Category Archives: 2016 First Period

2016 First Period

Shartlesville Browns vs. Lemonheads

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Here’s a recap of the Browns tilt against the Lemonheads:

Game 1 pitted Greinke against Shields. The Lemonheads opened the scoring with a leadoff homer from Gomes in the 3rd. The Browns pulled ahead in the 7th when Seager plated two on a bases loaded single. A Hairpin RBI double in the 8th added some insurance as the Sharts went on to win 3-1. Sheilds had is first effective start of the year as he scattered 9 hits and K’ed 10 in a complete game win.

Game 2 saw both Starters go 10 shutout innings as Gallardo and Young were on the top of their games. The game ended the only way a game with 10 total hits in 12 innings can: with a 2 out solo homer in the bottom of the 12th off the bat of Salvy Perez.

Game 3 matched Odorizzi against Wacha and went the way of every game Wacha has started for the Browns this year. Odorizzi hurled a 3 hit shut out and the Heads got all the O they needed from surprising sources. Peralta and Walker collided on a Harpin single in the top of the 1st and had to come out of the game. Peralta’s replacement was Alex Gordon who homered in his first time up in the bottom of the 1st and ended up 2-3 plus a walk. The Heads got a few insurance runs, including one out of Walkers replacement to win 3-0

Game 4 featured more runs than the first 3 combined. Rodon faced off against Bucholtz. The Sharts used singles and doubles galore to score 2 runs in 3rd, 4th and 5th before finally chasing Bucholtz. Rodon turned in a workman like 6 inning performance surrendering 2 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks. The Brown’s pen gave up solo runs in the 8th and 9th but it cold have been much worse as the Heads threatened to break the game open in each frame. The Browns went on to win 8-4 to take the series 3-1

Notes: Perez’s walkoff shot in game 2 was the Brown’s only homer of the series.

Next up for the Browns is a trip to Speakertown on 5/15 to finish out the 1st period.

2016 First Period

Eliminators vs. Speakers

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Game 1 – Howie Kendrick boots a grounder in the 7th, which scores the only run of the game. Eliminators win 1-0 on Jon Lester’s 4-hit CG shutout.

The Speakers don’t get a runner past 2nd base. Former Speaker, Jason Heyward, is the only Eliminator to touch 3rd as he screams by to score. Joe Ross pitches 8 innings allowing just 5 hits and no earned runs.

AJ Pollock injured at 2nd base on a 3-6 double play. Anthony Rizzo catches a liner, wheels and throws to Andrelton Simmons as Pollock goes back into the base awkwardly.

W – Lester; L – Joe Ross (0-1)

Game 2 – The teams tie 4-4 at the stretch. Manny Machado contributes a 2-run HR (4). Adam Jones knocks in 3 for the Eliminators although his 2-run double in the 6th is a turned away homer by Trevor Rosenthal (+43).

Carlos Gonzalez leads off the 9th with a game-winning solo homer (2). The Speakers pen sets down the Eliminators 1-2-3 in the bottom half for a 5-4 win.

W – Roberto Osuna (1-0); L – Bryan Shaw; S – Brett Cecil (2)

Game 3 – The Speakers build a surprising early 5-0 lead against Chris Sale. After a Rizzo error leads to an Eliminators run in the 7th, the Speakers send 8 to the plate in the bottom half to score 4 more times.

The Eliminators kick up a 9th inning fuss with 2 doubles and 3 walks to score 4 off Jeurys Familia. Tony Sipp records the final 2 outs for a closer than expected 9-5 final.

Rajai Davis (4-4, T, 2-RBI, 2-R) leads the Speakers 14-hit attack. The Eliminators tally 11 safeties, but strand several runners in scoring position.

W – Matt Harvey (3-2); L – Sale

Game 4 – The Speakers continue to hit (12) while the Eliminators don’t (3). Machado’s 1st inning 2-run homer (5) is all that Carlos Martinez and Rosenthal require to turn in a 5-1 win to take the series. Machado adds another 2-run dinger (6) in the 7th to give the Speakers some breathing room in a long-standing 2-0 score.

W – Martinez (3-0); L – Edinson Volquez; S – Rosenthal (1)

2016 First Period

Lymebees vs. Arrogant Bastards

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Game 1; Hammel vs Arrieta; Bastards get 5 runs in the 2nd on 4 consecutive hits to start the inning and a Panik 2-run 2-out HR. Bees follow in the bottom of the 2nd with a leadoff double by Upton, 1-out single by Reddick to score 1, and 2-run HR by Valbuena. With 2 outs in the 5th, the Bees get a Hosmer walk. Lind doubles him in and Upton hits a 2-run HR for a 6-5 Bees lead. Bees get a leadoff HR by Reddick in the 6th and score another run in the inning. Arrieta gets thru the 8th and the Bees bullpen strands two in 9th for a save and a 8-5 come-from-behind win.

Game 2; Karns vs Gray; Bastards score 2 runs in the 1st on a Gonzalez HR. Bastards get 3 more runs in the 3rd on 4 extra base hits. Bastards add 4 more runs in the 4th. Bees get on the board with a lead off HR by Lind in the 9th as the Bastards get the complete game win at 9-1.

Game 3; McCullers vs Scherzer; Bastards get 1 run in the 3rd, 6 runs in the 4th, and a solo HR by Ortiz in the 7th as Scherzer goes the distance and gives up 1 single to Valbuena for an 8-0 Bastards win.

Game 4; Syndergaard vs Miller; Bastards draw first blood in the 5th and score 2 runs in the inning as Trout hits a triple. Bees get one run back in the 6th. With two outs in the 7th, Upton ties the game with a single and Cano follows with a 2-run HR. Bees hold on to win 4-2 and split the series.

Bees record at 19-13 and were lucky not to be swept.
John Ingiosi
I know John sent a write up but my writer has been contracted to do a write up for each series this season.  So here it is….

Game 1
Hammel v Arrieta…The AB’s attempt to go into total job mode and use Hammel’s only necessary start of the year to face Arrieta (it was either him or Greinke).  In the top of the 2nd the AB’s would bust out v Arrieta with a Turner double, Ortiz single, Swihart double, Pillar single, a SAC fly by Russell, and finish it off w/ a 2 run HR by Panik for a 5-0 lead.  It would not stay that way for long.  In the bottom of the frame Upton doubled, Reddick singled and Valbuena homered to make it 5-3.  In the 5th the Bees swarmed some more w/ a Hosmer 2 out walk, followed by a Lind double and an Upton 2 run jack for a 6-5 lead.  Reddick lead off the 6th w/ a HR and after a Norris walk he was doubled home by Polanco to push the lead to 8-5.  Arrieta settled in after the 2nd allowing just 2 singles.  The AB’s threatened off of Siegrist in the 9th with a single and an HBP to Pillar but Capps came on to get the final 2 outs.  Arrieta the win while Dyson picked up the loss.  Save Capps.
Game 2
Karns v Gray.  The AB’s would jump to 2-0 lead after Panik reached on a Cano error and two batters later Agone went yard.  Karns wiggled out of 2 BB trouble in the bottom of the 1st w/ back to back K’s.  In the 3rd the AB’s would get to Gray again as Andrus lead off w/ a double and scored on a Trout triple. Trout would score on a Turned double followed up by a Big Papi double to make the gam 5-0.  The good fortune would continue for the AB’s in the 4th as with one out Parra circled the bases on a 4 base error by Reddick.  Andrus and Panik then singled  and with two outs Agone singled in Andrus, Turner walked and then Papi singled in Panik and Agone to complete the 4 run (all unearned) inning and 9-0 AB’s lead.  Karns scattered 4 hits through 8 as he took the bump in the 9th looking for a shutout.  But that quickly dissolved as Lind lead off the 9th w/ a HR….Karns then struck out the side for the win while Gray suffered the loss.
Game 3
Scherzer v McCullers.  The AB’s ventured home after earning a split at the hornets’ nest and opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Russell doubled (HR turned back) in Gardner for a 1-0 lead.  In the 4th the AB’s would send 11 men to the plate.  After a Papi K to start the inning it would go something like this:  Martin singled and stole 2nd as a D18 on a failed hit and run, Parra then double him in, Gardner struck out for the 2nd out, Russell singled home Parra, Panik doubled (HR turned back) Russell home, Trout followed with an RBI single to score Panik, Agone singled, then Turner singled home Trout, and then Papi ended the scoring w/ another single to score Gonzalez as the AB’s lead was now 7-0.  Scherzer would remain perfect until Valbuena lead off the 6th w/ a 15-9 single.  Big Papi would FINALLY make a HR stand up in the 7th by leading off the frame w/ a solo shot to make it 8-0.  Scherzer would pitch his way out of trouble he created in the 8th on a BB and his own error and finish off w/a  CG 1 hit shutout while fanning 11.  McCullers took the loss.
Game 4
Miller v Syndergaard.  The AB’s tried to get going in the top of the 1st but with 1st and 3rd and 1 out Longoria grounded into a DP.  In the 2nd Pillar would draw a 1 out BB and steal 2nd.  Swihart then hit a rare play grounder to 3rd which Hosmer turned into another DP by nabbing Pillar trying to go to 3rd after getting Swihart at 1st.  Miller kept wiggling out of trouble through his first 5 innings as the Bees just couldn’t get a big hit.  In the bottom of the 5th the AB’s would strike with a 1 out single by Swihart, followed by a hit and run single by Forsythe, an Andrus SAC fly plated Swihart, and then Trout tripled home Forsythe to make it 2-0.  Upton led off the 6th w/ a walk, Cano singled, and then Reddick singled in Upton to cut the lead to 2-1.  Miller gave way to Melancon who came on to get the next 3 Bees out..  Cedeno came on in the 7th and yielded a pinch hit double to Braun to start the inning.  Hosmer popped out and then Gonzalez grounded back to the box advancing Braun to 3rd w/ 2 outs.  Upton then singled on a rare play fielding 3 roll by Trout (fielded one….inning over) and went to 3rd on Trouts error.  Cano then stepped up and belted a 2 run HR off Cedeno to give the Bees a 4-2 lead.  The AB’s would threaten w/ 2 runners in the 7th but neither Trout nor Ozuna (O for the season and about to find himself buried in the minors for the season) could come through.  The AB’s got the tying run on the 9th but just couldn’t get back to Trout as Andrus rolled a 51-9 after a 2 out Forsythe walk to end the game.  Giles got the win w/ another save to Capps while Cedeno took the loss.

Series and Other Notes
The Bees went 4 for 25 w/ RISP for a .160 clip while the AB’s went 15-38 for a .395 clip (The AB’s were 0 for 7 in game 4).
Hammel turned back a BB in his start while Bees pitchers combined to turn back 3 BB’s and 2 HR’s.
The RP boards continue to haunt the AB’s as what seems like  9 outta 10 times this season the results seem to stink for AB’s.
AB’s are now 18-14.  Are hitting .206 overall and .245 with RISP while their opponent is hitting .228 w/ RISP.
With 35% of the season down the AB’s have now used 25% of their relief innings which is amazing considering all the extra inning games in the first 3 series.
The AB’s have turned back 22 BB’s while gifting 1…..and they have turned back 2 HR’s while gifting 1.  On the flip side the AB’s hitters have had 21 BB’s turned back (no gifts) while having 6 HR’s turned back (guess what….no gifts).
AB’s have been out homered 34-32 (see the previous note).

One dreaded 4 game series left in the 1st period v the Shooting Stars.  I’ll probably try to play it in the next couple weeks and then will be looking to begin period 2….3 game series…yeah!!!  Good luck everyone!

BTW if anyone is looking to trade any starting pitching please let me know….I’m interested.  Thanks.

2016 First Period

Lemonheads vs. Speakers

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Game 1 – Jesse Hahn draws the short straw to start against Zack Greinke, and then barely out-pitches the Lemonheads’ ace, surrendering just a 3rd-inning Neil Walker solo in the hit column. Yoenis Cespedes (2) matches Walker’s solo in the 4th as both pitchers ride a 1-1 tie to the 9th.

With 2 outs and nobody on, Greinke fumbles Anthony Rizzo’s chopper. Buster Posey strokes a clutch RBI double to score the unearned run in the 2-1 squeaker. The ‘Heads muster just the 1 hit for an .097 team batting average while the Speakers total 3 hits.

W – Hahn (1-0, 1.12); L – Greinke; S – Brett Cecil (1)

Game 2 – In a more balanced matchup, David Price battles Chris Young. Adeiny Hechavarria’s 1st-inning triple leads to an early 1-1 tie after Chris Young’s fielding miscue and wild pitch score a Speakers  run in the top half.

In the 2nd with 1 out, Jackie Bradley, Jr. doubles. But the inning ends suddenly. Cespedes guns Bradley out at the plate. When Price commits an error–(that’s 3 pitcher errors already in the series)–former Speaker Chris Owings reaches 2nd, but is promptly picked off by Posey.

Anthony Rizzo coaxes a base on balls to lead off the top of the 7th. Posey follows with a 2-run HR (3) to shatter the 1-1 tie. Another unearned run in the 9th provides some cushion as Price completes the 4-1 win.

Following Price’s 2nd inning error, the Lemonheads’ next baserunner would be Bradley again on an 8th-inning walk. He was then caught stealing. With 2-outs in the 9th, Dalton Pompey doubles, but Hechavarria strikes out to end the game.

Through 2 games, the Lemonheads have as many errors as hits (4). The Speakers have pounded out 6 hits and 3 ER.

W – Price (2-2, 3.86); L – Young

Game 3 – Could a Francisco Liriano vs. Chris Archer matchup awaken any offense? Howie Kendrick’s 2-out RBI single in the 2nd plates yet another unearned run. Again with 2-outs in the 4th, Chris Young singles home Mookie Betts, who had doubled, for a 2-0 lead.

The Lemonheads record their first hit off Archer, a 1-out Walker double, in the 5th inning. He remains stranded at 2nd base.

In the top of the 8th, Charlie Blackmon pops a fly toward the Speakers dugout. Rizzo makes the grab and scares his teammates when he falls awkwardly, yet he is able to continue.

In the bottom half, Rajai Davis lifts a sac fly to center to score Manny Machado after his leadoff walk to expand the lead to 3-0. With 2-outs in the 9th, Cole Calhoun destroys the shutout with a solo home run. Archer then strikes out Matt Duffy for a 3-1 final.

The Lemonheads now total 3 runs and 7 hits through 3 games. The Speakers? 5 ER on 12 hits.

W – Archer (1-1, 3.62); L – Liriano

Game 4 – The Lemonhead bats provide exactly 1 hit in each of the first 3 innings, but do not score. Machado squares up a Clay Buchholz fastball in the 3rd for a 2-out 2-run homer (3). Betts connects on a solo in the 4th for another 3-0 Speakers advantage.

This time, the Lemonheads battle back. After 4 singles and a walk to lead off the 5th, Carlos Martinez gets the hook in favor of Cecil. When the inning ends, the ‘Heads bring 10 to the plate and score 5 times, including 1 on a Cecil error.

In the bottom of the 6th, Betts digs in with 1 away and runners on 1st & 2nd. After a passed ball on Yan Gomes moves the runners, Betts hits a long drive for 3 big runs, his second HR of the game and 4th this season.

Cecil, Tony Sipp and Jeurys Familia do not allow a baserunner after the breakout 5th as the Speakers hold on, 6-5. Out of 36 tries, the Lemonheads score in just 4 innings this series, although they out-hit the Speakers this game, 8-6.

W – Cecil (1-1, 4.05); L – Buchholz; S – Familia (3)

Speakers win 4 while dropping their team average from .236 to .220. Starters’ ERA also dropped from 3.60 to 3.30; overall ERA from 3.19 to 2.91.

2016 First Period

The Plague vs. Shartlesville Browns

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The Plague descended upon Shartlesville for a series on Sunday afternoon. Here’s how that went:
Game 1 featured production out of the new Browns as Marte went 3 for 6 with 2 runs scored and 2 doubles. Lucas Duda reached base 4 times going 2-3 with a walk & HBP to go along with his 2-run homer in his first AB as Brown. Hairpin also homered in the 2nd to put the Sharts up 3-0. The Browns lead was 6-4 going into the 8th before Kiermaier tripled to lead off and was plated by an Escobar single. Escobar then stole second and came around to tie it on a 2 out Brantley single. The Sharts got 2 in the top of the 11th as Marte leadoff with a double and was knocked in by a Seager two-bagger. Seager scored on an E6 and Hunter Strickland worked around two hits and a walk in the bottom half to secure the game for the Browns 8-6.
Game 2 was a much different affair as Fernandez and Strasburg both went the distance. Fernandez totally silenced the Brown’s bats allowing just a Duda 2B and a solo shot to Herrera while striking out 8 and walking none. The Plague got their runs thanks to RBI singles from Goldschmidt in the first and Pierzynski in the 4th as the Plague won 2-1. Strasburg was the tough luck loser as he walked none and struck out 10.
Game 3 saw the see-saw tilt back to runs and extra innings. The Plague jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as Goldschmidt homered in the 1st and 3rd. Hairpin made it 4-1 with a homer in the bottom of the 4th and the Browns nearly batted around to tie it in the 5th. Marte leadoff by reaching on an E6 before Kazmir hit Caleb Joseph. An Espinosa 2B made it 4-2 then a Burns sac fly made it 4-3. Momentum seemed to tip the Browns way as Iglesias singled to tie it with only 1 out and the middle of the Browns order coming up. Kazmir hit Seager but Hairpin and Morales choked and left it tied at 4. It stayed that way till the 11th when the Brown’s gambled and lost but leaving Strickland in for a 3rd inning. Kiermaier leadoff with a homer and Lindor added emphasis with a 2 run job to put the Plague up 7-4 to stay. Strickland blames the manager for sending him back out there.
Game 4 was played at a classic get-away day pace. Jamie Garcia baffled the Browns for a 2 Hit shutout, walking none and striking out 11. The Plague got sac fly RBI’s from Brantley in the 1st & 3rd and a Kiermaier solo homer in the 4th off Wacha who at least saved the pen by going 9. The Plague won 3-0.
The Browns fall to 11-17 and next travel to Lewisberry to take on the Lemonheads on Cinco De Mayo. After that an as yet to be scheduled tilt with the Speakers will wrap up the 1st for the boys from Shartlesville.