Category Archives: 2016 First Period

Unhinged Wahoos vs. Speakers

Game 1 – Jesse Hahn outduels Gerrit Cole, 6-0, as the Speakers get 2 in the 1st and never look back. Anthony Rizzo slugs the game’s only long ball in the 7th, his 7th of the season. Both Carlos Gonzalez and Mookie Betts go 2-4 with an extra-base hit and RBI.

W – Hahn (CG 3-hitter, 2-2); L – Cole

Game 2 – Buster Posey’s 1st-inning solo shot (4) is matched by James McCann’s 3rd-inning RBI single, which followed Brandon Crawford’s leadoff triple. The Speakers regain the lead with single runs in the 5th, 7th and 8th while the Wahoos offense sputters after McCann’s hit. From that point Chris Archer allows just 2 base runners: Leonys Martin’s single in the 5th and Nolan Arenado’s 2-out solo HR in the 9th. Speakers win 4-2.

W – Archer (5 H, 12 Ks, 3-1); L – Cory Kluber

Game 3 – Posey drives in another 1st-inning run following Kike Hernandez’s double off Daniel Norris. Roughned Odor (2) takes Norris deep to lead off the bottom of the 5th for a 2-0 lead.

Adam Eaton finally singles in the 6th to break up Joe Blanton’s no-hitter, but “Spanky” never advances past 1st base.  Norris gifts Odor in the 7th for his 2nd of the game and 3rd home run of the season.

Eaton singles again to lead off the 9th, becomes the second Wahoo to reach 2nd, but is stranded as Blanton K’s Edwin Encarnacion and Arenado to complete the 3-0 victory.

W – Blanton (1-0); L – Norris

Game 4 – With little combined offense to this point (and hardly any from the Wahoos), this Trevor Bauer/Carlos Martinez matchup provides some much needed fireworks. Rajai Davis doubles home 2 with 2 outs in the 2nd. The Wahoos start the 3rd with back-to-back doubles (McCann and Eaton) and an RBI single from Ben Zobrist for a 2-2 tie.

The Speakers regain the lead, 3-2, in the bottom half as Kyle Schwarber walks with the bases loaded. Starling Marte re-knots the score at 3-3 in the 4th with a solo HR.

The Wahoos hang tough, but Bauer’s throwing error in the 5th leads to the Speakers batting around. Antonio Bastardo adds fuel by walking 2, including Davis with the bases loaded, followed by a Rizzo (8) grand slam. The Speakers plate 6 to lead 9-3. Odor homers off Francisco Rodriguez (4) in the 7th to get to double-digit runs.

The Wahoos continue to battle as Abreu singles home Arenado in the 8th. Odor’s 9th inning miscue leads to 3 unearned runs as Marte doubles home 2, giving him 3 RBIs in the game that ends 10-7.

In their final 1st period series, the Speakers record their second sweep (Lemonheads) and finish the period 22-14.

Lymebees vs. Unhinged Wahoos

Game 1; Verlander vs Arrieta; Bees get a lead-off single by Lind in the 4th. With 2 outs Beltre singles, Reddick singles to score Lind and Tulowitzki singles in a 2nd run. In the 6th Eaton gets a 1-out walk, Encarnacion singles and Arenado hits a 3-run HR off Arrieta as the Wahoos go on to win 3-2.
Game 2; Norris vs Bumgarner; Wahoos score 4 runs in the 4th with Martin hitting a 2-out 2-run HR. Bees get a solo HR by Hosmer in the bottom of the 4th. Wahoos get a 3-run HR by Encarnacion in the 5th. Bees score 1 run in the 6th, a solo HR by Travis in 8th and get bases loaded for Franco, who walks to score another; but, Beltre would make the final out in the 8th. Bees get a solo HR by Gonzalez in the 9th, but that would be as close as they would get as Wahoos win 7-5.
Game 3; McCullers vs Burnett; Wahoos score 2 runs in the 2nd on a Martin double. Bees come back in the 3rd and get a 2-run HR by Polanco. Bees score 8 runs in the 5th with Cano getting a bases-loaded triple. Wahoos get a 3-run HR by Arenado in the bottom of the 5th. Bees get a solo HR by Hosmer in the 6th. Wahoos score 1 run on a McCann double in the 8th as Bees win 11-6.
Game 4; Syndergaard vs Iglesias; Bees score 1 run in the 2nd. Wahoos get a solo HR by Abreu in the bottom of the 2nd. Bees get a 2-run HR by Upton in the 3rd and 2 runs in the 4th. Wahoos get a 2-run HR by Arenado in the bottom of the 4th. Bees score 1 run in the 7th and Braun hits a 2-run HR in the 8th. Wahoos end scoring with a solo HR by McCann in the 8th as Bees win 9-4.
Bees finish the first period at 21-15.
John Ingiosi

Shartlesville Browns – First 1st Period

The Browns took 3 of 4 from the Speakers yesterday to finish up the 1st period at 17-19. Attached are the first period stats and here are a few notes:
The Sharts slashed .218/.268/.367 while pitching to a 3.29 ERA and out-homering their opponents 36-33.
The offensive star was none other than Bruce Hairpin (.261-9-24) who in 31 games led the team in runs (18), Hits (30), RBI (24), walks (18) and tied for the lead in HR (9) and SB (2). Kyle Seager (.242-9-18) was a close second.
The pitching star of the 1st period could easily still be Kershaw (3-3 2.25 3 CG 56 K in 48 IP) but since he’s off the squad that honor goes to Gallardo who is 3-1 in 8 starts with a 2.33 ERA. Tony Watson also deserves mention for posting a 0.00 ERA while earning 3 saves with 15 K’s in 14 innings over 7 appearances.
Three of the new Browns acquired in that Kershaw trade have helped to right the ship as the Sharts have played above .500 (7-5) baseball since the deal went down. Espinosa (.421-1-4) Duda (.239-3-6) and Marte (.159-0-1) have not only helped at the plate but have greatly improved the Browns defense, with the club only committing 2 errors in the 12 games since the trade. In the previous 24 games the Browns had 23 errors with almost half that number (Phillips-4, Morales-3, Burns-3) being committed by the now replaced fielders.
The Browns are now ready to schedule for the Second Period as they look forward to welcoming back their top 3 starters (Gallardo, Strasburg and Cueto) who have accounted for only 1 start in the last 12 games.
Tony Champa

Shooting Stars II vs. Arrogant Bastards

Last Wednesday night the Stars invaded Linglestown to wrap up the 1st period for both teams.  This may be more brief than previous write ups.
Game 1
Salazar v Fiers.  HFP belts a 2-run HR two batters into the game for a SS 2-0 lead.  In the 3rd HFP butchers a Trout fly ball into a 4 base error.  Peralta hits a solo HR in the 5th to make it 3-1.  Agone leads off the 7th w/ a solo Jack which chases Fiers.  With 2 outs Martin hits another solo not turned back by Smith’s +52.  Game stays tied until the top of the 11th as Andrus gets a hit and goes to third on a 2 base error by Holt.  Andrus then scores the winning run on a wild pitch.  AB’s win 4-3 in 11.  Dyson wins it; Davis the save; Lowe w/ the loss.
Game 2
Hamels v Lynn.  AB’s jump to 3-0 lead in the 2nd on an Ortiz single, Swihart double, Parra 2-rbi single, Gardner single and Russell RBI single, but strand runners on 1st and 3rd w/ no one out.  In the bottom of the 6th the SS erupt for 6 runs.  Tex triples in 3 to tie it and then Carpenter homers to make it 5-3. Another run is added later. Swihart knocks in Andrus on a groundout in the 8th but Tex answers w/ a solo HR in the bottom half for a 7-4 SS win.  Lynn wins; Brach loses; Chafin gets save.
Game 3
deGrom v Karns.  This becomes a 15-3 laugher early as SS win.  Tex doubles in 2 in the 1st.  Parra doubles in Ginger Jesus to make it 2-1 in 2nd.  In the top of the 3rd living hell breaks loose.  W/ bases loaded and two outs, Karns is one out away from keeping the game 2-1.  SS then go BB, double to clear bases, BB, single, BB, single and single as they build a snowman, chase Karns and take a 10-2 lead.  In the bottom of the 3rd the AB’s get an RBI single from Papi and an RBi double from Swihart.  Dyson ends up coming in for the AB’s and goes 5.1 innings giving up 4 more runs before he ends as a 1.  Choo knocks in a run in the 7th to make it 14-3.  In the bottom half deGrom is lifted after the AB’s rally with a double by Panik, Trout reaches on an error and Agone BB’s.  Lowe comes on to get two huge outs on Turner and Ortiz to keep the 11 run lead.  Lowe escapes 2 more runners in the 8th, getting out of it again.  SS add a run in the 9th on a double by Choo to make it 15-3.  Chapman comes in for some work in the 9th for a 1-2-3 inning.  deGrom winner; Karns loser.
Game 4
Lackey v Scherzer.  Ginger Jesus hit a solo in 1st for a 1-0 lead.  Casali BB’s to start the 2nd; then on a Granderson 12, the AB’s roll a 56 F2 for Agone to turn a DP into a single.  Frazier later hits a triple for a 2-1 SS lead.  Same score in the 4th; with two outs Choo singles and Frazier rolls a 33-5 on a called hit-and-run, which becomes a single.  Escobar then flies out.  Game stays 2-1 until 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. Ginger Jesus doubles (22-0) and Gardner comes in to PR.  Chapman comes on to face Papi but Ozuna PH’s and drops a 22-7 (his 1st hit of the season only facing LH pitchers…APBA ball high plusses…gorilla sounds) to score Gardner standing and tie the game at 2.  In the top of the 10th Parra greets Chapman w/ another 22-0 and 33-1 in the 2nd column for a HR that +42 Chapman failed to turn back.  AB’s win 3-2. Melancon winner; Chapman loser.
No notes right now…5th straight series split for AB’s ending 1st period at 20-16.  I’ll take it.
Manager Steve

Speakers vs. The Plague

The tale of two series within a series.

Game 1 – The Plague commit 4 errors in the 2nd inning. Add an Andrelton Simmons 2-run homer, his first, and the Speakers lead 5-0. They tack on 3 in the 3rd on 3 RBI singles to reduce Erasmo Ramirez and the rout is on. The Speakers score 5 additional times to give David Price a 13-0 victory and the Speakers’ first shutout of the season.

W – Price (3-2, CG ShO); L – Ramirez

Game 2 – The Speakers continue their barrage against Kyle Gibson. Carlos Gonzalez hits a 1st inning 2-run home run (3). Kyle Schwarber connects in the 3rd for 2 more (2). Manny Machado puts the game away in the 8th with a grand slam (7), after 2 walks and an Anthony Rizzo HBP. The Speakers roll to a 9-2 win.

W – Chris Archer (2-1 CG); L – Gibson

Game 3 – And so begins the second series within a series. Scott Kazmir outduels Matt Harvey as each team collects just 3 hits. The only run scores with two outs in the bottom of the 7th. Mike Moustakas bloops a (9) single to score Michael Brantley who had doubled. The Speakers get two on with one out in the 9th, but Yoenis Cespedes grounds into a 6-4-3 DP to end the game.

W – Kazmir (CG ShO); L – Harvey (3-3)

Game 4 – The Speakers return the favor in the 2nd when Kolten Wong bloops a (9) single with two outs to score Carlos Gonzalez who had walked against Marco Estrada. Again, The Plague strike in the 7th: AJ Pierzynski (7) singles with two away. Billy Hamilton pinch runs and steals both 2nd and 3rd. Who’s up? Moustakas. This game, with Joe Blanton one out away from advancing, the Speakers go to the pen. Jeurys Familia surrenders an 8 single to knot the score at 1-1. With two outs in the 11th, Cespedes doubles and Kris Bryant strokes a 2-run HR (2) to give the Speakers a 3-1 lead. The Plague peck away at 3 Speaker relievers for (9) single, pop to short, (0) single, double-steal, walk (2 x ball 2), and Brantley’s bases loaded, walkoff double, 4-3.

W – Jonathon Papelbon; L – Jeremy Jeffress (0-1)

The Plague catchers snuff out 3 runners in the series. Familia (20*) has given up 11 hits, 5 walks and 2 wild pitches in 9.2 IP leading to a surprising 4.66 ERA this year. Jeurys has not prevented a single BB, hit or HR in 9 games. Schwarber now has 6 hits and 5 RBIs. Machado leads the Speakers with 7 HRs and 22 RBIs.