1996 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #18

Ron_Gant96Alex_Fernandez96Henry_Rodriguez96Orel_Hershiser96

NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
GANT,Ron FFS  AL .500 1.056 4 18 9 1 0 3 4 12 1 0 0 0 0 0
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
FERNANDEZ,Alex CAL  AL 2 2 0 0 0.00 14 0 0 6 15 3 0 0 0 1 0
                                   
NAME TEAM AVG SLG G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI K W IW SB CS HBP
RODRIGUEZ,Henry HAM  NL .316 1.000 5 19 6 1 0 4 5 12 4 0 0 0 0 1
                                   
NAME CLUB G W L S ERA IP R ER H K BB IBB WP BK HB HR
HERSHISER,Orel HAM  NL 2 2 0 0 1.93 14 4 3 10 11 2 0 0 0 0 1

Valdosta Bombers @ Hampton Huskies
Series Preview: NL Central-leading Valdosta (69-30) heads way east and north to try and pad their 15-game lead over Cincinnati by taking on the Hampton Huskies (52-47) who are a distant 3rd in the NL East with seven games to make up on 2nd-place Santa Rosa who is tops in the wildcard race.
Game #1: Matt Mieske blasted a 3-run pinch-hit homer in the top of the 8th off Hampton reliever to cap a five-run inning and bring the Bombers to within one run, but that was as close as it would get as TJ Mathews slammed the proverbial door in the 9th to preserve the 7-6 Hampton win.
Hampton amassed a 7-1 lead after pummelling former Husky starter Jack McDowell knocking him out in the 3rd inning after he had allowed five runs on six hits including two two-run homers to Henry Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s homers gave him 29 on the year and swelled his obscene RBI total to 82. Brian McRae had three hits for Hampton including a double. Orel Hershiser (11-8) allowed a single run on five hits over six innings to get the win.
Steve Finley clubbed his 25th homer of the year off Hershiser to lead off the game to go along with Mieske’s 7th.
McDowell drooped to 6-4 on the year with the loss while Mathew’s save was his 17th of the season.
Game #2: Valdosta uber closer Rob Nen has a super rare implosion on the mound and gives up three straight hits in the bottom of the 9th with Mike Stanley delivering the coup de grace with a two-run double as the Huskies come from behind to win 6-5.
Nen’s third blown save of the season dropped his record to 4-2 while Jeff Juden (4-3) picked up the win for Hampton after tossing a scoreless 9th.
Eric Young had four hits for the Huskies including three doubles and drove in three runs and scored twice while Jim Eisenreich chipped in with three singles and an RBI.
Manny Ramirez (16) homered for Valdosta with Scott Servais hitting two doubles.
Valdosta’s Felipe Lira (6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and Hampton’s Tim Van Egmond (6 Ip, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K) failed to factor in the decision.
Game #3: All Shane Reynolds.
Not only did the Valdosta starter shutout the Huskies 7-0 with a four-hitter, but he also homered and singled and drove in two runs.
Reynolds walked three and struck out two in the game. Mark Grudzielanek had three hits, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs while Matt Mieske had two hits and drove in three runs.
Game #4: Brian McRae smacked a Billy Wagner fastball over the centre field wall to give the Hampton Huskies a 5-4 walk-off win in the bottom of the 19th inning.
McRae’s 16th homer of the season was one of three the Huskies hit on the day. Earlier Mike Stanley (9) had homered off starter Pat Hentgen (6 ip, 3 h, 2 er, 3bb, 3 k) and Henry Rodriguez mashed his third homer of the series and 30th of the year with a monster blast off Robb Nen in the 9th that tied the game at 4-4.
Steve Finley only missed hitting for the cycle by a homer as he went 3/5 with an RBI and a run scored and threw in a steal for good measure. Eric Karros also had three hits for Valdosta including his 19th double.
Game #5: Tom Gordon was not at his best … actually much closer to his worst … as the Valdosta hitters had their way with him in a 9-6 win that sounded much closer than it was.
The Bombers scored seven runs off Gordon making the most of the 13 hits (only one double) and five walks in the contest by hitting and walking in bunches. Mark Grudzielanek had three hits and drove in three, Steve Finley had two hits, scored twice and drove in two, Eric Karros drove in two and Domingo Cedeno had two hits and scored once.
Hampton only made it seem close as they scored four runs on a Henry Rodriguez grand slam in the 5th off Valdosta starter Dave Burba. Rodriguez’s homer was #4 on the series and 31 on the year. Mickey Tettleton (13) also homered.
Game #6: The Huskies gave it to Black Jack McDowell but good knocking him around for eight runs – including a seven-run 4th inning – in an easy 11-3 16-hit attack win over Valdosta.
To McDowell’s credit, he and the other Valdosta pitchers did keep the ball in the park and did manage to strike out 10 Hampton hitters.
Orel Hershiser (12-8) cruised to the win allowing two earned runs on five hits over eight innings.
BJ Surhoff finally had a decent game at the plate with four hits including two doubles. He also scored and drove in two runs. Jim Eisenreich had three hits including a double and drove in two runs.
Series Summary: It’s nice to occasionally have Lady Luck on your side when you beat a better team and we will gratefully accept her gift of taking 4 of 6 from the much better Valdosta Bombers.
Sugar Land Skeeters @ Steel City Sluggers
Series Summary: Steel City takes 5 of 6 from Sugar Land.
Long Beach Titans @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Series Preview: Long Beach comes in with a really bad record, but now worst in the league. Manhattan is nearing the .500 mark – don’t know-how with our pitching, but the bats have been pretty productive…
Game #1: No Gas for the Manhattan crew in this one as Mike Williams (W 4-12) tosses a 2 hit CG shutout. Sal Fasano greeted loser Rick Krivda (3-5) with a 2 run homer (2) in the 1st and then drove in another run in the 5th in the 3-0 Long Beach win! Someone is off to a good start in this series …..
Game #2: Gas Hornets finally score in the 2nd inning of this one when Lenny Harris returns for the IL and homers (3) for a 1-0 lead. 2 more Manhattan runs in the 3rd make it 3-0. But then Allen Watson hangs one to Glenallen Hill in the 4th and he takes it downtown for a 3 run homer (12) to tie it up. Next inning Frank Santangelo connects (7) for a solo shot and a 4-3 Titans lead. But, the Gas Hornets get a little 2 run magic in the 8th and pull out the win for Jay Powell (4-5) and Bob Patterson holds of the Titans in the 9th for the save (13). Final 5-4 Manhattan
Game #3: No one wanted to score in this one – at least not until the 7th. Then Carlos Baerga homers (5) for a 1-0 lead. But in the bottom half, the home team retaliates with a 2 run Ray Durham double and a Lenny Harris rbi single. Alvin Morman then pitches 2 innings for the save (2). Carlos Reyes gets the win (2-7) and William VanLandingham takes the loss (2-8)
Game #4: Series starts to heat up – at least the bats do as the teams combine for 18 hits (that’s a low total so far – but wait). Gas Hornets get 1 in the 4th and the Titans tie it in the 6th on a Pat Meares triple and Carlos Baerga rbi single. But the tie only lasts until the bottom of the 6th when Manhattan gets to Dennis Martinez (L 1-7) for 3 more runs – and they add another run in the 8th for a final 5-1 victory. Sterling Hitchcock goes the distance (W 6-5). Dave Martinez, Derek Jeter, and Tino Martinez each get 2 hits.
Game #5: OK – 30 hits in this game and 22 of them are for Manhattan – Ray Durham and Dave Martinez get 3 each and 7 others each get 2 hits. Ernie Young slugs his 13th homer and scores 3 times.
BUT – the game started with Long Beach scoring 5 times in the 1st inning! It included a Wade Boggs 2 run triple and a Carlos Baerga 2 run homer (6). But that was about it for the Titans. Manhattan chipped away with 1 in the 1st, 3 in the 4th, then 3 in the 6th to gain the lead and their own 5 run inning in the 7th for the final 12-6 score. A.J. Sager stayed in long enough to take the loss (3-11) – 13 hits, 7 runs. Lance Painter, 3rd of 6 Manhattan hurlers, gets the win (3-2).
Game #6: 22 combined hits in this one 10 for Long Beach and 12 for Manhattan, but the score wasn’t that close as the Gas Hornets win their 5th straight 9-3. GlenAllen Hill (13) and Carlos Baerga (7)- AGAIN, a homer for 2 of the 3 Long Beach runs. Matt Stairs (6) clubs a 3 run homer, Wil Cordero hits a PH homer (4) and Lenny Harris continues to enjoy coming back for the IL with a 3 for 4 day, 2 RBIs, and a run. Terry Mulholland wins and goes to 8-4. Mike Williams takes the loss (4-13). Russ Spring pitched 3.2 innings for the save (4).
Series Summary: Manhattan wins the final 5 for a 5-1 series win, but Baerga hits 3 dingers for the Titans this week.
Stockton Wings @ Santa Rosa Beach Bums
Series Preview: The fatigued Bums face the Stockton Wings for a six-game series. Stockton looking to spoil the hopes of Santa Rosa Beach fans.
Game #1: The Wings send Wasdin (5-8, 3.88) against Bums Smoltz (11-2, 2.50). In the 2nd Bums, Hudler went deep with a solo shot. In the 6th Wings, McCracken walked, advanced on a ground out and scored on a Loretta throwing error. In the 8th Wings go to Simas who filled the bases before being pulled for Florie with no outs. Tough spot. Florie walked Caminiti for one, Hudler popped, and MacFarlane lofted a sacrifice fly to right. Bums 3-1.
Stockton 1 3 0 LP: Simas
Santa Rosa Beach 3 5 2 WP: Montgomery HR: Hudler; SF: MacFarlane; Sb: White; S: Crabtree.
Game #2: The Wings call on D’Amico (5-6, 4.34) to face Bums Appier (11-8, 3.74). With 2-out in the 1st, Bums MacFarlane goes yard with a 3-run dinger. Brumfield followed that two batters later with a 2-run homer. The Wings make up for a 7-1 deficit in the 9th culminated with a Cianfrocco GRAND SLAM only to lose it in the 10th on a Hudler pitch hit single.
Stockton 7 12 1 LP: Florie 2b: Hollandsworth, McCracken; HR: Cianfrocco; HBP: Jefferson.
Santa Rosa Beach 8 11 1 WP: James 2b: MacFarlane; HR: MacFarlane, Brumfield; IBB: Brumfield.
Game #3: Wings go with Wilson (3-10, 6.05) and the Bums Finley (7-7, 5.60). Bums start fast. White doubled, Thomas walked and Caminiti banged an RBI single. Myers then brought Thomas home with an infield grounder. Bums Gagne drew a walk in the 4th, worked his wat around to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Finley. Bums Myers brought in a couple with a triple in the 7th, 5-0.
Stockton 0 2 1 LP: Wilson
Santa Rosa Beach 5 7 0 WP: Finley 2b: White 2, Perez; 3b: Myers; SF: Finley.
Game #4: Trying to salvage something from the series the Wings call on Mendoza (2-6, 5.72) to face Bums Adams (3-0, 3.04). With 2-out and bases empty in the 3rd Caminiti goes yard. In the 5th Bums White, Caminiti and Hudler singled for a run. After MacFarlane was beamed to fill the bases, Mendoza uncorked a wild pitch, 3-0. Hudler singled and MacFarlane and Myers ripped back-to-back doubles to leadoff the Bums 7th, 5-0.
Stockton 0 3 0 LP: Mendoza.
Santa Rosa Beach 6 13 0 WP: Adams 2b: MacFarlane, Myers. Vanderwal, Gagne; HR: Caminiti; HBP: MacFarlane; SH: Adams; H: James.
Game #5: Wings pick Schmidt (3-15, 7.00) to face Bums Boskie (5-6, 5.05). Wings Hamilton drew a walk to lead off the game and scored on a Jaha single. Hamilton singled in the 3rd, advanced to third on a singled by Hernandez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jefferson. After an intentional walk to Jaha, Wilkins banged an RBI single, 3-0. In the 4th Alomar singled, Caminiti walked and MacFarlane ripped an RBI double, followed by a Vanderwal and Brumfield RBI singles. Tie game. In the next at-bat Wings Hernandez and Jaha singled to retake the lead and with 2-out Hale ripped an RBI double, followed by a Guillen RBI single, 6-3. After filling the bases in the bottom half Schmidt walked home Alomar. In the next inning, Alomar banged a 2-run shot to tie the game and chase Schmidt. 6-6. In the 8th Bums, Sanders leadoff with a single stole and reached third when Alomar reached on a strikeout. Caminiti followed with a single, 7-6. Wings tied it in the 9th as Jaha singled, advanced on a ground out and scored on a Hale double. In the bottom half Vanderwal reached, PR White stole and scored when Brumfield’s bunt was thrown into left field.
Stockton 7 15 3 LP: Garces 2b: Hale 3; 3b: Guillen; IBB: Jaha; SH: Cuyler; SF: Jefferson.
Santa Rosa Beach 8 10 1 WP: Crabtree 2b: MacFarlane; HR: Alomar; SH: Brumfield; Sb: Sanders, White.
Game #6: Trying to not be blanked the Wings call on Wasdin (5-8, 3.72) and the Bums, going for their first sweep of the year, Smoltz (11-2, 2.39). In the 3rd after Bums Thomas and Caminiti singled, MacFarlane went yard. In the 5th Bums Sanders and Alomar leadoff the inning with back-to-back doubles. A couple of batters later MacFarlane banged an RBI single, 5-0. Wings put two on in the 7h and Guillen ripped a double for one and Hale doubled for two more, 5-3. In the bottom half, the Bums put two on and Gagne doubled them home with 2-out.
Stockton 3 7 0 LP: Wasdin 2b: Cianfrocco, Wilkins, Guillen, Hale.
Santa Rosa Beach 7 12 0 WP: Smoltz 2b: Sanders 2, Alomar, White, Gagne; HR: MacFarlane; IBB: Myers; SH: Smoltz.
Series Summary: The Bums get their first sweep of the season.
Mexico City Chihuahuas @ Fort Worth Panthers
Series Summary: Panthers sweep!
Cincinnati Outlaws @ Winnipeg Goldeyes
Series Preview: Division matters Winnipeg is running away with theirs but Cincinnati a powerful team is in second place.
Game #1: Three Cincinnati homers including Piazza gives the visitors a 6-5 win off Winnipeg ace Glavine.
Game #2: Lopez homers and Becker grand slam gives Benes and Winnipeg the 9-5 win.
Game #3: Bianchi hits Winnipeg pen hard scoring in 8th 9th and 10th to win 8-7.
Game #4: Schilling was on and improved to 12-1 as Buhner drove in 5 Goldeyes 5-1 Winnipeg.
Game #5: Piazza goes 4 for 4 with 2 homers! an easy 11-2 Cincinnatii win. Goldeyes lose Roberts to DL and Buhner an extra game.
Game #6: Glavine was great throwing a 4 hit shutout making up for game 1 and Winnipeg win 3-0 as McGwire homered.
Series Summary: A series split as Cincinnati despite a tired pitching staff easily split with 1st place Winnipeg.
Chicago Demolition @ California Quakes
Series Summary: California sweeps visiting Chicago.
Harper Woods Expos @ Corktown Bootleggers
Series Summary: Corktown wins 4 of 6 in an attempt to crawl back into the wild card/division races.
Detroit Stars @ New Hampshire Nighthawks
Series Summary: Detroit comes to New Hampshire and just puts a beating on the Nighthawks in front of their own crowd. Nighthawks steal game 6 to avoid the sweep.
Portland Mavericks @ DeWitt Tigers
Series Preview: DeWitt welcomes Portland to town in a battle of last-place teams
Game #1: Portland 8
DeWitt 3
Game #2: Portland 12
Dewitt 2
Game #3: Portland 3
DeWitt 2 in the 5th called by rain. Portland scored in the top half to take the lead that was eventually washed away.
Game #4: DeWitt 2
Portland 0 called in the 7th
Game #5: DeWitt 7
Portland 4
Game #6: Portland 7
DeWitt 3
Series Summary: Portland wins the series 3-2
Michigan Mauraders @ Blarney Drive Bandits
Series Summary: Michigan takes 4 of 6 but suffers two long injuries in a collision between Tucker and Thompson in game 6.
Castle Rock Hounds @ Flossmoor Flying Squirrels
Series Summary: Series splits at 3 games each.

FIRST GAME FILE
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