PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #4

Mexico City sweeps the five game series over Stockton.

A battle of the top teams in the NL West

Tim Belcher is dominant for SCS, twirling 8 shutout innings with 7 Ks. Sluggers score 4 runs on only 6 hits en route to a 4-0 win.

A nail-biter, as McCaskill and Dennis Martinez are scoreless through 5. RBI doubles by Fisk and Raines in the 6th and 7th spot SCS a 2-0 lead, but Dan Gladden’s double in the 8th cuts that lead in half in the 8th. Todd Burns and Dan Plesac slam the door though, giving the Sluggers a 2-1 victory (on only 3 hits).

This one is all Steel City, as the pound Ken Howell for 7 earned runs in 3.2 IP. Saberhagen cruises in collecting his 2nd win on the year.

Steel City bats awaken (sort of), as they manage only 4 hits but 2 are dingers that account for all 5 runs in the 5-3 victory.

The long ball reigns supreme again, as Steel City hits two more HR en route to a 6-4 win. This time they out-hit Clovis 10-4 though, as Pascual Perez is solid and the Slugger bullpen very stingy.

Another game, another 3 HR for the Sluggers as they win 6-2 in a Belcher/Smiley rematch. Clovis leaves 10 men on base.

Can the Sluggers pull off the 7 game sweep? Dennis Martinez says YES as he goes 6 innings, giving up 1 run. Nick Esasky hits yet another HR as the Sluggers win easily 7-1. John Costello gets a 3 inning save.

An improbable sweep by the Sluggers, but we’ll take it!

Long Beach takes 3 of 5 from Valdosta

Detroit takes series 3-2 over Montana.

Manhattan has dominated the last few years. Can Michigan hang in there with the Gas Hornets?

Clary vs. TananaSteve Sax is the star for Manhattan with 5 RBIs. Alfredo Griffin records 3 hits. Manhattan outhits Michigan, 15-6.Manhattan 7 Michigan 2

Ballard vs. LangstonMichigan continued its inept hitting, and gets shutout by Ballard.  Kevin Bass with 2 triples and 3 RBI for Manhattan.Manhattan 7 Michigan 0

Reuschel vs. Sutcliffe2 veteran pitchers duel it out. Manhattan wins a close game – this time. Joyner with 1 homer and 2 RBI for the Gas Hornets.Manhattan 3 Michigan 2

Key vs. Deshaies2 tough leftys go at it. It is SCORELESS after 9 innings. In the 10th, Keith Moreland hits a sac fly, and Michigan wins their first game of the series.Michigan 1 Manhattan 0 (10)

Leary vs. HigueraThis time, Manhattan returns the favor as they shutout Michigan.  Andre Dawson hits a 3 run homer for Manhattan. Sax with 4 hits and 3 RBI.Manhattan 8 Michigan 0

McWilliams vs. TananaTanana pitches better than in game 1. He pitches 8 innings and gives up 2 runs. DiPino with the save. Allanson hits a homer for Manhattan.Michigan 4 Manhattan 2

Ballard vs. Langston.Ballard wins his 2nd game of the series, and Langston drops to 0-5.  Big highlight for Manhattan. They steal a remarkable 10 bases and get thrown out twice.Manhattan 4 Michigan 1

Manhattan wins the series easily, 5 games to 2. Manhattan’s pitching shuts down Michigan. Michigan struggled to score runs all series.

Two rivals from the AL West, the Janesville Juggernauts (9-11) visit the Cedar Park (8-9) Bears.

The Bears get two runs in the 2d and 3d innings, HRs by Evans and Milligan. Hibbard (1-1, 2.87) with help from Pena and Olson (Sv-3) make those early runs stand up. Skinner singled in a run and Sosa doubled in 2 in the 7th to cut the lead to one.Final: Cedar Park 4 Janesville 3

Jeff Blauser hit a bases clearing triple in the 6th to bring the Bears from behind. Law HRd in the 4th & Whitt a SF in the 3d before then. Lemke HRd in the 6th for JJ, to give the visitors a 2-run lead. Bonilla had a 2-run round tripper in the 5th to put JJ in the lead by one. The CP comeback enabled Boddicker to win his 1st game (1-2, 3.51), Honeycutt pitched the 8th and Olson the 9th for his 4th save. Doyle Alexander (1-2, 4.73) took the loss after Jeff Parrett blew the save.Final: Cedar Park 6 Janesville 4

Will Clark tripled in the 7th to drive in the tying run, then scored the winner on a single by Milligan and the Bears come from behind to win by the same score in consecutive games. Jerry Browne added an RBI double in the 8th. Davis left after only 4 innings, Horton came in & took the loss (1-1, 3.77) Cerutti (3-0, 3.99) went 7 for the win, Al Pena pitched the 8th & 9th for the save, his 1st.Final: Cedar Park 6 Janesville 4

A HR by Evans and RBI’s by Blauser & Fitzgerald put the Bears ahead early, 3-0. Bonilla had a good series for the Juggernauts and he brought them back in this game with a HR, and Mickey Hatcher added a  2-run shot in the 7th to tie the game. Starters Knepper and Swindell would not figure in the decision. Jeff Parrett (2-3, 2.30) was on the mound when Mike Davis PH for Ron Gant singled home the inning run in the 11th for the Bears. Al Pena (1-0, 0.00)was the winner in relief.Final: Cedar Park 4 Janesville 3 (11)

Mike Moore won his 3d game (3-1, 2.68) supported by a 21 hit attack.  The Bears scored 8 runs in the 2d and added 5 more in the 4th.  Kirby Puckett and Dwight Evans both HRd and drove in 3 runs, but Ernie Whitt led the offense with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs. Benzinger HR’d  for Janesville and Bonilla drove in 2 runs with a double. Jim Clancy (0-5, 10.72) failed to last 2 innings.Final: Cedar Park 16 Janesville 5

Bob Welch pitched 8 innings of 1-hit ball, then Janesville brought in closer Mitch Williams. He faced the heart of the Bears order, however, & they got to Williams & tagged him with the BS-1. Puckett doubled and Clark followed with another to tie it at 1. Mielke (0-1, 2.70) got in trouble in the 10th, putting 2 runners on. Wilson was summoned from the pen but he walked in what would be the winning run. Jeff Parrett (3-3, 2.12) earned the win in relief.Final: Janesville 3 Cedar Park 1

Rick Honeycutt (2-0, 0.55) came into a 3-3 tie and came out the winner as the Bears got the winning run in the bottom of the 9th on Jerome Walton’s Sac fly. The Bears scored in the 1st when Polonia doubled home Brown and Clark drove in 2 in the 2d. They led 3-0 into the 6th when the Juggernauts struck for 2 in the 6th on RBIs by White and Benzinger. Bonilla reached in the 7th and stole 2d, Tartabull singled Bonilla home to tie the game.Final: Cedar Park 4 Janesville 3

Many games were close in the series but Cedar Park wins an important home series 6-1. Janesville heads home to host Stockton while Cedar Park will need address a couple injuries before heading to California.

Fort Worth heads North East into the Windy city of Chicago for a 7
game set.

Milt Thompson is 3 for 4 with 2 Runs Scored & a RBI for the Panthers as they squeak out a 9th inning win over the Demolition.Final Score: Fort Worth 5 – Chicago 3

Dave Stieb (3-1 2.70) is sold for 8 innings. Eckersley picks up his 7th save on the season.Final Score: Chicago 6 – Fort Worth 2

Jim ABbbott (3-0 1.93) goes 7 scoreless, and Bill Landrum pick up his 6th save for Fort Worth. Milt Thompson is 2 for 4 with a Double, Triple & RBI.Final Score: Fort Worth 3 – Chicago 0

Milt Thompson is at it again going 1 for 4 with a Double & 2 RBI’s.  Kevin Brown (3-2 2.18) gets the win. Roger McDowell picks up his 3rd save for the Panthers.Final Score: Fort Worth 3 – Chicago 1

Doug Drabek (2-0 1.67) walks 4, gives up 5 hits, and doesn’t strikeout a single Panther, however he picks up the complete game Shut-Out.Final Score: Chicago 2 – Fort Worth 0

Dave Stewart (4-0 2.64) goes 7.2 Innings Pitched. Wade Boggs is 2 for 4 with two Doubles and 2 RBI’s. Steve Jeltz hits a 2-Run Home Run. Dennis Eckersley picks up save #8 on the season for Chicago.Final Score: Chicago 4 – Fort Worth 1

Dave Stieb (4-1 2.10) goes 7.2 Innings, & then a cast of 5 Chicago Relievers shut down the door for Chicago. Gerald Yong has a bases clearing Double & 3 RBI’s in the 7th inning.Final Score: Chicago 5 – Fort Worth 0

Chicago wins 4 of 7, in a tough fought series

Winnipeg Goldeyes (9-12) visit the Missouri Black Bears (5-14)

Winnipeg 10, Missouri 3M. Lee 4-4, 2 RS, 2 RBICalderon 3 hits, HR, 3 RS, 2 RBIVizquel 2 hits, 2B, RS, 3 RBI

Benes 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

Winnipeg 4, Missouri 3Calderon 2 hits, 3B, HR, 2 RS, RBIBuhner 2 hits, HR, RS, 2 RBIJackson 7 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Carter 2 hits, HR, 2 RS, RBI in the loss

Missouri 5, Winnipeg 3Foley H, 3 RBIWilliams 2 hits, 2B, RSGibson 8 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K

Injury: MBB – O. Smith (5 days)

Winnipeg 7, Missouri 6Score 2-2 after 7 inningsDevereaux 2-2, BB, RS, 2 RBIPuhl PH-1B, 2 RBI

Melvin 2-2, 2 RS

Glavine 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Bonds 2 hits, HR, SB, 3 RS, 3 RBI in the loss

Winnipeg 3, Missouri 2Orsulak 3-3, BB, RBICalderon 2 hits, 2 RSStottlemyre 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Galarraga solo HR in the loss

Goldeyes take 4 of 5.

Germantown sweeps. Mulholland pitches complete game 3-hit shut-out while facing only 28 batters and Caminiti goes 9 for 21 in the series.

California hosts Traverse City.

California takes the series 4-1. With 4 1-run games, this series could have gone either way. The Tigers have a few of the best hitters in the league, and a couple of the best pitchers, making them perhaps the toughest last place team I’ve seen. I have a feeling they won’t be in the cellar for too long.