PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #14

·         Michigan Marauders @ Sugar Land Skeeters

Series Summary *

SLS takes four of seven from MIC

·         Fort Worth Panthers @ Stockton Wings

Series Summary *

FWP takes four of seven from STO

·         Old Mill Legends @ Detroit Stars

Series Summary *

Detroit takes 5 of 7 from Old Mill

·         Valdosta Bombers @ Manhattan Gas Hornets

Series Preview

Valdosta Bombers (42-35, 3rd NLE, 11 GB) vs Manhattan Gas Hornets (53-13, 1st NLE, – GB) Manhattan holds the season series edge 9-5.

Game #1:

Charlie Hough (W 8-6) holds off the Gas Hornets (at least until the 8th) and Valdosta takes the opener 5-4. Redus a 2 run bomb (3) and Barrett’s 2 run double help Bombers to 5-0 lead through 6 1/2. Gas Hornets rally including a Davis HR (14), but leave the tying run on in the 9th. Quissenberry gets his first save. Key (12-3) takes the loss.

Game #2:

Gas Hornets bounce back in game 2 behind the 4 hit CG shutout pitching of Doyle Alexander (6-2) and Durham 3 run HR (8) and Dawson’s 2 blasts (20, 21) and 5 rbis. Final 9-0. Candiotti (4-5) the loss.

Game #3:

Jim Clancy (6-4) keeps the scoreless streak going as he blanks Valdosta 3-0. Yount 3 hits for the offense, LaCoss (5-4) gets the loss.

Game #4:

Valdosta finally ends their no scoring streak with a 5 run 4th (including grand slam blast by Clark (9)). That gave them a 5-2 lead, but it evaporated when Manhattan plated 2 in the 6th, 1 in the 7th and 2 more in the 8th. A Durham PH HR (9) in the 7th tied the game. Jody Davis went 3 for 4 with 3 rbis and HR (15). Buice (6-2) won in relief, Franco (3-7) took the loss.

Game #5:

Jimmy Key (13-3) got back in the W column giving up 1 run in 6 innings as Manhattan cruises to 8-2 victory (17 hit attack). Yount (7), Moreland (4) and Dawson (22) homerd. Yount started the game with HR, then a triple, but couldn’t get a hit after that. Forsch (6-5) took the loss. Clark (10) sent one over the wall in the losing effort.

Game #6:

Charlie Hough (9-6) gets the nod again, and again masters the Gas Hornets and again the score is 5-4, and again, the tying run is left on base in the 9th!! Valdosta the winner of another nail biter. Walker (2 for 4, 3 rbis, double and HR (5)) and Dale Sveum (3 for 4, double and 2 HRs (13, 14) and 2 rbis) are the offense. Leach – not expecting to start – takes the loss (4-2).

Game #7:

Another shutout – this time by Tom Candiotti (5-5), a 2 hitter as Valdosta wins the finale and their 2nd game in a row. Alexander pitched well – 5 hits in 8 innings, but Van Slyke rbi triple and Clark’s rbi single were just enough offense to support the superlative Candiotti floating pitches.

Series Summary *

Really good series – 3 shutouts, some big offensive games for guys on both teams – some serious nail biters. Manhattan takes the series 4 games to 3 over the Valdosta Bombers.

·         California Quakes @ East Pointe Marlins

Series Preview

California comes to Eastpointe for a 5 game series.

Game #1:

Nolan Ryan vs Tommy John
Murphy goes 3-6 with a hr and 2 rbi’s for Cali.
Quakes win 7-4

Game #2:

Quakes win 12-6
Murphy goes 2-5 with a he and 4 rbi’s for the Quakes
Dwight Evans goes 2-5 with 3 rbi’s and a Hr for the Marlins

Game #3:

Welch pitches a complete game giving up only one run for the Marlins.
Stieb gets the loss for Cali.
Sheets has 2 rbi’s for Eastpointe.
Marlins win 4-1

Game #4:

George Brett hits 2 bombs for Cali.
Reuschell gets the win in a rained out game ending in the 8th
Quakes win 8-1

Game #5:

Marlins win in the 10th inning
Mitch “wild thing” Williams gets the W
Dwight Evans goes 2-5 with a solo shot.
Bonilla goes 2-3 with 2 rbi’s and a HR.
Eastpointe wins 4-3

Series Summary *

The Quakes come to Eastpointe and takes the series 3-2 from the Marlins with some solid pitching.

·         Clovis Cougars @ Missouri Black Bears

Series Preview

Clovis Cougars vs. Missouri Black Bears

Game #1:

Missouri 6, Clovis 1
McDowell 2 hits, HR, RS, 4 RBI
Sierra 3 hits, RS, RBI
Santiago 2 hits, 2 RS
Morris 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Game #2:

Clovis 7, Missouri 5
Stanicek 2 hits, 2 RS, 3 RBI
Howell 2-run HR
Sutcliffe 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
McDowell 2 hits, 2B, BB, 3 RS in the loss

Game #3:

Missouri 12, Clovis 4
Pendleton 2 hits, 2B, HR, 2 RS, 3 RBI
Sierra 2 hits, 3B, 2 RS, RBI
Greenwell 2 hits, 2 RS, RBI
Galarraga 2 hits, 2B, 2 RS, 2 RBI

Game #4:

Clovis 2, Missouri 0
Henderson solo HR
Murray 2 hits, 2B, RS
Harris CG, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Game #5:

Clovis 2, Missouri 0
Gantner 2 hits, HR, 2 RS, RBI
Murray H, RBI
Lamp CG, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K

Series Summary *

Cougars take 3 of 5 from the Black Bears.

·         Steel City Sluggers @ Long Beach Titans

Series Summary *

After Long Beach won the first 3 games, Steel City came back to take the next 4 and win the series.

·         Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Cedar Park Bears

Series Preview

An American League West match up with the 1st place Mexico City Chihuahuas visiting the last place Cedar Park Bears. MC has won 8 of their last 10, the Bears have won 2 of their last 10.

Game #1:

A prevalent during the series was the Bears taking an early lead only to see Mexico City come from behind to win.
MC trailed 4-0 after 6, but rallied for 4 in the 7th to tie it. The game eventually went into xtra innings tied at 5. Utility C, Bill Schroeder hit the 1st of 2 HRs off Wally Ritchie in the 11th, but CP tied it up again. However, in the 12th MC scored 4, including Schroeder’s 2d HR of the game.
Final: Mexico City 10 Cedar Park 6 (12)

Game #2:

Cedar Park took a 3-2 lead after 6 on Rick Schu‘s 1st HR of the year, a 2-run shot. MC comes from behind again with 2 in the 10th. Howard Johnson led the way with his 17th HR and 3 RBIs.
Final: MCH 5 CPB 3 (10)

Game #3:

A 4 run 8th led to another come from behind win for MC. Barry Bonds led the way with his 13th HR and 4 RBIs. Kirby Puckett hit 2 HRs (12) and knocked in 3 for CP but their bullpen folded again.
Final: MCH 7 CPB 5

Game #4:

Game 4 was a blow out from the start. Billy Schroeder smacked another HR and drove in 4 runs, Howard Johnson 3 RBIs and his 18th HR.
Final: MCH 9 CPB 1

Game #5:

With the game tied at 1 apiece in the bottom of the 6th, the Bears rallied for 4 runs, hoping to win their 1st game of the series. The 5-1 lead did not last long. Led by Barry Bonds, HR(14) and 3 RBIs, Randy Ready triple and 3 RBIs the visitors scored 7 in the 7th and 2 more in the 8th to nail it down. Aldrete (5) added his 5th HR.
Final: MCH 10 CPB 5

Game #6:

A balanced efficient batting order produced 11 hits and 11 runs, 4 players had 2 RBIs with Larry Herndon (5) going yard. MC had a 5-3 lead into the 9th, then scored 6 in the 9th.
Final: MCH 11 CPB 4

Game #7:

CP did not have any trouble with Doc Gooden in either of his 2 starts and the Bears finally came away with a win in the final game. Mike Boddicker scattered 8 hits over 9 Innings allowing just one run. Both Dan Pasqua (9) and Mike Pagliarulo (13) hit 2-run HRs to support Boddicker.
Final: CPB 7 MCH 1

Series Summary *

Mexico City wins 6 of 7 and continue hot (14 of 17) in their bid for a AL West crown.

·         Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Germantown Grays

Series Summary *

No News out of Germantown

·         Montana Cutthroats @ Chicago Demolition

Series Preview

The Chicago Demolition visit the Montana Cutthroats in an East Division battle of 1st vs. 5th. The two teams are heading in opposite directions. Chicago is winners of 10 straight while Montana has lost 16 in a row. Montana has not done well with home cooking as they are 8-30 on the year.

Game #1:

Dave Collins breaks open a 0-0 game with a 2-run double in the 4th inning giving Chicago a 2-0 lead. However, Montana comes right back as Alex Trevino clobbers a 3-run HR in the bottom half of the 4th. The game remains that way until the 8th when Collins comes up big again for Chicago with a 2-out RBI single to tie the game. Extra Innings we go and Montana ends the losing streak as Trevino gets his 4th RBI of the game by singling home Carmen Castillo for the winner. FINAL – MCT 4 CHI 3

Game #2:

Chicago gets on the board first as Greg Gross singles home Von Hayes for a 1-0 lead in the 2nd. A Jim Presley throwing error helps create two more for Chicago and opens the flood gates. Chicago gets a Tony Phillips 2-run double and RBI single by Gross to blow inning up to a 5 spot and 6-0 Chicago lead after 3 innings. Montana gets to Orel Hershiser in the 4th on a 2-run HR by Carmen Castillo. A Rich Gedman RBI single sends Hershiser to showers and makes it 6-3 Chicago after 7. That ends being all of the scoring. Chicago holds on to 6-3 win with 5 unearned runs scored. FINAL – CHI 6 MCT 3

Game #3:

Ken Phelps doubles home Bill Doran in the 1st to give Chicago 1-0 lead. Carmen Castillo ties it 1-1 with solo HR in the 3rd. Rich Gedman then gives Montana the lead in the 4th with a RBI double. The lead is short lived as Doran scores on a single and 3-base error to tie it in 5th. The error unravels Floyd Youmans who loads bases, walks in a run, and gives up 2-run single to Ozzie Guillen. 5-2 Chicago at halfway mark. Guillen plates two more with double in 7th. Kal Daniels pounds 3-run HR in 8th. FINAL – CHI 10 MCT 2

Game #4:

Three run HR by Eric Davis three batters into the game and Chicago has a 3-0 lead in 1st. Darryl Strawberry returns favor with 2-run HR in bottom half. 3-2 Chicago after 1. The teams trade runs in the 4th. Montana ties game 4-4 in 5th on a RBI groundout. However, Chicago blows game open with 4 run 7th highlighted by Davis’ 2nd HR of game. FINAL – CHI 9 MCT 5

Game #5:

Chicago scores early and often to roll over Montana. Wade Boggs drives in four in first two innings to lead Demolition. Cutthroats get 2 1st inning runs but fail to score after that. FINAL – CHI 15 MCT 2

Game #6:

Montana scores first as Willie Wilson reaches on error, steals second, advances to third on sac, and scores on RBI groundout by Kevin Seitzer. Greg Gross ties it at 1-1 with RBI single in 2nd inning. Montana reclaims lead as Wilson singles, steals 2nd, and scores on Joey Cora RBI single. Kent Hrbek ties it at 2-2 with solo HR in top of 4th. Chicago takes advantage of two Montana errors to take lead with 2 unearned runs. Gross solo HR in 6th extends lead to 5-2 Chicago. Demolition put game away with four runs in 7th on Boggs RBI single and Hrbek 3-run HR. FINAL – CHI 10 MCT 3

Game #7:

Eric Davis gets Chicago on board with RBI double in 1st. Demolition then explodes for 5 runs in the 2nd. 6-0 Chicago after 1 ½ innings. Steve Balboni puts Montana on board with 2-run HR off Roger Clemens in 5th. In the 7th, Montana completes comeback. After loading bases, Kevin Seitzer singles and Darryl Strawberry hits grand slam to put Cutthroats up 7-6. The lead doesn’t last long as Chet Lemon ties with RBI single in 8th. To extra innings they go….Ozzie Guillen wins it with RBI single in 12th for Chicago. FINAL – CHI 9 MCT 7

Series Summary *

Montana ends 16 game losing streak in game one of the series. However, Chicago wins the next 6 games to take the series 6 games to one. And Montana has a new losing streak.