2026 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #19

The Sonics clawed back, tying the game 5-5 in the 6th when Max Muncy drove in Brenton Doyle. A grueling bullpen battle pushed the game into extra innings. Finally, in the bottom of the 11th, Josh Naylor hit a leadoff double and later scored the game-winner on a walk-off single by Doyle.

Final Score: Titusville 6 – Chicago 5 (11 Innings)

Win: Tyler Ferguson 2-1 (4.81)
Loss: Matt Svanson 1-3 (1.60)

The Mobsters took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Julio Rodriguez launched a solo home run off Titusville starter Gavin Williams. Chicago added an insurance run in the seventh after loading the bases, courtesy of an RBI single into left field from Luis Arraez. Aroldis Chapman entered in the eighth and slammed the door, striking out Matt Wallner to end the game and secure his 20th save of the season.

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Titusville 0

Win: Noah Cameron 11-2 (2.78)
Loss: Gavin Williams 9-9 (2.99)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #20

Titusville chipped away with an RBI single from Matt Wallner in the third, but the definitive blow came in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Josh Naylor launched a spectacular grand slam off Chicago starter Roki Sasaki, flipping the script to give Titusville a 5-4 lead. The Super Sonics added insurance runs via a Max Muncy scoring play and a late RBI triple from Gunnar Henderson. Bryan Abreu tossed a scoreless ninth to lock down his 27th save and secure the win for Nick Lodolo.

Final Score: Titusville 7 – Chicago 4

Win: Nick Lodolo 8-5 (2.86)
Loss: Roki Sasaki 0-3 (4.01)
Save: Bryan Abreu #27

The Mobsters responded in the fifth when Xavier Edwards launched a solo blast to tie the game at 2-2. The bullpens traded zeros until the top of the 10th inning, when Jackson Chourio crushed a dramatic, go-ahead solo home run off Kyle Finnegan. Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect bottom half to lock down his 21st save and secure the victory for Felix Bautista.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Titusville 2 (10 Innings)

Win: Felix Bautista 1-4 (4.67)
Loss: Kyle Finnegan 1-4 (3.32)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #21

The Super Sonics responded quickly in the bottom half of the second when Brenton Doyle launched a two-run homer off Chicago starter Bryce Miller. However, Miller settled down beautifully from there, earning the victory after spinning 6.1 strong innings with 6 strikeouts. Chicago’s bullpen was lights-out in relief, culminating in a scoreless ninth from Aroldis Chapman to secure his 22nd save of the season.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Titusville 2

Win: Bryce Miller 5-1 (3.02)
Loss: Andrew Heaney 6-8 (5.98)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #22

Chicago fought back to tie the game 4-4 in the seventh on a Luis Arraez RBI single. However, Titusville responded immediately in the bottom half when Eugenio Suarez crushed a tie-breaking, two-run home run. The Super Sonics blew the game open with a four-run eighth, powered by solo shots from Brenton Doyle and another two-run blast from Suarez. Tyler Ferguson earned the victory in relief, while Chicago’s Riley Greene added a consolation solo homer in the ninth.

Final Score: Titusville 10 – Chicago 5

Win: Tyler Ferguson 3-1 (4.80)
Loss: MacKenzie Gore 3-8 (6.39)

Chicago outfielder Julio Rodriguez found himself squarely in the crosshairs, getting hit by pitches a staggering three times over the course of the series—including a scary helmet shot from Andrew Heaney and another painful shoulder bruising. The tension reached its absolute breaking point in game four. After already plunking Rodriguez earlier in the contest, Titusville reliever Tanner Banks drilled the star outfielder yet again in the ninth inning. The plate umpire immediately ejected Banks with no warnings issued, triggering intense shouting from the dugouts as players had to be restrained.

The relentless hit-by-pitches overshadowed brilliant individual moments, including walk-off hits from Brenton Doyle, a clutch extra-innings blast by Jackson Chourio, and an absolute powerhouse performance from Eugenio Suarez, who launched three home runs and drove in six. Pitching stood tall as well, highlighted by Noah Cameron’s masterful performance, where he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. With the series concluding amidst unearned runs, high-stakes errors, and intentional-looking inside heat, a genuine rivalry has been born. These two clubs have officially developed deep-seated animosity, transforming their matchups into must-watch, high-drama baseball where every inside fastball carries explosive potential.

DEFENDERS 4 / 12 / 1
COMETS 5 / 5 / 1
WP – Rogers (3-3)
LP – Holton (3-2)
S – Dominguez (2)

DEFENDERS 3 / 5 / 1
COMETS 2 / 7 / 1
WP – Allard (3-3)
LP – Rogers (3-4)

DEFENDERS 4 / 9 / 0
COMETS 6 / 13 / 0
WP – Akin (3-4)
LP – Holton (3-3)

DEFENDERS 8 / 10 / 0
COMETS 7 / 9 / 0
WP – Gibson (2-3)
LP – Rogers (3-5)

DEFENDERS 5 / 6 / 0
COMETS 1 / 9 / 1
WP – Allen (5-12)
LP – Kerkering (0-4)

DEFENDERS 6 / 10 / 0
COMETS 3 / 9 / 3
WP – Kinley (3-3)
LP – Zerpa (1-3)
S – Allard (7)

Went about how you’d expect. Skenes gets the CGSO 1-hitter (win #10), and Detroit homers 3 times, winning 5-0

Fives were wild for Mlodzinski (5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 5 K), but Nola only lasted 2.1 IP, and the Detroit bullpen couldn’t salvage the game. Fremont wins 9-7.

In a battle of grade 3s, Dollander’s defense lets him down as Detroit wins 10-9 with the help of 3 unearned runs. Manny Machado hit a 2-run HR in the eighth for insurance, which was good for the Crime as Fremont scored 3 in the ninth.

This one lived up to its potential as a pitchers’ duel. Both starters went into the ninth with a 0-0 game, but Rodon’s 3rd HBP got him tossed. Detroit promptly scored three to win it 3-0. Wheeler struck out 12.

Fremont is shut out for the 3rd time in the series, and Junk picks up win #10. Detroit wins 4-0.

Fremont does score a run, but it’s little consolation as Skenes gets another CG and Detroit wins 4-1.

Next week, Detroit hosts divisional foe Gainesville, while Fremont looks to right the ship in Motor City.

TIJUANA — The Bottle Rockets snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the visiting Patriots in the series opener. Tijuana erupted for four runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-run triple from Pete Crow-Armstrong and a two-run homer from Ian Happ. Junior Caminero added a two-run shot in the fifth and finished with three RBI. Cristopher Sanchez started but was chased early, with Brendon Little earning the win in relief. The Patriots pounded out 12 hits but left 10 runners stranded. Rob Refnsyder homered and drove in a run, while Corey Seager delivered a key pinch-hit walk in the seventh.

TIJUANA — Jameson Taillon extended his winning streak to six games as the Patriots evened the series with a 5-2 victory. Taillon worked six strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six. Zach Neto broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a two-run homer off Caleb Thielbar, and Will D. Smith added a solo shot in the ninth. The Bottle Rockets tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth on a two-out RBI double from Cedric Mullins, but couldn’t generate any more offense. Aaron Ashby earned his eighth save with a perfect ninth.

TIJUANA — Junior Caminero delivered a monster performance, homering twice and driving in five runs to power the Bottle Rockets to a 6-4 victory. Tijuana jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on Caminero’s three-run triple, and he added a solo shot in the fifth and another in the seventh. The Patriots rallied to tie it at 4-4 in the sixth on back-to-back homers from Corey Seager (two-run) and Christian Yelich (solo), but Caminero’s second homer in the seventh proved to be the game-winner. Kade Stroud earned his eighth save with a perfect ninth.

TIJUANA — Dean Kremer extended his winning streak to 10 games with a dominant three-hit shutout as the Patriots blanked the Bottle Rockets 3-0. Kremer allowed just three hits, walked one, and struck out seven over seven brilliant innings. Corey Seager broke the scoreless tie in the fifth with a three-run homer off Luis Gil, his 16th of the season. The Bottle Rockets managed only three singles and never threatened against Kremer, who improved to 10-4 on the year. Aaron Ashby secured his ninth save with a perfect ninth.

TIJUANA — The Bottle Rockets clinched the series with a come-from-behind 5-3 victory in the finale. Triple Creek jumped ahead early on a Christian Yelich two-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot from Denzel Clarke in the fifth. But Tijuana answered in the fifth with two runs and tied it at 3-3 on a sacrifice fly from Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Bottle Rockets took control in the seventh when Junior Caminero ripped a two-run triple to right-center, scoring Corbin Carroll and Jahmai Jones.

TIJUANA — In a hard-fought five-game set at home, the Tijuana Bottle Rockets emerged victorious, taking three of five from the first-place Triple Creek Patriots. The series showcased plenty of power, with 11 combined home runs, and featured several dramatic momentum swings.

Junior Caminero was the offensive star of the series, batting .350 with three homers and 10 RBI, including his monster five-RBI performance in Game 3. Ian Happ homered twice, while Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered key hits throughout. The Patriots received strong starting pitching from Dean Kremer (shutout in Game 4) and Jameson Taillon (Game 2 winner), but their bullpen struggled at times, blowing leads in Games 1 and 3.

Christian Yelich and Corey Seager each homered twice for Triple Creek, while Rob Refnsyder had a pair of multi-hit games. The Patriots outhit the Bottle Rockets 45-36 across the series but left far too many runners on base, stranded 39 for the series.

For Tijuana, the series victory improved their record to 64-46, while the Patriots fell to 63-47. The Bottle Rockets’ bullpen, which was a concern entering the series, held together with Kade Stroud, Brendon Little, and Michael Kelly each contributing multiple scoreless appearances.

The series proved the Bottle Rockets can compete with the league’s best, even after their recent struggles. For the Patriots, the loss narrows their division lead, and they’ll look to regroup after dropping two of three in the middle of the set.

Series MVP: Junior Caminero (TIJ) — 6-for-17, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 doubles, 2 runs scored

Justin Verlander sits at 299 career wins, and it is expected that he will be the first MWBL pitcher to reach 300 wins (along with carrying the all-time MWBL win leader title). Kershaw is vying to reach the 300 milestone in his last season, as he will retire at the end of the season