1996 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #1

Alex_Rodriguez96Rocky_Coppinger96Roberto_Alomar96John_Smoltz96

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
RODRIGUEZ,Alex CBL  AL .364 .636 5 22 8 3 0 1 4 10 4 3 0 0 0 1
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
COPPINGER,Rocky MEX  AL 2 1 0 0 0.00 8 0 0 5 7 4 0 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
ALOMAR,Roberto SRB  NL .400 .840 5 25 10 2 0 3 4 10 2 0 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
SMOLTZ,John SRB  NL 1 1 0 0 0.00 9 0 0 5 7 2 0 1 0 0 0

Michigan Mauraders @ Cincinnati Outlaws
Series Preview: The 1996 MWWL season gets underway as Michigan travels to Cincinnati.
Game #1: MIC 6-12-0
CIN 3-11-0
W-Wickman, L-Holmes, S-Plesac
Jim Edmonds 4-4
Game #2: MIC 3- 7-0
CIN 4-12-0
W-Tapani, L-Radke, S-Wetteland
Jose Vizcaino 3-4
Game #3: MIC 10-15-2
CIN 13-10-0
W-Karl, L-Gardner
Rafael Palmeiro 4-5 for Michigan, Melvin Nieves 2-4, 3R, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Game #4: MIC 3-9-0
CIN 4-7-0
W-Graves, L-Plesac
Marauders strand 11, Paul Sorrento walk-off homer with two out in ninth
Game #5: MIC 7-11-0
CIN 8-16-0
W-Wetteland, L-Borowski
Michigan rallied to tie game three times but never led. Orlando Miller 4-5, 3R 2, RBI, HR
Series Summary: Cincinnati takes four of five from Michigan in the season’s lid lifter.
California Quakes @ Fort Worth Panthers
Series Preview: Time for the 1996 season to begin!     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyN2wou3Cv8
Game #1: Gary Sheffield went 4 for 4 with three home runs and 5 RBI to power the Panthers to an opening day win.

Ft. Worth 7, California 2

Kevin Brown gets the win

Game #2: Jeff Fassero and Ken Ryan out dueled Hideo Nomo to take the 2nd game of the series for the Quakes. Nomo actually pitched better giving up fewer hits and pitching a complete game, but his offense could only generate a single run on 6 hits.

California 3, Ft. Worth 1

Jeff Fassero gets the win. Ken Ryan gets the save.

Game #3: Gary Sheffield hits a 2 run homer and his late-game replacement Brent Brede delivered a pinch-hit run-scoring triple as the Panther hitters woke up from their game 2 slumber.

Ft. Worth 6, California 1

Donovan Osborne gets the win.

Game #4: Willie McGee and Rondell White both go down with injuries but the Ft. Worth hitters stay hot slugging out 12 hits squeaking out a win by scoring three runs late over a California team who had 14 hits themselves. Pudge Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with a 3 run homer and had 4 RBI to lead the way.

Ft. Worth 9, California 6

Mike Jackson gets the win. Mel Rojas gets the save.

Game #5: Dean Palmer hits a three-run homer in the top of the 11th to break a 1-1 tie to give the Quakes the victory.

California 4, Ft. Worth 2

Ricardo Jordan gets the win. Trevor Hoffman gets the save.

Series Summary: Panthers take the series 3 games to 2.
Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Chicago Demolition
Series Preview: Heavy favored Chicago takes on the Mexico City Chihuahuas in a Five Game set at home in the Windy City.
Game #1: Eric Davis is 5 for 5 with a Home Run, 3 RBI’s for the Demolition. 15 Chicago hits, with Lance Johnson & Carlos Delgado chipping in for 3 each put Chicago in the driver seat in this one.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Mexico City 3

Win: Roger Clemens 1-0 (4.50)
Loss: Esteban Loaiza 0-1 (34.71)

Game #2: Todd Stottlemyre was roughed up early but goes 7 Innings allowing 5 Runs on 9 Hits. Chicago gets 4 late runs in the 7th off Chihuahua reliever Paul Spoljaric to win it.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Mexico City 5

Win: Todd Stottlemyre 1-0 (6.43)
Loss: Paul Spoljaric 0-1 (Infinite)
Save: Mike Timlin #1

Game #3: Chicago forgot there was a ballgame today. Mexico City pounds out 16 Hits, scoring 13 Runs. Lenny Dykstra has 2 Home Runs, 5 RBI’s & 3 Runs Scored to lead the way.

Final Score: Mexico City 13 – Chicago 0

Win: Rocky Coppinger 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Pedro Martinez 0-1 (19.50)

Game #4: Chicago turns the tide back in their favor as Cecil Fielder has 2 Home Runs, drives in 4 RBI’s & scores 3 Runs to give Chicago the series victory.

Final Score: Chicago 10 – Mexico City 1

Win: Juan Guzman 1-0 (1.29)
Loss: Jason Isringhausen 0-1 (9.82)

Game #5: This one goes extras & Chicago can’t hold down the Chihuahuas in the 12th. Mexico City Relievers pitch 7 Innings of 1 Hit Ball, allowing zero Runs & absolutely shutting down the Demolition offense.

Final Score: Mexico City 7 – Chicago 6

Win: Greg McCarthy 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Mark Wohlers 0-1 (4.50)

Series Summary: Chicago was hoping for 4 out of 5 after the 13-0 drubbing in Game #3, but they couldn’t get a hit off the tough Chihuahua Bullpen in Game #5, so they end up taking the series 3 games to 2. Mexico City played way tougher than the Demolition management expected.
Harper Woods Expos @ Detroit Stars
Series Summary: Detroit wins the series 4-1 over Harper Woods.
Castle Rock Hounds @ Portland Mavericks
Series Preview: The reorganization did no favors for the Portland Mavericks… which found themselves in an AL West division stacked with 3 very good teams in 1996. That, combined with a depleted roster (especially starting pitching), should make in a long journey back to the postseason for Portland. But all journeys have to start somewhere. Castle Rock finished 69 – 71 last year but should be competitive in 96 with some major building blocks going forward.
Game #1: Barry Bonds blasted a homerun in the first inning, and the Hounds were out of the gate. But it was Castle Rock starter Andy Pettitte that won the day with a beautiful 3 hit performance.
CRH 5 POR 1
Game #2: Portland’s slow but steady offense gives the home team something to cheer about, as Portland pulls out the win.
POR 6 CRH 3
Game #3: Portland’s Sandy Alomar JR goes down early with an injury (13 days) and Portland comes back from a 6-3 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to makes it close, but the Hounds hang on for the win.
CRH 6 POR 5
Game #4: This time Portland’s late-game charge gets the job done in another one-run game.
POR 6 CRH 5
Game #5: Portland jumps to the 4-0 lead in the first inning as the crowd goes wild… but then someone lets the dogs out… and is it Portland that gets sent to the pound. Castle Rock gets 22 hits and 16 runs! Pagnozzi homers twice in the game in a 4-6 6 RBI performance! Portland manages 9 runs of its own… but still gets the 7 run loss.
CRH 16 POR 9
Series Summary: Castle Rock wins the series 3 games to 2. Portland proved it can score some runs, but also that it will likely give up many more. Castle Rock gets out of the gate in a positive fashion.
Castle Rock hosts California next week, and Portland travels to Fort Worth.
Steel City Sluggers @ Hampton Huskies
Series Preview: Opening day 1996 …
The birds are singing …
The sun is shining …
And the fans sitting in the outfield are wearing kevlar.
The 1996 Huskies open at home where fans are likely to see a lot of runs this season from all sides thanks to a high-octane offense and a pitching staff that can do little more than managing a sputter. Lots of new faces as is the norm led by off-season acquisition of Mark Langston who as a Grade 9 is pretty much the cream of the Hampton rotation crap … uh, I mean crop, of course.Hampton opens its doors wide as they host the division rival Steel City Sluggers, hoping to finish this season at around .500.
Game #1: As predicted, this game was a lot like a typhoid epidemic with runs, runs and more runs.
Pretty much all of them, unfortunately, coming off the bats of the Sluggers.
Hampton starter Orel Hershiser and Steel City starter John Smiley held the teams pretty much stagnant into the 3rd inning, but that is when the two took different paths. Smiley took the high road and wound up lasting eight innings while Hersh went low, got his mule and wagon stuck in the swamp and only got out cuz the Sluggers kicked his ass so hard.
From the 3rd to 5th innings, the Sluggers had seven hits and an almost unheard of four bases on balls off Hershiser which translated into a mid-game 5-1 lead (Brian McRae hit the first homer of the season at Huskies’ Stadium to give Hampton what would turn out to be their only run of the game).
The Sluggers added another in the 7th and then Charlie O’Brien provided some late-inning pyrotechnics by golfing a Tom Gordon fastball over the leftfield wall …. oh and there just happened two be two men on. Oh, and Tom Gordon sucks this year. Oh, and we have to use him all season. Gordon, of course, rebounded nicely and got the next two hitters to end the inning … NOT. He frigging loaded the bases but manage to end the game with only one more run coming in. Did I mention that Gordon sucked?
Final carnage – Steel City 10-1, outhitting the Huskies 15-5.
Smiley goes to 1-0 after allowing just five hits and a walk while fanning seven. Hershiser gets hit and goes to 0-1.
Smiley also doubled in the 4th inning which drove in two runs, setting what would turn out to be a bizarre precedent for the Slugger pitchers who became possessed by the spirit of Rod Carew for the series.
Also nailing it for the Sluggers was Mark Grace (3/5 with a double and a run), Shawon Dunston (2/3 R, 1B, 2B, 2 RBIs), and Mickey Morandini (2/4 2 R, RBI, BB).
Game #2: Here we go again.
The Sluggers treated Huskies’ starter Mark Langston like he was throwing batting practice smacking out eight hits – two of them homers by Sean Berry and Ryne Sandberg – in just three innings as they leapt into a 6-0 lead after three.
Dane (I have no idea who you are) Johnson did an admirable job of replacing Langston and tossed two near-perfect innings with only a walk to Mark Grace marring his appearance.
Johnson’s pitching motivated the Huskies’ hitters to score one run in the 4th and then three more in the 5th off Joey Hamilton. The three runs in the 5th included two at the hands of Jim Eisenreich who clubbed one out to dead centre,
Down 6-4, the Huskies handed the ball to Doug Bochtler who sort of lived up to his name and botched things up by allowing the Sluggers to extend the lead to 7-4 on an RBI triple by Sandberg (who wound up going 3/3 on the day and only missing the cycle by a double).
Hamilton entered the 6th up 7-4 and then turned around and left without registering an out as the Huskies pounced on him for a game-tying three runs and added another off reliever Omar Daal including a clutch two-RBI double by pinch-hitter Craig Paquette and a two-run homer by Henry Rodriguez.
The Huskies added another run in the 8th (a solo homer by Mickey Tettleton) and then TJ Mathews did his thing and gave up one hit but hung on for his first save of the season as the Huskies evened the series with a crazy 9-7 come-from-behind win.
Greg Vaughn had a pair of doubles (giving him three already) and drove in two runs for Steel City.
Hampton’s other contributors included Al Martin who singled and doubled and drove in two and another mention to Tettleton for going 3/4 with three runs scored on a homer and two doubles.
Game #3: This game kind of went down like the police station scene in the first Terminator movie with all of the Steel City Sluggers playing the role of Arnold Schwarzenegger and yours truly getting filled with holes.
It was kind of a miracle that Chan Ho Park lasted five innings and only saw his team down 4-0. The Sluggers had 10 hits and three walks off Park and two of those hits were by Sluggers’ starter Danny Darwin who went on to have a 3/4 day and two runs scored with a pair of doubles. WTF?
The Sluggers put it into overdrive in the 6th, 7th and 8th scoring eight times and once the hail of bullets had stopped it was a 12-0 massacre for Steel City with 21 hits. Only one left the park – a 3-run homer by Tim Naehring in the 8th off Arthur Rhodes with two outs after Tony Clark extended the inning with a bad throw to Rhodes who was covering first base on a Tim Raines grounder.
Darwin (1-0) went seven walking four and fanning five. Mark Grace went 3/3 with a run and two RBIs, Cliff Floyd was 2/2 with two RBIs, Tom Goodwin was 2/4 with an RBI, Mickey Morandini was 2/5 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI and Don Slaught was 2/2 with two runs and two RBIs.
Henry Rodriguez singled and doubled generating 1/3 of the Hampton hits in the game.
Hampton tied Steel City in leaving 11 men on base so I guess that’s something.
Game #4: Another game featuring pitchers reamed in the …
At least this time, the reaming was kind of reciprocal.
The Sluggers annihilated Hampton starter Tim Vangemond who registered a liver-popping score of “-3” after allowing 9 runs on 11 hits and four walks in just 2.1 innings. Terrible would have been a compliment.
Charlie O’Brien became the first Sluggers’ hitter to hit his 2nd homer of the season with one of Vangemond in the 7-run 3rd inning.
The Huskies came back to score four in the bottom of the 3rd (Craig Paquette two-run pinch-hit homer included), but the Sluggers countered with two of their own in the 4th to make it 11-4.
In an almost repeat of Game 2 the Huskies wouldn’t die (not quite anyway) and scored five runs in the 5th off Jaime Navarro and Jim Corsi (1-0), but then Mike Stanton and Omar Daal shut them down to end it that way with the Sluggers on top 11-9.
Another 17 hits for Steel City. Good grief.
Mark Grace and O’Brien each had three hits but O’Brien eclipsed grace’s two-RBI day with four of his own courtesy of the grand slam off Vangemond.
Mike Stanley had three RBIs for Hampton.
Game #5: Tom Gordon the reliever was replaced by Tom Gordon the starter for the series finale and wound up being the best gosh-darned pitcher who ever lived.
Well, not quite but he did hold the Sluggers to one run on just five hits through eight innings without walking anyone and striking out five.
The Huskies were mesmerized by Pete Harnisch for six innings but the 7th was a different story as Hampton tied the game 1-1 in the 7th (Jeff Reed homer) and then scored twice in the 8th (back-to-back RBI doubles by Jim Eisenreich and Al Martin) as they went on to get one back in a 3-1 win.
TJ Mathews got his 2nd save of the series with a scoreless 9th.
Series Summary: Steel City churns out mucho offense en route to a 3-2 win over Hampton.
Sugar Land Skeeters @ Valdosta Bombers
Series Preview: 1996 opens with Sugar Land paying a visit to Valdosta.
Game #1: Valdosta5-3. The Skeeters pen imploded in the 8th and 9th innings and the Bombers get a nice come from behind victory to start the season.
Game #2: Valdosta 6-1. “Hard Hittin'” Mark Whitten homered twice as the Bombers again strike late and pick up the win.
Game #3: Sugar Land 10-4. Former Bomber Mark Gubicza scattered 11 hits and pitched into the 8th for the victory. Ken Griffey, Jr. and Jay Bell each homered twice to power the Skeeters attack.
Game #4: Sugar Land 2-1. Jim Abbott gave up 9 hits and pitched into the 9th inning for his 1st win of the season. Jay Bell knocked in both runs with a 3B.
Game #5: Sugar Land 12-6. Bombers outhit the Skeeters but it didn’t matter as the Skeeters pound the Bombers for the second game of the series.
Series Summary: Skeeters take 3 of 5. Manny Ramirez managed just an infield 1B for the entire series and managed to hit into 3 DP’s in the process. In fact, Valdosta grounded into 11 DP’s in the 5 games which was a big key to the series. That negated the fact that the Bombers were hitting the assortment of D pitchers the Skeeters were throwing out there but kept hitting into rally killers.
Stockton Wings @ Long Beach Titans
Series Preview: Long Beach opens the season at home against division rival Stockton.
Game #1: Jaha hit a 2 run HR in the 1st and that proved to be the winning run as Stockton held on for a 3-2 win. Lieber gave up 4 hits over 7 innings in picking up the win.
Game #2: Oliver threw a 6-hit shutout as Stockton got another strong start and won 2-0. Hollandsworth & Cianfrocco had 2 hits and an RBI to give Oliver all the help he needed.
Game #3: Andrews hit a grand slam in the 1st as Stockton pounded Boehringer and rolled to 8-1 win. Olivares gave up 2 hits in 7 innings.
Game #4: Long Beach finally picked up a win 9-3 as the offense finally came to life. Oliver had a bases loaded triple and Sager pitched into the 7th to pick up the win.
Game #5: Schmidt went the distance as Stockton won the final game 5-3. Wilkins hit a 2 run HR and Andrews added a solo shot to lead the offense.
Series Summary: Stockton opens the season strong winning 4 of 5.
Flossmoor Flying Squirrels @ DeWitt Tigers
Series Preview: Opening Series between the Flying Squirrels and the Tigers
Game #1: On opening day it was a pitchers duel between Greg Maddux and John Burkett. DeWitt got a run in the 2nd on a leadoff homer. Game stayed 1-0 til the 9th wherewith 2 outs the Squirrels broke through and tied the game on a run-scoring hit by Weiss to drive in Cora. In the bottom of the 9th, Sosa drives in Bichette on a sac fly.

DeWitt 2
Flossmoor 1

W Leskanic
L Maddux

Game #2: Ken Hill vs Mark Leiter.

DeWitt draws first blood scoring one in the first. Flossmoor gets one in the second, then took the lead with 2 in the 3rd. DeWitt countered with one in their half of the 3rd. Flossmoor scores five in the 4th, 1 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th to break the game open. Mark Leiter was chased in the 4th. DeWitt scored 1 in the 7th, 2 in the 8th. Flossmoor gets one more in the 9th.

Final
Flossmoor 13
DeWitt 5

W Hill
L Leiter

Game #3: Andy Ashby vs Tim Wakefield

DeWitt jumps out to a 4-0 lead with runs in the first second and 2 in the 3rd. Wakefield goes 6 allowing one run. Ashby goes 8 for Flossmoor. Flossmoor gets runs in the 6th 7th and 2 in the 8th to tie the game. Then in the 9th Flossmoor gets a run off Henneman in the 9th to take the lead. Manuel comes on in the 9th to slam the door as Flossmoor takes the game.

Final
Flossmoor 5
DeWitt 4

W Ashby
L Henneman
S Manuel

Game #4: Denny Neagle vs Mark Portugal

Dewitt broke a scoreless tie in the 5th to take a 1-0 lead. Squirrels tie it in the 7th. DeWitt takes the lead back in their half. Flossmoor takes the lead back in the 8th. DeWitt tied it in their half off the 8th. The game goes to extras where DeWitt wins it with a run in the 12th.

Final
DeWitt 5
Flossmoor 4

W Leskanic
L Charlton

Game #5: Jimmy Key v Osvaldo Fernandez

Flossmoor scores single runs in the 3rd in 4th. DeWitt got one back in the 6th. Flossmoor adds insurance runs with one in the 8th and 2 in the 9th. Tigers add one in the bottom of the 9th but that’s as close as they could get.

Final Flossmoor 5
DeWitt 2

W Jimmy Key
L Osvaldo Fernandez
S Greg Maddux (3 IP Save)

Series Summary: Flossmoor takes the series 3-2. Hitting stars for Flossmoor were Bagwell, Baines, and Berrora. For the Tigers, it was Galarraga, Bichette, and Sosa.
Corktown Bootleggers @ New Hampshire Nighthawks
Series Preview: The high powered Bootleggers came into the Nighthawks Den for an AL East Battle.
Game #1: The Bootleggers come into game 1 and flex their muscle with a 6 run 3rd inning off Tim Belcher capped by a 2-Run HR by Gary Gaetti. All 6 runs were with nobody out. They add another in the 4th to make it 8-0. Nighthawks showed little life in the bottom half of the 4th by scoring 3 runs, they were partially aided by 2 errors and a wild pitch in the inning. Then the beating continued as the Bootleggers kept pounding Nighthawk pitching for 9 more runs to win the series opener.
Final Bootleggers 17 Nighthawks 4
Win: Steve Traschel 6IP 5H 3R 1ER
Loss: Tim Belcher 3IP 8H 7R
Ellis Burks 4-6 32B 3RBI
Alex Rodriguez 3-5 4RBI
Jason Giambi 4-6 HR 4RBI
Game #2: Bootleggers don’t take long to get on the board in game 2 as Mariano Duncan drives in Brian Jordan with a 2-out double in the 2nd to take a 1-0 lead. Duncan adds another RBI in the 4th with a single, 2-0 Bootleggers. In the bottom half of the 4th Tyler Houston ties the game with a 2-run double. Bootleggers take the lead in the 6th with back to back doubles for Jason Giambi and Gary Gaetti. Nighthawks come back in the bottom of the 8th to tie it on a Larry Casian WP. We stayed tied until the 14th inning when the Bootleggers got tired of messing around they put up 4 runs in the inning and it’s too much for the Nighthawks to overcome. Troy Percival throws 4 innings of no-hit ball in extras.
Final: Bootleggers 7 Nighthawks 3
Ramon Martinez 7.1IP 4H 2ER 9K 3BB
Mariano Duncan 3-6 3RBI
Game #3: Game 3 stays tied at 2 going into the 9th inning when Brian Jordan leads the inning off with a solo HR to grab the lead. Bootleggers add 5 more in the inning to close out the game.
Final: Bootleggers 8 Nighthawks 2
Win: James Baldwin. CG, 7H 2ER 6K
Loss: Dean Hartgraves
Robert Person: 7.2IP, 9H 2ER 7K 3BB
Game #4: Nighthawks just trying to get into the Win column strike in the 1st with an Ed Sprague Solo bomb and a David Segui RBI double. A Gary Gaetti throwing error in the 3rd gives the Nighthawks another run. Top 3 the Bootleggers load the bases with 0 outs. Albert Belle walks to bring in a run, A-Rod FC scores another. Then a sloppy play by Rueter on a groundball allows another run to score to tie it at 3. In the bottom half of the 3rd a Pete Incaviglia RBI double reclaims the lead for the Nighthawks 4-3. Chris Gomez 2-run single in the 5th gives the Nighthawks some breathing room and the pitching staff takes care of the rest.
Final: Nighthawks 7 Bootleggers 3
Win: Kirk Rueter 1-0 6.2IP 5H 3ER 3K 4BB
Loss: Dwight Gooden 0-1 4.2IP 5H 6R 5ER 5K 5BB
Troy O’Leary 2-3 Double, RBI BB
Game #5: Game 5 was another back and forth battle as the game was tied at 4 going into the bottom of the 8th inning when Troy O’Leary leads off the inning with a big fly to right off of Troy Percival to give the Nighthawks a 5-4 lead! Bill Risley gets his first save of the season to slam the door on the Bootleggers.
Final; Nighthawks 5 Bootleggers 4
Win: Hartgraves
Loss: Percival
Save: Risley
Troy O’Leary 2-4 HR 3RBI
Series Summary: Somehow the Nighthawks sneak 2 away from a very tough Corktown team. Corktown’s offense showed how powerful they are by smacking the ball around the park all series.
Ellis Burks 9-27 32B 4RBI
Alex Rodriguez 8-22 3 2B, HR 10RBI
Jason Giambi 7-20 HR 6RBI
Troy O’Leary 7-21 2 2B HR 5RBI
Ed Sprague 2HR
Santa Rosa Beach Bums @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Series Preview: Season openers for Santa Rosa and Manhattan in the Big Apple. Beach Bums are the reigning NL East Champs, the Gas Hornets the reigning Chumps. Sizing things up looks like it will stay that way – at least for Santa Rosa. Gas Hornets are rebuilding, have some good stuff – but still no pitching. Word has it that Derek Jeter has cracked his way into the everyday SS position, fans are excited…
Game #1:  The excitement belongs to John Smoltz as he tosses the CG 5 hit shutout to start his season. Roberto Alomar chips in with 3 hits and 2 RBIs (2 doubles) and Reggie Sanders cracks a 2 run homer (1) as Santa Rosa wins the 1st one 6-0!
SRB 6-12-1 WP Smoltz (1-0)
MGH 0-5-0 LP Haney (0-10
Game #2: Alright, Gas Hornets score and do it twice in the opening inning. Tino Martinez and newcomer Dave Hollins get the RBIs. The lead is short-lived as the Bums tally 4 in the 2nd and 2 more in the 3rd. Reggie Sanders again gets 2 RBIs on 2 singles. But 3 others get single RBIs in the outburst – Mike Macfarlane gets 2 hits, scored twice (slowly). Then to make it worse, Lance Painter gives up a solo homer to the Big Hurt – Frank Thomas (1) in the ninth and a 2 run shot to sub-Jacob Brumfield (1). And the only other thing that excited the home town fans besides the 2 runs in the 1st was a Derek Jeter solo homer (1) in the 5th.
SRB 9-13-0 WP Kevin Appier (1-0)
MGH 3-7-1 LP Sterling Hitchcock (0-1)
Game #3:  The score was a carbon copy of Game 2 – This time it was Chuck Finley having a great outing – 7ip, 6 hits, 1 run, 6 ks. 11 more hits for the Bums – 3 by Mark Loretta. Jacob Brumfield got the start in this one and gets 2 hits and 2 more RBIs! Roberto Alomar – 2 hits, 3 RBIs and his 1st homer of the season. Gas Hornets did manage 10 hits and did score 3 times, 2 of the runs off former Gas man – Shawn Boskie who closed out the game (and he’ll start later this series). And on the Derek Jeter watch, he goes 3 for 5, scores 1, drives in 2 and homers (2)!
SRB 9-11-0 WP Finley (1-0)
MGH 3-10-3 LP Terry Mulholland (0-1) – he also commits 2 errors! The team gives up 4 unearned runs.
Game #4: Gas Hornets only scores once – a Jeter rbi single (2 hits). And Carlos Reyes does not throw a shutout – sooooo, that means the Bums scored a bunch of runs. In fact, they tallied 6 times on 11 hits. Hmmm: Roberto Alomar – 3 for 5, a run, 3 RBIs and his 2nd homer. Ken Caminiti homers (1), 2 hits, 3 RBIs. John Cangelosi gets 2 hits from the lead-off spot and scores twice. Jose Rosada didn’t have to work too hard for the win but he did anyway – 8 innings, 5 hits (4 walks) – and the lone run. Not bad…
SRB 6-11-0 WP Rosado (1-0)
MGH 1-5-1 LP Reyes (0-1)
Game #5: We have a chance to avoid the sweep – and we score 6 runs on 13 hits (outhit the Bums) – and Ken Caminiti gets HBP and leaves the game (will not play on an off day). And the Bums started former Gas man Shawn Boskie. All that adds up to… Another bums win. Just ’cause they had fewer hits (12) didn’t mean they weren’t good hits. Roberto Alomar (vying for PlOW) hits his 3rd homer – but it was his only hit. Frank Thomas hits his 2nd – a solo shot. And with the scored 4-3 Gas Hornets entering the 8th, the Bums get 5 runs – 4 of them on a Jacob Brumfield grand Slam – his 2nd homer of the week! Hornets get 2 back in the bottom half but fall short 8-6. Dave Martinez (hmmm wonder what the future holds for him) homers (1) as does Benito Santiago. Derek Jeter gets 2 more hits and finishes the 1st week batting .364.
SRB 8-12-2 WP Tony Castillo (1-0) S Tim Crabtree (1)
MGH 6-13-2 LP Russ Springer (0-1) BS 1
Series Summary: Not an impressive start for the home team – but the Bums look like a real deal for this year. We hope to fare better – if we ever face teams with middling to mediocre pitching.
Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Blarney Drive Bandits
Series Preview: Play ball!
Game #1: WIN 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 3 6 0
BBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 4 1Glavine dominates for Winnipeg.W – Glavine (1)

L – Hampton (1)
S – None
Game #2: WIN 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 – 4 13 0
BBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 3 0Smoke and mirrors kept Blarney in it until Johnstone is hammered in the 12th.W – Holtz (1)

L – Johnstone (1)
S – Bottenfield (1)
Game #3: WIN 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 – 6 13 0
BBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 1 5 1Another lopsided hit-fest for the Goldeyes.W – Candiotti (1)

L – Weathers (1)
S – Shaw (1)
Game #4: WIN 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 – 6 12 1
BBD 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 – 4 8 3Giles drills a pinch-hit 2-run HR in the 7th to chase Schilling. Myers couldn’t hold it in the 8th,W – Groom (1)

L – Myers (1)
S – Holtz (1)
Game #5: WIN 5 1 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 – 12 15 1
BBD 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 – 4 8 0Bandits are the ones ambushed. All Winnipeg.W – Thompson (1)

L – Castillo (1)
S – None
Series Summary: Winnipeg demolishes Blarney in a sweep. Not a great start for the defending WS Champs.

FIRST GAME FILE
DUE MONDAY 04/01/2024
AT 8:00 AM - ET!

Days
0
3
Hrs
0
1
Min
4
1
Sec
5
1