2001 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #11

Chicago Demolition
The Demolition have had a strong season, boasting a 39-19 record. Their lineup is packed with power hitters and a solid pitching staff, making them a formidable opponent.

Corktown Bootleggers
On the other hand, the Bootleggers have been even more impressive with a 42-16 record. They have a balanced team with a mix of veteran leadership and young talent. Their offense is known for its consistency, and the Bootleggers’ ability to perform under pressure will be crucial in this series.

Series Odds
Given the records and recent performances, the odds for the series are slightly in favor of the Corktown Bootleggers. Here’s a breakdown of the odds:

Corktown Bootleggers: 55%
Chicago Demolition: 45%

While the Bootleggers have a slight edge, the Demolition are more than capable of pulling off an upset. This series is expected to be closely contested, with each game likely coming down to the wire. Fans can look forward to a high-stakes, action-packed series.

Final Score: Corktown 9 – Chicago 0

Win: Steve Trachsel 5-1 (4.50)
Loss: Pedro Martinez 3-2 (2.52)

The Demolition closed the gap in the 5th inning with a solo home run by Charles Johnson, bringing the score to 3-2. Carlos Delgado tied the game in the 6th with an RBI single. Corktown regained the lead in the 8th inning with a double by Alex Rodriguez and an RBI double by Ray Lankford, making it 5-3.

In the bottom of the 9th, Delgado hit a solo home run to bring Chicago within one run, but Troy Percival closed out the game to secure the win for Corktown.

Final Score: Corktown 5 – Chicago 4

Win: Joe Mays 8-4 (4.00)
Loss: Danny Graves 4-4 (4.63)
Save: Troy Percival #8

Chicago extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a solo home run by Bobby Higginson. Corktown responded in the fifth inning with a three-run homer by Jorge Fabregas, tying the game at 3-3. However, Chicago quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs, including a solo homer by Phil Nevin, to make it 6-3.

Corktown made a late push in the eighth inning with a two-run homer by Ray Lankford, closing the gap to 6-5. Despite the pressure, Arthur Rhodes came in for the save in the ninth inning, securing the win for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Corktown 5

Win: Darryl Kile 9-0 (2.67)
Loss: Miguel Batista 7-1 (2.29)
Save: Arthur Rhodes #10

Chicago’s Jose Canseco hit a two-run homer in the sixth to narrow the gap, but Corktown responded with a two-run homer by Ray Lankford in the eighth, followed by an RBI double by Damian Jackson. Omar Daal pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on seven hits to earn the win. Roger Clemens took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) over six innings. Troy Percival secured his ninth save by closing out the ninth inning.

Final Score: Corktown 7 – Chicago 3

Win: Omar Daal 6-1 (3.16)
Loss: Roger Clemens 4-5 (4.29)
Save: Troy Percival #9

Sean Lowe pitched five solid innings for Corktown, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six. Rolando Arrojo struggled for Chicago, giving up five runs in just over two innings. Corktown extended their lead in the seventh inning with a two-run homer by Ellis Burks, and Ray Lankford added a two-run shot in the ninth to seal the win. Ugueth Urbina closed out the game for Corktown, striking out the final batter.

Final Score: Corktown 9 – Chicago 3

Win: Sean Lowe 5-2 (3.34)
Loss: Rolando Arrojo 4-3 (3.79)

Final Score: Chicago 11 – Corktown 2

Win: Pedro Martinez 4-2 (2.29)
Loss: Paul Abbott 5-6 (5.60)

Chicago fought back in Game 3, securing a 6-5 victory with key performances from Darryl Kile and Phil Nevin. However, Corktown responded with a 7-3 win, capitalizing on early errors and strong hitting from Ray Lankford. They further solidified their lead with a 9-3 win, driven by Sean Lowe‘s pitching and Ellis Burks‘ home run.

The Demolition ended the series on a high note with an 11-2 blowout, featuring home runs from Carlos Delgado and Phil Nevin, and a strong pitching performance by Pedro Martinez. Despite Chicago’s efforts, Corktown’s consistent offense and clutch performances under pressure gave them the edge in this thrilling series.

Monroeville 12
Dondero 3

W: J. Schmidt (8-4)
L: B. Tomko (0-5)

Monroeville 7
Dondero 6

W: R. Mendoza (3-2)
L: M. Rivera (1-5)
S: R. King (1)

Monroeville 6
Dondero 0

W: B. Tollberg (4-1)
L: M. Wise (0-4)

Monroeville 7
Dondero 5 (13)

W: R. Mendoza (4-2)
L: L. Hackman (0-1)
S: B. File (5)

Panthers take the series 4 games to 2.

The Stealers have not played well against Eastern Division foes going just 5-13 but do play much better inside the new Dome Stadium on the Shores of Lake Huron. Will The Tigers continue to make the playoff push or will the Stealers tame the kitties? Lets find out.

Adams would go on cruise control as the Tigers would add just one more run on him in the 7th inning. Unfortunately for Adams, it wouldnt be enough as Eric Milton was masterful throwing a 2 hit shutout against the Stealers. He struck out 7 and walked just one in facing only 29 batters the entire game. No Stealer player even reached second base.

Milton came up huge on a day the Tigers offense needed him to. Possible Pitcher of the week outing from Eric. Final Score Tigers 2 Stealers 0

WP: Milton (6-4)
LP: Adams (5-4)
Big Boy Restaurant’s Big Boy of the game: Eric Milton Two Hit Shutout complete game with 7 Strikeouts

The Stealers jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning, only to see Dewitt retake the lead with four in the top of the second. The big blow being a Vina three run shot with two outs.

Southlake would tie it in the fourth only, only to see Dewitt again jump out front in their half of the 5th inning.

The Stealers would retake the lead again scoring two in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a Macias triple and Al Martin‘s sac fly.

Dewitt this time would not be able to answer the punch as Southlake turned it over to Shuey and Leskanic. The two would toss the final 3.2 with ease facing the minimum 11 Tigers over that time.

Final Score: Southlake 7 Dewitt 5

WP: Haynes (2-4)
LP: Ponson (0-3)
S: Leskanic (3)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Shuey 2.2, No hits, 2K, His 6th hold of the season

The Stealers would score first. With the bases juiced in the first Singleton would line a shot into the outfield scoring two runs. But wait, Encarnacion missed third on his way around. Colon with the live ball appeal tossed over to the bag for the third out and the runs wiped off the board. Holy Cow, Juan got an earful from the Skipper after that play.

With the score tied at two in the top of the third Travis Lee would step to the plate. He had connected on a hanging curve ball in the second to put the Tigers on the board originally. He would continue his hot start to the year with another bomb in the third. This one was a 3 run home run giving Dewitt a 5 to 2 lead. A lead they would not relinquish.

Dewitt would add a few more insurance runs on reliever Gabe White who came in to send Finley to the showers after just 4 innings.

Final Score Dewitt 8- Stealers 4
WP: Colon (8-2)
LP: Finley (4-6)
Save: Byrd (1)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Travis Lee 3/4, 2 Runs 4RBIs, 2 HRs

Dewitt scores first in the top of the second as Lee continues to feast on the Stealers singling home Long. The Stealers will tie the game back up in the bottom of the inning thanks to a Scott Spezio throwing error.

Dewitt would again capture the lead when Long scored his second time in the game on a LoDuca double. With runners on second and third with no outs and Travis Lee coming to the plate, the big inning was about to come. The Stealers would intentionally walk Lee loading the bases.

Melvin Mora popped up to the catcher for the first out. The speedy Juan Pierre batting .300 on the year would then take his shot. The infield was at double play depth, but turning two against Juan’s speed a foley move. Juan would send a towering shot to center field. Singleton would get behind the ball and throw a laser home to nab Spezio trying to score on the fly out. A double play the hard way gets the Stealers out of the jam.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Stealers countered scoring Encarcion to tie the game and loading the bases with just one out. Like his counterpart Schoeneweis did for the Stealers, Armas was steady for the Tigers. A strikeout and a flyout left the bases loaded and the score tied after 4 innings.

Spezio would lead off the 6th inning at first thanks to a Marlon Anderson error. The incredibly dangerous Travis Lee would stroll to the plate and get jammed. But with pure strength he was able to lob the ball over first base and into the foul territory down the line. Beltran was on his horse and as he picked it up was shocked to see Spezio trying to score all the way from first on the play. He fired a bullet to the plate and once again Spezio was out trying to score.

The Stealers would put two runners on base in the 7th and Singleton quickly brought them home with a triple. He would score one batter later on a Sac Fly. Armas’ day was done, but so were the Tigers. Two shut out innings by Leskasic and a 1-2-3 ninth inning by Smoltz to earn his first save of the season put the final touches on the game.

Final Score: Stealers 5 Tigers 2
WP: Leskasic (2-2)
LP: Armas (2-7)
Save: Smoltz (1)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Singleton 2/3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs

Dewitt would give Castillo a nice lead early thanks to a Gary Glover throwing error leading to 3 runs in the second. Glover has no one but himself to blame for these runs.

The Stealers would get one back in the third thanks to an RBI single from Singleton scoring Beltran. And then cut deficeit to just one run on an Al Martin solo shot later that inning.

In the fourth inning a Beltran single would score Ben Davis to tie the game with two outs. Conine would follow with a bloop to left field. Mis-communication between Beltre and Cameron would lead to a collision. Conine would end up on second and Beltran would score to give the Stealers the lead 4-3. To make matters worse, Beltre really twisted his knew badly and will be gone for the next 5 games.

In the 7th inning the Tigers would put runners on the corners with no one out. A fly ball to Beltran looked like it would tie the game, but didnt they learn last time, you cant beat a laser. Beltran gunned Long down at the plate killing any rally.

Jeff Conine would collect his second RBI on the day in the bottom of the inning giving the Stealers a 5-3 lead.

Sarge went to Leskanic in the 8th, despite having pitched two innings the day before. That decision was a poor one, as Spezio made up for his baserunning gaffes on the day before with a solo shot to cut the lead to just one run.

A hit batsman to lead off the 9th would force Sarge to call upon Smoltz to get another save. He to having worked the day before came in flat. He walked the first batter Sosa. LoDuca came to the plate and Smoltz was able to get the groundball double play.

Now with two outs, he could look at securing his second save on the year. A ground ball to Macias would do it, except he panicked with the speedy Pierre running. He double pumped and Pierre beat the throw, allowing Mora to score and tie the game. There is no quit in these Tigers.

With both pitching staffs taxed this was not the time for an extra inning affair. The Stealers ensured that wouldnt happen. A walk to Macias and an Marlon Anderson double would score him giving the Stealers a walk off victory 6-5. Somehow the Stealers are an unheard of 10-1 in one run games this year. Living dangerously indeed.

WP: Smoltz (3-1)
LP: Levine (2-4)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Anderson game winning walk off hit

Just as in game one Dewitt scores first, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. The Stealers simply have no answer for Milton as he gets Eckstein to pop up and got Zeile swinging. Beltran got on first thanks to a Mike Lansing throwing error.

That error was all the Stealers needed to get things going. They would send 12 more batters to the plate and score 8 times before the Tigers could find that elusive 3rd out.

The hits would just keep on coming. The Stealers would score in every inning, with the exception of the 6th. They would collect 22 hits, five of them being bombs, have six walks, and be assisted by 4 Tiger errors, on their way to scoring 19 runs.

The Tigers would have 14 hits and 8 runs but it was too much of a whole to even think of coming back from.

Final Score Stealers 19 Tigers 8
WP: Adams (6-4)
LP: Milton (6-5)
Big Boy Restaurants’ Big Boy of the Game: Beltran 4/6, 2 runs, 4 RBIs.

The Tigers will look to rebound and see if they can find some consistency.

While Milton looked like a Pitcher of the week early, he clearly demolished that chance in the second game. Beltran had an impressive week for the Stealers in his bid for Player of the week honors.