PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #19

        Iron City Yinzers @ Sacramento Capitals

Series Summary

Iron City takes the series 4-2 against last place Sacramento.

Yonge Street Stalkers @ Pittsburgh Lumber Company

Series Summary

Pittsburgh trades wins with Yonge Street.

        Southbend Lynx @ Tijuana Bottle Rockets

Series Preview

Southbend travels way south to Tijuana…For a 6 game series

Series Summary

Many close games but Tijuana continues its current hot streak taking 5 of 6

        Jersey Nor’easters @ Selkirk Steelers

Series Preview

Ugly series for Jersey. They simply did not hit allowing Selkirk to win 4.

Game #1:

Selkirk 4-3 adams homer

Game #2:

Alvarez allows 2 hits in 7 innings 8-2 selkirk

Game #3:

Selkirk 4-1 hammel wins

Game #4:

Kendrick homers Ryu K’s 10 jersey 6 selkirk 1

Game #5:

Selkirk 3-0 McAllister 4 hitter

Game #6:

Capuano wins 4 -1 jersey

Series Summary

Selkirk 4 Jersey 2 two major injuries Duda two weeks Kendrick 5 days Not a happy trip into Canada for Jersey

Detroit Crime @ Dallas Cougars

Series Summary

Dallas wins one game in the bottom of the 9th to barely avoid the sweep against Detroit.

Tempe Tempers @ Clovis Wheat Kings

Series Preview

Tempe travels to Clovis

Game #1:

Tempe 3-0

Bob “Iwakuma” Gibson tosses a 3 hitter. Moves to 21-3 on the year. ’nuff said.

Game #2:

Tempe 8-5

Molina’s 3 for 3 leads the Tempers.

Game #3:

Tempe 6-1

Tempers plate all 6 over the last three innings to turn it into another easy win.

Game #4:

Tempe 13-7

Only Beltre’s lack of a dinger keeps Tempe’s 3-4-5-6-7 hitters all from going yard. None of the others wasted their opportunities.

Game #5:

Tempe 7-1

Chen goes 9, Davis goes deep twice.

Game #6:

Tempe 1-0

Iwakuma delivers. Again. Like Bob Gibson, only better. ERA down to 1.16 with a 22-3 record.

Series Summary

Tempe sweeps in easy fashion. Only one game really in doubt, but come on, not really. Chris has put together a juggernaut.

Tempers crush 14 homers. Jealous that they get such great production from everyone up and down the line-up. How do they do that??

Hoping that if I squeak into the playoffs that someone knocks them off first!

Iwakuma Pitcher of the Week; two wins, one shutout, 16 IP, 0 runs, 12 K 1 BB, 5 hits. Davis, Player of the week with 8 hits, 10 RBI, 4 homers.

        Coconut Creek Crushers @ Elyria Indians

Series Summary

CCC goes 4-1 at Elyria with one rain out.

Manhattan Project @ Long Beach Dirt Bags

Series Summary

After dropping the first game, Manhattan takes the last 5.

Valdosta Snappers @ Motor City Muscle

Series Preview

Valdosta and Motor City in a 6-game series

Game #1:

VAL 6 – MCM 5 (10 inn.)

WP: Kimbrel

LP: Hunter

SV: Doolittle

HR: VAL: K. Johnson, Carter, Reddick MCM: Trout

Straily (10Ks) was cruising until back-to-back homer in the 4th. He left for a PH with the game tied, but Rondon blew the save in the 9th, Kelly Johnson‘s second HR won it for Valdosta in the 10th.

Game #2:

MCM 5 – VAL 4 (10 inn.)

WP: Hunter

LP: Doolittle

HR:  VAL: Bay MCM: Trout, C. Young

Second straight extra inning game. Motor City’s bullpen once again gives up the lead, but C. Young’s walk-off PH HR in the 10th bails them out.  Three RBI for Trout.

Game #3:

MCM 6 – VAL 1

WP: J. Chavez

LP:Doolittle

HR:  MCM: Trout VAL: none

Pitchers’ duel until a five-run eighth inning busts it open for Motor City, with McGuiness’s three-run triple the big blow.

Game #4:

VAL 5 – MCM 4 (10 inn.)

WP: Kimbrel

LP: Ramos

SV: Hoover

HR:  MCM: Trout VAL: Martin, K. Johnson

Back and forth game is decided by K. Johnson’s solo shot in the 10th, his second 10th inning game winner of the series. Trout has all three of Motor City’s RBI (Izturis scored on a WP for their fourth run). Johnson added aan RBI single to his extra inning heroics.

Game #5:

VAL 3 – MCM 1 (13 inn.)

WP: Kimbrel

LP: Ramos

SV: Doolittle

HR:  VAL: Hechavarria MCM: none

Pitchers duel between Teheran (9Ks) and Locke (12 Ks) as both leave for PH in extras. The first run did not score until the 12th inning, on a bases-loaded HBP. Motor city tied it on a Chris Young SF. Hechavarria decided it with a two run homer in the 13th inning.

Game #6:

MCM 2 – VAL 0

WP: Straily (CG)

LP: Sanabia

HR:  MCM: Izturis VAL: none

Straily (8Ks) decides to keep the bullpen out of it, going all the way and making Trout’s first inning RBI stand up, with Izturis adding an
insurance-run solo HR.

Motor City’s hitting star was Mike Trout, He went 11-25 for a .440 average, with four HRs and nine RBI.

Straily (18 Ks) and Locke (12 Ks) pitched well, with only one W to show for it.

Straily’s Game 6 win was the only decision for a starting pitcher in the series.

There were four extra inning games in the six-game series.

The teams combined for 13 HRs (four of them in extra innings), and there was at least one HR in every game.

Roseville Thorns @ New York Outlaws

Series Preview

The New York Outlaws, bounced out of first place last week, look to try to come up strong against Thorns.

Game #1:

Thorns 8 Outlaws 2

Vargas vs Harang

Thorns score 5 in top 2nd behind a 3 run blast from catcher Maldonado. Final score is 8-2 Roseville (hey I just got that: Roseville THORNS,
nice!) with Pence going 3/4 and Aoki going 3/5.

Strange Move: bottom 9th, Thorn up by 6 runs, MM brings in closer Janssen.

Game #2:

Outlaws 7 Thorns 4

Hellweg vs Kuroda

Outlaws roll over Thorns as Kuroda improves to 12-8 2.84. Mo picks up save #17. Pierre 2/3 4 RBI for NY.

Game #3:

Thorns 1 Outlaws 0

Gausman vs Peavy

Peavy pitches his heart out with a complete game 1 run effort that is wasted by NY offense.

Top 9: both starters throwing shutouts when McLouth smashes a solo HR for Thorns to break the zero-fest.

Strange Move: Top 9, runners on 2&3 with 2 out, MM lets pitcher Gausman bat.

Strange Move 2: bottom 9, 1 out, nobody on, MM takes out SP Gausman (now a 20!) for RP Watson (17).

Gausman winds up with a beautiful 8.2 IP allowing a measly 2 hits.

Game #4:

Thorns 6 Outlaws 5 (11)

Devries vs McFarland

B2: Crawford solo HR 1-0 NY

B5: Pagan 2R HR 3-0 NY

T6: Thorns score 4 behind an Aoki 2 run single. 4-3 Thorns

B9: Pagan RBI single off Janssen ties game @ 5 each.

T11: Aoki caught trying to steal 3rd with 1 out!! Next batter, Turner, doubles but no RBI due to the CS. Maldonado RBI single puts Roseville up 6-5 to stay.

B11: MM leaves Russell (L7) in to face LH Pierre who singles but Russell finishes inning (wheres Janssen!?)

Strange Move: 2 out, MM lets pitcher bat.

Maldonado: 3/5 Crawford: 3/4 Pagan: 3 RBI

Game #5:

NY 4 Roseville 2

Irwin vs Hamels

B1: Utley 2 run HR 2-0 NY, Corey Miller 2 run double moves it to 4-0

T6: Baker solo HR 4-1

B9: LaRoche Pinch Hit solo HR off Mo: 4-2

Miller & Ortiz both go 3/4 for Outlaws.

Game #6:

NY 5 Thorns 2

Vargas vs Harang

NY needed this game bad!

B2: Crawford double scores Pierre. Harang single drives in Crawford. 2-0 NY

B3: Uribe 2 run HR 4-0

T4: Chisenhall solo HR 4-1

Mo comes in for the save.

Pagan 3/4. Harang: 7ip 2 runs

Series Summary

Outlaws needed a series win here but just couldn’t come up with it. The reporters have informed us that Manhattan won big this weekend so NY falls further out of first.

NY Management scrambling for a trade or two to help with the push.

        Chicago Mobsters @ Fremont Cannons

Game #1:

Five unearned runs between the two teams. Wacha gets the win for Chicago, 8-4.

Game #2:

Sabathia allowed 10 hits but no free passes, as Chicago wins this one 6-3. Simmons went deep for the Mobsters for his 20th HR already.

Game #3:

Fremont scored three to this one up in the seventh but the Mobsters got one across in the eighth as Chicago wins 6-5. Adam Rosales surprisingly homered twice for Fremont.

Game #4:

All of the scoring came via the solo homerun, as Fremont edges Chris Sale and the Mobsters 3-1. Simmons homered for Chicago, and K. Davis, Swisher, and Rosales again for Fremont. Freddy Garcia improved to 2-11.

Game #5:

King Felix improved to 14-9 as Chicago wins 4-2. Headley goes 3-4 with a double and solo homerun.

Game #6:

Simmons homered again, but it was Adam Dunn‘s 3 run shot in the eighth that put Chicago over the top, 4-3. Chapman saved his 32nd.

Series Summary

All games were close, but Chicago took the series handily, 5-1.

Virginia Sluggers @ Traverse City Crusaders

Series Preview

One of the top teams in the American League — Virginia Sluggers visits Traverse City to play the Crusaders (one of the MWBL’s worst teams).

Game #1:

Sluggers edge Crusaders 3-2, with 8 strong innings by Max Scherzer.  Giancarlo Stanton added a solo homerun.

Game #2:

Nate Schierholtz hits a clutch two-run HR off of Crusaders reliever, to give the Sluggers extra insurance, as they top T.C., 5-1.

Game #3:

Top of the ninth, tied 2-2, Neil Walker hits a solo HR off of Luke Gregerson (T.C.), to give Virginia a 3-2 victory.

Game #4

Dave Phelps kept T.C. in as long as possible, until the bullpen gives up 4 runs in the 7th, to give Virginia a 6-3 victory. Schierholtz struck again with a pinch-hit bases-clearing three-run triple.

Game #5:

Virginia wins YET again with 5-2 victory. Neil Walker went 2-for-4, with 2 RBI on 2 doubles, another 4-run inning for the Sluggers proved to be the margin. John Danks gets his 3rd victory (3-2, 3.89 ERA) beating Stephen Fife (1-5, 8.01 ERA).

Game #6:

Nick Markakis ties the game up for the Sluggers with a solo HR off of Ryan Pressly in the 8th inning. But Brett Gardner pulls off a walk-off base-hit to score Kawasaki for the Crusaders in the bottom of the 10th!

Series Summary

Crusaders avoid sweep with walk-off hit in Game 6, as they were in contention in all of the games, losing many close ones to a really good ball club.

        Camarillo Quest @ Columbus Explorers

Series Preview

Camarillo at Columbus – NL West leaders travel east to play an NL Central also ran team. Camarillo arrives without an updated rotation
(games 1 and 4 were not adjusted so LM took over (and may have affected the other games based on usage). My schedule has been very tight this week and am leaving pre-dawn tomorrow for vacation so I squeezed the games in today using my Road manager to run the games (I did make the pregame lineup adjustments and then watched the games fly). My Road Manager did pretty well. Short writeups.

Game #1:

CAM 5 Col 2 – CJ Wilson called on to start, tosses a 5 hitter for 6.1 innings and improves to 17-5. Veras the save (13).

HR – Aybar (4).

LP Magill (0-1)

Game #2:

Cam 5 COL 6 – 12 inning thriller. Fister the starter for the Quest.  Machi the loser in relief (3-3).

HR – Bautista (28) for Camarillo. Navarro goes 4 for 4 for the Quest.

WP Rusin (9-2) in late relief.

Game #3:

Cam 9 COL 10 – a 5 run 9th inning by the Quest made this one close (too close) but Explorers hold on for the victory. Quest had 13 hits,
Explorers 14, including a 4 for 4 day by Victorino (2 doubles and 3 rbis and 3 runs).

HRsL CAM – Moss (21), COL Zimmerman (12)

WP Axelrod (5-5) S Chen (5) Belisario had the unimpressive 9th facing 7 batters and giving up 6 hits and 5 runs.

LP Dickey (15-5)

Game #4:

CAM 4 Col 2 – another extra inning game (11) as the Quest pull this one out. Lohse the Camarillo starter, Rusin for Columbus. Bautista goes 3 for 5, 2 runs 3 rbis and 2 HRs (29, 30) including the game winner in the 11th off Bass (L 0-1).

Casilla the win (4-2) and J.Smith got a blown save giving up the tying run in the 8th.

Scrub (non-roster guy) Shelly Duncan’s PH HR (1) in the 8th ruined Lohse day (and got him made at Smith).

Game #5:

Cam 6 COL 11 – Dickey again starts as he didn’t last long in game 3 – and again he doesn’t last long exiting in the 3rd (2 ip, 5 hits, 4
walks, 5 runs/3ER) and he picks up his 2nd loss of the series (15-6). He lasted 1.2 innings in game 3 giving up 6 hits there – I think the
Explorers really like him!

Brown goes 4 for 5 and drove in 5 of the 6 Quest runs (scored 3 – he hit THREE HOMERUNS!! (11, 12, 13).

Desmond goes 4 for 5 with 3 run/rbis and De Aza goes 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.

WP Milone (10-3).

Game #6:

Cam 1 COL 4 – CJ Wilson starts and takes the loss (17-6). Bruce Chen called on to start when Magill was tired and pitches 7 effective 4 hit innings (1 R/ER). Perez and LeCure finish up – LeCure the save (3).

Quest lone run on solo shot from Aviles (7). Zimmerman cracks #13 for Columbus (2 run).

Series Summary

Surprisingly the Explorers take 4 of 6. They’ve proven to be able to score runs – the question is always will it be more than the opposition.  This week it was.

        Bethesda Bandicoots @ Hollywood Werewolves

Series Preview

Hollywood travels way east to Hollywood…  For a 6 game series

Series Summary

Hollywood scored 32 runs in the series – 18 were scored after the 6^th inning

Hollywood sweeps.  Price wins 15, Kershaw 21, Lee  14 & Uehara picks up 3 saves to get to 30.