2024 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #2

The Mobsters clawed back in the bottom of the inning tying the game at 2-2 after Luis Arraez scored following Yandy Diaz‘s single to right field. This deadlock persisted until the 7th inning when walks became the Achilles’ heel for the Sox’s pitcher Logan Allen. His sixth walk of the game allowed Alex Bregman to stroll to first base, walking in Gabriel Moreno for a 3-2 lead to the Mobsters.

Despite a wild pitch from Brusdar Graterol putting Leody Taveras in scoring position, the Sox held the scoreline, setting up a nail-biting 9th inning. However, Josh Hader stepped up for the Mobsters, retiring the side and securing a tight victory for the Mobsters over the Solar Sox.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Mesa 2

Win: Devin Williams 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Logan Allen 1-1 (3.38)
Save: Josh Hader #1

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Mesa 1

Win: Tony Gonsolin 1-1 (7.20)
Loss: Andrew Heaney 1-1 (3.60)
Save: Felix Bautista #1

Changes on the mound did little to stifle the Mobsters’ momentum, while defensive plays kept the Solar Sox at bay. Despite the Solar Sox adding two more runs in the ninth for a final push, they were unable to catch up.

Final Score: Chicago 11 – Mesa 7

Win: Julio Urias 2-0 (4.76)
Loss: Ken Waldichuck 0-2 (22.85)
Save: Felix Bautista #2

Final Score: Mesa 1 – Chicago 0

Win: Brooks Raley 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Yennier Cano 0-1 (9.00)
Save: Ryan Pressly #1

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Mesa 2

Win: Bryce Miller 1-1 (4.91)
Loss: Cristian Javier 0-3 (11.68)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #1

Final Score: Mesa 6 – Chicago 4

Win: Logan Allen 2-1 (3.54)
Loss: J.P. Sears 1-2 (4.29)
Save: Brusdar Graterol #1

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 3rd when Gabriel Moreno of the Mobsters hit a solo shot, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Shortly after, Julio Rodriguez extended that lead to 2-0 with a home run. The Solar Sox didn’t stay quiet for long, with Jack Suwinski‘s RBI single in the 5th inning narrowing the gap to 2-1. Despite threats from both sides, pitchers controlled the game with skillful throws and strikeouts aplenty.

As the innings wore on, replacements like Jhoan Duran and JoJo Romero for the Mobsters held the line, preventing further score changes. The tension peaked in the 9th when Connor Joe doubled for the Solar Sox, placing the tying run at second. However, the Mobsters’ Aroldis Chapman closed out the game, securing Julio Rodriguez‘s catch in center field for a Mobsters win.

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Mesa 1

Win: Tony Gonsolin 2-1 (5.06)
Loss: Andrew Heaney 1-2 (3.13)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #2

A good matchup of Tigers pitchers sees Fremont take a 1-0 lead in the 3rd with a Carlos Correa HR. Ryan McMahon ties it up in the 5th with a solo HR of his own. A Joshua Rojas single and steal in the 6th puts a runner in scoring position, then Austin Hays singles him in for a 2-1 Fremont lead. Skubal departs after 7, but the Fighting Chihuahuas fails to get another baserunner as Fremont wins the opener 2-1. Skubal allows two hits and no walks while striking out seven.

W. Tarik Skubal (1-0)
L: Matt Manning (0-1)
S: Shelby Miller (4)

HR: SWD- Ryan McMahon (1); FRE- Carlos Correa (1)

The most entertaining game of the series. SWD opens the scoring in the first with a single and steal (moving to 3rd on error) by Starling Marte and sac fly from W Contreras. Fremont gets it back and more in the bottom of the inning with a Nolan Gorman 3-run HR. Despite a second error from rookie backstop Bo Naylor, no more scoring occurs until the 4th. An RBI single from Dominic Smith and two-run HR from C.J. Abrams puts Southwest Detroit back on top 4-3. A walk and SB + error gets Elly De La Cruz to 3rd then Jace Peterson sends him home with a sac fly to tie it up 4-4.

Fremont gets back on top in the sixth with a solo HR from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but a Travis Jankowski single and SB is followed by a Starling Marte single to drive him in and tie it back up at 5-5. The Fighting Chihuahuas strike the big blow in the eighth with a Zach McKinstry grand slam, going up 9-5. Nolan Gorman brings Shohei Ohtani home in the bottom of the inning to cut it to 9-6, but Fremont can’t bring anyone else home despite having two on with no outs. Fremont goes 3 up 3 down in the ninth against Ryan Helsley as Southwest Detroit takes Game 2, 9-6. Fremont commits 3 errors in the game, and Southwest Detroit steals 4 bases.

W: Hunter Harvey (1-0)
L: Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1)
S: Ryan Helsley (3)

HR: SWD- Zach McKinstry (1-GS); FRE- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3), Nolan Gorman (2)

A matchup of rookies, though one has significantly more professional experience than the other. Fremont is first on the scoreboard in the second inning as Elly De La Cruz doubles home Nolan Gorman. Andrew Abbott then loads the bases but gets out of the jam. Southwest Detroit gets their first run on the board in the fifth as their team speed gets them out of two double plays, then a Harrison Bader double scores Starling Marte from first base. Speed gets SWD another run in the 6th with a walk and steal by Zach McKinstry followed by an RBI single from Ryan McMahon, putting the Chihuahuas up 2-1.

Fremont ties it up in the seventh with an Austin Hays RBI double. SWD decides to walk Shohei Ohtani but pays for it after Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s triple brings in two more to make it 4-2 Cannons. The Fighting Chihuahuas have a chance to get one back in the 8th but Austin Hays nails Zach McKinstry at home after a flyout to end the threat. SWD gets the first man on in the ninth but Shelby Miller comes in and closes it down for the 4-2 Fremont win. Senga strikes out 10 in seven innings.

W: Kodai Senga (2-0)
L: Sam Moll (0-1)
S: Shelby Miller (5)

HR: none

Teoscar Hernandez gets the Cannons going early with a 3-run homer in the 1st. Both pitchers are solid the rest of the way, though Burnes gets the quick hook at 5 IP. The SWD bullpen does their job, leaving it open for the Chihuahuas. In the eighth, a pair of walks and an error from Austin Hays gets SWD right back in it with two runs. Fremont gets two on in the bottom of the 8th but are held scoreless. With Miller unavailable, Fremont turns to Robert Suarez and he closes it out 1-2-3 for the 3-2 Fremont victory. SWD pitchers hit three Cannons batters, leading to Ryan Helsley’s ejection.

W: Shohei Ohtani (2-0)
L: Corbin Burnes (1-1)
S: Robert Suarez (1)

HR: SWD- none; FRE- Teoscar Hernandez (4)

Both starters looked to be in control early. Fremont would strike first in the fifth, as Teoscar Hernandez homers in consecutive games for the 1-0 Fremont lead. Travis Jankowski looks to tie it up with his own homer in the sixth but Hernandez robs him- that’s grand theft homer! Wells is his own worst enemy in the sixth as a walk and two wild pitches puts Austin Hays on 3rd with no outs. An infield single from Shohei Ohtani makes it 2-0. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moves Ohtani over, then Mike Yastrzemski singles him home for the 3-0 Cannons lead. Whitlock is dominant the rest of the way, pitching the CGSO while allowing just 2 hits and striking out 11, the second time SWD has been two-hit in the series.

W: Garrett Whitlock (2-0)
L: Tyler Wells (0-2)

HR: SWD- none; FRE- Teoscar Hernandez (5)

Matt Manning is greeted roughly, as two-run HRs from Shohei Ohtani and Mike Yastrzemski in the first gives Fremont the 4-0 lead. Carlos Correa adds another two-run HR in the fourth to pad the lead to 6-0. Southwest Detroit loads the bases in the seventh, and a Bo Naylor error gets the first Chihuahua run home, but Sandy Alcantara is able to limit it to just the one run. Fremont tacks on an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Dansby Swanson nearly hits a 3-run HR in the ninth, nut Manual Margot brings it back over the fence. Fremont wins 7-1. Southwest Detroit leaves 12 men on base in this one.

W: Sandy Alcantara (2-1)
L: Matt Manning (0-2)

HR: SWD- none; FRE- Shohei Ohtani (1), Mike Yastrzemski (3), Carlos Correa (2)

W. Contreras strikes in the first with a solo HR to give SWD the early lead, but Shohei Ohtani ties it up with a solo HR of his own. Tarik Skubal is hittable today, but able to limit the scoring and Nolan Gorman breaks the tie in the 6th with a solo HR to put the Cannons up 2-1. The Fighting Chihuahuas get runners on 2nd and 3rd in the seventh with one out, but Skubal strikes out the next two batters. SWD gets two on again in the eighth but fails to score.

Vladimir Guererro Jr. adds an insurance run in the eighth with a solo HR, while Nolan Gorman just misses one, almost going back-to-back. Right after that though, Mike Yastrzemski sends one over the fence and Fremont builds a 4-1 lead. SWD gets a leadoff double in the ninth, then the door is shut as Fremont takes the finale 4-1. SWD leaves 10 on base in this one.

W: Tarik Skubal (2-0)
L: Jon Gray (0-1)
S: Shelby Miller (6)

HR: SWD- W. Contreras (2); FRE- Shohei Ohtani (2), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (4), Nolan Gorman (3), Mike Yastrzemski (4)

Next week: Southwest Detroit keeps it in the division, hosting Motor City. Fremont hosts the Mesa Solar Sox from the AL West.

CES – damn right I am abbreviating – it would take 90 minutes to type his name in over and over again…anyhow – CES rips a 2 out 2 run triple to start the game but Tricky Micky Moniak copies that feat in the bottom half of the inning and Benintendi doubles in Mickey and give the Birds a 3-2 lead after 1 inning of play. In the 3rd Falcons get a run on a Double cheese Burger and a Benny Sac Fly to extend lead to 5-2 and two innings later Burger rips a 2 run ding dong and it is 7-2. Capitals got 2 hits in the 1st inning and then only 1 more the rest of the game…7-2 PRA Elder goes to 2-0 while Sir Lance-o-lot Lynn falls to 0-2.

PRA 7 SAC 2

Mismatch…..

Lindor cranks it up on the first pitch from Boyd and his red solo cup gives Caps a 1-0 lead..Glasnow looks sharp thru 5 but int he 6th he hung a slider and Masatka Yoshida deposited it into the RF seats and tis it up 1-1…Capitals kept the bases chalk full of runners throughout the game but could not get that needed hit. In the bottom of the 7th Glasnow thought he rung up Burger but ump didn’t give him the call and he moseys down to 1st..after getting Moniak and Benny out Trent Grisham unloaded on a high heater and takes Glasnow yard for a 3-1 lead…. Caps finally get a guy past 3rd base and score 1 to make it 3-2 but Adbert Alzolay has a perfect 9th and his 4th save of the season

PRA 3 – SAC 2

BOOM! Lindor again for the 2nd straight game takes the first pitch he sees and goes yard…1-0 SAC…Falcons get an RBI single off the bat of Tristen Casas in the 5th but Mike Massey goes yard and keeps the 1 run lead in favor of the Capitals. In the bottom of the 9th James McArthur tries to keep the train on the track but starts it off with a walk to Stephenson then plunks Baez then an infield hit by Luis Garcia and a Single by Yoshida ties it up – all of this with 1 out…Tylor McGill is called on to face Casas with 2 on and not a good outcome. One pitch – one Swing – 3 runs on the walk off Ding Dong by Casas…

PRA 5 SAC 2

All Falcons as we hit 5 home runs – Yoshida, Burger, Monial, Grisham and Baez…Mike Massey was only real hitter Caps got as he went 3 -4 with 2 rbis but this one was over in the 1st inning and Ashcraft gets his 1st win of the year…

PRA 9 – SAC 3

Tables were turned – this was all CAPS as Flores and Taylor take a pitch deep and CES added 3 hits Stanton, Flores, Vientos and Perez – yes the one and only .057 hitter Roberto Perez all had 2 hits. Falcons got a 2 run jack from Baez and an rbi single from Yoshida but that was all for nothing as the Capitals poured it on…

SAC 9 – PRA 3

Falcons cross the plate in the 2nd off Sale but a 3 run jack from Lindor in the 6th followed by a SF from Baty in the 7th game the CAPS a 4-1 lead. Bottom of the 7th and Kiliroff and Benintendi with RBIS on a base hit and SF made it 4-3 CAPS…we head to the 8th and Tylor McGill who came in to shutdown the 7th tries to handle the 8th and gives up a BB, Single and then a pinch hit 3 run homer off the bat of Mickey Moniak and Adbert Alzolay comes in for the 9th and picks up save #5..

PRA 6 – SAC 4

Mike Massey stubbed his toe and promptly loses a weeks worth of action…SAC did get a 2 run ding dong from Baty and a solo shot from Lindor his what feels like 18th homer of the series..everytime the ball goes over the fence I swear Lindor is the hitter…Falcons though play musical bases as they pound out 9 singles and 3 doubles and plate another 8 runs in the finale. Benny and Grisham each with 3 hits and Grisham had 4 runs batted in…Boyd now 3-0 on the season with a 1.61 ERA – not bad for a GRADE 4…

PRA 8 – SAC 3

WP: J. Flaherty
LP: L. Garcia
SV: B. Francis
HR: GST–R. Lewis, G. Torres; MCM–R. McGuire

WP: Teheran
LP: Gore
HR: GST–C. McCormick, R. Lewis (2), Torkelson; MCM–Wallner

WP: Blackburn (CG)
LP: Milner
HR: MCM–Arcia

WP: Eflin
LP: Grove
HR: GST–G. Torres, L. Robert (2)

WP: Chargois
LP: Milner
HR: none

WP: J. Flaherty
LP: Dodd
SV: Milner
HR: GST–N. Jones, L. Robert, Steer

Luis Robert and Royce Lewis had three HRs each for GST, Gleyber Torres added a pair in the series. Torres and Robert both had Grand Slams in Gm 3. Royce Lewis outdid both by hitting two Grand Slams in the series

GST had 12 HRs total to MCM’s 3 for the series

MCM’s two wins were 1-0 shutouts, with Hobie Milner taking both losses

Milner salvaged his week with a Save in the finale

Jack Flaherty had two wins (Gm 1 & 6) for GST

CM got hit with the injury bug, losing Miguel Amaya for 21 games and Xavier Edwards for 34 games; GST lost Chris McCormick for 5 days

DIRT BAGS 9 / 13 / 4
COMETS 8 / 12 / 0
WP – Bradford (1-1)
LP – Taillon (1-1)
S – Silseth (1)

DIRT BAGS 4 / 8 / 1
COMETS 2 / 6 / 1
WP – Bowlan (1-1)
LP – Hudson (1-1)
S – Harrison (2)

DIRT BAGS 6 / 12 / 2
COMETS 8 / 18 / 2
WP – Bummer (1-0)
LP – Sborz (0-1)
S – Phillips (5)

DIRT BAGS 8 / 12 / 0
COMETS 4 / 10 / 2
WP – Harrison (1-0)
LP – Contreras (1-2)

DIRT BAGS 5 / 9 / 2
COMETS 6 / 8 / 0
WP – Soriano (1-0)
LP – Irvin (1-2)
S – Phillips (6)

DIRT BAGS 1 / 4 / 2
COMETS 7 / 12 / 1
WP – Taillon (2-1)
LP – Bradford (1-2)

DIRT BAGS 3 / 8 / 1
COMETS 7 / 10 / 2
WP – Hudson (2-1)
LP – Bowlan (1-2)
S – Phillips (7)