PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #21

Pittsburgh Lumber Company @ Dallas Cougars

Series Summary

Ugly series for the Cougars. They lost 3 extra inning games and were shutout in the three other games for a Pittsburgh sweep.

        Camarillo Quest @ Jersey Nor’easters

Series Summary

Camarillo takes the series 5-1.

        Columbus Explorers @ Iron City Yinzers

Series Preview

Two 3rd place teams meet up

Game #1:

Jake Westbrook goes 7 strong innings to pick up win #7. Serio Romo gets save # 24 as Iron City wins 6-3 behind Alberto Callspo’s 4 RBI game

Game #2:

Iron City jumps out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Coughs it up in the 2nd behind a 6 spot by Columbus. The game goes 12 innings and is won by Jesus Guzman on a walk-off double. Iron City wins 8-7

Game #3:

Jesus Guzman continues his hot hitting, hammering 2-homeruns and Iron City holds on to win 5-4. Tom Koehler picks up win #9 and Romo his 25th save.

Game #4:

Tommy Milone goes the distance in a 5-hit shutout, picking up his 11th win of the season. Iron City’s best grade starter, Lance Lynn drops to 11-7 with no run support. Columbus wins 6-5

Game #5:

Josh “Don’t Call Me Phugly” Phegley goes 3-4 with 4 RBIs and a HR which helps Jeremy Hellickson to win 9. Iron City wins 5-3.

Game #6:

Columbus hammers Jake Westbrook with a 7 spot and it’s over before it begins. Tyan Zimmerman drives in 3 with 2-doubles and JA Haap helps his own cause with 2-RBIs. Columbus hammers Iron City 11-5

Series Summary

Iron City, despite sitting a lot of their regulars, wins 4 of 6 and now heads on the road to Jersey

Motor City Muscle @ Manhattan Project

Series Preview

Manhattan travels to Motor City (for real!) for a six game series played in person.

Game #1:

MAN 1 – MCM 0

WP: Rzepczynski

LP: Ortiz

HR: Florimon

Newly aquired Jose Ortiz duels Darvish. Darvish has 11 Ks but does not figure in the decision after being lifted for a PH. Florimon walks it
off with a solo shot in the 10th

Game #2:

MAN 3 – MCM 2

WP: Medlen

LP: Williams

SV: Fien

HR: Izturis, Wells, Denorfia

Motor City jumps out to an early lead, but HR’s by Wells and Denorfia make the difference for Manhattan.

Game #3:

MCM 4 – MAN 1

WP: Leake

LP: Porcello

SV: Ramos

HR: Galvis, Izturis, Freeman

Galvis and Izturis had five hits and two home runs between them to spark the Muscle offense. Myers also had three hits. Freeman had three hits for Manhattan.

Game #4:

MAN 3 – MCM 1

WP: Fernandez (CG)

LP: Grimm

HR: Drew, Hill

Hill’s two RBI pace the Manhattan’s win as Fernandez dominates.

Game #5:

MCM 4 – MAN 3

WP: Locke

LP: Pomeranz

SV: Hunter

HR: Trout

Myers, Perez, and Chirinos had two hits apiece as the Muscle jumped on Pomeranz early. Ramos had two RBI for Manhattan

Game #6:

MAN 5 – MCM 0

WP: Smyly

LP: Blanton

HR: Drew, Buck

Darvish leaves the game in the third inning with an injury. Smyly and the bullpen combine for a 1-hitter. Drew and Buck each hit two-run HRs.

Series Summary

Manhattan takes the series 4 games to 2.

Five of the six games were close. Starting pitching was, for the most part, exceptional on both sides.

Virginia Sluggers @ Coconut Creek Crushers

Series Preview

Crushers take on the Sluggers. Crushers badly need to take the series and make up ground in the standings.

Game #1:

Max Scherzer is dominant with 13 K’s and cruises to a 4-1 VIR win.

This also breaks Cingrani’s league best winning streak.

Game #2:

Crushers strand 5 runners in the first 2 innings and then give up.

Tillman has an easy day after that and wins for VIR 6-1.

VIR hits 4 HR’s in the game.

Game #3:

De La Rosa is dominant for VIR once again. He allows only a 2-run HR to Josh Donaldson. BUT….. Ubaldo makes the HR stand up and gives CCC an exciting 2-1 victory.

Game #4:

Apparently Bartolo’s Colon really likes the food in Coconut Creek.

After winning Pitcher of the Week in his first series last week, he is dominant in this game. He twirls a nice 4-hit complete game shutout with no walks. CCC wins 6-0 and evens the series at 2-2.

Alfonso Soriano supports his buddy Colon with a homer and 3 RBI.

Game #5:

Both SP pitch around base runners until Josh Donaldson breaks it open with a 3-run blast. Garza and the bullpen cruise to a 5-1 CCC win.

Game #6:

Cingrani bounces back with 6-1/3 IP, 2 hits and 1 run.

Crushers are cruising to the 4th straight victory when Carlos Santana

smashes a 3-run HR in the 8th off of Henderson to tie it up.

Virginia gets their leadoff runner on in the top of the 9th so CCC sends in Melancon to essentially SAVE the tie. Despite 1srt and 3rd with one out, he gets out of the jam. In the bottom of the 9th Domonic Brown singles and steals 2nd. Holiday is then retired. Up comes that man Donaldson again. He lashes a game winning 2B, his 3rd RBI of the game, and gives CCC a walk-off 5-4 victory.

Series Summary

Crushers lose the first 2 then regroup and take the final 4 to win a crucial series with Virginia.

Josh Donaldson was easily the most valuable player of the series for either team. His offense won 3 games for the Crushers.

He didn’t have many hits, but he drove in runs with them when it counted.

Selkirk Steelers @ New York Outlaws

Series Preview

Outlaws need some “W’s” as they have fallen into second place in the N.L. East. We hope Selkirk will co-operate. 🙂

Game #1:

Hammel (R4L) vs Peavy (R10YZ)

Bottom first; the Outlaws reel off SIX consecutive singles followed by an E-4 before Selkirk notches the first out of the inning! NY winds up with 7 runs on 7 hits in the initial frame. Outlaws roll, 9 zip. Parra 3 RBI’s while Peavy throws a 4 hit shutout.

Game #2:

Hefner (R5YZL) vs Hamels (L8YZ)

SEL 9 NYO 2

Selkiek comes right back with 9 runs of their own! And their own 7 run inning too as they explode in the top 7th. Panda collects 3 RBI for
Steelers. Always amazes how MMs think: Hefner up 8 runs and is pulled after 6 for RP.

Game #3:

McAllister (R9) vs Harang (R3YZM)

SEL 6 NYO 5

Outlaws get close but not close enough. Homers by Panda, Pagan, and 2 from Matt Adams.

Game #4:

McCarthy (R3Z) vs McFarland (L4Y)

SEL 6 NYO 4

Another tight one won by Steelers. Top 2nd: bases loaded, Outlaws gifted a Double Play as Teagarden runs past Upton. Profar 3/3 for Selkirk.

Game #5:

Alvarez (R10ZH) vs Kuroda (R11Z)

NYO 2 SEL 0

New Yorkers needed this one bad. Ortiz and Ramirez RBIs lead to 2 zip win. Muroda pitches a nice CG 3 hit shutout.

Game #6:

Hammel (R4L) vs Peavy (R10YZ)

NYO 13 SEL 7

Another 7 run inning for NY! Line on Selkirk reliever Mijares: 1.2ip, 8h, 7r, 6er, 1bb, 2wp. Shuck 4/5 for Outlaws.

Series Summary

Outlaws survived a scare and managed to leave with a series split. Every win important from this point forward.

        Hollywood Werewolves @ Tijuana Bottle Rockets

Series Preview

Two division leaders square off south of the border…

Series Summary

The series saw 4 extra inning games, in which Hollywood won 3, en route to taking the series 4-2.

Closer N. Cotts for the hometown Bottle Rockets was a disaster. Losing 2 of the 1st 3 games (all xtras) and blowing a save in game 5.

Tijuana hopes for a rematch in the postseason as they felt a couple of breaks their way and it could have easily been 4-2 good guys ; )

        Long Beach Dirt Bags @ Tempe Tempers

Series Preview

Two teams headed in opposite direction. The Dirt Bags recently moved a couple key offensive players while the Tempers are one win away from clinching the NL Central and just reshaped their entire outfield.

Game #1:

Tempe 4-2 – Iwakuma helped his own cause with an RBI triple. Solo home runs by Beltre and Morales helped to secure the win. Tempe clinches the NL Central on game 133.

Game #2:

Tempe 8-2

The celebration from the prior night didn’t slow down the offense. Multi rbi doubles by Molina and Tulo started things and home runs by Morales, Beltre and Gattis put the game out of reach. Chacin went six innings for his 17th win. Krauss hit a home run for Long Beach.

Game #3:

Tempe 9-2

Chris Davis drove in five runs on a triple and a three run home run in three at bats.

Game #4:

Tempe 4-1

Iwakuma gives up one hit over five innings and picks up his 25th win of the year. Tulo hit a two run home run and also had an rbi single. Holland recorded his 41st save.

Game #5:

Tempe 5-4 12 INN

Long Beach rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the 7th when Parrino hit his first home run of his career. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th Tulo doubled in Cargo to tie the game 4-4. Prince K’ed with bases loaded in the 10th but he redeemed himself with a walk off home run in the 12th. Holland went the final two innings for the win.

Game #6:

Tempe 8-0

Six “Tired” Tempe pitchers managed to pitch a shutout and give Tempe their 18th win a row. Chacin started the game as the only pitcher on the Tempe staff not “Tired” and he promptly left the game after one batter with an arm injury (15 days).

Series Summary

Tempe heads to Selkirk with a 18 game winning streak while Long Beach goes home to face Motor City

        Elyria Indians @ Yonge Street Stalkers

Series Preview

Elyria was nursing a small lead in the East as they arrived, while YSS is battling to finish the season at .500.

Game #1:

A well-pitched game. Zimmerman CGSO, Latos the hard luck loser. McCanns 2 run homer was the offense. ELY 2 – YSS 0

Game #2:

Parker worked around 4 walks and McCann and Ellsbury chipped in long balls. (A. Craig inj 5 days) ELY 6 – YSS 2

Game #3:

YSS made their 6 hits count. 4 doubles, a homer and a single added up to 4 runs for the home squads first win of the series. YSS 4 – ELY 2

Game #4:

This time all 6 of YSS hits were of the extra base variety (4 doubles, 2 HR), but it wasn’t enough…as both pens tried to give this one away.
ELY 6 – YSS 5

Game #5:

Battle of the spots. Will Smith was strong in his spot start for YSS.  David Holmberg was not for ELY. Hank Conger smashed 3 doubles for the home team. YSS 5 – ELY 2

Game #6:

Taijuan Walker was awesome, but was pulled after 6 strong innings. The YSS bullpen then shat itself. ELY 6 – YSS 5

Series Summary

The Indians take the series 4 games to 2. ELY was a bit too strong for the Stalkers. The YSS pen was not particularly helpful. ELY continues on the road to DAL, while YSS heads to TCC for a beautiful, resort style get-away series.

Sacramento Capitals @ Roseville Thorns

Series Preview

5th place Sacramento visits Roseville in a series with no standings impact. Rickie Weeks comes into the series with a consecutive on-base streak of 7 games (working from a .306 OBP). Rickie is showing he wants to be part of the newly formed Triple Creek Patriots when the team moves next season.

Game #1:

Samardzija vs. Gonzalez

Back and forth battle as the Capitals try giving the game away by committing 3 errors but the visitors come away victorious. Vincent
records his 15th save and Samardzija goes 8 solid innings improving to 7-10. Pujols and Owings go deep for the Capitals and Aoki for the Thorns.

SC 4 RT 3

Game #2:

Pettibone vs. Pettitte

Weeks blasts a 3-run job in the 2nd and its all the home squad needs to tie the series 1-1. Pettitte scatters 5 hits and allows a single run over 7 innings and the bullpen was perfect.

SC 1 RT 3

Game #3:

Bedard vs. Vargas

Bedard enters the game with a tattered 2-14 record. He spins a good yarn with 7 innings of 3-hit ball, but it’s not meant to be, as McGee
relieves him and promptly allows 3 in the 8th giving him his 15 loss.  Vargas tosses 6 shutout innings and the bullpen is solid allowing only 1 to plate.

SC 1 RV 4

Game #4:

Kendrick vs. Walters

Walters making his season debut only manages 2 1/3 before leaving the game with the bases loaded and 1 out. The Thorn bullpen cleans up that mess and then some tossing 6 2/3 of scoreless 3 hit ball.

SC 2 RV 4

Game #5:

Samardzija vs. Masterson

Roseville bats thundered this day piling up 14 hits and 10 runs.
Masterson rubs some salt in the wound with a 2 hit shutout for his 12th win of the season.

SC 0 RV 10

Game #6:

Jenkins vs. Gonzalez

Roseville commits 3 errors allowing the Capitals to take the last game.
Paul found his stroke going 2-5 with a double and RBI and Pujols homers.

SC 3 RV 2

Series Summary

Roseville takes the series 4-2 and Weeks extends his OB streak to an impressive 13 games.

        Clovis Wheat Kings @ Valdosta Snappers

Series Preview

Two 2nd place teams lock horns with Clovis a chance at 1st place.

Series Summary

Wheat Kings win 5 of 6 from the struggling Snappers.

        Chicago Mobsters @ Southbend Lynx

Series Preview

Powerful Chicago comes into Southbend for a 6 game series.

Chicago is fighting for a playoff spot, Southbend is just

trying to get through the season.

Game #1:

Game 127

CHI A.Wainwright vs. SBL E.Stults

T4: Loney 1bs, Dunn 1bs, Fowler 3-run HR

B4: Lowrie 1bs, Joyce 2-run HR

T6: Simmons 1b, Fowler H&R 1b, Headley 2-run 2b, Jennings 1b, Familia
throwing error on McCutchen grounder

plates Headley, Pedroia bb, and Dunn 2-run 1b caps the scoring

T7: Fowler reaches on a Satin error, Headley inf-1b, Jennings 1bs,
Sanchez GIDP plates another run

B7: Joyce 2b, grondout, Satin SF

B9: Trumbo solo-HR

Final Score: CHI 9, SBL 4 – CHI up 1-0 in the series

Wainwright gets the win, Stults the loss

Game #2:

Game 128

CHI C.Sale vs. SBL J.Niese

B1: Altuve 1b and sb, Lowrie 1b, Altuve then scores on a WP

T2: Jennings 1b & sb, T.Sanchez rbi-1b

T4: Fowler 2bs and scores on Morse’s error

T5: McCutchen reaches 2nd on Satin’s error, Loney 2-run HR

B5: Forsythe 1bs, Altuve rbi-2b

T8: Revere 1b & sb, Alvarez 2-run HR

B8: Satin 2bs, groundout, Trumbo rbi-2b

Final Score: CHI 6, SBL 3 – CHI up 2-0 in the series

Sale gets the win, A.Reed the save, Niese takes the loss

Game #3:

Game 129

CHI F.Hernandez vs. SBL D.Huff

B7: All the scoring came after 2 out; Altuve 2bs, Altuve scores on
Pedroia’s error on a Crisp grounder, Lowrie is IW, Trumbo hits 3-run HR.
All runs were unearned

But the game’s star is SBL D.Huff as he has his best start of the season
tossing the CG Shutout, giving up only 4 hits and fanning 5.

Final Score: SBL 4, CHI 0 – CHI up 2-1 in the series

D.Huff gets the win and F.Hernandez takes the loss

Game #4:

Game 130

CHI M. Wacha vs. SBL D.Holland

T3: Simmons 2b, Revere rbi-1b

B4: Crisp 2b, Lowrie rbi-2b, Joyce rbi-1b

T5: Dunn solo-HR

B6: Crisp bbs, Lowrie bb, Trumbo 3-run HR

B7: Jaso 1b, Barmes inf-1b. Lowrie bbs, Trumbo 3-run 2b

T8: Jennings solo-HR

Final Score: SBL 8, CHI 3 – Series now tied 2-2

D.Holland gets the win and M.Wacha takes the loss

Game #5:

Game 131

CHI C.Sabathia vs. SBL S.Diamond

B3: Escobar 1bs, Altuve 1bs, Lowrie rbi-2b, Trumbo rbi-1b, Joyce SF

T4: McCutchen bb, Loney 1b, Alonso bb, Jennings 2-run 2b

T6: Alvarez solo-HR ties the game up

T7: Fowler reaches on Trumbo error, steals 2nd, McCutchen rbi-1b

T8: Posey solo-HR for an insurance run

CHI bullpen is strong aas they throw 3 innings of scoreless ball

Final Score: CHI 5, SBL 3 – CHI up 3-2 in the series

Sabathia gets the win, A.Reed the save, Diamond takes the loss

Game #6:

Game 132

CHI A.Wainwright vs. SBL E.Stults

T1: McCutchen 1b, Alvarez rbi-2b

B1: Lowrie 2b, Trumbo rbi-1b

T3: Fowler 1bs moves to 2nd on Morse error, McCutchen rbi-2b, Posey
rbi-1b

B4: Jaso solo-HR

T7: Simmons 1bs, steals 2nd, Fowler rbi-1b, McCutchen 1bs, simmons to
3rd, Alvarez SF

B7: Forsythe 1bs, Trumbo rbi-2b

T8: Loney bbs, steals 2nd, Jennings rbi-2b, Simmons rbi-1b, Fowler 1b,
Pedroia rbi-1b, McCutchen SF, Posey 2-run HR putd the game away for CHI

B9: Satin 2bs, Barmes PR, Lowrie rbi-1b

Final Score: CHI 11, SBL 4 – CHI takes the series 4-2

Wainwright picks up the win and Stults the loss

Series Summary

CHI somehow manages to lose two games to the SBL.

Trumbo has the big series going 10-25 w/3 2bs, 3 HRs, and 14 rbi.

The pitching gem was the unexpected shutout by Huff.

        Detroit Crime @ Traverse City Crusaders

Series Preview

The Detroit Crime (69-57) brings their syndocate into Traverse City (36-90), who are coming off a pretty good series against Dallas.

Game #1:

TRAVERSE CITY 3, DETROIT 2

The Crusaders win with a walk-off single to right by Drew Stubbs, as Donnie Murphy goes 2-for-3 with a two-run homer. Luke Gregerson records his first win in relief for T.C., Stammen gets the loss for Detroit.

Game #2:

DETROIT 1, TRAVERSE CITY 0

The Crime wins on the difference of a Adam Jones solo HR — the one crucial mistake by David Phelps, who otherwise pitched a pretty good game of 7 innings, 4 ER’s allowed, while striking out 12. Zack Wheeler improves to 5-5, with a 3.92 ERA for Detroit.

Joaquin Benoit, the former Crusader, locks down his 16th save — while sporting a microscopic 0.16 ERA!

Game #3:

DETROIT 4, TRAVERSE CITY 3

Both teams racked up some hits, a total of 23 hits, Detroit jumped off to 3-0 lead, while the Crusaders tried to fight back, but come up short.  Donovan Hand (of the Crime) improves to 4-1, 1.45 ERA. Joaquin Benoit collects Save #17.

Game #4:

TRAVERSE CITY 7, DETROIT 6

The Crusaders trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the 4th, and score 6 runs on a collection of singles. In fact, all of the Crusaders 10 hits
would be no more than singles — while Detroit try to win the game on the long-ball with HR’s by Bryce Harper, Josh Hamilton, and Jarrod
Saltalamacchia.

The Crusaders’ relievers earned themselves a much-needed victory, with 5
innings of one earned-run.

Game #5:

TRAVERSE CITY 2, DETROIT 0

All Travis Wood — a two-hit shutout of Detroit, got a little sloppy in the 9th with some walks allowed, but T.C. sticks with their horse as he stays in to take a bite out of the Crime. 6 K’s & 4 BB’s for Wood.

Brett Gardner goes 3-for-4, solo HR, with 2 steals.

Madison Bumgarner did his best for Detroit, allowing 2 ER’s in 7.1 innings, with 6 K’s. Wood improves to 6-15, with a 3.58 ERA, as
Bumgarner falls to 18-6, still keeping a solid 1.85 ERA.

Game #6:

DETROIT 13, TRAVERSE CITY 10

All offense for both teams. Both teams would have 6-run outbursts in a single-inning. Traverse City led at one point 7-4, Detroit then put up it’s 6-run outburst in the top of the 6th to take a 10-7 lead. Traverse City tied it up 10-10 at one point, but Detroit pulls it out.

7 long-balls total — Adam Jones (DET) & Brandon Laird (T.C.) each hit 2 HR’s. Carlos Corporan & Drew Stubbs hit HR’s for T.C., while old vet Mark DeRosa hits a HR as well for the Crime.

Series Summary

A series split, Traverse City fans are happy with their recent 7-6 stretch at home — giving the fans a little joy while trying to enjoy
this cool summer.

        Bethesda Bandicoots @ Fremont Cannons

Series Summary

Fremont takes 5 of 6 from the Bandicoots.