2001 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #10

Michigan gets on the board in the first on a Bret Boone hit. In the 2nd, Ripken gets sac fly and Michigan is up 2-0. In the 4th, Halter hits a triple to knock in another Michigan run.

In the 6th, Hollywood gets on the board as Boone makes an error.

Michigan adds on another run and Penny rolls to complete game.

Michigan 4 Hollywood 1

w-Penny 6-3
l-Halladay 1-2

In the 3rd, Hollywood scores on a Cliff Floyd sac fly. In the 4th, Burnitz strikes a 2 run homer. In the bottom of the 5th, Bernie Williams hits a 2 run homer for Michigan to make it 3-2, Hollywood. Then, Guzman hits a tater and the game is tied.

In the bottom of the 7th, Bernie Williams hits his 2nd homer of the game. Brett Boone smacks a homer as well. Its 5-3, Michigan.

Michigan 5 Hollywood 3

w-Witt 2-0
s-Plesac (2)
l-Nunez 0-1

In the bottom of the 2nd, Vinny Castilla hits a homer. The Vampires respond with a run in the 5th. Pierzynski knocks in a run in the 6th, and Hollywood takes the lead. Palmeiro ties it with a double in the 6th. Castilla hits a sac fly and its 3-2 Michigan. Palmeiro makes an error in the 7th and its tied again. In the top of the 8th, David Ortiz hits a homer off Plesac. Hollywood adds another run.

Hollywood 5 Michigan 3

w-Fox, 4-1
s-Foulke, 12
l-Plesac, 2-3

The Vampires scores an unearned run in the 1st. The Vampires score another in the 2nd, then Edmonds hits a homer for Michigan. Later in the game, Simon hits a 3 run homer to put it away for Hollywood.

Hollywood 7 Michigan 2

w-Oswalt 4-0
s-Isringhausen 3
l-L. Hernandez 3-7

Millar knocks in the first run of the game for Hollywood in the 6th inning. No other offense as Mulder and the pen toss a shutout.

Hollywood 1 Michigan 0

w-Mulder 5-5
s-Foulke 13
l- O, Hernandez 3-2

In the 5th, Ortiz hits another bomb. Cirillo goes back to back. Sloppy inning as Hollywood scores 2 more.

Hollywood gets an easy win on a Halladay shutout.

Hollywood 4 Michigan 0

w-Halladay 2-2
s-Foulke 14
l-Penny 6-4

HATTERS 0 / 4 / 0
CRABS 5 /11 / 0
WP – Hudson (4-6)
LP – Anderson (1-6)

HATTERS 8 / 17 / 0
CRABS 4 /10 / 1
WP – Remlinger (2-1)
LP – Farnsworth (4-2)

HATTERS 9 / 9 / 1
CRABS 4 /10 / 1
WP – Tapani (4-3)
LP – Williams (3-6)
S – Nelson (5)

HATTERS 3 / 10 / 0
CRABS 4 /15 / 0
WP – Swindell (1-0)
LP – Wohlers (1-2)

HATTERS 3 / 7 / 1
CRABS 2 /7 / 0
WP – Bere (5-2)
LP – Dempster (1-1)
S – Nelson (6)

HATTERS 2 / 3 / 1
CRABS 6 /10 / 2
WP – Hudson (5-6)
LP – Smith (0-6)

W-Jason Schmidt 7-4 CG 5 Hitter
L-Bob Wells 1-1, BS-1

The Quake dart out to a 4-1 lead with a very efficient hit to run ratio taking advantage as Schmidt struggles early with his control. However, he gains his composure starting in the 4th and it’s lights out the rest of the game striking out 9 CAL batters allowing only 5 hits along the way giving his lineup time to chip away and take the lead late in the game highlighted by a Troy Glaus HR & 2B then 3 CAL errors leading to 3 unearned runs for the Maulers. MVM 5-4.

Ramon Vasquez 2-4

Troy Glaus 2-3, 2B(18), HR(11), RBI 2(34), RS(2), Pokey Reese 1-3, SB 2(5)

W-Julian Tavarez 4-7
L-Joe Borowski 1-9

The Quake score in the first for an early 1-0 lead. The Maulers counter with 2 in the bottom of the 2nd. Julian Tavarez settles down scattering 8 hits all singles, and Joe Borowski takes out his frustration beaning Corey Patterson with a fastball sending him to the DL for 20 games! The Hammering time lineup responds in support and plate 5 more runs for the victory highlighted by Frank Catalanotto and Jacque Jones HRs topping off a 6-2 MVM victory.

Luis Castillo 2-5, Ichiro Suzuki 2-4 RBI (24) SB2(19), Ramon Vazquez 2-4

Jacque Jones 3-4 HR(3) RBI 2(14), Troy Glaus 2-3 2B(19), Frank Catalanotto 1-4 HR(7) RBI 2(19), Einar Diaz 2-4 2B(11)

INJ: Corey Patterson 20 games

W-Jon Lieber 5-3 CG 4 hitter
L-T Ohka 3-6

For the 3rd game in a row CAL starts the scoring only to see the game get away from them once again. The Maulers plate 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, 2 in the 4th and 5th which was more than enough as Jon Lieber shuts the door with a CG 4 hitter. Russ Branyan 2-HRs and Troy Glaus continues his resurgence after a slow start. If only the other half of the dynamic duo (Valdimir Guerrero) would catch fire the Maulers could be a force to be reckoned with for a playoff spot. We shall see. MVM 8-1

Rey Sanchez 2-4, Troy Glaus 2-4 HR(12) RBI 2(36), Einar Diaz 2-4 2b(12) RNI 2(12), Russ Branyan 2-4 HR 2(6) RBI 4(15)

W-B Jones 1-2
L-Brian Tollberg 3-1

The Quake take an early lead once again and this time they make it stick pounding out an efficient 10 hits to 7 runs, although the Maulers made it interesting with 3 in the 7th as Vladimir Guerrero finally wakes up but in a losing effort. Trevor Hoffman closes it out for the Quake victory. CAL 7-4

Darrin Erstad 3-5 HR(5) RBI 2(26), Ichiro Suzuki 2-4 2B(11) RBI 3(27), Tim Salmon 3-2 RBI 2(19)

Troy Glaus 2-4 2B(20) RBI 2(38), Vladimir Guerrero 2-5 2B(18) RBI (32), Pokey Reese 2-4 HR(1) RBI (2)

W-Darrin Oliver 5-4
L-Andy Benes 2-8

The Maulers take advantage of Andy Benes double digit ERA and jack hammer him for 7 runs in the 1st 2 innings. No looking back as once again Darrin Oliver is effective through 7 then tiring to turn the game over to Ramiro Mendoza for the “clean-up on isle 8&9”. Troy Glaus making a bid for player of the week continues his hitting rant 3-4 2B, HR(13) RBI 5(43). Vladimir Guerrero the sleeping giant continues to rise up out of his slumber. MVM 10-3.

Nomar Garciaparra 3-5, Ichiro Suzuki 3-5 2B(12) RBI(28)

Rey Sanchez 3-5, Vladimir Guerrero 2-4 RBI 2(34), Troy Glaus 3-4 2B(21) HR(13) RBI 5(43), Darryl Ward 2-5 HR(3) RBI 3(10)

W-M James 1-0
L-Bob File 0-1 BS(1)

This time the Maulers jump out to a 3-0 lead that they see dwindle away as their defense stumbles and the Quakes offense finally shakes, rattles and rolls MVM starter Jim Brower albeit all singles along with 3-SB. However the Maulers still have the lead in the 8th although they LOB-11, but CAL ties the game as MVM closer Bob File gives up the tying run contributed to by Mauler defensive miscues. The Quake waste no time to seal victory scoring 3 times in the 9th and Trevor Hoffman shuts the door for the save. CAL 7-4

Luis Castillo 2-3 RBI 2(11), Ichiro Suzuki 3-5, Tim Salmon 2-3

Jacque Jones 2-5 2B 2(8) RS-2, Alfonso Soriano 1-4 HR(10) RBI (29), Vladimir Guerrero 1-3 RBI 2(27)

MVM takes the series 4-2 making up for last week’s 2-4 series loss, and completely dominates the floundering CAL Quakes who slip further into the AL West basement. Troy Glaus & Vladimir Guerrero continue to spark the offense as Troy makes a bid for POW 13-23, 2B-, HR-3, RBI-13 BA.565 SLG., 1.173, OPS 1.740. The Maulers’ defense remains suspect and cost them in game 6. No earth-shattering offense performance by CAL. although Ichiro Suzuki had a nice series 11-25 .440, SB-4, 2B-2, RBI-6

The Stealers opened the year in their new dome and now return two months later looking very different. Eleven of the 40 players on the roster that opening day are no longer here. Some players came and left before evening getting the chance to play a home game. Baseball has not seen a manager this drunk and clueless since the George Steinbrenner days in the 80s. It appears the Stealers are looking for a high draft pick in 2002.

To get a high slot they are going to have to battle with the current basement dweller Dondero Oaks for that honor. Dondero is actually decent at their friendly confides, but have not found a routine for the road yet as they are 3 – 25 from the away side.

This series is in Southlake so odds are not in their favor. But if they are going to change their luck, doing it against Southlake is the most logical way to do it.

Did someone forget to tell the Oaks they were on the road this game? They started the bats early banging out 2 runs on four hits and a walk. The big blows were two out hits by Gibbons and Ibanez for RBIs. It could have been more if not for a fantastic double play started by Eckstein.

Buck Miller congratulated the boys on starting out well and then they realized they were indeed on the road. They would scrape together just three more hits the rest of the way, adding just a run in the 8th.

For Southlake Al Martin would halve the lead with a solo shot in the 3rd. The Stealers would put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out in the 5th. They called upon newly acquired second baseman Marlon Anderson to bunt a run home. He instead hit the first two pitches foul. Down 0 – 2 in the count meant he had to swing away. And swing away he did. A stand up double would not just score the tying run they wanted him to get in but rather both runners for a Stealer lead.

The Stealers would seal away the game in the 7th thanks to a bloop single by Beltran to score Ben Davis. Despite the team around him disappearing Beltran still continues to perform at an All-Star level for the Stealers. He hasnt decided to mail in the season yet.

Yet another newly acquired player Curt Leskanic would pitch a perfect 9th inning for his first save of the season.

Final Score SSS 4 Dondero 3
WP: Terry Adams (5-3) First Stealers Victory
LP: Matt Wise (0-2)
S: Curt Leskanic (1)
Big Boy Restaurant’s Big Boy of the Game: Marlon Anderson 4/4 with 2 RBIs (even if he failed to get the bunt down).

Barajas would come around to score in the inning before Glover could find that elusive 3rd out. The Oaks lead three to nothing after 1 and a half.

Barajas and the Oaks were not finished swinging on the day. He would lead the day going 3/5 with 3 Runs and 4 RBIs. He is now hitting a robust .385 on the season. The Oaks would have 13 hits in all plating 8 runners in the game.

Barajas who was an emergency waiver pick up by the Oaks due to injuries realizes this is a short term stint with the team. When asked about his impressive start he stated, “Im truly humbled and thankful to GM Hogan for giving me this opportunity to show the other teams what I can do given an opportunity. I’m simply focused on being the best team player I can and contribute any way possible to these guys.”

Meanwhile, Jarvis said, that will be plenty boys as he gave up only 2 runs and 4 hits in going the distance for his first complete game of the season. He ran his record to 3 wins against 7 losses as he continues to be a workhorse eating up innings to help a stretched thin Oaks bullpen

Final Score: Dondero Oaks 8 Southlake Stealers 2
WP: Jarvis (3-7)
LP: Glover (1-3)
Big Boy Restaurant’s Big Boy of the Game: Barajas 3/5, 3 Runs, 4 RBIs

As you would expect when two crappy pitchers face off, hits were few and far between early in the game. Through 5 innings Haynes would surrender just a double in the second inning holding the Oaks scoreless. Meanwhile Tomko, gave up only 6 hits, unfortunately for him one of those was a solo shot by Travis Fryman. End of 5 the score is Stealers 1 Oaks 0.

The Oaks finally got around to figuring out Haynes when Cruz had a one out single and Valentin proceeded to clear the bases with a shot over the fence to capture the lead 2-1.

The Stealers would tie the game in the bottom half of the 7th and would threaten for more. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, Conine stepped to the plate. He was 3 for 3 on the day. It made sense to make a pitching change or at least walk Conine and face Al Martin instead. Buck Miller would have none of that. Instead he challenged Conine to get a fourth hit, and Jeff did just that giving the Stealers a 2 run lead. Why Buck Why?

The Stealers would squeeze another run in the 8th. Curt Leskanic would pick up his second save in the series and in his season by pitching a shutdown 9th inning. In that inning he fanned Galarraga giving Andres the Golden Sombraro to take home for the evening. It is a fashion disaster no player wishes to have.

Final Score Stealers 5 Oaks 2
Stealers lead series 2 games to 1

WP: White (2-1)
LP: Tomko (0-4)
S: Leskanic (2)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Jeff Conine 4/4 with 2 RBIs

The Oaks scored first when Al Martin misplays a ball in the outfield. The lead was short lived when the Stealers strung together a couple of hits and scored on a ground out by Travis Fryman.

The Mighty Oaks return the favor in the second scoring on an RBI single from Barajas. What a story this kid has become in this waiver claim for the Oaks. That lead would again be short in duration as the Stealers would keep hitting the ball and score two in the bottom of the second.

After an uneventful third inning The Big Hurt would lead off the inning on first thanks to an error by Travis Fryman. Just when it looked like Finley would work out of it with no damage, he had to get by Barajas and no one does that these days. He singles and the Big Hurt was on the move, scoring from first to tie the game.

The game changed in the bottom of the inning. With runners on second and third, Sarge called for the suicide squeeze from Macias. A pitch in the dirt was too much for him to handle and the runner was out at the plate by a mile. That play really put the energy into the Oaks.

In the fifth inning, with one on and two outs hits by Bichette, Thomas and Cruz would plate 3 runners and give the Oaks a 6-3 lead. That was all the Oaks and their bullpen needed. Carrara and Rivera would get the last nine outs without any runners to cap the victory for the Oaks.

For the Stealers it appears both Jekyll and Hyde came to pitch, for Finley went the distance for his 4th complete game, but took the loss.

WP: Astacio (3-3)
LP: Finley (4-5)
S: Rivera (6)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Barajas 2/4 with 2 RBIs What a Cinderella story

The Oaks strike first with a two out single from Vander Wal to get home Woodward. Meanwhile Wilson was cruising through three with no hits allowed. Things changed for him in the bottom of the 4th when the Stealers first five batters of the inning all were successful bringing home 3 runs quickly. A few batters later they added another run. If not for some questionable baserunning, the damage could have been more.

A squeeze bunt by Macias would add a run in the fifth to give the Stealers a 5-1 lead after 5. After retiring the first batter of the 6th, Sanders would put one in the cheap seats to cut the lead to 5-2. That would be the end of the day for Schoeneweis as he went 5.1 giving up the 2 runs on 5 hits with no walks and 7 strikeouts. A nice day for sure.

Mota would finish off the 6th inning. After a lead off single by Merloni and a walk to PH Cairo, he was replaced by the lefty Gabe White. It looked as if White would do the job, with a tailor made ground ball induced to Barajas, but the kid showed all heart and beat the relay throw to put runners on the corner with one down.

Hoping to get another groundball, White stayed in to face the left-handed hitting Ibanez. Ibanez instead roped a single to centerfield scoring one. Which was followed by a three run homer from Vander Wal, giving him 4RBIs on the day. A 5-2 lead was now a 6-5 deficit for the Stealers having to face a tough Oak bullpen.

A 1-2-3 inning by Hackman in the 7th, followed by an uneventful 8th from Cararra meant trouble for the Stealers. Buck Miller would call on the Sandman, Mariano Rivera to close out the game and secure the win. But hold your horses say the Stealers.

A lead off double by Ben Davis started things. Nunez did an excellent job of hitting behind the runner with a groundball to second moving Davis to third. Marlon Anderson would execute the perfect suicide squeeze to bring him home and tie the game. What has become of Mariano Rivera? That is his 4th blown save of the year already.

To extras we go. Valentin would be the go ahead run at first as he greets Fetters with a single. Sarge would call on Paul “Chop” Shuey who would coax a double play ball out of and a routine fly ball from Galarraga.

The Oaks would turn to Almanza who comes at you from the left side. He promptly struck out the first two batters, both righties. With the Lefty Al Martin up, Sarge looked to his bench. Martin failed to see the wait a minute sign from Sarge and went to the plate. Before Sarge could yell at him to get out of the box Al sent the first pitch into deep deep right for the walk-off victory. How about that folks !

Final Score Stealers 7 Oaks 6 (10 innings)
WP:Shuey (1-3)
LP: Almanza (0-2)

Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Al Martin 2/3 with 3RBIs.

Glover on short notice was not in a rhythm at all to start the game. Frank Thomas opened the scoring with a bomb in the second inning, his first home run of the season. He has been bothered by a back injury and just cant get any playing time. Woodward would follow with a triple that was badly misplayed by Martin, his second bad route in the series. Glover was frustrated and it showed when he uncorked a wild pitch on the next toss from the mind. Oaks with a 2-0 lead through two innings.

Ben Davis would homer in the third to cut the lead in half. Glover finally found his rhythm and was solid in the 3rd and 4th innings. With two outs and a runner on first, Cruz would bobble a ground ball and then hurry his throw, putting guys on the corner and bringing up Martin for a shot at redemption. Redemption he found as Al lined a double to the CF fence scoring both runners and giving the Stealers the lead. 3-2 at the end of 4 innings.

The fifth inning looked like Deja Vu and not the strip club. With two outs a routine grounder to Thomas by Beltran was misplayed. That gave Conine a chance to showcase his swing. He ripped a double into the left field corner and Beltran found an extra gear and scored easily.

Glover continued to work quickly. After the wild pitch scored the second run the proceeded to set down 14 batters in a row. Bichette put a stop to that leading off the 7th with a double. That was all for Glover as the Stealers looked to Leskanic to hold the lead.

Leskanic did his job stranding Dante on the basepaths. The wheels really fell off for Dondero after that. Fryman would hit a solo shot. Miller would turn to the bullpen and Almanza would give up a single and two walks to load the bases with just one down. Buck had seen enough and signaled for the righty Hackman before he even was two steps out of the dugout. With the infield in trying to cut down the runner at the plate, a hard ground ball by Eckstein saw its way past the infield to add 2 more runs. At the end of 7 the score is Stealers 7 Oaks 2.

Moto would mop up the last 6 outs of the game to finally put the Oaks out of their misery.
Final Score Stealers 8 Oaks 2

WP: Glover (2-3)
LP: Wise (0 – 3)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Glover 6 innings of controlled baseball giviing up just 2 runs in the short notice start.

The Stealers even though they are completely dismantling the team are findings ways to win. Their record is now 9-1 in one run games and a perfect 4-0 in Extra inning games. The Stealers will enjoy the day off before they host Dewitt. Dewitt has improved their rotation which is led by Cy Young Candidate Bartolo Colon. Could get interesting as well for a couple of guys making their return to Southlake since being dealt away earlier.