2018 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #15

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
MURPHY,Daniel	TIJ AL	.500	1.050	5	20	10	2	0	3	5	10	2	2	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
CASTILLO,Luis M.	VIR AL	2	2	0	0	0.53	17	1	1	8	15	3	0	0	0	0	1

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
STANTON,Giancarlo	SAC NL	.360	.960	6	25	9	3	0	4	7	10	7	2	0	0	0	1

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
GREINKE,Zack	SAC NL	2	2	0	0	0.00	16	0	0	1	18	3	0	0	0	0	0

Coconut Creek Crushers @ Southwest Detroit Fighting Chihuahuas
Series Summary:	Coconut Creek splits at Southwest Detroit.

Sacramento Capitals @ Rosemere Renegades
Series Preview:	First place versus last place. Looks promising …
Series Summary:	Sacramento sweeps Rosemere extending its loosing streak to 18… In the process. Sacramento had more runs than Rosemere had hits. Greinke toss a no hitter in the series finale.

Chicago Mobsters @ Manhattan Project
Series Preview:	They clash by night.
Game #1:	CHI 16-3 WP Quintana LP Pomerantz CHICAGO INJURY: J. TURNER 5 days
Game #2:	CHICAGO 13-3 WP Martinez LP Chatwood SV Betances MANHATTAN INJURY: NELSON CRUZ 2 days
Game #3:	MANHATTAN 2-1 WP Swarzak LP Green CHICAGO INJURY: B. HAMILTON 5 days
Game #4:	CHICAGO 6-3 WP Green LP Allen SV Chapman
Game #5:	CHICAGO 9-8 (13 Innings) WP Green LP Moylan SV Ramos
Game #6:	MANHATTAN 3-2 WP Pomerantz LP Quintana SV Swarzak
Series Summary:	CHICAGO MOBSTERS WIN 4 games out of 6!

Mesa Solar Sox @ Detroit Crime
Series Summary:	Detroit wins the series 4 games to 2.

Corktown Cycle @ Selkirk Steelers
Series Preview:	Two team hoping for better play six in Selkirk.
Game #1:	Wolters plays hero in the 9th Selkirk wins 4-3.
Game #2:	.Souza hits a 3 run walk off homer as Selkirk wins 9-6.
Game #3:	Hoskins hits a walk off hoemr int he 9th Selkirk wins 4-3 as Neris wins his second of the series.
Game #4:	TAYLOR goes 7 for 7! With 3 doubles a hoemr and 7 rbis 5 runs. Corktown 19 Selkirk 0.
Game #5:	Gossett makes one mistake an 8th inning homer to Valaika as CC wins 10-1.
Game #6:	Once agin selkirk only gets 1 hit off Ray a Hoskins homer as Corktown wins 3-1.
Series Summary:	A series split as Selkirk was out played but 3 walk offs saved them. Taylors record setting game 7 for 7 has to be considered for player of the week. Ray and Gossett both allowed just 1 hit but it was a homer.

Hollywood Werewolves @ Dallas Cougars
Game #2:	The Cougars come into this series in 2nd place in the AL East 2 games back. In the league they came into the series 6th in batting average at .245, second best in steals with 61, number two in ERA at 3.11. Their home record is 28 and 11. For the Werewolves on the league leader boards they enter this series 7th in batting at .245 and leading in ERA at 2.88. Hollywood comes to Dallas in 1st place in the AL West. Their road record is 24 and 21.
Game #2:	Hollywood scored first in the top of the first with two outs, “The pitch … GOLDSCHMIDT swings … and mashes it … it might go all the way PRESLEY is at the warning track … but he’d need a ladder to get to this one a four-bagger for GOLDSCHMIDT … So GOLDSCHMIDT has his 27th homer … he’s now homered in 2 straight games and the WEREWOLVES go ahead by a run 1-0 … 1st inning” The Cougars came right back in the bottom of the first. After Jose Abreu grounded into a bases loaded force out at third that tied the game. Jose Pirela stepped up with runners on the corners. * J. PIRELA facing J. LACKEY, B 1st, 2 Outs, 1st and 3rd, Tied 1-1 “The runners take their lead … the pitch … PIRELA drives a liner to deep center YELICH is racing back … it’s off the wall … YELICH corrals the ball … PRESLEY scores SOLARTE is around third they’re waving him in and he scores … PIRELA’s in standing with a double … So, two runs score on PIRELA’s double … and the COUGARS go ahead by two 3-1” Miguel Rojas followed with another double to give Dallas a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd Dallas had a little two magic thanks to Jose Abreu, who is having a fine season. “On the season ABREU has 70 runs batted in among the league leaders … he’s … 5th … in hitting … his average now at .308 … 8th in slugging … second … in hits … with 102 … 3rd … in RBI … with 69 … in this game he’s driven in a run … 3rd … in being hit by the pitch … with 11 … Number two in multiple hit games … with 32 … tied for second … in intentional walks … with 6 * J. ABREU facing J. LACKEY, B 2nd, 2 Outs, 1st and 3rd, Ahead 4-1 “The runners take their lead … and the pitch … high fly ball to deep center YELICH is racing back … it’s a tweener … it one hops the wall … YELICH corrals the ball BLANCO scores … PRESLEY is around third … they’re waving him in and he scores … ABREU’s in standing with a double. So two runs score on ABREU’s double … and the COUGARS leave the WEREWOLVES behind 6-1. For ABREU, his 25th double of the season … 72 ribbies now for ABREU” Also having a good 2018 season is Paul Goldschmidt for Hollywood. “Starting this game, he was … 3rd … in batting … his average now at .326 … second in slugging … 3rd … in on base percentage … 4th … in hits … with 97 … 6th … in runs batted in … with 61 … 3rd … in runs with 67 … second … in homers … with 26 – he had his 27th homer earlier in this game … second best in plate appearances per homer … Number two … in walks … with 53 … 3rd in power speed rating … 3rd … in runs created … and he’s headed for a Gold Glove in the field he’s working on 64 consecutive errorless games … the 5th longest active streak.” In the Top of the 3rd Paul Goldschmidt hit a sac fly for his 63 RBI of the year to cut the Cougar lead to 6 to 2 and then it looked like the Werewolves might get to within a run when Christian Yelich came to the dish with two runners on, “Infield deep … MARTE into a little shuffle at third … he lets it go YELICH wallops this one to center field … it might be out of here … BLANCO is to the wall he has no more room … he’s looking up … leaps … and grabs it! that one was over the wall … but BLANCO brought it back in for the out and the runners scramble back … both runners tag they’re waving MARTE in here comes the throw home GONZALEZ’s trying for third on the throw MARTE scores as the throw’s cut off … the play at third … and he’s just safe under the tag … oh, close call … the gamble pays off YELICH picks up a sac fly and an RBI. COUGARS 6, WEREWOLVES 3” Nick Hundley hits a two out solo home run in the third for Dallas. His 7th of the year. In the top of the 4th back to back doubles by Darwin Barney and Alex Gordon pulled the Werewolves to within two at 7 to 5. Then the AL’s two best pitching staffs remembered they were the two best AL pitching staffs and Dallas held on for the win. Final Score: Dallas 8, Hollywood 5
Game #3:	Dallas scored 5 times in the first and didn’t look back. The big blow came on Gregory Polanco’s 5th home run of the year – a three run jimmy jack. Final Score: Dallas 5, Hollywood 2
Game #4:	Hollywood had a 5 run 4th that sealed the victory for them in game 3. It started with Paul Goldschmidt’s 28th homer of the year that tied the game at 1 and ended with a 2-RBI double by Christian Yelich. Victor Robles and Nick Franklin combined for 5 of the Cougar hits with Franklin hitting his 2nd homer of the year. Final Score: Hollywood 6 Dallas 3
Game #5:	Alex Presley and Gregory Polanco drove in two runs each for Dallas while Daniel Norris survives long enough to get the win. Kolten Wong got two hits and Marcell Ozuna drove in two runs for Hollywood with his 19th double of the year. Final Score: Dallas 5, Hollywood 3
Game #6:	In the last two games Dallas dominated with their starting pitching. Chase Anderson and Dallas Keuchel combined to allow only 6 hits over 17 innings. Game 5 saw Jose Pirela hit 2 solo home runs leading the Cougars to a 4-1 win and in game 6 Keuchel had a 2 hit complete game shutout. Final Score: Dallas 3, Hollywood 0
Series Summary:	Dallas takes the series 5 games to 1 and move into a first place tie in the AL East with Motor City pending their road series against the Stalkers. The 5 losses don’t hurt Hollywood who are still 8.5 games ahead of Mesa in the AL West.

Pittsburgh Lumber Company @ Bethesda Bandicoots
Series Preview:	Bethesda hosts the underachieving Lumber Company for six.
Game #1:	Did I say underachieving? Pittsburgh begins what would become a recurring theme in the series by jumping all over closer Steve Cishek for three runs in the 9th to come back from a 2-1 deficit to take the opener 4-2. Matt Kemp had two hits and drove in two of the three 9th inning Lumber Co. runs with a double high off the left field wall against Cishek who blew his 2nd game of the season with the crappy performance.
Game #2:	Bethesda starter Erasmo Ramirez just didn’t have it, but former Bandicoot Jake Odorizzi sure did as he tossed seven shutout innings as Pittsburgh won easily 5-1. Ramirez was the victim of the long ball giving up two tape measure shots to Mike Moustakas (17) and one to one-dimensional lifetime DH Joey Gallo (24). Robinson Chirinos (13) continued to swat for power in a part-time role for Bethesda bashing his 13th homer of the season off Sergio Romo for Bethesda’s only run of the game.
Game #3:	Jake Arrieta went the distance throwing a three-hitter as the Bandicoots finally managed a win 3-1. Robinson Chirinos had two hits and drove in two for Bethesda. Jose Polanco got the only meaningful hit against Arrieta – a long blast to centre field that cleared the wall for his 12th of the year.
Game #4:	The world’s best Grade 3 starter, Tyson Ross, continued his improbable roll and improved to 4-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.76 as Bethesda won handily 5-1 to even the series. Anthony Rendon (13) blasted a 3-run shot of Michael Wacha in the 3rd inning for all the offense Bethesda would need on the day. David Peralta was a cool 4/4 with a couple of doubles and a couple of singles with two runs scored as well. Matt Kemp had two hits for Pittsburgh.
Game #5:	The Lumber Company smacked three homers in the final two innings to come back from a 5-4 deficit manhandling the Bethesda bullpen for an 8-5 win. Ryan Tepera and ever-choking setup guy Ryan Madson were the victims of the onslaught giving up blasts to Aaron Judge (22), Josh Bell (12), and under-rated Jake Marisnick (7). Travis Shaw (5) homered for Bethesda.
Game #6:	For the second time in the series, the Pittsburgh Lumber Company disrespected Mr. Steve Cishek with Jake Marisnick hammering the righty’s first pitch into the lower deck of Bethesda Stadium to account for a pair of runs and give the Lumber Company a 9-7 win in the 10th inning. The homer was Marisnick’s 8th and 2nd in as many games. Pittsburgh starter Mike Clevinger and Bethesda’s Alex Cobb were trash in the game allowing a combined 13 runs on 15 hits and 8 walks in less than five innings. Cobb gave up seven runs in just three innings while Clevinger hung on to get two outs in the 5th but was yanked after giving up homers to Anthony Rendon (14) and Logan Morrison (23). Matt Kemp continued his timely hitting for Pittsburgh driving in a couple of runs with a bases loaded single in the 3rd inning. Aaron Judge doubled and tripled and scored twice while driving in a pair of runs as well for the winners. Rendon managed three hits and scored three times for a small bright spot for Bethesda.
Series Summary:	As I knew they could, Pittsburgh lives up to its potential knocking around the Bandicoots pretty good especially its bullpen while taking four of six.

Portland Lumber Jax @ Columbus Explorers
Series Preview:	Explorers complete a series of bullpen trades to give the pen a boost and the starters some more help – 1 of them was a swap with Portland let’s see if that (and other moves) helped them this week in the 6 games series.
Game #1:	Explorers more than double the hits gained by the Lumber Jax (9-4) but neither team plates many runs. Columbus gets the 1st one on an Ian Desmond rbi single. Might have been 2 but Mikie Mahtook cuts down Shin-Soo Choo at home and Kyle Freeland is throwing strong. Lance McCullers is also going strong and leaves in the 7th with a runner on. Chris Rusin is not able to keep PR Wilmer Difo from scoring – he reached 3rd after a Hernan Perez walk, he comes in and steals 2nd and scores on a Sandy Leon single. Columbus regains the lead in the bottom half on a solo homer from Russell Martin (6). Rusin pitches a strong 8th and David Robertson closes out the game with a perfect 9th. POR 1-4-1 LP Freeland (7-7) COL 2-9-1 WP Rusin (4-3) BS (3), S Robertson (20)
Game #2:	Lumber Jax run from a Freddy Galvis SF in the 2nd and a solo homer from C.J. Cron (8) in the 3rd for a 2-0 lead. Sam Gaviglio gives 1 back in the 5th then left in the 6th after letting the lead off batter reach. Ross Stripling could not get them out of the inning with the lead, in fact, he only gets 2 outs from the 6 batters he faces (3 hits, 1 walk) and the Explorers score 4 times to make it 5-2. Ryan Zimmerman gets 2 rbis with a double. Matt Carpenter later homers (16) in the 8th to end the scoring. Matt Belisle pitches the final two innings for the save in his 1st Columbus appearance POR 2- 5-0 LP Stripling (1-4) BS (1) COL 6-12-0 WP J.A. Happ (8-5) S Belisle (3)
Game #3:	This one was pretty much all Columbus as Matt Shoemaker (6.1 ip, 3 hits) and Yusmeiro Petit (1st Columbus game and facing his old team) and Luis Avilan shut out the Lumber Jax. Offensively they pound out 9 hits and coax 6 walks and score 7 runs. Ian Desmond the big “O” with 3 hits including a 3 run homer (4). Hernan Perez gets 2 of the Portland 4 hits. POR 0-4-0 LP German Marquez (6-9) COL 7-9-0 WP Shoemaker (3-3)
Game #4:	Andrew Moore vs Parker Bridwell – both pitch well and they give up all the runs. It was really tough for Moore. In the 5th Christian Arroyo smashes a 2 run homer (8) for the 2-0 lead. Stays that way until the bottom of the 8th as Moore begins to tire. He leaves up 2-1 but with two runners on base. Tyler Flowers comes in to PH and drives in both runners off Ross Stripling for a 3-2 lead. Yusmeiro Petit holds the Jax in check and David Robertson closes it down. POR 2-5-0 LP Moore (3-3) COL 3-8-2 WP Darren O’Day (3-5) S Robertson (21)
Game #5:	Columbus started in the 1st and scored in 4 more innings and got a repeat 7-0 win. This time Ervin Santana tosses a 1 hitter for 6 innings and Chris Rusin and Tony Watson gave up 2 hits for team 3 hit shutout. Matt Carpenter goes long ball (17), Charlie Blackmon gets 3 hits in the 13 hit attack. Zach Eflin gives up 10 of the hits and 4 of the runs in the loss. POR 0- 3-0 LP Eflin (2-7) COL 7-13-0 WP Santana (10-2)
Game #6:	Portland’s last chance and they start out strong. Juan Lagares (who’s hitting a crisp .304) leads off with a double and Hernan Perez drives him home for a 1-0 lead in the 1st. In the 3rd, Lagares again gets on and Patrick Kivlehan brings him home with a monster homer (9). But then Kyle Freeland is pounced on as he gives up 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd including a Charlie Blackmon 2 run single and a Paul DeJong 2 run homer (17). Columbus ends up pounding out 13 hits again and for the 3rd time this series score 7 runs and win the game. POR 4- 7-0 LP Freeland (7-8) COL 7-13-2 WP McCullers (8-0) S Matt Belisle
Series Summary:	Columbus comes away with the sweep, the newest guys, Matt Belisle and Yusmeiro Petit perform well – both pitching a couple of scoreless outings and Belisle chalking up 2 saves. Portland heads home to host Corktown. Columbus goes to the East to face division leader Bethesda.

Jersey Nor’easters @ Valdosta Snappers
Series Preview:	Jersey visits hot and humid Valdosta for a 6 game set.
Series Summary:	Series split 3-3. Craig Kimbrel saved all 3 wins for the Snappers.

Motor City Muscle @ Yonge Street Stalkers
Series Preview:	The Muscle visit Yonge Street, looking to build on their thin lead in the A.L. East.
Game #1:	Bow down before Taijuan Walker. He allowed just 3H (all doubles), went the distance and K’d 9. Thames hit a 3 run shot to pace the home team. YSS 5 – MCM 0
Game #2:	The YSS bullpen sprung multiple leaks. Single runs in the 8th and 9th tied the game at 4. Eric Sogard cleared the bases with a triple in the 11th. MCM added 1 more run while the Muscle pen finished the game with 4 and 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings. YSS lost Joc Pederson (10 days). MCM 8 – YSS 4 (11 innings)
Game #3:	Joe Panik and Nick Castellanos each HR’d and drove home a pair. MCM 6 – YSS 3
Game #4:	An exciting see-saw game. YSS walked it off versus Jerry Blevins. YSS 7 – MCM 6
Game #5:	Michael Pineda vs Justin Verlander. Just as you expected. YSS 3 – MCM 2
Game #6:	A. Biebens Dirkx vs Matt Cain. Ditto, but backwards. MCM 3 – YSS 2
Series Summary:	Who knew? The Muscle had to play well to earn a split and will head home to host SBL. Yonge Street will stay home and welcome HOL.

Harsens Island Walleye @ Triple Creek Patriots
Series Preview:	Cellar dweller of the NL East paddles into Triple Creek for a 6 game set.
Game #1:	Chad Bettis lasts until a crooked number in the 3rd chases him. Leading the Patriot ambush is Corey Seager (HR), Cody Bellinger (HR) and Marwin Gonzalez has a 3-4. A.J. Griffin picks up just his 2nd W of the season. HIW 3 TCP 10 W – Griffin (2) L – Bettis (5)
Game #2:	Eduardo Rodriguez goes 7 solid innings and the Walleye hang a 4-spot in the 4th to take this one easily. Harsens’ pen is perfect and help spoil a 3 RBI day from Chase Headley. HIW 6 TCP 3 W – Rodriguez (10) L – Graveman (6) S – Rodney (19)
Game #3:	Gio Gonzalez eats up all 9 innings and smothers the Patriot bats. Powell, McCann, Camargo and Gardner all collect at least 2 hits in this lopsided affair. HIW 6 TCP 1 W – Gonzalez (6) L – Cotton (7)
Game #4:	On paper this should have been a good one with Severino taking on Wood. And it was. Severino allows just 1 hit over 8 innings and Wood allows just 5 hits as both hurlers were on their game. Brett Gardner drove in the games only run to give the Walleye the series edge. HIW 1 TCP 0 W – Severino (5) L – Wood (6) S – Rodney (20)
Game #5:	Both startes did a nice job but Triple Creeks pen was just better enough to make the difference. Marwin Gonzalez 3-5 led the Patriot charge to tighten up the series. HIW 2 TCP 6 W – Gausman (5) L – Urena (12) S – Feliz (2)
Game #6:	A.J. Griffin goes the distance in a 4-hit wonder. Andriese struggled in the middle innings but the Walleye pen was nails. Bellinger and Rivera deliver the big blows on the offensive side for Triple Creek. HIW 0 TCP 5 W – Griffin (3) L – Andriese (2)
Series Summary:	The Walleye and Patriots split the series 3-3.

Long Beach Dirt Bags @ Tempe Tempers
Series Preview:	Long Beach’s hitters started off strong scoring nine runs to win the opener and looked solid most of the series. However, the Long Beach starting pitching just couldn’t get the job done as Tempe’s offense scored 40 runs in the series and won the final five games.
Game #1:	Long Beach 9-7
Game #2:	Tempe 6-4
Game #3:	Tempe 6-3
Game #4:	Tempe 5-2
Game #5:	Tempe 9-2
Game #6:	Tempe 11-6
Series Summary:	Maybe not player of the week status, but another solid outing from Joey Votto.

Fremont Cannons @ Virginia Sluggers
Series Preview:	Two teams with similar records. Fremont coming off a series split with Tijuana and Virginia a 4-2 series win over Detroit.
Game #1:	VIR 6-0 W-Luis Castillo (5-2) L-Austin Pruitt (4-10) Castillo goes 8.1 allowing 4 hits and no runs. Rafael Devers hits a 2-run jack in the 2nd and Brandon Guyer chips in a 2-run single in the 6th. Raudy Read has 2 of his team,’s 4 hits.
Game #2:	VIR 8-2 W-Trevor Williams (8-5) L-Jaime Garcia (6-8) Jean Segura knocks out 5 hits in 5 at bats, scores 3 times and gets an RBI with a solo homer. Carlos Santana and Kevan Smith each double in 2 runs as the Sluggers pound out 12 hits.
Game #3:	VIR 15-2 W-Luis Perdomo (9-2) L-Sal Romano (4-9) Each team has 12 hits. But VIR adds 6 BB to FRE 2 and they collect 5 extra base hits, including 3 homers, while FRE has 2 extra base hits with 1 homer. George Springer, Neil Walker, and Jason Castro all go deep for VIR with Walker picking up 5 RBI. Rookie Clint Fraizer was 2-3 with 2 triples and 4 RBI. Fremont’s runs came on a Maikel Franco solo shot and a Yulieski Gurriel RBI single.
Game #4:	VIR 5-1 W-Luis Garcia (2-3) L-Erik Skoglund (3-11) Leading 2-0 after a Jean Segura homer and an Anthony Rizzo double. In the 2nd inning, the Sluggers’ Chris Archer felt a twinge in his arm and signaled to the bench. After a short check with the pitching coach, Archer was pulled from the game and lost for 7 days. 5 relievers picked up the slack and held the Cannons to 1 run the rest of the game. Rafael Devers went yard in the 5th and Rizzo and Segura added RBI’s in the 8th as VIR held on for the win.
Game #5:	FRE 7-1 W-Dylan Bundy (9-5) L-Trevor Cahill (3-10) Dylan Bundy threw a gem. 9 innings and only 1 run, an Anthony Rizzo 9th inning solo shot. Cannon DH, Khris Davis provided the runs,…5 of them. He was 3-4 with a walk, 2 doubles and a homer to go along with those 5 RBI.
Game #6:	VIR 6-1 W-Luis Castillo (6-2) L-Austin Pruitt (4-11) Carlos Gomez hit the 1st pitch of the game for a homer,…and that was it for the Cannons. From there, Slugger starter Castillo allowed 3 more hits in his 8.2 innings while striking out 10. VIR took the lead in the 3rd on a 2-RBI single from Whitt Merrifield, who was 3-4 with 3 RBI on the day. Anthony Rizzo added 2 RBI including a solo homer and the Sluggers took the final game of the series to claim a 5-1 series win.
Series Summary:	Virginia wins series 5-1 but stills trails Hollywood by a bunch.

Tijuana Bottle Rockets @ Southbend Lynx
Series Preview:	Tijuana, a 1st place team, visits Southbend, not a 1st place team.
Series Summary:	The series was pretty much dominated by Tijuana, even tho Southbend managed to win 1 game. Tijuana wins the series 5-1.