2016 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #12

Still reeling from the pounding they received at the hands of Columbus last week, the Bethesda Bandicoots try to right the ship as they host division rival Jersey Nor’easters.

… and let the scoring drought begin.
Jake Arrieta scattered four hits over eight innings as the Bandicoots downed Jersey 4-0. JP Arencibia singled, doubled and drove in a trio of runs to pace
the Bethesda offence.
FINAL – BETHESDA 4, JERSEY 0
W-J.Arrieta (8-5, 1.33)
L-M.Perez (0-4, 4.95)
HR-none

Sonny Gray’s wildness paid dividends as he walked four, but allowed only two hits as Bethesda blanked Jersey 5-0.
FINAL – BETHESDA 5, JERSEY 0
W-S.Gray (8-5, 2.89)
L-J.Quintana (3-7, 3.64)
HR-BET: J.Paredes (4)

Bethesda continued its shutout streak to four days (in part thanks to a day off) as Tyson Ross had all cylinders firing, fanning nine and allowing only one walk and six hits in a 2-0 Bethesda victory over Jersey. The Jersey offense was a huge letdown to its starter Kyle Hendricks who just gave up three hits and struck out nine in seven strong innings.
FINAL – BETHESDA 2, JERSEY 0
W-T.Ross (3-6, 3.40)
SV-R.Hill (11, 0.00)
L-K.Hendricks (6-6, 2.81)
HR-BET: B.Miller (3)

Back-to-back-to-back homers by David Peralta, Andre Ethier and Adrian Gonzalez in the 4th inning ruined what was otherwise a strong start by ?Jersey’s Chris Heston as Bethesda completed the sweep with a 6-4 over the Nor’easters. Lucas Duda singled, walked, and homered to drive in three runs in
heading up the Jersey offense. Catcher AJ Pierzynski paced Bethesda with a 3/4 performance and an RBI.
FINAL – BETHESDA 6, JERSEY 4
W-E.Ramirez (8-2, 3.33)
SV-R.Hill (12, 0.00)
L-C.Heston (6-3, 3.14)
HR-JNE: L.Duda (9); BET: D.Peralta (11), A.Ethier (7), A.Gonzalez (13)

A much needed sweep by Bethesda will hopefully provide a bit of a cushion between itself and 2nd place Pittsburgh while Jersey loses ground on 3rd place New York.

Coconut Creek bringing up the rear in the American League West at 20-52, take on the Chicago Mobsters 51-21 of the American League Central who are sitting in 2nd place but in the top Wild Card spot.

Rain shortens the game to 5 full Innings. Trevor May (3-6 2.58) picks up the short win for the Crushers.
Final Score: Coconut Creek 2 – Chicago 1

Carlos Matias Martinez (8-3 2.69) goes 5 Innings before a cast of six relievers come on to finish this one out. Aroldis Chapman picks up his 18th save on the season.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – Coconut Creek 0

Felix Hernandez (13-1 1.91) goes 6.1 Innings, Chapman his 19th save. Buster Posey in the lead off spot goes 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – Coconut Creek 2

After a day off it’s the Chris Sale show. Sale was mowing them down, 15 Strikeouts through 8.2 Innings with a No-Hitter on the line. The Crushers send up Max Muncy to pinch hit with 2 Outs in the 9th. Muncy of course gets a hit (2B) & breaks up the No-Hitter. Sale calmly strikes out the next batter for his 16th K of the game. Devon Travis & Buster Posey both have Solo Shots & that’s all the Mobsters would need.
Final Score: Chicago 2 – Coconut Creek 0

Matt Shoemaker (2-6 2.47) picks up the win for Coconut Creek. Jody Mercer 3 Run Shot is big for the Crushers. C.C. Sabathia (1-3 5.73) is left in one batter too many & ends up giving up 6 Earned Runs in 6.2 Innings of work.
Final Score: Coconut Creek 6 – Chicago 2

Carlos Matis Martinez (9-3 2.50) has the Cushers number again this time on short rest. Martinez goes 7 Innings, allowing no run, on 5 hits, 0 Walks, with 9 Strikeouts. Andrew McCutchen is 2 for 4 with a Home Run & 3 RBI’s.
Final Score: Chicago 7 – Coconut Creek 0

Chicago takes the series 4 games to 2.

Two teams at the opposite ends of the spectrum….

Chen (TEM) vs Matzek (GHG)
All Tempe in this one and the Gators defense is less than stellar. Game Final: TEM 9 – GHG 2

Santiago (TEM) vs Duffey (GHG)
Duffey holds strong in his first start of the year, going 8 strong innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits. Quackenbush pitches out of a jam for the save
Game Final: GHG 3 – TEM 1

Anderson (TEM) vs Hale (GHG)
Great pitching dual between Anderson and Hale – Tempe’s stronger bats finally break through in the 8th. Anderson goes the distance for the Tempers, giving up only 4 hits in a shutout
Game Final: TEM 2 – GHG 0

Iwakuma (TEM) vs House (GHG)
The Gators get on board early, plating a run in the 1st. The Temper’s Longoria goes long with a solo shot in the 4th to tie it up. Nieuwenhuis gives the lead back to the Gators in the bottom of the 4th with a 2-run HR; Grand Haven keeps the lead from there.
Game Final: GHG 4 – TEM 2

Chen (TEM) vs Lohse (GHG)
Lohse gets rocked early, while Chen goes on to pitch a complete game shut-out, giving up 5 hits.
Game Final: TEM 11 – GHG 0

Santiago (TEM) vs Duffey (GHG)
Duffey doesn’t quite have the same success as his first start, as he gives up 3 runs in the 1st inning. He settles a little from there though, but the damage was enough to keep the Gators out of it.
Game Final: TEM 6 – GHG 1

Tempers take 4 of the 6 games from the Gators.   Both teams are on the road next week:  Tempe travels to Clovis Grand Haven heads to Bethesda

New York looking for a much needed series win in order to stay in the hunt in the N.L. East.

NY wins 5-3 behind McCann (3/4). McCann hit a 2 run HR in bottom 5th that put NY in front 4-3.

Hamels throws a beauty going 8 innings allowing a mere 4 hits, 1 run. He struck out 8 while walking not a soul. NY wins 3-1 but loses Utley to injury yet again; this time for 10 days.

Outlaws take this game 5-1. Herrera pinch hit 3 run blast in bottom 8th is the game killer. Peavy (who also was 2/3 at the plate) throws 6 innings of 1 runball. Selkirk’s Souza is 4/4 as Norris runs his record to 0-13 !!!

Anderson (7-3) wins this one for New York 5-2 with help from Ortiz (3/4) and McCann (2/3). Jansen collects save #18.

McCann again ! Collects 3 RBI on a bottom 3rd 3 run Ballantine Blast! Outlaws roll this one up and notch a 7-1 victory to make it 5 straight wins.

Selkirk comes alive! They win the finale 5-4 behind Bourjos (3/4) and Heisey (pinch hit HR). Pagan 3/4 in the loss for NY.

Outlaws take the series 5-1 giving a much needed boost to any playoff hopes.

Rivera singled in 2 runs in the 5th to give Long Beach a 2-1 lead. It was still 2-1 in the 8th when Martinez threw out Barnhart at the plate. At the time it was a big play. However, in the bottom of the inning the Dirtbags exploded for 5 runs to make the final 7-1. Lester threw 8 innings to pick up the win.

Garcia broke a 1-1 tie in the 6th with a 2 run HR in the Valdosta 4-1 win. Lewis gave up 4 hits over 8 innings and got the win.

Ventura was cruising along with a 1-0 lead until Altherr hit a PH 3 run HR in the 7th. The Valdosta bullpen closed out the 3-1 win with Vizcaino picking up the save.

Valdosta broke open a tie game with 6 runs in the 8th. Sano had the big hit a 2 run bomb. Suzuki had 3 hits to lead the offense and Teheran got the win.

Fiers and McHugh were both great in this game. Fiers gave up just 2 hits and struck out 14 in 8 innings and McHugh struck out 10 in 8 innings also. The only runs scored on a Pillar 2 run 1b in the 8th as Long Beach won 2-0.

Napoli homered in the bottom of the 11th to give Long Beach a 3-2 win. Hughes pitched 2 perfect innings to get the win.

Valdosta and Long Beach split the 6 game series.

First two games were blowouts and the last 4 were close. Dallas takes the series 4 games to 2.

The Chihuahuas head north of the border(s?) to take on the Stalkers. SWD is fighting for a top draft pick, while YSS is fighting for mediocrity.

Vidal Nuno vs Gerrit Cole. The home team opened with their ace to set a tone. A shootout resulted. Wieters homered twice and plated 4, while Duffy and Lawrie both homered and drove home 2. YSS tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, but the pen was putrid overall.

SWD 8 – YSS 6 (11)

For the 2nd game in a row the home team rallied to knot the score in the 9th. They needed 4 runs to do it this time. Could they hold on this time? They ended the suspense early.

YSS 6 – SWD 5 (10)

YSS was ready for Owens. Bryant HR’d twice, Conger HR’d and tripled, and Prado singled 3 times. They each plated 3 runs and the rout was
on. YSS 11 – SWD 3

Michael Pinedas only mistake was a solo HR to Duffy. He went the distance for the Stalkers. Tejada, Prado and Conger homered for the winners.

YSS 6 – SWD 1

Yet another extra inning affair, as 6 scoreless innings from the pen followed a strong outing from Estrada (7 IP, 2ER).

YSS 3 – SWD 2 (13)

Mike “Slumpbuster” Pelfrey improved to 3-10. Asdrubal Cabrera knocked home 4 with 2 homers and a triple.

SWD 10 – YSS 6

YSS tallied 3 in the bottom of the 8th. Papelbon was winded, so Kela picked up a rare save.

YSS 6 – SWD 3

The Stalkers took 5 of 7 contests. There were no injuries. SWD continues their roadie to DET, while YSS packs up for Manhattan.

Motor City brings it’s muscle to Arizona and it’s altitude and dry air. Homers should be ‘a flyin’

Mesa starter Eddie Butler pitches the game of his life, a complete game five hit shutout. He walked 5 and struck out a career high 12. Ryan Howard blasted two solo homers and Todd Frazer added a two run homer of his own.

Mesa scored at least one run in the first 6 innings for Ricky Nolasco until he weakened in the 6th. Ahead 6-4, the Solar Sox bullpen shut out the muscle the rest of the way and Mesa wins again 10-4. Ben Paulsen continues Mesa’s first base hitting barrage by smacking two homers in support.

The Muscle muscle up with 6 runs in the first two innings, 4 homers total and a 13-1 win. 17 hits included homers from Nick Ahmed (really?), Brandon Moss and two from Darin Ruf. Jacob DeGrom says to the Solar Sox “Trade me??? Fools!” A complete game 6 hitter!

Edison Volquez and Ian Kennedy took turns straining their necks watching balls fly out of the park. Kennedy gave up homers to Trout, Chris Young, and Preston Tucker. Volquez got tired of Brian Dozier, who blasted two homers off him. The muscle won the game 504 when Jose Ramirez doubled home the winning run in the 8th.

Another 13-1 Motor City win. Another 4 homers for the Muscle: Carl Crawford, Darin Ruf, Chris Young, and Jose Ramirez do the deeds. Mike Leake and the bullpen solve the Solar Sox, allowing only 3 hits.

Nick Ahmed (Oh, you gotta be kidding me!) wins the game with a two run homer in the 10th. Trout hits another homer. Steven Pierce and Brian Dozier go deep for Mesa, but it wasn’t enough.

Motor City takes their 5th in a row, 3-2, in a well pitched game between Justin Verlander and Ricky Nolasco. Darin Ruf hit a two run double to win it off Ryan Pressley.

Motor City started slow, but wnd up taking the last 5 in a row with some impressive hitting and solid pitching

Columbus takes the 3 hour drive up to Detroit for their 1st ever meeting with the Corktown Cycle for 7 games.

Rusin gives the Explorers 7.2 innings giving up only 2 runs. He also added a home run while batting 2/3 to his good pitching performance.

Columbus 5-2
W. C. Rusin 2-0
L. J. Hellickson 3-8
S. F Rodriguez (14)

Up 2-1 with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth Cycle closer Chasen Shreve gave up a 3 run home run to PH Eduardo Nunez.

Columbus 4-2
W. D. O’day 3-0
L. C. Shreve 2-4
S. S Gilmartin (3)

Both teams get 1 run early and rookies Lance Mccullers 7.1IP and Adam Morgan 8IP cruise. That’s when the Bullpen’s took over for both teams. Great pitching overall as The Explorer pen was in lock down mode from the 8th to the 12th. Corktown finally had their hickup in the 12th as Treinen gave up 4 hits and 2 runs, as Columbus pulls out another late inning victory.

Columbus 3-1
W. S. Gilmartin 3-0
L. Treinen 1-1

This one was all Columbus from the start. Corktown tried to make it interesting by scoring 3 in the 9th off Starter R.A. Dickey. He couldn’t pull off the complete game and was pulled after 8.2 so O’day could officially close the door on the Cycle.

Columbus 5-3
W. R.Dickey 6-7
L.DeSCLAFANI 4-9
S. O’day (9)

The Corktown Pen just couldn’t get the job done yet again. Its really been a season of struggles for them. Columbus scored 4 of their 5 runs from the 7th on.

Columbus 5-3
W.S. Gilmartin 4-0
L. C Chreve 2-5
S. O’Day (10)

Similar to the rest of the series Columbus puts up 4 and Rusin earns his 2nd victory of the series.

Columbus 4-2
W. Rusin 3-0
L.Koehler 4-7
S. O’Day (11)

Nothing different about this game either. Charlie Blackmon was completely dominate in this series, and this game he continued going 4/4 with a Home Run and stolen base. He just destroyed the basepaths during the 7 games.

Columbus 4-2
W. J Happ 11-1
L. Colome 3-4
S. Gilmartin (4)

Columbus came out to win the series and couldn’t be happier taking all 7, stretching their lead in the Central. Corktown is figuring out what type of team they are and will be looking at whats next as they surely will be picking somebody in the top ten next season.Columbus 7-0

NL West leading Clovis paddle into Triple Creek looking to extend their 1-game lead on Sacramento.

Apologies for my lack of writes-ups this week. I was fortunate to spent the past week with my son enjoying his graduation activities at West Point. Go Army!
Clovis easily takes 5 of 6 as Cruz feasted to feed the offense.

Tijuana visits Southbend with neither team going anywhere fast.

TIJ gets 2 in the 1st on Butler’s 2-run 2b. TIJ adds another in the 6th on a Lamb solo-HR. SBL makes it close with 2 in the 7th on rbi-1bs by Altuve and Forsythe. TIJ gets an rbi-1b from Lamb in the 8th and Kluber shuts the door in he 8th and 9th for the CG win.

TIJ 4, SBL 2

SBL Kang hits a 2-run HR in the 1st for an early SBL lead. TIJ Upton hits a solo-HR in the 4th. SBL adds to thiert lead with 2 in the B4 with back-to-back solo-HRs by Canha and Lowrie. In the T6 TIJ ties the game on a bases loaded HBP to Odor and a Butler 2-run 1b. Altuve wins it with an rbi-1b in the B14. Petricka goes 3 IP for the win.

SBL 5, TIJ 4

SBL takes a rare series lead with a win as Bergman, Osuna, and Familia do the job on the mound. Soto hits a 2-run HR in the 4th. Kang adds solo-HRs in the 5th and 6th. Gomes has an rbi-1b in the B5. TIJ gets a 2-run HR from Lamb in the T4 and an rbi-2b from Puig in the T2 and an Upton rbi-1b in the T7.

SBL 5, TIJ 4

This game is all TIJ despite the final score. TIJ jumps out to an 2-0 lead ona Odor 2-run 1b in the T1. TIJ adds 5 in the T2 with the big hit being a Bautista 3-run HR. TIJ pushes it to 8-1 with an Encarnacion rbi-groundout in the T3. Roark bends but never breaks and Nelson comes on for the save. SBL get another Hr from Kang.

TIJ 8, SBL 5

Really wild game in the early innings as TIJ scores 6 in the T2 and SBL score 5 in the B2. TIJ gets 2-run HRs from Odor and Olt in the 2 along with an Encarnacion 2-run 1b. SBL big hit in the B2 was a Forsythe Grand Slam. TIJ gets rbi-1bs from Mauer and Bautista in the T4 to extend the lead. TIJ gets 2 more in the T7 on a Garneau 2-run 2b. Kluber come sout of the pen for a 2.2 IP save.

TIJ 10, SBL 6

Exciting game where TIJ scores 3 in the T9 for a 4-2 lead only to have SBL tie it in the B9 with 2 runs. TIJ gets an rbi-1b from Addison and a 2-run HR from Upton in the T9. Kang ties it in the B9 with a 2-run 1b. In the TIJ T10 Odor 2bs, Puig rbi-1b and Sb, and a Lamb rbi-1b give TIJ the lead. Carlyle comes out of the pen for the win.

TIJ 6, SBL 4

TIJ takes the last 3 games for a 4-2 series win.  Kang has big series for SBL after coming off the DL.

Detroit 8-1
Score tied 1-1 into the 12th inning, then Detroit bats explode for 7 runs in the top of the 12th against Rzepczynski in his first relief appearance of the season.
WP Siegrist
LP Rzepczynski

Manhattan 3-2
WP Mattheus
LP Carrasco

Manhattan 8-4
WP Simon
LP Kazmir

Detroit 3-2
WP Bumgarner
LP Porcello

Detroit 2-0
WP Strassburg
LP Tanaka

Manhattan 7-3
WP Pomerantz
LP Burnett

Split series
3 Detroit
3 Manhattan

Hollywood takes the series 4 games to 2.

Sacramento takes the series 6 games to 1.