Tag Archives: Speakers

Speakers at Arrogant Bastards

Game 1 – The ABs’ David Ortiz cracks a 1st inning 2-run HR. Stephen Vogt answers by crossing the plate following his 2nd inning triple. In the top of the 6th with 2 outs and nobody on, Jason Heyward and Yasiel Puig single and then Anthony Rizzo doubles home both to complete the scoring. The Speakers pen holds on to a 3-2 win although they tying run was in scoring position 3 times in the final 4 innings.

W – Alex Wood (1-0); L – Max Scherzer; S – Jeremy Jeffress (3)

Game 2 – Felix Hernandez holds the ABs to 4 hits, but Ortiz and Mike Trout leave the park as The King falls yet again with no run support, 2-1. The Speakers amass 1 unearned run on only 3 hits, their only baserunner after the 1st inning, a lonesome 2-out double in the 7th.

W – Cole Hamels; L – Hernandez (6-6); S – Wade Davis

Game 3 – The Speakers slash 10 hits, yet Bud Norris and company yield 18, including a pair of runs in the 8th and 9th. The ABs come from behind to win 8-7, thanks in part to Jason Heyward’s defensive roll of 64 in the 9th. That set up Trout’s game-winning RBI double.

W – Dan Otero; L – Jeurys Familia (2-1)

Speakers at Lymebees

Game 1; Hernandez vs Bumgarner; Speakers score 2 runs in the 2nd on an RBI single by Kendrick and sac fly by Wong. Bees get a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 2nd by Adams to tie score. Bees get a run in the 6th on a 2-out Lind RBI singles. Lymebees bring in Kimbrel for the save in the 9th, but gives up 2 walks and a game-tying single to Wong. Speakers get a single and a run-scoring double by Simmons off of Giles in the 11th. Bees would get 2 two-out singles in the bottom of the 11th, but Valbuena would strike out as the Speakers win 4-3.

Game 2; Acher  vs Arrieta; Both pitchers pitch shutout ball thru 9. In the 10th, the Speakers get a 2-out single by Heyward and run-scoring double by Davis to take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 10th. Bees would get lead off single by Adams, who would get to second on a Cespedes error. Upton would follow with a single. With runners on first and third, the Bees would hit-and-run as Valbuena would crank out a game-ending double to score both runners. Bees win 2-1.

Game 3; Zimmermann vs Wheeler; Speakers would get 3 runs in the 1st on doubles by Rizzo and Rendon. Cespedes would add a 2-run HR in the 7th as the Speakers take the game and series. Speakers win 5-0.

Lymebees at 27-19.

Arrogant Bastards vs. Speakers

Game 1 – Scott Van Slyke’s 2nd inning double moves Buster Posey to 3rd with no outs. After Howie Kendrick taps out to the mound, Kolten Wong lifts a fly to right that’s deep enough to move both runners. Anthony Rendon follows with a 2-out RBI double for a 2-0 Speakers lead. Van Slyke (3) takes Cole Hamels deep to lead off the 4th for a 3-0 lead.

Evan Longoria gets that one back with his own solo shot to lead off the bottom of the 5th. A rattled Chris Archer then walks Chase Utley and surrenders a hit-and-run single to Elvis Andrus.

Top of the order, Mike Trout hits a sharp grounder to Kendrick, who turns two scoring Utley for a 3-2 game. Russell Martin follows with a single and Archer walks Adrian Gonzalez, but gets Giancarlo Stanton on a pop to short to end the inning.

Anthony Rizzo doubles with 1 out in the Speakers 8th. Pinch runner Jason Heyward scores on Posey’s RBI single for a 2-run margin, 4-2.

Although Marcell Ozuna singles (5 against a 17) to start the bottom of the 9th, Jeremy Jeffress takes over to retire the next 3 ABs.

W – Archer (2-4); L – Hamels; S – Jeffress (2)

Game 2 – By the time the Speakers get to Jason Hammel for 3 runs in the 7th, his mates build an 8-0 advantage over Felix Hernandez. A 5-run bat-around 5th features 6 hits, including Martin’s 2-run HR and Ozuna’s bases loaded triple.

Both Ozuna and Utley finish with a double and triple, yet both were out at the plate following their triples or it could have been worse than 8-3, ABs.

W – Hammel; L – Hernandez (5-4)

Game 3 – The scene shifts to Riegle Park for the remainder of the series and the ABs waste no time getting on the board. Stephen Vogt muffs Trout’s chopper in the 1st. With 1 away, Anthony Rizzo commits 2 errors with Gonzalez batting to easily score Trout.

The Speakers package 3 singles in the 2nd as Albert Pujols’ RBI ties the score at 1-1. Trout and Gonzalez combine again in the 3rd for an earned run: Trout’s single plates a run on Gonzalez’s RBI double.

Rizzo homers (7) to lead off the bottom half to re-tie at 2-2. The ABs get 2 more in the 4th to take a 4-2 lead. Singles by Longoria and Martin set up Utley’s 2-run triple, his second triple of the series. Trout can’t score Utley, however, as he lines a shot into Jordan Zimmerman’s glove for the 2nd out. Andrus fouls out down the line in right to finish the inning.

Longoria boots a Heyward grounder to start the bottom of the 4th. Pujols makes him pay with a 2-run HR, his 3rd of the season. Again, we’re knotted at 4-4.

Across the next several innings, the ABs enjoy 6 hits, never more than 1 per inning, and strand 2 runners in scoring position. Vogt’s 5th inning single is the last Speaker to reach until the 11th when Kendrick singles, but is caught attempting to steal.

Fast-forward to the 13th inning. The ABs go 1-2-3 in the top. Yasiel Puig coaxes a walk by Wade Davis to lead off the bottom. Rizzo’s grounder one-hops Gonzalez at 1st for an error, scoring Puig for a 5-4 final.

Each team commits 3 errors accounting for 3 unearned runs. The ABs go 0-10 with RISP; the Speakers, 1-5. Speakers pitching steal a pair of homers (Gonzalez, Stanton) that do not score.

W – Yoervis Medina (1-1); L – Davis

Game 4 – With depleted pens, both teams hope that Tanner Roark and Bud Norris (and his magical 7.53 ERA) can log many innings today. Each pitches into the 8th, yet the pens become taxed for the second consecutive game anyway.

Puig triples home Danny Santana, who had singled, in the 3rd. Trout guns Puig at the plate on Rendon’s potential sac fly for a double play and a 1-0 Speaker lead.

David Ortiz, who had a quiet series, finally squares up a Norris fastball to lead off the 7th. Once again, we’re tied at 1-1.

The ABs fail with 2-on in both the 8th and 10th. The Speakers follow suit with 1 out in the 8th and 12th.

Once again, we reach the 13th inning. Justin Turner leads off the top half with a single, his 4th hit of the day. With Turner breaking for 2nd, Utley lines a ball to Manny Machado, who easily completes the double play. Brett Gardner whiffs to close the inning for Jeurys Familia.

Santana records his 3rd hit to lead off the bottom half. Manager Gaiski signals for Dan Otero to relieve the fatiguing Mark Melancon.

Otero hits Puig in the leg to put the winning run at 2nd. Rizzo screams a line drive at John McDonald, the 2ndbaseman. With 1 out, Rendon connects (22-0) for a walk-off double. The Speakers squeak by the ABs, 2-1, and win the series, 3-1.

W – Familia (2-0); L – Melancon

Manager Steve notes that the ABs’ pen tossed 18 innings, surrendering just 8 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), no HRs, 3 walks, 1 HBP and 17 Ks, yet comes away 0-2.

Speakers vs. Devil Dogs

Game 1 – James Paxton gets a surprise start when Stephen Strasburg requires a bit more rest from his first outing. Paxton twirls a 4-hit shutout against the Speakers, who have now been shut out five times in 29 games.

Chris Archer matches Paxton until the bottom of the 7th. With two outs and no base runners, Jacoby Ellsbury legs out an infield single and steals second. Former Speaker David Wright bounces a single through the infield for the game-winner. Brandon Phillips adds the exclamation point with an RBI double for a 2-0 final and the Dogs’ first win of the season!

W – Paxton (1-0), L – Archer (1-3)

Game 2 – Ellsbury’s 1st inning sac fly puts the Dogs ahead again. However, Strasburg’s additional rest doesn’t help. The Speakers put together a trio of doubles in the 2nd for a 2-1 lead.

In the 3rd, Strasburg faces a dozen Speakers yet still can’t finish the inning. After 6 hits, 3 walks and an Anthony Rizzo HBP, Strasburg departs with this tragic line: 2.2 IP, 10 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 2 K.

Against the Dog pen, Rizzo later homers (4) as does Yoenis Cespedes (4) and Yasiel Puig (2). Felix Hernandez finally enjoys some offensive support in the 14-4 win.

W – Felix (5-3), L – Strasburg (0-2)

Game 3 – The Devil Dogs strike for 3 in the 2nd on Sal Perez’s gift 3-run HR off Bud Norris (8.10 ERA coming in to this start). Albert Pujols’ RBI single in the bottom half makes it 3-1 after 2.

Even though the Dogs collect 9 hits over the next 5 innings, they fail to score, thanks in part to a Cespedes 7-2 double play with the bases juiced in the top of the 7th.

After the stretch, the Speakers use that momentum at the plate. Manny Machado singles to start the inning against James Shields. Pujols (3-4, HR-2, 3-RBI, R) homers to tie at 3-3, but the Speakers aren’t finished. After Cespedes whiffs, Andrelton Simmons and Jason Heyward club back-to-back doubles. With 2-outs, Buster Posey singles home Heyward, and then Rizzo hits a 2-run HR, his 5th, to complete a 6-run inning.

The Speakers bat around for the second time in two days resulting in a 7-3 win. This despite Norris scattering a dozen hits and a gift HR through 6.1 shaky innings of work. The Dogs strand 11, but it seems like even more, on 13 hits.

W – Jeremy Jeffress (1-2), L – Shields (0-2)

Game 4 – Yovani Gallardo and Alex Wood begin with each turning in a quality start. Simmons’ RBI single follows Carlos Gonzalez’s 2-out double in the 2nd.

Wood coughs up that early lead as Hanley Ramirez homers to start the Dogs’ 3rd. Josh Hamilton solos in the 6th for a 2-1 Devil Dogs’ lead.

Howie Kendrick coaxes a walk to begin the bottom half. Stephen Vogt (2-4, T, RBI) triples him home for a 2-2 tie.

The Speakers feel as though they should be leading due to Vogt getting caught in a rundown at 3rd in the 4th, a bases loaded Pujols GIDP to end the 5th, and Sal Perez picking Vogt off 3rd after the no-out triple in the 6th.

The Dogs get only a Chris Carter (2-4, K) 2-out single in the 9th after Hamilton’s HR. The Speakers don’t fare much better against the Dog pen through regulation. However, Anthony Rendon doubles to start the bottom of the 10th. Rizzo’s 6th HR, his 3rd of the series, walks off with a 4-2 win, the Speakers’ first extra-innings victory of the season (1-5).

W – Jeurys Familia (1-0), L – Al Alburquerque

Speakers vs. Lemonheads

The Speakers hobble to Eliott Drive to continue the day’s torture. Fortunately, the GM is greeted by friends, a seat on the sunshine-filled deck and a much-needed brown, frothy beverage. After some soothing high-ABV suds, we’re in the perfect mindset for another disappointing series.

Game 1 – Buster Posey (3) solos in the bottom of the 1st, but Chris Archer says, “We can fix that.” He immediately walks Cole Calhoun to start the 2nd and surrenders an RBI double to Brayan Pena to relinquish the lead before recording an out.

For good measure, Archer gives away three singles and a walk in the 3rd (a 2-run single by Pena) for a 3-1 Heads’ lead. The Speakers continue their MO by recording two meaningless singles over the next three innings.

With 2-outs and no baserunners in the 8th, Erick Aybar triples for the Lemonheads. Naturally, James Loney comes through with a 2-out RBI single for a 4-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the 9th, Loney’s miscue at 1st leads to a pair of runs, but the Speakers strand the tying run at 3rd for a (yawn) 4-3 final. The Speakers are now 3-12 in 1- or 2-run games.

W – Zack Greinke, L – Archer (1-3), S – Fernando Abad

Game 2 – Felix Hernandez serves up a 2nd-inning HR to Calhoun. Ian Desmond’s error in the bottom half leads to Howie Kendrick’s RBI single for a 1-1 tie.

Loney doubles with 2-away in the Lemonheads’ 3rd. JD “Little Edgar” Martinez strokes a 2-run HR for a quick 3-1 lead.

The Speakers record one single over the next ten batters, but then the GM sips another frothy beverage. Anthony Rendon doubles to lead off the bottom of the 6th. Posey homers for the second time in the series to re-tie the score at 3-3.

Kendrick singles to lead off the Speakers’ half of the 7th to end Francisco Liriano’s day. Jordan Waldon walks two of the next three hitters. Rendon skies one to right to score Kendrick, giving the Speakers their first lead in 26 innings.

Felix inexplicably holds the one-run advantage through the next two innings for a 4-3 win, breaking a dismal 1-6 record over the last seven games.

W – Hernandez (4-3), L – Liriano

Game 3 – The Lemonheads haven’t had much to cheer about in 2015 either, and that trend continues in this contest. Wei-Yin takes one on the “Chen” in a lopsided 11-3 loss.

The Speakers pound 17 hits, but still manage a pair of 2nd-column singles, our specialty. Scott Van Slyke (2) and Yasiel Puig (1) each homer. Rendon (3-5, R), Anthony Rizzo (3-4, D, RBI, R, BB) and Posey (3-5, D, RBI, R) break out in a big way.

W – Jordan Zimmermann (4-2), L – Chen

Game 4 – Yan Gomes’ double and Loney’s sac fly get the Lemonheads started in the 2nd. In the 3rd, a leadoff walk to Neil Walker and Rajai Davis’ single start a threat. With 2-outs, those runners remain at 1st and 2nd, but Martinez comes through with a clutch 2-run triple. Gomes celebrates by cranking a 2-run HR for a 4-run inning, reducing Alex Wood.

Meanwhile, the Speakers produce a pair of weak singles through the first four innings. Yoenis Cespedes, who’s hitting a paltry .163, homers (2) to start the 5th. Puig and Rizzo drive back-to-back doubles to close the gap to 5-2.

Kendrick walks to start the Speakers’ 6th. With 2-outs, Cespedes takes Chris Young for another ride (3), resulting in a 5-4 score.

Puig’s leadoff walk in the 7th chases Young in favor of Darren O’Day. With one out, Rendon connects for his 3rd HR of the season, putting the Speakers up 6-5.

This time, the Lemonheads’ offense sputters. After their 4-run 3rd, Heads’ bats tally three singles and never get a runner past 1st base.

W – Wood (1-0), L – Young, S – Jeurys Familia (3)

Coming in to this series, the Speakers lost every series except a split with the Tsunamis. We obviously need to drink more beer.