PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #5

       Steel City Sluggers @ Missouri Black Bears

Series Preview

Steel City Sluggers take on the Missouri Black Bears

Game #1:

Missouri 3, Steel City 2
Santiago walk-off HR
Lind 2 hits, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Morris 8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Sabo 2 hits, 2B, HR, SB, BB, 2 RS, RBI in the loss

Game #2:

Steel City 8, Missouri 0
Henderson 2 hits, HR, RS, 2 RBI
Sabo 2 hits, 3B, RS, RBI
Perez 2 hits, RS, RBI
Perez 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K

Game #3:

Steel City 5, Missouri 4 – 11 Innings
Pasqua PH solo HR in the 9th ties it
Quirk 11th inning HR wins it
Sandberg 2 hits, HR, SB, RS, RBI
O’Brien 3 hits, RBI
Wilkerson 3 hits, 3B, BB, 2 RS, RBI in the loss

Game #4:

Missouri 1, Steel City 0
Santiago 2B, RBI
Greenwell H, BB, RS
Rasmussen 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Browning CG (8 IP), 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Game #5:

Missouri 3, Steel City 0
Sundberg 2 hits, RBI
Moseby 2 hits, BB, RS
Youmans H, RBI
Youmans CG, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Series Summary *

Good series between 2 pretty evenly matched teams.
3 of the games were decided by 1 run.
Pitchers threw 3 shut-outs in the series.

       Detroit Stars @ Fort Worth Panthers

Game #1:

Detroit’s Danny Jackson throws a 3 hit complete game shutout while striking out 4. Kruk, Cerone, and Coleman each had 3 hits for the Stars as they crush the Panthers in game 1.
FINAL SCORE DET 9, FWP 0

Game #2:

Gubicza was even more impressive for the Stars as he also pitched a 3 hit complete game shutout, but he also punched out 8. Detroit DH Bell hit a double and a home rune while driving home 3.
FINAL SCORE DET 4, FWP 0

Game #3:

Long time Ft. Worth fan favorite Soto turned the tables on the Stars as he flirted with a no-hitter losing it with out in the 6th on a singled to LF by Coleman. No hitters stood out for the Panthers although McGriff and Ripken each had 2 RBI.
FINAL SCORE FWP 6, DET 0

Game #4:

Twice Detroit tied the game and twice the Panthers retook the lead in the home half of the same inning. The Panther’s pen kept the lead safe over the last two innings as Ft. Worth evened the series at two games a piece.
FINAL SCORE FWP 3, DET 2

Game #5:

This time the Ft. Worth bullpen did not do it’s job as southpaw Havens allowed two runs in the 7th allowing Detroit to squeak out a series clinching win.
FINAL SCORE DET 2, FWP 1

Series Summary *

By winning 3 of 5 Detroit inches closer to Cedar Rapids in the AL West while the Panthers slide closer to Stockton in the AL East. Next week Ft. Worth faces AL West division leader Old Mill and the Stars take on AL East 3rd place Stockton.

       Germantown Grays @ Manhattan Gas Hornets

Series Preview

Germantown (6-20) at Manhattan (12-14)
This series sees two teams that are struggling – the Grays are really having a tough time getting going, the Gas Hornets are just not producing runs like they did last year.

Game #1:

2 in the 1st and 3 in the 3rd pave the way for a Manhattan 5-1 victory. The lone Gray run was unearned as Reuschel improves to 3-3. Guzman suffers his 4th loss against no wins. Joyner goes 4 for 4 and Bass drives in 4 runs (on 2 doubles).

Game #2:

Nearly identical score – 5-2 – the difference was a McGwire HR in the 9th making it look closer. NOTE – that was McGwire’s first of the year (and that ties him with Andre Dawson – each at 1 HR to date). Gagne also homered (2) in the 6th which at the time cut the score to 3-1 Gas Hornets. Manhattan plated 3 in the 5th and 2 in the 8th. The 2 in the 8th the result of an O’Neill PH 2 run HR (1). Key gets his 1st win (1-2) of the year, Reardon (4) the save. Flanagan drops to 1-6.

Game #3:

Only Germantown highlight in this game was Hall’s 3rd HR of the season in a 2 run 2nd inning. It was a lead-off HR. Manhattan matched the two runs in the bottom half and then scored 9 more (including 5 in the 8th) to win 11-2. Yount 2 doubles and rbis and Joyner and O’Neill each tripled. McWilliams (1-2) the winner in relief. Aguilera (1-1) the loser.

Game #5:

The series finale was another Manhattan blowout, 13-2, starting with 4 in the first. 3 in the 4th and 6 in the 8th make it a mess for the Grays. Dawson a HR (3) and 5 rbis coupled with Joyner’s 4 hits (as well as Ozzie Virgil’s 4 hits) were big parts of the 20 hit attack. Leary (2-1) the win, Smoltz the loss (0-2).

Series Summary *

Manhattan sweeps Germantown – wish I could say the Gas Hornets have turned a corner, but the Grays pitching staff was just not there this week.

·            Stockton Wings @ Janesville Juggernauts

Series Preview

Stockton Wings comes into Wisconsin to play the Juggernauts in a 5 game match up. Stockton sits at 13-13 while Janesville is at 12-15.

Game #1:

Bob Welch goes the distance in recording his first win of the season, giving up only a solo homer as Janesville wins 3-1.

Game #2:

Janesville’s bats finally erupt as they score 9 runs in the bottom of the sixth highlighted by a pinch hit 3 run shot by Bobby Bonilla. Rob Deer followed Bonilla’s homer with a shot of his own, and the Juggernauts win easily 9-2.

Game #3:

In a game sure to be forgotten by Janesville, Stockton shows their stuff with a 20-1 victory. Nothing went right for Janesville, with 3 errors and 3 unearned runs. Chili Davis was the star for Stockton, going 4 for 6 with 4 RBI’s, falling just a triple short of hitting for the cycle. Jose Canseco was hit by a pitch and removed from the game due to an injury. Janesville leads the series 2-1.

Game #4:

Janesville rebounds nicely in game 4, winning 3-0. Eric Show goes the distance in improving his record on the year to 4-2 with 6 K’s and no walks. Janesville now goes up 3-1.

Game #5:

Stockton shows its mettle by overcoming a 1-0 deficit by scoring 5 runs in the 8th and 9th to win the game 5-1. Chili Davis was once again the hero for the Wings smacking a 2 run homer to take the lead. Hurst goes the distance and moves to 6-1 on the season for Stockton.

Series Summary *

Janesville wins its first series of the year, 3 games to 2. They move to 15-17 while Stockton is now 15-16.

·         Valdosta Bombers @ Clovis Cougars

Series Preview

4th place Valdosta visits 1st place Clovis.

Game #1:

Valdosta hangs on for a 5-4 win. Redus threw out Salazar at the plate for the last out of the game.
LaCoss (3-3) picks up the win.

Game #2:

Clovis wins a battle of 3 run homers as Howell and Brantley both planted balls in the bleachers for Clovis with 2 runners aboard to top Valdosta who had Snyder blast a 3 run bomb of his own. Clovis 7-5 winner, Harris (1-1) picks up the win in relief.

Game #3:

Bud Black tosses a 3 hit shutout in his season debut. Murray blasts his 6th home run and drives in runs 31 and 32 on the season. Clovis 3-0 winner.

Game #4:

Clovis 4-2 Eddie Murray blasts a two run shot in the first and breaks a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a run scoring single. Murray’s 3 RBI give him 35 on the year. Smith (1-1) picks up the win in relief.

Game #5:

Valdosta 3-1 in 11 innings. Great game as Andy Van Slyke rips an 11th inning triple and steals home off of a nonchalant Bryan Harvey. Cory Snyder takes advantage of the clearly rattled Harvey and plants his third homer of the series deep into the left field pavilion. Farr (2-3) picks up the win in relief.

Series Summary *

Clovis takes 3 of 5 in a very tight series. Murray again starred at the plate with a pair of homers and 6 RBI for Clovis but Cory Snyder, not to be outdone, put together a nice series as well with 3 homers and 6 RBI of his own.

·         Michigan Marauders @ Winnipeg Goldeyes

Series Preview

Winnipeg has been playing much better ball this year after being a disaster in the last two years. Michigan is a great team however and will look to a playoff run.

Game #1:

Ed Whitson pitches another gem for Winnipeg allowing two soloshots to Davis and Brooks. But Stanley in relief for Michigan was awful allowing 4 unearned runs to score. Winnipeg 6 Michigan 3 W-Whitson 5-0 L-Stanley 4-1

Game #2:

Tough game for Winnipeg as Buhner got hurt for two weeks and will need a DL stint. Tanana improved to 2-0 as he beat rookie Hanson in his debut. Michigan 3 Winnipeg 2

Game #3:

This time its Winnipeg s bullpen blows it and Stanley gets the win improving his record to 5-1. Michigan 5 Winnipeg 4 Jackson hits a big homer

Game #4:

Moyer finally p[itches well as the pitching grade he got is quite awful as a 7ZL eventhough he would have been an 11 with the regular apba disk and a sub 3.50 era. Perry hit a 3 run homer of Deshaies. Winnipeg 4 Michigan 0

Game #5:

Higuera awas amazing allowing 1 base runner in 7 innings too bad the runner was a homer by Perry. Amazingly Stanley gets another decition in the series losing his 2nd one as Bosia pitched a 2 hitter for the 2-1 Winnipeg win.

Series Summary *

Winnipeg is thrilled to have won 3 of 5 vs a better Michigan team. Winnipeg despite not a great team seems to have a real shot at playing near .500 making this season aq bit more fun to play out.

·         Chicago Demolition @ Old Mill Legends

Series Preview

Chicago visits Old Mill for a 5 game series.

Game #1:

Stewart vs Rijo, Demolition prevail 3-2 in this pitchers duel. Eck picks up save #7.

Game #2:

Darbek vs Candelaria. All Chicago as they romp 12-6. Hrbek leads the offense with 3 RBIs.

Game #3:

Clemens vs Terry. Another romp as Chicago wins 9-2. This time Boggs leads the offense with 4 RBIs.

Game #4:

Hershiser vs Maddux. This game goes extra innings, but the Demolition pull it out 3-2. Eck gets the win and Howell the save.

Game #5:

Guidry vs Knepper. The Legends finally steal a game 8-6 but have to hold off a fierce rally in the 9th. 3 Legends have 2 RBIs and Jones gets the save.

Series Summary *

Chicago wins the series 4-1.

·         Long Beach Titans @ Sugar Land Skeeters

Series Summary *

Long Beach takes 3 of the 5 games

·         Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Montana Cutthroats

Series Summary *

Mexico City takes 3 of 5 at Montana.

Cedar Park Bears @ California Quakes

Series Preview

Second place Cedar Park takes on fourth place California Quakes.

Series Summary *

California continues its struggles and loses 3 of 5. Not good baseball.