1996 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #23
| NAME | TEAM | AVG | SLG | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | K | W | IW | SB | CS | HBP |
| SOSA,Sammy | DEW AL | .444 | 1.111 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | CLUB | G | W | L | S | ERA | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | IBB | WP | BK | HB | HR |
| SELE,Aaron | NEW AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NAME | TEAM | AVG | SLG | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | K | W | IW | SB | CS | HBP |
| GONZALEZ,Juan | CIN NL | .318 | .773 | 5 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NAME | CLUB | G | W | L | S | ERA | IP | R | ER | H | K | BB | IBB | WP | BK | HB | HR |
| CORMIER,Rheal | CIN NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harper Woods Expos ! Detroit Stars | |
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| Series Summary: | Detroit wins the series 4-2 over Harper Woods |
| Steel City Sluggers @ Hampton Huskies | |
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| Series Preview: | The National League East-leading Steel City Sluggers (86-43) roll their juggernaut into Hampton to face and likely crush the 3rd place Huskies (70-59) for six games |
| Game #1: | Things looked great for the Huskies to steal the first game when they went into the 8th inning up 4-2 over Steel City, but the defense and bullpen exploded into tiny bits while the Sluggers went on a rampage and took the opener 8-4. Arthur Rhodes (3-3) continued his plummet to pitching hell and gave up three runs (two earned) while getting just one out, but got little help from his defence when BJ Surhoff screwed up what could have been an inning-ending double-play ball by firing the throw to 2nd base into right field. So instead of a double play and ending the 8th up 4-2, the Huskies found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-4 game. More of the same in the 9th with the Sluggers knocking Huskies’ reliever Jeff Juden around, scoring three times with yet another fielding gaffe – this one by Jeromy Burnitz who dropped an easy fly ball to left. And this was my defensive replacement. Ugh. When the dust had settled, the Sluggers had cranked out 14 hits and were there usual torrid on-base selves walking five times. Some guy named Tony Gwynn had three hits as did former Huskies’ 2nd baseman Mickey Morandini whose hits included his 5th triple of the year. Dan Wilson was the go-to guy for clutch-hitting in the game driving in four runs on a couple of very timely singles in the 8th and 9th innings. Kevin Seitzer also singled and doubled and scored three runs. Bruce Ruffin (3-4) was the recipient of the goofy reliever win for getting the last out of the 7th inning. Eric Plunk (19) got the real man’s save by tossing two perfect innings to close out the game. Juan Guzman got the no-decision for Steel City after allowing three runs (one earned – thank you, Dan Wilson, for dropping a throw to the plate) over six innings. He was unspectacular allowing six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Hampton starter Tim Van Egmond somehow managed to limit damage to two runs over five innings despite allowing eight hits and a couple of walks. |
| Game #2: | The Steel City Sluggers pounded the Huskies for 19 hits in an easy 13-3 win over the demoralized Hampton team. Lance Johnson, Rusty Greer, Dan Wilson and Mark Grace each had three hits for the winners with Johnson knocking his 11th triple of the season. Wilson continued to bring home the bacon for the Sluggers driving in another three runs. Ben McDonald (9-8) was pretty much unharassed through the game giving up only three hits with only a two-run homer by Henry Rodriguez (33) being the only real blemish. Orel Hershiser (14-11) was atrocious and lasted just five outs. In that time though he gave up six runs on nine hits … blechhhh. |
| Game #3: | Danny Darwin tossed eight innings of shutout baseball as the Sluggers took their third straight 6-0 against the now lifeless Huskies. Darwin (14-6) gave up five hits and fanned seven without walking a batter. The Sluggers continued to get a lot of production out of the catching spot with Don Slaught taking a turn at massacring Huskies’ pitching with three hits. Rusty Greer (12) and Greg Vaughn (21) homered for the Sluggers. Matt Ruebel fell to 7-11 for Hampton after allowing three runs in six walk-filled innings. The Sluggers scored another couple of runs on errors by Henry Rodriguez (who could never catch) and BJ Surhoff (who suddenly couldn’t catch or throw any more). |
| Game #4: | Apparently conserving their energy in the first three games, the Hampton Huskies broke out with 18 hits and 10 walks in a 17-4 rout of the Sluggers. Joey Hamilton (8-3) was torched for 8 runs on 7 hits in just 1-1/3 innings and didn’t get much help from his understudy Omar Daal who came in to relieve in the 2nd inning and gave up five walks – including four with the bases loaded – in the 9-run Hampton inning. Chan Ho Park (3-5) didn’t have to pitch to well to get the win in this one, but he was at least OK allowing just a couple of runs over five innings. He gave up five hits and a walk while striking out six. Shawon Dunston (3) had two hits including a solo homer off Park in the 5th. Eric Young had four hits, scored four times and drove in three runs while smacking his 5th and the team’s only homer of the game. Al Martin singled and doubled twice to drive in three runs with Jim Eisenreich chipping in with two singles and a double, scoring twice and driving in two. |
| Game #5: | Bill Mueller‘s bloop single off faltering reliever Mike Stanton in the bottom of the 9th allowed speedy Brian McRae to race home from 2nd base and give the Huskies a 3-2 walkoff win. Steel Cit starter John Smiley and newly acquired Tim Belcher of Hampton pitched well but did not factor in the decision. Smiley allowed just one run on six hits over seven innings with three strikeouts and no walks while Belcher went eight for Hampton allowing a couple of runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Stanton (1-3) went into the 9th in relief of Todd Worrell and got Henry Rodriguez to fly out to the centre field, but then walked BJ Surhoff. The next hitter – McRae – ground into a fielders choice and then stole 2nd for his 26th of the year. Stanton then walked Kevin Stocker (who went 3/3 on the day) and set things up for Mueller’s game-winning hit. Jeff Juden (5-3) got the W for Hampton after pitching a scoreless top of the 9th. |
| Game #6: | The Huskies erupted for four home runs in the middle innings as they cruised over Juan Guzman and the Sluggers in a 13-6 win. Guzman (15-4) was a tad less than his usual stellar self. He gave up a 3-run shot to Henry Rodriguez (34) in the 3rd inning and then back-to-back homers by Mickey Tettleton (14) and BJ Surhoff (8) in Hampton’s six-run 4th inning. Kevin Young (7) later homered off Mark Wohlers who was subsequently tossed after drilling both Tettleton and Surhoff. Payback’s indeed a bitch. |
| Series Summary: | Well it looked for a bit like Steel City had broken the Huskies back after coming behind to win the opener and then winning easily in games two and three, but somehow the Huskies found their spines and managed to squeak out a split against the Sluggers. |
| Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Blarney Drive Bandits | |
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| Series Summary: | Six games in which the Goldeyes take 4. Game 6 was a great one wherein Glavine and Hampton both toss shutouts for the first 9 innings. Glavine allowing just 2 hits to Hampton’s 6. Hampton comes out in the 10th and mows them down again. Shaw comes in to relieve Glavine and is rocked quickly after getting the first out with a 2B-BB-HR combo, Klesko delivering the big blow. |
| Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Chicago Demolition | |
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| Series Preview: | Chicago looking to jump back into the race with Detroit for the American League Central Division title. Demolition would need a six-game sweep of the Mexico City Chihuahuas |
| Game #1: | Carlos Delgado has 3 RBI’s & Chicago scores 4 Runs in the last 3 innings to overtake the Chihuahuas.
Final Score: Chicago 7 – Mexico City 5 Win: Dave Mlicki 4-2 (3.02) |
| Game #2: | Todd Stottlemyre throws a 4 Hit, 3 Walk, Complete Game Shutout. Home Runs from Jeff Cirillo & Cecil Fielder lead the way for Chicago.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – Mexico City 0 Win: Todd Stottlemyre 8-14 (3.81) |
| Game #3: | Cecil Fielder with an 8th Inning 2 RBI Double helps Chicago take this one late.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – Mexico City 1 Win: Roger Clemens 11-10 (5.14) |
| Game #4: | Jeff Cirillo with a 2-Run Home Run early & a very solid pitching performance out of Pedro Martinez (Complete Game) cruises Chicago to the victory.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – Mexico City 2 Win: Pedro Martinez 11-12 (4.06) |
| Game #5: | Pete Harnisch goes the distance in the Complete Game Shut Out.
Final Score: Chicago 8 – Mexico City 0 Win: Pete Harnisch 10-5 (4.12) |
| Game #6: | Demolition walks it off in the bottom of the 9th. Jeffrey Hammonds 7th Inning 2-Run bomb was huge & put Chicago tied with the Chihuahuas. 9th Inning Single by Tony Phillips does the trick to score Pinch Runner Brian L. Hunter.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – Mexico City 3 Win: Scott Radinsky 3-0 (1.07) |
| Series Summary: | Chicago does just what it needed to do, but all the games were relatively close and Chicago really has no justification to be challenging Detroit for the American League Central Division title. |
| Stockton Wings @ Long Beach Titans | |
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| Series Summary: | Stockton takes 4 of 6 from Long Beach. |
| Corktown Bootleggers @ New Hampshire Nighthawks | |
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| Series Summary: | Corktown makes easy work of the Nighthawks taking 4 of 6 in New Hampshire! |
| Sugar Land Skeeters @ Valdosta Bombers | |
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| Series Preview: | First place Valdosta hosts last-place Sugar Land. |
| Series Summary: | The Skeeters may not have much pitching but they can still hit. Skeeters take 4 of 6 from the Bombers. |
| Flossmoor Flying Squirrels @ DeWitt Tigers | |
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| Series Summary: | Flossmoor travels to DeWitt for a 6 game series. Flossmoor takes the series 4-2.
FFS 10 DeW 5 |
| California Quakes @ Fort Worth Panthers | |
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| Series Summary: | Panthers win the first 5 games to pull within a 1/2 game of California in the AL West. |
| Castle Rock Hounds @ Portland Mavericks | |
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| Series Preview: | The 63-71 Castle Rock Hounds visit the 48-87 Portland Mavericks. |
| Game #1: | CRH 8 POR 3 |
| Game #2: | POR 2 CRH 1 |
| Game #3: | POR 8 CRH 6 |
| Game #4: | CRH 14 POR 1 |
| Game #5: | CRH 6 POR 4 |
| Game #6: | CRH 8 POR 7 |
| Series Summary: | The Rock Hounds win 4 of 6 in Portland. |
| Santa Rosa Beach Bums @ Manhattan Gas Hornets | |
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| Series Preview: | Beach Bums come to big Apple – when there was starting pitching, that team won, when it was a toss-up, well?….. |
| Game #1: | John Smoltz (W 17-3) SRB 5, MGH 1. Mike McFarlane (20), Greg Gagne (12) homer. |
| Game #2: | MGH 5 SRB 4 Ken Caminiti (31) homers in losing cause. |
| Game #3: | Willie Adams(W 6-0) as SRB wins 10-2. Mike McFarlane (21) and Roberto Alomar (16) homer. |
| Game #4: | Chuck Finley (W 12-8) in 10-4 SRB wins. Frank Thomas homers twice (29, 30) and Ken Caminiti (32) homers again. |
| Game #5: | Frank Thomas homers twice (again) – (31, 32) and Mike McFarlane (22) hits his 3rd of the series, but it was too little, too late (barely) as MGH holds on for 8-7 win. SRB scores 2 in the 7, 8, 9 in a comeback attempt. |
| Game #6: | John Smoltz loses!!! (17-4), He gives up 1 in the 1st, then up 2-1 going into 7th he gives up 2 in 7th and another in a 3 run 8th for Manhattan. SRB scores 3 in the 9th to try and keep him from losing but they fall one short in 6-5 loss. The weird play was a 9th inning pop fly by SRB in which Tino Martinez, Garrett Anderson, and Ray Durham all collide and leave the game (and each has a short term injury). |
| Series Summary: | So the 6 game series ends up in a 3-3 split… |
| Cincinnati Outlaws @ Michigan Mauraders | |
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| Series Preview: | A division showdown between two evenly matched teams, as Michigan travels to Cincinnati for half a dozen games. |
| Game #1: | CIN 6, MIC 2 |
| Game #2: | MIC 5, CIN 2 |
| Game #3: | CIN 11, MIC 1 |
| Game #4: | MIC 7, CIN 6 |
| Game #5: | MIC 9, CIN 4 |
| Game #6: | CIN 7, MIC 6 |
| Series Summary: | Series ends with each team taking three wins and each team taking a one-run victory as well. |