PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #2

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
CLARK,Will	POR AL	.500	1.000	7	24	12	3	0	3	12	15	4	8	2	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
FERNANDEZ,Alex	CAL AL	2	2	0	0	0.00	15	1	0	11	8	7	0	0	0	0	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
BUECHELE,Steve	SLS NL	.280	.640	7	25	7	0	0	3	5	9	3	1	0	0	0	1

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
APPIER,Kevin	GER NL	2	1	0	0	0.87	10.1	1	1	2	6	0	0	1	0	0	0

Clovis Cougars @ Winnipeg Goldeyes
Preview	Clovis started off their Season 5-2 with Randy Johnson pitching two gems, Winnipeg(4-3) also has high hopes for the season and Glavine also had a great first week winning both his starts,
Game #1:	Winnipeg starter Benes shocked ex Goldeye Hanson for a 2 run homer in the 3rd. Hanson then beamed Benes in his next at-bat! But the young righty just kept pitching. His only mistake was a Pena solo homer. Winnipeg 3 – Clovis 1 W-Benes(1-1) L Hanson(1-1) S-Freeman (1)
Game #2:	Jay Buhner had a huge game 2 homers and 4 RBI’s off Wells and the Clovis pen. Stottlemyer allowed just 1 run in 7 innings but Clovis did hit Kile who allowed 3 in relief. Winnipeg 9 – Clovis 4 W-Stottlemyer(1-0) L-Wells(1-1)
Game #3:	Clovis lefty Black was excellent allowing just 2 runs in 7 innings on a Ventura homer. But Sanderson was ok allowing 2 in 5 innings and Shaw did a great job off 3 innings of long relief. Smiley and Smith blew it in the 8th and 9th as Lonnie Smith player hero. Winnipeg 3 – Clovis 2 W_Willis(2-1) L-Smiley(0-2)
Game #4:	What a pitching duel Candiotii’s knuckleball was dancing 4 hits 9 K’s no walks. But Boskie was great allowing just one run a catchers interference strikeout turned error by Pena scored on a 2 out Ventura Double. Winnipeg 1 – Clovis 0 W-Candiotti(2-0) L-Boskie(0-1)
Game #5:	Everything was going wrong for Clovis down 4 to 0 int he series. Now it was a battle of the two best pitchers last week Glavine and Randy Johnson. Johnson was great 1 run in 9 innings a 2out 9th inning homer to Barbarie after Devereaux got nailed stealing. Glavine also went 9 allowing just 1 run. Game was in the hands of the bullpen, In the top of the 12th Mel Rojas got hammered for 3 runs including a Henderson 2 run homer. Winnipeg did not give up and scored 2 runs of Smiley but this time he got the final out for the save. Clovis 4 – Winnipeg 3 W_Richie(2-0) S-SMiley(1) L-Rojas(0-1)
Game #6:	Buhner and Downing homered of Hanson as Winnipeg and Benes won 3 to 1. Basically a repeat of game 1. W-Benes(2-1) L-Hanson(1-2) S-Freeman(2)
Game #7:	Wells was awesome only 2 hits in 7.2 innings but sadly one was a pinch hit RBI double by George Bell off Goosage tied the game in the 8th. It went to the 10th when McGuire got a Lee Smith fastball and walked off to end the game and series. Winnipeg 2 – Clovis 1 W_Willis(3-1) L-Smith(0-1)
Summary	This was a test for Winnipeg to see if this young team with a mix of veteran leadership has what it takes to make the playoffs. Clovis is an excellent team and will likely have better luck in the next meeting but a 6-1 series win by Winnipeg was not expected. With only 13 runs scored in 7 games Winnipeg’s pitching showed they are for real.Best pitcher Benes (2-0) 15 innings 2 runs, No real star hitter Buhner had 4 homers but hit below .250 in the series. As Clovis pitching was also very tough

Detroit Stars @ Flossmoor Flying Squirrels
Preview	The Flying Squirrels open up their home season with their first ever series in Flossmoor as they take on division rival Detroit.
Game #1:	It was a pitchers duel for much of the game, with Melido Perez taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning before a two run triple by Mickey Morandini broke the scoreless tie. Mike Boddicker tossed 7 shutout innings and Gregg Olson closed the door in the ninth for the Flying Squirrels. FFS 2 – DET 0
Game #2:	The two teams traded runs back and forth in the first five innings but were tied at three headed to the 8th. The Stars put two runs on the board and handed the ball to Rob Dibble to try and close it out. But the nasty boy gave up back to back homers to Bichette and the pinch hitter Baines to lead off the 9th and we went to extras. In the 12th inning the Stars broke through again for three runs with RBI’s from Kruk, Eisenreich and Parker to win the game. DET 8 – FFS 5 (12 innings)
Game #3:	Pete Schourek was the story of this game with a pretty crazy final line, but it ended in a “W” for the Stars so I’m sure he’s happy about that. Schourek went the distance allowing 2 runs (1ER) on just 3 hits with 11(!) strikeouts and 7(!!) walks. He also had a wild pitch and a passed ball which is how both runs scored. Brett Butler had 3 RBI for Detroit in the win. DET 6 – FFS 2
Game #4:	A big time pitching matchup for game four of the series as Black Jack McDowell faced off with Greg Maddux. The Stars struck first against Maddux with an RBI single from Jim Eisenreich plating Brett Butler in the top of the first. But the Squirrels struck back in the fourth with a pair of two run homers from Gant and Spiers to take a 4-1 lead. From there it was all Maddux, going 7.2 innings and allowing just the one run in the first to pick up his second win of the season. McDowell falls to 0-3 on the season. FFS 5 – DET 1
Game #5:	Once again the Stars strike in the top of the first on a two run homer by John Kruk. They added another run in the top of the third to lead it 3-0. Flossmoor got on the board in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-1. The big blow in the game came in the bottom of the 5th when Ron Gant blasted a three run homer off Jose DeLeon to give the Squirrels a 4-3 lead. They would add two more runs in the 7th and Gregg Olsen was able to record the last four outs for his 2nd save of the season. Mike Boddicker went 6.2 innings for his second win. FFS 6 – DET 4
Game #6:	This one was all Flying Squirrels from the start. Flossmoor plated two in the first to take the early lead, but the Stars scratched out single runs in the 2nd and 3rd to tie it up, including Mo Vaughn‘s second homer of the series. But once again it was Ron Gant who delivered the key blow for the Squirrels belting his second three-run homer in as many days. The score was 6-3 headed to the bottom of the 8th but a four run frame for Flossmoor put the game out of reach. Kirby Pucket was 4-5 with a triple, 2 RBI, 2 runs and a stolen base and Paul Molitor was 3-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Jose Mesa picks up the win in his first start of the year for the Squirrels. FFS 10 – DET 3
Game #7:	Injuries and tired starters force Norm Charlton into a spot start for Flossmoor and the Stars get to him early with a three run bomb from Dave Valle in the 2nd inning. Valle finished the game 3-4 and also threw out Molitor on a steal attempt. The Flying Squirrels would battle back to tie it at three in the fifth but the Stars answered with two in the 6th and two more in 7th. Wally Backman broke the tie with a two run double. Nabholz nearly goes the distance for Detroit, giving way to Nelson with 2 outs in the 9th but picks up win number two on the year. DET 7 – FFS 3
Summary	Flossmoor wins the series 4-3. Both teams took an injury in the series as Greg Hibbard was lost for 10 days for FFS and Derek Bell was injured for 14 days for Detroit. Ron Gant had a pretty good series after getting injured in the opener and missing game two. He had three homers and 9 RBI and homered in three straight games.

Missouri Black Bears @ Long Beach Titans
Preview	Long Beach opens the 91 home schedule against Missouri.
Game #1:	The Long Beach offense continues to struggle as they managed only 1 hit against Morris but fortunately it was a Fielder HR. Tomlin made it hold up as he threw a 6 hit shutout as the Titans won their home opener 1-0.
Game #2:	This game had an unusual event as both leadoff hitters homered in the top of the 1st. After the leadoff HRs the game settled into a pitcher’s duel between Burkett and Lancaster. Fielder singled in the winning run in the sixth to give Long Beach a 3-2 win. Baerga and Justice each had 3 hits to lead the Titans 13 hit attack.
Game #3:	Long Beach built a 7-3 lead after 2 behind a Vaughn 3 run HR and knocked Rasmussen out of the game. Missouri got 2 back in the 3rd but that was the end of the scoring as Long Beach won 7-5. Bielecki did great work out of the Black Bear bullpen throwing 5 innings of 2 hit ball to give his team a chance to stay in the game.
Game #4:	Long Beach jumped on Portugal with 3 runs in the 1st with the key hit being a Baerga 2 run 1B. From there Navarro took over and threw a 5 hit shutout in the 5-0 win.
Game #5:	I guess Missouri had enough as they jumped on Viola for 4 runs in the 1st behind Sveum’s 3 run bomb. That was all they got as they let Long Beach hang around getting the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th but Gott closed the door for his 4th save. Rogers gave up just 4 hits over 7 innings to pick up his first win of the year.
Summary	It was a good home start for Long Beach as they took 4 of 5 from the Black Bears

Germantown Grays @ Steel City Sluggers
Preview	Division rivals square off in a 7 game series.
Summary	Opening series does not go well for Steel City, as they drop the first game 4-3 in 16 innings, then get NO-HIT in the 2nd game 1-0 by Kevin Appier. Only a Ken Caminiti error for Germantown prevented the perfect game!Sluggers come back to win 4-0 behind Bruce Hurst, but then lose the next one 4-0 as Chuck Finley goes the distance for a shutout. Sluggers wake up in the next game and take it 7-2, but drop the final two games 12-7 and 4-1… and playoff hungry fans begin to riot and tear down the foul poles in frustration.The grounds crew will be busy this week as the team heads to Michigan.

Germantown Grays @ Steel City Sluggers

Preview

Division rivals square off in a 7 game series.

Summary

Opening series does not go well for Steel City, as they drop the first game 4-3 in 16 innings, then get NO-HIT in the 2nd game 1-0 by Kevin Appier. Only a Ken Caminiti error for Germantown prevented the perfect game!Sluggers come back to win 4-0 behind Bruce Hurst, but then lose the next one 4-0 as Chuck Finley goes the distance for a shutout. Sluggers wake up in the next game and take it 7-2, but drop the final two games 12-7 and 4-1… and playoff hungry fans begin to riot and tear down the foul poles in frustration.The grounds crew will be busy this week as the team heads to Michigan.

Stockton Wings @ Chicago Demolition
Preview	Stockton heads into the Windy City for a 7 game series.
Game #1:	Dave Stieb (1-0 0.00) goes 7 strong for Chicago picking up a win, Dennis Eckersley Save #2 on the season. Final: Chicago 6 – Stockton 4
Game #2:	Mike Mussina (1-0 2.30) goes 8.2 before allowing a run, Steve Olin picks up Save #1 on the season for Stockton. Final Score: Stockton 4 – Chicago 1
Game #3:	Wade Bogss has 3 hits for Chicago, but Robby Thompson & Barry Larkin each have 3 hits for Stockton. It goes 11. Final Score: Stockton 5 – Chicago 4
Game #4:	Chilli Davis has 2 RBI’s & Mark Gardner (1-0 1.10) pitches a 5 hit, 1 walk gem Final Score: Stockton 4 – Chicago 0
Game #5:	Doug Drabek goes down after 6 Innings with a mild Groin Strain (8 Days) for Chicago. Mickey Tettleton & Barry Larkin home for Stockton. Bobby Ojeda (1-0 2.77) picks up the win & Curt Schilling his 1st Save. Final Score: Stockton 4 – Chicago 2
Game #6:	Larry Walker Homers & has 4 RBI’s. Chilli Davis Homers & has 3 RBI’s. Tettleton has a solo Home Run. Stockton routes the Demolition. Final Score: Stockton 9 – Chicago 3
Game #7:	Chicago gains a little (not much) respect as they turn the tables on Stockton from game 6. Eric Davis has 4 RBI, Lloyd McClendon hits a Grand Slam. Final: Chicago 10 – Stockton 3
Summary	Chicago is looking to sell, so if you’re interested our door is wide open.

Michigan Marauders @ Valdosta Bombers
Preview	Michigan visits Valdosta.
Summary	Bombers take 5 of 7 from the Marauders in a close series.

Sugar Land Skeeters @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Preview	NL West – Cream of the Crop vs. the bottom feeders but this time its Sugar Land rising to the head of the back and the Hornets are gassed.
Game #1:	Final of 5-4 gives the Gas Hornet fans something to think about (they lost, but not by much). Griffey 3 hits, 2 runs, Gibson 2 run HR (1) and Pasqua 2 run HR (1) lead the attack. Hesketh goes to 2-0 and 2 inning 9th for Hornets makes it look closer than it is.
Game #2:	Young goes 5.2 innings for Skeeters, 3 hits, no runs. 4 relievers keep it that way. Griffey gets 2 more hits, as does Pasqua and Sugar Land plates 3 in the game for a 3-0 win. W Young (1-0) S Howe (4).
Game #3:	First game of the series that looked like what was expected. Skeeters pound out 18 hits and score 13 runs. Pasqua (2), Gibson (2) and Buechele 2 (2, 3) homer – Buechele gets 5 rbis. Langstons goes 7.1 innings for the win (2-0). Gas Hornets do get 8 hits but still lose 13-4.
Game #4:	Manhattan scores 2 in the 2nd and holds the lead until the 6th when Skeeters tie it up. That’s all for the Skeeters – but it wasn’t until the 14th that Manhattan found a way to score another run and WIN a game, 3-2. WP D.Jones (1-0) LP Mercker (1-1).
Game #5:	Skeeters take no time to rebound and work Mike Garndiner for 9 hits and 8 walks and 9 runs in 4 innings. Bullpen doesn’t do much better as they allow 6 more runs (Leary the victim) and Sugar Land wins 15-1. Only 1 homer – Thome (1) and he was a replacement and goes 2 for 2 with 3 rbis. Tapani the win (1-1) giving up 5 hits in 7.1 innings.
Game #6:	Gas Hornets on the verge of winning 2 games in a series with a 5-2 lead going into the 9th and Righetti on the mound. He then coughs up 5 walks, gives up 3 runs and it’s 5-5 after 9. Manhattan does not get the extra inning mojo that they did in game 4 and Sugar Land puts up the winner in the 13th to take it 6-5. Starter Tommy Greene goes yard (1) for a 2 run shot in the 4th. A. Young wins (2-0), Howe gets save #5.
Game #7:	Series finale another Sugar Land blast as they win 11-1 – with no homeruns. They do get 9 walks – they love that play to go along with 14 hits. Biggio and Griffey get 3 hits, Biggio 3 rbis, Griffey 2. Langston goes to 3-0 giving up 3 hits and a run in 7.1 fanning 8.
Summary	55-18 was the final run tally in this series the Skeeters winning 6 of 7. They’ve got a lot a guys starting to come into their own and will be a fun team to watch, except if their opponent. Gas Hornets are hitting bottom (it can get worse) but a bright spot has been Luis Alicea – hitting a brisk .458 through the first two weeks (he loves breaking balls).

Mexico City Chihuahuas @ California Quakes
Preview	California has high hopes for the ’91 season, and hopes visiting Mexico City cooperates.
Summary	California sweeps the 5-game set against Mexico, with 3 1-run and 2 walk-off victories. Not good enough, says California brass. Quakes manager, Philipe Hernandez, is already on the hot seat.

Fort Worth Panthers @ Montana Cutthroats
Preview	Fort Worth visits Montana in an AL East matchup. Both teams had solid opening series and sit 1-2 at the top of the division early in the season.
Game #1:	Jim Abbott takes the hill versus Jose Rijo in the series opener. Both pitchers deliver on their advance resume as they entangle in a pitcher dual. Edgar Martinez singles home Ivan Calderon in the top of the 3rd to begin the scoring. However, Montana evens it up in the 4th on Albert Belle‘s RBI double. Abbott had retired the lineup in order through the first three innings up until that point. The Cutthroats thought they were going to take the lead in the 7th, but Calderon threw Ellis Burks out at the plate to preserve the 1-1 tie. Montana did get the lead though in the 8th as they scored on a Fort Worth error. The unearned run was all they needed as Donn Pall pitched a perfect 9th to save the game for Rijo. FINAL – MCT 2 FWP 1
Game #2:	Bill Wegman vs. Omar Olivares in game 2. Fort Worth gets to Olivares early. Milt Thompson doubles and scores on Willie McGee‘s RBI single in the 1st. In the 3rd McGee scores on a double play ground out. The McGee show continues as he hits a 2-run HR in 4th. Suddenly it is 4-0 Panthers with Wegman cruising through the order perfectly the first time around. However, Montana chips away with solo runs in each of the next four innings. Albert Belle‘s RBI double in the 4th, Sam Horn‘s solo HR in the 5th, Brian Harper‘s RBI single in the 6th, and a two-out throwing error scores the tying run in the 7th. Game remains tied into the 9th. Montana gets a one out single from Ellis Burks then wins it with a walkoff 2-run HR from Luis Salazar.FINAL – MCT 6 FWP 4
Game #3:	Zane Smith vs. Bill Krueger. Two leftys go head to head and deliver for their teams. The game is tied 1-1 through 7 complete. Brian Harper breaks the tie for Montana with another late inning rally as RBI singles by Harper and Franco make it 3-1. Fort Worth rallies with a solo run in the 9th, but Pall gets his second save of the series.FINAL – MCT 3 FWP 2
Game #4:	Bob Tewksbury takes the hill for Fort Worth and Frank Tanana for Montana. Again, the same exact script as the first three games. Fort Worth scores first with 2 runs in the 3rd as Edgar Martinez singles home two with the help of a Cutthroat error. Montana ties it in the 4th with a Sam Horn 2-run HR. IRod’s RBI double makes it 3-2 Panthers but the Cutthroats come right back with an RBI double by Julio Franco, both in the 6th inning. They then win it with another late inning run as Glenallen Hill doubles home Franco in the 8th.FINAL – MCT 4 FWP 3
Game #5:	Melendez faces Ramon Martinez in game 5. Fort Worth takes the lead in the game for the 5th time in 5 games with two runs in the 3rd. This time it pays off as Melendez throws 7 innings of shutout baseball. Roger McDowell and Jeff Innis pitch perfect 8th and 9th innings to complete the 5-hit shutout. Combined they strike out 3 and don’t allow a walk. Meanwhile, Fort Worth backs their staff with a 7-run, 13-hit onslaught. Willie McGee goes 4 for 5 with a run and 3 RBI in the leadoff spot. Edgar Martinez homers for the Panthers.FINAL – FWP 7 MCT 0
Game #6:	Jose Rijo takes the hill for Montana versus Jim Abbott in a re-match of the pitchers duel of game 1. Fort Worth loads the bases in the 1st and gets two on in the 2nd, but for the first time in the series, Montana strikes first with single runs in the 3rd and 4th innings. Jose Rijo then settles down and does the rest. Rijo pitches a 6-hit complete game shutout. He strikes out 8 and walks 3. He improves to 3-0 in 3 starts with a 0.39 ERA. Hal Morris drives in two for the Cutthroats with a 3 for 4 game.FINAL – MCT 3 FWP 0
Game #7:	Bill Wegman and Omar Olivares meet again for the second time in the series. Both pitchers bring their “A” game as they hold each other scoreless for the first 6 innings of the contest. Fort Worth breaks out in a big way in the 7th. Olivares is relieved by Paul Assenmacher after a runner reaches with one out. Assenmacher is then lit up with an Ivan Calderon 3-run HR and then back to back with an Edgar Martinez solo HR. Montana gets two back in the bottom of the 7th but cant get any closer. Fort Worth adds two runs in the 9th to salt it away. Martinez gets 3 hits to lead the Panthers 13 hit attack.FINAL – FWP 6 MCT 2
Summary	Montana takes the series 5 games to 2. The series was much closer than the result. Fort Worth outscored Montana 23-20. They led for 20 innings in the series to 14 for Montana.