PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #18

·         Fort Worth Panthers @ Winnipeg Goldeyes

Series Summary *

Steel City takes 5 of 7, but many games were close — even extra frames.

·        Missouri Black Bears @ Manhattan Gas Hornets

Series Preview

NL East Battle between the Missouri Black Bears (61-40, 2nd place tie) and the Manhattan Gas Hornets (69-32, 1st). Black Bears battling to supplant the Gas Hornets as best in the NL – and they have good reason … they have power, pitching, and bullpen.

Moseby hits a 1 out solo shot (7) in the 1st that gets things going for the Black Bears. In the 4th they tee off on Reuschel and drive him from the game scoring 6 more runs off him – a 7th is scored when Burke gives up a HR to Matt Williams (7, one of many he is to hit this week). Another run in the 6th and it’s a 9-0 cakewalk for the Black Bears. Gas Hornets dump their starters after the 4th to give them some rest. Then comes the 9th inning. Bolton on the mound for Missouri. Jones single, Stanley single, Bass walks. O’Neill flies out and Jones is nailed at the plate for a double play – 2 outs, runners at 1st and 2nd. And then the Gas Hornets score NINE runs to tie the game culminated by Stanley’s 3 run HR (3). Could the Gas Hornet scrubs plate the winner in extras? No – game goes to the 11th, Righetti in (gas rags) and he gives up a 3 run HR to Moseby (8) – his 2nd shot of the game and just as he opened the scoring he closed it – Missouri wins 12-9 in a most improbable game. McMurtry fans 2 of the 3 he faces in the 12th to preserve the win (S 4). WP – Henke (3-4) LP Righetti (5-2). Dunston (6) also HR.

In the game there was some question as to whether or not the Clovis management has been in contact with Missouri as Rasmussen took target practice on Kevin Bass (nailing him in the head) while warming up to deck Dick Schofield. Is it coincidence that the Gas Hornet shortstop is decked, and injured, the week after the Walt Weiss incident? Schofield will miss a day.

Game #3:

3 hitter by Mike Scott (10-4) paces an 11 hit Black Bear attack the produced 6 runs in a 6-0 shutout. Jose Lind goes 3 for 4, Dunston drives in 3 – HR (7) and Matt Williams clubs HR # 9 (and 3rd of the series). – he also fans 3 times, but what the heck. Leary fanned 9 in 5.2 innings, but gave up 5 runs, again, who cares?
Leary LP (16-3)

Game #4:

Gas Hornets strike first with run in the 1st, but Black Bears prevail 4-2. Game was tied 2-2 (after single run by Missouri in the 6th) until the Black Bears scored 2 in the 8th. How? Matt Williams leads off the inning with his 10th HR (solo – and 4th of the series). 2 batters later Galarraga tags a Righetti pitch over the wall (21). McMurtry (the 8th) and Smith (the 9th) nail the home team in order to end the game. WP Leibrandt (11-5), S Smith (12).

Game #5:

Manhattan only manages 4 hits (solo HRs by Yount (9) and Dawson (17) of Youmans. Missouri manages 2 hits of Reuschel – and he kept the scoreless in a 2-0 Manhattan win. Reuschel moves to 18-6 while Youmans drops to 2-5.

Game #6:

Manhattan and Missouri trade runs in the 1st and 2nd – 1-1 until the 6th when a Sax rbi double and Joyner 2 run homer (13) plate 3 as Manhattan goes on to win 4-1. Missouri paced by 2 hits each from Galarraga, Sundberg and Greenwell, out hit the Gas Hornets, but could plate anymore runs. WP Key (10-4) – 7 strong innings. S Reardo (32). LP – Musselman (4-2)

Series Summary *

Great series – game 1 set an interesting tone. Missouri is sure tough, can’t see them losing too many more.

Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Detroit Stars

Series Summary *

Detroit takes series 4-2 over Mexico City… Not much offense by either team in this series

 Janesville Juggernauts @ Chicago Demolition

Series Preview

Chicago comes in at 75-32 in first place in the American League East.  Janesville checks in at 45-59 in 5th place in the American League West.
Five game set between the two clubs.

Game #1:

In a long and drawn out affair with the score tied at 3-3 in the 19th inning – newly acquired Darryl Strawberry hits a WALK OFF Home Run in the bottom of the 19th to win it for Chicago. Strawberry was 4 for 8 for the game.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – Janesville 3 (19 Innings)

Game #2:

Roger Clemens (12-6 3.48) goes the distance allowing 1 Earned run. Ken Phelps is 3 for 5 with a Home Run.
Final Score: Chicago 11 – Janesville 1

Game #3:

Doug Drabek for Chicago & John Tudor for Janesville both pitch well, but Chicago gets 1 in the 8th to tie it at 2 runs each, and a single with the bases loaded by Bill Doran wins it for Chicago in the 9th, walk off style.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – Janesville 2

Game #4:

After a rare day off in between games 3 and 4, Orel Hershiser (16-5 2.37) goes 7.1 innings and Dennis Eckersley comes in for his 25th save on the season. Danny Tartabull hits a Home Run for the Juggernauts, but it’s not enough as Chicago picks up the win.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – Janesville 2

Game #5:

Making his Chicago Demolition debut Dave Stieb (11-8 3.04) goes the distance and allows only 5 hits and 1 walk. Newly acquired George Brett goes 3 for 4 and Chicago wins it.
Final Score: Chicago 5 – Janesville 0

Series Summary *

Chicago sweeps the series and looks stronger than ever after the pick up last week of Strawberry, Brett & Stieb. Chicago now sits at 80-32, while the Juggernauts slip a little further back in the American League West.

·         Germantown Grays @ Long Beach Titans

Series Summary *

Germantown takes 4 of 7 from Long Beach

Traverse City Tigers @ Cedar Park Bears

Series Preview

An AL West match up between first place Traverse City Tigers and the 2d place Cedar Park Bears. Recent fortunes of the two teams have this series shaping up to be a battle for 1st place as the Tigers have struggled recently and hold a slim 1 game lead over the Bears.

Final: Cedar Park 6 Traverse City 5

WP: Pena 4-4, 2.08
LP: Agosto 6-5, 2.30

Final: Cedar Park 3 Traverse City 0

WP: Dopson 10-5, 3.22
LP: Maddux 11-7, 3.11

Final : Traverse City 7 Cedar Park 6

WP: Agosto 7-5, 2.26 Save-Jones
LP: Honeycutt 4-3, 2.38

Game #4:

Swindell had a mediocre start allowing 10 hits and 4 runs leaving things to Al Pena. Pena was horrible allowing another 8 hits and 5 runs as Traverse City continued pounding the Bears’ staff, especially the bullpen. Dave Winfield hit 2 HRs (21) and drove in 4 runs. Everyone in the Tigers’ order collected at least one hit. Charlie Hough had an easy win but gave way to Ken Dayley in the 9th. The series is tied and the Tigers are back in 1st.

Final: Traverse City 9 Cedar Park 2

WP: Hough 8-13, 3.55
LP: Swindell 13-6, 3.20

Game #5:

The Bears overcome a 2-1 deficit in the 6th and explode for 9 runs over the final 3 innings off Candelaria, Agosto and Holton. Boddicker went 8 to pick up his 9th win. Thomas, Evans, Armas and Schu drove in 2 runs each.

Final: Cedar Park 10 Traverse City 2

WP: Boddicker 9-7, 2.66
LP: Candelaria 8-6, 3.22

Game #6:

Mike Moore found his form in this one and went the distance allowing only 1 run on 3 hits. Cedar Park liked what Dave LaPoint was serving up allowing 10 hits and 4 runs before departing in the 7th.

Final: Cedar Park 4 Traverse City 1

WP: Moore 12-6, 2.30
LP: LaPoint 5-8, 3.85

Game #7:

John Dopson made it two straight shutout wins over the Tigers, tossing a 3-hitter this time. An error by Molitor led to the only run of the game scored by the Bears’ Washington in the 1st inning.

Final: Cedar Park 1 Traverse City 0

WP: Dopson 11-5, 3.02
LP: Maddux 11-8, 2.97

Series Summary *

The Bears win the final three to take the series 5-2. The 3-7 slide by the Tigers and the 8-2 streak by the Bears enabled Cedar Park to take over 1st Place in the AL West. Lots of games to play yet, however.

·         Sugar Land Skeeters @ Valdosta Bombers

Series Preview

In a battle of flying things the Skeeters visit the Bombers in Valdosta.

Game #1:

Valdosta 6-4. Tommy John (1-1) notches his 1st victory of the season as the Bombers sneak past the Skeeters.

Game #2:

Sugar land 8-6 (12 Innings). Jack Clark hit a 2 out game tying HR in the 9th but the Skeeters struck for two in the 12th for the win.

Game #3:

Valdosta 7-6 (12 Innings). Brian Downing with the game tying 9th inning HR and Jose Oquendo’s 12th inning SF made a winner of John Franco (6-3).

Game #4:

Sugar Land 6-3. Joe Magrane (6-13) scattered 7 hits as he tossed a complete game win.

Game #5:

Sugar Land 2-1. Skeeters squirt past the Bombers in a well pitched game.

Game #6:

Valdosta 11-3. Bombers soar past the Skeeters as Tommy John improves to 2-1. Bert Blyleven dropped to 6-14.

Game #7:

Valdosta 5-3. Mike LaCoss (9-8) made his last start of the year a good one as he wins and Franco saves # 17.

Series Summary *

Valdosta wins 4-3.

·         California Quakes @ Fort Worth Panthers

Series Summary *

No time for a write up. California wins 4 of 7

·         Clovis Cougars @ Michigan Marauders

Series Preview

Clovis takes on Michigan. Clovis is in the middle of the pack in the West, while Michigan is in 3rd place and trying to keep up with the mighty Manhattan and Missouri teams.

Game #1:

Bankhead vs. Terrell
Clovis puts up 3 in the 3rd inning. But, in the 6th inning, Michigan puts up a remarkable 8 runs. Matt Nokes put a charge into one with a grand slam to stun Clovis.
Michigan 8 Clovis 3

Game #2:

Bannister vs. Tanana.
2 leftys duel. Clovis scores 2 runs in the 5th inning on an Eddie Murray homer. But, once again, Michigan responds late with 3 runs in the 8th inning.
Michigan 3 Clovis 2

Game #3:

Smiley vs. Langston
This was very much a back and forth game. Both teams score 2 in the 1st inning, and go back and forth. Each team also scores 1 run in the 8th inning. Glenn Davis with a homer and 3 RBI as Michigan pulls the game out.
Michigan 6 Clovis 5

Game #4:

Sutcliffe vs. Deshaies
This was a gem by Deshaies. Deshaies throws a 3 hit shutout as Michigan wins game 4. Nokes and Brunansky hit homers for Michigan.
Michigan 4 Clovis 0

Game #5:

Black vs. Higuera
Higuera pitches a strong game. He goes 8.2 innings, but falls short of a complete game. Brunansky with 1 homer and 2 hits to lead Michigan. Juan Nieves comes in to get one out in the ninth. Higuera wins his 15th game.
Michigan 5 Clovis 2

Series Summary *

Michigan gets a big 5 game sweep to help themselves in the sweep. Deshaies and Higuera throw 2 strong games in games 4 and 5.

 Stockton Wings @ Montana Cutthroats

·        

Series Preview

An Eastern Division match in the American League as the 4th place Stockton Wings visit the 5th place Montana Cutthroats for a 7 game series.

Game #1:

Bob Forsch leads Montana with a CG 4-hit SHO. Offensively, Cutthroats get homeruns from Darrell Miller and Darryl Boston to take game 1. FINAL – MCT 6 STO 0

Game #2:

Willie Upshaw drives home the winning run with an RBI single and Chili Davis gets 3 hits to lead Stockton past Montana. FINAL – STO 7 MCT 4

Game #3:

Norm Charlton twirls 3-hit CG shutout as Montana wins going away 10-0. Charlton’s gem included 10 strikeouts. Harper, Rivera, and Boston homered for Montana who pounded out 15 hits in win. FINAL – MCT 10 STO 0

Game #4:

Bobby Ojeda’s turn for a CG shutout as he throws a 5-hitter for Stockton. Wings get their runs on Barry Larkin and Chili Davis RBI singles and a solo HR by Mike Pagliarulo. FINAL – STO 3 MCT 0

Game #5:

Cutthroats get their 3rd shutout of the series behind Mike Smithson’s 9-hit CG gem. Don Baylor gets 3 hits and 3 RBI to lead Montana at plate. FINAL – MCT 6 STO 0

Game #6:

Bob Forsch allows a meaningless single run in the 7th inning costing him his 2nd CG shutout of the series. Montana provides him plenty of offense as Kevin Seitzer, Ellis Burks, and Steve Balboni hit homeruns. Balboni drives home 4 in game. FINAL – MCT 11 STO 1

Game #7:

John Shelby hits a 3-run HR for Stockton and they hang on for dear life as Montana fights back only to fall a run short. Cutthroats leave tying run on 3rd base to end game. Shelby drives home 5 in game while Willie Upshaw gets 3 hits and 2 RBI in win. FINAL – STO 8 MCT 7

Series Summary *

Montana takes a rare series win 4 games to 3. Cutthroats twirl 3 shutouts. Bob Forsch gets 2 complete game wins and only allows 1 run. Light hitting Luis Rivera goes 11 for 26 to lead Cutthroats on offense.