PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #19

Montana Cutthroats @ Mexico City Chihuahuas

Series Summary *

Mexico City takes 3 of 5 against Montana. Not enough to gain ground. Time to throw in the towel.

·         Manhattan Gas Hornets @ Valdosta Bombers

Series Preview

First place Hornets take on the fading Bombers in Valdosta.

Series Summary *

A low scoring series in which Manhattan takes 5 of 7. Both Valdosta wins were shutouts from a combination of Bryn Smith, Steve Farr and John Franco.

·         Chicago Demolition @ California Quakes

Series Preview

Chicago heads west to take on 2nd place California.

Series Summary *

Chicago outscores California 42-13 in the 7-game series, but California still manages to win 2 in the process.

 Traverse City Tigers @ Janesville Juggernauts

Series Preview

Traverse comes into Janesville for a 7 game matchup. The Juggernauts are reeling after a 5 game road loss to the league’s best in Chicago, while the Tigers look to gain ground on Cedar Park for the AL West lead.

Game #1:

All Traverse, as they take the opener 11-4; the Tigers 1-5 batters get 10 of the 13 hits pounded out, while Janesville could only manage 4 hits.

Game #2:

Janesville is in a funk, as they lose their 7th straight game 10-2. Charlie Hough was masterful for the Tigers, going 7 innings with 10K’s and 5 walks. Larry Sheets hits a homer for the Juggernauts, whose bats have gone cold.

Game #3:

A close one, but not good enough for Janesville, as Mitch Williams blows the save in the 9th giving up 2 runs as Traverse takes the game 3-2. Show pitched well for the Juggernauts, but it wasn’t in the cards.

Game #4:

Pitching is now gone, as the Tigers beat Janesville 12-3. LaPoint was masterful for Traverse, going 6 innings with no runs, only 2 hits. Steve Buechele was the lone bright spot for Janesville, hitting a 3 run homer to account for all the runs for the Juggernauts.

Game #5:

The misery continues, as Janesville loses its 10th game in a row 9-2. Bob Welch only lasted 1.1 innings in a poor outing, and 17 hits by the Tigers all but do in the Juggernauts. Greg Maddux improves to 12-8 on the season.

Game #6:

Traverse shows why they are the best in the West, winning game six by a score of 5-2. Knepper goes 7 innings in improving to 11-5, and Janesville has now been outscored 50-15 in losing their 11th straight game.

Game #7:

Hoping to salvage something of the series, the Juggernauts are disappointed as Charlie Hough pitches a NO-HITTER with 8k’s and 2 walks. A beautiful pitching performance by Traverse City in the series.

Series Summary *

Tigers go 7-0 against the Juggernauts, who now are looking to shake up their lineup to try and salvage the next series!

Missouri Black Bears @ Michigan Marauders

Series Preview

A big series in the N.L. East. 2nd place Michigan hosts 3rd place Missouri. This series is critical regarding the playoffs.

Game #1:

Dennis Rasmussen outpitches Walt Terrell. Rasmussen gets his 12th win. Mark McLemore gets injured for the Bears. Jose Lind with 2 RBIs for Missouri. Glenn Davis hits a homer that goes to waste for Michigan.
Missouri 3 Michigan 2

Game #2:

Don August outduels Mike Scott leading Michigan to the narrow one run win. Mike Schmidt is the star for Michigan as he records 3 hits.
Michigan 2 Missouri 1

Game #3:

Leibrandt and Langston battle it out. But, this was decided late in the game. Mike Henneman blows a one run lead as Benito Santiago hits a 2 run blast. Michigan doesn’t respond.
Missouri 3 Michigan 2

Game #4:

Mike Greenwell is a superstar for Missouri. He hits a big 2 homers for the Bears. He also adds 3 RBI to the Missouri cause. Gaetti and Nokes hit homers for the losers.
Missouri 4 Michigan 2

Game #5:

Mike Krukow participates in a shutout for the Black Bears. Paul Gibson and Tom Bolton contribute to the shutout.
Missouri 4 Michigan 0

Game #6:

This game ends again, 3-2 for Missouri. This is the 3rd 3-2 victory for Missouri. Greenwell and Gwynn hit homers for Missouri. Walt Terrell is saddled with another loss.
Missouri 3 Michigan 2

Game #7:

Michigan gives up again and gets shutout. Rasmussen, Smith, and Henke combine on the shutout.
Missouri 2 Michigan 0

Series Summary *

Congrats to Missouri on winning 6 of 7. Missouri’s pitching dominates an inept hitting effort by Michigan. Some position players may need to be looking for new jobs. No clutch hitting, while Mike Greenwell has a great series for Missouri.

Stockton Wings @ Fort Worth Panthers

·        

Series Preview

The 3rd and 4th place AL East teams face off.
The Panthers come into this series in 3rd place 33 games back. On the league leader boards they’re 5th in batting at .242. For the Wings they come into this game in 4th place one game behind Ft. Worth. On the league leader boards they’re 6th in batting at .239, 4th in slugging, and 3rd in stolen bases with 126.

Game #1:

With the score tied in the top of the 9th, Billy Hatcher led off, “SHIELDS with the pitch … it’s deep to center … over TABLER’s head bounces at the base of the wall … that’s good for extra bases … TABLER’s up with it
HATCHER hits second under full steam the coach is waving him to third … he uncorks one … the relay … and he’s safe…ahead of the throw … triple for HATCHER … the chance paid off” Hatcher would later score on a ground out.
FINAL SCORE: WINGS 4, PANTHERS 3

Game #2:

Canseco led the way for Stockton with 2 home runs and 5 RBI’s as the Wings leaped ahead 9-0 after two innings en route to taking game 2.
FINAL SCORE: WINGS 12, PANTHERS 2

Game #3:

There was lots of scoring early. Tabler breaks the 4-4 tie game in the bottom of the 5th with a double then Parrish adds an insurance homer in the bottom of the 6th.
FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 6, WINGS 4

Game #4:

Keith Hernandez had a homer and 4 RBI while Billy Ripken had a three run homer as Ft. Worth cruised to victory. Reliever Shields made the game closer than it should have been, but the Panthers still prevail.
FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 12, WINGS 6

Game #5:

The comeback comes up 1 run short for Ft. Worth as Stockton hangs on to win.
FINAL SCORE: WINGS 6, PANTHERS 5

Trailing by a run with two outs and a man on in the bottom of the 7th rookie Gary Sheffield came up,”They’re holding HEATH … quick move to the plate … lofted deep to left field CANSECO got a great jump … he’s back … way back … he won’t get it … it’s gone! home run for SHEFFIELD … he seems to like base runners. WINGS 3, PANTHERS 4 So SHEFFIELD has his 5th homer … the PANTHERS add two big runs and the PANTHERS take the lead from the WINGS! … they now lead by one 4-3. listen to that crowd! … 16 ribbies now for SHEFFIELD”
After a strong 7 innings by starter Wegman the Panthers pen shuts the door as McDowell notches his 30th save.
FINAL SCORE: PANTHERS 4, WINGS 3

Game #7:

The Panthers lead 4 to 2 going into the 7th, but the Wings exploded for 11 runs over the final 3 frames to take the series 4 games to 3.
FINAL SCORE: WINGS 13, PANTHERS 5

Series Summary *

Stockton wins 4 of 7.

Sugar Land Skeeters @ Long Beach Titans

·        

Series Summary *

Long Beach sweeps the 5 game series with Sugar Land.

Steel City Sluggers @ Germantown Grays

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Series Preview

Lowly Germantown take on the hard charging sluggers from Steel City

Series Summary *

Steel City takes 5 of 7

Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Clovis Cougars

Series Preview

4th place Winnipeg travels south to take on 3rd place Clovis

Game #1:

Clovis 7 Winnipeg 1
Cougars break open a close one with 5 in the 8th.

Game #2:

Clovis 2 Winnipeg 0
Clovis rookie Randy Johnson makes an impressive debut with a 4 hit shutout.

Game #3:

Clovis 2 Winnipeg 0
Bannister slows down the Ed Whitson Express with a 5 hit shutout.

Game #4:

Clovis 2 Winnipeg 1
Smiley tosses 6 strong followed up with Smith, Harvey, and Myers for one inning, just like we planned it!

Game #5:

Winnipeg 4 Clovis 2
Stillwell rips a 3 run homer in the 8th to cap a 4 run rally and give Winnipeg their first win.

Game #6:

Winnipeg 6 Clovis 1
Manny Lee rips 4 hits to lead Winnipeg. Bosio picks up the win with a strong effort. Doubleheader game one.

Game #7:

Clovis 7 Winnipeg 3
Jody Reed drives in 3 to lead Clovis to the split in the DH.

Series Summary *

Clovis flashes some strong pitching to take 5 of 7 and climb back above .500

·         Detroit Stars @ Cedar Park Bears

Series Preview

An AL West match up between the Detroit Stars and the Cedar Park Bears. The series between these two teams is expected to be close as both teams boast good pitching and hitting in 1988.

Game #1:

Both teams score a run in the 1st. George Bell drove home Brett Butler, who tripled. Claudell Washington singled home Luis Polonia, who had doubled. Will Clark hit his 11th HR in the 4th, but Butler tripled again scoring Vince Coleman, game tied 2-2 after 5. In the bottom of the 9th, Ron Gant walked and moved to 2d. Mackey Sasser, PH for Andre Thomas, singled home Gant with the winning run.
Final: Cedar Park 3 Detroit 2
WP: Pena (5-4, 2.79)
LP: McDowell (2-3, 3.86)

Game #2:

Detroit scored a single run in the 4th through the 8th innings, George Bell (10) and Julio Franco (6) each HRd The Bears countered with a 4 run 5th, Washington drove in 2 runs with a double. Andre Thomas (8) gave CP the lead with a solo HR in the 7th, but after the Stars tied it again in the 8th, as George Bell added an RBI triple. Thomas would score the winning run in the 8th for the Bears, he reached on a FC and was able to score on an RBI double by Polonia. Bears win another by 1 run.
Final: Cedar Park 6 Detroit 5
WP: Honeycutt (5-3, 2.30)
LPR: McGaffigan (1-1, 3.03)

Game #4:

George Bell made a case for player of the week with his 2d Grand Slam of the series in the 3 inning. That erased a 4-0 Bear’s lead. Andre Thomas hit a 2-run HR in the 3d. The Stars got 2 important runs in the 8th that proved to be the margin of victory.
Final: Detroit 7 Cedar Park 5
WP: Jackson (14-4, 2.12) SV-McGaffigan
LP Moore (12-7, 2.52)

Game #5:

Each teams offense wasn’t as sharp in this one. The Stars had 11 hits but left 7 OB, the Bears had 10 but stranded 9. Kruk smacked a 2-run double in the 1st, later Bell drove in a run with a SF and Franco had an RBI double. Kirby Puckett drove in a run in the 3 and in the 7th for all the Bears’ runs.
Final: Detroit 4 Cedar Park 2
WP: Gubicza (14-7, 2.25)
LP: Dopson (11-6, 3.10)

Game #6:

The Stars jump all over Bears’ started Bobby Witt for 5 runs in the 3d, Bell drives in 2 with a double. They added two more off Rick Honeycutt, Bell drives in another run. The 7-2 lead after 4 looked pretty good for the Stars. However, the Bears battled back chipping away at the lead. Puckett drove in 3 runs as the Bears scored 2 in the 5th and a single run in the 6,7th and 8th but they would fall short and the Stars even the series 3-3.
Final: Detroit 8 Cedar Park 7

Game #7:

Ernie Whitt (6) HRd for the Bears, Brett Butler drove in a run with a double, it was 1-1 till the 9th. Butler drove in another run in the top of the 9th to give the Stars a 2-1 lead. Rookie Lenny Harris and Andre Thomas reach base, and the Bears capitalize on their speed as Puckett and Clarke drive both in, Thomas with the winning run. The Bears edge the Stars in the final game to get a 4-3 edge in the series.
Final: Cedar Park 3 Detroit 2

Series Summary *

A good series between two competitive teams. No outcome decided until the final out was recorded. Ultimately the results had little affect on each team’s pursuit of a playoff spot, but there was a lot of action in the series, won by Cedar Park 4-3.