PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #5

·         Columbus Explorers @ New York Outlaws

Series Preview

New York trying to keep their hot streak going and remain at the top of the N.L. East.

Game #1:

Columbus Tepesch removed by MM with 6ip 2h 0r under his belt. Columbus takes the opener 5-2.

Game #2:

Columbus wins two in a row. Final Score is 3-2.

Game #3:

Down 2 zip, Outlaws score 4 in bottom 7th and hang on to win 4-3. Deaza 3/4 for Columbus.

Game #4:

Outlaws win another as Hamels ups his 2014 record to 5-0 1.07 era as he throws 7 innings of 1 run ball. Final is 4-1.

Game #5:

A 3 man collision puts Outlaws Berkman (15), Beltran (4), and Inge (3) on the injury list. Pierre 3/4 and Berkman 3/3 in the loss. Columbians win 7-4.

Game #6:

Putting together a makeshift lineup with 3 players hurt, the Outlaws are on the verge of being shut out 1-0 in the bottom 9th. But then Chase Utley blasts a 2 run HR sending all the fans home happy. 2-1 Ozone. Peavy throws 7.1 innings of 4 hit 1 run ball.

Series Summary *

Outlaws manage a split thanks to Chase Utley so 1st place appears safe at the moment.

 Coconut Creek Crushers @ Bethesda Bandicoots

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Series Preview

In a battle of second-place squads, a good team (Coconut Creek) travels to take on a mediocre but improving team (Bethesda).

Game #1:

The Crushers homer twice off of first-time starter Jake Arrieta as they crush the Bandicoots 7-2 in the opener. Ubaldo Jimenez walked eight but still managed to keep the punchless ‘Coots pretty much impotent. Cuddyer and Ryan Howard supplied the power for CCC. Bethesda stranded 13 in the game including twice with the bases loaded with Travis Snider, Conor Gillaspie and Jordan Pacheco each leaving five.

Game #2:

Injury replacement Justin Ruggiano homered twice and Jordy Mercer added another as the Crushers scored six times in the 12th inning to take the game 13-7. Ruggiano had five hits in the game and drove in three while Mercer had three hits and drove in six with a bases loaded triple and three run homer. Jake Odorizzi took all the extra-inning damage for Bethesda and had his ERA balloon to 9.95. Mike Cuddyer (8 days) and Jordan Danks (12) were hobbled for Coconut Creek. Jon Jay had four hits for Bethesda.

Game #3:

The Crushers won their third straight 6-2 but lost Tony Cingrani for three weeks with an arm injury. Ryan Howard homered for Coconut Creek. Chris Heisey countered for Bethesda. Cingrani took the win with only one hit allowed and 8 Ks in 5.1 innings. Alex Cobb dropped to 1-4 with yet another unimpressive performance in which he allowed five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings.

Game #4:

Chris Davis’s 10th homer of the season was a two-run shot in the first inning and it was all the offense the game would see as Martin Perez outduelled Matt Garza for a 2-0 win. Jake Odorizzi picked up his 3rd save with 2/3 of an inning of relief. Garza fanned seven and gave up six hits in the complete game.

Game #5:

Jordy Mercer and Dan Uggla homered as Coconut Creek held off Bethesda to win 6-5. Travis Snider (2) homered for Bethesda. Ervin Santana (3-3) got the win for CCC with Mark Melancon picking up the save thanks to Jon Jay getting nailed at the plate in the bottom of the 9th with one out.

Game #6:

Jake Arrieta fanned 15 in a 1-0 shutout of the Crushers. Hardluck Ubaldo Jimenez took the loss for Coconut Creek despite only allowing three hits and a couple of walks. Catcher Tony Cruz got the lone RBI for Bethesda.

Series Summary *

The Crushers outclassed the Bandicoots despite suffering three lengthy injuries and improved to 21-11 on the year while Bethesda dropped below .500 (16-17) after taking just 2 of four games. Bethesda hosts Fremont next week while Coconut Creek travels on to Virginia.

·         Dallas Cougars @ Elyria Indians

Series Summary *

Elyria takes the series 6-1. Three games had to be done in walk off fashion so series was closer than it sounds.

·         Chicago Mobsters @ Virginia Sluggers

Series Preview

The Mobsters of Chicago bring their 16-10 first place record from the Central to the home of the Virginia Sluggers and their 17-10 third place record in the West.

Game #1:

VIR 12-2
Scherzer (6-1) is just too much for the Mobsters as he goes 8 innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 run (a solo shot by Jennings in the 1st) while striking out 11. Sabathia (0-2) doesn’t fair as well for Chicago…6 hits 4 runs in 5 inn. The Sluggers had 15 hits in the game including homers by Schierholtz and A. Ramirez.

Game #2:

CHI 3-2
A great pitchers dual as Chicago’s C. Sale (2-3) scattered 6 hits over 8 innings with 2 runs and 10 K’s and Virginia’s C. Archer allowed only 4 hits in 8 innings and K’d 6. Both teams scored early as Fowler for CHI and Walker for VIR both homered in the 2nd. It stayed tied at 1 all till A. Simmons went yard in the 6th to give CHI a 2-1 lead. Then, in the 8th, M. Bourn got his 2nd hit of the game and scored on C. Santana’s RBI double to tie the game at 2. But the Mobsters countered with a 9th inning RBI double from D. Jennings and Addison Reed came in for the 3 batter save.

Game #3:

CHI 8-4
CHI’s Wainwright (3-0) was the benefactor of 18 Mobster hits. Posey led the way with 3 hits, 2 RBI and his 1st long ball of the year. D. Fowler added a solo shot (#7) and Andrew McCutchen (#4) and Simmons (#8) chipped in with homers as well. T. Chatwood took the loss (1-2)

Game #4:

CHI 4-2 F. Hernandez continued his winning streak (6-0) despite giving up 9 hits over 7 innings. Posey gave CHI a 1-0 lead with his 2nd homer of the year but VIR got that run back on a RBI single from D. Adams. CHI went up 2-1 on Y. Alonso’s RBI single in the 5th but once again VIR got the run back,…this time on Segura’s home run (#5). CHI took the lead for good in the 6th and 7th as Jennings (#4) and M. Moustakas (#1) left the yard against C. Tillman (1-4) who has allowed 12 homers so far this year. Reed got the Save (#2).

Game #5:

VIR 2-1 19 innings…13 pitchers used by both teams. Interesting stat…CHI LOB=17 VIR LOB=9. Oh those lost chances. CHI’s Sabathia went 9 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 11 K’s. VIR’s de la Rosa went 7 with 3 hits, 1 run and 1K (7 bb). Mobsters got a run in the 2nd on Moustakas’ ground out. In the 8th R. Flaherty (#2) sent one deep over the fence to tie it at 1-1. It stayed that way for the next 10 innings. In the 19th CHI brought in J. Walden (0-1)who struck out Segura and then fed Rizzo a fastball he deposited so deep it ain’t never coming back. D. Carpenter (1-0) got the win.

Game #6:

VIR 1-0 Once again Max Scherzer (7-1) was just too good. With a depleted bullpen, Scherzer went the distance for a 2-hit shutout and struck out 11. CHI’s A. Burnett (3-1) was almost as good…8 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 10 strike outs. The winning run was thanks to C. Santana’s RBI double in the 5th.

Series Summary *

a split at 3-3 for two very good teams.

VIR’s Max Scherzer in two games… 2-0 17 inns. 4 hits, 1 run, 22 K’s

Not a lot of hitting
CHI: Jennings 7-23 .304 2 HR
Posey 6-28 .214 3 RBI 2 HR
Pedroia 6-22 .272
Simmons 5-24 .208 2 HR

VIR: Markakis 6-30 .200
Santana 5-19 .263
Scheirholtz 7-20 .350 3 RBI HR

·         Detroit Crime @ Tijuana Bottle Rockets

Series Preview

Third place Tijuana hosts second place Detroit in this key, early season matchup

Series Summary *

In a wild series, the home team comes away with the 5-2 series win. Five of the seven games were decided by 2 runs or less.

Jersey Nor’easters @ Iron City Yinzers

Series Preview

An NL East battle of two teams trying to keep pace with the leaders.

Game #1:

Wily Peralta scatters seven hits to shut out the Yinzers. Steve Clevenger drives in 3 for Jersey.
Jersey 5, Iron City 0

Game #2:

With the score tied at two, Jersey scores three in the eighth to make a winner out of Chris Capuano. Prince Fielder homers and drives in three for the victors.
Jersey 5, Iron City 3

Game #3:

Jose Quintana goes eight strong innings to give Jersey the first three games of the series. Leonys Martin has three hits, including a homer, driving in two from the leadoff spot.
Jersey 5, Iron City 2

Game #4:

The Yinzers finally get on the board, scoring three times in the eighth to break a 2-2 tie. Chase Headley drove in three. Lance Lynn doesn’t figure into the decision, but goes seven innings, allowing two runs.
Iron City 5, Jersey 2

Game #5:

Iron City has a 6-1 lead and barely holds on after Jersey scores one in the seventh and three in the eighth. It’s enough to give Tommy Hanson is first win. Chase Headley has three hits and drives in two; Jedd Gyorko homers and has 2 RBIs as well.
Iron City 6, Jersey 5

Game #6:

Prince Fielder’s solo homer in the seventh is the only run Jersey scores, but it’s all they need as Peralta shuts out Iron City for the second time in the series, making him a serious Pitcher of the Week candidate.
Jersey 1, Iron City 0

Game #7:

With the score knotted at three, Jersey scores two in the eighth and one in the ninth to finish off the series strongly. Miguel Montero homers twice, Daniel Nava once, in the win. Tim Lincecum gets the victory.
Jersey 6, Iron City 3

Series Summary *

Jersey takes five out of seven to move closer to .500 while Iron City hits the basement of the division

Hollywood Werewolves @ Fremont Cannons

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Series Preview

No-Hitter Alert! Hollywood and Fremont square off in a series that would feature both a one-hitter and a no-hitter. Would Fremont be no-hit for the second week in a row, or would they turn the tables and be the ones handing Hollywood the no-no?

Game #1:

Price vs F Garcia- One-hitter
Ian Kinsler’s solo home run in the seventh inning was the only scoring of the game, and the only hit that Garcia would allow. Fremont would only manage 4 hits themselves, so Garcia and the Cannons fall 1-0 to the Werewolves despite the one-hitter.

Game #2:

Hudson vs Jordan
Fremont takes an early 4-1 lead, but Hollywood crawled back to tie it in the seventh. Fremont plates the winning run in the bottom of the ninth after an infield hit by Alcides Escobar, a sac bunt, and a DeJesus single to win 5-4

Game #4:

Lee vs Nolasco
Four errors by Hollywood are mitigated by their power output, as Cabrera, Goldschmidt and Kinsler all homered again. The Werewolves win this one 11-4.

Game #5:

Weaver vs Detwiler
Fremont kept this one close for a while, despite only managing two hits in the game. Two runs by Hollywood in the eighth gave them breathing room, and the Werewolves took it 5-2.

Game #6:

Price vs Nicasio
1st round pick Khris Davis went deep twice for Fremont, but a 3-run eighth inning for the Werewolves took Hollywood to the 6-5 victory.

Series Summary *

Hollywood takes the series 5-1. The series featured some fine pitching performances from both teams, as well as some big power from Hollywood’s stars.

·         Traverse City Crusaders @ Yonge Street Stalkers

Series Preview

Traverse City visits Yonge Street for the first time.

Game #1:

Latos was strong (8 IP, 1 ER) and Venables day (triple, homer 4 RBI) led the way. Gomes was plunked late in the game and will miss 13 days. YSS 9 – TCC 1

Game #2:

Esmil Rogers baffled the Crusaders. That’s all ya need to know. YSS 3 – TCC 1

Game #3:

The visitors came to play behind P. Humber. Francisco led the way with a homer and 3 RBI. TCC 6 – YSS 3

Game #4:

Big Game James Shields lived up to his name, allowing just 3 hits and 1 unearned run. YSS 4 – TCC 1

Game #5:

The teams combined for 8 hits (all singles) and T. Wood came out the tough luck loser. YSS 2 – TCC 1

Game #6:

Buerhle turned the tables in the finale. Ryan Raburns 2 run HR was the offense in this nail biter. TCC 2 – YSS 1

Series Summary *

To recap. Traverse City took game 3 by the score of 6-3. They scored a single (1) run in 4 other games (all losses). They exploded for 2 runs in the finale to grab 2 games in the 6 game set.

·         Pittsburgh Lumber Company @ Southbend Lynx

Series Preview

First place Pittsburgh travels into woeful Southbend fora 6 game series.

Game #1:

Pittsburgh puts a nine spot on the board in the 1st highlighted by a Lind 3 run HR and a Alvarez 2 run HR. After that the Lynx shut down Pittsburgh giving up only one more run. But its only a moral victory as Pittsburgh wins 10-4. The Lynx got a 3-run HR from Trumbo and a solo-HR from Colabello to account for their runs. One of the stranger pitching lines I seen over the years was for the Lynx Harrison – 6 IP, 9 ER, 1 BB, and 15 Ks!
Pittsburgh 10, Southbend 4

Game #2:

Somehow the Lynx are tied through 8 innings and manage to win the game in the 9th when Crisp singles with runners on 1st and 2nd. Marmol picks ups the win.
Southbend 4, Pittsburgh 3

Game #3:

Its all Pitt Doubront as he tosses a 2 hit CG shutout. Kipnis is the hitting hero going 2-3 with a 2 run HR.
Pittsburgh 4, Southbend 0

Game #4:

The game is tied 2-2 in the 8th when Rutledge bbs, PR D.Gordon then steals 2nd, 3rd, and scores on Jaso’s wild throw. But SBL ties the game in the 8th when with 2 outs Altuve 1bs, goes to 3rd on a Ruf error, T.Ross is brought in, and Crisp hits an rbi-1b. SBL win it in the 11th on a Colabello rbi-1b. Southbend 4, Pittsburgh 3

Game #5:

Pitt comes back and crushes the Lynx 11-3. Verlander picks up the win. Kemp hits his 3rd HR and Alvarez his 9th. Marte 3-5 and Kemp 3-5 (1 2b and 1 HR) are the big hitters.
Pittsburgh 11, Southbend 3

Game #6:

Pitt gets out early 2-0 on an Alvarez sac fly in the 1st and a Arencibia rbi-1b in the 2nd. But Morse gives the SBL the lead with a 3-run HR in the 3rd. Kemp’s rbi-1b ties it 3-3 in the Pitt 4th. Pitt takes the lead in th 7th on a Hardy rbi-groundout and a Ethier rbi-2b. Santos eventually pitches out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th for the save.
Pittsburgh 5, Southbend 3

Series Summary *

Pittsburgh takes the series 4-2.

Sacramento Capitals @ Manhattan Project

Series Preview

Sacramento Capitals come to Manhattan.
Caps last place 17-9 in the West
Project second place 15-12 in the East

Game #1:

Sacramento 4-2
Darvish is sloppy–flirts with trouble from the outset—5 walks, hit batter, wild pitch and two E1’s.
He escapes until the 6th inning when he loads the bases and gives up 4 runs.
Manhattan’s bullpen stops the bleeding, but no run scored until Ramos’ 2 RBI HR bottom of the 9th.
WP=Kendrick
LP=Darvish

Game #2:

Sacramento 6-2
Bullpen allows all the scoring by Sacramento
Fien gives up a 3 RBI HR to Willingham in the 6th.
Robertson gives up a 3 RBI HR dto Wallace in the 7th.
WP=Samardzua
SV=Tazawa
LP=Fien

Game #3:

Sacramento 4-3
12 innings—the difference is 2 HR’s by Pujols.
Tight game, tied most of the way from the 4th inning on.
WP=McGee
LP=Street

Game #4:

Manhattan 2-0
Great starting pitching on both sides—Workman and Fernandez both had 10 K’s.
Both teams loaded the bases in the 8th inning—both failed to score on the bullpen.
WP=Fernandez
SV=Simon
LP=Workman

Game #5:

Manhattan 8-1
Darvish pitches 7 shutout innings.
Sacramento’s only run is Pujols scoring on Austin Jackson’s outfield error.
WP=Darvish
LP=Pettibone

Game #6:

Sacramento 3-2
Dave Robertson blows 2-2 tie in the 10th.
WP=McGee
SV=Vincent
LP=Robertson

Series Summary *

Sacramento wins series 4-2.
Four of the six games decided by 2 runs or less– but Caps get the timely hits.

Valdosta Snappers @ Roseville Thorns

Game #1:

Game 1 was rained out.

Game #2:

RVT 5 – VAL 2

Game #3:

RVT 6 – VAL 4

Game #4:

RVT 5 – VAL 3

Game #5:

VAL 4 – RVT 1 (10)

Game #6:

VAL 4 – RVT 3

Series Summary *

Roseville takes 3 out of 5 from Valdosta. Game 1 was rained out.

·         Selkirk Steelers @ Tempe Tempers

Series Preview

Tempe took advantage of Selkirk’s low grade starters winning 5 of 7.

Series Summary *

Jhoulys Chacin was the pitcher of the series throwing two complete games. Alfonso Soriano hit four homeruns for hitter of the series.

·         Camarillo Quest @ Clovis Wheat Kings

Series Preview

Second place Camarillo comes north for a friendly visit to the dojo of first place Clovis.

Game #1:

Clovis 10 Cam 1
Griffin improves to 5-0 on the young season as Wheat Kings rip 8 doubles, 4 in the 1st inning to quickly put the Quest back on their heels. Cruz had 3 2 baggers and Belt knocked in 3 with a homer and a double.

Game #2:

Clovis 4 Camarillo 2
Wheat Kings get 3 big flies, Dunn, Castro, and Davis, to support Gonzalez who knocked in a run as well after Riverboat Durham ordered Reyes walked to get to the pitchers spot. Gio, visibly upset, promptly lined a single into left and saluted the Quest dugout when he got to first.

Game #3:

Clovis 5 Quest 1
Harvey impressive over 8.2 for his 4th win. Castro hit a home run for the third consecutive game and Cruz drove home 3 with a double and a homer of his own.

Game #4:

Clovis 8 Quest 0
Garrett Jones lined a single to right with one out in the ninth inning to break up Francisco Liriano’s no hit bid. As it is Liriano improved to 4-1. Wheat Kings again played long ball with Cruz, Murphy, and Castro. For Castro it was his 4th straight game with a home run.

Game #5:

Quest 4 Clovis 2
Brandon Moss goes yard to break up a 2-2 tie and give RA Dickey the margin he needed for the win. Dickey struck out 12 in improving to 3-1. Veras picked up the save, his 1st.

Game #6:

Wheat Kings 5 Quest 4
Nelson Cruz homered for the 4th straight game to break up a 4-4 tie in the 7th and give the Wheat Kings their 5th win in the series. Aybar had blasted a three run homer in the 6th to knock out Griffin and tie the game up but Cruz connected off of hard luck loser Manny Parra who pitched 4 strong innings out of the pen in relief of Joe Saunders who was knocked out early.

Series Summary *

Wheat Kings flex their muscles and blast 12 homers during the 6 game series.

·         Long Beach Dirt Bags @ Motor City Muscle

Series Preview

Long Beach Dirt Bags vs. Motor City Muscle in a six-game series

Game #1:

MCM 3 – LBD 2 (11 inn.)
WP: Chavez
LP: Brothers
HR: Krauss
Pitchers’ duel has a wild finish in extras as Long Beach took the lead in the top of the 10th, only to see Motor City tie it on an RBI single by backup catcher Snyder. Salvadore Perez got the winning RBI with a pinch hit double in the 11th.

Game #2:

MCM 6 – LBD 0
WP: Straily
LP: Carmona
HR: G. Sanchez
Muscle jumped on Carmona early, with a lead-off solo HR highlighting a 3-run first inning. Salvadore Perez had three hits and two RBI, but Straily was the real star, with 11 K’s in a complete game shutout.

Game #3:

LBD 2 – MCM 1
WP: Buchholtz
LP: Locke
HR: none
A. Ramirez led the Dirt Bag attack, with four hits and and RBI as they squeeze across two early runs and Buchholtz shuts ’em down with a complete game.

Game #4:

LBD 6 – MCM 2
WP: Lester
LP: Leake
HR: Myers
A. Ramirez adds three more hits and another RBI as the Dirt Bags breeze. Tight game until the Dirt Bags added a couple insurance runs in the seventh.

Game #5:

LBD 4 – MCM 3
WP: Miley
LP: J. Williams
SV: Brothers
HR: none
Miley had a no-hitter through five, but lost it and the shutout in the 6th. Muscle made it interesting in the 9th, but the Dirt Bags held on.

Game #6:

LBD 5 – MCM 1
WP: Arroyo
LP: Morton
HR: Myers, Middlebrooks
Arroyo went the distance to clinch the series win for Long Beach, with a late 2-run HR by Middlebrooks putting it on ice.

Series Summary *

Long Beach wins the series 4 games to 2
Disappointing series for Motor City after taking the first two games.
The series saw three CGs.
Will Middlebrooks had 6 RBI for LBD, A. Ramirez had 11 hits in the series.
Myers had 4 RBI and S. Perez had 3 RBI for Motor City.