2016 First Period

Shartlesville Browns vs. Unhinged Wahoos

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Saturday the Wahoos made their way to S’ville for a series between the league’s newest teams.

Game 1 pitted Gallardo against Bauer. The Wahoos jumped Gallardo early with a 2-run job in the first from Arenado. The Browns got one back with a solo shot leading off the 2nd by Kyle Seager. It stayed 2-1 Wahoos until the Browns batted around in the 5th plating 3 runs, but leaving the bases loaded when Dyson grounded out to end the inning. Abreu homered in the bottom of the 5th off Gallardo to make it 4-3 before the bull pens took over in the 7th, 8th and 9th for both clubs. The Browns improved to 6-11 while the Wahoos fell to 1-4.

Game 2 featured Kershaw and Cole but the expected pitchers’ duel didn’t really eventuate. Arenado tagged Kershaw for another 1st inning 2-run homer followed by doubles from Dozier and Martin in the 2nd and the Wahoos staked Cole to an early 3-0 lead. The Browns took the lead in the 4th by loading the bases for Salvy Perez who smacked a 2-out grand slam to go ahead 4-3. From that point on both pitchers settled in and only allowed 3 hits each on the way to complete games. The Sharts 4-3 victory was their 3rd in a row marking their first winning streak.

Game 3 was the Corey Kluber show. The Browns wasted back-to-back-to-back singles in the 3rd and never bothered Kluber again en route to a 4-0 loss. Kluber posted a complete game, 8-hit shutout and struck out 14 Browns along the way. The Tribe got all the scoring they needed in the 4th, kicked off once again by an Arenado dinger. The inning continued with a Will Myers walk and Blanco getting on by a Hairpin error before being plated on a sac fly by Crawford to push the lead to 2-0. Dozier got the Wahoos to the magic number of 4 runs with a 2-run HR to wrap up the 4th, and the game.

Game 4 saw the Wahoos momentum continue right out of the gate as the first 3 batters walked to load the bases for that man again. Once again Arenado was responsible for the first run of the game, but this time it was via a 4-6-3 double play vs. Strasburg. That would prove to be the only run the Tribe needed as A.J. Burnett took control. Yeah, you read that right. A.J. Burnett. The crafty vet went the distance allowing only 3 hits and managing to pitch around 5 walks to take the win. The Wahoos smacked the ball around using two doubles and two triples to pad their lead and end up winning 4-0 to go to 3-5. The Browns dropped to 7-13.

Bryce Harper sat out game 4 after taking the golden sombrero in game 3 and will reportedly be suspended by the club for the series against the Tsunamis next Saturday. Manager Anthony Champa took this drastic measure after Harper behaved like a little bitch in the locker room upon finding out he was getting the day off vs. Burnett.  Following the suspension he will be eligible to play all the Browns remaining games, however.

2016 First Period

Arrogant Bastards vs. The Plague

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Game 1
Gibson v. Hamels.  The Plague would kick on the minimal series scoring in the top of 2nd with a Santana BB, a Lawrie double, an Escobar RBI ground out (1B 5 rolls F2 or it’s a DP) and a 2-run SECOND COLUMN HR by Billy Hamilton.  The AB’s would get one back in the 3rd on a solo HR by Addison Russell.  Scoring for the game would be completed in the bottom of the 4th when the AB’s got a double by Papi, single by Piscotty, and a 3-run HR by Russell Martin to take the lead.  Then Panik, who singled, was tripled home by Mike Trout as the AB’s bat for the cycle in the inning.  Hamels, Dyson, Melancon and Davis secure the win for Hamels and a save to Davis as Gibson takes the loss. 5-3 AB’s.
Game 2
Matz v. Scherzer.  Both pitchers would go the distance in this game.  The AB’s open the scoring in the first on a 2-run HR by Trout.  In the top of the 4th Brantley would counter for the Plague with a 2-run HR of his own.  In the 6th Kipnis would score the game’s deciding run on an RBI double by Brantley.  The AB’s manage a Piscotty double in the 6th as their only hit after the 1st.   Both teams only manage 4 hits the entire game. 3-2 Plague.
Game 3
Ramirez v. Miller.  Trout leads off the game with a HR to give the AB’s an early 1-0 lead.  It would be all Miller would need in this one.  Agone made it 2-0 in the 3rd by singling home Russell.  Panik hit a 2-run HR in the 4th to push the lead to 4-0.  And in the 6th Piscotty would single home Papi to end the scoring as the AB’s cruise to a 5-0 win.  The Plague again manage only 4 hits as Miller gets a CG ShO as Ramirez takes the loss. 5-0 AB’s.
Game 4
Sanchez v. Salazar.  Game 4 would prove to be yet another shutout and yet another 4-hit performance by The Plague.  However, this time Kiermaier’s single in the 5th plates Brantley for The Plague’s first run; and then in the 6th, Kipnis hits a solo HR (Second column, of course).  The AB’s can’t manage to get a key hit with runners in scoring position as they waste 5 BB’s, but only manage 2 singles as Sanchez, Rivero, Manship and Paps combine for a 2-0 shutout.

Notes
The AB’s go 6 for 28 in the series with RISP while the Plague only manage 3 for 16.
The AB’s are now hitting .196 as a team but somehow have managed a 14-10 record.
The AB’s pen got a much needed 3 game break as they are well rested for the pending tsunami that is coming on Friday.

Tomorrow night the Tsunamis kick off their season v. the Wahoos here at AB’s park.  First pitch is slated for around 5.  AB’s owner will be at his own practice and probably miss the first two games.  Instructions will follow to the two managers with a few rules for them to follow.  I’m hoping to come home to two fully clothed managers…but won’t be surprised if I don’t.  Good seats are still available.  Flyers/Caps at 7pm.

2016 First Period

Speakers vs. Arrogant Bastards

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Clyde welcomed Brian with open paws shortly after 4:30 as the Speakers took the short trip to visit the AB’s last evening.  Ballpark eats for the evening would include pizza from Italian Delight, a craft beer from Pottsville and Hershey and a  couple of Black Buttes from Oregon.

Game 1
Archer v Karns (making his AB’s debut).  The teams remain scoreless until the bottom of the 5th when a 1-out single by Ginger Jesus plates Trout and a 2-out single by Parra plates Agone for a 2-0 AB’s lead.  Kris Bryant would hit a 2nd column solo HR in the top of the 7th and a 2-out single by Betts would chase Karns.  Cedeno would come in to face Kolten as BDUB put his Wong away and sent Chris Young to the dish who greeted Cedeno with a ringing double to score Betts and tie the game at 2-2.  The game would remain that way until the bottom of the 14th (as neither team even cared to get a key hit with a runner in scoring position) when Russell Martin (inserted into the game due to the ‘new ED Rule’ when he was SLATED to START game 2 anyway!!!) rolled a lead off 66-1 that was not pulled back by Mi Familia (+22) for a 3-2 back-to-back games walk-off win for the AB’s.  Brach got the win going one inning, as he was the last man out of the AB’s pen (3rd time this season in 17 games the AB’s used their entire pen….7th extra inning game in 17).

Game 2
Severino v Scherzer.  Both pitchers would go the distance in this game.  Severino would only give up a solo HR to Big Papi in the 2nd (it would be the AB’s LAST HR of the series)…but in the top of the shutdown 3rd, Rizzo would hit a 2-out 2-run HR to put the Speakers up for good 2-1.  Odor hit a 2nd column solo HR in the 5th and Cespedes added an RBI single plating Machado in the 6th.  Mookie Betts lead off the 9th with yet another 2nd column HR to finish the scoring for a 5-1 Speakers victory.  Severino struck out 8 while walking 3.

Italian Delight – Sicilian with half sautéed onions and half pepperoni was served up for both managers to enjoy.  Clyde tried to have some but was unable to break the rules this time…

Game 3
Miller squares off against Harvey.  Both pitchers mow through the first 3 innings, but with 2 outs and Trout on 1st base in the 4th, Ginger Jesus comes through with a 2-out hit-and-run double to plate Trout for a 1-0 AB’s lead.  In the bottom of the 4th Posey leads off the shutdown inning with a single and one out later Cargo jacks a potential HR for a 2-1 Speakers lead….but Miller (+32) turns it back to a double.  Rajai Davis hits a shallow pop to CF and Schwarber K’d to end the Speakers threat.  Melancon would come on in the 7th with runners on 1st and 3rd, but Simmons would ground into a DP.  The Speakers also got a runner to 2nd with no outs in the 8th, but Rizzo didn’t move from 2nd.  Davis came on in the 9th to preserve the 1-0 shutout and win for Miller as Harvey took the tough luck loss going the distance.

Game 4
Salazar faced his former team v Martinez.  Again the game was scoreless until the 3rd when a single by Agone plated Trout for a 1-0 lead.  The game remained 1-0 until the Speakers (I just couldn’t get them out of the house fast enough) opened up in the 5th.  Let’s just say BDUB got his Wong out!!!  Two BB’s started the mess in the 5th and they advanced to 2nd and 3rd on a comebacker to the box.  Salazar then threw the Wong pitch as Wong lined a 2-RBI single to give the Speakers a 2-1 lead scoring Cargo and Moooookie.  After another single by Simmons, Rizzo belted yet another 2nd column 3-run HR for a 5 spot.  The AB’s did show life in the top of the 6th as walks to Longoria and Papi, followed by an RBI double by Swihart, made it 5-2…. Speaking of 5-2, that was score of the next play as Pillar grounded to 3rd, but Machado threw Papi out at home (totally unrealistic on multiple levels)…. But Forsythe followed with a ringing double to score Swihart and Pillar and cut the lead to 5-4.  In the bottom of the 6th with two outs, Betts hit a solo HR (I believe it was yet ANOTHER 2nd column HR – honestly I stopped keeping track…) to make it 6-4.  The AB’s would seal their fate in the game in the 7th and bring in Cody Allen. In hindsight, it was the first Wong managerial move that came back to possibly bite us through the first 20 games.  Allen once again threw the Wong pitch as Wong led off with a double, Simmons singled him to 3rd, and Rizzo singled in Wong.  Allen got the next two Speakers, but then surrendered a 2-out double to Cespedes and then an RBI single to Cargo, which upped the lead to 10-4.  Forsythe did get an RBI single in the top of the 8th after two BB’s by Martinez, but Jeffress came in to get the final out.  Allen then BB’d the bases loaded in the Speakers 8th and with 2 outs, Posey singled in Wong and Rizzo for a 12-5 lead and Speakers win to garner the series split.  Martinez won it and Salazar took the loss.

Notes
I have the Speakers going 7 for 28 w/ RISP (7 for 10 in game 4….head scratcher).
AB’s went 8 for 25 w/ RISP for the series.
Speakers are now 7-5; AB’s are 12-8.
Hitting .198 as team.
I don’t have much more to add…just happy I’m 12-8 in the most bizarre 20 game start I’ve had since I’ve been rolling in this league.

2016 First Period

Speakers vs. Lymebees

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Game 1 – Jake Arrieta meets expectations by hurling a 3-hit shutout. Justin Upton’s 6th-inning 3-run homer is more than enough, yet Eric Hosmer adds an exclamation point solo shot in the 7th. Lymebees win, 5-0.

W – Arrieta; L – Chris Archer (0-1)

Game 2 – Marwin Gonzalez and Christian Yelich doubles give the Lymebees a 1-0 3rd inning lead. Ryan Braun and Maikel Franco go back-to-back in the 4th, so the Bees have all they need to win 3-1.

Fun facts: Yelich leads off the bottom of the 1st with RP Board #24. The Fielding One Speakers roll 1 of the 5 necessary numbers (Fielding 2) to strike out Yelich and get him ejected. (There must have been history between Christian and the home plate ump.) The Speakers finally get their first runner to 3rd base (Woo-hoo!) in inning #15 of the series.

W – Sonny Gray; L – David Price (1-1); S – Carter Capps

Game 3 – The Speakers offense finally wakes up, but the consistent (and then some) Bees never stop hitting. As part of their double-digit hits, the Lymebees crush 3 more homers (Josh Reddick, Hosmer, Robinson Cano) and 3 more doubles. However, the Speakers ride Rajai Davis’ 2 triples and Andrelton Simmons’ 3 RBIs to a 6-5 squeaker. The Speakers require 3 9th-inning relievers, finally stranding the tying and winning runs in scoring position.

W – Matt Harvey (2-0); L – Kyle Hendricks; S – Tony Sipp (1)

Game 4 – The Lymebees crank out another 14 hits, adding safeties in every inning but a very rare 1-2-3 in the 2nd. Meanwhile, the Speakers make the most of their 8 hits, 3 of them leaving the park — all solos by Anthony Rizzo, Buster Posey and rookie Kyle Schwarber.

The big blow comes in the 5th when Schwarber bloops a ball into short right field. Cano, Hosmer and Reddick all collide while 2 runs score. Cano and Reddick leave for precautionary reasons while Hosmer stays to rack up his 9th hit of the series. (You read that correctly: 9-14, 2-D, 2-HR, 3-RBI, 5-R!)

At that point of the game, the Speakers have a 6-0 lead, yet require 5 relievers to get through the final 4 innings, allowing 5 ER on 8 hits. The Speakers barely gain a split with another 6-5 final.

W – Carlos Martinez (1-0); L – Noah Syndergaard; S – Jeurys Familia (2)

Ironically, 1 of the 5 outs that Hosmer makes in the series is the final out of Game 3 with the tying run at 3rd and go-ahead run at 2nd!

2016 First Period

Lymebees vs. Eliminators

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Game 1; Arrieta vs Sale; Eliminators get an unearned run off Arrieta in the 5th with 2 outs as Gonzalez makes a throwing error to score Ethier. Bees tie the game on a solo HR by Pederson in the 7th and get 2 more runs in the same inning. Bees get a 2-run HR by Franco in 8th. McCutchen leads off the 9th with Gonzalez’s 2nd error and Correa follows with a 2-run HR. With 2 outs Jones hits another to Gonzalez at short and he commits his 3rd error of the game. Bees go on to win 5-3.
Game 2; Gray v s Volquez; Bees score 3 runs in the 1st. Eliminators get 2 runs back on doubles by Heyward, Donaldson and Ethier in the 1st. Bees get a 2-run HR by Hosmer in the 2nd. Eliminators score 1 run in the 3rd. Bees come back and get 2 runs in the 4th. Eliminators would get 1 run in the 8th and have two runners on in the 9th, but Bees hold on to win 7-4.
Game 3; Smyly vs Hendricks; Eliminators score 1 run in the 1st and bat 11 batters in the 2nd, scoring 7 runs with Donaldson hitting a 3-run HR. Bees score 1 run in the 4th, 2 runs in the 5th and 6th  innings, but inning-ending double plays in both keep the Bees from coming back as Eliminators win 8-5.
Game 4; Hernandez vs McCullers; Eliminators would score in the 1st on a Donaldson double. Bees tie the game on a Hosmer solo HR in the bottom of the 1st. Eliminators take the lead with 1 run in the 3rd. Bees get 3 runs in the 4th with Reddick hitting a 2-run HR. Bees add one more run in the 5th and shut down the Eliminators to win 5-2.
Bees record at 11-5 and playing Speakers tonight (3/29).
John Ingiosi

Starting Lineup