2020 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #26

Justin_Smoak20Pablo_Lopez20Freddie_Freeman20Ariel_Jurado20

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
SMOAK,Justin DAL  AL .389 1.000 6 18 7 2 0 3 5 8 5 1 1 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
LOPEZ,Pablo MSS  AL 2 2 0 0 1.98 13.2 3 3 11 14 3 0 0 0 2 0
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
FREEMAN,Freddie TEM  NL .393 1.036 6 28 11 3 0 5 12 10 3 4 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
JURADO,Ariel CRK  NL 2 2 0 0 0.00 17 0 0 5 14 0 0 0 0 0 0

Chicago Mobsters @ Detroit Crime

Series Preview: The American League Central Championship comes down to this final series of the year. Two top dawgs go at it for all the meat & the 3 days off to rest going into the playoffs.   
Game #1: 14 Bases, 5 RBI’s, 3 Runs Scored, 1 Double, 3 Home Runs were all the Crime needed as Brett Gardner was the man for Detroit. Stephen Strasburg picks up the win and the Crime pull within 2 Games with 5 left to play.

Final Score: Detroit 7 – Chicago 4

Win: Stephen Strasburg 19-7 (2.59)
Loss: C.C. Sabathia 18-7 (4.89)
Save: Zach Britton #13

Game #2: Hunter Pence with a Double & Home Run produces 2 RBI & Andrelton Simmons chips in with a single RBI as well. Noah Syndergaard goes 7 Innings & picks up the win.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Detroit 2

Win: Noah Syndergaard 19-8 (3.71)
Loss: Madison Bumgarner 19-6 (3.08)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #31

Game #3: Alex Bregman does his best Brett Gardner impression blasting 3 solo Home Runs as the Mobsters take this one & clinch the American League Central title.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 2

Win: Marcus Stroman 14-11 (3.81)
Loss: Chris Bassitt 11-6 (2.77)

Game #4: In the closest game of the series, the Mobsters pull out a 1-Run victory. C.C. Sabathia picks up career win #280 (MWBL Record).

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Detroit 1

Win: C.C. Sabathia 19-7 (4.88)
Loss: Aaron Nola 12-10 (4.57)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #32

Game #5: Trevor Bauer goes 6.2 Innings and shutdown the Crime offense along the way. Chicago goes to the pen & holds the Detroit team to 3 walks over 2.1 Innings. Chicago’s middle infield of Niko Goodrum 2 Hits & 2 RBI’s & Andrelton Simmons 1 for 3 with 3 RBI’s lead the way, giving Chicago it’s 100th win on the season.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 0

Win: Trevor Bauer 16-13 (4.33)
Loss: Mike Minor 7-11 (4.68)

Game #6: Julio Urias does the early work going 4.2 Innings before in from the pen comes C.C. Sabathia for his final Mid-West Baseball League appearance. Sabathia goes 2.1 Innings & heads out for the 8th Inning & warms up before Chicago Manager Stray Corrado goes out to the mound with Pitching Coach Billy Wagner. A pat on the shoulder & a standing ovation from the crowd as C.C. sheds a tear but hands the ball off to Wagner & heads towards the dugout. The Mobsters teammates stop him before he gets into the dugout & make him stand there for the great ovation from the Detroit crowd. To end the game Chicago manager Stray Corrado goes to his new C.C. Sabathia Jesus Luzardo to close out the final game of the 2020 Regular Season.

Final Score: Chicago 8 – Detroit 3

Win: C.C. Sabathia 20-7 (4.87)
Loss: Carlos Carrasco 5-4 (6.41)

Series Summary: After losing the first game, Chicago takes the series 5 games to 1. The Division goes to the Mobsters by 7 games, though the ending of the season & playing the final series with the American League Central on the line was exciting. C.C. Sabathia walks off into the sunset with 20 Wins on the year & retires with 281 career Mid-West Baseball League Wins.

Bethesda Bandicoots @ Rosemere Renegades

Series Preview: End of the season series.
Series Summary: Band-Aid series for the locals as they take 5 out of 6 to end the season.

Columbus Explorers @ Selkirk Steelers

Series Preview: Final series Columbus locked into 1st trying to avoid injuries before playoff vs Selkirk two games below .500 desperate to finish .500.
Game #1: Blackmon and Story homer for Columbus of Fried in 7 innings. But Fried drives in two runs off Tehran. game tied 2-2 after 9. Blackmon scores in the 11th and gives Columbus a 3-2 lead. But Winker and Co say otherwise as he hits a walk-off blast vs Petit. 5-3 Selkirk
Game #2: Fiers wins his 11th as Blackmon, Hernandez, and Chirinos homers in 10-2 Columbus blowout.
Game #3: The crazy extra-inning game as both team score 2 runs in the 10th and finally Semien hits a walk-off homer in the 13th for the 9-8 Selkirk win. Sandoval, Winker join Semien with homers and Urshela went deep for Columbus.
Game #4: Torres hits 3 doubles and Matz went all the way in a 5-1 Selkirk victory. That was Selkirk 82 win as fans celebrate the season.
Game #5: Cooper hits for the CYCLE driving in 5 and Alonso homers in a 10-5 Selkirk win their 83rd
Game #6: Alonso homers to reach 100 runs scored 43 homers and 114 RBIs in his hopes to be ROY. But three Columbus homers Urshela, Cabrera, and Lagares in the 6-2 Columbus win to end the season on 110 wins.
Series Summary: Selkirk wins 4 of the 6 games but Columbus goes into the playoffs with 110 wins and Selkirk is thrilled to have won 83 games. Cooper’s cycle was a real night ! on the season.

PUIG was amazing as he should win the gold glove 399 chances with no errors 11 assists. Alonso, Winker, Torres, and Semien had all-star seasons.
Blackmon had an MVP season for Columbus,

Harsens Island Walleye @ Corktown Cycle

Series Summary: Corktown wins the battle of the basement NL EAST 4 games to 2.

Fremont Cannons @ Virginia Sluggers

Series Preview: Last series of the year. Virginia last won 90 games in 2014. They came close with 88 last year. They need 2 wins to reach 90 and are playing for that outcome. To get to 90 wins, Fremont needs to sweep,…and they’re coming in with a tired staff.
Game #1: VIR 6-4 W-L.Castillo (18-1) L-C.Rondon (0-2) SV-H.Robles (20)

FRE got on the board first in the 2nd inning with a Y. Gurriel homer and a W.Astudillo RBI single. FRE’s lead didn’t last long. In the 3rd, B.Reynolds hammered a 2-run single and scored when C.Santana lined a single up the middle into CF and just like that VIR led 3-2. G.Springer followed Santana by crushing his 41st homer of the year into deep CF and hen it was 5-2 VIR. FRE closed within one in the 4th inning on an M. Brosseau RBI single and another W.Astudillo RBI single. B. Reynolds would increase the VIR lead with a solo shot in the 7th and then the VIR pen shut the door with Robles throwing a 1-2-3 9th for the save. Win #89 for VIR,…one away from 90. FRE’s hopes for 90 wins is dashed.

Game #2: FRE 8-7 W-S.Gallegos (3-3) L-A.Brice (0-3) SV-S.Greene (12)

FRE starter, K.Allard, pitched a great game scattering 7 hits over 7 innings,…and then the bullpen tried to give the game away. M.Kepler and J.Baez creamed 2-run blasts in the 3rd and the S.Ohtania added his own 2-run dinger in the 8th and FRE was sitting on a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the 8th. Down comes the roof! With 2 outs in the 8th on 2 on, J.Segura bloops one into right for a 2-run double, Murphy walked, Merrifield lined an RBI single just inside 3rd and suddenly it was 6-4 FRE. M.Brosseau lofted one over the LF wall for what should have been an insurance run as FRE now led 7-4. S. Doolittle came in for FRE and brought in a can of gasoline with him. Santana and Springer singled and Devers lined one into the RF corner for 2 runs FRE 7 VIR 6. Frazier flew out and FRE’s little YAZ dropped Jiminez’ fly putting runners at 1st and 3rd. J.Segura then tied the game with a single and we go to extra innings. With two out in the 10th, FRE refused to give up,…”Y. MONCADA facing A. BRICE, T 10th, 2 Outs, Bases Empty, Tied 7-7,,,BRICE winds and fires … MONCADA hits one … high … hard … deep to right field,,, don’t even think about it … it’s long gone!” CANNONS 8, SLUGGERS 7. And this time, S. Greene brought in the fire extinguisher and FRE got the win.

Game #3: FRE 8-6 W-G.Gallegos (4-3) L-T.Webb (3-6) SV-S.Doolittle (3)

A Santana solo shot, a Rizzo RBI single, a Devers RBI double, a Santana RBI double, and a Springer RBI single gave VIR a 5-1 lead into the 6th. But FRE comes scratching back. McCann and Baez drive in runs with RBI singles and it’s only 5-3 VIR. And then in the 7th,…” that one’s deep to left-center … GURRIEL really hammered that one … a home run…CANNONS 5, SLUGGERS 5.” Not to be outdone, B.Reynolds rocked one to deep CF to put VIR back up 6-5. But then, PH’er A.Hays stamps his passport by sending one deep over the CF wall to tie it up at 6 all. FRE capped their great comeback in the 9th,…”Y.MONCADA facing T. WEBB, T 9th, No Outs, Runner on 1st, Tied 6-6…First baseman RIZZO holding the runner on … now WEBB comes home with it…he goes the opposite way … it’s lifted deep to right-center…right fielder REYNOLDS going back … all he can do is watch … it’s out of here!…two-run shot for MONCADA … he seems to like base runners … MONCADA will touch them all.” FRE 8-6. Doolittle left his gas can in the dugout and notched his 3rd save of the year as FRE took the win.

Game #4: VIR 5-4 W-T.Williams (10-8) L-R.Montero (1-2) SV-H.Robles (21)

Down 4-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, a win for VIR looked bleak,…and then FRE’s pen imploded again. C. Santana tied it with his 43rd long ball of the season, a 3-run blast, and R.Devers hit a monster shot into CF to put VIR up 5-4 and that’s how it stayed as Robles closed the door for his 21st save. So VIR gets its 90th win!

Game #5: VIR 5-3 W-E.Hernandez (10-5) L-S.Alcantara (11-13) SV-T.Webb (8)

Outhit 10-7 and outhomered 3-0 (Ohtani, Moncada, Kepler), VIR used 2-run doubles from R.Devers and S.Murphy and 3 FRE errors to scratch out a win and lay claim to their 91st win.

Game #6: VIR 5-4 W-H.Robles (7-3) L-G.Gabrera (1-1)

L.Castillo tried to get win #19 on the season but got waylaid in the 9th. On the strength of a Rizzo solo shot and a J.Castro 2-run blast, VIR held a 4-3 lead as the two teams entered the 9th. With 1 out in the 9th, S.Ohtani hit a dying quail scoring the speedy B.Buxton to tie the game at 4-all and Castillo exited the game as it entered extra frames. It went to the 12th before VIR could claim a walk-off victory and get win #92,…”J. SEGURA facing G. CABRERA, B 12th, 2 Outs, Runner on 2nd, Tied 4-4…SPRINGER moves another step away from second … and now the pitch … lined hard to left..toward the gap … it’s rolling … that’s good for extra bases … it’s all over!…KEPLER doesn’t even bother … SPRINGER scores…CANNONS 4, SLUGGERS 5

Series Summary: Virginia wins the series 4-2 and not only gets to win #90 but gets to win #92. The batting star for VIR – Bryan Reynolds 10-26, 5 runs, 5 RBI, 2HR .385 to allow him to finish with a .340 BA for the season. For Fremont, it was Shohei Ohtani 11-27, 7 runs, 6 RBI, 4 HR .407 BA. Now both teams look to next year (or maybe the year after?) as they work to improve their standing in their Divisions.

Long Beach Dirt Bags @ Triple Creek Patriots

Series Summary: Triple Creek takes 5 of 6.

Jersey Nor’easters @ Pittsburgh Lumber Company

Series Summary: Jersey tries to play spoiler at the end of the year, but Pittsburgh stays focused and takes 5 out of 6 while carefully watching fatigue and usage heading into the playoffs.

Mesa Solar Sox @ Coconut Creek Crushers

Game #1: Pablo Lopez leads MSS to a 5-2 win.
Game #2: Back and forth game ends in the 10th with a 7-6 MSS win.
Game #3: Caleb Smith is strong in a complete game 4-1 CCC win.
Game #4: All MSS in a 12-2 rout.
Game #5: A good game ends 3-2 in MSS favor.
Game #6: Pablo Lopez is strong again. He allows one run in a 10-3 MSS win.
Series Summary: MSS wins the final series of the year 5-1.

Southwest Detroit Fighting Chihuahuas @ Dallas Cougars

Series Summary: The Cougars swept the Fighting Chihuahuas. Although 4 of the games were close! The big story was the final regular-season series for original Cougar catcher Nick Hundley, who moved with the team from Buffalo in 2012. Never a full-time starter always a full-time clubhouse leader. Hundley’s best year came in 2016 when he hit .335 with 7 homers in 84 games. His final MWBL hit was a solo home run in game 1 – his 6th of the season and the 74th of his Dallas career. In his final at-bat in the last game he drew a walk and came out for his old friend, Josh Harrison, who came to Dallas via a trade from Hollywood that same 2012 season. Hundley won’t be on the playoff roster, but he’ll be in the dugout and in the clubhouse cheering his teammates on to playoff glory.

For the 2020 season, Dallas nearly had three 30 home run hitters as both Jose Abreu and Justin Smoak hit 30, but Hunter Dozier fell two short at 28. Smoak might be the player of the year for Dallas as he really exceeded expectations hitting .290 .402 .566 with 25 doubles to go along with those 30 homers. The Cougars also nearly had two 20 game-winners, but Lucas Giolatio came up 1 game short going 19-7 2.86 with 230 SO in 188.2 IP. Meanwhile, Patrick Corbin threw his hat into the ring as a potential AL CY Young winner by finishing the year at 20-8 2.85 with 276 SO in 221 IP.

Portland Lumber Jax @ Sacramento Capitals

Series Summary: Sacramento scuffles to start the series, dropping 3 of the first 4, but comes back to win the final two behind great pitching. Capitals and Lumber Jax split the series.

Manhattan Project @ Motor City Muscle

Series Preview: Manhattan@ Motor City for 6 games. Two AL East also-rans finishing out the string.
Game #1: MCM 8 – MAN 6

WP: Davies
LP: Porcello
SV: Albers

HR: MCM–Trout, Dini, Ahmed

MAN fought back from a nearly 3-0 deficit, but couldn’t overcome Rick Porcello’s struggles, despite collecting 14 hits.

Game #2: MCM 10- MAN 5

WP: S.Anderson (CG)
LP: B. Anderson

HR: MCM–Barnhart (2), Trout; MAN–Edman

MCM puts up another three HRs, covering for another shaky starter. Shaun Anderson went all the way, out of necessity, but gave up 10 hits and five runs.

Game #3: MAN 5 – MCM 2

WP: Urquidy
LP: de Grom (CG)
SV: Oberg

HR: MCM–Ahmed; MAN–J. Peterson

MCM couldn’t solve Jose Urquidy, while the MAN jumped out to a 2-0 lead and added to it steadily throughout. Jace Peterson went 3-4 with two runs and a HR.

Game #4: MAN 11 – MCM 2

WP: Quintana
LP: Clarke

HR: MCM–M. Franco

Without the benefit of a home run, MAN jumped all over the beleaguered MCM pitchers. Every starter but one had at least one hit. Jay Marisnick had two of them and four RBI. MAN put up a seven-run 4th inning.

Game #5: MCM 6 – MAN 1

WP: Leake (CG)
LP: Wojchiechowski

HR: MCM–Trout, Castellanos, Barnhart; MAN–Wong

For the third time in the series, MCM hit three HRs. Mike Leake finished up a rough season with a gem, giving up only one run and five hits in the complete game.

Game #6: MCM 7 – MAN 3

WP: Soto
LP: Porcello
SV: Swarzak

HR: MCM–Trout, M. Franco

The longball once again powered the MCM offense. Tucker Barnhart didn’t hit one but had three hits.

Series Summary: MCM takes the series 4 games to 2
Mike Trout had four HRs in the series. Tucker Barnhart had three, and Nick Ahmed and Maikel Franco had two apiece for MCM.
MCM hit 13 HRs; MAN hit 3.
Rick Porcello lost two games in the series

Hollywood Werewolves @ Southbend Lynx

Series Summary: Hollywood loses game 1, clinches the division with wins in games 2 & 3, turns to the bench to win games 4 & 5, and plays everyone not tired in the season finale, which they drop 10-7. So Hollywood takes 4 of 6.

Tijuana Bottle Rockets @ Yonge Street Stalkers

Series Preview: YSS hosts Tijuana to close it out for 2 non-playoff teams.
Series Summary: YSS took 4 of 6. Nothing truly noteworthy transpired in this series.

Valdosta Snappers @ Tempe Tempers

Series Preview: Tempe needs four wins to secure the home field for the wild card and Valdosta seems willing to assist with an army of three grades.
Game #1: Tempe 11-8 15 INN
Game #2: Tempe 18-4
Game #3: Tempe 4-3
Game #4: Tempe 13-6
Game #5: Valdosta 4-3
Game #6: Tempe 6-4
Series Summary: Tempe takes five of six games in the series but probably should have rested the starters after securing home-field following game 4. Brantley was injured in games six and will miss time in the Wild Card series. Triple Creek and Tempe played head to head last week in a close series and the upcoming playoffs should be another tight contest with both teams evenly matched.

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