2018 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

Mike_Trout18 Clayton_Kershaw18Starlin_Castro18Kevin_Gausman18

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
TROUT,Mike MCM  AL .531 1.156 7 32 17 3 1 5 # 17 3 5 1 2 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
KERSHAW,Clayton HOL  AL 2 2 0 0 1.69 16 3 3 5 27 4 0 1 0 0 0
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
CASTRO,Starlin SEL  NL .333 .750 6 24 8 1 0 3 5 8 4 1 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
GAUSMAN,Kevin TCP  NL 2 2 0 0 0.00 18 0 0 9 19 5 0 0 0 0 0

Motor City  Muscle @ Southwest Detroit  Fighting Chihuahuas

Series Summary:  Slaughter.

Hollywood  Werewolves @ Southbend  Lynx

Series Preview:  Hollywood opening their 16th season in MWBL and looking to add to their streak of 6 division titles. They fell short last year in the ALCS to Chicago.
Game #1:  Hollywood sends Clayton Kershaw to the mound on Opening Day. Boy was he good.

Quiz: What do these dates have in common

4/23/2010
6/1/2010
5/6/2014
5/24/2016
7/11/2016
4/4/2018

They are all Clayton Kershaw NO-HITTERS!!!!! Kershaw strikes out what is believed to be an MWBL record tying 19 en route to WHAT HAS TO BE an MWBL record 7th no hitter!!!!

Hollywood wins 1-0

Game #2:  Southbend ties it in the 8th and wins it in the 16th 5-4
Game #3:  David Price brilliant in the 2-1 victory to give Hollywood the edge in the series
Game #4:  Doug Fister was so-so in his debut, but the offense was productive. Hollywood wins 13-5
Game #5:  Another good Hollywood pitching performance, this by newcomber, Jackson Stephens. Chris Iannetta’s 2-run shot was the difference in the 2-0 win
Game #6:  Kershaw was good, but got tired in the 7th. He held on for the 4-3 win.
Game #7:  Other than game 1, easily the most exciting game of the series. This was nearly a coaching snafu. Hollywood and John Lackey jumps out to an 8-2 lead. Trying to save the bullpen, Hollywood leaves Lackey out there to fend for himself and missed his grade dropped to a “2”. Well, it nearly cost them as Chris Gimenez hammered a 3-run homer to tie the game in the 8th. The game goes into extras and Southbend scores 2 in the top of the 11th to take the lead. With 2-outs and the bases loaded, Kenta Marte knocks in 2 to tie it, then Matt Chapman stepped in.MARTE takes a good lead … MARTE is off with the pitch … it’s lined up the middle … base hit

it’s all over … WONG will score and the Werewolves win 11-10!!

Series Summary:  Hollywood takes 6 of 7.

Tijuana  Bottle Rockets @ Detroit  Crime

Series Summary:  Tijuana takes series 4-3 over Detroit.  Two injuries Nelson Tijuana 24 days & Harper Detroit 21 days.

Valdosta  Snappers @ Selkirk  Steelers

Series Preview:  Selkirk are better than last year but still not a .500 club. Valdosta is a better team but seem like .500 is their likely end.
Game #1:  Selkirk gets two Castro homers yet Davies was awful as Voldesta wins 9-4.As Reynolds and Robinson homer.
Game #2:  Selkirk pounds out 4 more homers as Souza, Valaika, Boujois and Merrero homer.Ramirez gets the win his only opps was a 3 run homer to Robinson. Selkirk 10 Valdosta 5
Game #3:  Donaldson homers for Valdosta but so does Souza for Selkirk as Shield gets the win. Selkirk 4 Valdosta 3
Game #4:  Gibson is hurt after one out and the work horse start will be headed to the DL for a long time. Donaldson loved the Selkirk pen and hit 2 homers. Hammel throws a 2 hitter as Voldosta wins 7-1
Game #5:  Castro hits a 3 run homer in the first as Selkirk holds on for a 4-3 win
Game #6:  Reynolds comes up big as Valdosta wins the game 4-3 to tie the series.
Game #7:  Sano and Ichiro homer as Valdosta claims the rubber game 7-4.
Series Summary:  Pitcher of the week 2 hit one unearned run gem by Hammel (Val). For player of the week Starlin Castro(Sel) he hit .333 with 3 homers and 8 rbis.

Sacramento  Capitals @ Pittsburgh  Lumber Company

Series Preview:  Facing Scherzer and Sale to start the season? Gee, thanks!
Series Summary:  In the 6 game series, 5 games are decided by one run. Safe to say these two teams are evenly matched!
It’s a split – Pittsburgh wins three 8-7, 5-2, and 6-5, while dropping three 3-2, 5-4 (10), and 3-2.

Triple Creek Patriots @ Portland Lumber Jax

Series Preview:  The Triple Creek Patriots head to the Rose City, the new home of the Portland LumberJax. The Patriots were 87-63, while the LumberJax where 51-99 under the Grand Haven Gators. Triple Creek is a team on the rise after a disappointing 2016. The offense looks good top to bottom, but the starting pitching is questionable.

Portland fields a rag-tag group of mostly unproven youngsters, especially on the mound. Parting ways with Marcell Ozuna and had fans and curious onlookers scratching their heads, especially when topped with Tyler Mahle as their first round pick, but management is hoping a core of young starters in Jack Flaherty (50), Walker Buehler (19), Tyler Mahle (85), German Marquez (190 2017), Kyle Freeland, Jeff Hoffman (67 2017) and Brandon Finnegan has at least a few core pieces for the future.

Game #1:  Triple Creek welcomes the LumberJax into the league with sheer dominance and an 11-0 win. Gausman pitcers a 6-hit complete game shutout, and Cody Bellinger (ROY favorite) gets his first of many homeruns. Gonzalez and Rivera also go deep for the Patriots. Mahle gets rocked in his first game on the mound for Portland, giving up 6 earned runs.

TCP 11, POR 0, W Gausman, L Mahle.

Game #2:  Alex Wood goes down with injury in 4th for TCP (out 16 days). The Patriots lead 3-1 after the top of the 8th, but Portland gets runs in the 8th and 9th innings to send it to extras. Saladino gets a walkoff base hit in the bottom of the 10th to give Portland its first every MWBL win.

POR 4, TCP 3, W Freeman, L Reed

Game #3:  Portland scores 5 runs in the 3rd inning and then 2 in the 4th to take the lead and cruise to the win. Four HRs lead the way for Portland. It is Portland’s first ever above .500 record… and potentially its last for a while.

POR 8, TCP 2, W Freeland, L Newcomb

Game #4:  TCP scores NINE runs in the 5th inning, as the Portland fans head to the beer stands. Seager gets his second HR on the year for TC, and Chisenhall blasts two in the game. Headley also added another. In what proved to be a trend for the series, two more players go down with serious injuries (both for the Patriots). Patriots rack up 17 hits for the game.

TCP 14, POR 2, W Cotton, L Gaviglio

Game #5:  Yet another injury plagued game with both teams already struggling to field healthy players. TCP starter Graveman gets rocked early and leaves after 2 2/3rds innings. Portland squeaks out the 8-6 win in a back and forth affair.

POR 8, TCP 6, W Marquez, S Petit, L Law

Game #6:  Yep, more injuries as Portland starter Tyler Mahle goes down in the 2nd inning (20 days). Portland once again gets the win in extras.

POR 5, TCP 4, W Freeman, L Soria

Game #7:  Gausman is even better in this one, as he shuts Portland out for the second time in the series, as Triple Creek gets the dominant 9-0 win.

TCP 9, POR 0, W Gausman, L Senzatela

Series Summary:  Portland unexpectedly gets a series win, its first ever, 4-3, despite getting outscored 50-27.

Highlights
Kevin Gausman 18 straight shutout innings to start the season!
Seager and Billinger 4 HRs each! Kevin Pillar with 3?!

Lowlights – Injuries galore!

TCP Wood 16 days
POR Beckham 5 days
POR Galvis 0 days
TCP Gonzalez 12 Days
TCP Brantley 12 days
TCP Seager 1 day
TCP Chisenhall 11 days
POR Pillar 1 day
POR Mahle 20 days

Long Beach  Dirt Bags @ Rosemere  Renegades

Series Preview:  Season Opener for the Rosemere 930’s (also known as the Rosemere 1080’s)
Game #1:  Hopes aren’t high unless I look at my Farm Club (Kingery (must) / Tatis jr / Urias / Cortes / Eovaldi) as some could make their debut in 2018.
Game #2:  LB plates 7 in the first 3 innings as Lynn went the distance in an easy 7-0 win.
Game #3:  The Renegades proved to be a much tougher opponent in game 2. But the result was similar as Dietrich plates the winning run in T11 for a 2-1 win.
Game #4:  LB scores 3 in T1 but RR has an answer for it as they score 4 in B1. A couple of run in B5 / B7 ensures RR their first win of the season 8-5
Valbunea (5) / Maxwell (10) both got injured for the visitors.
Pinder went deep twice while collecting 5 rbis.
Game #5:  LB early scoring continues as they put 5 in T1 but the locals take the lead in the 6th when they put 5 on the board as well thank to Motter GS. LB puts 2 in T8 for a 7-6 victory.
2 errors for the locals allowed for 3 unearned runs.
Game #6:  LB was up 7-3 after 7 but couldn’t hold on to that lead as RR scores 4 times in B8 and steals the game in B9 8-7 the final.
Valencia (11) / Diaz (4) got injured.
Game #7:  It was finally the local who jumped to an early lead but it was also the local who could not hold on to it. from 0-2, LB took the final game 4-2 and the series 4-3.
Series Summary:  It was a fun series overall and was close for the most part.

Jersey  Nor’easters @ Harsens Island  Walleye

Series Preview:  The Harsens Island Walleye play their first ever game against the always tough Jersey Nor’easters
Game #1:  Gio Gonzalez and the Walleye eek out their first ever win 4-3.
W S. Alexander
L B. Shaw
S F. Rodney
Game #2:  Nor’Easter bats too much for Harsens Island to handle.
Jersey wins 8-1. Not only did the Walleye lose the game, they lost their first baseman Brandon Belt for a couple of weeks.
W M. Garza
L L. Servino
Game #3:  Jersey comes out swinging again winning 10-1. Dominant pitching limits the Walleye to 4 hits.
W M. Montgomery
L J. Urena
Game #4:  Harsens Island evens up the series winning 4-1. First round pick Johan Camargo slaps 4 hits and starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez allows 3 hits in his 8 innings of brilliance.
W E. Rodriguez
L D. Megden
S F. Rodney
Game #5:  Starting pitcher Matt Andriese provides the offense crushing a 2 run homer. The Walleye win 5-2.
W M. Andriese
L D. Lamet
Game #6:  Gio Gonzalez dominates in a 5-2 win. He goes the distance allowing only 2 hits.
W G. Gonzalz
L J. Junis
Game #7:  Five 9th inning runs was the difference in the Jersey victory. Jesrey 9 Harsens Island 5.
W D. Strailey
L L. Servino
Series Summary:  Playing our first ever series I realized that I never want to see Lucas Duda or Tommy Pham again. Great series against the very tough Jersey Nor’easters

Coconut Creek  Crushers @ Fremont  Cannons

Series Preview:  Opening series!
Game #1:  Austin Pruitt limits the Crushers to two runs in five innings, and Fremont wins 5-2. Khris Davis goes 3-4 with a home run.
Game #2:  Eric Skoglund allows only one unearned run in eight innings, and strong pitching again propels the Cannons to a win, 4-1. Manuel Margot goes 2-3 with a double and a triple.
Game #3:  The Crushers chase Jaime Garcia after 1.1 IP and scoring 6 runs. That would be enough for their first victory of the season, 6-2. Mookie Betts homered twice to lead the way.
Game #4:  Dylan Bundy allows only two hits in six innings, and the Fremont bullpen is strong enough for a 3-1 victory. Khris Davis hits his second home run of the season.
Game #5:  Coconut Creek scores in the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, and Blake Snell picks up his first win in the Crushers’ 6-4 victory. Mookie Betts goes 3-5 with his third homer of the year.
Game #6:  Fremont’s bullpen implodes, allowing the tying run in the ninth and three runs in the tenth for the 5-2 extra-inning win for Coconut Creek. Mookie Betts launched his fourth home run of the new season.
Series Summary:  The series is split 3-3. 

Chicago  Mobsters @ Yonge Street  Stalkers

Series Preview:  Chicago heads north into Canada for the Opening Series of the 2018 Mid-West Baseball League season – taking on their rivals from the north the Stalkers from Yonge Street.
Game #1:  This one set the wrong tone for the whole series for the Stalkers. A 12 day injury in the 2nd inning to Stalker starting pitcher Ivan Nova which just messed up the rotation, the pitchers & the Stalkers in general. Freddie Freeman making his Mobsters debut was 3 for 3 with a Home Run & 3 RBI’s. J.D. Martinez, Andrelton Simmons & Jose B. Reyes all had a Home Runs & 3 RBI’s as well. This one wasn’t pretty for the Stalkers.

Final Score: Chicago 15 – Yonge Street 0
Win: Marcus Stroman 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Ivan Nova 0-1 (9.00)

Game #2:  Andrew McCutchen Doubled & Homered, Jose Quintana went 7.1 allowing only 1 Earned Run.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Yonge Street 1
Win: Jose Quintana 1-0 (1.23)
Loss: Taijuan Walker 0-1 (7.50)

Game #3:  Kris Bryant has 2 Home Runs & 3 RBI’s for the Stalkers. The top of Chicago’s line up between Buster Posey, Freddie Freeman & Dexter Fowler had 7 Hits, 5 Runs, 6 RBI’s. Chicago’s bullpen allows only 1 Earned Runs in 4 Innings.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Yonge Street 7
Win: Chad Green 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Joe Kelly 0-1 (10.80)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #1

Game #4:  Bill Hamilton, Freddie Freeman & Dexter Fowler all scored a Run, & had 2 RBI’s.
C.C. Sabathia was solid for 6.2 Innings allowing only 1 Earned Run.
Final Score: Chicago 9 – Yonge Street 2
Win: C.C. Sabathia 1-0 (1.35)
Loss: Marco Estrada 0-1 (9.00)
Game #5:  Chicago puts up another big score. Alex Bregman was the offensive star in this one going 4 for 5 with 2 Runs Scored, a Home Run & 5 RBI’s. Julio Teheran making his Mobsters debut goes 5.2 Innings allowing only 1 Earned Run on 4 hits, 4 walks, while Striking Out 4.C.C.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Yonge Street 2
Win: Julio Teheran 1-0 (1.59)
Loss: Michael Pineda 0-1 (14.29)

Game #6:  Matt Cain had to make a spot start as the Stalkers placed Ivan Nova on the Disabled List. This time the Mobsters bottom of the lineup that did the damage. Joes B. Reyes had 3 hits in 4 trips including a Home Run & 4 RBI’s. Andrelton Simmons went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s.

Final Score: Chicago 11 – Yonge Street 3
Win: Marcus Stroman 2-0 (0.82)
Loss: Matt Cain 0-1 (7.94)

Game #7:  The Stalkers played this one close. Trea Turner out of the leadoff spot was 2 for 6 with a Home Run & 2 RBI’s. For Chicago Freddie Freeman was 4 for 6 with 3 RBI’s. Alex Bregman had 3 RBI’s as well. It went extra, but Chicago put up a big 4 spot in the 12th for the win.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Yonge Street 5
Win: Dellin Betances 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Gerritt Cole 0-1 (14.54)

Series Summary:  Chicago sweeps the series, but the tone of the series was set in the 2nd inning of Game #1 when Ivan Nova went down. Stalkers Micro Manager Buck Miller III used starters in relief & just made a mess of the Stalkers rotation. Look for the Stalkers to rebound next week vs. the Mesa Solar Sox. The Mobsters head to Southwest Detroit for week #2 in hopes of handling the Fighting Chihuahuas by kicking them around.

Bethesda  Bandicoots @ Corktown  Cycle

Series Preview:  2018 Season begins as Bethesda travels to Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood for a series of 7.
Game #1:  One strength of the 2018 Cycle roster appears to be their ace Robbie Ray who begins the season with 7 shutout innings, and the pen shuts it down. Rookie Hunter Renfroe gets his first HR of the season.

Corktown 2-0
W. Robbie Ray 1-0
L. Jake Arrieta 0-1
S. Corey Knebel (1)

Game #2:  Bandicoot starter Alex Cobb was rolling through 7, but blew a 4-0 lead as the Cycle bats went to fire. Back to back Homeruns by Chris Taylor and Michael Taylor kicked it off.
5-4
W.Blake Treinen 1-0
L. Alex Cobb 0-1
S. Corey Knebel (2)
Game #3:  Bethesda jumped all over Cycle starter Tom Koehler 1.1 innings. They never looked back. Nice performance by Sonny Gray to give the Bandicoots their first w of the season.

Bethesda 9-3
W. Sonny Gray 1-0
L. Tom Koehler 0-1

Game #4:  The tide had completely turned as the Bandicoots have things figured out. Rich Hill and company roll. Rookie pitcher Jose Berrios had a nice outing for Corktown, but it was the pen who gave up all the runs. Former Cycle and current Bandicoot Robinson Chirinos homered.

Bethesda 7-0
W. Rich Hill 1-0
L. Jose Berrios 0-1

Game #5:  A back and fourth battle had both teams dipping deep into the pens. This one went 12 as it was Adam Rosales notches the GW PH RBI.

Bethesda 3-2 (12)
W. Ryan Tepera 1-0
L. Chasen Shreve 0-1

Game #6:  The Ace rematch once again goes to Robbie Ray and the Cycle, even though Jake Arrieta pitched well.

Corktown 2-1
W. Robbie Ray 2-0
L. Jake Arrieta 0-2
S. Corey Knebel (3)

Game #7:  The rubber match was a pitchers duel won by Alex Cobb, who gave the Bandicoots 8 strong shutout innings to preserve a 1-0 victory. Lorenzo Cain scores the only run of the game and probably takes the series MVP batting .458 from the lead off spot.

Bethesda 1-0
W. Alex Cobb 1-1
L. Daniel Gossett 0-1
S. Ryan Madson (1)

Series Summary:  A great series that was won by the better team. Corktown fans are not disappointed as they got to watch some of their young tallant battle.
Bethesda wins the series 4-3

Columbus  Explorers @ Tempe  Tempers

Series Preview:  Columbus visits Tempe for a seven game series. The Tempers stack the pen and go with a three man rotation to start the season while the Explores send out the traditional five man rotation.
Game #1:  Santana just missed a complete game shutout when Castillo hit a game tying two run homerun in the bottom of the 9th with two outs. Jackson triple and a walkoff single by Tulo won the game in the 10th.
Tempe 3-2
Game #2:  Cabrera and Castillo go deep for Tempe and Chacin goes five innings for the win. Lester picked up the three inning save in a lopsided win.
Tempe 7-1
Game #3:  Nunez put Columbus up early with a solo homerun in the 2nd. Blackman gunned a runner at the plate to preserve the shutout early on. Tempe finally got to Happ in the 6th when Votto took him deep a two run homerun. Olson came on and worked out of bases loaded jam in the 7th for Tempe. Jackson rbi double gave Holland some extra insurance as he recorded his 1st save in two years.
Tempe 3-1
Game #4:  A couple stolen bases and an error allowed the Explores to jump out to a 2-0 lead on one hit against Greinke. Biagini worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 4th and only gave up one run. Albies first homerun of his early career tied the game in the 5th. Tulo came up with a two run rbi double to put Tempe up 4-2 in the 6th. Infante picked up his second win of the season in relief.
Tempe 4-2
Game #5:  Chacin went 8.2 scoreless innings for his second win of the series. Jackson hit three run HR to put the game out of reach.
Tempe 5-0
Game #6:  Columbus jumped out to an early lead on two run homerun by Carpenter. Tempe rallied back with two run homeruns by Davis and Gattis. A Cabrera bases loaded double in the 8th put the game out of reach. Infante picked up his 3rd win of the year in relief.
Tempe 10-4
Game #7:  Greinke surrendered early homeruns to Carpenter and Blackmon that gave Columbus a 4-0 lead after three innings. Tomlin kept Tempe off balance for six innings and only allowed a solo homerun to Adams in the 5th. Watson, O’day, and Rusin pitched the final three innings to preserve the win.
Columbus 4-1
Series Summary:  The Tempers fared better than expected and won 6 of 7 against their Division rivals. The Explorers bats were surprisingly ice cold while Tempe’s pen was red hot all series. Austin Jackson was the hitter of the series with a 1.382 OPS. Chacin was the pitcher of the series going 2-0 with 13.2 scoreless innings.

Mesa  Solar Sox @ Virginia  Sluggers

Series Preview:  Two teams with lots of hope but more unknowns ahead of them met in a small town in Virginia called Yorktown. The place where General Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington and thus gave birth to the United States of America, who also had it’s share of unknowns ahead of them. As the Blue Angels flew overhead and a combined Army/Navy Military band played a moving rendition of the “Star-Bangled Banner”, the huge crowd of over 40,000 rose to it’s feet to embrace the anticipation of yet another season where anything was possible.
Game #1:  VIR 5-0 W- C.Archer (1-0) L- R.Nolasco (0-1)

The type of game VIR needed as Chris Archer dominated on the mound. Throwing a CG shut-out, Archer allowed only 5 hits while walking just 1 and fanning 8. Ricky Nolasco was not as fortunate as he struggled through 6 innings giving up 8 hits and 4 runs. George Springer scored the first Virginia run of the season as he scored on a RBI ground out by Jackie Bradley in the 2nd. In the bottom of the 2nd, Nomar Mazara sliced a pitch into right for Mesa’s first hit of the season. The score stayed 1-0 until the 4th… “RIZZO gets plenty of wood on this ball…headed for the gap in right center … it may carry … go crazy, folks, go crazy!…it’s a home run!” It became a 5-0 game in the 7th as Virginia tagged on 3 more runs, 2 on RBI singles and the 3rd run on an Anthony Rizzo SF. From there Archer had the game in control and the Sluggers grabbed there first victory of the season.

Game #2:  VIR 8-0 W- T. Williams (1-0) C. Richard (0-1)

VIR strikes early as they get 5 runs in the 2nd inning highlighted by a 2-run single by Whit Merrifield and a 2-run triple by Anthony Rizzo. This gave Trevor Wiliams a nice lead to work with and he coasted the rest of the way, allowing only 5 hits in his complete game victory. Nick Markakis was 3-3 scoring 3 runs and hitting his first homer of the year.

Game #3:  MSS 7-6 (13 Inns.) W- S. Dyson (1-0) L – C.Gearrin (0-1)

A 2-run homer by Yonder Alonso in the 1st inning gave the Solar Sox the jump start they needed. Over the next 3 innings they picked up 3 more runs and held a 6-5 lead going into the 7th. In the bottom of the 7th…”A. RIZZO facing D. HERNANDEZ, B 7th, 1 Out, Bases Empty, Behind 5-6…He lets one go … and it’s pulled hard to right … it’s deep enough if it’s fair … hooking…fair ball! … home run for RIZZO … Anthony ties it up! SOLAR SOX 6, SLUGGERS 6″ For another 5 innings the two teams traded goose eggs. Then in the top of the 13th,…”N. MAZARA facing C. GEARRIN, T 13th, No Outs, Bases Empty, Tied 6-6…The pitch from GEARRIN … and it’s pulled hard to right … it’s deep enough if it’s fair…hooking … fair ball! … home run for MAZARA” Sam Dyson locked it down for Mesa and picked up his and the team’s first save of the year.

Game #4:  VIR 5-3 W – T.Adleman (1-0) L – I.Kennedy (0-1)

Though they were out-hit by the Solar Sox, the Sluggers got a big 3-run blast from Niel Walker in a 5 run 3rd and were able to have the bull-pen do it’s job to keep Mesa from scoring any more runs.

Game #5:  MSS–6-4 W – M.Fulmer (1-0) L – T.Cahill (0-1)

Eugenio Suarez’ 2-run jack in the 1st gave MSS a lead until VIR tied it in the 5th on a 2-run double by Anthony Rizzo. Tied 3-3, Mesa quickly regained the lead in the top of the 6th as Steven Voght rips a RBI single and Trevor Cahill uncorks a run-scoring wild pitch. With a 5-4 lead, the Solar Sox tacked on another run in the 7th and held on to claim the victory.

Game #6:  VIR 3-2 W – L.Castillo (1-0) L – R.Nolasco (0-2)

Ricky Nolasco gutted out 8 innings of 5-hit ball but fell victim to the long ball. Carlos Santana corked a 2-run jimmy-jack in the 4th and Anthony Rizzo’s 3rd homer of the young season, gave VIR the slim 3-2 victory.

Game #7:  MSS 2-0 W – C.Richard (1-1) L – C.Archer (1-1)

Clayton Richard owned the game. A complete game shut-out with only 1 hit. So close to a no hitter. Richard only had 2 runs to work with and he got them in the 1st and 2nd innings on RBI’s by Alonso and Anderson. But he made those 2 runs hold up as he continually baffled batters and kept all threats at bay. A sweet victory for Mesa to end the series with.

Series Summary:  Virginia wins the series 4-3 but finds out they can’t hit grade 3 starters. Not a good sign. If that continues, it will be another long season. On the other hand, Mesa handled higher grade pitchers with ease,…a good sign for what could be a fun and interesting season.
Mesa goes home to host Yonge Street while Virginia takes to the road to visit Coconut Creek.

Manhattan  Project @ Dallas  Cougars

Series Preview:  2018 Opening series
Game #1:  Nelson Cruz leads off the game with a single for Manhattan, but then gets picked off, “The pitch … ball … and they’ve got CRUZ off first … PINA throws down … they nail him! picked off … that’s one!”

In the bottom of the first A.J. Pollock lead off with a double and Josh Harrison followed with a single to give Dallas a 1-0 lead.

In the third with one out Josh Harrison bloops a single just out of the reach of Asdrubal Cabrera and then steals 2nd base. After a walk and a line out Jose Pirela came up for his second AB of the season, “The pitch … sliced down the right field line … will it stay fair? … yes! it’s in play
CRUZ’s after it … HARRISON scores … ROJAS’s around third … they’re waving ROJAS in … CABRERA will relay and he scores … PIRELA holds second with a double … as the throw comes back in – two runs score on PIRELA’s double … and the COUGARS now lead 3-0”

In the top of the 4th the Project chipped away at the lead helped by some wildness by Cougar starter Chase Anderson. After getting the first out Anderson allowed an RBI single to Nori Aoki. Then another batter plunked to load the bases led to the 2nd run of the inning on an error by Dallas catcher Manny Pina.

In the bottom of the 5th the Cougars roared back. After Pollock led off the inning with a single Project starter Drew Pomeranz was thrown out of the game, “POMERANZ deals … it’s off his elbow … hold on … that’s it! … Drew POMERANZ is gone! the plate umpire has turned his back on him … there will be no discussion HARRISON’s in pain … but he seems to be OK … and he trots down to first” It was clear to home plate umpire, Joe West that this was in retaliation for the two batters Chased Anderson hit in the 4th and he was not going to put up with it. One out later Jose Abreu drives in both runners with a single. Two batters later Abreu would score on a ground out as Dallas was comfortably in front midway through game 1 by a score of 6 to 2.

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 7, MANHATTAN 2
C. ANDERSON, W, 1- 0
SB: J. HARRISON (1)
Team LOB: 9
D. POMERANZ, L, 0- 1
Team LOB: 5

Game #2:  Cougar starter Dallas Keuchel gives up a two out solo homer in the first and a leadoff homer in the 2nd, but that was all the scoring the Project could manage against the southpaw. Meanwhile the Cougars scored 6 times of the third and fourth innings:

B 3rd, 1 Out, 2nd and 3rd, Behind 0-2 “Infield deep … CHATWOOD looks TOLES back to third … the pitch … it’s lined hard to left center HERNANDEZ is racing back … it’s in there for a hit … HERNANDEZ cuts it off in the gap TOLES scores … HARRISON is around third they’re waving HARRISON in and he scores … tie ballgame! … PRESLEY holds at first with a single”

B 4th, 1 Out, 1st and 2nd, Tied 2-2 “The runners take their lead … CHATWOOD kicks and delivers … sliced down the right field line will it stay fair? … yes! it’s in play … CRUZ’s after it … PINA scores … COUGARS lead! POLANCO’s rounding third they’re waving POLANCO in … CABRERA will relay here comes the throw home here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … SAFE!…on a close play POLANCO just outran the ball … and HARRISON holds with a double
COUGARS 4, PROJECT 2”

B 4th, 1 Out, Bases Loaded, Ahead 4-2 “Infield deep … the pitch … PIRELA bruises this one … heading for the gap in left center but GARCIA gets over quickly … and flags it down on the first bounce … HARRISON scores PRESLEY is around third … ABREU is well around second they’re waving PRESLEY in PRESLEY scores … ABREU holds second … as the throw comes in … the single drives in two … the score now 6-2”

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 6, MANHATTAN 2
D. KEUCHEL, W, 1- 0
Team LOB: 9
T. CHATWOOD, L, 0- 1
HR: K. SEAGER (1), H. RAMIREZ (1)
Team LOB: 6

Game #3:  With one out in the 2nd Jose Pirela got his first homer of the year – a solo shot. Cabrera would tie the game for Manhattan in the third with his second double of the year, but Dallas came right back in the home half when Gregor Blanco led off with an infield single scoring two batters later when Alex Presley singled him home. Then Abreu put the icing on the cake, “They’re holding PRESLEY … but he’s well off the bag … TANAKA kicks and delivers ABREU lines one deep to right … CRUZ’s got a long way to go … still after it he’s on the track … and it clears the fence! … two-run shot for ABREU … his 1st home run of the season … the score now 4-1 … that gives ABREU 4 RBI on the season”

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 4, MANHATTAN 1
A. CASHNER, W, 1- 0
E. DIAZ, SOP S, 1
HR: J. ABREU (1), J. PIRELA (1)
Team LOB: 4
M. TANAKA, L, 0- 1
Team LOB: 5

Game #4:  In the bottom of the first after Abreu singled home a run Jedd Gyorko stepped up looking for his first hit of the season, “PORCELLO comes set … here he comes oh, baby! … you can get a new ball ready ump! … a long home run for GYORKO way, way back to left – a three-run shot … his 1st home run of the season … and the COUGARS now lead 4-0”

In the top of the 2nd Manhattan also had a player looking for his first hit – Ehire Adrianza, “GARCIA down the line some at third … CORBIN cranks it up ADRIANZA drives a liner to deep center … POLLOCK is racing back it has double written all over it … POLLOCK corrals the ball … GARCIA scores KINSLER is around third they’re waving him in here comes the throw home
here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … in standing … and ADRIANZA holds with a double …
the PROJECT get two back … they trail by two 4-2 for ADRIANZA, his 1st double and 1st hit of the season”

The Project got closer when Wilson Ramos singles home Cruz in the top of the third after Dallas starter Patrick Corbin got a big double play ball and they were able to tie the game in the 6th off a single by Cabrera, but Gyorko hit his 2nd homer of the year in the bottom of the 6th and Dallas added two insurance runs in the 8th to win going away.

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 8, MANHATTAN 4
P. CORBIN, W, 1- 0
HR: J. GYORKO 2(2)
SB: G. POLANCO (1)
Team LOB: 3
R. PORCELLO, L, 0- 1
SB: G. HERNANDEZ (1)
Team LOB: 9

Game #5:  Daniel Norris didn’t have it for Dallas, but still managed to make it through 5 innings and Seth Maness pitched admirably in relief for 3 innings.

FINAL SCORE: MANHATTAN 11, DALLAS 5
M. LEITER, W, 1- 0
HR: K. SEAGER (2), W. RAMOS (1), H. RAMIREZ (2)
Team LOB: 3
D. NORRIS, L, 0- 1
HR: A. TOLES (1), J. BRUGMAN (1)
SB: K. TOMLINSON (1)
Team LOB: 9

Game #6:  Pollock leads off the bottom of the first with a home run to give Dallas an early 1-0 lead. Abreu doubles home two more in the third to increase the lead to 3-0. Dallas starter Chase Anderson was cruising into the 4th when he gave up his first hit of the game with two outs to Nelson Cruz, who hit his first homer of the year for the Project, “And now the pitch … muscled to deep left … this one has a passport … adios, amigo it’s long gone!” Pollock gets a RBI-single in the 4th. Yangervis Solarte hit his first homer of the year in the 6th and the Cougars added one more run in the same inning on an error as they won their 5th game of the series.

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 6, MANHATTAN 1
C. ANDERSON, W, 2- 0
HR: A. POLLOCK (1), Y. SOLARTE (1)
Team LOB: 8
D. POMERANZ, L, 0- 2
HR: N. CRUZ (1)
Team LOB: 3

Game #7:  Probably the best game of the series. The Cougars out homered the Project 3 to 2.

T 1st, “The offering from KEUCHEL … he goes the opposite way … high fly deep to right
POLANCO got a good jump … he’s at the warning track … say good-bye to this one…it’s gone!
home run for GARCIA … and two runs score. GARCIA has his 1st homer of the season and the PROJECT go ahead by two 2-0 … 1st inning”

B 3rd, 1 Out, 1st and 3rd, Behind 1-2, “PROJECT playing for the double play … CHATWOOD looks HARRISON back to third … here’s the pitch oh, baby! … you can get a new ball ready ump! … a long home run for ABREU way, way back to left … Jose trots around the bases … he loves a trip downtown he’s greeted at home plate … congratulations all around. So ABREU wins this round with a three-run homer … his 2nd home run of the season and the COUGARS take the lead from the PROJECT! … they now lead 4-2 … listen to that crowd! … ABREU now has 10 runs batted in on the season”

T 4th, 2 Outs, Runner on 2nd, Behind 2-4, “The pitch … it’s deep … out to TOLES … it’s over his head … it’s long gone! a two-run homer for RAMOS So RAMOS pops a two-run dinger … his 2nd home run of the season … they are now even at 4-4 that gives RAMOS 7 RBI on the season”

B 4th, 2 Outs, Runner on 2nd, Tied 4-4, “HARRISON moves quietly toward third … now the delivery … it’s lined to center field HERNANDEZ’s chasing it down … still after it … he’s up with it
HARRISON’s well around third … they’re waving HARRISON in and he scores … COUGARS lead! … as the throw comes in to second PRESLEY holds at first with a single. The COUGARS break the tie and now lead 5-4 “

Back to back homers in the 5th inning by Solarte and Pina closed out the scoring and Dallas hung on for their 6th opening series victory.

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 8, MANHATTAN 4
D. KEUCHEL, W, 2- 0
E. DIAZ, SOP S, 2
HR: J. ABREU (2), Y. SOLARTE (2), M. PINA (1)
Team LOB: 5
T. CHATWOOD, L, 0- 2
HR: A. GARCIA (1), W. RAMOS (2)
Team LOB: 3

Series Summary:  Dallas takes the series 6 games to 1

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