2023 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #3

Victor_Caratini23Sandy_Alcantara23Chas_McCormick23Kyle_Freeland23

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
CARATINI,Victor DAL  AL .462 1.000 3 13 6 1 0 2 4 10 2 0 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
ALCANTARA,Sandy FRE  AL 2 2 0 0 1.12 16 2 2 4 13 5 0 0 0 2 1
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
McCORMICK,Chas POR  NL .321 .929 7 28 9 2 0 5 8 10 8 4 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
FREELAND,Kyle POR  NL 1 1 0 0 0.00 9 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 0 0 0

Valdosta  Snappers @ Columbus  Explorers

Preview: Two teams fighting to see who gets last place in the NL Central. Both feature weak starters and decent bullpens. Columbus has slight edge in starter, Valdosta the slight edge in the bullpen.
Game #1: Jordan Lyles looked like a star, Daulton Varsho hit like a star (3 for 5, 4 rbis) and D.J. LeMahieu homers (1) as Columbus easily takes the opener 8-1 (with 15 hits). Drew Hutchinson (L 0-2) plagued by 2 errors and 4 unearned runs. COL 8-1 victory.
Game #2: This time it Josh Winder who looks like a star (W 1-1) going 6.2 innings giving up 1 run. 14 hits in support of his efforts, 3 guys with 3 hits each. Ronald Acuna (2 for 5) spoils the shutout with an rbi double.
FINAL COL 6-1.
Game #3: What’s happening with Columbus pitchers – this time Dillon Peters tosses a 3 hitter for 8 innings wtih 7 ks. A 4th inning rbi single by Michael Chavis breaks up his shutout bid, but giving up 1 run is pretty dang good.
HOWEVER – it wasn’t good enough as Tyler Alexander (W 1-0) tosses a 4 hitter for 7 innings with 11 Ks and NO RUNS! Then the strong part of the Valdosta bullpen kicks in as Rafael Montero and A.J. Minter (S 1) finish off the shutout. FINAL VAL 1-0!
Game #4: Columbus gets back in the win column in the 4th game – but it took 12 innings. Both teams amassed 5 runs through 5 innings, then the bullpens got stingy until Giovanny Urshela hits an rbi single with 2 outs in the 12th. It was his 3rd rbi of the game as he connected earlier for a 2 run homer (3). For Valdosta, they scored most of their runs via the homer – Michael Harris (2), Rougned Odor (2), 2 run shot; and Michael Chavis (4). Harris had 3 hits in the game (triple and single to go with the homer and he drove in the other Snappers run). FINAL COL 6-5 12 innings.
Game #5: So do we do the free baseball thing again in this game? Almost – but a 2 run 8th by the Explorers ended the possibility especially with Jimmy Herget closing out the Snappers in the 9th. The Snappers were up 2-1 after 5 1/2 thanks to a Drew Waters homer (1) and a Yulieski Gurriel rbi single. But thanks to a 4 for 4 game from D.J. LeMahieu and 3 rbis, Columbus pulled it.
FINAL COL 4-2
Game #6: Up 4 games to 1, Columbus began to have delusions of granduer – but Drew Hutchinson (W 1-2) put a big damper on that tossing a 3 hitter for 8 innings with 7 Ks and NO RUNS!! And he gets 12 hits of support including a 2 hits, 3 rbi game from Michael Chavis (homer #5) and a 3 hits, 2 rbi game from no-hit wonder Patrick Mazeika (homer #1). Jordan Lyles only had 1 good game in him this week.
FINAL VAL 6-0!
Game #7: How do we finish the series? How about another extra inning game. Valdosta snaps (sorry) off 3 straight 1 run innings in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Columbus gets a Charlie Blackmon solo homer (4) in the 4th and then Oddubel Herrera hits a 2 run shot (1) in the 6th to tie it. But in the top of the 10th with 2 outs, Yulieski Gurriel gets his only hit of the game – a 2 run bloop double after Bryan Abreu walks 2 batters. YUCK. A.J. Minter (2-0) gets the win and Rafael Montero snares the save (3).
FINAL VAL 5-3 10 innings
Summary: So an entertaining 7 game series with Columbus coming out on top 4-3 but with the extra inning games and the 1-0 thriller it could have been a lot different.

Tijuana  Bottle Rockets @ Detroit  Crime

Summary:  Tijuana wins 5 of 7 from the Crime.

Tempe  Tempers @ Selkirk  Steelers

Preview: Tempe is a in first and the better team.
Game #1: Betts walk off in the 9th 2-1 Selkirk.
Game #2: Winkler Grand-Slam in the 8th 4-2 Selkirk.
Game #3: Fried 4 hitter for the 3-0 Selkirk win.
Game #4: 7-3 Tempe.
Game #5: Alexander awesome 5-0 Tempe.
Game #6: Verlander awesome 9-0 Tempe.
Game #7: Darish beats quantrill 3-2 Tempe.
Summary: Tempe the better team takes 4of 7 from Selkrik.

Baltimore  Comets @ Yucaipa  Road Runners

Game #1: YUC wins 4-0
Game #2: Comets win 6-1
15 hits, 9 LOB, but Comets still win
Game #3: Comets win 6-0
Renfroe is hitting below the Mendoza line but racking up timely hits, 4 more RBI
Game #4: YUC wins 4-3
Amazing win, with 7 YUC hitters below the Mendoza line yet still win
Comets leave another 10 LOB
Game #5: Nicely pitched game between Mikolas and Falter 0-0 through 8
in 9th Straw walks and steals 2nd, Newman singles in only run of the game.
Game #6: Comets win 2-1
Hoskins HR the only run for YUC, Comets get RBI’s from Castellanos and Vazquez
Game #7: Comets win 5-1
Quintana pitches CG
Summary: Comets win series 4-2.
Mostly uneventful series.
Amazing YUC could win 2 games with this offense.

Southbend  Lynx @ Dallas  Cougars

Summary: Dallas and Southbend split.

Coconut Creek  Crushers @ Cincinnati  Skyliners

Preview: Coconut Creek makes its annual trip to Cincinnati for a six-game set.
Game #1: CIN 5, CCC 1
Game #2: CIN 3, CCC 1
Game #3: CIN 6, CCC 5 (13 Inn)
Game #4: CCC 6, CIN 5
Game #5: CIN 2, CCC 1 (12 Inn)
Game #6: CCC 7, CIN 1
Summary: Cincinnati takes the series, four games to two. Two walk-offs, two extra inning affairs and three one-run verdicts made for an exciting series.

Bethesda  Bandicoots @ Corktown  Cycle

Preview: Both teams enter at 8-5 and lead the NL East.
Game #1: Bethesda 3-2
W. Michael Wacha 3-0
L. Matthew Liberatore 0-2
S. Matt Moore (2)
Game #2: 7 Bandicoots get hits and the pitching locks down Cycle bats.

Bethesda 6-0
W. Reid Detmers 2-1
L. Brayan Bello 0-1

Game #3: Bethesda continues the series dominance, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. Andrew Vaughn hits 2 homers with 4 total hits.

Bethesda 7-2
W. Merrill Kelly 1-1
L. Josiah Gray 1-3
S. Matt Moore (3)

Game #4: A day off between games didn’t help the home team. This time it was Jeff McNeil going for 2 home runs and 6 RBI.

Bethesda 7-4
W. George Kirby 3-1
L. Jose Berrios 3-1
S. Matt Moore (4)

Game #5: Corktown needed its ace to stop the bleeding. Robbie Ray gave the Cycle 6 strong. Danny Jansen hits a grand slam in the win.

Corktown 9-4
W. Robbie Ray 3-0
L. Alex Cobb 0-3

Game #6: The home team finishes the series with back to back victories.

Corktown 4-3
W. Brayan Bello 1-1
L. Chris Flexen 1-1
S. Jose LeClerc (1)

Summary: Bethesda comes to town and takes 4 of 6. It’s way too early, but the division looks like it could be going through Bethesda after a couple down years.

Prairie  Falcons @ Sacramento  Capitals

Preview: Sacramento hobbles into a week three matchup after sustaining five injuries for 70 games in the first 9 games of the season. Just trying to field a team at this point.
Summary: Sacramento Capitals win 4 of 6 from the Prairie Falcons.

Hollywood  Werewolves @ Mesa  Solar Sox

Preview: Hollywood saunters into Mesa brandishing their big bats and making the Solar Sox shake in their boots.
Game #1: The Sox jump on Clayton Kershaw for 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings, survive a Jake Cronenworth two run homer, and hang on to a 4-3 win.
Game #2: 5 Mesa homers are the ONLY hits the Solar Sox can muscle, but it’s enough for a 6-2 win, Pablo Lopez raises his record to 4-0.
Game #3: Aaron Judge gets off the schneid with a 2 run homer, the difference in Hollywood’s 3-1 win.
Game #4: Paul Goldschmidt hits his second homer of the series, a 2 run 8th inning game winning shot. Hollywood ties up the series with this 4-2 win.
Game #5: Christian Javier hurls a 2 hit shutout. Randall Grichuck hits his 4th homer of the series. Mesa wins 2-0.
Game #6: The Solar Sox gets to Kershaw again, this time for 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings, but this time Hollywood responds. Cronenworth hits an 8th inning 3 run homer, Judge ties the game with a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th, and Ketel Marte wins it with an RBI double in the 11th.
Game #7: Shane McLanahan and Adam Ottovino hold Mesa to 2 hits and Hollywood takes the series with a 2-0 win.
Summary: Mesa outhomers Hollywood 12-6, but get very little else, as they are outhit 46-36. Hollywood is a monster and they still won the series despite Judge being only modestly great.

Harsens Island  Walleye @ Triple Creek  Patriots

Preview: Walleye swim into one of the three Triple Creeks for 6 games.
Game #1: Kopech throws 6 innings of no-hit ball and Patriot bats finally support him in the bottom of the 6th with a 3-spot. Harsen’s, happy to see Kopech leave in the 7th, quickly tap Strahm for 2 and then Jimenez for 3 in the 8th to take a 5-3 lead. Feyereisen on on the 9th made things look bleak for the home town crowd but Patriot bats hit three straight safeties off him and he is pulled. Hentges then allows a walk-off double.

HIW 5 TCP 6

W: Long (2-0)
L: Feyereisen (0-1)

Game #2: Severino cruises over 7.2 allowing a single hit. The Walleye bats hang a couple crooked numbers and that’s all it took today.

HIW 5 TCP 2

W: Severino (2-1)
L: Montas (1-1)
S: Feyereisen (3)

Game #3: No score through 4. Patriots score 1 on the 5th and Harsen’s 1 in the 7th. It would be that way until the bottom of the 9th when King would give up a double to Miranda. 2nd walk-off win of the series for Triple Creek.

HIW 1 TCP 2

W: Jameson (1-0)
L: King (0-1)

Game #4: After a day off, Bieber dominates over 8 full, allowing just 2 hits. Triple Creek plates 3 in the 2nd off a Bellinger bomb. 6 total hits all day.

HIW 0 TCP 3

W: Bieber (2-1)
L: Wright (2-1)
S: Jameson (1)

Game #5: Walleye score 2 quick runs in the 1st off Gausman. Steele is finally touched up in the 4th for 1 and then 2 more in the 5th. It would be doughnuts the rest of the way for both squads. Another close game in what is becoming a hard fought series.

HIW 2 TCP 3

W: Gausman (3-0)
L: Steele (0-2)
S: Hughes (1)

Game #6: Kopech back on the bump, and while not perfect like game 1, he does hold Harsen’s scoreless over 6 full. Triple Creek scored 3 in the 1st and that’s all they would need.

HIW 0 TCP 3

W: Kopech (1-2)
L: Rodriguez (0-3)
S: Jimenez (2)

Summary: Triple Creek takes the series 5-1 but luck seemed to be siding with them with 2 walk-offs.

Southwest Detroit  Fighting Chihuahuas @ Fremont  Cannons

Preview: An early season battle between AL East division hopefuls.
Game #1: SWD starter Matt Manning gets hit hard in the first inning after a BB and HBP set the table for a 5-run Fremont outburst. Dominic Smith’s run-scoring double brings a run back for the Chihuahuas in the top of the second, but the story of the series is Matt Manning walking off in the bottom of the second with a sore wrist (perhaps he was already pitching injured in the first?) and he is lost for 31 days. This throws off the SWD rotation for the rest of the series as the MM makes some interesting choices.

The Cannons tack on another run in each of the third and fourth innings, and keep the Chihuahuas scoreless the rest of the way on to a 7-1 victory. Sandy Alcantara pitches seven innings of one run, one hit ball for his second win of the season.

W: Sandy Alcantara (2-1)
L: Matt Manning (1-1)

HR: SWD- none; FRE- none

Game #2: After Jon Gray and Ranger Suarez are used in relief in game 1 after Manning’s injury, SWD elects to start RP Reynaldo Lopez, while Fremont counters with Carlos Rodon. Ryan McMahon gives Lopez an early cushion with a two-run HR in the 1st. Fremont gets one back in the bottom of the inning with a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leadoff HR. Fremont would take the lead in the second, going up 3-2 with run-scoring singles from Yoan Moncada and Guerrero Jr.

SWD goes up in the third as William Contreras sends a two-run homer out of the yard. A Ryan McMahon single in the fifth puts up the final run of the game, and the Chihuahuas take it 5-3. Lopez gets the job done, allowing three runs in five innings in the emergency start. Fremont leaves 9 on base, compared to just 3 for SWD.

W: Reynaldo Lopez (1-0)
L: Carlos Rodon (1-2)
S: Ryan Helsley (6)

HR: SWD- Ryan McMahon (2), William Contreras (1); FRE- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3)

Game #3: Southwest Detroit gets out to a quick lead with a two-run homer by Edwin Rios off of Tarik Skubal in the top of the first. Fremont evens it in the bottom of the inning when Teoscar Hernandez launches his own two-run HR off of Jordan Montgomery. Dominic Smith’s two-run double in the third gives SWD back the lead, 4-2. A Javier Baez sac fly in the fourth cuts the lead to 4-3.

After a two-out error by Nolan Gorman in the sixth, Fremont brings in Matt Festa and he promptly gives up a two-run HR to Brendan Rodgers to Pad the SWD lead. Gorman atones for his error with a solo HR in the seventh to cut it to 6-4. The SWD micromanager bypasses the usual suspects and instead asks SP Corbin Burnes to close out the game. Gorman’s second HR of the game in the bottom of the ninth cuts the lead to one, but Burnes is then able to finish it off for the 6-5 victory. Two unearned runs cost the Cannons in this one. Gorman went 3-4 with the two solo HRs.

W: Jordan Montgomery (3-1)
L: Tarik Skubal (1-1)
S: Corbin Burnes (1)

HR: SWD- Brendan Rodgers (2), Edwin Rios (1); FRE- Teoscar Hernandez (3), Nolan Gorman 2 (2)

Game #4: The middle game of seven sees SWD’s Ranger Suarez facing FRE’s Austin Voth. Byron Buxton gets the scoring going in the bottom of the second with a solo HR. Carlos Correa’s three-run triple is followed by a Shohei Ohtani two-run HR in the third, and Fremont jumps to a 6-0 lead. Suarez is replaced by Jon Gray, who gives up 3 more in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single from Byron Buxton, and the Cannons go up 9-0.

Voth struggles a bit later but gets to stay in with the nice lead. The Chihuahuas cut it to 9-5 in the seventh, but the Cannons bullpen is able to finish it off for the Fremont victory. Buxton finishes 3-4 with a homer and 3 RBI, while Voth racks up 11 K’s in 6.1 IP.

W: Austin Voth (1-1)
L: Ranger Suarez (0-1)

HR: SWD- Edwin Rios (2); FRE- Shohei Ohtani (5), Byron Buxton (2)

Game #5: Only seven hits in this game, three of them homeruns. Carlos Correa gets Fremont started with a solo HR off of Corbin Burnes in the first inning. In the third inning a walk, sac bunt, wild pitch, and sac fly get Fremont another run. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. makes it 3-0 Fremont with a solo homer in the fourth. Alec Burleson finally gets the Fighting Chihuahuas on the board in the seventh with a solo HR off Sandy Alcantara. Fremont leaves Alcantara in for the CG game try. He walks Dansby Swanson, but is able to get the double play to close it out for the 3-1 Fremont win.

W: Sandy Alcantara (3-1)
L: Corbin Burnes (2-2)

HR: SWD- Alec Burleson (1); FRE- Carlos Correa (2), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (4)

Game #6: SWD’s micromanager decides to let closer Ryan Helsley try his hand as a starter in this one. The Cannons strike first, though as a hit-and-run nets a lineout and throwout of Javier Baez at first as he is unable to tag up; however, Austin Hays is able to tag and scores for the 1-0 lead in the second. In the third, Carlos Correa sends the ball over the fence to make it 2-0 Fremont. SWD gets on the board off of Shohei Ohtani in the fifth with a Domonic Smith triple and run-scoring single from Taylor Walls. That would be the end of the scoring as Fremont wins 2-1.

Ohtani goes 8.1 IP with 11 strikeouts. Helsley is not bad, allowing only two runs from four hits and a walk, but surprisingly only manages one strikeout.

W: Shohei Ohtani (3-0)
L: Ryan Helsley (0-1)
S: Robert Suarez (1)

HR: SWD- none; FRE- Carlos Correa (3)

Game #7: The ball was flying out of the yard in the finale. SWD’s Jon Gray matches up with FRE’s Carlos Rodon. The game is scoreless until the third, when a Joey Bart solo HR and Carlos Correa two-run HR gives Fremont the early 3-0 lead. The Chihuahuas get it all back in the top of the fourth with William Contreras and Willson Contreras going back-to-back over the fence. Byron Buxton breaks the tie in the bottom of the frame with a homer to make it 4-3 Cannons. A two out, bases loaded walk in the fifth allows SWD to tie it up again.

Taylor Walls sac fly brings in Ryan McMahon in the sixth to give SWD the lead. A Dansby Swanson three-run homer in the seventh pads the lead to 8-4 for SWD. Alec Burleson and Miguel Andujar then give SWD their second back-to-back HR experience in the eighth, and Southwest Detroit wins the finale 10-5. Despite the big cushion, SWD’s micromanager elects to pitch starters Jordan Montgomery and Ranger Suarez to close out the game.

W: Jon Gray (2-0)
L: Carlos Rodon (1-3)
S: Robert Suarez (1)

HR: SWD- William Contreras (2), Willson Contreras (3), Dansby Swanson (1), Alec Burleson (2), Miguel Andujar (1); FRE- Carlos Correa (4), Byron Buxton (3), Joey Bart (1)

Summary: Manning’s injury jumbled up the SWD pitching staff, but the Chihuahuas still get good pitching throughout the series. Fremont edges out the series win 4-3 but SWD stays a game ahead in the division lead.

Next week Southwest Detroit continues the road trip in Mesa, while Fremont heads north to Detroit to face the Crime.

Long Beach  Dirt Bags @ Portland  Lumber Jax

Preview: NO HITTER ALERT!!!! The 4-9 Long Beach Dirt Bags visit the 6-8 Portland LumberJax
Game #1: Brandon Marsh hits a grand slam with win it for the Dirtbags.
LBD 5 POR 1
Game #2: Portland gets the win in the bottom of the 10th inning.
POR 5 LBD 4
Game #3: Glaber Torres has 4-rbi for Portland as they get the win.
POR 8 LBD 3
Game #4: Kyle Freeman, pitches a NO-HITTER against the Dirt Bags… coming just an error a walk (with two outs in the 9th) away from the perfect game. Not bad for a D.
POR 4 LBD 0
Game #5: Portland hits five homeruns, all by different players to get the easy win.
POR 15 LDB 5
Game #6: Portland gets the close win in the bottom of the 9th
POR 4 LDB 3
Game #7: Kepler hits a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 10th to give Portland the win.
POR 3 LBD 1
Summary: Portland wins 6 of 7… in what is probably their best series in history. Portland stands at 12-9 while Long Beach slides to 5-15.

Chicago  Mobsters @ Yonge Street  Stalkers

Preview: An early match up between division foes.
Game #1: Chicago was led by their youngsters. Yordano Alvarez and Julio Rodriguez both went 3-5. Christian Bethancourt belted a 3 run shot in the 8th to take the opener for the Mobsters. CHI 6 – YSS 5
Game #2: All about Casey Mize. He went 7.2, and allowed just 2 unearned runs. CHI 8 – YSS 2
Game #3: Brady Singer was a bit better than Stroman. The home squad gets on the board. Adley Rustchman smacked a pair of doubles and plated 3. YSS 5 – CHI 4
Game #4: This time it was Bregman and Julio leading the way for the visitors. CHI 9 – YSS 2
Game #5: A gem for the Stalkers, Jalen Beeks threw 8 shutout frames, and Clase nailed it down. YSS 2 – CHI 0
Game #6: Domingo German continued his winning ways early on. He improved to 3-0. Joc Pederson and Miguel Vargas homered to pace the home squad. YSS 8 – CHI 3
Game #7: All the scoring was finished by the 4th inning. Both pens were solid. YSS 5 – CHI 3
Summary: YSS snagged the final 3 games to take the series 4 games to 3. Chicago returns home to host HOL, while YSS enjoys the home cooking and welcomes MCM.

Virginia  Sluggers @ Motor City  Muscle

Preview: Virginia @ Motor City for 6 games.
Game #1: VIR 11 – MCM 2

WP: J. Ryan
LP: A. Sanchez
HR: VIR–R. Devers, A. Rizzo; MCM–M. Franco

Virginia hitters were fighting each other to get to the plate. Raphael Devers, Anthony Rizzo, and Alan Trejo had three RBI each. Trejo had three hits, as did Luis Rengifo and Whit Merrifield.

Game #2: VIR 12 – MCM 2

WP: L. Castillo
LP: M. Gore
HR: VIR–J. Bradley (GS), B. Reynolds, A. Rizzo

Jackie Bradley led the attack with three runs, three hits, and four RBI, but there was plenty of offense to go around (for VIR anyway). Raphael Devers had three more RBI. You’d think they’d be tired from all that scoring the day before, but nope.

Game #3: VIR 7 – MCM 6

WP: T. Hill
LP: Z. Davies
SV: C. Holmes
HR: VIR–C. Gallagher; MCM–M. Wallner, G. Celestino, R. Castro

Despite three Motor City homers, Virginia’s relentless offense comes through with a three-run 8th inning for the win.

Game #4: VIR 1 – MCM (12 inn.)

WP: E. Morgan
LP: L. Garcia
HR: G. Springer

An honest-to-goodness pitchers’ duel, as Triston McKenzie (one hit) and Paul Blackburn (five hits) traded zeroes for nine innings. George Springer decided it with a solo shot in the 11th off Luis Garcia.

Game #5: VIR 7 – MCM 3

WP: K. Finnegan
LP: A. Faedo
HR: VIR–B. Reynolds (2), Springer; MCM–R. Castro, A. Bemboom

Motor City actually showed some life in this one, but yet another disastrous 8th inning (five runs) doomed them again. Bryan Reynolds led the way with his two HRs and five RBI.

Game #6: VIR 3 – MCM 0 (11 inn.)

WP: T. Williams
LP: M. Gore
HR: VIR–L. Rengifo

Another duel in which the starters both went nine but didn’t figure in the decision. Luis Rengifo struck the deciding blow with his 11th inning three-run bomb for VIR. Trevor Williams struck out eight for Virginia, Michael Grove struck out six for Motor City. MCM’s Tyler Wade had four hits in the losing cause.

Summary: Virginia sweeps the six game series

If the AL Player of the Week is not a Virginia Slugger, don’t blame the MCM pitching staff, they did their part.

Seven different VIR hitters had HRs, three (Reynolds, Rizzo, and Springer) had multiple HRs, and two Rengifo and Springer) had extra-inning game winners.

MCM got lousy starting pitching in the first two games, and bad relief pitching in the last four. Mackenzie Gore lost two games, one starting, one in relief.

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