PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #21

·         Long Beach Titans @ Manhattan Gas Hornets

Series Preview

Long Beach, 2nd in the NL West, comes to Manhattan, 1st place NL East. Series took on a playoff atmosphere as both teams look to gain or solidify position. Other teams are looking in hoping for movement opportunities

Game #1:

Teams traded a run in the 2nd and Manhattan scored a 2nd run in the 3rd and that was it for a 2-1 win. Reuschel (W 21-7) gives up 3 hits in 7 innings and Mirabella and Reardon (S 36) just face 6 batters for the final 2 innings. Gas Hornet runs come on solo shots from Stanley (5) and O’Neill (5). Rhoden takes tough loss.

Game #2:

Game goes 10 innings as Titan score the go ahead run in the top of the 10th but then Manhattan comes back and scores 2 in the bottom half for 5-4 victory. Long Beach’s success comes from 7 singles, 6 walks and a HBP. Gas Hornets manage 5 hits including a 2 run triple from Yount and they get 4 walks. M.Davis (0-3, BS 1) takes the loss as he gives up a walk and a hit (an a fielding error allowed the other runner) in the 10th. Righetti gets another garbage win (6-2).

Game #3:

Another extra inning game, 14 in fact, and this one is again won by the Gas Hornets on a Schofield double (1 for 5 in the game). Each team managed only 8 hits in 14 innings though Manhattan was able to draw 5 walks and Long Beach 4. Mullinks (9) and Steinbach (5) both hit solo shots in the 6th. Steinbach was 3 for 5.
WP McWilliams (6-5) LP Berenguer (1-2) Each team used 6 pitchers in this one.

Game #4:

Here’s the news that Michigan and Missouri were waiting to hear. Frankie V tosses a 5 hit CG shutout for a Long Beach 5-0 win. Viola moves to 15-8 with the win. Guerrero (4) and Manrique (5) homer for the winners as Danny Cox records his 1st loss of the year (4-1). Fletcher and Law each had 2 hits in the 11 hit attack, Fletcher also had 2 rbis.

Game #5:

The Titans keep it up in game 5 winning 4-2. It was 4-0 after 3 after the Titans score 3 in the 3rd keyed by Wynne’s 2 run single. Reuss (W 9-7) was masterful until the 8th when Manhattan tried staging a comeback but it was sliced off after 2 runs. M.Davis comes in the 8th to shut it down, pitches the 9th and earns his 27th save. Jimmy Key takes the loss (11-6).

Series Summary *

So Manhattan gets a 3-2 series win in a tough series (the 3 Gas Hornet wins were 1 run affairs, 2 of them extra innings) – yikes. Michigan hopes to benefit and they come to town next week. Missouri is also hopeful for a rebound. Titans trying to stay ahead of Clovis as the season winds into the closing stretches.

·         Germantown Grays @ Steel City Sluggers

Series Preview

First place Steel City hosts last place Germantown (I suspect they are focusing on getting Ken Griffey Jr’s jersey fitted).

Series Summary *

Steel City runs away with the series, 6 games 7. Slugger front offices also rejoice at getting a few key 1989 players over their 50% usage threshold in the process.

·         Fort Worth Panthers @ Mexico City Chihuahuas

Series Summary *

Mexico City takes 4 of 5 against Fort Worth

·         Cedar Park Bears @ Detroit Stars

Series Summary *

Cedar Park takes series over Detroit.

·         California Quakes @ Chicago Demolition

Series Preview

California who backed out of the playoffs and sold the farm a few weeks back heads into the Windy City. Many old teammates see each other and enjoy the seven game series in Chicago.

Game #1:

Chicago pounds out 11 hits and Doug Drabek (14-4 3.21) picks up the win, Dennis Eckersley his 29th save.
Final Score: Chicago 5 – California 1

Game #2:

Chicago gets 4 RBI’s from Darryl Strawberry & 3 from Wade Boggs. Orel Hershiser improves to (18-6 2.43)
Final Score: Chicago 12 – California 1

Game #3:

California suffers a long injury to Von Hayes (17 Days). Dave Stieb (12-9 2.98) picks up the win. Eckersley his 29th save.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – California 1

Game #4:

Eric Davis is 3 for 4 with a Grand Slam and 6 RBI’s. Wade Boggs goes 3 for 4 and is now batting .395 – Dave Stewart (18-5 2.40) wins for the Demolition. Dale Murphy is 2 for 5 with 3 RBI’s for the Quakes.
Final Score: Chicago 12 – California 7

Game #5:

Roger Clemens (15-6 3.18) picks up the win going 8 solid innings allowing 3 Earned Runs, Dennis Eckersley picks up his 30th save on the season. Very bad injuries in an outfield collision between Eric Davis (12 Days) & Kal Daniels (5 Days), put Chicago short a few players for the last two games of the series.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – California 3

Game #6:

Chicago down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, scores 3 runs to win it!
Final Score: Chicago 5 – California 4

Game #7:

Orel Hershiser (19-6 2.44) goes 7 solid innings for the Demolition.Terry Puhl has 3 RBI’s, & Wade Boggs & Gerald Young chip in with 2 apiece.
Final Score: Chicago 8 – California 4

Series Summary *

Chicago puts a beat down on the Quakes & head down to Fort Worth for their next series.
California heads to Stockton to face the Wings.

·         Valdosta Bombers @ Winnipeg Goldeyes

Series Preview

Battle of two non playoff teams. Valdosta is not far off .500 and Winnipeg is looking at avoiding 100 losses.

Game #1:

Looked like an easy Valdosta win but Farr (16*) and Franco 21* proceed to give up 3 runs in the 8th and 9th to lose 6-5. Wallach had a great game in the losing cause with 3 doubles and a homer.

Game #2:

Great pitchers as both starts pitched 10 and 9 shut out innings but it was sac fly by Oquendo that gave Valdosta the 1-0 win in 12 innings,

Game #3:

Van Slyke drives in 2 in the 10th for Valdosta and Franco nearly blew it allowing one Winnipeg run. Valdosta 4-3

Game #4:

Farr and Franco completely blow it allowing 5 runs in the 8th to lose 9-6

Game #5:

With a 2-0 lead Franco made it interesting allowing runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 9th.

Series Summary *

Valdosta could well have swept but amazingly bad relief work by the A* and A&C* cost them two of the five games.

Sugar Land Skeeters @ Clovis Cougars

·        

Series Preview

Clovis, tied for second with Long Beach, hoping to pick up sound ground by feasting on the bottom feeding Skeeters from down deep in the heart of Texas.

Game #1:

Clovis 4 Skeeters 0
Bannister tossed the shutout and Pena delivered a three run bomb in the 8th to salt away the victory for Clovis.

Game #2:

Sugar Land 3 Cougars 2 (10 innings)
Chris James ripped a single to drive home Dave Gallagher in the 10th and even the series for the Skeeters. Barry Jones picked up the win with 3 strong innings out of the pen.

Game #3:

Sugar Land 6 Cougars 3
A Wilson error opened the floodgates for Sugar Land who plated 5 in the 7th to break open a close game and send Bert Blyleven home (by eleven!) with the win. The big blow was a Chris James two run homer for the Skeeters.

Game #4:

Skeeters 16 Cougars 0
Early and often; that was the scoring rule for Sugar Land in this one. Defensive replacement Chris James blasted a homer and a double, Owen and Santovenia also went deep. Gallagher, Davis, Owen, James, and Santovenia all drove in a pair for Sugar Land. Witt went 6 scoreless for the win with Davis mopping up the last three to earn the save.

Game #5:

Clovis 4 Skeeters 3
Tony Pena grounded into a double play in the 5th to bring home the eventual game winner. Smiley went 6 and the pen with Smith, Harvey, and Myer (save 30) finished up with 3 scoreless. Burns was the loser for Sugar Land.

Series Summary *

Clovis was hoping to make up some ground, instead the Skeeters snacked on Cougar to put a serious dent in any playoff hope for Clovis.

·         Michigan Marauders @ Missouri Black Bears

Series Preview

Michigan Marauders (75-49) visit the Missouri Black Bears (73-49) in a 2nd/3rd place battle in the NL East.

Game #1:

Michigan 2, Missouri 1 – 10 Innings
Gaetti 2 hits, 2B, RBI
Williamson (ND) 7 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Leibrandt (ND) 8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Moseby 4 hits, CS, RBI in the loss

Game #2:

Michigan 3, Missouri 1
Palmeiro 3 hits, RS
Davis 2 hits, HR, RS, 2 RBI
Langston 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Henneman picks up Save #30

Game #3:

Missouri 6, Michigan 4
Moseby 2 hits, 2B, 3B, BB, SB, 2 RS, 2 RBI
Galarraga 3B, 2 RBI
Greenwell 3B, 2 BB, RS
Ripken 2 hits, 2 HR, 2 RS, 3 RBI in the loss

Game #4:

Michigan 3, Missouri 2
Jackson 2 hits, 2 HR, BB, 2 RS, 3 RBI
Higuera 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Game #5:

Missouri 2, Michigan 0
Moseby solo HR
Santiago solo HR
Scott 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K

Game #6:

Michigan 1, Missouri 0
Brooks 2B, RBI
Jackson H, SB, RS
August 8.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Game #7:

Missouri 4, Michigan 0
Galarraga 3 hits, 2 2B, HR, 3 RS, 2 RBI
Lind 3 hits
Leibrandt CG, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Series Summary *

Michigan takes 4, which only benefits Manhattan. 🙂

·         Traverse City Tigers @ Stockton Wings

Series Preview

Traverse City holding on to a slight division lead in the A.L. West hosts the Stockton Wings.

Game #1:

Jose Canseco‘s two-run HR in the 5th, helped break a 2-2 tie — helping Stockton take control of the game. Ojeda allows only 2 runs in 7.1 innings.
Jesse Barfield and Ernest Riles were accountable for the Tigers’ runs with solo homers.
FINAL SCORE: Stockton 5, Traverse City 2

Game #2:

Triples by Raines & Riles, plus a two-run HR by Joe Carter all in the bottom of the 2nd that contributed to 6 runs was the difference. Dan Petry was out of the game after just one inning of work.
Maddux wasn’t sharp, but he would pitch 6.1 innings, and let the bullpen do the rest.
FINAL SCORE: Traverse City 8, Stockton 3

Game #3:

Two throwing errors, three walks, and a two-run HR by Jose Canseco off Bob Knepper put Stockton ahead early 5-0 after one inning.
Stockton would keep pouring it on the next 4 straight innings, leading 11-1 after 5 innings. Canseco was big again with 2 HR’s, as John Shelby and Willie Upshaw added HR’s.
FINAL SCORE: Stockton 11, Traverse City 2

Game #4:

Traverse City scores 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to come back & defeat a game pretty much in Stockton’s control — as Stockton’s bullpen blows the game. Paul Molitor delivers huge walk-off hit!
FINAL SCORE: Traverse City 4, Stockton 3

Game #5:

Mike Pagliarulo hits a pinch-hit go-ahead two-run HR off Juan Agosto in extras as Stockton wins.
FINAL SCORE: Stockton 6, Traverse City 4 (11 Inn)

Series Summary *

Stockton edges Traverse City 3-2 for the series.

·         Janesville Juggernauts @ Montana Cutthroats

Series Preview

The last place teams in the two AL divisions meet up for a 5 game series in Montana.

Game #1:

Janesville flexs muscle with a game 1 statement! The Juggernauts are just that with 5 homeruns, 16 runs, and 17 hits. Meanwhile Palmer and 3 relievers hold Montana to a Boston solo HR in 8th. Trammell goes 5 for 6 with 7 RBI, 4 runs, and 2 HRs. FINAL – JJG 16 MCT 1

Game #2:

Montana blows a 2-run lead late sending the game to extras. Janesville scores in top of 10th to take 4-3 lead. However, Montana scores twice in the 10th to redeem selves with 5-4 win. Seitzer gets 3 hits and 3 RBI. FINAL – MCT 5 JJG 4 (10)

Game #3:

Bob Forsch and Montana seem to be cruising with a 3-0 lead into the 6th. However, Janesville explodes for 3 in 6th and 4 in 7th to win going away. Buechele goes 2 for 5 with 5 RBI and a HR. His 3-run blast in 6th tied game. Sheets also homers for JJG. FINAL – JJG 7 MCT 5

Game #4:

Tudor outdeals Martinez as both starters go deep into game. Bonilla leads JJG with 3 for 4 and a HR. Montana takes 2-0 lead in 1st on Jordan HR but cant score rest of way. JJG uses 3 run 4th to do fatal damage. FINAL – JJG 4 MCT 2

Game #5:

Janesville follows solid pitching of Welch and two relievers to win. Steve Buechele has another solid game with a 4 for 4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, and 2 HR performance. Seitzer gets 3 hits for Montana. FINAL – JJG 5 MCT 3

Series Summary *

Janesville takes series 4 games to 1. Buechele goes 10-23 in the series with 13 RBI and 4 HRs. Definitely a candidate for POW.