Saturday, March 31, 2012

Bombers take 2 of 3 from Twinkies

Game One is all Yankees. Six runs in the second off of The Blade Tom Hall opens the floodgates to an eventual 14-1 Yankees win. Two solo homers for A-Rod (of course) and eight strong innings from Roger Clemens.
 
Game Two - The Yanks get three runs in the fifth, two on a Doug Mientkeiwicz homer, and sweat it out as the Twins get single runs in the eighth and ninth; but enough for a 32 Yankees win. Mike Mussina pitches into the eighth for the win, before leaving things to Joba and Mariano.
 
Game Three - all you need to know is HARMON KILLEBREW. Killer hits THREE three-run homers as the Twins sail to a 13-1 win. Jim Perry with the complete game for Minnesota.
--submitted by Chris Gotay--

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Bucs stop Dodgers in battle of 1st place squads

9/2 - Dodgers Stadium
Blass (3-0) vs Perez (1-2)
Pirates 8, Dodgers 3

Steve Blass went the distance and limited the damage to just a David Ross 3 run homer in the bottom of the 2nd.  Ross is "THE" most explosive .170 hitter in the league as evidenced by the damage he did to the Bucs this series.  Despite Ross' 2 run shot the 2nd inning was quite kind to the Bucs, who scored 6 runs themselves off of embattled LA starter Odallis Perez (3 IP / 7 ER).  Manny Mota made the most of his rare starts by going 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run knocked in.  8 different Pirates scored a run as nobody scored more than once.  Jose Pagan had a 3 RBI day and Maz hit PIT's only homer.


9/3 - Forbes Field
Ishii vs Fryman
Dodgers 4, Pirates 3 (11 inn)

All squared at 3 apiece after 9 led to extra innings.  Neither team scored in the 10th, although Pittsburgh threatened.  With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out Maz grounded into a fielder's choice and Pag's struck out.  LA took that momentum and with 2 out in the top of the 10th Dave Roberts, known more for his speed than bat, singled home Cesar Izturis to make it 4-3.  The man with the goggles, Eric Gagne, came on board in the bottom of the inning and blew away the Bucs with 2 k's and a scoreless inning to save the win for the visitors from SoCAL.

9/4 - Forbes Field
Lima (2-1) vs Law (2-2)
Pirates 10, Dodgers 6

With both starters pitching BP the lights on the scoreboard lit up like the lights on Broadway.  Lima departed in the middle of the 7th having given up 7 runs.  Law took his exit after completing 7 and giving up 6 (4 earned).  Law's value to his team seems to be as a batsman and not a hurler since his ERA (7.62) is higher than his average (.583).  With the game tied a 6-6 after 6 1/2 innings of play the Bucs offense erupted or 4 huge runs to take the lead.  Notice I didn't say, "to put the game away".  This is because NO LEAD is safe with Pittsburgh's pitching staff.  This is a team that has to score a ton of runs to keep winning.  Thankfully the Pirates have sinkerballer Pete Mikkelsen to go to out of the pen.  Mikkelsen, who has been the Bucs most dependable reliever pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief despite walking 4.  Both teams combined for 26 hits, with the Bucs accounting for 17 of them.  The first 4 hitters in the lineup for Pittsburgh had 2 hits.  Willie Stargell, who has been in a season long funk broke out with a 2 for 3 day, but injured his shoulder crashing into the left field wall on a long fly ball.  His replacement, Jerry Lynch, went 1 for 2 and scored a run.  Maz was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Phightin's take 2 of 3 from Jints

Game 1:  Phillies 8 Giants 6
WP David Herndo (2-0) LP Ron Herbel (1-2) 
GMVP Shane Victorino

A see-saw battle ensued between the Phils and the Giants. The Phillies started the scoring early getting 2 in the 2nd when Brian Schneider grounded out to the second baseman scoring Raul Ibanez followed by a Shane Victorino singled that plated Jimmy Rollins. In the 3rd, Jason Werth's sac fly to left center brought home Chase Utley. the 4th saw the Giants break through on the Phillies' starter Cole Hamels scoring 2 runs on a Jimmy Davenport double down the left field line at Citizens Park. In the 5th, the Giants tied the score when Willie Mays sent a sac fly into right field scoring Len Gabrielson who had doubled earlier in the innings. The score remained tied until the top of the 8th when Dick Schofield punched a single through the right side to score Willie McCovey. The Phillies regained the lead and added insurance runs when they scored 5 times off the Giants bullpen after 2 were out. A walk, 4 sngles, and a Ross Gload double increased the Phillies lead to 4 runs . Brad Lidge came into the game to close things out but before he could retire the final out to seal the victory he gave up a 2-run homer to Wiliie Mays which made the score 8-6. Willie McCovey flied out to left to end the game.

Game 2:  Phillies 4 Giants 3
WP Kyle Kendrick (3-0) LP Warren Spahn (0-1) 
GMVP Shane Victorino

A close game which saw both teams have numerous opportunities to score but the lack of clutch hitting kept the score low. The first 3 inning were scoreless and the Phils finally scored first in the botom of the 4th when Jimmy Rollilns hit a shot into left field to bring Jayson Werth home from 3rd base. The Giants came back in the top of the 5th with 3 runs to take the lead . Kendrick walked Jesus Alou and Willie Mays. Willie McCovey singled in Alou, Jimmy Ray Hart hit a sac fly  down the right filed line to score Mays and Tom Haller spanked the ball between 1st and 2nd to bring McCovey home. The Phillies plated one in the bottom of the 5th when Shave Victorino sent one down the left filed line.  Victorino's came up next in the 7th and lead off the inning with a ringing triple off of Warren Spahn. The next batter, Placido Polanco, hit a sac fly to right center to bring home Victorinl with the tying run. Sphan was replaced after he gave up a single to Chase Utley. With a new pitcher, Ron Herbel, on the mound the Phils added a walk and a run-scoring single from Jayson Werth to take the lead. Ryan Madison earned his first hold pitching the 8th inning. And Brad Lidge close the game out in 1-2-3 fashion earning his 3 save of the season. Both teams stranded 10 runners.

Game 3:  Giants 6 Phillies 00
WP Juan Marichal (2-2) Joe Blanton (1-2)
GMVP Juan Marichal

Juan Marichal was dominant and the Giants sluggers took advantage of windy Candlestick Park to take the final game of the series . The Giants got home runs from Tom Haller, Jimmy Ray Hart, and 2 from "Say-Hey" Willie Mays who had 3 for the series. Marichal who struck out 8 and walked only 1 gave up only 2 hits and the Phils stranded 2 runners on the bases. The  Giants scored in the 1st on a Mays solo shot. They picked up 2 more in the 4th on a Jimmy Ray Hart blast into the right center field stands. To lead off the 6th, Mays sent one down the left field line to bring the score to 4-0 Giants. Mays got his 3rd RBI of the game in the 7th when he single in Alou. Tom Haller, the catcher, finished the scoring in the bottom of the 8th with a HR shot into right center. Again, final score Giants 6 Phillies 0.

Willlie Mays was 4 for 11 with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs for the 3-game series.
--submitted by Frank Selders--

Braves take 2 of 3 from Dodgers

August 29 - Dodgers (8-3) 6 – Braves (8-3) 2
Jose Lima vs. John Smoltz

This was a great pitching match-up for the first 6 innings. The only runs allowed were solo home runs to Ron Gant in the 2nd and Adrian Beltre in the 3rd. The Dodgers struck for 3 runs off Smoltzie and reliever Kent Mercker in the 7th. Jayson Werth had a key pinch hit single to drive in the winning run and that man Beltre added a 2-run double. Lima-time was spectacular, going 7 innings allowing just the 1 run and picking up his second victory.

August 30 – Dodgers (9-3) 0 – Braves (8-4) 6
Hideo Nomo vs. Pete Smith

With both teams forced to use their 5th starters this game had the potential to be an American League type game. The Dodgers started fast scoring 5 runs in the 1st. It took Smith 35 pitches to get out of the inning. The Braves answered with 2 in the bottom half and it looked like the scoring race was on. But a funny thing happened. The Dodgers would not score again and the Braves continued to pound a hapless Nomo (real life ERA over 8) for 8 runs in 4.1 innings. Smith righted the ship and lasted 5 innings. Justice, with his 6th homerun and Terry Pendleton were the key contributors to the Braves 14 hit attack.

August 31 - Braves (9-4) 3 – Dodgers (9-4) 1
Greg Maddux vs. Jeff Weaver

The rubber match of the series was a tense struggle all the way. Both Weaver and Maddux were in top form. Greg Maddux finally prevailed as the Braves pushed across solo runs in the 5th, 6th and 9th inninings to pull away for the win. Maddux went 8 innings in picking up his 4th win of season and lowering his ERA to 1.29. Weaver was also spectacular allowing only 2 runs in 7 innings.  --submitted by Ron Burnette--

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Snake-bit Dbacks get swept by Bucs

8/26 - Bank One Ballpark
Veale vs Benes
Pirates 6, Dbacks 4

Matt Mantei blew a 4-1 lead by giving up 4 devastating runs in the top of the 9th to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  Manny Mota led off the inning and took one for the team in the forearm.  Pagliaroni walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Matty Alou made the safe play and bunted both runners up 90 feet into scoring position.  Gene Alley lifted a sac fly to left to score Mota.  Pittsburgh was not in a position to exchange runs for out at this point.  With 2 out the 1966 NL MVP, Roberto Clemente, stepped to the plate mano y mano with Mantei.  With an 0-1 county Clemente sined a single up the middle to tie the game at 4-4.  Mantei was now completely rattled and was in no condition to face Willie Stargell, who deposited the first pitch that he saw 382 feet from home plate for a 2 run shot to give the Bucs a 6-4 lead.  Roy Face came on to closeout the game in the bottom of the 9th.  Face's hire wire act included back to back walks to Williams and Finley to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out.  Face found his release point and struck out Bell and Stinnett to end the game.

8/27
Sisk vs Johnson
Pirates 3, Dbacks 1

Although he was down 2-1, the Big Unit was flat out dealing having struck out 7 runs in 4 1/3 innings of work before he rubbed up a huge blister and had to leave the game.  Greg Swindell did yeoman's work giving up just 1 run in 3 innings of relief, while fanning 4.  With surprise starter Tommie Sisk cruising for 8 innings it didn't really matter what the Dback pitcher's did.  Sisk, who hadn't pitched yet this season, got the surprise call to start and made the most of it.  His day eneded after 8 innings of 5 hit / 1 run ball.  Sisk did nothing flashy, but his numbers tell the full story. Clemente, Bob Bailey and Maz all knocked in runs.  Jay Bell hit his 2nd homer of the season off of Sisk in the bottom of the 3rd for the only run the Bucs would yield today.

8/28 - Forbes Field
Daal vs Cardwell
Pirates 6, Dbacks 5 (15 inn)

Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 5th to knot the game up at 4-4, which is how it stayed through regulation.  Extra innings didn't solve much as both teams again exchanged solo runs, this time in the 11th, to keep the contest going.  Armondo Reynoso started the 11th for Arizona.  Matty Alou tried to bunt his way on, but instead popped out to Stinnett behind the plate.  Mota grounded a single into the hole between 1st and second as did Gene Alley, to put runners on the corners with 1 out.  Reynoso ran the count to 3-1 on the great Roberto Clemente, who had been mired in a huge slump to start the season.  Popular thought would have had him just throw a 4th pitch wide and not let the Latin star beat him.  Instead Reynoso went right at him and Clemente lined a single to left with Mota trotting home with the winning run.

'Stros take 2 of 3 from Amazin's

8/26 - Astrodome
Gooden vs Bergman
Mets 6, Astros 0

Doc Gooden went the distance fanning 11, walking none and not allowing a single run on 5 hits.  A 6 run fifth inning broke a scoreless deadlock as the Amazin's never looked back.  Lead off man Keith Miller was the only Met batter w/out a hit.  Even Gooden, who his hitting .286 got into the action.

8/27
Viola vs Hampton
Astros 9, Mets 2

Frank Viola sounds more like a broken kazoo as the 'Stros came to life offensively and gave him a solid beating in just 5 innings.  Hampton went 7 and gave up just 2.  Super sub Bill Spiers went 3 for 5 with 3 runs and 2 RBI in the clean-up spot.  Hampton was 2 for 4 himself to raise his season average to .444.  Kevin McReynolds was 3 for 4 and was dressed and on the plane before the final out was recorded.

8/28 - Shea Stadium
Lima vs Cone
Astors 4, Mets 3

New York rallied for 2 runs in the 8th off of Houston reliever Powell, but it was not enough to overcome a 4-1 deficit.  Bagwell, Everett and Biggio each had 2 hit days.  Jose Lima went 6 and gave up 1 to get his 3rd win of the campaign, but sadly his ERA "ballooned to 0.38.  Billy "Waggs" gave up 1 hit in the 9th but held on for the save.

Houston FUN FACTS by Justin Ryan:
HOU outfielders have two assists in the game to keep Lima's 0.00 ERA intact...
Lima served up a solo shot in the 7th for his first and only run of KOD14 in 3 starts.
Going into gm3, HOU batters had not hit a homerun this season.  Drastic changes were made this series, including in gm2 and 3 batting UT Bill Spiers CLEANUP and dropping Bagwell to 6th.  In gm3, HOU finally hit two homers (Everett/Bagwell)

Braves take 2 of 3 from Friars

Game 1,
 
It was all Greg Maddux as he went the distance to improve his record to 3-0. The Braves had their hitting shoes on as they pounded out 19 hits including 9 doubles in a blowout. Mickey Lolich got shelled for 10 runs on 13 hits less than 4 innings. Braves 11....Padres 3.
 
Game 2,
 
Closer game won by the Padres as the Vaseline ball artist Gaylord Perry went the distance for a 7 hit shutout. Perry Out dueled Tom Glavine. San Diego got RBI hits by Billy Almon, Gene Richards, and Ozzie Smith.  Gaylord won his first game of the year. Padres 3...Braves 0.
 
Game 3,
Another close game as lefties Steve Avery and Randy Jones faced off in the rubber game.  San Diego scored 2 runs in the first and the Braves answered with 3 in the bottom half.  After that, both pitchers settled in to go toe to toe with each other.  Oscar Gamble hit his second homerun of the year for the Friars and Fred McGriff drove in a pair of runs for Atlanta.  Avery evens his record at 1-1 and receives bullpen help from McMichael for his 3rd save of the season. Jones got hung with the loss to fall to 0-3.  Braves 5...Padres 3.
--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Friday, March 2, 2012

Phills slow down Dodgers by taking 2 of 3

Game 1 Phillies 5 Dodgers 3
WP Joe Blanton (1-1) LP Jeff Weaver (2-1)
Game MVP Chase Utley 

The Phillies jumped to an early lead scoring 2 runs in the 1st on an Chase 
Utley double and a Jayson Werth Sac fly. Solo runs followed in the 2nd 
and 3rd innings giving the Phils a 4 run edge leading into the bottom of
 the 3rd when the Dodger broke through against Joe Blanton for 1 run 
when Jose Hernandez singled home Alex Cora with 2 out. The middle 
innings were uneventful with neither team able to push across a run. Joe
 Blanton and Jeff Weaver were both in trouble numerous times, but clutch
 hits were in short supply. In the 7th the Phillies scored a run when 
Chase Utley drove in his 2nd run of the game with a 1-out sac fly to 
score Shane Victorino. The bottom of the 7th found the Dodgers battling 
back as they put the first 3 batters on board chasing Blanton and 
forcing the Phils to bring in Jose Contreras who allowed both inherited 
runners to score cutting the Phillies lead to 5-3. But, that would be it
 for the Dodgers. J. C. Romero got 2 out in the 8th to record his first 
hold,  and Brad Lidge pitched a perfect 9th to record his 2nd save of 
the season. 


Game 2 Phillies 6 Dodgers 0 
WP Jamie Moyer (1-1) Odolis Perez (1-1)
Game MVP Jamie Moyer 

Game 2 was about one player. Jamie Moyer. Moyer held the Dodgers to 
5-hits and walked none exhibiting dominance and control through out the 
game. Jamie closed out the game by retiring the last 13 Dodger hitters 
in a row. Phillies offense started ealry when Chase Utley blasted a 
2-run shot in the first. Placido Polanco singled in Shane Victorino in 
the 3rd to increase the Phillies lead to 3. the Phillies added solo runs
 in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to finish out the game. Raul Ibanez 
contributed 2 HRs. 


 
Game 3 Dodgers 6 Phillies 2 
WP Kuzuhisa Ishii (1-1) LP Roy Halladay  (1-2)
Game MVP Caesar Izturis 

The Dodgers bounced back to salvage the final game of the series easily 
defeating the Phillies ace Roy Halladay. Adrian Beltre blasted a 2-run 
homer to left field in the first to stake the Dodgers to a 2-run lead 
before the Phillies has an at-bat. The 4th innings saw Milton bradley 
crushing a Hallady pitch 439 feet into centerfield upping the Dodger 
lead by 2 more runs. Shawn Green doubled in Alex Cora in the top of the 
6th stretching the lead to 5-0. The Phillies finally scored in the 7th 
when a Ross  Gload grounder scored Brian Schneider from 3rd base. The 
Dodgers added 1 in the 8th and the Phillies scraped across 1 more run in
 the bottom of the 9th to end the scoring.
--submitted by Frank Selders--