PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #13

       Detroit Crime @ Pittsburgh Lumber Company

Series Summary

Pittsburgh starts slow, dropping 2 of the first 3, but finishes strong to take the series 4-2. Our smoke-and-mirrors approach lasts for yet another week.

Virginia Sluggers @ Dallas Cougars

Series Preview

Cougars come into this series in 4th place 15 games behind the Indians.
On the league leader boards Dallas is 4th in batting average at .247. Their home record is 18 and 15.

For the Sluggers on the league leader boards they’re 9th in batting average at .241, 4th in home runs with 93, second in runs scored, 3rd in ERA at 2.88. Virginia comes into this series in 2nd place 5 games behind Hollywood. Their road record is 19 and 14.

Game #1:

Jordan Lyles was dominant for Virginia facing the minimum 27 batters
while only allowing 2 hits and 1 walk. He punched out 5. The base
runners were easily disposed of with a caught stealing and two double
plays. Santana and Walker each hit solo home runs for the Sluggers.
FINAL SCORE: SLUGGERS 5, COUGARS 0

The two teams would split the final two games with dominant starting
pitching and double digit hit totals as the Cougars and Sluggers each
win 3 games in the series.

The Sluggers would hit .259 with 11 doubles and 5 home runs and Dallas
would hit .264 with 16 doubles and 4 home runs. Virginia had a team ERA
of 3.52 while the Cougars would have a team ERA of 4.00. After the break
the two teams change ballparks with Dallas going to Virginia.

Hollywood Werewolves @ Chicago Mobsters

Series Preview

Two teams leading their Divisions with aspirations of Playoffs meet in
the Windy City of Chicago in the last series of the 1st half.

Game #1:

Hollywood scores 3 early runs and picks up 2 more in the fifth. Paul
Goldschmidt is 2 for 4 with a HR & 3 RBI’s. David Price (8-4 3.27) out
duels Felix Hernandez (9-7 2.88).

Final Score: Hollywood 5 – Chicago 2

Game #2:

Both starters (Cliff Lee & Michael Wacha) allow only 1 Earned Run & the
bullpens take over. It goes to the 14th where Hollywood scores 1 Run off
Aroldis Chapman.

But Chicago battles back in the bottom of the 14th to dramatically score
2 Runs off Steve Cishek.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Hollywood 2

Game #3:

In a great pitching duel Tim Hudson (5-5 3.90) goes 7 innings & allows
only 1 Earned Run, when a Dexter Fowler ground out scores Yonder Alonso
in the 2nd inning. Hudson went 7 innings before turning it over to Tann
Scheppers. On the hill for the Mobsters veteran Adam Wainwright who
allows 0 Runs in 9 shut-out innings. This was by far the best pitching
game of the 6 game set.

Final Score: Chicago 1 – Hollywood 0

Game #4:

Jared Weaver (8-5 2.84) goes 8 scoreless innings before turning the ball
over to Steve Cishek (Save #9) to lock it down. Alex Gordon is 3 for 4
for the Werewolves.

Final Score: Hollywood 5 – Chicago 2

Game #5:

Clayton Kershaw (14-2 1.96) is handed only his 2nd loss on the season.
Kershaw pitched great allowing only 1 Earned Run (3 Un-Earned) in 7
innings. Chris Sale (8-7 3.36) struck out 8 & allowed only 1 Earned Run
as well. Aroldis Chapman picked up his 23rd save on the season.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Hollywood 1

Game #6:

Buster Posey & Dustin Pedroia both Homered for Chicago. With the score
3-1 heading into the top of the 9th, Paul Goldschmidt hit a Solo Home
Run to put the score 3-2 with the Mobsters in front. Aroldis Chapman
picked up his 24th save on the season. Felix Hernandez (10-7 2.72) pick
up the win. David Price (8-5 3.35) took the loss for Hollywood.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Hollywood 2

Series Summary

Chicago takes the series 4 games to 2 as the teams head into the Break.
The Mobsters head West to Hollywood to take them on again next week.

Tijuana Bottle Rockets @ Bethesda Bandicoots

Series Preview

zzzzzz … bring your uppers if ya wanna stay awake through this one

Game #1:

Tijuana 12-8

Game #2:

Tijuana 10-3

Game #3:

It’s at this point pretty much everyone including the groundskeepers got
fed up and went through the motions of finishing the series.

Tijuana 6-1

Game #4:

Tijuana 7-0

Game #5:

Tijuana 7-0

Game #6:

Tijuana 5-0 … blissfully all of 7 painless seconds long

Game #7:

Tijuana 6-3 in the blink of an eye although scumbag add-on Josh Wilson
actually homered. The series highlight for Bethesda.

Series Summary

*

Another losing streak – this one already at nine games and the boys pack
it in for another season.

Fed up, bored, tired … everyone is for sale.

Valdosta Snappers @ Long Beach Dirt Bags

Series Summary

Valdosta and Long Beach split a 6 game series

Selkirk Steelers @ Camarillo Quest

Series Preview

Camarillo still battling for the division lead …hosting last place
Selkirk. Who?

Series Summary

Camarillo cruises to the 6 to 0 sweep and Scott Hairston stays hot at
the plate. Batting .404 over past two weeks with 6 homers.

Traverse City Crusaders @ Coconut Creek Crushers

Series Preview

Time for CCC to win 6 or 7 games and stay close to Virginia.

Game #1:

A perfect outcome as CCC gets 7-2/3 IP usage for Lyons and Rondon and
still win 8-4.

Game #2:

Dozier hits a 3-run HR in the 1st for TCC. All CCC after that as we
cruise to a 7-3 win.

Game #3:

CCC offense cools off and lets TCC stay in the game too long. TCC gets 2
runs in the 10th to take the victory.

Game #4:

Almost a carbon copy of Game-3. This time TCC gets 2 in the 9th to win
3-2.

Game #5:

CCC offense shows back up for this one. 4 HR’s lead to an easy 13-1 win.

Game #6:

CCC puts up a quick 6 runs and then holds on for a 6-4 win.

Game #7:

Feldman and De La Rosa combine on a 3-hitter for CCC.

Unfortunately former CCC pitcher Jeanmar Gomez threw his own 2-hitter to
win it 1-0 for TCC.

Series Summary

Disappointing results for CCC as we only manage to win the series by a
4-3 margin.

Sacramento Capitals @ New York Outlaws

Series Preview

NEW YORK OUTLAWS 47-30; 1st Place N.L. EAST

SACRAMENTO CAPITALS 20-57; 5th Place N.L. WEST

Game #1:

Sacramento takes the opener 6-4!

Dominquez 3/4 with a HR for SAC.

Inge 3/4 and Beltran HRs (10) for NY.

Game #2:

Outlaws win 7-5.

NY scores 5 runs in the bottom 1st.

Kuroda W (8-6)

Mo save #13

Game #3:

Caps win 6-5 and take 2-1 series lead.

Dominquez 3/4 for SAC.

Beltran 3/4, 3 RBI, HR (11) for NY

Jansen takes the loss (3-7)…..a Grade 21 with 7 losses!

Game #4:

NY blows it open with a 7-1 victory.

Beltran 3 more RBI! HR #12

Crawford 3/3 for NY.

Hamels throws a CG win (8-3) 5 hits, 1 run.

Game #5:

NY 5 SAC 3

Perkins gets the “W” (2-3) and Mo the save (#14).

***PEARCE HURT for 27 games as the injury bug continues to devastate the
Outlaws****

Game #6:

NY 8 SAC 7

Outlaws win in the bottom 9th!

BELTRAN 4/5, triple, and TWO home runs (14)! 3 more RBI (60) as he
continues his red hot hitting.

Dominguez 3/5

Jansen W (4-7)

Game #7:

NY 4 SAC 3 (10)

Outlaws take the finale and the series….

Dominquez HR #7.

Beltran? too bushed to play !!

Kuroda 6ip, 3h, 1r.

Mo: gets the BS and the win (3-2)

Series Summary

Outlaws take this one 5-2.

Beltran (NY) and Dominguez (SAC) gave the fans a show as each one
collected key hits throughout the series. Beltran has been hot for two
straight series.

New York sustains yet another long injury……and continue to negotiate
with teams for outfield help. Team is limping and hurting.

       Fremont Cannons @ Yonge Street Stalkers

Series Preview

Relatively hot YSS hosts relatively tepid FRE.

Game #1:

Jared Cosart went the distance. Joe Kelly was strong, but the Stalker
pen was leaky. FRE 5 – YSS 3

Game #2:

Gomez and Viciedo both went 3-5 with 3 RBI. Five strong IP from Nicasio
and 4 scoreless from the Cannon pen were icing on the cake. FRE 8 – YSS
2

Game #3:

A nice tight game. The Cannons add a late run off Papelbon, but come up
a bit short. YSS 6 – FRE 5

Game #4:

Latos (CGSO) was brilliant. YSS 3 – FRE 0

Game #5:

Shields was not so brilliant, but he’s a horse. The Stalker offense
chipped away and pulled it out late. YSS 8 – FRE 7

Game #6:

A fitting end. YSS score 2 in the bottom of the 9th to tie it 3-3. The
pens were solid until the 12th. YSS pen gave up 2. The Stalker offense
then answered with 2 of its own, and won it on a wild pitch. YSS 6 – FRE
5

Series Summary

A thoroughly entertaining series. FRE won the 1st 2 games, but YSS took
the final 4. The teams meet again after the break.

       Columbus Explorers @ Motor City Muscle

Series Preview

Columbus explores the Motor City for six games. Finds it very hospitable

Game #1:

MCM 4 – COL 2

WP: Williams

LP: Harrell

SV: Chavez

HR: D. Solano, S. Perez

Motor City’s only good game of the series features both teams taking
turns scoring early. Myers’s 2-run double in the 4th inning was the
difference.

Game #2:

COL 8 – MCM 3

WP: Axelrod

LP: Leake

SV: Chen

HR: Trout, Blackmon

Explorers bust it open with a six-run 8th inning

Game #3:

COL 6 – MCM 3

WP: VaRVTaro

LP: Ramos

SV: Dunn

HR: none

Another bullpen meltdown for Motor City.

Game #4:

COL 10 – MCM 3

WP: Milone

LP: Williams

HR: Victorino (2), Desmond, Carpenter

Victorino leads a robust Explorer offense. Betances hits better than he
pitches for Motor City, with two hits and an RBI.

Game #5:

COL 6 – MCM 1

WP: Happ

LP: Straily

HR: Victorino (2)

Victorino again hits two out. Straily had a no-hitter until Carpenters’s
RBI double in the sixth. It went downhill from there.

Game #6:

COL 3 – MCM 1

WP: Harrell

LP: Morton

SV: VaRVTaro

Morton probably deseRVTed a better fate. Victorino hit another HR,
Carpenter had another RBI.

Series Summary

Columbus takes the series 5 games to 1.

Victorino (.388 avg on 7 for 18, 5 HR, 8 RBI and 5 runs) and Carpenter
(.304 avg. on 7 for 23, 2 HR 2 doubles, 9 RBI) were the hitting stars
for Columbus. VaRVTaro had a win and a save.

       Manhattan Project @ Tempe Tempers

Series Preview

Four of the top candidates for Cy-Young squared off when Manhattan
visited Tempe for seven games.

Game #1:

Tempe 7-2 – Iwakuma out dueled DaRVTish who gave up homeruns to Cano and
Soriano. Tempe added four more runs in the 8th to put the game away.

Game #2:

Manhattan 10-2 – Austin Jackson launched a 3 run hr in the 1st and the
Project just kept adding runs the rest of the way. Fernandez improved to
8-1.

Game #3:

Tempe 4-3 – Soriano launched a 3 run hr in the six that ended up being
the decider. Holland was forced to come in the 7th with bases loaded and
pitched the final 2.2 innings for the save. Drew and Freeman hit
homeruns for Manhattan.

Game #4:

Manhattan 5-4 – Medlen drove in two runs in the 2nd to start a two out
rally that put the Project up by four runs. Tempe rallied back to tie
the game capped by with a Tulo 3 run jack. The project went back ahead
in the 8th and Smyly closed out the final two innings for the win. Tempe
loss Nava for the rest of the series and Gattis for 14 days.

Game #5:

Tempe 6-0 – Iwakuma pitched a complete game shutout with 10 SO to
improve to 16-3. Beltre and Soriano each drove in a pair.

Game #6:

Manhattan 3-2 – Manhattan scored a run in each of the first three
innings and DaRVTish pitched a solid six innings. The pen locked down
the final three innings.

Game #7:

Manhattan 3-2 – Aaron Hill welcomed David Hale to his first start of the
season with three run homerun in the 1st inning. Tempe responded with a
two run homerun by Soriano in the second. Neither team was able to score
again and Smyly picked up his 3rd save of the series

Series Summary

Outstanding series that went back and forth with many close games.
Iwakuma 2-0, 14 IP, 0 ER, 15 SO was the pitcher of the series slightly
ahead of Fernandez 2-0, 16 IP, 3 ER, 18 SO. Manhattan

       Elyria Indians @ Southbend Lynx

Series Preview

Elyria comes to Southbend.

Brief recaps this week.

Game #1:

Southbend actually had a 2-1 lead after 3 innings thanks to 2 solo-HRs
by Crisp. But Elyria took the lead in the 5th on a Cabrera 3-run HR,
added one more in the 6th on a Ellsbury rbi-1b. Nathan eventually came
on to close the game out.

ELY 5, SBL 2

Game #2:

ELY gets a strong outing from Parker and J.Wilson tosses 2.2 innings of
scoreless relief for the save. Valbuena and Wieters hit HRs to pace the
Indians attack.

ELY 4, SBL 1

Game #3:

Southbend gets an early 2-0 lead in the 3rd on a Crisp 2-run HR. SBL add
another in the 6th on a Gomes 2b and Cowgill rbi-1b. Niese has a shutout
through 6 but ELY gets a run in the 7th on a Dirks sac fly. ELY pulls
within 1 on a Medica rbi-1b in the 8th. But Putz would come on in the
9th for the save and a SBL win.

SBL 3, ELY 2

Game #4:

ELY jumps out to a 4-0 lead ona Ellsbury Grandslam in the 2nd. ELY is up
6-2 after 5-1/2. SBL make a run plating 3 in the 6th, but J.Wilson comes
on to put out the fire. ELY puts the game away with 4 in the 9th with
the big hit being a Valbuena 3-run HR. SBL get a token run in the 9th
and put some runners on base to force ELY to use Nathan for the save.

ELY 10, SBL 6

Game #5:

Best game of the series. SBL get out toa 7-3 after 5 innings thanks to a
Trumbo Grandslam in the 5th. But ELY keeps chipping away and the game is
7-6 after 7 innings. Putz comes on for SBL in the 9th and gives up
back-to-back 2bs to Ellsbury and Herrera to tie the game. The game is
scoreless until the 13th when ELY breaks through as Ellsbury is the hero
with a 2-run 2b. Herrera adds a sac fly and Nathan closes out the game
for ELY despite giving up a solo-HR to Trumbo.

ELY 10, SBL 8

Game #6:

Anti-climatic game as ELY Minor is in control pretty much the entire
game. ELY plates 5 in the game on 12 hits. Minor gives up solo-HRs to
Gomes and Frandsen for the SBL runs.

ELY 5, SBL 2

Series Summary

ELY takes the series 5-1 as the Southbend woes continue.

       Jersey Nor’easters @ Roseville Thorns

Series Preview

Nor’easters roll into Roseville for a 6 game set. Roseville is playing
pretty good baseball but just can’t seem to make up any ground in the
division standings. Jersey is 14.5 games back.

Game #1:

Hand vs. Masterson

Teams both score 1 run a piece in the 4th and 9th. Shaw walks Baker to
load the bases with 1 out in the 10th to bring McLOUTH up …

They’re playing him in … the pitch comes in … McLOUTH squares …
here comes AOKI as it’s bunted down the first base line … FIELDER
tries to wave it foul … but it stays fair … it’s all over … bunt
base hit … AOKI scores

JNE 2 RVT 3

Game #2:

Quintana vs. Hellweg

Jersey couldn’t muster an extra base hit all day but the found holes at
the right times as they score 4 on 6 singles. Hellweg “scatters” 8 base
runners in 3 innings of work allowing 3 runs for the loss as the home
squad could only plate 2. Quintana pitches 8 strong and Furbush picks up
his 5th save.

JNE 4 RT 2

Game #3:

Hendriks vs. Gonzalez

Roseville’s twirling batons found holes in the defense 13 times,
unfortunately 11 were singles, as they strand 10 in a frustrating loss.

Escobar 3-5 w/ 2 RBI, a 3-run Montero Bomb with 2 runs from Howie
Kendrick spelled victory today for the Nor’easters.

JNE 8 RVT 5

Game #4:

Capuano vs Pettitte

A day off was what the doctor ordered as it was a Thorny day for Jersey
hurlers. Roseville bats send 6 souvenirs into the seats. Encarnacion/LaRoche
both hit 2 and Weeks/Baker each added 1. Pettitte pitches 7 shutout
innings to boot.

JNE 0 RVT 9

Game #5:

Peralta vs. Vargas

It was a no-stopping-the-toppings kinda day as hits littered the field
like sundae sprinkles. The home squad out hit visiting Nor’easters 16 to
14 but lost where it counts. Runs score in bunches as we saw half-inning
totals of 6-4-4-4. A late 3-run double by Teixeira was the game winner.

JNE 13 RVT 10

Game #6:

Burgos vs. Masterson

Encarnacion and Pence both homer and Masterson deals 6+ good innings to
give the home squad a series split.

JNE 3 RVT 7

Series Summary

Roseville finishes game #84 winning at a decent .542 clip but finds
themselves nearly 100 points behind division leader Clovis. Frustration
is mounting in the Thorn locker room as the summer heat is just starting
to kick in and management is not helping with all the trade rumors. Stay
tuned.

       Clovis Wheat Kings @ Iron City Yinzers

Series Preview

Clovis, leading the NL West, heads to Iron City, thinking it will feast
on the lowly Yinzers.

Game #1:

Iron City shows it came to play, taking advantage of Clovis’
over-confidence with a 4-1 victory. Lance Lynn goes eight strong innings
for win No. 9. Sergio Romo racks up save No. 14.

Iron City 4, Clovis 1

Game #2:

Something about waking a sleeping giant comes to mind here. Awakened
from complacency, the Wheat Kings spank the Yinzers, 9-3. Matt HaRVTey
goes seven for his ninth win. Jason Castro homers and drives in three.

Clovis 9, Iron City 3

Game #3:

It was fun while it lasted. Iron City takes a 1-0 lead in the first,
then Clovis scores nine unanswered runs to give Francisco Liriano his
ninth win. Liriano goes eight. Torii Hunter goes 4-for-5 and Matt
Tuiasosopo drives in five with two homers.

Clovis 9, Iron City 1

Game #4:

The offday does nothing to wake up the Yinzer bats. Andrew Cashner gives
up one run in seven innings to run his record to 8-4. Alexi Casilla
drives in a pair.

Clovis 5, Iron City 1

Game #5:

The Yinzers hold a closed-door meeting and come out fired up, winning
their second game of the series. Paul Maholm improves his record to 3-6
with a seven-inning gem and Sergio Romo gets his 15th save. Eric Hosmer
homers and drives in a pair.

Iron City 4, Clovis 1

Game #6:

The Yinzers finish the series with some momentum, earning the split with
an 8-2 victory, beating Gio Gonzalez for the second time in the series.
Jedd Gyorko hits two homers and drives in five, while Alex Rios and
Carlos Gonzalez also go yard. Lance Lynn reaches double digits in wins
by going six and allowing two runs.

Iron City 8, Clovis 2

Series Summary

The Yinzers, trying to find any positive nuggets from the year, earn a
split with a division leader. There’s partying in the streets.