1998 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #2

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
BELLE,Albert	CBL AL	.500	1.077	6	26	13	6	0	3	9	11	1	0	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
MUSSINA,Mike	HWE AL	1	1	0	0	0.00	9	0	0	3	8	1	0	0	0	0	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
VAUGHN,Greg	HAM NL	.357	.893	6	28	10	1	1	4	4	12	4	1	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
GARDNER,Mark	MIC NL	1	1	0	0	0.00	9	0	0	6	9	0	0	0	0	1	0

Hollywood Vampires @ Detroit Stars
Series Summary:	Detroit wins an uneventful series over Hollywood.

Chicago Demolition @ Harper Woods Expos
Series Preview:	Top dog Chicago visits hopeful Harper Woods
Series Summary:	The Expos actually win the series 4-2 beating Clemens twice. Never thought that would happen

Fort Worth Panthers @ Castle Rock Hounds
Series Preview:	An early battle of top division contenders, as the undefeated Fort Worth Panthers visit the 4-1, Castle Rock Hounds. Based on rosters, it looks like these are the two teams to beat in the AL West.
Game #1:	A great matchup, as Kenny Rogers (15) battles against Kevin Brown (17). Castle Rock strikes first, in the 3rd inning, with a two-out RBI double from Snow, which scores Clayton. But, Edgar Martinez wallops a solo homer to tie it in the 4th, and Roberto Kelly makes it back-to-back to give Fort Worth a 2-1 lead. The Panthers take on 3 more to make it 5-1 in the 4th. Pudge has picked two guys off at second (!) during the game, which has squashed some potential rallies. Kelly adds a second homer on the day in the 8th, and the Panthers pile it on, leading 9-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. Castle Rock gets two runs, but the final is 9-4, Fort Worth. Brown goes 8.1, and gives up 4 earned for the victory. WP: Kevin Brown (2-0) LP: Kenny Rogers (1-1)
Game #2:	Another good pitching matchup as Hermanson (13) faces Lima (11). Fort Worth strikes first with a Guillen RBI double to score Gwynn. Castle Rock gets runners on first and third with nobody out in the bottom of the 3rd, but can’t plate a run. Hounds take the 2-1 lead in the 5th with a Bonds double. But, Fort Worth will not back down, as Sheffield ties it up with a two-out RBI single. Luis Gonzalez hits a clutch solo homer in the bottom of the 8th to give Castle Rock a 3-2 lead. Despite letting the leadoff batter on base with an error in the top of the 9th, Simas holds on to get the save and Castle Rock takes it 3-2. Fort Worth’s 6-game winning streak to start the season has ended! WP: Elarton (1-0) LP: Lima (1-1) S: Simas (2)
Game #3:	Carpenter (10) takes on Bergman (9) in the third game of the series. Castle Rock strikes first on a double-play scoring a run, and Bonds adding a solo HR to make it 2-0. Carpenter is cruising for the Hounds and Snow adds and RBI single to make it 3-0 in the 5th. The teams exchange runs in the 8th, and the final ends up being 4-1, Castle Rock. Both teams now stand at 6-2 after 8 games. WP: Carpenter (2-0) LP: Bergman (1-1) S: Elarton (1)
Game #4:	Pettitte (10) vs. Anderson (6) in the fourth matchup of the series. Roberto Kelly continues to hammer his former team, hitting a two-run shot in the 1st. Easley cuts the lead in half with his own solo shot. And Tatis scores after a lead-off triple to tie it a 2-2 in the second. Easley follows up his first homer with a second one in the 3rd to make it 4-2. Panthers add one in the fourth, but Luis Gonzalez and Widger hit solo shots, and it is 6-3, Castle Rock. Anderson gets chased after 3.2IP. The final ends up being 7-3, Castle Rock as the Hounds now take the divisional lead. WP: Pettitte (2-0) LP: Anderson (1-1)
Game #5:	Castle Rock has a pretty big pitching advantage with Bohanon (16) taking the mound vs. Nomo (7). Fort Woth takes a 1-0 lead in the second. Castle Rock loads the bases, but Nomo gets Tatis to strike out to end the chance. Edgar Martinez ends up bopping a 2-run homer to make it 3-0 Panthers. Edgar slashes a 2-RBI double in the 5th to make it 5-0. So much for the pitching advantage. Hounds again load the bases, but Nomo strikes out Bragg. Nomo has quite the start, walking 8 guys, giving up 5 hits and striking out 11 across 8 innings. Ultimately, despite the 13 runners, he only gives up 2 earned. The final is 6-2, Panthers. WP: Nomo (2-0) LP: Bohanon (0-2)
Game #6:	Dennis Martinez gets the start for Fort Worth as Brown is still tired (it’s a double-header). Rogers is rested, so he will get the nod for Castle Rock. Fort Worth strikes first, with Glanville scoring on a sac fly. Castle Rock explodes for six runs in the 4th inning, as Martinez is downgraded. Fort Worth gets 3 back in the top of the 6th. They load the bases with one out in the 7th, but Elarton gets out of the jam. But, Fort Worth is persistent. Roberto Kelly hits his fourth homer of the series in the top of the 8th to tie it at 7-7. Castle Rock is regretting letting him go a couple of years ago. Castle Rock gets the winning run to second with two out in the bottom of the 9th, but Veres closes the door and we head to extras. Roberto Kelly does it again with a solo shot in the top of the 11th! Kelly, who hit only 16 homers on the year, has five just in this series! Jackson stays on the mound to finish off the game for Fort Worth and they win it 8-7 in 11 innings. A fitting end to a series split between two very good teams. WP: Jackson (1-0) LP: Quantrill (0-1)
Series Summary:	It is a series split between two evenly matched teams. Should be a fun season in the AL West. Roberto Kelly was definitely the hero in this one.

Hampton Huskies @ Baltimore Blue Crabs
Series Preview:	N.L. East battle between Baltimore and Hampton.
Game #1:	Orel Hershiser tosses a 5 hit shutout to earn his first victory of the season. Crabs only manage 2 hits off Guzman, but take advantage of sloppy Huskies defense. HAM 0-5-3 BAL 2-2-0 WP – Hershiser (1-0) LP – Guzman (0-2)
Game #2:	Polar opposite of game 1, as the teams combine for 18 runs and 22 hits. Baltimore jumps out to a 10-4 lead and holds on for a 10-8 victory. BJ Surhoff has a big day for Hampton, going 4 for 6 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. HAM 8-12-1 BAL 10-11-1 WP – Hamilton (2-0) LP – Arrojo (0-1) S – Yan (2)
Game #3:	Huskies get into the win column with a 10-0 pounding of Baltimore. Hal McRae‘s 3 hit, 3 RBI day leads the way. Tomko and a pair of relievers combine for the shutout. HAM 10-11-0 BAL 0-4-0 WP – Tomko (1-0) LP – Worrell (0-1)
Game #4:	Hampton bats stay hot as they pound Baltimore for the 2nd consecutive day. Derek Lee is the offensive star, with 2 homeruns and 4 RBIs. Belcher pitches 8 strong innings for the win. HAM 12-12-1 BAL 1 -7 -1 WP – Belcher (1-1) LP – Estes (1-1)
Game #5:	Woody Williams quiets the Hampton bats in game 1 of 2. Williams tosses a 5 hit, complete game, shutout. Batista and Casey homer for the Crabs. HAM 0-5-0 BAL 4-6-0 WP – Williams (1-2) LP – Pavano (1-1)
Game #6:	Hampton bats reawaken and the Huskies take their 2nd 12-1 victory of the series. Greg Vaughn has a big day – 4 for 5, 6 RBIs, 3 runs scored and 3 homeruns. HAM 12-18-1 BAL 1 -9 -1 WP – Guzman (1-0) LP – Appier (0-1)
Series Summary:	Interesting series split. Hampton scores 34 runs in their 3 wins and only 8 runs in their 3 losses, including 2 shutouts.

Santa Rosa Beach Bums @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Series Preview:	Santa Rosa comes to Manhattan to gives the Gas Hornets the Bum rush….
Game #1:	In the 1st of two meetings this week, John Smoltz and Tim Wakefield square off in the opener (stay tuned, they will do it again for the finale!). Wakefield goes 7 innings and gives up 2 hits and 2 runs. Not too shabby. The surprising things is the Gas Hornets score 16 runs (not a misprint – 16) to win the game going away. Smoltz lasted 4.1 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs – 2 homers. Reliever Pedro Astacio gives up 7 hits, 7 runs in 3 innings and a homer. Jason Kendall (1) and Matt Stairs (1 and 2) were the homer boys. Stairs drives in 4. Neifi Perez drives in the 2 Bums runs. SRB 2- 2-1 LP Smoltz (1-1) MGH 16-18-1 WP Wakefield (2-0)
Game #2:	Santa Rosa was a bit embarrassed after the opener so they start game 2 with 2 runs in the 1st. Frank Thomas smacks a 2 out solo homer (4) off Rick Reed and then Rob Ducey singles in Mark Loretta for the 2nd run after Loretta doubled. In the 2nd, Neifi Perez and Thomas Howard single in 2 more runs for a 4-0 lead. Garrett Anderson tees off a Julio Rosado gopher ball for a 2 run homer (1) and the bottom of the 2nd to pull Manhattan with 2 runs at 4-2. Then the Gas Hornets tie it up with single runs in the 5th (Ray Durham solo homer [2]) and 6th. Derek Jeter opens the bottom of the 8th with a single and steal 2nd. Jason Kendall gets the IW. A groundout moves them both up a base and Trent Hubbard hits a SF to give Manhattan a 5-4 lead going into the 9th. John Wetteland does the closer things to end it. SRB 4-10-1 LP Travis Miller (1-1) BS (1) MGH 5-5-1 WP Ricardo Rincon (1-0) S Wetteland (2)
Game #3:	Matt Morris gets his 1st win of the year with a 7 inning 4 hitter. He gives up an rbi single to Mark Loretta in the 3rd, but his teammates get that back in the 4th, add another in the 5th and then tack on 5 big ones in the 8th for a 7-1 win. Orlando Merced gets the games on homer (1), but Jason Kendall gets 3 hits. SRB 1- 4-0 LP Julio Vazquez (0-2) MGH 7-13-0 WP Morris (1-0)
Game #4:	OK – fasten you seat belts. Pedro Astacio vs. Brian Moehler. Top of the 1st, 1 out, 1 on, Frank Thomas (the BIG HURT) hurst Mr. Moehler to the tune of a smashing 2 run homer (5). However, and pay attention, in the bottom half Ray Durham leads off – homer (3). Derek Jeter follows – dinger (1). Jason Kendall – no homer (yet), but with 1 out, Matt Stairs – yup, homers (3). Tino Martinez follows with … a homer (1). Keeping with the pattern, Trent Hubbard grounds out and the Mark Whiten joins the solo homer parade (1). That’s 5 solo homers in the 1st 7 batters in the bottom of the 1st! Should be an easy game…. NOPE!!Top of the 2nd – Greg Myers comes in to PH for Astacio with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs and he grounds into DP. Kelly Stinnett is on 3rd and Roberto Alomar doubles him home, 5-3 Manhattan. Richard Hildago then doubles home Alomar. And the Big Hurt steps up, swings, and lines one past Jeter at SS and then send Hildago in and he scores to tie the game in the 2nd. Good thing we hit FIVE homers in the 1st….Wait – top of the 3rd ….Juan Encarnacion leads off and socks one way out to the park for his 1st homer of the year and a 6-5 Beach Bums lead!!Then in the bottom of the 6th, the Gas Hornets get a runner on 2nd with 2 outs and Jeter pokes one to LF that turns in to a double and rbi. Kendall then flies out to Hildago in RF – but he DROPS it, and Jeter flies home to give the Gas Hornets a 7-6 lead. Matt Stairs singles, runners hold at 1st and 2nd and the Martinez singles driving in another run and Manhattan finishes he 6th with an 8-6 lead. Then in the 8th, Jason Kendall gets his homer (2) for two more runs and that’s the way the score ends, 10-6 Manhattan…. SRB 6- 9-2 LP Mike Oquist (0-2) MGH 10-13-0 WP Jeff Montgomery (1-1)
Game #5:	Well with Sterling Hitchcock injured, Stan Spencer gets the starting nod in game 1. He goes 5.1 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs and FANS 11! He was scoreless through 5, but then the Bums got him figured out. Mark Loretta homers (1) for 1, Greg Myers hits a PH double for 2 and Neifi Perez singles in the 4th run. BUT – Spenser is able to still get the win because the Gas Hornets scored 6 in the 3rd giving them 7 runs by that time. Orlando Merced gets 2 hits and a homer (2) and 3 rbis. Jason Kendall homers (3) and Tino Martinez knocks in 2 runs with 2 hits. AND the Bums make FIVE ERRORS – which create 5 UNEARNED RUNS. And they lose the game by 5, 9-4! SRB 4- 8-5 LP Ray Ortiz (1-1) MGH 9-10-1 WP Spencer (1-0)
Game #6:	OK – Rematch of Game 1 where Wakefield tosses 2 hitter and John Smoltz gets shellacked! This time Tim Wakefield only tosses a 3 hitter (8 innings) – and he gives up 2 runs including a Derrick May solo homer (1) in the 3rd. May single singles in the 7th and then scores the other run on a Ruben Rivera single. That run broke a 1-1 tie as the Gas Hornets manufactured an unearned run in the 5th. However, that would be their only run as John Smoltz matches the Wakefield 3 hitter with one of his own – he just didn’t give up a homer (or any earned run) and fanned 7 as he goes the distance. That’s what we got for thinking we earned a sweep – forgetting there was a double header!! Great mound work by Smoltz! SRB 2-3-2 WP Smoltz (2-1) MGH 1-3-1 LP Wakefield (2-1)
Series Summary:	Manhattan takes the series 5 games to 1 – pitching depth doesn’t seem an SRB strength this season. Lots of runs and dingers and then a great pitchers’ duel to finish it off.

Danbury Mad Hatters @ Newark Bears
Series Preview:	The Newark Bears host their Northeast rivals, the Danbury Mad Hatters.
Game #1:	The first game developed into a classic pitchers duel between the Bear’s Al Leiter (19) and the Mad Hatters’s Bret Saberhagen (11). The Bears led 1-0 going to the top of the 9th inning, Bears Manager brings in super closer Rob Nenn (22), he promptly gives up a game tying base hit to slugger Roger Cedeno! (.639 OPS) – the game is finally decided in the Bear’s favor in the bottom of the 11th as Ben Grieve drives in Juan Gonzalez who had doubled earlier in the inning. Final score 2-1 (Bears) Player Of The Game – Al Leiter – 7IP – 3H – 6K’s
Game #2:	Chuck Finley (Bears)(13) and Bobby Jones(9) squared off in the second game, it was was tied 2-2 through the first 6 1/2 innings, but in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Bears broke through with 4 runs highlighted by a Juan Gonzalez 3 run homer. Final score 7-3 (Bears) Player Of The Game – Juan Gonzalez – 2-4/1HR-1R-3RBI
Game #3:	Game three featured Chan Ho Park (Bears) (12) going up against Wilson Alvarez (8) – the 1st half of the game was close (1-1 through 4 1/2 innings, but the Bears broke it open with 9 unanswered runs in innings 5 through 7. The Mad Hatters made it close with 4 runs in the last two innings, highlighted by Ken Griffey Jr. grounding into a bases loaded double play at the hands of lefty killer Graham Lloyd (20) to end the game!! Final Score – 10-5 (Bears) Player Of The Game – Freddy Garcia – 2-4/1HR-2R-2RBI
Game #4:	Just when the Newark Bears were getting ready to celebrate their 4th consecutive victory, the Universe had other plans. The game followed a similar script to games 1&2 – close through the first 7 innings (2-2), but in the bottom of the 8th, Juan Gonzalez gives the Bears a lead by hitting a 2 run homer, his 3rd of the year. So of course, the Bear’s Manager again calls on closer Rob Nenn to secure the victory, and again Nenn disappoints by giving up the 2 tying runs in the top of the 9th and a go ahead run in the 10th. To be fair, the go ahead run in the 10th scored when Moises Alou hit a single and scored on a 3 base error by Juan Gonzalez, but the fact remains that Nenn was anything but a lock down closer in this series (2 blown saves). After Nenn is taken out of the game, Ken Griffey Jr. cements the victory by hitting his second home run of the game (a 3 run shot). Final Score – 9-6 (Mad Hatters) Player Of The Game – Ken Griffey Jr. 2-4/2HR-2R-4RBI
Game #5:	The Bears rebounded nicely from the bitter loss in game four by sweeping both games of the series ending double header against Danbury squad (22 runs on 32 hits). The first game featured Omar Olivares (Bears) (9) against Mike Remlinger (5) – the Bears hit Remlinger and follow up relievers hard early and secured an easy 12-3 victory. Omar Oliveras walked 7 batters, but managed to strand most of those runners. Player Of The Game – Freddy Garcia – 3-4/2R-4RBI
Game #6:	Game six featured a rematch of the game one starters (Leiter & Saberhagen) – Leiter was just as sharp as he was in game 1, but Saberhagen was not on his game, he gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks in 5.2 innings. Piazza and Strawberry each hit their 3rd homer, Leiter allowed 1 run in 6 effective innings. Final Score – 10-3 (Bears) Player Of The Game – Mike Piazza – 2-4/1HR-2R-3RBI
Series Summary:	Apart from the Rob Nenn meltdowns, it was an excellent series for the Bears, highlighted by a nice blend of effective SP innings, RP Innings and timely hitting. The Mad Hatters were a worthy opponent and can be a very formidable team if Biggio, Griffey & Thome are not contained.

Valdosta Bombers @ Michigan Mauraders
Game #1:	Valdosta 2 Michigan 1
Game #2:	Michigan 2 Valdosta 0
Game #3:	Michigan 10 Valdosta 9
Game #4:	Valdosta 9 Michigan 6
Game #5:	Michigan 5 Valdosta 2 – 1st game of DH
Game #6:	Michigan 12 Valdosta 11-2nd game of DH
Series Summary:	Michigan sweeps the doubleheader, which enables them to win 4 of 6.

DeWitt Tigers @ New Hampshire Nighthawks
Series Summary:	Dewitt travels to New Hampshire, Nighthawks take 5 of 6.

Portland Mavericks @ California Quakes
Series Summary:	Two bad teams split the six game set.

Stockton Wings @ Long Beach Titans
Series Summary:	Stockton led in all 6 games. Long Beach came back to win 4 of them.

Flossmoor Flying Squirrels @ Corktown Bootleggers
Series Preview:	Corktown looks to make an early season statement after starting 5-0 and now faces the class of the AL East the in Flossmoor.
Game #1:	Corktown takes game 1 over Greg Maddux 3in a low scoring game. The only way to beat Maddux 3-1 Corktown 3-1 W. Steve Trachsel 1-0 L. Greg Maddux 0-1 S. Ugueth Urbina (2)
Game #2:	Corktown was rolling into the 7th 5-1 when Travis Fryman blasted a grand slam for the Flying Squirrels and silenced the crowd. Albert Belle walked it off i n the bottom of the 9th and the Corktown faithful is starting to feel the tide turn. Corktown 6-5 W. Turk Wendell 1-0 L. Denny Neagle 1-2
Game #3:	Scott Rolen and Albert Belle blast 2 home runs each. Corktown 6-1 W. Omar Daal 2-0 L. Andy Ashby 1-2
Game #4:	Scott Rolan adds another 2 home runs for the Bootleggers and they roll once again. Corktown 12-1 W. Dwight Gooden 1-0 L. Denny Neagle 1-3
Game #5:	1st game of the series finale double header. Flossmoor had a 1-0 lead in the 8th when they brought in their ace Greg Maddux to hold things in place. However, the Bootlegger bats woke up just in time to put up 5. Corktown 5-1 W. Amaury Telemaco 2-0 CG L. Greg Maddux 0-2
Game #6:	With the teams tied at 2 in the 6th, Corktown did what they had done all series and had another blow up inning. This time they put up 6 runs. Corktown 8-4 W. Steve Trashsel 2-0 L. Ron Mahay 0-1
Series Summary:	It is very early in the 1998 season, but the Bootleggers have made a big statement by starting 11-0 vs the AL East, including a 6-0 sweep over the reigning East Champions. Corktown tries to keep things rolling against New Hampshire as Flossmoor tries to right the ship when they host rival Dewitt.

Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Blarney Drive Bandits
Series Summary:	Series summary: Visiting pitcher Ojala in game 6, not rested and grade 2, shuts out Blarney while Wells (grade 15) get his head caved in. WGE wins all 6 in what was a “whatever the visitor’s needed they got” fest.