PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #22

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
PUCKETT,Kirby	CPB AL	.469	.625	7	32	15	2	0	1	6	8	1	1	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
DARLING,Ron	FWP AL	2	2	0	0	0.60	15	2	1	12	7	0	0	2	0	0	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
MCGWIRE,Mark	GER NL	.400	.800	6	25	10	1	0	3	5	9	4	3	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
BELCHER,Tim	SCS NL	2	2	0	0	0.64	14	1	1	8	12	1	0	0	0	0	1

Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Detroit Stars
Series Summary	Detroit loses series to Mexico City 4-3

Germantown Grays @ Long Beach Titans
Series Summary	Long Beach ends their 21 game losing steak in game 3. They start a new streak by dropping the last 4.

Sugar Land Skeeters @ Winnipeg Goldeyes
Series Preview	Two below .500 teams playing in Winnipeg
Game #1:	Game 1 Winnipeg 3 Sugar Land 1 W-Eave(7-1) L-Lacoss(2-4)
Game #2:	Winnipeg 5 Sugar Land 1 W-Stottlemeyer(7-8) Hr: Felix L:-Bannister(5-6)
Game #3:	Winnipeg 5 Sugar Land 1 W-Jackson(7-8) HR Alomar L-Reuss 5-7
Game #4:	Harris blows the save in the 9th Winning win 7-6 (12 innings) HR Sugar Biggio hr Buhner with 2 out in the 9th for Winnipeg
Game #5:	Glavine masterful again wins 3 to 1 as Elster homers
Series Summary	Winnipeg improves to 64 and 70 as the starting pitchers have much lower era than expected making near .500 play possible

Missouri Black Bears @ Valdosta Bombers
Series Preview	Valdosta still hanging in the playoff chase takes on the rebuilding Black Bears.
Game #1:	Valdosta 6-4. Bombers outlast the Black Bears as Browning improves to 12-8.
Game #2:	Valdosta 4-1. Bryn Smith (9-10) needed some last second help from John Franco who picked up his 19th save.
Game #3:	Missouri 4-0. Jimmy Key (10-9) tosses a NO-HITTER at the Bombers who managed just a pair of walks off the crafty lefty. Galarraga added his 18th HR of the campaign.
Game #4:	Valdosta 2-1. Tom Candiotti improved to 17-4 and Franco notched his 20th save.
Game #5:	Valdosta 8-6. Bob Walk goes to 2-2 and Downing hit a rare HR as the Bombers sneak past the Black Bears.
Game #6:	Valdosta 5-1. Tom Browning (13-8) with the CG 5-hitter.
Game #7:	Valdosta 6-1. Bryn Smith evens his record at 10 as the Bombers finish up the series.
Series Summary	Bombers win 6 of 7 and are no-hit in their lone loss.

California Quakes @ Stockton Wings
Preview	California Quakes @ Stockton Wings for a 7-game series
Game #1:	STO 5 – CAL 4WP: DopsonLP: Tudor SV: Schooler HR: none Stockton jumps out to an early 5 run lead but CAL puts up a 4-run fifth inning to make it close.
Game #2:	STO 3 – CAL 2WP: NelsonLP: Dayley HR: Tettleton CAL can’t hold the early lead as Larking ties the game in the ninth with an RBI single and Tettleton wins it with a walk-off HR in the eleventh.
Game #3:	CAL 4 – STO 1WP: Z. SmithLP: Monteleone SV: T. Wilson HR: Whited Pitchers’ duel goes into the tenth inning tied 1-1, but CAL puts up three runs on a Komminks SF and Steibach’s two-run single for the win.
Game #4:	CAL 6 – STO 5WP: KnudsonLP: Nelson SV: Dayley HR: Meyer, Tettleton, C. Davis Lots of fireworks early, with three HRs in the first inning. STO took the lead in the fourth with three RBI singles, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Griffey tied it in the seventh with an RBI double in the seventh inning and Pendleton’s RBI double won it in the ninth.
Game #5:	STO 5 – CAL 0WP: Birtsas (CG)LP: Mahler HR: Hrbek, Leonard Birtsas saves a worn out staff with a complete game shutout. Hrbek had two RBI.
Game #6:	CAL 11 – STO 1WP: Ryan (CG)LP: Dopson HR: Perry, C. Davis Ryan dominates, with only Davis’s ninth-inning solo shot spoiling the shutout. Phillips led the CAL attack with three RBI
Game #7:	STO 7 – CAL 0WP: Hillegas (CG)LP: Wojna HR: Pagliarulo Hillegas throws the third straight complete game of the series, and the second shutout of the series for STO. Hrbek knocks three RBI, Leonard adds two.
Summary	Stockton takes the series 4 games to 3

Cedar Park Bears @ Janesville Juggernauts
Preview	Janesville welcomes the Cedar Park Bears in for a seven game match up. The Bears come in with a 69-62 record, while Janesville sits at the bottom looking at next season at 45-84.
Game #1:	Cedar Park erupts for 10 runs in the seventh inning as they cruise to a 18-0 pounding of Janesville. The Bears rap out 25 hits as Boddicker goes the distance.
Game #2:	The Juggernauts fail to hold the lead again, as the lose to Cedar Park 9-8.
Game #3:	A pitchers duel between Welch of Janesville and Swindell of Cedar Park sees the Bears winning 3-1 as both pitchers go the distance.
Game #4:	Another fine pitching performance for the Bears, as they win another shutout 8-0. Moore goes the distance in recording his 11th win of the season.
Game #5:	Show for Janesville stops the bleeding, as Janesville wins games five 4-0, finally shutting down Cedar Park’s bats.
Game #6:	In an extra inning affair, the Juggernauts come up on the winning side with a hard fought 5-4 victory.
Game #7:	Cedar Park takes the finale of the series 7-2, scoring 4 runs in the top of the ninth to put the Juggernauts away.
Summary	Cedar Park scores a total of 49 runs in the seven game set despite being shut out one game. They improve to 74-64 and will be at home against California next, while the Juggernauts hit the road against Detroit.

Steel City Sluggers @ Clovis Cougars
Preview	1st place Steel City heads to Clovis to take on the second place Cougars.
Summary	Ouch, Sluggers put a 6-1 series hurtin’ on the Cougars. Sluggers utterly dominated series as Cougars never led for even an inning in the 6 games that Steel City won. Several close games early but then Sluggers decided to show why they will end up with something close to 120 wins for the season and dominated the Cougars.

Michigan Marauders @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Preview	Michigan Mauraders vs. Manhattan Gas Hornets battle between the 2nd and 1st place teams in the NL East. Magic Numbers have appeared and the Gas Hornets # is 20. The Mauraders are looking at a chance to get back in the race for the top spot, which is slim, but at the same time cement a wild card spot.
Game #1:	Sutcliffe (12-7) vs. Garrelts (15-1). Sutcliffe pitches brilliantly giving up 2 hits, both in the 1st, but one was a single by Sax and the other was a 2 run shot by McReynolds (12). DiPino gives up another run in the 8th. Meanwhile, Garrelts goes 7 scoreless innings (3 hits) and McClure and Reardon (S – 2) finish up the 3-0 Manhattan shutout.WP Garrelts (16-1) LP Sutcliffe (12-8)
Game #2:	Gas Hornets match the 3 runs from game 1 in the 1st inning of game 2 as they jump on Deshaies – in fact they tag him for 7 hits in the 1st 2 innings. BUT … DeShaies stays in the game and toughens up, pitching 6.1 innings and only giving up 3 more hits. Meanwhile the Mauraders offense wakes up scoring 1 in the 4th, 3 in the 5th (to take the lead) and 1 in the 6th. Now up 5-3, DeShaies exits and Michigan plants 3 more runs on the board in the 8th So far Brunansky (15) has homered as part of the 6 run attack. Bottom 8th, Henneman in and Santiago unloads for 3 run homer (3) to get the Gas Hornets back in the game down 8-6. But in the 9th Ripken tags Henke for a solo shot (13) and insurance – insurance that was needed as DiPino makes the game interesting in the 9th but getting the final out with the tying run at the plate. Final MICHIGAN 9-6.WP DeShaies (16-5) S DiPino (14)LP Clary (8-4)
Game #3:	Manhattan only manages 4 hits in this one but they were able to plate 4 (3 in the 4th including a 2 rbi bases loaded single from Jacoby after Langston walks in a run). But those 4 hits and 4 runs were enough for Jeff Ballard as he goes 5 3 hit innings giving up nothing and the McClure, Reardon and McWilliams finish the job with 4 scoreless innings. Michigan gets 5 scattered singles in the game.WP Ballard (13-5) LP Langston (14-9)
Game #4:	Again Gas Hornets find a way to score in the 1st (2 runs), Joyner rbi double and Jacoby single. But its an even numbered game so the Mauraders are going to score and they get 2 in the 2nd on a Ripken HR (14) and a Tanana ground out scoring Nokes. In the 4th Ripken hits his 2nd HR (15) of the game (and 3rd of the series) to give Michigan a 3-2 lead. Tanana bears down and keep Gas Hornets at 2 runs through 6 and then Williamson, Crim and DiPino shut down the GHornets the rest of the way for a MICHIGAN 3-2 win.WP Tanana (11-8) LP Reuschel (15-4)
Game #5:	Odd numbered game so the Gas Hornets are favored (well that’s the way the series is going). But Michigan gets on the board first on an rbi double by Bo Jackson. They expand the lead to 2-0 in the 6th on a Ripken rbi single that scores Jackson. Then the Teddy Higuera wheels come up, up 2-0 going into the bottom of the 6th, the Gas Hornets erupt for 7 runs (all earned) – no homers. Jacoby drives in 2, Bass pinchhitting for Scott drives in 2 with a double. Reardon and McWilliams finish out the game giving up nothing and MANHATTAN wins 7-2.WP Scott (13-9) LP Higuera (4-4)
Game #6:	Michigan should be favored, even # game, but it’s a game 1 rematch of Sutcliffe and Garrelts. Well, Sutcliffe only gives up 2 hits AGAIN in 7 innings – but this time ZERO runs!Meanwhile Garrelts is on the mound physically but it appears he took the day off. In 3 innings he gives up 6 hits and 6 runs. 4 of the hits were homeruns: Brunansky (16), Wrona (4) and Bo Jackson 2 (24, and 25). Tim Leary in relief gives up another HR and it’s Bo Jackson again (26) for his 3rd homer of the game (and 6 rbis!!). In all, the Mauraders get 12 runs and 17 hits and win a laugher 12-1.WP Sutcliffe (13-8) LP Garrelts (16-2)
Game #7:	7th game, by pattern the Gas Hornets are favored but they just came off the HUGE drubbing. DeShaies vs. Clary and the DeShiesmeister again has the Gas Hornets number and tosses a 3 hit shutout over 8 innings. And the Maurader offense AGAIN is potent (as well as 4 Manhattan errors E1, E4, E5, E6 all in the same inning) and Michigan pounds out (13 more hits) a 9-0 victory. 3 homers in this game, Gaetti 2 (16, 17) and Brunansky (17) – all of them solo shots. Nokes is the big rbi guy with 3 on 2 singles.WP DeShaies (the Gas Hornet killer 17-5)LP Clary (8-5)
Summary	Well the series goes to Michigan 4-3, the Gas Hornets with a rare home series loss. Mauraders pick up 1 game in the standings and the Gas Hornet magic number drops 6 to 14. Gas Hornets host Sugarland next week the Mauraders host Valdosta as they battle for 2nd.

Chicago Demolition @ Fort Worth Panthers
Preview	The PANTHERS come into this series in… … 1st place … their magic number now stands at 32 the PANTHERS have now won 86 … in the league … they’re … 3rd … in batting … at .262 … 3rd … in runs … Number Two … in stolen bases … with 106 … second in on base percentage … Number Two … in ERA … at 2.85For the DEMOLITION … the DEMOLITION have now won 86 … their road record is … 41 and… … 21 we’re in the final stretch of the season … the DEMOLITION come into this series in… 2nd place … on the league leader boards … they’re … 6th … in batting … at .241 … 4th in runs scored … 3rd … in steals … with 101 … 4th … in on base percentage … leading in ERA … at 2.82 … they’re 2 games behind the leader but in the wild card race they are in… … 1st place
Game #1:	BOTTOM OF THE 1stNewman triples home Thompson, but is thrown out trying to go home. Dwight Smith delivers a two-bloop single to score ManriqueBOTTOM OF THE 3rd McGriff hits a two run home run. BOTTOM OF THE 5TH Manrique doubles home Sheffield with two outs Chicago would score two runs in the 8th, but that would be all they could get against the Panther pen. FINAL SCORE: Panthers 5, Demolition 2
Game #2:	BOTTOM OF THE 1stSingle by Lansford and a triple by Dwight Smith give Ft. Worth another early 2-0 lead.TOP OF THE 2ND Chicago had runners on the corners with no outs, but a double play puts an end to that threat as Ft. Worth still leads 2-1. BOTTOM OF THE 3rd Panthers put the game out of reach scoring three times two runs coming on a Lance Parrish homer. FINAL SCORE: Panthers 6, Demolition 2
Game #3:	Chicago scores 3 in the 10th to win game three.FINAL SCORE: Demolition 5, Panthers 2
Game #4:	Great pitching duel between Stieb and Anderson as the two teams would combine for only 8 hits. The only run scored in the top of the 8th as Young walked with one out, stole 2nd base, went to third on a ground out, and then scored on a wild pitch.FINAL SCORE: Demolition 1, Panthers 0
Game #5:	This time it was the Panther’s turn for a shutout. Helped by a three run 4th Ft. Worth cruised to the win as a quartet of Panther pitchers held Chicago to 6 hits.FINAL SCORE: Panthers 4, Demolition 0
Game #6:	Ft. Worth scores a single run in four separate innings to go up 4-0 while Kevin Brown goes 8 strong. When he tired in the 9th Landrum comes on for his record setting 45th save of the season setting the record for most saves in a season.FINAL SCORE: Panthers 4, Demolition 1
Game #7:	The Panthers jump out to an early 2-0 lead and hold on to win.FINAL SCORE: Panthers 2, Demolition 1
Summary	In six of the games the Panther’s held Chicago to two runs or less. By winning the final three games Ft. Worth sees their lead grow to 5 games over Chicago in the AL East and their magic number go down to 22.The division is far from decided however as the two teams will meet once more in Chicago for seven the games the 2nd to last week of the season.

Traverse City Tigers @ Montana Cutthroats
Preview	The Tigers and Cutthroats meet in a battle of 4th place clubs.
Summary	The Tigers take the series 3 games to 2.