2024 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #3

One of the highlights of the Mobsters was Aroldis Chapman‘s entrance in relief. He delivered 2 and 1/3 innings of perfect pitching with no hits or walks allowed, striking out 5 batters in the process. His performance ensured that the Bottle Rockets were kept at bay and helped secure the victory for the Mobsters.

Despite the efforts from the Bottle Rockets, they couldn’t match up to the dominant Mobsters offense who finalized the game with a secure 6-1 win. The injury to Franco and the inability to break through staring pitcher Brennan Bernardino or the Mobster’s bullpen were significant factors in their defeat.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Tijuana 1

Win: Nick Ramirez 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Spencer Strider 2-1 (1.89)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #3

Final Score: Chicago 8 – Tijuana 4

Win: Jesus Luzardo 2-1 (2.48)
Loss: Eury Perez 0-2 (15.43)

Final Score: Tijuana 2 – Chicago 1

Win: Cristopher Sanchez 1-0 (3.14)
Loss: Randy Vasquez 0-1 (2.84)
Save: Miguel Diaz #1

Final Score: Chicago 7 – Tijuana 0

Win: J.P. Sears 2-2 (3.00)
Loss: Marcus Stroman 1-1 (5.09)

The Mobsters’ relief corps was called into action early when starter Jose Quintana surrendered 5 runs over five and two-thirds innings. The bullpen was a mixed bag but did enough to stay in the game, featuring a standout performance by Josh Hader who hurled two and a third innings without giving up a hit and striking out three. Yennier Cano also contributed critical innings, stretching through the 15th and he played a key part in keeping the Bottle Rockets at bay.

Conversely, the Bottle Rockets’ bullpen had its hands full after Grayson Rodriguez gave up 3 runs over five and a third innings. The relievers found themselves trying to protect a slim lead for much of the game. Standouts included Lucas. Sims pitched two and two-thirds innings of hitless ball. Steven Wilson also put in three scoreless innings, showing poise under pressure despite the high-stakes scenario.

Big moments in the game included some clutch hitting by the Bottle Rockets early on, which saw them take a 5-1 lead thanks to RBI singles from Garrett. Hampson and Elehuris Montero, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa adding a solo home run. However, the Mobsters clawed back with Willy Adames delivering a pivotal two-run homer that narrowed the gap to 5-3.

As the innings progressed, both teams’ defenses and pitching held steady until Noelvi Marte finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the 16th inning with a walk-off home run, allowing the Mobsters to claim a 6-5 victory in what was a thrilling showcase of stamina and strategy from both teams’ bullpens.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Tijuana 5 (16 Innings)

Win: Yennier Cano 1-1 (4.50)
Loss: Erik Swanson 0-2 (5.00)

As the game progressed, the Mobsters gained a 3-1 lead by capitalizing on mistakes by Spencer Strider, the Bottle Rockets’ pitcher, and stretched that lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the 6th. It looked like the Mobsters had secured a comfortable win.

However, in an astonishing turn of events, the Bottle Rockets mounted a comeback in the 9th inning, highlighted by Garrett Hampson‘s three-run homer to even up the score at 5-5. Despite this, Alex Bregman became the hero for the Mobsters with his walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th, leaving the final score at Mobsters 6, Bottle Rockets 5.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Tijuana 5 (10 Innings)

Win: Devin Williams 2-0 (0.00)
Loss: Jeff Hoffman 0-1 (7.71)

Heading into the second inning at 1-0, the Bottle Rockets maintained their lead, with Cedric Mullins hitting a double and the side being retired without conceding any runs. The third inning saw the Bottle Rockets extend their lead to 3-0 with Corbin Carroll outrunning the ball for a score and Isaac Paredes driving in J.A. Happ.

The Mobsters finally got on the board in the bottom of the third thanks to Yandy Diaz’s home run, making it 3-1. As the innings progressed, both teams showcased pitching prowess with Jesus Luzardo striking out seven over six innings for the Mobsters and Eury Perez going strong through seven for the Bottle Rockets.

Relievers Josh Hader for the Mobsters and Lucas Sims for the Bottle Rockets also held their own until the eighth inning when the Mobsters loaded the bases, but a double play extinguished their hopes. The ninth saw relief pitcher Nick Ramirez for the Mobsters strike out two before Camilo Doval was brought in to secure the final out for them.

Lucas Sims ultimately locked down the door & sealed the deal for the Bottle Rockets in the bottom of the ninth, closing it out & concluding the intense match with a final score of 3-1 in favor of the Bottle Rockets.

Final Score: Tijuana 3 – Chicago 1

Win: Eury Perez 1-2 (8.36)
Loss: Jesus Luzardo 2-2 (2.83)
Save: Lucas Sims #1

In Game 1, despite strong pitching from Spencer Strider with 9 strikeouts for the Bottle Rockets, an injury to Wander Franco was a critical blow. The Mobsters’ Aroldis Chapman was stellar in relief, aiding in their convincing 6-1 victory.

Game 2 saw the Mobsters continue their offensive prowess with three home runs contributing to an 8-4 win, despite Ke’Bryan Hayes’ efforts for the Bottle Rockets.

The Bottle Rockets narrowly took Game 3 with a tense 2-1 win, thanks to Elehuris Montero‘s solo homer and Evan Carter’s home run, holding off the Mobsters despite a late rally.

J.P. Sears pitched a sensational shutout for the Mobsters in Game 4, striking out nine in a dominant 7-0 victory, highlighted by back-to-back homers from L. Arraez and Y. Alvarez.

An epic 16-inning marathon in Game 5 ended with the Mobsters prevailing 6-5. Relief pitchers like Josh Hader and Lucas Sims were crucial, but it was Noelvi Marte‘s walk-off homer that decided the game.

Game 6 was a wild ride, ending in Mobsters’ favor with a 6-5 score after Alex Bregman‘s walk-off home run, despite Garrett Hampson‘s three-run homer tying the game earlier.

Finally, in Game 7, the Bottle Rockets managed to secure a 3-1 victory. Strong performances from Cedric Mullins and Eury Perez, coupled with Lucas Sims‘ closure, gave the Bottle Rockets something to celebrate at the end of the series.

Gainesville 9
Detroit 7

W: H. Milner 2-2
L: A. Claudio 0-1

Gainesville 6
Detroit 2

W: Z. Gallen 1-1
L: C. Carrasco 0-3

Gainesville 11
Detroit 6

W: Z. Eflin 4-0
L: C. Bassitt 2-2

Gainesville 4
Detroit 2

W: J. France 2-1
L: Z. Wheeler 2-1
S: H. Milner 2

Gainesville 11
Detroit 8

W: J. Flaherty 3-0
L: S. Manaea 1-3

Gainesville 3
Detroit 1

W: J. Teheran 2-0
L: A. Nola 1-2
S: H. Milner 3

Detroit 6
Gainesville 5

W: C. Carrasco 1-3
L: Z. Gallen 1-2
S: J. Adam 2

Mesa gets on Carlos Rodon early, with four runs in the first capped by Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer. A Gunnar Henderson error helps Fremont climb back with 3 in the third inning, but Jack Suwinski answers with a two-run home run in the fourth to make it 6-3 Mesa. The Solar Sox tack on another in the seventh to take it 7-3. Eugenio Suarez (3-3, HR, 2BB, 2R, 2 RBI) leads the way for the Sox, while Manuel Margot goes 4-5 for Fremont in the loss. Ken Waldichuk racked up 11 Ks in his first victory.

W: Ken Waldichuk (1-2)
L: Carlos Rodon (1-1)

HR: MSS- Eugenio Suarez (2), Jack Suwinski (3); FRE- none

Pablo Lopez and Kodai Senga both start off well, keeping runs off the board until the 5th, when Brenton Doyle’s 2-run HR puts Mesa on top. Fremont gets one back in the 6th when Bo Naylor singles home Jace Peterson.

Mesa gets two more in the seventh with the aid of a Yoan Moncada error and a gutsy double steal bringing home Doyle. Ezequiel Tovar’s double in the ninth is the icing on the cake, bringing in two more for the 6-1 Mesa final. Brenton Doyle (3-4, 2B, HR, 3R, 2 RBI) led the way for the Solar Sox. Lopez picked up his first win, striking out nine in 7 innings, while Senga struck out 10 in 6.1 IP.

W: Pablo Lopez (1-2)
L: Kodai Senga (2-1)

HR: MSS- Brenton Doyle (2); FRE- none

Fremont strikes first off of Cristian Javier in the 2nd with solo homers by Nolan Gorman and Mike Yastrzemski. In the fifth inning, Mesa gets runners on 1st and 3rd. A botched rundown after a steal attempt advanced the runner on 1st to 2nd, then Ezequiel Tovar makes the Cannons pay with a two-run double to tie it. The game stays scoreless the rest of the way, but in the bottom of the ninth, Javier gives up a leadoff double followed by a walkoff Teoscar Hernandez homer. Fremont wins 4-2. Javier allowed just 7 hits in 8 innings, but 5 of them went for extra bases including 3 homers. Jose Trevino is knocked out for the rest of the series by a HBP.

W: Shelby Miller (1-0)
L: Cristian Javier (0-4)

HR: MSS- none; FRE- Nolan Gorman (4), Teoscar Hernandez (6), Mike Yastrzemski (5)

Mesa gets the jump on Garrett Whitlock early, stringing a bunch of hits together in the second to score 3. Jake Rogers adds to the lead with a two-run HR in the third to make it a 5-0 Mesa lead. Vladimir Guererro Jr. gets the Fremont scoring started in the fifth with a two-run triple. Logan T. Allen gets a little wild in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. Austin Hays chops one to first that should end the inning, but Rowdy Tellez muffs it and Fremont scores two to cut the Mesa lead to 5-4.

Fremont finally goes on top in the seventh thanks to Nolan Gorman’s two-run HR. After an Elias Diaz double with no outs, Mesa goes to Brusdar Graterol early to stop the bleeding, but Fremont would score two more to take the 8-5 lead. Mesa loads the bases in the 8th, but Brenton Doyle grounds out to end the threat. The Solar Sox bring the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Jack Suwinski and Jake Rogers can’t get it done, and the Cannons take it 8-5. Garrett Whitlock improves to 3-0 despite allowing 9 hits.

W: Garrett Whitlock (3-0)
L: Logan T. Allen (2-2)
S: Shelby Miller (7)

HR: Mesa- Jake Rogers (3); FRE- Nolan Gorman (5)

Jake Rogers gets Mesa on the board in the second with a solo shot off of Sandy Alcantara, then the Solar Sox get two more in the 4th. Fremont threatens with a runner on 3rd in the bottom of the inning, but Shohei Ohtani gets picked off of 3rd base. An Eugenio Suarez solo HR in the 5th puts Mesa up 4-0. Fremont finally scratches one across in the bottom of the inning with an Elly De La Cruz triple and groundout by Carlos Correa.

Heaney walks two in the 6th, allowing Nolan Gorman to send one over the fence to score three and ties it up 4-4. “HEANEY served up some cannon fodder that time …”. Mesa’s manager goes with Brusdar Graterol early again, and for two innings it works. In the eighth, however, Shohei Ohtani leads off with a triple. Jakob Junis comes in but promptly serves up a two-run HR to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to put the Cannons up 6-4. With Shelby Miller having seen heavy usage, Fremont trusts the ninth to Will Vest. Brenton Doyle doubles with one out to put a runner in scoring position, but a pop out and strikeout end the game with Fremont on top 6-4. The Cannons take advantage of Jose Trevino’s injury by stealing five bases,

W: Will Vest (1-0)
L: Brusdar Graterol (0-1)

HR: MSS- Eugenio Suraez (3), Jake Rogers (4); FRE- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (5), Nolan Gorman (6)

Ken Waldichuk held Fremont in check in the 1st game of the series, and again does a solid job. Nevertheless, it is Fremont on the board first in the second inning with the Cannons trading a runner for a run on a Yoan Moncada single. Two walks load the bases for Fremont in the 4th, then a Byron Buxton grounder brings in a run to make it 2-0. A walk and HBP again puts Waldichuk in trouble in the 5th, and Nolan Gorman brings in the third Cannon run with a single. Waldichuk then bears down to strike out the side to keep it from getting worse.

A walk in the sixth from Kodai Senga is followed by an Eugenio Suarez run-scoring double to give Mesa their first run and cut the lead to 3-1. Fremont calls on Shelby Miller to close it out. After a single by Gunnar Henderson, Jack Suwinski sends one deep… “MARGOT scampering back … at the track … he leaps … and brings it down”. Miller then strikes out Jake Rogers and Fremont wins the game 3-1. Waldichuk struck out 13 in 7.1 IP in the loss.

W: Kodai Senga (3-1)
L: Ken Waldichuk (1-3)
S: Shelby Miller (8)

HR- none

Next week: Mesa stays on the road against division-rival Virginia, while Fremont goes on the road to Dallas to play a division foe themselves.