PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #6

Detroit wins 5-3

Detroit takes this 6-3

Detroit wins 2-1

Detroit wins 4-3 in extra innings

Tired pitching on both ends but Detroit wins 8-1

Detroit sweeps Stockton

How sweep it is!

Two of the lesser rans meet

See-saw battle due to spotty relief as the Bombers Willis and Grays Aguilera blow leads. Grays Jose banged in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. Grays 6-5.

Grays pounce on Candiotti and hold on despite Fetters best efforts giving up a 3 run homer to Espinosa. Finley allowed 1 run over 6 IP. Bombers Nixon and Van Slyke bang heads and are out 9 and 14 days.

That was the spark the Bombers needed or was it Aguilera relieving in a tight situation. Bombers Smith had a good start cruising to a 4-2 victory. Espinosa RBI.

Espnosa’s 2 out grand slam and MacFarlane’s error lead the Bombers to victory, 9-2.

Aguilera and more Grays errors lead the Bombers to victory, 4-3 as Espinosa bangs in the winning run in the 9th. Montgomery is getting the Aguilera bug. Alomar is batting .164. Grays need to do some soul searching.

Valdosta comes to Germantown and takes 3 of 5 from the Grays who seem to be in disarray.

Two struggling franchises go head to head between the Fort Worth Panthers and the Traverse City Tigers — Cats without any bite!

Dante Bichette & Lance Johnson each had 3 hits, Travis Fryman added a solo HR; total of 2 RBI for the night. The hero of the night was Greg Myers whose first hit of the night was a walk-off single to right.

TRAVERSE CITY 3, FORT WORTH 2 (10 Inn)

The Panthers explode for 12 runs in 3rd Inning alone — 9 of those runs earned by Charlie Hough on 6 hits & 5 walks, in only two innings of work (couldn’t record an out in the 3rd); Edgar Martinez alone for the Panthers had 5 RBI that inning, including his 4th HR of the season.But wait… CUE THE COMEBACK! Say WHAT?! The Tigers score 10 unanswered runs, but fall short. Roberto Kelly (FWP) and Paul Molitor each had 3 hits.

FORT WORTH 12, TRAVERSE CITY 10

The Panthers and the Tigers each had 7-run innings in this one, Tigers 7 runs came after trailing 10-0 — really showing they can make comebacks, but once again it falls short.
The Tigers suffered a loss in Greg Myers; reports are in that he will miss 22 games (and will spend 15 days on the Disabled List).Neal Heaton, once again was lousy, 10 runs allowed in 5 innings, he had to stay out there due to the depleted bullpen (with all the
scoring in this series.

FORT WORTH 11, TRAVERSE CITY 7

David West falls to 0-5 for the Tigers, Jim Abbott allows only 2 ER in 6 innings, improving to 2-2; Mike Heath hit his 2nd HR of the season. Harold Baines went 2-for-3 (5-for-11 this series), trying to build up his batting average, which now sits on .255 for the season.

FORT WORTH 5, TRAVERSE CITY 2

Greg Maddux got some help, even though he did great on his own, allowing only 4 hits, with 11 K’s in his 7-0 shutout of the Panthers; Mel Hall went 3-for-4, HR & 2 RBI. Johnny Ray added his first HR of the season. Maddux’s performance gave the Tigers’ bullpen a much-needed rest.Tigers collect 12 hits.

TRAVERSE CITY 7, FORT WORTH 0

Long Beach brings a very potent offense to Michigan. Long Beach is in first in the West, and Michigan is in second in the East. 5 game series.

Viola vs. Langston

Randolph gets the game going for Michigan with a 2 run double. Dale Murphy then adds a 2 run homer. But, Long Beach starts to catch up as fielder hits a 2 run blast, and Incaviglia follows a homer. Its 4-3, Michigan through 6.In the 7th, Bo Jackson gets a pinch hit double, and Michigan adds some more insurance runs. Its gets interesting in the 9th inning, as the Titans score 5 runs. Justice with a 2 run blast. But, Mark Williamson comes on to get the save.

Michigan 9 Long Beach 8

Boyd vs. Gullickson

Titans jump off to a good lead off Gullickson. Magadan and Lemon get RBI singles. Titans get another off a passed ball and another Magadan hit. Vaughn adds a homer and Long Beach leads 5-0.Michigan makes it a little closer in the 8th, as the Mauraders get a Randolph 2 run homer and a Palmeiro homer. Oliver knocks in a run as an insurance run in the 9th. Boyd goes all the way for the win.

Long Beach 6 Michigan 3

Matt Young vs. Higuera

Fielder hits another homer to get the scoring going. Hubie Brooks responds with a double for Michigan to tie the game. Justice hits a homer, but the rest of the runs are scored on errors in a very sloppy game. The winning run for Long Beach is scored on an error in the 8th inning.

Long Beach 3 Michigan 2

Tom Gordon vs. Knudson.

This was a one-sided game as Knudson tosses a 2 – hit shutout. Gordon is knocked out of the game early. Long Beach commits 3 critical errors. Dwight Smith leads the way for Michigan with 3 RBIs.

Michigan 9 Long Beach 0

Ron Robinson vs. Deshaies.

Really good game – both starters go 7 innings and give up 2 runs. Braggs gets a 2 run single early for the Titans. Gaetti responds with a 2 run homer in the 7th inning to tie the game. Both teams score in the 8th, as the Titans get a double by Incaviglia and Palmeiro hits a homer off Gleaton.In the 10th, Michigan can’t put the game away and don’t score with bases loaded. Long Beach wins it in the 12th with a Walt Weiss single.

Long Beach 4 Michigan 3 (12 innings)

Long Beach wins game 5 in a thriller and prevails in the series, 3 games to 2.

Winnipeg Goldeyes (18-13) at Manhattan Gas Hornets (20-11) – one of those matchups between a team from the stronger NL West vs. an NL
East team. Pretty even matchup.

Winnipeg takes game 1 in a cake walk, 5-1. Harkey (5-0) tosses CG 7 hitter giving up the lone Gas Hornet run in the 9th. Orsulak (3) and McGwire (6) homer for the Goldeyes.

Gas Hornets start game 2 with 4 runs in the 1st and never look back enroute to 7-4 victory. Leary (2-1) goes 7.2, D.Smith gets the save (2). James (3) and Jacoby (4) homer for the home team in this one. Vizquel gets 3 of the 10 Winnipeg hits. Buhner hits a 2 run PH double in the 8th. Glavine drops to 1-4.

Winnipeg cruises in this one after getting 2 in the 1st and an insurance run in the 8th (Roberts HR (5)). Orsulak singled in both in the 1st. BUT … bottom of the 9th the Gas Hornets stage a rally and score 3 runs including 1 on a Dawson PH double. Game goes into extra frames – no one is getting on base. 10, 11, 12, innings, nothing – bottom of the 13th Dawson pokes a 2 out walk-off homer (4) to win the game for the Gas Hornets, 4-3. Reardon the win (3-0), Freeman the loss (1-1).

INJURIES: Chris James for 5 days (MGH); Dale Mohorcic for 10 days (WIN)

Cakewalk game #3 – after Goldeyes plate 2 in the 1st (Felix 2 run poke – #3) the Gas Hornets plate 5 (sending Guthrie to a quick shower (.1 ip, 5 hits, 5 runs). McGwire then hits a 2 run shot (7) in the 3rd, but then the icing starts. A single run in the 4th makes it 6-4 Manhattan, but then 6 runs in the 5th and 3 in the 6th and suddenly it’s 15-4. Game ends 15-5. Welch gave up a lot more than normal but still gets the win (5-2). Guthrie took the loss, his first (5-1).

Cakewalk game #4 goes to the Goldeyes as they win the book ends of the series. With the Gas Hornets up 2-1 after 6, Winnipeg then scores 3 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th and just to make sure there was no doubt, 2 more in the 9th to win 7-2. The 13 hit attack included Bell’s 4th homer (3 run Baltimore special) and 3 hit games from Roberts and Ventura. Hanson gets the win (3-3), Patterson the save (8). Harris takes the loss (1-3).

Manhattan wins the series 3-2 but with these teams it could have been the other way around easily.

Pete Harnisch v. John Farrell

Jose Canseco plates 4 and Pete Harnisch gives a strong 6.2 innings of 1-run ball to lead California over Janesville.

JJG – 3 CAL – 9

W – Harnisch (2-0)

L – Farrell (0-4)

Nolan Ryan v. Bruce Ruffin

Ruffin hands Ryan his first loss of the season with a 2-hit shutout.

JJG – 2 CAL – 0

W – Ruffin (2-1)

L – Ryan (6-1)

Brett Saberhagen v. Storm Davis

Jose Canseco’s first inning 2-run HR gave California the lead, and the Quakes wouldn’t look back.

JJG – 2 CAL – 4

W – Saberhagen (1-1)

L – Davis (1-2)

S – Frey (5)

Alex Fernandez v. Allan Anderson

California jumped to a big lead with 5 runs in the 1st and another 5 in the 3rd. With a 10-0 lead heading into the 4th, the Quakes pulled Fernandez, with 3 perfect innings under his belt, for emergency mop-up man Doug Dascenzo. Dascenzo subsequently goes 6 strong innings while giving up only 1 unearned run.Jose Canseco hits another HR and plates another 3 runs before being pulled for Mark Carreon.

JJG – 1 CAL – 13

W – Dascenzo (1-0)

L – Anderson (2-5)

Pete Harnisch v. Jeff Parrett

Pete Harnisch earns his 2nd CG win with a 9-inning 1-run gem, dropping his ERA to 0.69. Terry Steinbach was the offensive star in this one, going 4-4 with a 2B and 3 RBI.

JJG – 1 CAL – 6

W – Harnisch (3-0)

L – Parrett (1-3)

California wins 4 of 5 against last place Janesville. We’re ready to take on Detroit in what may be the beginning of a big wild card battle.

Third place Missouri travels out west to take on the 4th place Cougars.

Clovis 13 Missouri 2

Jody Reed eats an extra bowl of Wheaties and responds with a ‘Baltimore special’ and a grand salami for 7 RBI to lead Clovis in the rout of Missouri.

Clovis 13 Missouri 3

In a near repeat of yesterday’s score Clovis thrashed Missouri again behind Henderson’s 5 hits and 4 RBI.

Clovis 1 Missouri 0

In a complete reversal of the previous games the Cougar’s eke out a 1-0 win in an old fashioned pitcher’s duel between Magrane and Wells. The only blemish on either was a run Clovis scored in the second, Reed walked and Pena doubled, Reed kept coming after Pena was cut down trying to stretch it into a triple. Magrane gave up only one other hit in the game while striking out 4. Wells gave up only 3 hits while striking out 10.

Missouri 9 Clovis 0

In a bit of payback the Black Bears jump all over Randy Johnson, Williams with 2 mammoth home runs, Barry Bonds and Andres Galarraga also blasted homers to lead Missouri. Williams drilled homers his first two times up, his third time Johnson drilled him with a 98 MPH fastball to the ribs for which he was immediately ejected.

Clovis 5 Black Bears 1

Rickey Henderson continues with the multi-homer theme of the series with a pair of his own to lead the Cougars to the win in the series finale. McKaskill picked up the win for Clovis while an itchy Dave Pavlas rang up the save.

Clovis takes 4 of 5 from Missouri. Series featured three multiple homer games; Reed, and Henderson for Clovis and Williams for Missouri.

Chicago heads to the Badlands of Mexico to take on the ankle biting Chihuahuas of Mexico City

Danny Darwin (4-0 1.16) picks up the win as Howard Johnson & Kevin Mitchell both Homer for Mexico City.

Final Score: Mexico City 3 – Chicago 1

Doug Drabek (2-5 4.53) goes 6.2 for the win, Darryl Strawberry is 3 for 5 with a Home Run & 3 RBI’s.

Final Score: Chicago 8 – Mexico City 2

1989 Cy Young Award Winner Sid Fernandez (3-2 4.04) is solid for 6 innings. Kevin Mitchell provides the Home Run & 3 RBI’s.

Final Score: Mexico City 5 – Chicago 1

Roger Clemens (4-2 2.19) goes 8.1 innings of 2 hit ball, Eckersley picks up save #7 on the season.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Mexico City 1

Dave Stewart injures a groin & is pulled after 3.2 innings. Three Chicago relievers help keep the Chihuahuas from scoring a run. George Brett has the only RBI of the game.

Final Score: Chicago 1 – Mexico City 0

Going to be a very tight series if these two match up in the American League Championship like 1989.

Cedar Park Bears take the series 3 games to 2 over the Cutthroats of Montana.