2017 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

JT_Realmuto17.jpgKenta_Maeda17.jpgChrisV_Carter17.jpgMax_Scherzer17.jpg

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
REALMUTO,J.T. MAN  AL .406 .594 7 32 13 3 0 1 6 12 5 2 0 0 0 1
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
MAEDA,Kenta HOL  AL 2 2 0 0 0.00 16 0 0 6 17 5 0 1 0 2 0
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
CARTER,Chris V. VAL  NL .423 1.346 7 26 11 0 0 8 10 16 8 5 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
SCHERZER,Max SAC  NL 2 2 0 0 1.29 14 2 2 7 21 1 0 0 0 0 1

Fremont  Cannons @ Manhattan  Project
Series Preview:
SERIES OPENER 2017
Game #1:

MANHATTAN 11-9 (11 innings)

WP Allen
LP Bundy

Game #2:

MANHATTAN 8-7

WP Worley
LP Barraclough
SV Allen

Game #3:

MANHATTAN 8-2

WP Tanaka (CG)
LP Gallardo
Grand Slam: Seager (6th)

Game #4:

FREMONT 6-1

WP Nicasio
LP Pomerantz

Game #5:

MANHATTAN 7-4

WP Chatwood
LP Bundy
 

Game #6:

FREMONT 4-3

WP Rondon
LP Fernandez (CG)

Game #7:

MANHATTAN 10-1

WP Porcello
LP Garcia
SV Worley

Series Summary:
Manhattan takes series 5-2

 

Tempe  Tempers @ Columbus  Explorers
Series Preview:
Opening Day – New Season – NL Central Rivals meet in Columbus. The Explorers, surprise team of 2016 with the leagues best record, host the Tempe Tempers – who possess a dark shaded reputation in the league, and the perennial team to beat. What a way to have to start the season AGAIN – can lightning strike twice, or will the temporary dethroning of the Tempers work to their advantage. HAS ANYONE seen that team – there were times I just wanted to WALK every batter. My pitchers are all on anxiety meds just getting ready for this one.
Game #1:
Lester vs. Happ – figures to be a pitchers’ duel for sure. Except Beltre (1) and Cespedes (1) have other ideas as they take Happ over the fence to show him his own city. The Tempers go quietly in the
1st, but then get 2 in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd, take a couple more along the way.
BUT – big issue was Jon Lester – he goes the distance tossing a 3 hitter and fanning 9 for his opening day performance and gives the Tempers the season lead over Columbus in a 7-0 route.
TEM 7-10-0 WP Lester (1-0)
COL 0- 3-2 LP Happ (0-1)
Game #2: Cueto vs. Santana – Pitchers started off hotter than the hitters in this one, but in the 3rd Cueto singles and Braun drives him home for a 1-0 lead. Bottom half, Brock Holt connects (1) for a solo homer tying the game and giving the Explorers their first run of the new year. But the pitchers return to mastery after that until 6th when Blackmon singles and two batter later Carpenter plows one over the wall (1) to make it 3-1 Columbus.
Santana stays for the 7th but with 2 outs he gives up a hit and Uehara comes in. The whiff and that threat ends. He leaves after giving up a 2 out walk in the 8th, Watson comes in and fans his only batter. Francisco Rodriguez comes in for the 9th and looked like he hasn’t missed a beat since last year retiring the Tempers in order (Gattis, Tulo and Votto).
TEM 1-7-1 LP Cueto (0-1)
COL 3-5-0 WP Santana (1-0) S Rodriguez (1)
Game #3: Guerra vs. Rusin – quick note, Rusin had to be the biggest surprise for Columbus last year when he went 11-1, 2.20 era (as a grade 3). Based on that performance, he was given a nice contract for 2017 and offered a spot in the rotation (maybe spot starting, but starting). How will it work out?

He gives up a walk to Braun in the 1st, but that’s all. But his teammates rise to his support when Blackmon leads off the 1st with a homer (1). Nunez walks, Carpenter singles him to 3rd and Desmond doubles them both home for quick 3-0 lead. But with 1 out in the 3rd, Votto walks and Cano shows Rusin how far he can hit one as he cranks a two run homer (1).
The Explorers however have more scoring on their minds as they plate 1 in the 4th and then a Desmond solo homer (1) followed by a Granderson solo shot pace a 3 run 5th. Rusin was given the rest of the day off – Tempe made a bit of an attempt at a comeback in the 8th, including Cano’s 2nd homer of the game (2) but it was not enough. FOR THE 2nd game in a row, Romine was hit by a pitch and he will miss at least 21 days as a result.
TEM 4-6-0 LP Guerra (0-1)
COL 7-9-0 WP Rusin (1-0) S Rodriguez (2)

Game #4: Wright vs. Tomlin – Back to back 2 out doubles get Columbus up 1-0 in the 1st. Then the Tempers show their temper with 3 in the 2nd including a 2 run shot (1) from Gattis (who was close to a 1 man wrecking crew this week). All three runs were the result of a Nunez error that extended the inning (ugh).
Tomlin seemed to shake it off – that is until the 6th. Braun, Cespedes, Beltre, Bogaerts, Cabrera and of course Gattis get consecutive hits and the Tempers get 4 more runs. 7-1 and you’d think
with the Tempers bullpen that the game was over. Well not so fast …
Bottom of the 7th, Johnson comes on and Gordon walks, Zimmerman gets an infield single, KiKi draws a walk to load them up. Nunez a SF. A 2 out Granderson single and Desmond single and it’s 7-4. Socolovich comes in for the 9th and Nunez cracks a 1 out homer (1), but that’s as close as it gets.
TEM 7-10-0 WP Wright (1-0) S Socolovich (1)
COL 5-10-1 LP Tomlin (0-1)
Game #5: Vargas vs. Shoemaker – looks like the previous game with Columbus getting 1 in the 1st [Nunez HR (2)]and Tempe getting 3 in the 2nd (Cespedes double, Beltre rbi double, Bogaerts rbi double [3 ina row that’s why the IW looked good], Cabrera rbi single – all consecutive hits). Blackmon hits a 2 run homer (2) and Carpenter adds an rbi double for 3 Columbus runs in the 5th for a 4-3 lead. But wrecking crew Gattis connects for a 2 run homer (2) in the 7th for a 5-4 Tempe lead. Then Beltre hits another rbi double in the 8th for 6-4 lead. But Desmond does the big deed in the bottom of the 8th hitting a 2 runshot (2) to tie the game. Socolovich blows it. Then Flowers leads off the bottom of the 9th with a PH walk-off HR (1) to win it for the Explorers!
TEM 6-9-1 LP Barnette (0-1) BS Socolovich (1)
COL 7-7-1 WP Uehara (1-0)
Game #6: Lester vs. Happ – Lester gives up 4 hits this week in 2 GAMES! He should have had 2 complete games, but Perranoski decided to take him out for the 9th with the score 2-0 Tempe.
This game was a tale of 2 run homers – 3 of them and that almost wasn’t enough.Lester and Happ firing on all cylinders until Happ hiccups in the 3rd and – yup, you guessed it, Gattis strokes a 2 run homer (3). Meanwhile Columbus sputters under the dominance of Lester through 8 – 1 hit, 11 Ks!
Happ continues to do well, leaving with 1 out in the 9th and Rodriguez keeps it to 2-0. Perranoski brings in Champerlain and he gives up a walk and a 2 run homer (3) to Blackmon to tie the game. Lester’s face was not able to be shown on the big screen – lip reading would have revealed a lot!
Uehara comes in for the 10th – Gattis singles and Davis connects for a 2 run homer (1) to make it 4-2.
Law comes in for the bottom half and walks Avila. Gordon comes in to PR and steals 2nd. He’s grounded to 3rd. Flowers comes in to PH – another Flowers miracle? He drills one to RF, high, far but Cespedes catches it over the wall, Gordon tags and scores, 4-3, but 2 outs. Belisle comes in, Blackmon doubles, but Nunez skies one to RF for the final out.
TEM 4-7-0 WP Chamberlain, S Belisle (1), BS Chamberlain (1) 10 innings
COL 3-3-1 LP Uehara (1-1)
Game #7:
Cueto vs. Santana – series knotted at 3-3 and great battle going on. Top of the 2nd Cueto singles in a run to take a 1-0 Tempe lead. Bottom of the 5th Granderson cracks a 2 run homer (2) to give the Explorers the 2-1 lead. After the 6th, Schindel turns to the bullpen and Barrett, Watson and Rodriguez face 1 more than the minimum holding Tempe in check (the crowd didn’t breath). The Granderson HR was one 1 of the 2 Columbus hits in the game and Martin the runner was HBP to get on board ahead of it.
TEM 1-5-0 LP Cueto (0-2)
COL 2-2-0 WP Santana (2-0) S Rodriguez (3)
Series Summary:
So, the opening series was all anyone could ask for (except the locals and/or visitors would have like a sweep). Tempe has the power and pitching, Columbus needs a lot of careful attention, but the
season should be fun Columbus manages a 4-3 win (one less than last year) but we’ll gladly take it. 

 

Rosemere  Renegades @ Triple  Creek  Patriots
Series Preview:
Opening Day at the Olde Mill, PLAY BALL!
Game #1:
Renegades jump all over Gausman early led by Tapia and Crawford.  After 4 frames the home squad is down 5-1. The Patriots would add 1 in the 8th but opening day goes to the visitors. Tapia 3-5 with an RBI and Johnson 2-4 with an RBI. Villar collects 2 hits and a stolen base.RR 5 TCP 2W – Gsellman (1)
L – Gausman
S – Romo (1)
Game #2:
Renegade starter Eickhoff lasts only 1.2 as the Patriots hammer him for 6 runs and 6 hits. Graveman tosses 8 innings of 3-hit ball as his sinker was working well. Villar steals 2 more bases and scores twice.RR 1 TCP 7W – Graveman (1)
L – Eickhoff
S – None
Game #3:
Triple Creek starter De La Rosa pitches a great game allowing 3 hits over 8 frames. Headley started the scoring with the first Patriot homer of the year, a 3-run shot in the 3rd. The Renegades never
threatened.RR 0 TCP 5W – De La Rosa (1)
L – Liriano
S – None
Game #4:
Patriots held a 4-0 lead going into the top of the 7th when the Renegade bats woke from a 15 inning slumber. Rattling off successive hits Rosemere pulls within 1 but that’s as close as they would get. Strahm entered the game in the 4th with 2 runners on and just 1 out, he strands them both which probably makes the difference.RR 3 TCP 4W – Strahm
L – Paxton
S – Reed (1)
Game #5:
Rookie Luke Weaver on the bump for the Renegades against long missed AJ Griffin. Both pitchers exit in the 4th with the Patriots up 5-2. Battle of the bullpens goes to the home team. Crawford drills a solo shot for Rosemere and the top three Creek hitters combine for a 6-13 3 run day.RR 2 TCP 6W – Jennings (1)
L – Weaver
S – None
Game #6:
Gsellman still puzzles allowing just 2 runs over 6 innings of work. Grilli/Cedeno/Romo add nothing but zeroes and Rosemere wins handily. Gausman served up a juicy 2-run shot to Johnson in the 5th.RR 5 TCP 2W -Gsellman (2)
L – Gausman
S – Romo (2)
Game #7:
Graveman impresses again scattering 4 base runners over 7 innings. Eickhoff left a fastball in the heart of the plate in the 3rd and Seager deposited a no-doubter to right scoring 2. Crawford goes 2-3 and Johnson homers again.RR 2 TCP 5W – Graveman (2)
L – Eickhoff
S – None
Series Summary:
Triple Creek starts the season off 5-2.  Villar lit up the base paths reaching base 13 times and stealing 8. 
Rookie Andrew Benintendi impressed the home town batting .455 with a triple and 4 rbi in 4 starts. Crawford led the Renegades batting .370.

 

Yonge Street  Stalkers @ Chicago  Mobsters
Series Preview:
Chicago opens up north of the border & at the home of the Yonge Street Stalkers. The Mobsters a heavy playoff favorite for 2017, & the Stalkers have an outside chance at a Wild Card Spot.
Game #1:
Michael Pineda doesn’t make it out of the first inning. Chicago pours it on early & puts up a 6 spot before the first half inning if over. Dexter Fowler & Buster Posey both have 3 Hits & 2 RBI’s.
Final Score: Chicago 12 – Yonge Street 3
W – Carlos Martinez (1-0 3.60)
L – Michael Pineda (0-1 67.50)
S – Marcus Stroman (#1)
Game #2:
The Stalkers blast 4 Home Runs (Calhoun, Bour, Soler & Gennett) & the Mobsters just can’t put it together despite rapping out 11 Hits & 5 Runs.
Final Score: Yonge Street 9 – Chicago 5
W – Marco Estrada (1-0 4.91)
L – Alex Sanchez (0-1 9.00)
S – Kelvim Herrera (#1)
Game #3:
Felix Hernandez goes 6 Innings allowing only 1 Run (Unearned). J.D. Martinez has a Home Run & 3 RBI’s.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – Yonge Street 1
W – Felix Hernandez (1-0 0.00)
L – Taijuan Walker (0-1 5.40)
S – Aroldis Chapman (#1)
Game #4:
J.D. Martinez us 4 for 4 with 2 RBI’s, Josh Donaldson & Andrew McCutchen chip in with 2 RBI’s each. Noah Snydergaard allows 2 Runs in 5.2 Innings. Kolten Wong bruises his left knee & will be out for 9 days.
Final Score: Chicago 8 – Yonge Street 3
W – Noah Snydergaard (1-0 3.18)
L – Ivan Nova (0-1 6.43)
S – Wade Davis (#1)
Game #5:
Kris Bryant is 3 for 4, Jason Heyward is 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s. Gerritt Cole goes 7 Innings allowing only 3 Runs.
Final Score: Yonge Street 7 – Chicago 3
W – Gerritt Cole (1-0 3.86)
L – C.C. Sabathia (0-1 7.71)
S – Kelvim Herrera (#2)
Game #6:
J.D. Martinez is 2 for 6 with 2 Home Runs & 3 RBI’s for Chicago. Jorge Soler is 2 for 5 with a Home Run & 4 RBI’s. Chicago down 5 headed into the 9th Inning score the 5 they need to know the score
at 8 Runs apiece. The Stalkers score the winning run in the 10th.
Final Score: Yonge Street 8 – Chicago 7
W – Hunter Strickland (1-0 12.00)
L – Seung-hwan Oh (0-1 3.38)
Game #7:
Chicago book ends the series score double digit runs for the second time this series. Despite his ERA getting cut in half this game, Michael Pineda must hate the Mobsters as he allows 6 Runs in 2.2
Innings. Josh Donaldson is 2 for 4 with a Home Run & 3 RBI’s. J.D Martinez has 2 hits in 5 trips & 2 RBI’s. Marcus Stroman is on the hill for 35 Batters faced in 8.0 Innings.
Final Score: Chicago 8 – Yonge Street 3
W – Marcus Stroman (1-0 1.50)
L – Michael Pineda 0-2 29.70)
Series Summary:
Chicago takes the series 4 games to 3 as the Stalkers play some tough games at home. J.D. Martinez has a great series & could be in line for the American League Player of the week. 13 Hits in 30 Trips for a .433 Batting Average, 3 Home Runs & 10 RBI’s Chicago heads to Dallas for the next series to take on the Cougars, while the Stalkers will head down to sunny Florida to take on the
Crushers of Coconut Creek.

 

Pittsburgh  Lumber Company @ Jersey  Nor’easters
Series Preview:
Pittsburgh lumbers into Long Valley for the season opener for the hopefully much improved Nor’easters.
Game #1:
It’s Hendricks for Jersey against Hamels for Pittsburg to start the season. Pittsburg breaks thru in the 6th on a solo homer by Starling Marte. Jersey counters in the bottom of the 6th when Gregorious
belts a 2-run shot to take back the lead. The Nor’easters hang on to win 3-1 with Brad Hand saving the game for winner Kyle Hendricks.
Game #2:
The Lumber Company rock Jersey with 3 runs in the 1st inning off Jose Quintana. The Nor’easters shake this off by belting 4 homers, 2 by Daniel Murphy and one each by Bruce and Kendrick. Jersey wins the game 5-4. Quintana gets the win and Brad Hand gets save #2.
Game #3:
Another close game as Pittsburg’s Jorge Polanco hits a 2-run homer in the 7th inning and the Lumber Company makes it stand up winning the game 2-1. Sean Manaea gets the win.
Game #4:
The trend continues with close games. Pitt’s Jameson Taillon and Jersey’s Dan Straily each pitch 8 scoreless innings. Pitt’s Fernando Abad gives up a 2 out walk off single to Howie Kendrick and the
Nor’easters win the game 1-0.
Game #5:
In the only game not close in this series the Lumber Company pounds Jersey’s Vince Velasquez and win the game 7-1. Matt Andriese pitches 5 scoreless innings for the win. Marte, Morrison and Lucroy all homer for the Lumber Company.
Game #6:
In a rematch of game one it’s Hendricks and Hamels matching up. This time Hamels comes out on top as Pittsburg wins the game 4-2. Kipnis and Morrison homer for the Lumber Company. Pitt’s Starling Marte is lost foer 11 games due to injury.
Game #7:
It’s the rubber game of the series that’s tied 3-3. Yet another close game with Darvish and Quintana in a rematch of game 2. Same results, Quintana beats Darvish 2-1.
Series Summary:
A good start for Jersey as they take the series 4-3 in a very closely played series.

 

Tijuana  Bottle Rockets @ Detroit  Crime
Series Preview:
Detroit takes on Tijuana on this cold damp day but things warmed up as they passed out there 2016 World Series Rings today, they also had Kid Rock come out and sing a few tunes before the game.
Game #1:
A good pitchers dual Mad Bum vs Kluber; well on paper its a pitchers dual but they both left there good stuff at home. Kluber took the loss giving up 7 runs in 6IP and Bumgarner pitched 5.2 Innings
giving up 4 runs .
Det 7 Tij 6
HRs Dahl, Sanchez, Odor, Harper, (2) Jones . Wn Bumgarner Sv Britton
Game #2:
Tij 4 Det 3
WP Roark Sv Flynn Lp Strasburg
HRs Harper 2, Morales, Bautista, Upton
Game #3:
Tij 7 Det 5
WP Otero LP Britton
Hrs Harper 3, Jones,Encarnacion, Sanchez 2
Game #4:
Det 10 Tij 5
WP Colon LP Nelson
HRs Morales2, Jones 2,Descalso,Grandal, Russell, Mauer
Game #5:
Det 5 Tij 0
WP Kazmir (CG) LP Kluber
HRs Harper 4
Game #6:
Det 4 Tij 2
WP Bumgarner LP Roark SV Britton
HRs (GS)Machado 1, Sanchez 3
Game #7:
Det 5 Tij 1
WP Strasburg LP Nelson
HRs Harper 5 , Lee 1 , Sanchez 4
Series Summary:
Poor pitching with lots of HRs givin up.  Detroit takes series 5-2

 

Southwest Detroit  Fighting Chihuahuas @ Dallas Cougars
Series Preview: In pregame festivities Dallas raises their first division championship flag from the 2016 season and then Pat Green sings I like Texas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icvKEF5Elx8
– a song played after every Dallas Cougar home victory. While showing some 2016 team and fan highlights Pat Green and Lyle Lovett sing girls from Texas


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7CxCz3ijfg&list=RDicvKEF5Elx8&index=8.
  Of course closing out the opening day hoopla was the flyover


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyIPFAkTcDc
Once celebration of the clubs 2016 season came to an end the grim reality began to set in as many pre-season predictions had both the Fight Chihuahuas and Cougars losing over 90 games.
Game #1:
Matt Moore dominates as he pitches a complete game for Southwest Detroit allowing just one earned run and striking out 8. Jed Gyorko provides the offense for Dallas as he homers and singles in two, but Ryon Healy was even better for the Fighting Chihuahuas as he homered twice and drove in 3.
Final Score: SWD 7, DAL 2
Game #2:
This time it was all Dallas as their starter Dallas Keuchel punched out 7 in 7 innings allowing one run on a Xavier Scruggs solo homer. The Cougars pounded out 13 hits – 4 of them by Yangervis Solarte who drove in 4.
Final Score: DAL 9, SWD 1
Game #3: Amidst trade rumors John Lackey starts the game for Dallas and it looked like he might lose before the Cougars tied the game in the 9th when with out Nick Hundley singled followed by two doubles by Michael Martinez and Christian Colon. Unfortunately Colon was stranded at 2nd and we went into extra innings where it ended in the bottom of the 10th, “Firstbaseman SCRUGGS’s on the bag … he brings it home GYORKO drives one down the left field line … it’s deep enough if it’s fair … and it’s long gone! … it’s all over! … a two-run shot … there’s a party at home plate!”
Final Score: DAL 6, SWD 4
Game #4:
The two teams would combine for 33 hits and three players (2 for SWD and 1 for DAL) would hit two home runs. Dallas jumped ahead 5-0 after the bottom of the first, but Southwest Detroit pecked away at the deficit eventually take the lead in the 4th by a score of 6 to 5. The Cougars retook the lead in the 7th, but their closer Jumbo Diaz couldn’t get anyone out in the 9th giving up a solo homer and then eventually a grand slam to Pedro Alvarez.
Final Score: SWD 11, DAL 8
Game #5:
Another offensive game for both teams although most of the Fight Chihuahuas hitting attack occurred in the 9th after Dallas start Patrick Corbin had long left the game a few innings earlier. Corbin
only allowed 3 runs, but his bullpen gave up 6 more. Jumbo Diaz was far from perfect again, but this time managed to get the final out for his first save of the year.
Final Score: DAL 10, SWD 9
Game #6:
This game the pitching cooled the batters, but the Southwest Detroit’s defense failed them in the 8th when an error and wild pitch helped tie the game at 2-2 and then Josh Harrison delivered
the game winning hit for the Cougars.
Final Score: DAL 3, SWD 2
Game #7:
Great pitching duel between Matt Moore and Dallas Keuchel where both went the distance that wasn’t decided until Pedro Alvarez doubled home a run in the top of the 9th. For SWD Moore allowed 5 hits, struck out 8, and only had one walk. In a losing effort for DAL Keuchel struck out 11 with only one walk and allowed only 4 hits.
Final Score: SWD 1, DAL 0
Series Summary:
Dallas takes the series 4 games to 3.   Matt Moore pitches two CG allowing just one run for SWD.

 

Selkirk  Steelers @ Valdosta  Snappers
Series Preview:
Selkirk opens the year in Valdosta as a couple of rebuilding teams collide.
Game #1:
Valdosta 4-3. Colin McHugh struck out 10 in 6 IP. Kimbrel with the save. Chris Carter homered to begin an amazing series for him.
Game #2:
Valdosta 8-1. Chris Carter homered twice and knocked in 5 as the Snappers cruise to the win.
Game #3:
Valdosta 8-2. Chad Green makes his ML debut and gets the win. Carter with his 4th HR in 3 games.
Game #4:
Valdosta 7-6 (12 Innings). Chris Carter homered to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. Snappers win it in 12.
Game #5:
Selkirk 9-3. Steelers offense wakes up to score 9 runs. Carter homers again for the Snappers.
Game #6:
Selkirk 4-1. Snappers lose but guess who homers again? Carter homers in his 6th straight game.
Game #7:
Valdosta 3-1. Julio Teheran improves to 2-0 and Kimbrel picks up his 2nd save.
Series Summary:
Valdosta takes 5 of 7 behind a historical performance from Chris Carter.

 

Coconut Creek  Crushers @ Hollywood  Werewolves
Series Preview:
Hollywood – Coconut Creek
Series Summary:
Hollywood hammers CCC in the 6-1 series win.

 

Virginia  Sluggers @ Motor City  Muscle
Series Preview:

Virginia opens the season at Motor City in a 6 game series.

Motor City coming off their first playoff appearance hopes to build on that in a division that has improved.

Dixie Chicks sing the National Anthem and then join Arlo Guthrie for a rendition of “This Land is Your Land” during Opening Day ceremonies. Filmmaker and Michigan native Michael Moore throws out the first pitch.

Game #1:

MCM 8 – VIR 2

WP: Verlander
LP: Tillman

HR: MCM–C. Young

Virginia jumps out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first, but Motor City rides Chris Young’s four RBI to an easy win. Verlander thrives on the big stage of Opening Day, striking out 8 in 7 innings of work.

Game #2:

MCM 5 – VIR 0

WP: de Grom (CG)
LP: Archer

HR: MCM–Loney, Trout

Jacob de Grom dominates in his 2017 debut, striking out 9 in the complete game win. Muscle live up to the name with a pair of two-run HRs.

Game #3:

MCM 3 – VIR 0

WP: Blevins
LP: Perdomo
SV: Hart

HR: MCM–S. Perez

Perez’s three-run shot is all the Muscle needed as Blevins takes the win with 3.1 excellent relief innings. He struck out 6 of the 10 batters that he faced.

Game #4:

MCM 5 – VIR 2

WP: Diekman
LP: Cahill

HR: VIR–Bradley; MCM–Freese

Virginia had a 2-0 lead after two innings, but Motor City tied it with two in the fifth. It stayed that way until Freese walked it off with a three-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth.

Game #5:

MCM 6 – VIR 0

WP: Zimmermann (CG)
LP: D. Wright

HR: MCM–J. Ramirez, Loney, C. Young, Herrmann

Zimmermann struck out 10 in his complete game victory, and was supported by four home runs, three of the solo variety.

Game #6:

MCM 4 – VIR 2

WP: Verlander
LP: Tillman
SV: Hart

HR: VIR–Rizzo, N. Walker; MCM–S. Perez, Castellanos

A flurry of early scoring gave way to a batch of goose-eggs, as all the scoring was done in the first two innings.

Series Summary:
Motor City sweeps the opening series 6 games to 0.
MCM pitchers had three shutouts and two complete games as MCM outscored VIR 31-6.
MCM hit 11 homers, with Loney, Perez, and Young hitting two apiece.
Verlander won two games and Hart saved two.
Mike Trout hit .272 with 3 runs, 2 RBI and 5 stolen bases
Salvadore Perez hit .285 with 2 runs, 7 RBI, and 2 HRs.

 

Windy City  Black Sox @ Bethesda  Bandicoots
Series Preview:
Bethesda starts the long winding road downwards (death spiral) after a berth in the World Series to open the season at home against the Windy City Black Sox. It would prove to be a crazy series with a lot of neck braces prescribed for pitchers afterwards.
Game #1:
Bethesda carried a 2-1 lead into the 9th thanks to back-to-back solo homers by Stephen Drew and Brad Miller only to have Steve Cishek shit the bed allowing back-to-back homers to Carlos Beltran and Juan Castro to give Windy City a nifty 3-2 comeback win. Drew was hurt for 12 days in the game … yay … leaving Bethesda only with 6-rated Aledmys Diaz at the 2nd base slot.
Kanley Jansen was un-Cishek-like and earned his first save with the win going to Michael Dunn for 2/3 inning of stunning relief.
Game #2:
Bethesda scored twice in the 1st inning including a solo blast by Anthony Rendon, but then scuffed their way through the rest of the game leaving the door wide open enough to let Windy City scratch back to a 3-2 win on Michael Saunders RBI double in the 7th. Chad Bettis was solid through 6-plus allowing just a couple of runs on 7 hits with 8 Ks and no walks. Kenley Jansen did his job again earning his 2nd save in as many chances while Bethesda starter Jake Odorizzi went seven allowing all runs to get the loss.
Game #3: An insane game in which Jake Arrieta was chased after two innings and the Black Sox led 10-4 only to be down 11-10 in their last at bat before the Cishek factor kicked in leaving the Sox with a 12-11 win for their 3rd straight.
Cishek managed to keep the ball in the park this time, but his bed-crapping consisted of giving up a walk and doubles to Jason Castro and Chase Utley to account for the two go-ahead Sox runs.
Utley was a fab 6/6 with four runs and 3 RBIs including two home runs. Castro got the other homer for Windy City. The Bandicoots got homers from Hyun Soo Kim (1), Aledmys Diaz (1), Brad Miller (2) and relief pitcher Jonathan Holder of all people who was left in to hit just to sop up some innings and had no major league at bats in 2016. Go figure.
Game #4: Rich Hill stumbled through a painful five innings but thanks to a ton of run support Bethesda got its first win of the season 9-4 over Windy City.
Note that Steve Cishek was locked in the clubhouse for the last three innings of the game.
Michael Saunders (1) and Brandon Belt (1) hit back-to-back dingers in the 2nd inning (here we go again, I thought), but Hill managed to keep things together long enough to allow the Bandicoot offense a chance to kick in.
Brad Miller led the barrage with a couple of homers to give him four on the season and drove in six runs. Tyler Naquin (1) and Aledmys Diaz (2) also homered.
Matt Harvey (0-1) was pretty terrible allowing six runs on nine hits in 6 innings.
Game #5:
A bizarre game featuring the series’ worst pitching grades matching up in a duel of Luis Severino vs Tyson Ross that saw Mr. Ross fan 13 over eight innings of four-hit ball in a 2-1 Bethesda win.
WTF?
Severino pitched well himself allowing only a couple of runs on three hits.
Travis Shaw did all the damage for Bethesda homering in his only start of the series in the 2nd inning with Adrian Gonzalez aboard.
Michael Saunders and Nolan Arenado combined for a run in the 1st off Ross.
Steve Cishek somehow managed to strike out two in a 3 up 3 down 9th to earn his 1st save of the season as well.
Game #6:
There’s nothing like a 7-run inning to cancel out eight innings of doing sweet-f###-all as Bethesda beat up on Jeff Samardzija and Company in the 6th inning to emerge with a 7-6 win over Windy City.  The Bethesda 6th featured a nice trio of homers by Anthony Rendon (2), Hyung Soo Kim (2), and a 3-run pinch hit homer by Trevor StoryNolan Arenado (1) and Brandon Belt (2) homered for Windy City. Steve Cishek’s crapfest continued but he managed to hang on allowing just one run on a couple of hits for his 2nd save of the season. HA.
Game #7:
Homers by Tyler Naquin and Adrian Gonzalez carried Bethesda Bandicoots into the 9th inning with a 3-2 lead over Windy City, but Steve Cishek’s continuing meltdown deposited them right in the
toilet after allowing a two-run pinch hit homer to Brian McCann to give the Sox a game and series win by 4-3. Chase Utley and Michael Saunders each had three hits for Windy City.
Series Summary: Some extremely strong offensive performances by both teams (Windy City has Saunders hit six doubles as part of a .444 average and Arenado hit .367 with 7 RBIs; Bethesda’s Tyler Naquin hit .391 with 2 HR and 5 RBI and Brad Miller hit .346 with 4 HR and 11 RBIs), but the most offensive numbers came from Bethesda reliever Steve Cishek who finished the series with an 0-3 record, 10.38 ERA, 3 blown saves and three homers allowed in 4.1 innings of “work”. With a deal pending seeing the departure of the team’s alternative closer Edwin Diaz we’re already dreading the doom ahead.

 

Grand Haven  Gators @ Sacramento  Capitals
Series Summary:
Sacramento beats Green Haven 5-2. Max Scherzer led the rotation going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, while Francisco Lindor enjoyed a modest series batting .440 with 2 HR, 7 R, and 3 RBI.

 

Mesa  Solar Sox @ Southbend  Lynx
Series Preview:
Mesa, looking to contend for a playoff spot and Southbend looking like it will contend for a lottery slot meet to open the season.
Game #1:

MSS Wainwright vs SBL Foltynewicz

Altuve opens scoring with 2-run HR in B1. Drury Sac Fly in T4 cuts lead to 2-1. SBL Cozart hits solo-HR in B5. MSS Napoli hits solo-HR in T6. MSS Dozier ties the game in the T8 with a solo-HR. Wainwright strarts the B8 and after getting 1 out gives up a 1b to Altuve. Baez is brought in and things fall apart for Mesa. Baez uncorks a WP, gets Trumbo 6-3, Kang is IW, and then Canha hits a 3-run HR followed by a Jaso solo-HR. In the MSST9 Howard hits a solo-H close out the game.

SBL 7, MSS 4

Game #2:

MSS Kennedy vs SBL Bradley

MSS scores in the T1 on Mazara 2b and Dozier rbi-1b. SBL ties it in the B2 on a Cozart rbi-1b. In the MSS T5 Mazara swats a 3-run HR. The SBL get a run in the B6 on a Canha rbi-1b. In the B7 Joyce bbs and Forsythe hits a 2-run HR to tie it for the SBL. MSS Howard hits a solo-HR in the T8 to regain the lead but SBL Trumbo ties it right back up with a solo-HR in the B8. The game goes to the B9 tied at 5-5 but Joyce hits a solo-HR off Phelps for the SBL win.

SBL 6, MSS 5

Game #3:

MSS Fullmer vs SBL Holland

This game is all MSS Fullmer as he tosses 7IP giving up only 4 hits and his only mistake was a solo-HR to Trumbo in the B6. MSS got rbi-1bs from Drury in the T3 and Escobar in the T4 for an early 2-0 lead. MSS gets a 2-run HR in the T8 and a Drury solo-HR in the T9 for the other scoring.

MSS 5, SBL 1

Game #4:

MSS Bauer vs SBL Cole

MSS get another well pitched game from Bauer as he goes 8.2IP giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and fans 8. All the offense MSS would need comes in the T1 on a Dozier 3-run HR. MSS gets two in the T4 on a Anderson rbi-1b and a Trumbo error. MSS make it 6-0 on a Frazier rbi-2b in the T7. The SBL get get 2 sac fly for their runs in the B8.

MSS 6, SBL 2

Game #5:

MSS Wainwright vs SBL Kelly

The MSS put 3 up in the T1 on a Dozier rbi-1b, Frazier sac fly, and a Drury rbi-1b. MSS Dozier picks up another rbi on a bases loaded groundout in the T2 for a MSS 4-0 lead. The SBL get back into the game with a Cozart solo-HR in the B2 and a Crisp solo-HR in the B3. MSS extends their lead with rbi-1bs by Anderson and Herrera in the T6. MSS would then put the game away with a 6 run T8 with the big hit being a Napoli 3-run HR. MSS adds 2 more in the T9 to complete the rout.

MSS 14, SBL 2

Game #6:

MSS Kennedy vs SBL Foltynewicz

MSS continue to get the strong starting pitching as Kennedy tosses a complete game 5 hitter giving up only 1 run and fanning 10 Lynx. Dozier is the MSS offense as he hits 2 HR – a 2-run HR in the T3 and another one in the T7. Frazier and Drurt also add HR for MSS. Kang hits a solo-HR in the B5 for the lone SBL run.

MSS 7, SBL 1

Game #7:

MSS Fullmer vs SBL Bradley

This game is a little closer but it was never really in doubt as Fullerm gives the MSS another gem on the mound. Fullmer goes the distance giving up only 3 hits, an unearned run, and fanning 6 Lynx. The SBL lone run came when Trumbo reached base on a Frazier erro and then scored on a Kang rbi-2b. MSS got a run in the T2 on a Howard solo-HR and 2 more in the T3 on a 2-run HR by Mazara. The other MSS run came in the T9 when Vogt scored on a passed ball.

MSS 4, SBL 1

Series Summary:
The Mesa Solar Sox come storming back after dropping the 1st two games to win the last 5 for a 5-2 series win. Dominant starting pitching was the name of the game for MSS in the last 5 games.

 

Long Beach  Dirt Bags @ Corktown  Cycle
Series Preview:
The Long Beach Dirt Bags head to Detroit to take on the Corktown Cycle to open the 2017 season. Long Beach has made a lot of moves and the fan base is very excited as they appear to be headed in the right direction.
Game #1:

Long Beach 5-4

W.Salazar 1-0
L. Koehler 0-1

Game #2:

Long Beach 5-3

W.Hellickson 1-0
L. Ray 0-1
S. Claudio (1)

Game #3:

Long Beach 5-3

W. Anderson 1-0
L. Morgan 0-1
S. Claudio (2)

Game #4:

Corktown 4-0

W. DeSclafani 1-0 CG
L. Ventura 0-1
 

Game #5:

Long Beach 2-1

W. Fiers 1-0 CG
L. Asher 0-1

Game #6:
Long Beach 6-2
W. Salazar 2-0
L. Koehler 0-2
S. Lyons (1)
Series Summary:
Long Beach takes the opening series in a big way 5-1. Long Beach gets an early chance to see if they are a see if they can contend in the NL as they visit Bethesda. Corktown Hosts Triple Creek.

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