PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

Sugar Land rebuilding but hope is eternal on opening day as they face a loaded Michigan team.

Sugar Land gets two RBI each from James and Coles and Greg Harris saves it for Greg Harris. SLS 6, MIC 3.

Sutcliffe and two relievers allow three hits and zero ER to Sugar Land as Michigan wins 5-1. Brunansky with a solo shot.

Gaetti and Slaught hit solo HR for all the MIC offense as DeShaies goes the distance on a 5-hitter. 2-0 MIC.

Bob Milacki drives in two runs and scatters 10 hits over 7 IP as MIC wins 8-4. Nokes with a solo HR>

Bo Jackson hits two doubles and scores one and drives in one. Tanana and two relievers scatter 8 hits as MIC wins 3-1.

Gibson’s sac fly drives in Coles with the game’s only run as Greg W. Harris pitches a CG 5-hit shutout.

Rick Sutcliffe with a 3-hit shutout and Randolph scores two runs. 3-0 MIC.

Michigan wins five of seven. Sutcliffe: 2-0, 15 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 6 BB 8 K.

Winnipeg is an up and coming team but this isn’t quite their time.  Germantown has excellent pitching but hitting may not be enough.

Karkovice homers off Danny Jackson and Finley makes it stand up. GER 1 pg 0

Hanson shows his great young stuff as Winnipeg beats Smoltz and the Germantown boys 3-2

Morgan pitches great and McGwire homers as Germantown wins 3-1 over Winnipeg and Glavine

Aquilera pitches a 4 hitter beating Moyer 4-0 McGwire homers again.

Calderon has a monster game single, double homer and Winnipeg wins 12-0 as Stottlemeyer throws a 3 hitter.

McGwire homers again and Finley gets the win. GER 6 WPG 3

McGwire only doubles but Smoltz was great. GER 5 WPG 2

GER only hit .221 in the series but it was more than enough as McGwire got 3 homers and 7 key RBI’s in the 5-2 series win. Winnipeg managed only 1 homer in seven games.

Mexico City takes the series over Janesville 4-3

Hopes are high for both teams as the 1989 season begins.

Blyleven pitches a complete game shutout in his Panther debut.  Holding the Bears to 5 hits while punching out 5.Final Score: Panthers 4, Bears 0

Ft. Worth starter Brown left mid-game due to a blister on his pitching hand and his replacement acted like he didn’t realize he was in the game until 15 batters in. Bears crush Panthers to even the series.Final Score Bears 10, Panthers 1

A couple of run scoring doubles and a passed ball break a 3-3 tie in the 6th as Cedar Park takes game 3.Final Score Bears 6, Panthers 3

Rookie pitcher Abbott doesn’t give up a hit until the 5th inning for Ft. Worth and he doesn’t give up his 2nd hit until one out in the 9th as the Panthers get their 2nd shutout of the series.Final Score: Panthers 3, Bears 0

Parrish gets his first two hits of the season for the Panthers.  Unfortunately for the Bears they were both homers as the Ft. Worth catcher leads the way with 5 RBI’s as the home team romps in the finale.Final Score: Panthers 11, Bears 3

Ft. Worth wins the series 3 games to 2.The Panther’s go on the road for 21 games while the Bears have their home opener next week.

A match-up between two American League teams that went to the playoffs in 1988. The A.L. West Division Champs – Traverse City Tigers host the Detroit Stars.

DETROIT 4, TRAVERSE CITY 2The Detroit Stars score 3 runs during the top of the 5th off of Greg Maddux, which would be the difference maker. Jose DeLeon is credited with the win with 6 innings, allowing only 1 earned run, 6 hits, while striking out 5 Tigers. Jim Presley went 2-for-3, a solo HR, 2 runs total.

DETROIT 8, TRAVERSE CITY 5Detroit jumps all over Jose Rijo, scoring 3 runs in the 1st, 8 in total (6 ER’s) in only 4.2 innings of work, while allowing 13 hits. Julio Franco went a perfect 5-for-5 against the Tigers, with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 RBI & 2 runs. Ed Whitson for Detroit gets a messy win with 6.2 innings (5 ER) logged in, while Rob Dibble logs his 2nd consecutive save.Claudell Washington goes 3-for-4, HR, 3B, 2 RBI & a run — during a losing effort.

DETROIT 10, TRAVERSE CITY 2Mike Bielecki of the Detroit Stars pitches 7 shutout innings. Rick Cerone did some damage from the 7th slot, going 3-for-5, 4 RBI, with a double. John Kruk added 2 hits & 3 RBI, while Brett Butler went 3-for-4 — including a two-run triple. Another Tiger starting pitcher that would not go beyond 5 innings for the second consecutive day, as Eric King allows 11 hits & 6 ER’s in 5 innings, with 2 walks.Harold Baines got both of the Tigers’ 2 Ribbies for the day.

DETROIT 3, TRAVERSE CITY 1Detroit wins again, as Lou Whitaker scores all three runs for the Stars. Whitaker went 3-for-4, including 1 RBI for the day on a solo Home Run. Mark Gubicza records the win with an earned run allowed in 7 innings, while Craig Lefferts logs the Save.

TRAVERSE CITY 9, DETROIT 0T.C. finally breaks through for their first win of the season, as Brian Holton (the team’s former setup man) takes the load off of the bullpen’s shoulders & pitches a three-hit shutout of the Stars. Harold Baines added a solo HR, going 2-for-3. Lance Johnson has a big day, going 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 runs, a double & steal. Bob Boone goes 3-for-4, 2 RBI, double & run.Melido Perez (DET): 3.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 K & 4 BB.

TRAVERSE CITY 3, DETROIT 2After giving up a two-run HR to the Stars’ Lou Whitaker in the first, Greg Maddux would settle down for the Tigers with 7 shutout innings that would follow. The total at the end of the day would be 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, with 7 K’s. Greg Brock shined in the Tigers’ lineup, 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2B & run.Doug Jones would record his first Save, while Craig Lefferts blows the save to T.C. after a good 6-inning, 1 ER, 7 K performance by Jose DeLeon. DeLeon has a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings of work this season, including his opening day win.

DETROIT 7, TRAVERSE CITY 1Jose Rijo, once again gets rocked by the Detroit Stars — allowing 5 ER’s, 7 hits & 4 walks in 3 innings. Rijo’s ERA for the season in 7.2 innings of work is a horrendous 12.91, sporting a 0-2 record. George Bell & Vince Coleman each added 3 hits for the Stars, while Dave Valle added 2 RBI, going 2-for-3.Ed Whitson was good in 8 innings of work, allowing only an earned run, 6 hits & 2 walks, with 3 K’s — improving to 2-0.

The Stars win their opening series on the road, 5-2.

Opening day and the bunting is out on the railings throughout the Gas Hornets stadiums as the last season NL Division winners square off for 5 game series to start the 1989 season. Steel City had the  upper hand last year 6-4 in their 10 games, how will it be this year? A buzz is in the house ….

Magrane vs. Reuschel and the Gas Hornets score first with a run in the 1st. Grace and Sandberg bag ribbies in the 3rd to gain a 2-1 lead that last only until the bottom half when Manhattan ties it up. In the 6th Nick Esasky pounds his 2nd HR of the season (solo) and the Sluggers regain the lead. But in the bottom half, the Gas Hornets plate 3 (a Dawson 2 run double the key blow) and it’s 5-3 for the home team. Reuschel, McWilliams, Righetti and Smith make that stand.FINAL 5-3 Manhattan. WP Reuschel (1-0), S Smith (1), LP Magrane (0-1)

Good series with Manhattan squeaking through with a 3-2 series win. Pitching looks a bit more suspect than last year as they team has chosen SO FAR to lay low. But who knows what the upcoming weeks will hold.Manhattan hosts Sugar Lland next week, Steel City hosts Germantown.

California Quakes come to Stockton to shake up the Wings for seven games.

CAL 6 – STO 4WP: GarreltsLP: HurstSV: McClure

HR: C. Hayes

Stockton’s bullpen can’t hold an early lead, CAL busts out with a 5-run seventh inning.

CAL 4 – STO 2WP: RyanLP: NavarroSV: McClure

HR: Hrbek

Ryan’s only difficulty is a two-run Hrbek HR.

STO 4 – CAL 3WP: OjedaLP: ScottHR: none

Chili Davis breaks the tie for Stockton with an 8th inning RBI single.

CAL 9 – STO 5WP: FarrellLP: DopsonHR: V. Hayes, Larkin, C. Davis

Stockton’s offense wakes up but can’t keep up with the California’s.  Greenwell leads the way for CAL with 3 RBI.

CAL 4 – STO 3WP: HeatonLP: C. YoungSV: McClure

HR: V. Hayes

Three-run fifth inning is the difference for CAL, led by Hayes’s two-run home run.

CAL 6 – STO 4WP: GarreltsLP: HurstSV: McClure

HR: Dunston, Hrbek

California busts loose with a six-run fifth inning. Stockton chips away but can’t overcome the deficit.

CAL 3 – STO 1WP: Ryan (CG)LP: HillegasHR: none

Ryan dominates again, with a complete game and 13 strikeouts. Pettis stole home in the 9th inning for a big insurance run.

CAL takes the series 6 games to 1.Nolan Ryan won two games, pitching 16 1/3 innings with 24
strikeouts.Scott Garrelts also won twice.Bob McClure had four saves.

CAL hitters with big weeks included M. Greenwell and G. Davis (6 RBI each), P. Guerrero (5 RBI), V. Hayes (2HRs, 4 RBI)

STO’s Hrbek had 2 HRs and 5 RBI.

And so the long season for Missouri begins…No-hitter alert!

Valdosta 3, Missouri 2Wallach 2 hits, 2B, BB, 2 RBIOquendo H, 2 BB, RSBrowning (ND) 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Fernando (ND) 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 5 K

Valdosta 8, Missouri 2Wallach 3-run HRVan Slyke 2B, RS, 2 RBIRedus 2-2, RS, RBI

Candiotti CG, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Injury: VAL – A. Davis (3 days)

Injury: MBB – B. Santiago (14 days)

Injury: MBB – M. Williams (13 days)

Missouri 2, Valdosta 1 – 12 InningsGW run scores on Wild PitchMcReynolds 2 hits, BB, solo HRLeibrandt 8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

B. Smith 8 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Valdosta 8, Missouri 2Redus 3-3, 2 2B, SB, 2 BB, 3 RS, 2 RBISasser 2 hits, 2B, 3 RBIVan Slyke 2 hits, 2 RS

Robinson CG, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

NO-HITTER!!Valdosta 3, Missouri 0Terry CG, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 KReynolds 3 hits, RS, RBI

Van Slyke 2 hits, RS, RBI

Valdosta 8, Missouri 3Downing 2 hits, 3 RBIWallach & Davis – 2B, 2 BB, 2 RS, RBI eachBrowning CG, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Valdosta 7, Springfield 1Downing 2 hits, 3B, BB, 2 RS, RBIRedus 2 hits, 2B, SB, 2 RBIDavis 2 hits, BB, solo HR

Candiotti 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K

Bombers take 6 of 7.

Opening day, when hope springs eternal!

Clovis 5 Long Beach 2Cougars right-hander Scott Bankhead draws the opening assignment and tosses 8 strong innings for the Cougars. Bankhead gives up only 1 run along with 4 hits while striking out 5. Bankhead also drove in the first run for the Cougars who plated 3 in the second to provide the margin of victory before adding single runs in the 3rd and 4th. Mel Hall belted a homer for Long Beach.

LB 2 CLC 1Tom “Flash” Gordon bests John Smiley in a close, well played contest. Gordon went 7 for the victory while Smiley took the hard luck loss despite 10 strikeouts. Lemon doubled with one out in the 8th and scored when Noboa singled him home to give the Titans the lead and chase Smiley.

CLC 8 LB 3Long Beach scored a pair in the first on a Incaviglia double but Clovis countered with a 4 spot in the opening frame to give McCaskill a lead he would never relinquish. Inky would knock in another run for the Titans in the 5th but Clovis hung another 4 on the scoreboard in the 7th to seal it. Jeff Robinson not only took the loss for Long Beach but was tossed in the 5th after complaining a bit to loudly about the tight strike zone.

CLC 5 LB 1The Cougars built a 5-0 lead by the 4th inning and cruised to the easy victory behind the strong arm of Ken Howell who has moved  into the rotation and proved today that he belongs. Howell was not spectacular, just steady, which is all Clovis will ask of him this season. Glenn Wilson homered for the Titan’s only run.

CLC 7 LB 4In a rematch of game two Smiley got the best of Tom Gordon with 6.2 strong enough innings. Clovis scored a pair in the 2nd, added 1 in the 5th, and broke it open with 4 in the 6th off of Mark Eichhorn. Weiss hit a pinch homer for the Titan’s first run. Long Beach added 3 in the 7th to chase Smiley but the strong Clovis ‘pen shut the door the rest of the way out.

In the opening series of the season Clovis takes 5 of 6 against a rebuilding Long Beach team.Henderson was the clear star for the Cougars reaching base an impressive 19 times over the 7 games and scoring 9 times. Henderson piled up 4 doubles, one homer, 6 steals, and 4 RBI not to mention some VERY impressive defense, particularly game 5 when he just took over in the 8th with a pair of very good catches and 3 ncredible
throws, the last to nail a runner at the plate and end the inning and the threat in effect saving the game.

Chicago heads into Montana for a long seven (7) game stand.

Jay Howell (1-0 .00) Picks up the win in relief of Dave Stewart who was hit by a Iine drive and taken out of the game for precautionary reasons. Dennis Eckersley picks up his 1st save on the season. Eric Davis has a solo Home Run for the Demolition in the 10th to win it.

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Montana 1

Roger Clemens (1-0 .00) goes the distance, Bill Doran is 3 for 4 & Scoscia picks up the only RBI of the game.

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Montana 1

Orel Hershiser (1-0 2.57) allows 2 Earned Runs over 7 innings.  George Brett has a 3 for 4 with 3 RBI day. Greg Minton picks up his 1st save on the season.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Montana 2

Dave Stewart (1-0 3.86) comes back to start game 4 of the series.
Scoscia has 2 RBI’s for Chicago. Ken Hill (0-1 1.50) pitches well
for the Cutthroats, despite picking up the loss.Final Score: Chicago 5 – Montana 4

Dave Stieb (1-0 3.60) goes 5 innings & picking up the win for the Demolition. Wade Boggs goes 4 for 6 with 2 RBI’s. Lee Mazzilli Homers. But Darryl Strawberry is the main man going 2 for 4 with 2 Home Runs & 5 RBI’s.

Final Score: Chicago 15 – Montana 5

Jay Howell (2-0 .00) pitches a scoreless 11th inning with the score knotted at 6 each. Chicago scores 3 in the 12th & Dennis Eckersley picks up his 3rd save on the season shutting down Montana in the 12th.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Montana 6

Orel Hershiser (2-0 2.02) goes 6.1 Innings, allowing only 1 Earned Run. 2 RBI’s each by Eric Davis & George Brett, along with Tim Launder with a Home Run & 3 RBI’s are more than enough to win it for Chicago.

Final Score: Chicago 8 – Montana 2

Chicago comes into Montana and pulls off a very rare 7 game sweep. Next week Chicago heads home to take on Stockton & Montana will host
Fort Worth.