2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
SUAREZ,Eugenio	MSS AL	.269	.731	7	26	7	0	0	4	7	12	7	5	0	0	0	1

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
SAMARDZIJA,Jeff	SBL AL	2	2	0	0	1.17	15	2	2	5	11	5	0	1	0	1	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
MORELAND,Mitch	SAC NL	.357	.893	7	28	10	3	0	4	7	13	6	4	0	0	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
GREINKE,Zack	SAC NL	2	2	0	0	0.00	16	0	0	6	15	1	0	0	0	0	0

Rosemere Renegades @ Bethesda Bandicoots
Series Preview:	Break out the lumber and suit it in your best flak jacket if you’re sitting in the outfield bleachers – the 2020 MWBL Season is underway. Bethesda will open the season with Larry Walker throwing out the first pitch as the Bandicoots take on the Rosemere Renegades.
Game #1:	What a great way to open the season! Everything in this game was flying. The Renegades came out of the gate with a mad look in their eyes and before you could blink they were up 2-0 on Fernando Tatis’s sound barrier-breaking shot to left field off poor Merrill Kelly. Yuesei Kikuchi looked sharp in the first inning but things dulled quickly for the lefty as the Bandicoots jumped on him for a couple of runs on a solo homer by David Peralta and an RBI single by the Bethesda pitcher. The Renegades regained the lead in the 5th with a single run off Kelly when David Fletcher singled home Scott Kingery who would be a thorn in the Bandicoots’ butt cheeks all afternoon. They added another run in the 7th when Andrew Knapp scored on Aledmys Diaz’s throwing error to try and get the catcher as he tried to move from 2nd to 3rd. Anthony Rendon brought the Bandicoots within one with a nifty flyball that just cleared the left field wall in the bottom of the 7th off Robert Gsellman and then tied it in the bottom of the 8th on Ryan O’Hearn’s pinch-hit line drive homer off Alec Mills that curved right around the right field foul pole. The Renegades ran riot throughout the first 9 innings, stealing eight straight bases off the Bandicoots and their beleaguered, baby-armed catcher Robinson Chirinos. Gerardo Parra, Kingery and Tatis each had a pair of steals with David Dahl and Greg Allen each registering solo thefts. Good grief and 0/8 OCS to start the year. Adam Ottavino started off his 2020 campaign with less than stellar results as he gave up a walk to Knapp and a single to Jordan Luplow and then a triple to Scott Kingery to give the Renegades a 6-4 lead. But wait … around the corner came pinch hitter Brad Miller and for the 2nd time in the game, the Bandicoots pinch batters came through with a long ball. Miller’s hit came with Stephen Voigt on 2nd base after the catcher had doubled with two out. The teams traded a few punches in the 12th through 15th innings but then Rosemere landed the knockout blow with an uppercut to the Bandicoots’ bean courtesy of Parra and Rhys Hoskins cranking out mammoth blasts off Luis Cessa to hand him and Bethesda their first loss of the season 9-6. Notables performances aside from the Renegade relay team display on the basepaths included four hits by Parra and three by Kingery. Rosemere’s Knapp and Bethesda’s Trevor Story earned golden sombrero honors with 4 strikeouts apiece. As predicted in a pretty realistic reflection of the farce that is major league baseball, the 16-inning game included 32 strikeouts and seven home runs.
Game #2:	Sonny Gray came within a couple of bad pitches of being outduelled by Eric Lauer, but the Bandicoots were saved by a run-scoring single by Anthony Rendon in the 6th that gave the home team its first win 3-2 over Rosemere. A quiet game compared to Game 1, this game saw its share of strikeouts (21) but only one home run in the form of Rhys Hoskins (2) two-run shot off Gray in the 4th. Bethesda didn’t have an extra-base hit in the game. Gerardo Parra was nice again at the dish getting a pair of singles in three at-bats. Lauer (0-1) went 5.2 innings and allowed all of the Bethesda runs and was pretty lucky considering he had given up seven hits and five walks which played a big part in the Bandicoots’ stranding 10 runners in the game. Gray (1-0) went eight with five hits allowed, four walks and nine strikeouts. Adam Ottavino struck out two in a perfect 9th to nab his 1st save of the season.
Game #3:	Hyun-Jin Ryu was brilliant over 8 innings as the Bandicoots rode in his wake in a 5-1 win over Rosemere. Ryu (1-0) only made one mistake on the night, serving one up to Fernando Tatis who poked out his 2nd homer of the season in the 4th inning that briefly gave the Renegades the lead. Bethesda scored two runs off Rosemere starter Garrett Richards (0-1) in the 6th on one of two home runs on the day by Anthony Rendon. Rendon launched another two-run blast the next inning off reliever Nestor Cortes Jr. Rendon finished with four RBIs on the day with Jeff McNeil getting the other.
Game #4:	A close game that wound up not close as Rosemere’s bullpen blew apart at the seams in a six-run Bethesda 7th inning that propelled them to an 11-4 win. Trevor Story (1) and Kevin Pillar (1) homered off Rosemere starter Griffin Canning who went 5.2 innings but did not factor into the decision. He gave up four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out four. Nestor Cortes (0-1) was on-hand for the start of the Rosemere bullpen meltdown and gave up a solo homer (the 3rd pinch-hit homer by Bethesda so far in the series) to Matt Adams (1). Bethesda starter Trent Thornton (1-0) was just good enough as he lasted through six innings with four runs allowed on six hits (including home runs by Scott Kingery (1) and Gerardo Parra (2)). Thornton walked three and fanned seven. Pillar had three RBIs on the day for Bethesda with Story finally getting his bat going with five.
Game #5:	A downright f-ugly game for the Rosemere pitching staff as they gave up nineteen hits including four home runs in an 18-4 bashing at the hands of the Bethesda Bandicoots. Jerad Eickhoff (0-1) lasted just 10 outs and gave up seven runs on eight hits, but he was nothing compared to the trainwreck that was Nestor Cortes Jr. The reliever provided anything but relief as the Bandicoots clobbered him but good scoring eight runs on seven hits and a couple of walks in just 1-1/3 innings – including two homers. Fenrnado Tatis had a good game at the plate for Rosemere that was overshadowed by the Bandicoots’ offense. Tatis had three hits including his 3rd homer of the series. Gerardo Parra also cranked out his 3rd homer of the series with Raimel Tapia getting his first. To be fair, the Bandicoots made the most of their chances and wound up leaving only four runners on base. The offense peaked in the 4th innings when it jumped on Eickhoff and Cortes for 10 runs. Bethesda’s hit parade included Jonathan Schoop (3/5 three runs scored, a home run, double, three RBIs), Brad Miller (2/5 two runs scored, his 2nd homer of the year and 3 RBIs), Lorenzo Cain (3/4 with two runs, a double and an RBI), Jeff McNeil (2/5 with four runs scored and an RBI), and finally starting pitcher Tom Milone who had absolutely no plate appearances in the majors in 2019 but managed to go 2/2 with a two-run home run. Go figure. Milone (1-0) was homer-prone himself and gave up one in his 6 innings of work. He allowed just the run on the homer while walking none and fanning four.
Game #6:	In a near repeat of Game 5, the Bandicoots ripped the Rosemere pitchers a new one in the early going scoring in six straight innings in a 13-4 win. Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) survived just eight outs before being mercifully removed, but a little too late as the Bandicoots had already scored seven times off him thanks to a 9-hit attack. To his credit, Kikuchi kept the ball in the park – something his replacement, Richard Lovelady, could not say. Lovelady hung around for 3-1/3 innings but in that time allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits including homers by Anthony Rendon (4), Lorenzo Cain (1) and Kevin Pillar (2). Merrill Kelly (1-0) gave up four runs in his five innings but only one was earned – a Raimel Tapia (2) homer in the Rosemere four-run 4th. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out five.
Series Summary:	The secret against Rosemere appeared to be bog down the bases with their slower runners so their track team couldn’t run wild. After giving up eight steals in the first game loss to Rosemere, Bethesda was only stolen from twice in the next five games and both of those were in game two. Bethesda takes five of six from Rosemere to start the season led by Anthony Rendon who hit .400 and had four homers and nine runs batted in despite sitting out one game.

Sacramento Capitals @ Portland Lumber Jax
Series Preview:	The Sacramento Capitals visit the Portland LumberJax to start 2020!
Game #1:	Sacramento opens the season with a bang, and Portland… like the wet noodle. The Capitals know out Portland start John Flaherty with 8 runs in 3 innings. But they don’ let off the gas from there… and torch the LumberJax for 20 hits and 17 runs! Now that is the way to start of the season. Moreland goes 4-5 and Reddick goes deep twice for Sacramento. But… the offensive star, was also the starting pitcher, as Greinke goes 3-4 with two doubles and a home run! And BTW, pitches 8 and a third shutout innings. WOW. SAC 17 POR 0
Game #2:	Game 2 couldn’t be worse for Portland, but and it wasn’t, but they still fail to score as Sacramento wins 5-0 (on just 4 hits). Scherzer goes 8.1 giving up no runs… but goes 0-4 at the plate. (What a loser!) SAC 5 POR 0
Game #3:	Sacramento pitching holds Portland scoreless for 25 straight innings before Portland finally scores two. Another easy win for the Capitals. SAC 5 POR 2
Game #4:	Portland takes its first lead of the season on a Vladdy double in the 3rd inning, but Sacramento comes from behind for the win. SAC 4 POR 2
Game #5:	Sacramento prevails again, though Portland’s Tyler Mahle pitches relatively well. SAC 3 POR 1
Game #6:	Flaherty gets rocked again… and Capitals get another win. Flaherty opens up the season with a 12.46 ERA after two games. SAC 6 POR 1
Game #7:	Portland jumps to a 5-0 lead thanks to 3 HRs (which account for all of their scoring). Sacramento fights back but falls just one run short. POR 5 SAC 4
Series Summary:	Sacramento gets out of the gate firing on all cylinders and wins the series 6-1, and Portland? Well… it will be a very long and painful year for the LumberJax.

Coconut Creek Crushers @ Mesa Solar Sox
Series Preview:	From the looks of it, it seems that hitting is going to overwhelm pitching this year. Bodes ill for Mesa, a little less so for Coconut Creek. Surely both do not have the arms to compete but have the bats.
Game #1:	The Crushers get a 1st inning 2 run homer from Mookie Betts but Mesa answers with a solo leadoff shot from Tim Anderson and a two-run blast from Eugenio Suarez. In the 3rd, Mookie goes yard again, a three-run shot for a 5-2 lead. Eugenio does it again in the bottom of the frame to close it to 5-4. In the 6th Todd Frasier gives Mesa the lead with a two-run homer but Coconut Creek gets two in the 7th the old fashioned way, a bases loaded walk and a SF. Mesa wraps it up in the bottom of the frame with HRs from Starlin Marte, Mitch Garver, and a three-run triple from Jason Kipnis. Mesa hits 5 homers in the 12-7 victory.
Game #2:	No doubt in this one as Mesa blasts 3 more homers (Mondesi, Gomes, and Kipnis), lash out 17 hits and win 15-1. Mesa starter Andrew Heaney strikes out 13 in 7 innings.
Game #3:	Crushers’ starter Blake Snell strikes out 10 in 5 innings. He does give up 2 homers ( a solo blast to Eddie Rosario and a three-run homer to Suarez (his 3rd in 3 games). However, Coconut Creek wins this one 6-4. The big blow was a pinch-hit 3 run homer from Tyler O’Niell. Christian Walker went deep too. 4 strong relief innings from Drew Pomeranz and Josh James ( 0 runs, 7 Ks)
Game #4:	Mesa starter Anthony Kay made his major league debut in fine fashion – a complete game win giving up 6 hits, 2 runs, no homes, walking 3 and striking out 13!! Eddie Rosario had himself a day – 4 for 5, 4 runs scored, 5 RBI, a triple and two homers. Mondesi hit another homer and Mesa wins 11-2
Game #5:	It was Tim Andersons’ turn – 3 homers and 5 RBI out of the leadoff spot. Suarez hit his 4th homer of the series. Drew Smyly went 5 while striking out (you guessed it) 13. His only blemish was a 3 run 1st inning long ball from Will Myers.
Game #6:	A 1-0 game! Joe Musgrove for the Crushers pitched a great game ( 7 innings, 7ks) but was doomed in the very first inning when Mondesi singled, stole 2nd and came all the way around to score when catcher Garrett Stubbs threw the ball into center field far enough for Mondesi to score. MEANWHILE, James Paxton threw a hum-dinger – a 2 hit CG shutout in which he struck out 18!!!!
Game #7:	Coconut Creek, looking to get away with a getaway game day win grab a 1-0 lead on a Franklin Barreto homer in the 3rd. Eddie Rosario ties it with a homer in the 4th. Tim Locastro unties it with a solo homer in the 6th. Caleb Smith gets pulled after 6 2/3 innings of 2 hit ball. Josh James gives up the tying run in the 8th on a Todd Frasier RBI double. Brad Peacock strikes out the side in the top of the 9th. Rowan Wick comes in for Coconut Creek and on the first pitch Jesus Aguilar parks one in the cheap seats for a 3-2 Mesa win.
Series Summary:	Mesa hit 19 homers and scored 55 runs in 7 games. Eugenio Suarez hit 4 homers and drove in 12. Rosario hit 4 HRs. Tim Anderson 3 and hit .455 HOWEVER he got hurt and will miss the next 7 games. After the 1st game, Mookie Betts was rather quiet. John Berti (.438) lead the team in hitting, but the Crushers could not get past the 7.78 team ERA. PLAYER OF THE WEEK – James Paxton for his 18 strikeout, 2 hit shutout ( 27Ks in 15 innings in 2 starts)

Pittsburgh Lumber Company @ Jersey Nor’easters
Game #1:	Renato Nunez hits a game-tying HR in the 6th for the Nor’easters only to see Jorge Polanco hit what proved to be the game-winning homer for Pittsburg in the 8th inning. Mike Clevinger goes 8 innings for the win while Mike Soroka also goes 8 innings for Jersey and takes the loss.
Game #2:	Aaron Judge smacks a 2-run homer and Pittsburg wins the game 4-1.
Game #3:	Jersey gets their 1st win of the season 8-3. Marco Gonzales pitches just well enough to get the win. The Noreasters pound Jake Odorizzi for 5 runs in 5 innings and coast from there.
Game #4:	Jersey makes it 2 in a row as Matt Boyd pitches a 4-hit complete game shutout winning 4-0. Tommy Pham homered his 1st two at-bats for Jersey to provide all the run support Boyd needed.
Game #5:	So much for the 2 game Jersey winning streak. Pitt scores 4 in the 6th and 2 in the 8th and hangs on for a 7-5 win. Cole Hammels gives up only 2 hits in 7 innings for the win.
Game #6:	Pitt jumps all over Jake Junis early to take a 4-0 lead and coast to a 7-4 win. Juan Soto has a homer and 3 RBI to lead the way while Mike Clevinger goes to 2-0 after only 6 games.
Game #7:	The Lumber Company gets only 6 hits but unfortunately for the Noreasters 4 of them were home runs. Pitt wins the game 6-3. Daniel Hudson joins Pitt’s Mike Clevinger winning his 2nd game of the year.
Series Summary:	Pittsburg wins the series 5-2. Noreaster pitchers gave up only 43 hits in 7 games which bode well for the future but the offense was lacking in this series.

Triple Creek Patriots @ Long Beach Dirt Bags
Game #1:	This game figured to be a pitcher’s duel but quickly became a slug-fest when Long Beach scored 3 in the bottom of the first. Triple Creek roared back and took a 5-3 lead in the 4th. Turner hit a 2 run HR in the 6th top tie it. It got really interesting the 8th. Gonzalez hit a 2-run shot in the top of the inning but Turner got the lead back for the Dirtbags with a 3 run HR. In the top of the 9th Hiura hit a PH HR to tie the game 8-8 and send it to extra innings. The bullpens dominated until the 13th when Andrus singled in Munoz to give the home team a 9-8 win.
Game #2:	This was a pitcher’s duel. After trading runs in the first, Kiermaier hit a solo shot in the 2nd to give Long Beach a 2-1 lead. Villar tied it with a HR in the 6th. That was all the scoring until the 13th when Turner walked off with a solo shot.
Game #3:	Another pitcher’s duel that was scoreless until Andrus singled in Dozier in the 6th to give Long Beach a 1-0 lead. Calhoun turned the tables with a 3 run HR in the 8th and Triple Creek went on to win 4-1. Strahm struck out 10 and gave up 6 hits in 7 innings to pick up the win.
Game #4:	All the scoring was in the first 2 innings. Long Beach got 3 in the bottom of the 1st with Diaz driving in 2 runs. Triple Creek got 4 in the 2nd taking advantage of Dirtbag errors and won 4-3. Newcomb was strong after the 1st and the Patriots bullpen threw 3 1-hit innings.
Game #5:	Triple Creek opened the scoring in the 1st on a Bellinger 2B. Calhoun homered in the 2nd and the Patriots were on their way to a 5-1 win. Bieber gave up just 3 hits in 7 innings to pick up the win.
Game #6:	Excellent game. PH Huira hit a 2-run HR in the 6th to give Triple Creek a 4-2 lead. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 8th when Bruce hit a 3-run HR to give Long Beach a 6-4 lead. In the 9th PH, Gurriel hit another PH HR. Later in the inning, Bellinger doubled in Villar and the game was tied 6-6. It went to the bottom of the 11th when PH Grossman singled in Kiermaier to give Long Beach a 7-6 win.
Game #7:	Another extra-inning game. This one won by Triple Creek on a Robertson HR in the 12th. Both bullpens were great. Triple Creek threw 6 1/3 innings of 1 hit shutout ball and Long Beach gave up just the Robertson HR in 6 innings.
Series Summary:	Triple Creek took 4 of 7 from Long Beach in a very close series that included 4 extra-inning games

Tempe Tempers @ Valdosta Snappers
Series Preview:	Perennial powerhouse Tempe comes to Valdosta to start the 2020 season. I am pretty confident that Valdosta has never won a series against Tempe. Hopes aren’t too high in Georgia this year as the Snappers have virtually no starting pitching.
Game #1:	Valdosta 10-2. Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year, Ronald Acuna, looked like he was ready as he went 3-4, 4 RBI’s and 2 SB. Kenta Maeda struck out 8 in 6 IP to get the win for the Snappers. Future HOF’er Albert Pujols knocked in the 1st run of the year for Valdosta.
Game #2:	Valdosta 4-1. Jordan Zimmerman pitched 7 very solid innings and Alex Colome picked up his 1st save of the year. Valdosta’s Miguel Sano homered for the 2nd straight game and Ronald Acuna went deep for his 1st HR. Ozzie Albies homered for the Tempers.
Game #3:	Valdosta 8-4. Miguel Sano hit his 3rd HR of the year to help power the Snappers attack. J.D. Martinez and Evan Longoria homered for Tempe.
Game #4:	Tempe 9-5. J.D. Martinez homered again for the Tempers and they destroyed the Valdosta bullpen in this one scoring 6 runs in 4 innings.
Game #5:	Valdosta 6-3. Miguel Sano strikes again, this time with a 3-run PH walk-off HR in the bottom of the 9th off of Kirby Yates.
Game #6:	Tempe 4-3. Miguel Sano (who else?) got things off to a nice start with a 1st inning 3-run HR but the Tempers kept chipping away and finally get the 1 run victory. HR’s from Xander Bogaerts and rookie (and former Valdosta farmhand) Austin Riley hit a PH HR for Teme.
Game #7:	Tempe 4-1. Tempers win easily behind Adam Wainwright and a solid bullpen. JD Martinez also hit his 4th HR.
Series Summary:	Could have been a lot better but Valdosta will certainly be happy with winning the series 4-3. Sano hit 5 HR’s in the series and Ronald Acuna had 8 SB’s as the offense is off to a fast start for Valdosta.

Detroit Crime @ Chicago Mobsters
Series Preview:	Two American League Central rivals kick off the 2020 MWBL Season in downtown Chicago for a seven-game set. Both teams are looking to make the playoffs & knocking each other around could hurt the playoff chances for both teams.
Game #1:	The starters were gone, it was in the 11th when Dexter Fowler scored on a Nelson Cruz Double to give the Mobsters the walk-off! Final Score: Chicago 3 – Detroit 2 (11 Innings) Win: Felipe Vasquez 1-0 (0.00) Loss: Trevor May 0-1 (Infinite)
Game #2:	Detroit had 4 RBI’s from Brandon Crawford & 2 RBI’s from Manny Machado. Alex Bregman had a big game for Chicago going 3 for 5 with 3 Runs Scored, 1 Home Run, & 4 RBI’s. But the Crime took care of the Mobsters in the end. Final Score: Detroit 10 – Chicago 7 Win: Mike Minor 1-0 (6.00) Loss: Trevor Bauer 0-1 (16.20)
Game #3:	Cameron Maybin & Tommy La Stella both have 2 RBI’s for Detroit. Nick Goodrum & Yandy Diaz both have 2 RBI’s for Chicago. Big injury happens for Chicago as Alex Bregman & Danny Santana run into each other. Bregman out for 1 day. Santana goes down for 11 days and hits the 10-day D.L. Chicago squeaks away with a 1-Run victory. Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 5 Win: Noah Syndergaard 1-0 (1.35) Loss: Aaron Nola 0-1 (14.73) Save: Aroldis Chapman #1
Game #4:	Yasmani Grandal had 3 Hits, 3 Runs scored & a Solo Home Run. Cesar Hernandez has a 2-Run Home Run. Madison Bumgarner finds the fountain of youth with 7 Innings of shutout work. Final Score: Detroit 8 – Chicago 0 Win: Madison Bumgarner 1-0 (0.00) Loss: Marcus Stroman 0-1 (5.14)
Game #5:	Mike Tauchman was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s, Chicago throws a bullpen game & burns quite a few arms for tomorrow. Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 4 Win: Luke Jackson 1-0 (1.69) Loss: Chris Bassitt 0-1 (23.14) Save: Aroldis Chapman #2
Game #6:	A game #1 rematch of Julio Urias vs. Stephen Strasburg. Chicago gets 5 Home Runs (Nelson Cruz, Luis Arraez, Mike Tauchman & 2 from Alex Bregman). Urias goes 6.2 Innings of 1-Run ball for the “W”. Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 5 Win: Julio Urias 1-0 (0.75) Loss: Stephen Strasburg 0-1 (3.46) Save: Aroldis Chapman #3
Game #7:	A nail bitter to the very end, but Chicago comes away with a 1-Run victory, walking it off in the 9th Inning. David Freese is 3 for 3 with 2 RBI’s & Nelson Cruz Homers for Chicago. Kyle Schwarber has a Home Run & 2 RBI’s for Detroit. Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 5 Win: Amir Garrett 1-0 (10.80) Loss: Zach Britton 0-1 (3.38)
Series Summary:	Chicago comes away with a 5-2 series victory, but the brass in the owner’s suites think this season series will be a lot closer than this at the end of the season. Two solid teams, both still after one series thinking playoffs.

Virginia Sluggers @ Fremont Cannons
Game #1:	Virginia scores two in the seventh to tie it, and no more runs are scored through 9 innings. In the bottom of the 10th, Max Kepler singles home Carlos Correa for the 4-3 Fremont win.
Game #2:	Fremont jumps on Trevor Williams with 7 runs (3 earned in 1.2 IP), and takes it 12-2. Shohei Ohtani, Javier Baez, Byron Buxton, Willians Astudillo, and Khris Davis all launch their first HRs of the year for the Cannons, and Brian Anderson goes deep for the Sluggers. Dylan Bundy gets the CG win.
Game #3:	A three-run home run from Mike Yastrzemski is the difference in this one, with Fremont winning 5-2. Daniel Norris picks up the win for the Cannons.
Game #4:	A passed ball on a strikeout and a fielding error by Willians Astudillo cost Fremont early, but they battle back to tie it. Yulieski Gurriel’s pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth plates Byron Buxton for the winning run. Fremont 5, Virginia 4
Game #5:	Danny Duffy holds Virginia to two runs, as Fremont ekes out a victory 3-2. Chris Archer followed up a 10 K debut with 8 strikeouts here, but it was not enough.
Game #6:	Virginia scored four in the 1st, but Fremont scored four of their own in the 2nd. Offense ruled the day as the teams went back and forth. Finally, a Yulieski Gurriel single brought home Shohei Ohtani in the bottom of the ninth and Fremont closes out the series with an 11-10 win. Travis Shaw homered twice for Fremont, and Javier Baez recorded his 3rd home run of the year.
Series Summary:	Fremont gets an opening week sweep 6-0, though 4 of the wins were by one run, and three were either won in the 9th or 10th innings.

Dallas Cougars @ Southwest Detroit Fighting Chihuahuas
Series Summary:	Dallas takes the series 5 games to 2.

Yonge Street Stalkers @ Tijuana Bottle Rockets
Series Preview:	Yonge Street visits Tijuana for a 7 game set to start the season.
Series Summary:	Some close games and some blowouts, but they all went Yonge Street’s way! The home team can’t buy a win during the opening series and start off 0-7. Dreams of the number 1 pick have already started.

Selkirk Steelers @ Columbus Explorers
Series Preview:	Opening day and the NL Central race should be a wide-open affair and the Selkirk Steelers come to town with some serious youngsters ready to do damage. Columbus returns a team that should produce plenty of runs and a pitching staff that’s a hodgepodge. But they look to be competitive again and the postseason dreams are in the minds of both these teams…
Game #1:	Opening day features new mound man Homer Bailey vs. Max Fried. The two of them hook up for a surprisingly low scoring game. Bailey goes 7.2, gives up an unearned run in the 1st as D.J. LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon both make errors leading to the run on no hits. Selkirk returns the favor in the bottom half when Tony Wolters tries to pick off Blackmon at 1st, his throw sails into RF and Ian Desmond scores to tie the game. Well – that’s all the scoring for the next 9 innings and we move to the 11th. Liam Hendriks pitches his 3rd inning of relief – 1 hit, 4 ks, 0 runs. Fried is still pitching as Soprano likes what he sees – only 3 hits given up so far. But Enrique Hernandez opens the 11th with a double. Victor Reyes moves him to 3rd. Brock Holt pops out. Now Soprano takes Fried out and brings in Andrew Cashner to face LaMahieu – uh, the IW, so Blackmon comes up. He lines one to CF and the game is over. SEL 1-6-1 LP Fried (0-1) 11 innings. COL 2-5-2 WP Hendricks (1-0)
Game #2:	Columbus matches the game one runs in the 1st on a Charlie Blackmon 2 run homer (1). But Yasiel Puig matches the feat with his own 2 run shot (1) in the 3rd. Then Bubba Starling puts the Steelers up 3-2 in the 4th with a rbi single. J.A. Happ and Brad Keller then settle in and the score remains 3-2 until the 8th when Marcus Semien drives in an insurance run making it 4-2. The run proved essential as Blackmon drives in another in the 8th to cut it to 4-3, but Sam Dyson closes out the 8th and 9th to preserve the 4-3 Selkirk win. SEL 4-10-0 WP Keller (1-0) S Dyson (1) COL 3- 7-0 LP Happ (0-1)
Game #3:	OK – enough of the low scoring games – Pete Alonso and Glebyer Torres both finally connect for the 1st homers of the year and the two of them drive in a combined 5 runs (on 5 hits – Torres getting 3 of each). Selkirk manages to produce 6 runs on 8 hits (and 4 walks). However, Columbus gets 6 walks and 11 hits but only 1 homer – from Victor Reyes no less (his 1st). But those 11 hits produce 12 runs! And they win it 12-6. SEL 6- 8-1 LP Cal Quantril (0-1) COL 12-11-0 WP Julio Teheran (1-0)
Game #4:	Here was an interesting game (or doubleheader – hmmmm). Columbus goes up 9-0 after 2 with a 5 run 1st and 4 run 2nd. Victor Reyes has a 4 hit game. Paul DeJong has a 4 rbi game (and homer #1). Explorers add the 10th run in the 5th. But the Steelers don’t go quietly into the night – heck they have bombs in their lineup. Pete Alonso (2), Glebyer Torres (2), Yasiel Puig (2) and Adam Haseley (1) all send balls into the bleachers as Selkirk scores 4 in the 4th, 3 in the 5th and a deflating 2 in the 8th off Shoemaker (23) to tie the game. Then we amazingly have 8 innings of no runs – which is actually a streak of 11 scoreless for Columbus. Sam Dyson is doing some serious MBF eating as he pitches 9 innings of relief (33 BF) and gives up 4 hits. The last hit, however, was a solo homer to – wait for it – Eric Haase (1) in the bottom of the 17th and Columbus win 11-10. SEL 10-13-0 LP Dyson (0-1) 17 innings COL 11-21-0 WP Kyle Ryan (1-0)
Game #5:	The final score of 8-4 sounds close but Selkirk dominated this one as Kyle Gibson goes 8 innings, 1 hit, 1 run. Martin Perez pitched the 9th to make it look interesting but it was never in doubt. Marcus Semien hits 2 homers (2) and gets 4 RBIs. Gleyber Torres (you’ll hear his name a lot this year) goes deep (3) for 2 runs as Selkirk rules this one. SEL 8-13-0 WP Gibson (1-0) COL 4- 6-1 LP Dario Agrazal (0-1)
Game #6:	This was a chippy game – teams matched runs in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th (1 each). Selkirk got another in the 6th while the Explorers got 2 each in the 4th and 7th to take the game 7-4. Gleyber Torres socks #4 (solo shot this time) while Enrique Hernandez (1) lead off in the 1st, D.J. LaMahieu (1) and Asdrubal Cabrera (2) homer for Columbus. Kind of a run of the mill game for excitement. SEL 4-8-1 LP Scott Turnbull (0-1) COL 7-8-1 WP Homer Bailey (1-0) S Yusmeiro Petit (1)
Game #7:	Well, what can the finale be – turns out to be a reverse score of game 6 as the Steelers scores 1 in the 1st and then 2 runs in each of the next 3 innings. Columbus scores single runs down the stretch but fall short with only 1 in the 9th and lose 7-4. The game featured 7 homers, 3 from Columbus – Dee Gordon (1), Matt Carpenter (1) and Asdrubal Cabrera (3). While the Selkirk bomb parade came from Yasiel Puig (3), Marcus Semien (3), Austin Hedges (1) and – YEP – Gleyber Torres (4). He finishes the week hitting .233 – but had 4 homers and 8 RBIs. Puig got 3 homers and 7 RBIs and hit .323 for the week. SEL 7-11-1 WP Max Fried (1-1) COL 4- 8-0 LP J.A. Happ (0-2)
Series Summary:	o it was a 4-3 Columbus win – two of those in overtime. Selkirk has LOTS of big firepower. It should be an exciting season. Selkirk travels to Corktown while Columbus faces another juggernaut as Sacramento comes to town – oh boy!

Corktown Cycle @ Harsens Island Walleye
Series Preview:	Division rivals square off.
Game #1:	Corktown wins it in ten 5-4 W Edwards 1-0 0.00era L Feliz 0-1 27.00era S Ramirez 1 0.00 era
Game #2:	Walleye get their first win of the season 3-2 W Urena 1-0 2.45 era L Ray 0-1 4.50 era S Severino 1 0.00 era
Game #3:	Harper Woods wins 6-2 W Rodriguez 1-0 2.25 era L Johnson 0-1 1.59 era
Game #4:	Corktown evens the series with an 11-5 win W Jurado 1-0 2.57 era L Gonzalez 0-1 7.50 era
Game #5:	Harper Woods eeks one out 5-4 W Chafin 1-0 0.00 era L Faria 0-1 3.38 era
Game #6:	C-Town evens the series with a 4-2 victory W DeSclafini 1-0 1.35 era L Beede 0-1 4,61 era S Pagan 1 7.71 era
Game #7:	Corktown wins the rubber match 4-2 W Berrios 1-0 2.57 era L Urena 1-1 3.66 era S Rainey 1 10.80 ERA
Series Summary:	A good series is won by Corktown 4 games to 3

Motor City Muscle @ Manhattan Project
Series Preview:	Motor City Muscle, last season’s division leader, versus Manhattan, last year’s runner up.
Game #1:	MCM 5-3
Game #2:	MCM 10-8
Game #3:	MAN 6-2
Game #4:	MAN 2-1
Game #5:	MCM 2-0
Game #6:	MAN 4-0
Game #7:	MCM 4-2
Series Summary:	Muscle takes 4 out of 7

Hollywood Werewolves @ Southbend Lynx
Series Preview:	Hollywood travels to Southbend to open the 2020 MWBL Season. Southbend has slim hopes to defend its 2019 AL West Division crown.
Game #1:	HOL C.Morton vs SBL J.Samardzija SBL Meadows opens the scoring with a rbi-1b in the B3. SBL Escobar hits a solo-HR in the B4. In the SBL B6 Bichette’s 2b chases C.Morton and Escobar 2b’s him home followed by a Cordell rbi-1b to make it 4-0 Lynx. HOL A.Gordon 2-rbi 1b puts them on the board in the T7. But SBL puts a 5 spot on HOL in the B8 to put the game away. SBL lose R.Martin for 13 days.SBL 9, HOL 2
Game #2:	HOL J/Lester vs SBL M.Foltynewicz SBL Escobar rbi-1b in the B1 begins the scoring. HOL strikes back in the T3 with 5 runs with a Gordon rbi-1b, an Olson 2-run 1b, and a Marte 2-run HR. SBL gets a run in the B4 and then tie the game in the B5 with a Muncy solo-HR and Cordell 2-run HR. But HOL is not to be denied as they score 4 in the T7 assisted by some shoddy SBL fielding and 1 more in the T8. A. Gordon hits a solo-HR in the T7. HOL loses M.Olson for 7 days.HOL 10, SBL 6
Game #3:	HOL C.Kershaw vs SBL B.McKay HOL gets out in front 2-0 with a Marte solo-HR in the T1 and an Alberto rbi-FC in the T4. SBL Muncy ties it with a 2-run HR in the B4. After that HOL exploded for 6 runs in the T5, added 2 more in the T7, and 6 more in the T9. HOL hits 6 HRs in the game; Marte (2), Yelich, T.Murphy (2), and J.Crawdford. Kershaw goes 6IP giving up only 2 hits and the 2 runs.HOL 17, SBL 4
Game #4:	HOL D.Price vs SBL J.Yamamoto (Best game of the series) HOL on the board in the T1 on a Chapman solo-HR. SBL answers in the B1 with a Meadows 2-run HR. In the SBL B2 Canha hits a solo-HR. HOL takes the lead in the T7 on a Muncy run-scoring error and a Farmer 2-run HR. SBL comes right back and regains the lead with a Meadows 2-run HR in the B7. It didn’t last long as HOL Goldschmidt solo-HR ties the game in the T8. The game goes into extra innings and in the T10 Gordon hits a solo-HR for a HOL 6-5 lead. HOL W.Harris comes on in the SBL B10 and Ks Bichette and Escobar, but Canha brings the SBL fans to their feet with a solo-HR to tie the game and they remain standing when K.Tucker hits a solo-HR to win it for the Lynx!SBL 7, HOL 6
Game #5:	HOL P.Blackburn vs SBL F.Peralta HOL J.Crawford rbi-2b makes it 1-0 in the T2. SBL takes the lead in the B2 on a Cave 2-run HR. SBL extends their lead in the B4 with a Cave rbi-3b, Mayfield rbi-1b, and a Joyce rbi-1b. HOL gets a Vazquez solo-HR in the T6 and a Marte solo-HR in the T7 to make it 5-3 SBL. But SBL Duffy and Osuna clamp down and put the game in the win column for the Lynx.
Game #6:	HOL C.Morton vs SBL J.Samardzija SBL score the only 2 runs in the game in the B3 on back-to-back doubles by Cave and Viloria, and a Meadows rbi-1b. SBL Samardzija is dominant giving up only 2 hits and fanning 6 as he tosses the CG shutout.SBL 2, HOL 0
Game #7:	HOL J.Lester vs HOL M.Foltynewicz SBL jumps out quickly with 4 runs in the B2 on Cordell and Cave’s 2-run HRs. HOL comes back in the T6 with a Yelich rbi-2b, a Marte 2-run 1b, and a Vazquez rbi-1b. SBL regains the lead with back-to-back 2bs by Muncy and Bichette in the B6. HOL ties it with a Goldschmidt sac fly in the T7. SBL Meadows hits a 2-run HR in the B7 for the Lynx lead. SBL bullpen of Duffey, Barnes, and Osuna close out the game.SBL 7, HOL 5
Series Summary:	Southbend unexpectedly takes the series 5-2 from Hollywood. Plenty of runs scored in the series as there were 30 combined HRs hit in the 7 games.