PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #11

 ·         Long Beach Titans @ Missouri Black Bears

Bottom of the 2nd — No outs, Joe Carter reaches safely to second on a wild throw by Janesville’s shortstop Garry Templeton. With two outs, Johnny Ray smacks a single into right-center gap & scores Carter, who ran through a red light… just safe under the tag, recorded as a single, as Ray advances to 2nd on the throw to home. Tigers 1, Juggernauts 0

Top of the 3rd — Wit two outs, the Juggernauts record back-to-back singles by Alan Trammell and B.J. Surhoff, Trammell’s single seemed to confuse Ramirez & Barfield as the ball drops in between the two players in center. Which opens up the opportunity for Danny Tartabull, who takes clear advantage of it with a two-out double, Janesville takes the lead 2-1. Aquino walks Bobby Bonilla. Bringing up Bill Buckner, who had a home run picked from him by Joe Carter in right, the last time up — Buckner pops up for final out.

Bottom of the 4th — The Tigers’ Dave Winfield leads off with a single. Jesse Barfield with one out, hits one to left, the wind must have caught this one, because now it’s carrying over the fence, what appeared to be a deep routine fly turns out to be a two-run HR, as Traverse City takes the lead, 3-2.

Top of the 5th — lead-off walk to Bobby Bonilla, Bill Buckner would move him to 2nd on a successful sacrifice bunt — Tigers get Buckner at first on good defensive play at first by Pete O’Brien tossing it to Johnny Ray from his knees to first. Aquino then walks the struggling Mike Davis. The Tigers go to the pen for lefty Ken Dayley (4.32 ERA in 15 appearances), he’ll be looking for the double-play against Larry Sheets. Aquino goes 5 1/3, 2 ER’s so far, on 6 hits & 3 walks. Sheets does the Tigers a favor by doing exactly that, hitting into a double-play. Score remains 3-2, T.C. leads.

Top of the 7th — Templeton leads the inning off with a single off Dayley. Walewander squares to bunt, a weak bunt, Hassey pounces on it, guns it to 2nd for one, the throw to first, beautiful double-play! Winfield drops a routine fly to left by Trammell, Trammell makes it to second. But the Juggernauts couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity, as T.C. gets out of the inning.

Bottom of the 7th — Ron Hassey leads off with a single to the right field corner. Johnny Ray moves Hassey to second on a swinging bunt, one out. Tigers pinch-run for Hassey with Lance Johnson now running for him, he’s got good wheels. Parrett still in for Janesville strikes out Rafael Ramirez, and then intentionally walks Mookie Wilson. But nothing comes of the inning as T.C. couldn’t get in any insurance runs.

Top of the 8th — Tigers now have Bob Boone behind the plate, as they keep Dayley in. With one out, Bobby Bonilla draws his 3rd free pass in the game. Johnny Ray boots the ball hit by Buckner, Bonilla moves to 3rd; Runners on 1st & 3rd with only one out. Tigers call on Juan Agosto, the southpaw, to face Mike Davis. The Juggernauts bring in righty Mickey Hatcher to counter Agosto. The Tigers get out of the inning with a double-play.

Top of the 9th — Tigers call on their closer Doug Jones, Jones comes in with a stingy 1.01 ERA! Gets the lead-off man in pinch-hitter Steve Buechele to ground out to Ray. Strikes out Templeton for the second out. Jim Walewander keeps the Juggernauts’ hopes alive with a single over Paul Molitor‘s head, with Trammell coming to the plate. Trammell makes Ramirez work on this one, but the Tigers get Tram by a step. Doug Jones gets his 15th save of the season.

FINAL SCORE: Traverse City 3, Janesville 2 Game #2: The Tigers will have Eric King (2-0, 2.13 ERA) face off against veteran righty Jim Clancy (4-6, 3.52 ERA).

Top of the 1st — Two-out single by Danny Tartabull is followed by a single Bobby Bonilla, bad throw by Paul Molitor as the ball gets by Pete O’Brien — Tartabull to 3rd, Bonilla to 2nd, J’ville is in business. A deep fly to right by Buckner, Carter reaches over his shoulder, falls to the ground with the catch. No score.

Top of the 2nd — Back-to-back hits by the Nauts, with a lead-off single by Mike Davis, Larry Sheets hits a double to put runners on 2nd & 3rd with no outs. Garry Templeton breaks his bat on a RBI single to right, Sheets holds at third, but Janesville is on the board as Davis scores (1-0). No outs, and Jim Walewander clears the bases with a two-run triple. Alan Trammell gets an RBI single, seventh hit by the Juggernauts, as Eric King just looks off today, the Tigers have the bullpen warming up. B.J. Surhoff hits a single, runners now on 1st & 2nd, and the Tigers’ manager has seen enough. The Tigers go to Scott Terry, the right-hander, the last time he pitched, he pitched a no-hitter in Mexico City; he enters with a 2.31 ERA. Runners advance to 2nd & 3rd on ground out by Danny Tartabull. Bonilla hits a fly to right, Trammell scores on the sac fly, two outs, Surhoff stays on 2nd for Janesville. The Tigers finally get out of the inning, but have their work cut o ut for them, down 5-0 early.

Top of the 5th — Tigers take Scott Terry out of the game on three innings of relief (no hits or runs allowed), they will try to preserve some arms, as they have Jim Acker log in his first innings of the 1988 season. A pair of singles by Danny Tartabull & Bobby Bonilla kicks off the inning. With two outs, Jim Acker throws a wild pitch with Larry Sheets at the plate, runners advance to 2nd & 3rd. The next pitch, Sheets hits this one to shallow center, Raines dives, it’s off his chest, Raines comes up with the throw, but both runners will score. Acker would strikeout Templeton to end the inning, but not before the Juggernauts add two more for a huge cushion of a 7-0 lead.

Top of the 6th — B.J. Surhoff gets his 2nd hit of the game, a two-out single. Danny Tartabull hits a double to right as Surhoff scores on a close play at the plate. J’ville 8, T.C. 0.

Bottom of the 8th — Mookie Wilson leads off with a triple off Jim Clancy. The very next play, Paul Molitor hits a deep foul ball to right, Mookie tags up & breaks up Clancy’s shut-out.

Top of the 9th — Tigers yank Jim Acker out of the game, who pitched 4 innings of mop-up work, while the Tigers call on Brian Holton. Holton walks the lead-off man in Bonilla, and then gives up back-to-back singles to Bill Buckner & Mike Davis (Davis has two hits in the game). RBI single for Larry Sheets, bases still loaded with no outs. Buckner scores on the force to second, runners on 1st & 3rd, one out. Another runner would score on a ball hit by Jim Walewander, Molitor could only get the force at 2nd, he couldn’t get the ball out quick enough to set up the double-play. The Nauts add three more, 11-1.

Jim Clancy is taken out after 8 strong innings, 6 hits & 1 walk (1 run) allowed, with 2 K’s. Todd Stottlemyre will get some work for Janesville. Joe Carter would hit a deep solo homer to left, but it’s much too late as Janesville really took it to the Tigers today on 18 hits.

FINAL SCORE: Janesville 11, Traverse City 2 Game #3: Eric Show walks in with an excellent ERA of 2.15, while posting a 7-5 record — as Maddux tries to get the Tigers back to their winning ways, with an even 4-4 record, as he has lowered his ERA down to 3.45.

Top of the 1st — Alan Trammell leads off with a single that drops in front of Joe Carter in right. The ump then calls a balk on Maddux. Maddux sets, oh what’s this? Another balk! Maddux can not believe this, Trammell moves down to 3rd. With one out, the Nauts’ Danny Tartabull flies to deep left, foul territory, Trammell tests Jesse Barfield‘s stong arm in left, and he’s doubled up at home, side retired! Trammell has to be cooled off by his manager, as he argues with the ump.

Top of the 2nd — Bill Buckner hits a one-out double, Mike Davis moves him to 3rd on a single. Larry Sheets hits into what looks like an inning-ending double-play, but Sheets reaches first just in time — Buckner scores, Johnny Ray just didn’t come up with that ball quick enough. Janesville 1, Traverse 0

Bottom of the 2nd — Lead-off homer to left by Joe Carter (his 12th)!

Top of the 7th — What is turning out to be a pitcher’s duel between Greg Maddux (T.C.) & Janesville’s Eric Show, gets interesting as Danny Tartabull leads off with a double that drops between Lance Johnson & Joe Carter. Bobby Bonilla with no outs, hits a single to center, moving the runner to 3rd. RBI single by Mike Davis with one out, scoring in Tartabull, Bonilla moves to 3rd. Mike Davis tries to steal 2nd, but Hassey guns him down, Bonilla holds, 2 outs. Larry Sheets gets a hold of this one as it just clears the wall over Carter’s head, a two-run homer! Janesville leads 4-1.

Top of the 8th — Ken Dayley comes in for Maddux, who just didn’t have his ‘A’ Game today, yielding 9 hits & 4 runs in seven innings.

Bottom of the 8th — Cecilio Guante comes in for Eric Show; Show pitched seven solid innings of three-hit ball, allowing only one run (the solo HR to Carter in the 2nd).

Top of the 9th — Scott Terry gives up a one-out double to Bobby Bonilla (Bonilla’s 3rd hit of the game), Tigers make a change & call on Juan Agosto. Juggernauts go with Mickey Hatcher to pinch-hit for Buckner, as they pinch-run Chris Speier for Bonilla. Hatcher plucks a single to right, still one out, with runners on 1st & 3rd. Agosto walks Mike Davis, bases loaded for Larry Sheets. Agosto strikes out Sheets, and gets Templeton to end the inning with a fly out to Barfield. Janesville still leads 4-1

Bottom of the 9th — Guante still out there for the Nauts, Hatcher stays at first, while Steve Buechele comes in as defensive replacement for Speier. Two-out single by Pete O’Brien, the Tigers bring in pinch-runner Felix Fermin. The Tigers will bring up Tim Raines to pinch-hit for Joe Carter, for the platoon-advantage against Guante. What a good move that was as Tim Raines sends this one over Mike Davis‘s head for a two-run homer, the Tigers are now down by only one run, but they are also down to their last out. That brings up Paul Molitor batting .320 for the season, he has 7 HR’s for the season. Molitor hits a single to right, the tying run is on first — The Tigers go to the big guy to come in off the bench for Jesse Barfield, the crowd is going nuts, prompting J’ville’s manager to make a switch for reliever Mitch Williams, the lefty. A perfectly executed hit & run by Winfield, tying run at 3rd, winning run on 1st. The Tigers will go with right y Bob Boone to pinch-hit for lefty Ron Hassey. The pitch, this one is hit, it’s off the center-field wall, Davis is up with the ball, Molitor scores easily, they are sending Winfield around for the winning run, the throw comes into the infield, the relay, and he’s SAFE! A walk-off by Bob Boone, as Janesville blows this one. The Tigers’ offense entered the inning flat.

FINAL SCORE – Traverse City 5, Janesville 4 Game #4: This one is a pitcher’s duel through the first 5 innings between John Tuder (Janesville) and John Candelaria (Traverse City).

Bottom of the 5th — Nick Esasky hits a two-out single to score Tim Raines. Johnny Ray is plunked by a pitch, runners on 1st & 3rd. Rafael Ramirez hits an RBI single to score Esasky from 2nd, runners on 1st & 2nd – 2 outs. The Nauts would get out of the inning, but not before the Tigers score two.

Top of the 7th — With 2 outs, the Tigers go to the pen for Brian Holton. Candelaria allowed only one hit & no runs in 6 2/3 innings, with 5 K’s.

Bottom of the 7th — Jesse Barfield kicks off the inning with a solo blast to right off Tudor. Tigers lead 3-0.

Top of the 8th — The Tigers counter with RP-Juan Agosto to the Juggernauts’ pinch-hit move of Larry Sheets, Brian Holton pitches a scoreless 7th in relief.

Bottom of the 8th — Joe Carter hits a two-out, two-run homer for some insurance runs. Janesville takes out John Tudor in favor of reliever Cecilio Guante.

Top of the 9th — Doug Jones comes in for a non-save situation to give Agosto a rest, Lance Johnson is in as a defensive replacement for Raines; Raines had two singles & a steal. Jones walks Trammell, and that’s followed up by a Rob Deer double, suddenly the Juggernauts are trying to get something going, maybe a little revenge for the night before. Deer’s double was only the 2nd hit in the game for Janesville. Steve Buechele gets a hold on this one, and drives in both runners, the shutout is broken up, and we have back-to-back doubles by J’ville. Back-to-back fly-outs, as the Juggernauts are down to their final out, Danny Tartabull steps up to the plate. The pitch, and it’s a pop-fly in foul territory, Ray calls off O’Brien and makes the final play of the game.

FINAL SCORE – Traverse City 5, Janesville 2 Game #5: Dave LaPoint vs Bob Welch — LaPoint looks to reverse his fortunes as a Tiger after two lop-sided starts.

Bottom of the 1st — Tigers pay for their aggressiveness, as Mookie Wilson (tagging up) is thrown out at third on a great throw by Danny Tartabull, inning-ending double play.

Bottom of the 2nd — lead-off single by Dave Winfield, is followed up with a free pass to Joe Carter. RBI single by Jesse Barfield, as Winfield challenges Mickey Hatcher‘s weak arm. Runners on 1st & 2nd, no outs, Ron Hassey drills this one to short in the hole, diving stop by Trammell, flip to second for one, over to first double play! Juggernauts doing their best to keep this close, Carter moves to 3rd base. Rafael Ramirez flies to center for final out. Could have been a lot worse, Tigers lead 1-0.

Bottom of the 3rd — Tom O’Malley getting a rare start (starting at 3rd, Molitor at 2nd to give Johnny Ray a day of rest), hits a lead-off single. Mookie sacrifices O’Malley over to 2nd. One, out Paul Molitor hits an RBI double for the Tigers. Pete O’Brien steps up to the plate, wild pitch Molitor advances to third. O’Brien hits a liner at Welch, which is caught — two away. Dave Winfield comes up and hits a fly to center to end the inning. Tigers 2, Nauts 0

Bottom of the 4th — Lead-off double by Joe Carter, Jesse Barfield advances Carter to 3rd on a fly that falls just short of the warning track. With one out, Ron Hassey got some serious wood on this one, but he must have got under it a bit as it dies out and lands in Mike Davis‘s glove, Carter tags up & scores.

Top of the 5th — With one out, Ray Knight smokes one to center at Jesse Barfield, Barfield looks to have it in sight, but it’s over his head… Knight would make it all the way to third on a triple. Chris Speier hits a deep grounder to Paul Molitor at second, Molitor looks Knight back, and goes to first for the second out. Speier didn’t get the job done for the Juggernauts, as Dave LaPoint is one out away from getting out of this one. A hot smash by Mike Davis down the baseline at first, great dive by Pete O’Brien as he gets up & tags first, final out. Lots of noise, but no scoring as Tigers remain in the lead 3-0.

Top of the 6th — The Juggernauts get back-to-back singles by Alan Trammell and Joel Skinner, a wild pitch by Dave LaPoint moves the runners up to 2nd & 3rd with no outs. Steve Buechele grounds out, but gets a runner across the plate, as Skinner advances to 3rd, one out. Bobby Bonilla hits a RBI double, as Skinner scores, trimming the Tigers lead now, down to a run. LaPoint for the most part was pitching a really good, effective game, the last inning he got out of trouble, and now the question is will he at least get out of this inning with a 3-2 lead? The answer will be no in a pitching stance, as the Tigers will send righty Scott Terry to try to get righty Mickey Hatcher out. Hatcher flies to center for the 2nd out. Danny Tartabull now steps up to the plate, hits one to shallow left, Ramirez chases it down for the third out. Tigers 3, Juggernauts 2

Top of the 7th — Brian Holton comes in for Scott Terry, Terry worked the last 2/3 off last inning. Ray Knight hits a single to right, the Juggernauts pinch-run with Jim Walewander. Walewander tries to steal third, Hassey throws it over Molitor’s head, Winfield comes over, Walewander goes for third, the throw…. and he’s OUT! The aggressiveness does not pay off for the Nauts. Holton walks Speier with one out. Mike Davis hits into a fielder’s choice, as they get the lead runner Speier out. A ball to Trammell, Davis is off & running, the throw, this time is on target & in time — Hassey nails Davis at second — still 3-2, Tigers.

Top of the 8th — Steve Buechele hits two-out double, as Bobby Bonilla steps up to the plate. Tigers go to the pen for RP-Ken Dayley (the southpaw) to face Bonilla; Holton went 1 2/3, yielding two hits, he wasn’t too sharp tonight… we’ll see if T.C. can get out of this one, and get the ball to Doug Jones in the 9th. Bonilla flies to left for the final out of the inning.

Top of the 9th — Doug Jones pitches a 1-2-3 ninth, to record his 16th save of the season. Game #6: Luis Aquino, up for another spot start, as he faces off against Jeff Parrett, once again. Tigers currently lead the series 4-1, but it’s been closer than the end result indicates. Those Juggernauts are pesky!

Top of the first — Two-out RBI double for Bobby Bonilla, as Surhoff scores from second. Juggernauts lead 1-0.

Bottom of the first — One-out single by Johnny Ray, which Pete O’Brien follows that up by burying into a pitch and sending the ball into the stands in right. Tigers 2, Juggernauts 1.

Top of the 2nd — Larry Sheets hits a one-out single. Garry Templeton pops it up for the 2nd out. Jim Walewander laces a single to right to keep the inning alive with runners on 1st & 2nd. Alan Trammell steps up to the plate & hammers a pitch to left-center, Larry Sheets is rounding third, Dave Winfield decides to gun it for home, Sheets is safe, Walewander & Trammell advance a base — Runners on 2nd & 3rd, two outs; Game tied 2-2. Lefty B.J. Surhoff steps up against rightie Aquino. Surhoff pulls it to right, the runners both score, Surhoff stretches it for second — a Double! Two ribbies for B.J.! The Nauts take a 4-2 lead.

Bottom of the 3rd — Single by Mookie Wilson, Sheets boots it, Mookie runs to second, score that as a single, as Wilson moves to 2nd on the error by Sheets. Johnny Ray grounds it to second & advances the runner to 3rd, one out. Pete O’Brien who hit a two-run homer up last time, takes the pitch & lines it to Parrett, two away. RBI single for Dave Winfield, as the ball scoots by Walewander at second. Tigers trim it to a 4-3, J’ville lead.

Top of the 7th — The Juggernauts’ Jim Walewander gets things going with a single & a steal. Alan Trammell steps up smacks the ball past a diving Molitor, as the ball goes into the left-field corner, Walewander scores & Trammell trucks into second with a RBI double. Juggernauts add to their lead 5-3.

Bottom of the 9th — Lead-off single for Dave Winfield that drops into right, beyond Walewander’s glove. Tigers pinch-run for Winfield with Lance Johnson, as Molitor steps up to the plate against reliever Cecilio Guante. Molitors execute a perfect hit & run, runners on 1st & 3rd, no outs. Do we have Deja vu, going on here? RBI single by Joe Carter, Johnson scores easily, as Molitor makes it all the way to third, he’s the tying run. Bob Boone executes to hit & run, as Molitor ties it up, Carter moves to third, he’s the winning run with no outs. Mitch Williams is called upon by Janesville, while Tim Raines steps up to the plate. Raines is walked, bases loaded, no outs. Rafael Ramirez steps up to the plate. The pitch, the ball skips past Garry Templeton‘s outstretched glove! It’s over! Not again, can you believe these Tigers?! Game #7: Top of the first — B.J. Surhoff scores from third on a fielding error that bounced off Paul Molitor‘s shoulder.
Juggernauts strike first, 1-0.

Bottom of the 1st — Ramirez is walked, Raines hits into a force, as J’ville gets Ramirez out, but fails to double-up Raines. Raines is off with the pitch, O’Brien smacks it to Buckner, Buckner boots it, no play anywhere, runners on 1st & 2nd. Winfield pops out for second out, while Paul Molitor is walked by Clancy. Joe Carter smacks a single with bases loaded, two runs score, runners on 1st & 2nd, 2 outs. 2-1 Tigers lead, with Bob Boone stepping up to the plate. Boone ground out for final out of the inning.

Top of the 4th — Danny Tartabull hits a solo HR over Barfield’s head, to tie it 2-2.

Bottom of the 4th — Lead-off walk to Bob Boone, Barfield hits a single to make it 1st & 2nd, no outs. Ground out by Johnny Ray to first, moves runners up one base. Rafael Ramirez is walked, loading up the bases for Tim Raines. Jim Clancy pitches a big strikeout, as Raines walks back to the dugout frustrated with himself. Pete O’Brien drills one to right, Rob Deer has his glove out, this one keeps carrying — GRAND SLAM! 6-2 Tigers lead!

Bottom of the 5th — Jim Clancy is taken out of the game for David Palmer, after a one-out single by Joe Carter. Palmer’s first pitch, a two-run homer to Bob Boone. Tigers pad their lead, 8-2.

Top of the 7th — The Juggernauts add a run on a sac fly by Jim Walewander (Templeton scores).

Bottom of the 7th — Tigers add an RBI double by Jesse Barfield (Joe Carter scores). Tigers lead 9-3.

Complete game, victory for Greg Maddux.

Series Summary *

I know the series doesn’t indicate it, but Janesville is a pesky team, with the two blown saves, a victory, and another close game or two, the series could have went 4-3 in Juggernauts’ favor. But the reality is that the Tigers won the series 6-1.