2004 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1
| NAME | TEAM | AVG | SLG | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | K | W | IW | SB | CS | HBP |
| MATSUI,Hideki | CHI AL | .364 | .955 | 5 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | CLUB | G | W | L | S | ERA | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | IBB | WP | BK | HB | HR |
| JOHNSON,Jason | MVM AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | TEAM | AVG | SLG | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | K | W | IW | SB | CS | HBP |
| BELTRAN,Carlos | FNA NL | .500 | 1.188 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | CLUB | G | W | L | S | ERA | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | IBB | WP | BK | HB | HR |
| LOAIZA,Esteban | LBT NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 8.2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Monroeville Maulers @ Chicago Demolition |
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| Series Preview: | It’s a classic matchup of power pitching versus power hitting as the Chicago Demolition take on the Monroeville Maulers. Chicago enters the series with a pitching staff that can make any lineup uncomfortable, led by veterans Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Jason Schmidt, with Billy Wagner waiting in the bullpen.
But Monroeville has plenty of firepower to answer back. The Maulers can put pressure on Chicago with a lineup featuring Vladimir Guerrero, Alfonso Soriano, Troy Glaus and Jason Varitek, while Kevin Millwood and Dontrelle Willis give Monroeville a strong one-two punch on the mound. The key to this series may come down to which team can dictate the pace. If Chicago’s big-name starters can keep Monroeville’s bats in check, the Demolition have the pitching to control the series. If Guerrero, Soriano and Glaus get rolling, however, Chicago could find itself in a slugfest. This one has all the makings of a hard-fought series where one big inning—or one dominant pitching performance—could make all the difference. |
| Game #1: | In a dominant offensive showing, the Monroeville Maulers defeated the Chicago Demolition 13-3. The Maulers pounded out a massive 14 hits, highlighted by home runs from Doug Mientkiewiciz, Felipe Lopez, Coco Crisp, and Vladimir Guerrero. Chicago tried to rally early with a solo shot from Tony Batista and a late home run by Phil Nevin, but Monroeville’s relentless scoring put the game out of reach. A key highlight of the matchup was several aggressive baserunning plays in which the Maulers successfully executed waves home on extra-base hits, capitalizing on defensive throws to pad their commanding lead.
Final Score: Monroeville 13 – Chicago 3 Win: Dontrelle Willis 1-0 (2.57) |
| Game #2: | The Monroeville Maulers edged the Chicago Demolition 4-2. Chicago struck first with two runs in the third inning, but Monroeville clawed back in the seventh when Alfonso Soriano hit an RBI single, and Jacque Jones launched a go-ahead two-run home run off the foul pole. Coco Crisp added an insurance solo shot in the eighth. Chicago made a crucial defensive play when they threw out a runner attempting to steal third base in the eighth inning, cutting a potential rally short.
Final Score: Monroeville 4 – Chicago 2 Win: Jason Johnson 1-0 (0.00) |
| Game #3: | In an absolute thriller, the Chicago Demolition outlasted the Monroeville Maulers 9-8 in 14 innings. Monroeville built an 8-0 lead by the sixth, fueled by a three-run homer from Vladimir Guerrero. Chicago mounted a furious comeback, highlighted by a dramatic game-tying, two-out, three-run home run by Hideki Matsui in the bottom of the eighth. After a tense, scoreless marathon of extra innings, Chicago finally walked it off in the 14th when Tony Batista singled to drive in Carlos Delgado for the game-winning run.
Final Score: Chicago 9 – Monroeville 8 – 14 Innings Win: Jim Browner 1-0 (3.38) |
| Game #4: | In a tightly contested matchup, the Chicago Demolition edged the Monroeville Maulers 6-5. Chicago struck first with a two-run home run from Hideki Matsui in the first inning, though Monroeville responded with a pair of long balls from Jacque Jones and key RBI hits to build a 5-2 lead. The Demolition battled back, tying the game in the fourth before Tony Batista drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the seventh. Billy Wagner shut the door in the ninth to secure the win, surviving a tense moment when a potential tying baserunner reached.
Final Score: Chicago 6 – Monroeville 5 Win: Julian Tavarez 1-0 (3.38) |
| Game #5: | In an exciting matchup, the Chicago Demolition defeated the Monroeville Maulers 7-5. Chicago jumped ahead early behind solo home runs from Bobby Hill and Tony Batista, followed by Hideki Matsui‘s two-run blast in the fifth. Monroeville battled back to tie the game in the eighth, but Phil Nevin delivered the decisive blow for Chicago in the bottom of the inning with a two-run double. A crucial defensive play came early when Chicago catcher Gerald Laird threw out a runner attempting to steal second base in the first inning, halting a potential Monroeville rally.
Final Score: Chicago 7 – Monroeville 5 Win: Julian Tavarez 2-0 (3.86) |
| Series Summary: | The Chicago Demolition and Monroeville Maulers delivered an absolute thriller of a series characterized by massive momentum swings, clutch late-inning heroics, and explosive offensive displays. Monroeville flexed its muscle early, highlighted by a dominant blowout powered by Vladimir Guerrero and an array of long balls. However, Chicago showed incredible resilience, staging a breathtaking 14-inning walk-off triumph capped by Hideki Matsui‘s dramatic game-tying blast and Tony Batista‘s clutch hitting. While the Maulers’ relentless bats consistently pressured opposing pitching, the Demolition ultimately turned the tide in the trenches, leaning on crucial late doubles, lockdown bullpen performances, and vital defensive stops to capture a hard-fought, edge-of-your-seat series victory. |
California Quakes @ Fort Worth Panthers |
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| Series Preview: |
It’s a new season, and It’s baseball time in Texas! https://www.youtube.com/ Going into the 2004 season, a few Panthers have a chance for career milestones. Kevin Brown needs 105 strikeouts for 2000 career strikeouts. Fred McGriff needs 53 hits for 2500 career hits “Pudge” Ivan Rodriguez needs 131 hits for 2000 career hits, 10 doubles for 400 career doubles Edgar Martinez needs 67 hits for 2000 career hits B.J. Surhoff needs 96 hits for 2000 career hits, 4 doubles for 400 career doubles |
| Game #1: | PANTHERS OPEN SEASON WITH 6-2 WIN OVER QUAKES FORT WORTH, TX — The Fort Worth Panthers kicked off Opening Day in style on 66 WAPBA, defeating the California Quakes 6-2 to take an early 1-0 lead in their five-game series. Key Highlights • The Decisive Blow: Clinging to a tight 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded, veteran pinch-hitter Fred McGriff ripped a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to break the game open.• On the Mound: Panthers starter Jake Westbrook earned the win, tossing 7 strong innings and allowing just 2 unearned runs with 6 strikeouts.• Quakes Battle: California tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth behind a two-run single from Miguel Olivo, but three defensive errors ultimately hurt their comeback bid.Final Score: Fort Worth Panthers 6, California Quakes 2. |
| Game #2: | PANTHERS BLANK QUAKES 7-0 TO EXTEND SERIES LEAD FORT WORTH, TX — Behind a dominant three-hit shutout and a 13-hit offensive explosion, the Fort Worth Panthers defeated the California Quakes 7-0 on WAPBA to take a 2-0 series lead.Key Highlights • Pitching Gem: Panthers starter Rodrigo Lopez earned the win, tossing 6 stellar shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 6. Luis Ayala and Mike Jackson finished off the three-hit blank.• Early Momentum: Fort Worth manufactured runs early, including an RBI single from Ivan Rodriguez in the first and an RBI knock from B.J. Surhoff in the second to build an early 2-0 cushion.• Putting It Away: The Panthers broke the game wide open with a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Aaron Miles and Rodriguez, before cruising to the 7-0 final.Final Score: Fort Worth Panthers 7, California Quakes 0. |
| Game #3: | PANTHERS HOLD OFF QUAKES 6-5 TO TAKE 3-0 SERIES LEAD FORT WORTH, TX — Gary Sheffield belted a clutch go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting the Fort Worth Panthers to a narrow 6-5 victory over the California Quakes on 66 WAPBA to push their series lead to 3-0.Key Highlights • The Decisive Blow: With the game locked at 5-5 in the seventh, Sheffield launched a deep solo shot to left field for his first home run of the season, breaking the tie and giving Fort Worth the permanent lead.• Back-and-Forth Battle: The Panthers built an early 5-1 lead behind a three-run double from Sean Casey in the second inning. However, California roared back in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run homer from Matt Holliday, before eventually tying it 5-5 in the fifth.• Lockdown Bullpen: After Bronson Arroyo earned the win with 5 strikeouts over 7 innings, the Fort Worth bullpen slammed the door. Shingo Takatsu pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save of the season.Final Score: Fort Worth Panthers 6, California Quakes 5 |
| Game #4: | PANTHERS DOMINATE QUAKES 8-3 TO PUSH SERIES LEAD TO 4-0 FORT WORTH, TX — Fred McGriff belted a three-run home run, and Sean Casey added a solo shot as the Fort Worth Panthers rolled to an 8-3 victory over the California Quakes on WAPBA, securing their fourth straight win to open the season.Key Highlights • First-Inning Explosion: The Panthers jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-run single from Ivan Rodriguez, an RBI knock from Rich Aurilia, and McGriff’s towering three-run blast.• Pitching Performance: Panthers starter Kevin Brown earned his first win of the season, tossing 6 strong innings and allowing just 1 unearned run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts.• Quakes’ Late Push: California tried to battle back in the seventh when Luis Castillo lined a two-run triple to cut the deficit to 8-3, but Fort Worth’s bullpen slammed the door to preserve the comfortable win.Final Score: Fort Worth Panthers 8, California Quakes 3. |
| Game #5: | PANTHERS COMPLETE 5-GAME SWEEP WITH 5-2 WIN OVER QUAKES FORT WORTH, TX — Gary Sheffield, Jose Guillen, and Jolbert Cabrera all launched home runs as the Fort Worth Panthers defeated the California Quakes 5-2 on WAPBA, completing a dominant five-game series sweep to open the season.Key Highlights • Power Surge: Fort Worth set the tone early in the first inning with back-to-back homers from Sheffield and Guillen. Cabrera added a two-run shot in the sixth to secure the victory.• Pitching Masterclass: Panthers starter C.C. Sabathia earned his first win of the season, holding the Quakes to just 2 runs on 5 hits over 6 solid innings with 4 strikeouts. Shingo Takatsu shut the door in the ninth to pick up his second save.• Series Sweep: With the win, the Panthers improve to a perfect 5-0 to start the year, while the winless Quakes drop to 0-5.Final Score: Fort Worth Panthers 5, California Quakes 2. |
| Series Summary: | Ft. Worth sweeps California. |
Yucaipa Badgers @ Southlake Stealers |
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| Series Preview: | Two playoff teams from a year ago. The Badgers have reloaded and look to dethrone Chicago, while Southlake missed their window last year and is now in rebuild mode. |
| Game #1: | The Yucaipa Badgers opened the 2004 season with a strong pitching performance Tuesday night, defeating the Southlake Stealers 4-1 in the opener of a five-game series. Carlos Zambrano, an early season Cy Young candidate prove why as he scattered four hits over eight innings and allowed just one run while earning the victory, while Eric Gagne struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to record the save. Yucaipa collected nine hits and never trailed after taking the lead in the second inning. Yucaipa struck first in the top of the second when Marquis Grissom singled with two outs and raced home on Todd Helton‘s RBI double to right-center field. The Badgers added another run in the fifth as Julio Franco and Ben Davis delivered consecutive two-out singles before Barry Larkin lined a run-scoring hit to right, extending the lead to 2-0. Southlake answered in the bottom half of the inning when Chad Tracy launched a solo home run, the Stealers’ only run of the night, cutting the deficit to one. Josh Beckett was sharp despite taking the loss for Southlake, striking out nine over six innings. However, the Stealers struggled to capitalize on several early opportunities, leaving runners stranded in the first, second, and third innings. Southlake’s hopes were further dampened in the opening frame when Ichiro Suzuki was hit by a pitch and forced to leave the game, with Rondell White entering as his replacement. Zambrano settled in after the early threats and retired 13 of the final 15 batters he faced. The Badgers added insurance in the sixth when Grissom delivered an RBI single to score Randy Winn, then tacked on another run in the ninth as Davis singled home Grissom after three straight Yucaipa hits opened the inning. Grissom led the Badgers’ offense with a 3-for-4 night, scoring twice and driving in a run, while Helton added two hits, including the key RBI double. Tracy accounted for half of Southlake’s four hits with a 2-for-4 performance highlighted by his solo homer. The victory gives Yucaipa a 1-0 record and sole possession of first place, while Southlake falls to 0-1.Final Score 4-1 Yuc WP: Zambrano (1-0) LP: Beckett (0-1) |
| Game #2: | One night after being held to four hits in the season opener, the Southlake Stealers answered with a strong all-around performance Wednesday night, evening their series with a 4-1 victory over the Yucaipa Badgers. Behind a dominant outing from Mark Prior and a game-changing home run from Chad Tracy, the Stealers improved to 1-1 while handing the Badgers their first loss of the season. The game turned in the bottom of the third inning. After Carl Everett worked a leadoff walk and Shane Spencer followed with Southlake’s first hit, Tracy stepped to the plate and unloaded on a Kerry Wood offering, launching a three-run homer deep into right field. The blast, Tracy’s second home run in as many games, gave the Stealers a 3-0 lead and energized the Southlake crowd. The Stealers added another run later in the inning when Ichiro Suzuki scored on a Todd Walker throwing error, stretching the advantage to 4-0. That was more than enough support for Prior, who repeatedly pitched out of trouble while striking out nine over seven innings. The Badgers collected eight hits against the Southlake ace and loaded the bases in the third inning, but Prior escaped with back-to-back outs and kept Yucaipa off the scoreboard. The visitors stranded 13 runners on the night and failed to capitalize on several scoring opportunities, including runners at second and third in the fifth inning and multiple threats in the late innings. Yucaipa finally broke through in the seventh when Bill Mueller tripled and scored on Larry Walker‘s sacrifice fly, but the rally ended there. Southlake’s bullpen handled the rest, with Mike Koplove working the eighth before John Smoltz struck out two in a perfect ninth to earn the save. Tracy finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Everett and Spencer added three and two hits, respectively, in an 11-hit attack. For the Badgers, Julio Franco collected three hits and Mueller added three more, but Southlake’s pitching staff proved too tough when it mattered most as the Stealers secured a 4-1 victory and evened the series at one game apiece.Final: Southlake 4-1 WP: Prior (1-0) LP: Wood (0-1) |
| Game #3: | The Southlake Stealers won their second straight game over the Yucaipa Badgers, edging out a 2-1 victory in a tightly contested pitchers’ duel to take a 2-1 lead in the five-game series. Yucaipa struck first in the third inning when Randy Winn delivered a sacrifice fly to score Sandy Martinez, giving the Badgers a 1-0 advantage. Southlake answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Marlon Anderson singled and later scored on a two-out RBI double by Chad Tracy, tying the game at 1-1. Tracy continued his hot start to the season, delivering yet another key hit for the Stealers offense. The decisive run came in the sixth inning. After Shane Spencer reached base and advanced into scoring position, Ichiro Suzuki drew a walk to set the table for Nomar Garciaparra. The Southlake shortstop lined a single into right field, bringing home Spencer and giving the Stealers a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. On the mound, Scott Elarton was outstanding, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings to earn his first victory of the season. Randy Flores retired all three hitters he faced in the eighth before John Smoltz worked a tense ninth inning for his league-leading second save. Southlake managed only six hits, but timely contributions from Tracy, Garciaparra, and Anderson were enough to secure the 2-1 win and move the Stealers into sole possession of first placeFinal 2-1 Southlake WP: Elarton (1-0) LP: Wright (0-1) |
| Game #4: | Hall of Fame Candidate looks to be just the 19th player in MWWL history to reach the 200-Win Club as he enters the game with 197 of them already. His quest for 200 will have to wait a bit as The Southlake Stealers erupted for 11 runs on 16 hits Friday night and rolled to an 11-4 victory over the Yucaipa Badgers, securing their third consecutive win and a commanding 3-1 lead in the five-game series. Yucaipa struck first on a sacrifice fly by Larry Walker, but Southlake answered immediately in the bottom of the first when Hank Blalock launched a three-run homer to right field, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 advantage. The Badgers battled back in the second inning, cutting the lead to 3-2 on an RBI single from Sandy Martinez. However, the game turned decisively in the third when Southlake exploded for seven runs. An RBI walk by Shane Spencer, a two-run single from Chad Tracy, and a three-run home run by Ichiro Suzuki highlighted the rally, as the Stealers sent 12 men to the plate and built a commanding 10-2 lead. Southlake’s offense was relentless throughout the night. Nomar Garciaparra led the attack with a 4-for-5 performance and scored twice, while Blalock drove in four runs and Suzuki added three RBIs. Tracy chipped in two hits and two RBIs, and seven different Stealers recorded at least one hit as the club consistently pressured Yucaipa pitching. Although the Badgers collected 12 hits of their own, including three from Todd Walker and a home run by Todd Helton, they could not keep pace after Southlake’s third-inning outburst. The Stealers bullpen combined to hold Yucaipa scoreless over the final five innings, while Gary Majewski earned the victory in relief. The 11-4 win improved Southlake to 3-1 on the season and secured the series win.Final Southlake 11-4 WP: Majewski (1-0) LP: Mussina (0-1) |
| Game #5: | The Yucaipa Badgers salvaged the final game of the series Saturday night, pounding out 16 hits on their way to a convincing 13-4 victory over the Southlake Stealers. Despite the loss, Southlake claimed the five-game series three games to two after winning the first three contests. Yucaipa struck first in the second inning when Julio Franco delivered a two-run double off the center field wall, scoring Marquis Grissom and Todd Helton for a 2-0 lead. The Badgers added two more runs in the fourth, highlighted by Grissom’s solo home run and an RBI groundout by Ben Davis, building a 4-0 advantage before Southlake finally answered. The Stealers showed signs of life in the fourth inning when Carl Everett lined a two-run double into the gap, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Southlake added two more runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Chris Burke and a run-scoring groundout from Ichiro Suzuki. However, every time the Stealers threatened, the Badgers had an answer. Southlake collected 13 hits, including three from Shane Spencer and two apiece from Everett, Rondell White, and Matt LeCroy, but stranded opportunities throughout the night. The decisive blow came in the fifth inning when Yucaipa erupted for five runs. Larry Walker cleared the bases with a three-run double, Marquis Grissom drove in another run, and Franco added an RBI triple as the Badgers stretched the lead to 9-2. Grissom finished a stellar night 4-for-5 with five runs scored, while Helton went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Franco collected three extra-base hits and three RBIs. Behind six solid innings from winning pitcher Jarrod Washburn, the Badgers cruised to the 13-4 victory.Final: Badgers 13-4 WP: Washburn (1-0) LP: Hennessey (0-1) |
| Series Summary: | Stealers take Series 3 games to 2. Zambrano showed why he will be a Cy Young Candidate this year. Franco was solid at the plate throughout, but the offense belonged to Chad Tracey playing his first games for Southlake. He batted .438 for the week, with a 1.375 OPS, 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. |
Dondero Oaks @ Castle Rock Hounds |
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| Series Preview: | Hope springs eternal in Castle Rock as the Hounds try to put a winning team on the field for the 8th straight season. The staff is optimistic that we might even make it out of a Division series this year. Time will tell. Dondero has some top-notch starting pitching and decent bats with Thomas, Roberts, and Sanders. But will it be enough to contend in the AL West? |
| Game #1: | Dondero sends its ace, Johan Santana, to the mound to face another stud in Chris Carpenter. It’s a back-and-forth affair, but the Hounds take a 3-2 lead into the top of the 9th and send their 25-year-old reliever, Armando Benitez, to finish it out. Unfortunately for the home fans, Armando gives up a lead-off double to Feliz, throws the ball away on the Valentin bunt attempt, and the game is tied with a runner on 2nd. Dondero hits into an out, but Izturis delivers another double off of Benitez to give Dondero the 4-3 lead. Rivera comes on to close it out and gets out of a jam, giving Dondero the 4-3 Opening Day victory.
WP: Santana (1-0) |
| Game #2: | The Oaks pound Doug Davis for 7 runs in 3.1 IP. Feliz hits a 3-run homer, and Izturis has 3 hits. Tomko pitches nicely, going 8 innings and allowing 8 hits and 1 run. Hounds outhit the Oaks 11-10 but left 10 men on base, and Dondero takes it 7-3. Castle Rock threatened by getting the tying run into the on-deck circle in the bottom of the 9th, but Mariano came on to save it.
WP: Tomko (1-0) |
| Game #3: | After dropping the first two, Castle Rock finally breaks through and picks up their first victory of the season. It wasn’t easy, as Dondero jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Andy Pettitte figured things out, and Bonds hit his first homer of the year to give Castle Rock a 5-2 victory.
WP: Pettitte (1-0) |
| Game #4: | Castle Rock comes back to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th, scoring three runs off Rivera, highlighted by a bases-loaded double from Casey Blake. Rivera gets out of it by intentionally walking Bonds and striking out Sweeney to end the rally. In the top of the 10th, Benitez gives up a leadoff homer to Reggie Sanders, and Miceli gets the Hounds to go down easily in the bottom of the 10th to give Dondero a 7-6 victory. Tough start to the year for Benitez, who is supposed to be our ace reliever. He has two of the first three losses of the season.
WP: Miceli (1-0) |
| Game #5: | The Hounds, mostly dormant for the series, arrived all at once, scoring 8 runs in the first inning to take an 8-1 lead. Bonds and Torrealba (grand slam) both go deep. Castle Rock racks up 15 hits and 13 runs, with Bonds going deep twice and Rogers and Lohse combining to silence the Oaks bats. Castle Rock wins 13-1.
WP: Rogers (1-0) |
| Series Summary: | Despite outscoring Dondero by 9 runs across the five games, Castle Rock can only take 2 out of 5 from the visiting Oaks. Bonds starts strong, going 9/21 with 3 homers. |
Corktown Bootleggers @ Iowa Giants |
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| Series Preview: | Iowa has been, unfortunately, picked last in the American League East; Corktown is a contender in that division. |
| Game #1: | Game one saw a great pitching duel. Freddie Garcia went 7 innings, shutting it down and allowing 6 hits; Dotel pitched 2 innings in relief for the save. Endy Chavez went 3-for-4, and Brad Asmus drove in 2 runs. Aaron Cook took the loss in 7 innings, giving up only 1 ER; final 2-1 |
| Game #2: | The Bootleggers won again in Game #2. Endy Chavez‘s 3-run shot in the 3rd inning gave enough, as Steve Tracshsel went 7 innings, allowing only 1 run. Jason Werth hit Iowa’s first homer of the season. Final: CBL 5 IOW-2 |
| Game #3: | Giants win this game 2-0. Victor Santos went 7.2 innings; Iowa allowed no runs, which was the highlight. Overbay and Infante each drove in a run. Jon Garland takes the loss, though he goes 7 innings and allows only 1 run. |
| Game #4: | Giants take game 4 7-1 Gerut Infante and Devanon each homer and Kirk Reuter complete game 6 hits 1 er. IOW 7 CBL 1 |
| Game #5: | CBL beat Iowa 5-4, with Iowa scoring 2 in the ninth to keep it close. Darin Estad, the star, went 4-for-5 with 3 doubles, a home run, and 2 RBIs; Jason Gambi also hit a home run with 3 RBIs; and Wilson Alvarez got the win. |
| Series Summary: | A very close series. Bootleggers take the series 3-2. Iowa had one outstanding pitching performance from Kirk Reuter, a complete game giving up one run; Corktown Freddy vGarcia, 7 innings, no run; Steve Traschel, 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 ER; and Jon Garland, 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 ER |
Manhattan Gas Hornets @ Flora-Bama Mullets |
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| Series Preview: | Opening day in Pensacola as Flora-Bama welcomes division rival Manhattan. |
| Game #1: | Beltran hit two run homers in his first two at bats as a Mullet. He then hit a 3rd two run homer in his 4th at bat. Bell and Martinez helped the Hornets rally in the late innings with homers, but it was a little to late. Flora-Bama 8-5 |
| Game #2: | Berkman rbi triple and Bagwell rbi double gave Mullets a brief 2-0 lead. Jeter launched a two run homer off Schilling to tie it in 3rd. Then things got ugly for the Hornets as Flora-Bama scored six in the 3rd and three more in the 4th. Kent and Kennedy each went deep. Flora-Bama 11-4 |
| Game #3: | Lopez rbi double in 1st. Martinez three rbi triple with two outs in the 5th. Huff drove in two with a single and Lopez knocked him home to put the Mullets back on top. Berkman added a rbi double in 7th. Wright turned it over to the pen in the 8th and Mahay picked up the save. Flora-Bama 5-3 |
| Game #4: | Bagwell hit a lead off homer. Berkman added a rbi single in the 2nd. Hornets broke through for three runs on four hits in the 4th. Rowand solo tied it. Conine rbi single gave Manhattan a 4-3 lead. Mullets loaded the bases in the 6th and Kennedy’s pinch hit single drove in two. Berkman added a solo. Wolf went 8 innings for the win. Flora-Bama 7-5 |
| Game #5: | Jeter’s three run homer capped a five run 2nd for Manhattan. Flora-Bama rallied back to make a one run game in the bottom of the 2nd. Hornets used two hit batters to work for a run in the 4th. Berkman two run homer tied it in 4th. An error extended the 5th and Kendall singled in a run to make 7-6 Hornets. Eldred retaliated for the earlier HBs and was ejected in 6th. It proved costly as Beltran then tripled in two runs to put the Mullets in the lead at 8-7. Calero pitched 3.2 innings in relief for the win. Flora-Bama 8-7 |
| Series Summary: | Flora-Bama completed a rare five game sweep of Manhattan. The Mullet’s starting pitching wasn’t very impressive, but the offense was on fire with a .352 AVG and a 1.022 OPS. Berkman and Beltran each hit .500+ with three homers a piece. |
Michigan Marauders @ Gladstone Gladiators |
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| Series Preview: | The Gladstone Gladiators start their season at home. Expectations are extremely low, as management has committed to a thorough rebuild this season and most likely next, hoping to field a highly competitive team in 2006 and beyond. They square off for a 5-game series against the Michigan Marauders. |
| Game #1: | Gladstone hands the home opener start to the ace of the staff, Zack Greinke, who faces off against Ben Sheets for Michigan. He responds by cruising through the first 3 innings, only yielding a baserunner to an error. Meanwhile, the Gladiators notch a run in the 1st and 2 in the 2nd for a 3-0 lead. In the 4th, Travis Hafner gets the Marauders’ first hit with a solo homer. Things remain under control until the 7th, when Greinke walks Vinny Castilla and then yields another bomb, this time to Corey Patterson. In the 8th, Rafael Betancourt took over for Greinke and proceeded to yield 2 runs on 3 hits. That would do it for the scoring, as Greinke gets a no-decision, Betancourt picks up the loss, while Sheets gets his first win of the young season and Ricky Bottalico gets the save. FINAL SCORE: MIC 5 – GLA 3 |
| Game #2: | The Gladiators send Russ Ortiz to the hill against Livan Hernandez for Michigan. The first inning saw both teams trading homers, with Jim Edmonds giving the Marauders the early lead and Ben Grieve knotting it up. In the 3rd, Nick Johnson led off with a double and later scored when Jim Edmonds reached on an error, and then took second on the throw to the plate. Edmonds later scored on Vinny Castilla‘s single to make it 3-1, Marauders. Michigan then scored a run in the 7th, 3 in the 8th, and 2 in the 9th to put the game out of reach. The Gladiators gamely tried to come back, but a 4 run bottom of the 9th wasn’t enough. Hernandez got the win and Ortiz the loss. FINAL SCORE: MIC 9 – GLA 5 |
| Game #3: | Javier Vazquez squares off against Brad Radke, and Michigan picks up the first run of the game in the 2nd on singles by Castilla, Ledee, and Boone. That would be it until the top of the 6th, when the Marauders scored a pair and tacked on another in the 7th, all charged to Vazquez. Jorge de la Rosa came in to mop up in the 8th and Francisco Rodriguez in the 9th. Radke went the distance for the win, while Vazquez got the loss. FINAL SCORE: MIC 4 – GLA 0 |
| Game #4: | Still looking for their first win, Gladstone sends out Scott Schoenweiss to face Matt Clement. The Marauders shelled Schoenweiss for 7 runs over 3 innings, sending him to the showers in the top of the 4th before he could record an out. Ryan Vogelsong came in for the mop-up, with the Gladiators behind 7-2, putting in 4 strong innings before handing off to Grant Balfour in the 8th. Rafael Betancourt took the mound in the 9th with the score 7-2 and held the line. In the bottom of the 9th, the Gladiators scored 4 runs, but the rally fell just short. Schoenweiss was saddled with the loss, Clement got the win, and Bottalico picked up his 2nd save of the season. FINAL SCORE: MIC 7 – GLA 6 |
| Game #5: | STILL looking for a win, Gladstone sends out Jason Grilli to face Brad Penny. Michigan notches runs in the 2nd and 3rd, while Gladstone picks one up in the 4th. The Marauders extend the lead in the 6th, and the Gladiators counter with one in the 7th. Grilli gives way to Jorge de la Rosa in the 8th and holds Michigan scoreless. In the bottom of the inning, Corey Koskie hits his first homer of the season to tie the score, then Palmeiro walks and scores on Maicer Izturis‘ double, giving Gladstone their first lead of the game. Betancourt comes in to finish the 9th, holding the Marauders scoreless to pick up the save, while de la Rosa gets the Gladiators’ first win of the season. Tim Worrell gets a blown save and the loss. FINAL SCORE: GLA 4 – MIC 3 |
| Series Summary: | As expected, Gladstone lost the opening series of this rebuilding year, but salvaged some dignity with a win in the finale. Michigan takes the series, 4 games to 1. |
Baltimore Blue Crabs @ Hampton Huskies |
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| Game #1: | Hudson was near-perfect for seven innings in an easy 6-0 win for Baltimore. |
| Game #2: | Barajas sacrifice fly in the 10th gave Hampton a lame 5-4 extra-inning win. |
| Game #3: | Hampton got another extra-inning win, this time thanks to a walk-off three-run shot by Ramirez in a 5-2 game. |
| Game #4: | Ramirez homered again for Hampton as they hung on to win 6-4. |
| Game #5: | Last game was like the first, with fricking Myers going the distance for Baltimore in a 6-1 win. |
| Series Summary: | Baltimore got some solid pitching where it wasn’t expected and completely dominated Hampton in two games, while Hampton squeaked out wins in the other three (two of them in extra innings). |
Long Beach Titans @ Blarney Drive Bandits |
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| Series Summary: | Blarney takes 4 of 5 losing the finale in a 2-1 nail-biter. |
Houghton Penguins @ DeWitt Tigers |
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| Series Preview: | Dewitt welcomes Division Rival Houghton to town to open the season. |
| Game #1: | Dewitt opens the season with 7-2 win. Sosa with a homer and 4 RBI to lead the way.
W: Maddux |
| Game #2: | Houghton takes game 2 9-3 after jumping out to a 4-0 lead after their 1st abs.
W Benoit |
| Game #3: | DeWitt scores single runs in the 2nd and 6th. Daniel Cabrera goes 7 of shut out ball.
W Cabrera |
| Game #4: | Houghton scores 5 in the 7th to come from behind to take the lead from Dewitt to win 9-5.
W Silva |
| Game #5: | Dewitt scores 8 in the first. Houghton offense comes alive scoring 9 of their 10 runs in the 5th inning or later to win 10-8
W Adams |
| Series Summary: | Houghton takes a very entertaining series winning 3 of 5. For the homestanding Tigers word began circulating the club house that changes were a coming in the bull pen. Dewitt will see how everything shakes out before the next series. |
Brooklyn Cyclones @ Hollywood Vampires |
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| Series Summary: | Welcome to the league Brooklyn. Hollywood sweeps Brooklyn. |
Danbury Mad Hatters @ Valdosta Bombers |
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| Series Summary: | The Bombers open the season in fine fashion, taking 4 of 5 from the Mad Hatters. |