
Game #4: CLB K.Brown vs FLS M.Morris
CLB gets on the board in the T2 when Howard 3bs and then scores on a Gehrig groundout. In the CLB T3 Jenkins 1bs and then scores on a C.Ripken H&R rbi-2b. CLB adds another run in the T4 when Gordon 2bs and then scores on M.Williams rrbi-1b (Williams cut down at 2nd on the cutoff).FLS breaks though against K.Brown in the B4 when Pinson 1bs, Votto with a H&R 1b, and Rolen hits a Sac Fly. Cardenal 1bs, but Brown bears down and fans Roseboro and gets Larkin to F8. FLS cuts the CLB lead to 1 with a run in the B6 when with 2 outs Cardenal 2bs and scores on a Roseboro rbi-1b.FLS completes the comeback and ties the game in the B8 with back-to-back 2bs by Cardenal and Roseboro. But, once again, with Gullett still on for FLS, CLB strikes back in the T9 when M.Williams 1bs and Skowron hits a 2-run HR. CLB calls on Sutter and he tosses a perfect 9th for his 45th save.CLB S.Casilla (5-3) gets the win, Sutter gets Save #45, and FLS Gullett (3-7) takes the loss.CLB 5, FLS 3
Series Summary: Overall a close fought series with Coastline squeeking out a 3-1 series win over Fire Lake. FLS Guidry and CLB Stieb are Pitcher of the Week candidates for their Shutouts. CLB Skowron has a big series going 4-10, 4-rbi, 1-3b, and 2-HRs. But what was of more importance was that every one of his hits and rbis were crucial in each game.
Hoboken Zephyrs @ Detroit DeLoreans
Series Preview: The Hoboken Zephyrs (59-46) visit the Detroit DeLoreans (64-41) for a rematch four-game NL divisional crossover series between a pair of second place teams.
Game #1: HBZ 0 – DET 6: Back from a missed start due to injury, Detroit’s Allie Reynolds spun a complete game shutout. Yogi Berra went 2 for 4 with a homer and 2 RBI.
Game #2: HBZ 1 – DET 3: A scoreless game until the eighth inning when the Zephyrs got on the board with an unearned run. However, a 2-run double from Anthony Rendon put the DeLoreans ahead in a 3-run bottom of the eighth. Jack Aker nailed down his eleventh save of the season in the ninth inning. Both Eddie Yost and Anthony Rendon had multi-hit games for their clubs.
Game #3: HBZ 6 – DET 10: Detroit’s Anthony Rendon was the star of the game. He went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, a homer, 3 RBI, 4 runs scored, and a stolen base. The Zephyrs hit four homers, getting round-trippers from C. Flood (1), E. Stanky (1), E. Yost (10), and T. Jackson (1).
Game #4: HBZ 3 – DET 4 (18): After Hoboken tied the game in the top of the ninth inning, another game got played as Ripper Collins hit his 37th HR in the bottom of the eighteenth inning to win it for Detroit. Plenty of plate appearances for everyone. Wally Schang had three hits for the Zephyrs. Nap Lajoie and Roy White each had four hits for Detroit.
Series Summary: Detroit avenges a sweep from earlier in the season with a sweep of their own. Player of the week considerations should be given to Detroit’s Allie Reynolds (9 Ips, 0 ER, 8 Ks) and Anthony Rendon (.500, 8 for 16 with 6 doubles, a homer, 4 runs, and 6 RBI).
Motown Yankees @ West Michigan Retrogrades
Series Preview: In a series played over TeamViewer, struggling West Michigan hosts Motown.
Game #1: Motown 6 – West Michigan 4 (12 innings)
Game #2: Motown 5 – West Michigan 1
Game #3: Motown 0 – West Michigan 1
Game #4: Motown 4 – West Michigan 1
Series Summary: Motown takes the series 3-1. West Michigan has now lost 7 of their last 10. The Yankees had timely hitting, the Retrogrades hit into more double plays than they scored runs. West Michigan isn’t lucky enough to win 82% of their home games like some teams.
Fantomz Force @ Hollywood Zombies
Series Preview: In the miracles of miracles, Hollywood takes 3 of 4 games!! Eddie Plank throws a 4 hit shutout which may finally get Hollywood a player-of-the-week! Of course watch out for a 1-hitter or a no-hitter this week that kills our spirits…..
Series Summary: In the miracles of miracles, Hollywood takes 3 of 4 games!! Eddie Plank throws a 4 hit shutout which may finally get Hollywood a player-of-the-week! Of course watch out for a 1-hitter or a no-hitter this week that kills our spirits…..
Nags Head Surf Sox @ Clockwork Heroes
Series Preview: Clockwork decided to play Bob Watson more as hes been one off our best bats off the bench actually hitting similar to real life. Nagshead has just B starters and the way Clockwork has been playing it might be a tough series,
Game #1: Clockwork is starting Kluber to get his innings in and once again he was solid allowing 3 runs in 7 innings and Samuel homers off Klubot. Hamels was solid 3 (2 earned) in 6.2. The game went into extra innings when in the 10th Bob Watson his a 3 run walkoff homer. Clockwork 6 Nagshead 3 (10) w-Gromek (6-0) L-Cordero (3-3)
Game #2: Uhle shuts down Nagshead 3 hits one run(Hayes homer) in 7 innings. Valverde tries to blow it allowing 2 and leave two on, but Tekulve comes in and saves the day. Clockwork 5 Nagshead 3 W_Uhle(11-7) L-Mussina (10-7) S-Tekulve (28)
Game #3: Matheson was great again throwing a CG 5 hitter allowing 1 run on a Hojo homer.Jim Palmer got blasted as Arky Vaughn, Foster and Melton homer in this 10-1 blowout. W_Matheson 19-3 L-Palmer (4-6)
Game #4: Bert Blyleven was great too as he goes 8 innings 2 hits 1 run(McCarver homer). Andujar did not fair as well as Foster hit a 3-run homer and Melton a 2-3 homer,. Clockwork 5 Nagshead 1 W-Blyleven 17-5, L-Andujar(4-15)
Series Summary: Tough series for Nagshead pitching had trouble with the Hero bats, and more to the point the 18 starters all had similar games of a lone solo homer allowed and almost nothing else.
Clockwork has now won 11 in a row, and have dominated at home like I have rarely seen, and have second best road record in the league.
HOW – George Foster 2 homers 7 rbis
POW – Bert Blyleven 81 games score 8 innings 2 hits 1 run no walks 7 K’s
Climax Cougars @ Wainwright Wranglers
Series Preview: Dwayne has a plate full of covid and craziness so asked me to play host for his Wranglers as they took on the Climax Cougars in a battle of western Canadian teams.
Game #1: Nap Rucker couldn’t make it out of the 3rd inning as the Cougars piled up their runs early and then went to sleep, but it was enough as the Wranglers bats were equally drowsy in a 6-2 win for Climax.
Sam Crawford has a couple of hits for Climax including a 3-run homer in the 1st inning as part of a 4-RBI day to pace the Cougars. Josh Gibson and Jim Fregosi each added two hits.
Edwin Encarnacion had the honor of putting Climax starter Rune Waddell out of the game by blasting a no-doubter to left field in the 6th with Heinie Manush on base. Waddell left allowing only three hits in the game but he was a tad wild with six walks and just two Ks.
FINAL: CLIMAX 6, WAINWRIGHT 2
W-Waddell (10-7, 3.52)
L-Rucker (5-13, 4.75)
HR-CMC: Crawford (9); WWW: Encarnacion (9)
Game #2: Cannonball Redding and Lefty Grove had a heckuva pitchers duel going with Grove no-hitting the Cougars through 7, but then the bottom fell out for both pitchers with some late-inning heroics on both sides.
Tony Gwynn was the first to break the scoring ice with a line drive single between 1st and 2nd that scored Eugenio Suarez and Darren Daulton in the 7th to make it 2-0.
After no-hitting the Cougars for seven innings, Grove could do nothing right in the 8th and gave up four runs thanks to doubles by Harlond Clift, George Grantham and pinch hitter Ossee Schrecongost.
With Climax in the driver’s seat heading into the 9th and Mr. Reliable Eric Plunk on the mound it looked like the Cougars had things well in hand – not so. Plunk was in trouble from the start with walks to Tony Gywnn and Mark Grace. He was able to get George Brett to foul out , but then gave up an infield single to pinch hitter Jose Vidro which jammed the bases. Plunkster praying for the double play that never came. He was able to get Bip Roberts to pop out to shallow left but then Johnny Kling hit a slow grounder through the infield and into right allowing Gwynn and Grace to score and tie it and move Vidro to 3rd. Daulton carrying a 185 game on base streak or something like that came through yet again for his team while Plunk did not … he ripped one over first base allowing Vidro to score easily with the winning run.
FINAL: WAINWRGHT 5, CLIMAX 4
W-Ward (6-2, 1.25)
L-Plunk (BS 2,2-3, 2.37)
HR-none
Game #3: Another game in which the Cougars pounced on the Wainwright starter early, but this time it was Vic Willis who staggered into but not out of the 4th inning in a 8-4 win by Climax.
The Cougars were lucky in this one though as the Wranglers took advantage of weary Smoky Joe Wood and completely ineffective Jarrod Washburn to score runs in the 6th and 7th and then coming close to tying it up in the 8th but George Brett popped out to 1st base with the bases loaded.
George Grantham had three RBIs thanks to a double and a triple with Mel Ott and Johnny Mize each driving in a pair. Sam Crawford had three hits and scored once while Harlond Clift had two hits and scored twice.
Mr incredible Darren Daulton missed hitting for the cycle by the usual triple but scored twice and drove in a pair for Wainwright. Bip Roberts had two hits, scored once and drove in one run.
FINAL: CLIMAX 8, WAINWRIGHT 4
W-Wood (8-6, 4.92)
L-Willis (8-18, 4.01)
HR-WWW: Daulton (18)
Game #4: Van Lingle Mungo fanned nine and gave up just three hits as he combined with the bullpen to blank the Wranglers 1-0 in a great pitchers’ duel.
Doc Whte was steady but not flashy in his start for the Wranglers. Although he only struck out one and walked four his only real hiccups came in the 3rd inning when he allowed a one-out triple to Buck Leonard followed by a double to Mel Ott that accounted for the only run of the game.
Leonard had two hits for Climax while Tony Gwynn did the same for Wainwright.
Mungo had little problem with any of the Wranglers save for Kirby Puckett who apparently put the fear of God into him and wound up with all three walks the righty issued on the day.
FINAL: CLIMAX 1, WaINWRIGHT 0
W-Mungo (7-5, 2.85)
Sv-Plunk (10, 2.25)
L-White (11-14, 4.37)
HR-none
Series Summary: A close series with Climax taking three of four, but being outhomered a whopping 2-1. Darren Daulton was a modest 6/15 in the series but was always in the thick of whatever mayhem Wainwright was brewing up. I hope things settle down for Dwayne!
Virginia Cavaliers @ San Tan Valley Moonrakers
Series Preview: Two middle of the roaders meet in hopes of something getting started for an end of the year push.
Game #1: Lefty Gomez wins his 10th. Keith Foulke saves his 26th and Virginia gets homers from Frank Robinson (2), Kevin McReynolds, and Lance Parrish in the Cavaliers 6-4 win.
Game #2: Alan Trammell’s 2 run 8th inning homer gives the Cavs a 4-2 win. Foulke saves another. Keltner homers for the Moonrakers.
Game #3: Another 8th inning game winning homer, this time from San Tan’s Earl Averill. Moonrakers win 2-1.
Game #4: Hal Trotsky and Mike Piazza go long for San Tan, but that’s not the big story. It’s…..wait for it…..Randy Johnson with yet another shutout, a 3 hit, 10 K, no walk gem. It’s his 9th shutout of the year.
Series Summary: A series split. Kind of figures it would be.

Johnson with yet another Player of the Week candidacy..9 shutouts in this league…whew!!!!

Iowa Giants @ Pigtown Bombers
Series Preview: A battle of two leading contenders to get the 1st pick in the 2021 LEG draft…
Game #1: Pigtown gets a lead off homer from Edmunds in the 1st and then…absolutely nothing. Bob Feller dominates for Iowa and the visitors win 5-1. Schalk goes 3-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs (2B & 3B). Pigtown does win the injury battle by getting three guys hurt for 5 games each (Tiant, J, Robinson and Flick).
Game #2: Pigtown takes the 2nd game with a makeshift line up 6-1. Johnny Taylor is the star, going 8 innings giving up 6 hits and only 1 run. More impressively, he went 2-3 from the plate with 3 RBIs on a bases clearing 2B (who says pitchers can’t hit).
Game #3: Pigtown continued its string of luck with a 3-2 win. Greenberg had a 2 run double and Edmunds hit the go ahead HR in the 8th. Doak (Iowa) pitched great (6 IP, 2hits and 2 runs), but the Iowa bats stayed asleep.
Game #4: The rooster finally did his job and woke Iowa’s bats for the finale. Iowa jumps out to an early 6-1 lead and never looked back. Final score 8-4 Iowa. York goes 3-3 with 2 2B, 1 3B to lead the way.
Series Summary: 2-2 series split. Pigtown gets a chance to continue to play guys to make sure that everyone gets the required 50% PAs to keep them on the team for next year (almost done). Possible SoW candidates – York (5-16 with 4 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 HR, 2 2B, 1 3B) and Johnny Taylor (8 IP, 1 run, 2-3 batting with 3 RBIs)