PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #11

       Detroit Crime @ Elyria Indians

Series Summary

Elyria jumps into first going 6-1 against Detroit. Some close games.
Nathan picks up 5 saves in the series.

       Chicago Mobsters @ Pittsburgh Lumber Company

Series Preview

Battle of first place squads

Game #1:

NO HITTER ALERT! Anibal Sanchez twirls TEN no-hit innings… but the
game is still 0-0 after 10! In the 11th, Sanchez finally gives up a hit
and a run, and is down 1-0. With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, DH
JP Arencibia blasts a solo shot to tie the game 1-1. Chicago finally
wins it in 13.

Series Summary

Ultimately PIT drops 4 of 6 to CHI.

Hollywood Werewolves @ Dallas Cougars

Series Preview

Werewolves come to Dallas hoping for some Cougar meat sandwiches.

Corbin wins 2 of the three wins as Dallas splits with the Werewolves. In
the opener Corbin had a 4 hit complete game shutout with 7 K’s and in
the finale the Cougars had 4 home runs against Weaver. Dallas also won
game 5 even with reliever Frank Francisco trying to give the game away.
After allowing a bases loaded double to score two runs this was how game
5 ended:

“Right-hander FRANCISCO goes to the set position … body rigid … and
they’re putting WERTH on he trots down to first … force at any base
there’s no room now for mistakes to Miguel CABRERA … will let
FRANCISCO take his chances with Miguel CABRERA Okay … we have Miguel
CABRERA coming up to hit … he hits from the right the table is set one
gone Miguel has a walk in four trips … makes contact when he has to
… Miguel has 45 RBIs this season CASTRO on third is an aggressive
runner … knock him in and that knots it Miguel CABRERA … flexes his
right hand … FRANCISCO bends for the rosin bag sticks his glove under
his arm … he’s down on one knee tying a shoelace the ump using his
broom to clean off the plate … so now … CABRERA in the box he rubs
out a little chalk at the back of the box … lowers the brim of his cap
… now ready FRANCISCO sets up on the rubber again … righty against
righty

They’re playing him in … the pitch … there’s a bouncer to the left
side right where FRANKLIN is stationed … fires home … out! …
HUNDLEY throws to first and they get him! … they turn it! … a double
play … and they get out of the inning COUGARS win … in dramatic
fashion they have beaten the WEREWOLVES … the COUGARS take the 4-3
decision”

Iron City Yinzers @ Selkirk Steelers

Series Preview

Iron City visits Selkirk.

Series Summary

Iron City wins 6 of 7 as they pound the bad Selkirk pitching.

          Clovis Wheat Kings @ Columbus Explorers

Series Preview

Clovis Wheat Kings (41-24, 1st NL West) visit the Columbus Explorers
(34-32, 2nd NL Central) in what looks like a tough time for the home
town fans. Explorers play better on the road – Wheat Kings just play
better.

Game #1:

Explorers pound 2 HRs (Victorino (4) and Desmond (7)) in the 1st for 3
runs add another run inthe 3rd and hold on despite Jason Castro’s 2 HRs
(13, 14) for a 5-3 win. Oberholtzer the W (3-1), B.Chen the save (1),
Liriano the loss (6-4).

Game #2:

Explorers plate 5 runs in the 5th to break a 4-4 tie and route the Wheat
Kings 11-4. 3 more Columbus HRs (Zimmerman (8), Desmond (8) and Blackmon
(2)) and Zimmerman drives in 6 runs. 11 Wheat King hits weren’t enough
help for Cashner (L, 5-4). Tepesch gets the win (4-2)

Game #3:

Home town magic fades as Wheat Kings score 3 in the 2nd to take a 3-1
lead and never look back. Griffin pitches a 4 hit, 9K master (over 8
innings) and Murphy (HR-6 and 3 rbis) leads the attack. Hunter gets 3
hits. Milone suffers his first loss of the season (5-1).

Game #4:

After a day off, the Explorers come back ready to rerumble and score 5
runs in the opening inning – Desmond again HRs (9) a 3 run shot. Gio
Gonzalez is pulled after 1/3 of an inning (6 hits, 5 runs L 6-7).
Richards, Matusz and Loup hold the Explorers scoreless the rest of the
way (inspite of 6 more hits). However, Lucas Harrell (W 2-7) has found a
magic touch of late and he goes 6 innings giving up 1 run. B.Chen (S 2)
goes the final 3 giving up 1 hit (HR to Belt – 6) and Columbus wins 5-2.

Long Beach Dirt Bags @ Jersey Nor’easters

Series Preview

Two sub-500 team square off.

Series Summary

Jersey came through with some timely hitting and decent pitching to win
the series 4-2. Little else can be said about 2 teams going nowhere this
year.

       Bethesda Bandicoots @ Virginia Sluggers

Series Preview

After geting beaten by the tough team from Chicago, Bethesda limps into
Virginia in hopes of some neede wins.

Game #1:

VIR 4-0 T.Cahill spins a 3-hit shutout while striking out 11 in a CG
win.

Game #2:

VIR 7-4 with a 4-2 lead on C.Davis’ 2-run triple, things looked good for
BET. But B.Ryan poked a big fly in the 7th for a tie and N.Walker
smashed a Baltimore Special in the 8th and let D.Carpenter shut the door
for his 19th save.

Game #3:

VIR 7-0 Scherzer is good. 4 hits, no rune, 12 K’s. The win. Schierholtz
went deep.

Game #4:

VIR 4-3 a 13 inning contest. A 2-RBI single by G.Stanton gave VIR a 1st
inning lead. J.Jay ended that in the 6th with a long blast that hit the
upper deck and gave the Bandicoots 3 runs and a 3-2 lead. VIR’s N.Walker
tied it back up with a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th and it stayed
that way until J.Segura poked an RBI single off J.Outman in the 13th.

Game #5:

VIR 6-1 T.Chatwood held BET to 6 hits over 8.2 innings and N.Scheirholtz
was 2-4 with a homer and 3 RBI to lead the Sluggers to a win.

Game #6:

VIR 3-2 A good pitching duel as M.Perez of BET took on J.de la Rosa of
VIR. Both went 8 innings and both gave up 2 runs. The difference was the
bullpen. VIR was perfect with a 3 up 3 down 9th. BET had trouble. Perez
gets an out and then walks Schierholtz. Wood comes in and gets C.Santana
as Schierholtz goes to 2nd. Markakis steps to the plate and promptly
singles through the hole scoring Schierholtz…tie ballgame. A. Rizzo
with a chance to win for VIR sends one to the gap, Markakis rounds 3rd,
…the throw…SAFE! VIR wins to sweep BET 6-0.

Series Summary

VIR sweeps 6-0. The difference was an obviously stronger bullpen for VIR.

Out hit 55-38, Bethesda just couldn’t solve Virginia’s pitching.

       Coconut Creek Crushers @ Fremont Cannons

Series Summary

Fremont continues its recent run of good form, and takes the series 4-3.

Roseville Thorns @ Manhattan Project

Series Preview

Roseville Thorns meet Manhattan.

Roughly equal teams, only 3 games apart.

Roseville takes series 4-2

Game #1:

Manhattan 10-2

Kinda sloppy, each team gives up 7 walks.

But Manhattan hits in timely bunches, while the Thorns are held to 5
scattered hits, and no scoring after the 3rd inning.

WP=Medlen

LP=Gonzalez

Game #2:

Roseville 4-3

Redmond holds Manhattan scoreless, but the bullpen allows 3 runs in the
bottom of the 9th.

Encarnacion gets 3 of Roseville’s 4 RBIs.

WP=Redmond

LP=Porcello

SV=Janssen

Game #3:

Roseville 1-0

Darvish and Vargas both pitch beautifully, each allowing just 3 hits.

Cozart’s RBI in the 4th ends up winning the game for Roseville

WP=Vargas

LP=Darvish

SV=Watson

Game #4:

Roseville 6-5

Manhattan ahead most of the way, then blows it in the 9th.

Lead changes side 3 times in the 9th—10th starts with 5-5 tie and then
Brantly’s sac fly wins the game for Roseville.

WP=Wilhemsen

LP=Simon

Game #5:

Manhattan 2-0

Zito pitches 7.2 scoreless innings and the bullpen holds Thorns
scoreless too.

WP=Zito

SV=Street

LP=Masterson

Game #6:

Roseville 4-2

Cozart against Manhattan: 3 of 4 RBIs are Cozart’s.

WP=Gonzalez

SV=Janssen

LP=Medlen

Series Summary

Most games close and low scoring.

Generally good pitching, but Roseville’s batters were more productive in
almost every game.

Roseville takes series 4-2

        Motor City Muscle @ Sacramento Capitals

Series Preview

Motor City visits the River City for a 7-game set.

Series Summary

The Muscle pummels the Capitals, taking the series 6 games to 1.

       Camarillo Quest @ Valdosta Snappers

Series Preview

Quest @ Snappers.

Series Summary

Quest crush the Snappers (including a delightful 21 runs allowed in one
game), winning 5 of 7.

Tempe Tempers @ New York Outlaws

Series Preview

Two first place teams locking horns.

Game #1:

Both teams score in the first inning and that would be all!

Outlaws take the opener 2-1 as Tempe’s Cain notches his very first loss
of 2014.

Game #2:

Outlaws lose a heartbreaker 5-4!

Game #3:

All Tempe as they ridicule the home team 8 zip !

Game #4:

Mo nails save #12 as NY wins 5-2.

Game #5:

Tempe wins 3-2!

Game #6:

Hamels and Chacin in a pitchers duel.

Chacin comes out ahead as he runs his record to 11-0 !!!

I swear Tempe pitchers are on PEDs.

Series Summary

Tempe takes this series 4-2. But NY played almost every game to the
wire……Outlaws may need to reload for the rest of season and try to
make some key trades. These Tempers are tough…..

Yonge Street Stalkers @ Southbend Lynx

Series Preview

Yonge Street @ Southbend

Southbend comes off a good road series to face Yonge Street.

Series Summary

 Yonge
Street takes the series 5-1. Only 1 game was a blowout, the other games
were quite close. But Southbend just doesn’t have the hitting or
pitching this year.

       Tijuana Bottle Rockets @ Traverse City Crusaders

Series Preview

The Tijuana Bottle Rockets (34-30) have to be excited coming into
Traverse City with a four-game winning streak to face the worst team in
the MWBL with a 14-51 record.

The Rockets trail Chicago & Detroit by 3.5 games in their division.

Game #1:

Not much offense on either side. Tijuana gets only 4 hits to T.C.’s 2
hits… but it was enough, as Corey Kluber pitches 5 innings of two-hit
ball, allowing only one earned run, while striking out 6 batters.

Neal Cotts comes in & saves his 10th game of the season.

Travis Wood falls to 2-10, allowing 2 ER’s, 4 walks in 6.1 innings (6
K’s), while Todd Frazier hits a solo HR for the Crusaders.

FINAL SCORE: TIJUANA 3, TRAVERSE CITY 1

Game #2:

The Crusaders led 4-3 through 5 innings, until Tijuana puts up a 6-spot
during the top of the 6th. Traverse City’s reliever Jonathan Broxton
blows the save opportunity & lead.

Hanley Ramirez goes 4-for-5, with a HR, 3 RBI & 3 runs scored. Yasiel
Puig goes 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI & 2 runs for Tijuana. Travis Hafner hit a
3-run HR for the Crusaders.

FINAL SCORE: TIJUANA 11, TRAVERSE CITY 5

Game #3:

Homer Bailey records his 7th victory as he goes the distance with a
three-hit shutout of the Crusaders. Yovani Gallardo pitches 6 innings,
allowing 2 ER’s & 6 walks with 6 K’s for Traverse City — falling to
4-7, with a 3.56 ERA.

Tijuana didn’t do much better with only 5 hits.

FINAL SCORE: TIJUANA 2, TRAVERSE CITY 0

Game #4:

Both pitchers went the distance in this one — Zack Greinke for Tijuana,
Tyler Skaggs for Traverse City.

Brian Dozier’s two-run single in the bottom of the 7th was the
difference, while Angel Pagan added a solo shot in the bottom of the
8th. Both teams only had 6 hits each.

Skaggs allows only an earned run, while striking out 9, walking 3. It
was Skaggs’ first win of the season (1-6, 5.05 ERA).

FINAL SCORE: TRAVERSE CITY 3, TIJUANA 1

Game #5:

Yasiel Puig’s two-run HR in the top of the 5th, broke the 1-1 tie. Juan
Lagares’ three-run HR in the 6th broke the game open for Tijuana.

Kevin Gausman improves to 4-2 with a 5.18 ERA, recording 7 K’s (allowing
only a walk & 2 ER) in 7 innings.

David Phelps for the Crusaders falls to 1-11 (6.75 ERA).

FINAL SCORE: TIJUANA 7, TRAVERSE CITY 2

Game #6:

Travis Wood tries to keep T.C. in the game, pitches 7.2 innings,
allowing 9 hits, 2 ER’s (6 runs), with 5 K’s & 2 BB’s. Corey Kluber for
Tijuana records his second win of the series, racking up 7 more K’s.

Justin Upton hits a solo HR for Tijuana. Neal Cotts records 11th Save.

Wood (T.C.) falls to 2-10, 4.57 ERA.

FINAL SCORE: TIJUANA 7, TRAVERSE CITY 4

Series Summary

TIJUANA (as expected) won the series 5-1, Traverse City falls to 15-56
and are already 35.5 games out of first. The Crusaders keep thinking of
the progress they’ll make during the off-season, while some of their
prospects, and even vets are making a little noise in the MLB.

The only direction for Traverse City to go – is up.