OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Westheim · 04-15-2018, 06:17 PM

DOUBLE WHAMMY!!

Please note that I have resolved the quirk of two starting pitchers both named Jose Menendez in the CL South by renaming the Thunder’s specimen to J.J. Menendez.

+++

Raccoons (3-3) vs. Thunder (4-2) – April 8-10, 2024

The Thunder had started 0-2 and had since won four straight, which sounded quite a bit like what the Raccoons had done, only from 0-3. Oklahoma had the highest batting average in the CL after one week of play. They also had allowed the fewest runs. This sounded a bit like a challenge for a team that was already in the groove to score around 3.5 runs per game again.

Projected matchups:
Jesus Chavez (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. Chris Munroe (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
Rico Gutierrez (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. J.J. Menendez (0-0, 1.29 ERA)
Travis Garrett (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Zach Weaver (0-0, 1.59 ERA)

No left-handed pitchers in this series, at least not as far as the opposition is concerned.

Game 1
OCT: SS L. Rivera – RF Branch – 3B B. Marshall – C Pizzo – 1B J. Elliott – CF Millan – LF Cesta – 2B Ts’ai – P Munroe
POR: LF Carmona – CF Mora – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – C Tovias – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – SS Stalker – P Chavez

There was not a whole lot of offense early on, with teams totaling only three base hits in the first three innings, and none of them major. The Thunder would be the first to encroach on the opposing pitcher, putting Ezra Branch and Mike Pizzo on with singles in the fourth inning, but John Elliott smacked a ball at Tim Stalker who started an inning-ending double play. The Coons also placed a pair on base in their half of the fourth, and even did so with nobody out, with Elias Tovias singling up the middle and Matt Nunley drawing a walk. Alfaro grounded out to continue his early ruckus, but at least advanced the runners, which allowed Tim Stalker to drive in the first run of the game with a clean single to center. Nunley turned third and made for home, but was thrown out by Omar Millan. Stalker advanced to second, and scored from there when Jesus Chavez whacked a single to left with two down. Cookie grounded out, and the two runs on the board were for nought again, with Chavez blowing the lead immediately in the fifth. Lorenzo Rivera’s 2-run single to left tied the score, collecting Millan and Zhang-ze Ts’ai. The bottom 6th saw a leadoff double off the fence in right as an encouraging sign of life from Omar Alfaro, but there was nobody behind him with a good stick to drive him in. Chavez meanwhile recollected himself after finishing his day job of blowing the lead, and went through eight innings on 97 pitches without getting hung onto a sharp metal spike. Unfortunately, the Coons had no weapon against Munroe, a former Raccoon, either, and he went through eight, too. David Kipple was in for the ninth, but allowed singles to PH Andy Bareford and then right-hander John Elliott. Millan grounded out, after which righty Adam Baker batted for Mike Cesta. Vince D came on and got the Thunder to retreat to the dugout with a grounder back to his glove and then a pop in shallow right. There were only three more pitches in the game before Tim Stalker procured the first walkoff of the season in the team's home opener, homering off right-hander Manny Gomez leading off the bottom of the ninth. 3-2 Coons. Stalker 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; Chavez 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K;

Tim Stalker is more or less ALL our offense right now…

Game 2
OCT: SS L. Rivera – CF Bareford – 1B J. Elliott – RF Dobbs – 2B Ts'ai – C A. Baker – LF Millan – 3B B. Marshall – P J.J. Menendez
POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – CF Mora – RF Alfaro – C Tovias – P Gutierrez

Again there was next to no offense in the early innings. The Coons had a pair on base in the second inning, but that was already partly due to an Elliott error that got Alfaro on with two outs. Tovias sent a drive to right, but that ended up with Brett Dobbs. Gutierrez allowed only one base hit in the first three innings, but he drew a walk himself in the bottom 3rd, then stood on first base uselessly while the top of the order didn't do much in particular. Going back out to pitch the fourth, Gutierrez was suddenly trashed. He allowed a walk to Elliott, and then was taken apart with four singles, all more or less hard, as the Thunder piled three runs on him in quick procession. This time, the Coons made a swift comeback; Jon Gonzalez was drilled to begin the bottom 4th, and after Nunley lined out to short, Abel Mora's drive to center eluded Andy Bareford for an RBI triple. Alfaro dropped a single to right, plating Mora to get to 3-2, and Tovias drew a walk. Gutierrez forked the inning with a terrible bunt, with Alfaro forced out at third base by Bobby Marshall, and when Cookie singled to right, that put Tovias against Dobbs' arm, which was a no-no even as we were desperate for the tying run. Tovias was held after moving only 90 feet from second base, and the bases were loaded for Stalker, batting .444 in the early action, but flying out to Dobbs on the first pitch…

The point was mostly moot by the fifth inning that saw Gutierrez torn to shreds for good by a Bareford single, with Andy stealing second base, a Dobbs RBI single, Ts'ai RBI triple, and then Adam Baker's homer, but wouldn't you know it, the Coons had another trick up their sleeves. A double switch brought Cory Briscoe into the #9 hole eventually, and he hit a leadoff triple in the bottom 7th. Menendez balked him in, then allowed a single to Cookie, who stole second base, his first bag of the year. Stalker grounded out, Walter made another out, but then Jon Gonzalez singled to center, plating Cookie and running a hitting streak dating back to his San Fran days and 2023 to 12 games. Nunley hit an RBI double, 7-5, then scored when PH Jarod Spencer singled in Adam Cowen's place. Scott McLaughlin replaced the fallen Menendez at that point and got Omar Alfaro to fly out to center, keeping the Thunder afloat by a single run. Unfortunately our pen couldn't keep them there; between Lee and Kipple, the Thunder hit three singles, all more or less soft, in the eighth inning to get an insurance run across, and they added another (unearned) one in the ninth when the Coons were down to using Brett Lillis in a maturing loss. Jon Gonzalez made an error to begin the inning, putting Bareford on base. Despite all the crap going on, the Coons brought up the tying run in the bottom 9th against Manny Gomez. Gonzalez doubled with one out, and while Nunley was denied on a drive to right, Zach Graves' pinch-hit appearance resulted in an RBI double to left, bringing up Alfaro with the team one swing away. Alfaro singled to center, Graves was held as his run didn't matter, and things were left to Tovias, who popped out over the infield. 9-7 Thunder. Carmona 2-5; Gonzalez 2-4, 2B, RBI; Mora 2-3, 3B, RBI; Spencer (PH) 1-1, RBI; Graves (PH) 1-1, 2B, RBI; Alfaro 2-5, RBI; Briscoe 1-1, 3B;

The Indians started 7-0, but lost today, an 8-6 defeat at the beaks of the Baybirds.

Game 3
OCT: SS L. Rivera – RF Branch – 3B B. Marshall – C Pizzo – LF W. Madrid – 1B J. Elliott – CF Millan – 2B Ts'ai – P Weaver
POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Graves – CF Briscoe – C Delgado – P Garrett

The 3-4-5 batters loaded the bases for Portland in the first inning, but Zach Graves grounded out to second to keep them aboard. Something like that happened to the Thunder, too, with Garrett walking two (Willie Madrid and Ts'ai), with a third batter, Millan, popping out foul on a 3-1 pitch that looked seriously low. Also in between, Elliott had singled. Weaver struck out for the second out, and Rivera's fly to center was no challenge for Briscoe. Coons broke through in the bottom 2nd then, with Briscoe singling to left leading off, stealing his first bag as a Critter, and scoring on Delgado's double into the leftfield corner. The bases were soon loaded; Garrett reached on an error by Rivera, and Cookie walked in a full count, no outs. They reaped a meager harvest; Stalker ripped a ball to deep left, but Madrid caught it, holding Stalker to a sac fly, and Walter hit into a double play. Garrett promptly got whacked around some more on two base hits and drilling Marshall in the third inning, allowing a run on Madrid's double. With runners in scoring position in a 2-1 game, Elliott fouled out, and Millan grounded out to keep the Coons ahead.

Gonzalez ripped a blast to lead off the bottom 3rd, restoring a 2-run lead and extending his 2-team hitting streak to 13 games. Garrett responded by walking the bases full in the fourth inning, including two 4-pitch walks, INCLUDING one to lead off the inning to Ts'ai. Mike Pizzo batted with the bags full and two out, that count ran full as well, and somehow Pizzo hacked himself out and Garrett continued to live as I put the blunderbuss away. Garrett was persistent in his attempts to get shot, though, bunting into a force to erase Delgado in the bottom 4th, and allowing base hits to Elliott and Millan in the fifth. His 103rd pitch in the game (including six resulting in hits and five completing walks) was his last, as Ts'ai hit to Nunley for an inning-ending double play.

At least Gonzalez was doing what he was paid for, smashing a line drive homer for a solo shot in the fifth inning, giving him long ones in back-to-back at-bats against Weaver. Nunley and Graves also reached with one out, but Briscoe and Delgado made outs. Top 6th, pitching remained awful. Jimmy Lee faced two batters, allowing a single to Weaver(!) and then walked Rivera. Billy Brotman now had to contend with the tying run at the plate and nobody out in a 4-1 game, and a K to Ezra Branch and Marshall's double play took care of the Thunder. Bottom of the inning, Cookie walked, stole, then scored on Walter's double, 5-1. The pitching nightmare continued anyway. Adam Cowen appeared in the seventh, retired nobody, and surrendered three line drive base hits and a run. Surginer replaced him, walked Millan to load the bases with nobody out, and then surrendered two runs on a Ts'ai sac fly and Rivera's 2-out single to center on which Brett Dobbs was caught in a rundown to end the inning. The Coons lead was now down to 5-4, and they surely didn't look like they would get that one across – and then they did. Surginer retired the side in order in the eighth, and Brett Lillis sat Madrid, Elliott, and Bareford down as well in the ninth to grab the rubber game after all. 5-4 Coons. Walter 2-4, 2 2B, RBI; Gonzalez 2-3, BB, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Nunley 2-3, BB; Delgado 2-4, 2B, RBI;

Raccoons (5-4) vs. Crusaders (6-3) – April 12-14, 2024

Old rivals faced another again in this first weekend home set. The Crusaders were sixth in runs scored early on (Coons: 7th) and fifth in runs allowed (4th), which in the end had them with a zero run differential (-1). Their rotation was fourth in ERA (11th), but their pen had been really creaky (same). The Coons had wound up with back-to-back 6-12 defeats in the season series against New York.

Projected matchups:
Dan Delgadillo (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Ozzie Pereira (0-0, 1.26 ERA)
Mark Roberts (1-0, 0.63 ERA) vs. Mike Rutkowski (1-0, 1.93 ERA)
Jesus Chavez (0-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. Ben Jacobson (2-1, 11.57 ERA)

Jacobson was the only left-hander we expected and also a swingman, with all his decisions and in fact all his four appearances so far this season having come in relief. A spot had opened up for him due to Josh Knupp (0-0, 3.12 ERA) experiencing biceps tendinitis.

Game 1
NYC: 1B X. Garcia – CF Douglas – LF J. Williams – 3B Schmit – 2B S. Valdez – C McPherson – RF Fullerton – SS Doering – P Pereira
POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – CF Mora – C Tovias – P Delgadillo

The Crusaders had the bases loaded in the first; Delgadillo initially got two outs, then allowed a single to Jake Williams and lost both Andy Schmit and Sergio Valdez to walks. Eric McPherson struck out to keep New York honest early on. The Coons scored, with Cookie hitting a leadoff double in the bottom 1st and coming home on Gonzalez' single up the middle. Delgadillo wouldn't hold on to that lead; he generally missed graciously, and lacked stuff to secure strikeouts. When Xavier Garcia reached base leading off the third, he stole a base quickly and came in to score on a groundout. Young(?) Yusneldan's shortcomings became even more apparent when Ozzie Pereira ripped him for a mighty double with two outs in the fourth. Garcia promptly singled to left, teasing the pitcher to race for home, but there he found himself thrown out by Cookie to end the inning.

Cookie drove in a run with a 2-out double in the bottom 4th, but that was after base hits by Alfaro and Tovias, who both reached the vaunted .200 mark with their knocks, and Tovias scored Alfaro before himself coming home on the Carmona double. Stalker grounded out, leaving the Coons up 3-1 with a struggling rookie on the hill. Said rookie drilled Lance Douglas to begin the fifth, then got a mighty catch from Cookie who made a long sliding catch to haul in Jake Williams' blooper. A Schmit double and McPherson RBI single got the Crusaders closer, and D.J. Fullerton tilted the score with a 3-run homer to center, putting New York 5-3 ahead. Delgadillo was removed soon after, with the damage thoroughly done.

The Coons got a good start to the sixth with an Alfaro double, but after Tovias got on, PH Zach Graves hit into a double play. The seventh began with Cookie and Stalker both singling to become the tying runs aboard. Walter flew out to left, but Gonzalez walked, loading the sacks and bringing in Steve Casey, a reliever with elite stuff who had already closed on occasion and this year had already 11 K in 8.2 innings. He faced Nunley with three on and one out, whiffing him, while Alfaro put an 0-2 pitch in play, but flying out to Williams in left. Instead, the Crusaders tacked one on against Kipple in the ninth, but it was his own fault, issuing a walk to Williams and nicking Schmit to start the inning. Bottom 9th, the tying run came up with one out; Travis Giordano yielded a double to Stalker, threw a wild one, then walked Walter to bring up Gonzalez, who struck out. Nunley fought off a few pitches until he knocked a 2-2 to left for an RBI single, which got the park to all its paws with the appearance of Alfaro in the batter's box, alas, Omar grounded out to second to end the game. 6-4 Crusaders. Carmona 3-5, 2 2B, RBI; Stalker 3-5, 2B; Alfaro 3-5, 2 2B; Tovias 2-4, RBI; Cowen 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K;

Game 2
NYC: 1B X. Garcia – CF Shaffer – 3B Schmit – RF Ellis – SS S. Valdez – LF Douglas – 2B Doering – C Rangel – P Rutkowski
POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – CF Mora – C Tovias – P Roberts

Mark Roberts struck out three in the first two innings and drove in Alfaro with the first run of the game, singling to center off Rutkowski with two outs in the bottom 2nd. While the Crusaders didn't get a hit until the fifth inning, the Coons were not exactly lucky either. In the third inning, Gonzalez and Nunley hit consecutive drives to the outfield that sure looked like extra bases, but they were retired on strong plays by Douglas and Nick Shaffer, respectively. In what was still a 1-0 game, Blake Doering got the Crusaders into the H column with one out in the fifth, doubling off the base of the leftfield wall. The game immediately got out of hand with Harvey Rangel's murder blast to center that flipped the score. The Coons managed a vague tail flap in the bottom of the inning, Roberts reaching on an infield single leading off, and Stalker drawing a walk following Cookie whiffing. Walter knocked into a double play to keep them down.

Roberts pitched seven innings of 2-hit ball, those two hits amounting to two instant runs, and whiffed nine, but was still on the hook when he was hit for in the bottom 7th. Briscoe hit into a fielder's choice in his place, and Cookie also grounded out to remain 2-1 behind. Luckily, it was bound to get much worse quickly. The Crusaders loaded the bags in the top 8th against Surginer with nobody out, although things started with a Gonzalez error before Fullerton and Garcia both singled. Kipple replaced Surginer. David struck out three… but not before Williams hit an RBI single and he walked in a run against Piet Oosterom…

Walter singled and Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a double to center in the bottom 8th. The double was already off Casey, who now had Nunley back at the plate as the tying run, and Alfaro (.200…) luring behind. Nunley got a man in with a grounder to second, but that cost a precious out, and Omar struck out glaring to keep Gonzalez on third. Giordano would retire the side in order in the bottom 9th, dropping the Critters back under .500 for the year. 4-2 Crusaders. Roberts 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, L (1-1) and 2-2, RBI;

There was a change for game 3 of the series, as left-hander Tim Dunn (0-1, 5.14 ERA) would make the start for New York. We would take the opportunity to rotate our omnipresent left-handed batters out of the lineup.

Game 3
NYC: 1B X. Garcia – CF Douglas – RF Ellis – LF J. Williams – 3B Schmit – 2B S. Valdez – C McPherson – SS Claros – P Dunn
POR: SS Stalker – CF Mora – 1B Gonzalez – RF Alfaro – 2B Spencer – LF Briscoe – C Tovias – 3B Bullock – P Chavez

The game started with a 4-pitch walk to Xavier Garcia, but Chavez got around that just as well as around 2-out singles by McPherson and ex-Coon Raul Claros in the second inning, when he struck out Dunn to escape. Garcia hit a leadoff single in the third, and like in the first inning stole second base, but was left on base regardless. The Coons had found their way to the ballpark before the game, which was merry, but didn't show up in the box score prior to the fourth inning, in which Abel Mora landed their first base hit – a homer to right center for the first run of the game. The Critters continued to scramble when Spencer got hit with two outs by pig-snouted Tim Dunn, and then Briscoe and Tovias chained together singles to drive him in. Bullock struck out, leaving the score at 2-0 and runners on the corners.

So what would Chavez do with a lead? Early precedence hinted at a big inning for New York, but he struck out Dunn to begin the fifth, but then Garcia singled. Lance Douglas struck out as well, and when Garcia tried to scoop his third base of the game and the seventh of the season, he got a clear "no-no, senor" from Tovias, who threw him out for once. The Coons were back asnooze for the fifth and sixth, but the Crusaders lowered the visor and charged in the seventh. Sergio Valdez rammed a leadoff triple to center, and Chavez lost McPherson on balls to create a mess. D.J. Fullerton came out to pinch-hit for Claros and hit a ball to right, but Alfaro was on top of that. Valdez still scored on the sac fly, cutting the gap to 2-1. Dunn bunted, and Briscoe made a good run and catch on Garcia's fly to left, exiting the inning. The 2-run gap was restored however in the bottom 7th with Tovias' first mash of the season, a leadoff jack to left center. Bullock walked after that, with Nunley batting for Chavez, but flying out. Stalker also made an out, bringing up Abel Mora, who stunned the Crusaders by cracking his second shot of the game, a 2-piece to right center that moved the Coons out to slam range, 5-1. Portland turned the ball over to Brotman after Gonzalez flew out to center, probably killing his hitting streak. Briscoe would blatantly rob Douglas of extra bases in deep left to begin the eighth, and this was probably a ball a 32-year-old Cookie wouldn't make. Brotman would put the next two on base after all, with Schmit grounding out after that, moving the runners to scoring position. Valdez then drove a ball to right, but Alfaro recovered after initially appearing to lose it in the sun (sun in Oregon in April! Witchcraft!) and caught the ball to end the frame. Vince D had the same struggles in the ninth; despite striking out McPherson and Doering to begin the inning, he created a save opportunity by allowing a single to Piet Oosterom and walking Garcia. With nothing but left-handers coming up for miles and miles, Brett Lillis was sent into the fray. He K'ed Douglas to end the game and salvage at least one from the Crusaders. 5-1 Critters. Mora 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI; Tovias 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Chavez 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, W (1-1);

In other news

April 8 – The Crusaders walk off on the Falcons, 1-0 in 12 innings. Their catcher Eric McPherson (.444, 0 HR, 2 RBI) hits a walkoff double to score Jake Williams.
April 8 – The Titans will be without OF Adam Braun (.231, 1 HR, 5 RBI) for at least six weeks. The 25-year-old right-hander has suffered a triceps strain.
April 9 – WAS LF/RF/1B Matt Hamilton (.538, 2 HR, 15 RBI), who was the FL's Player of the Week during the first week of the season, will miss three weeks with a bruised wrist.
April 10 – The Aces scored all their runs in a 13-2 rout of the Loggers in the final three innings, including seven in the eighth. LVA 1B Allen Retzer (.375, 0 HR, 2 RBI) has four base hits, a walk, and 2 RBI in the game.
April 11 – The Canadiens are powered to a 15-2 smashing of the Indians with an 8-run fourth inning. VAN C Ryan Holliman (.265, 2 HR, 9 RBI) drives in six with three hits, including his first two long balls of the season.
April 12 – The Gold Sox expect RF/LF Mike Bednarski (.314, 0 HR, 8 RBI) to miss most of the remaining season with torn ankle ligaments.
April 14 – 22-year-old sophomore 3B/RF/LF Mike Matias (.257, 0 HR, 1 RBI) will miss the rest of the month with a sprained ankle.

Complaints and stuff

Here is not that much to say right now; the offense is not exactly firing on all cylinders with a bunch of players we are counting on hitting around .200 or quite a bit below. We also have the second-worst rotation at this point, although the pen has been unnerving as well.

I think right now 6-6 is generous, and 89-73 is quite a way off.

Fun Fact: Six years ago this Saturday, on April 13, 2018, Michael Foreman of the Loggers no-hit the Crusaders. It was the first of four no-hitters that year, the most ever in an ABL season.

More obscure than this fact is the following one: Foreman is one of only two former or current Raccoons pitchers that spun a no-hitter for a team other than the Raccoons. The other? Angel Romero, who no-hit the Warriors as a Pacific in 1994.

04-15-2018, 06:17 PM	#2510
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 13,899	DOUBLE WHAMMY!! Please note that I have resolved the quirk of two starting pitchers both named Jose Menendez in the CL South by renaming the Thunder’s specimen to J.J. Menendez. +++ Raccoons (3-3) vs. Thunder (4-2) – April 8-10, 2024 The Thunder had started 0-2 and had since won four straight, which sounded quite a bit like what the Raccoons had done, only from 0-3. Oklahoma had the highest batting average in the CL after one week of play. They also had allowed the fewest runs. This sounded a bit like a challenge for a team that was already in the groove to score around 3.5 runs per game again. Projected matchups: Jesus Chavez (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. Chris Munroe (0-1, 4.50 ERA) Rico Gutierrez (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. J.J. Menendez (0-0, 1.29 ERA) Travis Garrett (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Zach Weaver (0-0, 1.59 ERA) No left-handed pitchers in this series, at least not as far as the opposition is concerned. Game 1 OCT: SS L. Rivera – RF Branch – 3B B. Marshall – C Pizzo – 1B J. Elliott – CF Millan – LF Cesta – 2B Ts’ai – P Munroe POR: LF Carmona – CF Mora – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – C Tovias – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – SS Stalker – P Chavez There was not a whole lot of offense early on, with teams totaling only three base hits in the first three innings, and none of them major. The Thunder would be the first to encroach on the opposing pitcher, putting Ezra Branch and Mike Pizzo on with singles in the fourth inning, but John Elliott smacked a ball at Tim Stalker who started an inning-ending double play. The Coons also placed a pair on base in their half of the fourth, and even did so with nobody out, with Elias Tovias singling up the middle and Matt Nunley drawing a walk. Alfaro grounded out to continue his early ruckus, but at least advanced the runners, which allowed Tim Stalker to drive in the first run of the game with a clean single to center. Nunley turned third and made for home, but was thrown out by Omar Millan. Stalker advanced to second, and scored from there when Jesus Chavez whacked a single to left with two down. Cookie grounded out, and the two runs on the board were for nought again, with Chavez blowing the lead immediately in the fifth. Lorenzo Rivera’s 2-run single to left tied the score, collecting Millan and Zhang-ze Ts’ai. The bottom 6th saw a leadoff double off the fence in right as an encouraging sign of life from Omar Alfaro, but there was nobody behind him with a good stick to drive him in. Chavez meanwhile recollected himself after finishing his day job of blowing the lead, and went through eight innings on 97 pitches without getting hung onto a sharp metal spike. Unfortunately, the Coons had no weapon against Munroe, a former Raccoon, either, and he went through eight, too. David Kipple was in for the ninth, but allowed singles to PH Andy Bareford and then right-hander John Elliott. Millan grounded out, after which righty Adam Baker batted for Mike Cesta. Vince D came on and got the Thunder to retreat to the dugout with a grounder back to his glove and then a pop in shallow right. There were only three more pitches in the game before Tim Stalker procured the first walkoff of the season in the team's home opener, homering off right-hander Manny Gomez leading off the bottom of the ninth. 3-2 Coons. Stalker 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; Chavez 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K; Tim Stalker is more or less ALL our offense right now… Game 2 OCT: SS L. Rivera – CF Bareford – 1B J. Elliott – RF Dobbs – 2B Ts'ai – C A. Baker – LF Millan – 3B B. Marshall – P J.J. Menendez POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – CF Mora – RF Alfaro – C Tovias – P Gutierrez Again there was next to no offense in the early innings. The Coons had a pair on base in the second inning, but that was already partly due to an Elliott error that got Alfaro on with two outs. Tovias sent a drive to right, but that ended up with Brett Dobbs. Gutierrez allowed only one base hit in the first three innings, but he drew a walk himself in the bottom 3rd, then stood on first base uselessly while the top of the order didn't do much in particular. Going back out to pitch the fourth, Gutierrez was suddenly trashed. He allowed a walk to Elliott, and then was taken apart with four singles, all more or less hard, as the Thunder piled three runs on him in quick procession. This time, the Coons made a swift comeback; Jon Gonzalez was drilled to begin the bottom 4th, and after Nunley lined out to short, Abel Mora's drive to center eluded Andy Bareford for an RBI triple. Alfaro dropped a single to right, plating Mora to get to 3-2, and Tovias drew a walk. Gutierrez forked the inning with a terrible bunt, with Alfaro forced out at third base by Bobby Marshall, and when Cookie singled to right, that put Tovias against Dobbs' arm, which was a no-no even as we were desperate for the tying run. Tovias was held after moving only 90 feet from second base, and the bases were loaded for Stalker, batting .444 in the early action, but flying out to Dobbs on the first pitch… The point was mostly moot by the fifth inning that saw Gutierrez torn to shreds for good by a Bareford single, with Andy stealing second base, a Dobbs RBI single, Ts'ai RBI triple, and then Adam Baker's homer, but wouldn't you know it, the Coons had another trick up their sleeves. A double switch brought Cory Briscoe into the #9 hole eventually, and he hit a leadoff triple in the bottom 7th. Menendez balked him in, then allowed a single to Cookie, who stole second base, his first bag of the year. Stalker grounded out, Walter made another out, but then Jon Gonzalez singled to center, plating Cookie and running a hitting streak dating back to his San Fran days and 2023 to 12 games. Nunley hit an RBI double, 7-5, then scored when PH Jarod Spencer singled in Adam Cowen's place. Scott McLaughlin replaced the fallen Menendez at that point and got Omar Alfaro to fly out to center, keeping the Thunder afloat by a single run. Unfortunately our pen couldn't keep them there; between Lee and Kipple, the Thunder hit three singles, all more or less soft, in the eighth inning to get an insurance run across, and they added another (unearned) one in the ninth when the Coons were down to using Brett Lillis in a maturing loss. Jon Gonzalez made an error to begin the inning, putting Bareford on base. Despite all the crap going on, the Coons brought up the tying run in the bottom 9th against Manny Gomez. Gonzalez doubled with one out, and while Nunley was denied on a drive to right, Zach Graves' pinch-hit appearance resulted in an RBI double to left, bringing up Alfaro with the team one swing away. Alfaro singled to center, Graves was held as his run didn't matter, and things were left to Tovias, who popped out over the infield. 9-7 Thunder. Carmona 2-5; Gonzalez 2-4, 2B, RBI; Mora 2-3, 3B, RBI; Spencer (PH) 1-1, RBI; Graves (PH) 1-1, 2B, RBI; Alfaro 2-5, RBI; Briscoe 1-1, 3B; The Indians started 7-0, but lost today, an 8-6 defeat at the beaks of the Baybirds. Game 3 OCT: SS L. Rivera – RF Branch – 3B B. Marshall – C Pizzo – LF W. Madrid – 1B J. Elliott – CF Millan – 2B Ts'ai – P Weaver POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Graves – CF Briscoe – C Delgado – P Garrett The 3-4-5 batters loaded the bases for Portland in the first inning, but Zach Graves grounded out to second to keep them aboard. Something like that happened to the Thunder, too, with Garrett walking two (Willie Madrid and Ts'ai), with a third batter, Millan, popping out foul on a 3-1 pitch that looked seriously low. Also in between, Elliott had singled. Weaver struck out for the second out, and Rivera's fly to center was no challenge for Briscoe. Coons broke through in the bottom 2nd then, with Briscoe singling to left leading off, stealing his first bag as a Critter, and scoring on Delgado's double into the leftfield corner. The bases were soon loaded; Garrett reached on an error by Rivera, and Cookie walked in a full count, no outs. They reaped a meager harvest; Stalker ripped a ball to deep left, but Madrid caught it, holding Stalker to a sac fly, and Walter hit into a double play. Garrett promptly got whacked around some more on two base hits and drilling Marshall in the third inning, allowing a run on Madrid's double. With runners in scoring position in a 2-1 game, Elliott fouled out, and Millan grounded out to keep the Coons ahead. Gonzalez ripped a blast to lead off the bottom 3rd, restoring a 2-run lead and extending his 2-team hitting streak to 13 games. Garrett responded by walking the bases full in the fourth inning, including two 4-pitch walks, INCLUDING one to lead off the inning to Ts'ai. Mike Pizzo batted with the bags full and two out, that count ran full as well, and somehow Pizzo hacked himself out and Garrett continued to live as I put the blunderbuss away. Garrett was persistent in his attempts to get shot, though, bunting into a force to erase Delgado in the bottom 4th, and allowing base hits to Elliott and Millan in the fifth. His 103rd pitch in the game (including six resulting in hits and five completing walks) was his last, as Ts'ai hit to Nunley for an inning-ending double play. At least Gonzalez was doing what he was paid for, smashing a line drive homer for a solo shot in the fifth inning, giving him long ones in back-to-back at-bats against Weaver. Nunley and Graves also reached with one out, but Briscoe and Delgado made outs. Top 6th, pitching remained awful. Jimmy Lee faced two batters, allowing a single to Weaver(!) and then walked Rivera. Billy Brotman now had to contend with the tying run at the plate and nobody out in a 4-1 game, and a K to Ezra Branch and Marshall's double play took care of the Thunder. Bottom of the inning, Cookie walked, stole, then scored on Walter's double, 5-1. The pitching nightmare continued anyway. Adam Cowen appeared in the seventh, retired nobody, and surrendered three line drive base hits and a run. Surginer replaced him, walked Millan to load the bases with nobody out, and then surrendered two runs on a Ts'ai sac fly and Rivera's 2-out single to center on which Brett Dobbs was caught in a rundown to end the inning. The Coons lead was now down to 5-4, and they surely didn't look like they would get that one across – and then they did. Surginer retired the side in order in the eighth, and Brett Lillis sat Madrid, Elliott, and Bareford down as well in the ninth to grab the rubber game after all. 5-4 Coons. Walter 2-4, 2 2B, RBI; Gonzalez 2-3, BB, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Nunley 2-3, BB; Delgado 2-4, 2B, RBI; Raccoons (5-4) vs. Crusaders (6-3) – April 12-14, 2024 Old rivals faced another again in this first weekend home set. The Crusaders were sixth in runs scored early on (Coons: 7th) and fifth in runs allowed (4th), which in the end had them with a zero run differential (-1). Their rotation was fourth in ERA (11th), but their pen had been really creaky (same). The Coons had wound up with back-to-back 6-12 defeats in the season series against New York. Projected matchups: Dan Delgadillo (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Ozzie Pereira (0-0, 1.26 ERA) Mark Roberts (1-0, 0.63 ERA) vs. Mike Rutkowski (1-0, 1.93 ERA) Jesus Chavez (0-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. Ben Jacobson (2-1, 11.57 ERA) Jacobson was the only left-hander we expected and also a swingman, with all his decisions and in fact all his four appearances so far this season having come in relief. A spot had opened up for him due to Josh Knupp (0-0, 3.12 ERA) experiencing biceps tendinitis. Game 1 NYC: 1B X. Garcia – CF Douglas – LF J. Williams – 3B Schmit – 2B S. Valdez – C McPherson – RF Fullerton – SS Doering – P Pereira POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – CF Mora – C Tovias – P Delgadillo The Crusaders had the bases loaded in the first; Delgadillo initially got two outs, then allowed a single to Jake Williams and lost both Andy Schmit and Sergio Valdez to walks. Eric McPherson struck out to keep New York honest early on. The Coons scored, with Cookie hitting a leadoff double in the bottom 1st and coming home on Gonzalez' single up the middle. Delgadillo wouldn't hold on to that lead; he generally missed graciously, and lacked stuff to secure strikeouts. When Xavier Garcia reached base leading off the third, he stole a base quickly and came in to score on a groundout. Young(?) Yusneldan's shortcomings became even more apparent when Ozzie Pereira ripped him for a mighty double with two outs in the fourth. Garcia promptly singled to left, teasing the pitcher to race for home, but there he found himself thrown out by Cookie to end the inning. Cookie drove in a run with a 2-out double in the bottom 4th, but that was after base hits by Alfaro and Tovias, who both reached the vaunted .200 mark with their knocks, and Tovias scored Alfaro before himself coming home on the Carmona double. Stalker grounded out, leaving the Coons up 3-1 with a struggling rookie on the hill. Said rookie drilled Lance Douglas to begin the fifth, then got a mighty catch from Cookie who made a long sliding catch to haul in Jake Williams' blooper. A Schmit double and McPherson RBI single got the Crusaders closer, and D.J. Fullerton tilted the score with a 3-run homer to center, putting New York 5-3 ahead. Delgadillo was removed soon after, with the damage thoroughly done. The Coons got a good start to the sixth with an Alfaro double, but after Tovias got on, PH Zach Graves hit into a double play. The seventh began with Cookie and Stalker both singling to become the tying runs aboard. Walter flew out to left, but Gonzalez walked, loading the sacks and bringing in Steve Casey, a reliever with elite stuff who had already closed on occasion and this year had already 11 K in 8.2 innings. He faced Nunley with three on and one out, whiffing him, while Alfaro put an 0-2 pitch in play, but flying out to Williams in left. Instead, the Crusaders tacked one on against Kipple in the ninth, but it was his own fault, issuing a walk to Williams and nicking Schmit to start the inning. Bottom 9th, the tying run came up with one out; Travis Giordano yielded a double to Stalker, threw a wild one, then walked Walter to bring up Gonzalez, who struck out. Nunley fought off a few pitches until he knocked a 2-2 to left for an RBI single, which got the park to all its paws with the appearance of Alfaro in the batter's box, alas, Omar grounded out to second to end the game. 6-4 Crusaders. Carmona 3-5, 2 2B, RBI; Stalker 3-5, 2B; Alfaro 3-5, 2 2B; Tovias 2-4, RBI; Cowen 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K; Game 2 NYC: 1B X. Garcia – CF Shaffer – 3B Schmit – RF Ellis – SS S. Valdez – LF Douglas – 2B Doering – C Rangel – P Rutkowski POR: LF Carmona – SS Stalker – 2B Walter – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – RF Alfaro – CF Mora – C Tovias – P Roberts Mark Roberts struck out three in the first two innings and drove in Alfaro with the first run of the game, singling to center off Rutkowski with two outs in the bottom 2nd. While the Crusaders didn't get a hit until the fifth inning, the Coons were not exactly lucky either. In the third inning, Gonzalez and Nunley hit consecutive drives to the outfield that sure looked like extra bases, but they were retired on strong plays by Douglas and Nick Shaffer, respectively. In what was still a 1-0 game, Blake Doering got the Crusaders into the H column with one out in the fifth, doubling off the base of the leftfield wall. The game immediately got out of hand with Harvey Rangel's murder blast to center that flipped the score. The Coons managed a vague tail flap in the bottom of the inning, Roberts reaching on an infield single leading off, and Stalker drawing a walk following Cookie whiffing. Walter knocked into a double play to keep them down. Roberts pitched seven innings of 2-hit ball, those two hits amounting to two instant runs, and whiffed nine, but was still on the hook when he was hit for in the bottom 7th. Briscoe hit into a fielder's choice in his place, and Cookie also grounded out to remain 2-1 behind. Luckily, it was bound to get much worse quickly. The Crusaders loaded the bags in the top 8th against Surginer with nobody out, although things started with a Gonzalez error before Fullerton and Garcia both singled. Kipple replaced Surginer. David struck out three… but not before Williams hit an RBI single and he walked in a run against Piet Oosterom… Walter singled and Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a double to center in the bottom 8th. The double was already off Casey, who now had Nunley back at the plate as the tying run, and Alfaro (.200…) luring behind. Nunley got a man in with a grounder to second, but that cost a precious out, and Omar struck out glaring to keep Gonzalez on third. Giordano would retire the side in order in the bottom 9th, dropping the Critters back under .500 for the year. 4-2 Crusaders. Roberts 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, L (1-1) and 2-2, RBI; There was a change for game 3 of the series, as left-hander Tim Dunn (0-1, 5.14 ERA) would make the start for New York. We would take the opportunity to rotate our omnipresent left-handed batters out of the lineup. Game 3 NYC: 1B X. Garcia – CF Douglas – RF Ellis – LF J. Williams – 3B Schmit – 2B S. Valdez – C McPherson – SS Claros – P Dunn POR: SS Stalker – CF Mora – 1B Gonzalez – RF Alfaro – 2B Spencer – LF Briscoe – C Tovias – 3B Bullock – P Chavez The game started with a 4-pitch walk to Xavier Garcia, but Chavez got around that just as well as around 2-out singles by McPherson and ex-Coon Raul Claros in the second inning, when he struck out Dunn to escape. Garcia hit a leadoff single in the third, and like in the first inning stole second base, but was left on base regardless. The Coons had found their way to the ballpark before the game, which was merry, but didn't show up in the box score prior to the fourth inning, in which Abel Mora landed their first base hit – a homer to right center for the first run of the game. The Critters continued to scramble when Spencer got hit with two outs by pig-snouted Tim Dunn, and then Briscoe and Tovias chained together singles to drive him in. Bullock struck out, leaving the score at 2-0 and runners on the corners. So what would Chavez do with a lead? Early precedence hinted at a big inning for New York, but he struck out Dunn to begin the fifth, but then Garcia singled. Lance Douglas struck out as well, and when Garcia tried to scoop his third base of the game and the seventh of the season, he got a clear "no-no, senor" from Tovias, who threw him out for once. The Coons were back asnooze for the fifth and sixth, but the Crusaders lowered the visor and charged in the seventh. Sergio Valdez rammed a leadoff triple to center, and Chavez lost McPherson on balls to create a mess. D.J. Fullerton came out to pinch-hit for Claros and hit a ball to right, but Alfaro was on top of that. Valdez still scored on the sac fly, cutting the gap to 2-1. Dunn bunted, and Briscoe made a good run and catch on Garcia's fly to left, exiting the inning. The 2-run gap was restored however in the bottom 7th with Tovias' first mash of the season, a leadoff jack to left center. Bullock walked after that, with Nunley batting for Chavez, but flying out. Stalker also made an out, bringing up Abel Mora, who stunned the Crusaders by cracking his second shot of the game, a 2-piece to right center that moved the Coons out to slam range, 5-1. Portland turned the ball over to Brotman after Gonzalez flew out to center, probably killing his hitting streak. Briscoe would blatantly rob Douglas of extra bases in deep left to begin the eighth, and this was probably a ball a 32-year-old Cookie wouldn't make. Brotman would put the next two on base after all, with Schmit grounding out after that, moving the runners to scoring position. Valdez then drove a ball to right, but Alfaro recovered after initially appearing to lose it in the sun (sun in Oregon in April! Witchcraft!) and caught the ball to end the frame. Vince D had the same struggles in the ninth; despite striking out McPherson and Doering to begin the inning, he created a save opportunity by allowing a single to Piet Oosterom and walking Garcia. With nothing but left-handers coming up for miles and miles, Brett Lillis was sent into the fray. He K'ed Douglas to end the game and salvage at least one from the Crusaders. 5-1 Critters. Mora 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI; Tovias 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Chavez 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, W (1-1); In other news April 8 – The Crusaders walk off on the Falcons, 1-0 in 12 innings. Their catcher Eric McPherson (.444, 0 HR, 2 RBI) hits a walkoff double to score Jake Williams. April 8 – The Titans will be without OF Adam Braun (.231, 1 HR, 5 RBI) for at least six weeks. The 25-year-old right-hander has suffered a triceps strain. April 9 – WAS LF/RF/1B Matt Hamilton (.538, 2 HR, 15 RBI), who was the FL's Player of the Week during the first week of the season, will miss three weeks with a bruised wrist. April 10 – The Aces scored all their runs in a 13-2 rout of the Loggers in the final three innings, including seven in the eighth. LVA 1B Allen Retzer (.375, 0 HR, 2 RBI) has four base hits, a walk, and 2 RBI in the game. April 11 – The Canadiens are powered to a 15-2 smashing of the Indians with an 8-run fourth inning. VAN C Ryan Holliman (.265, 2 HR, 9 RBI) drives in six with three hits, including his first two long balls of the season. April 12 – The Gold Sox expect RF/LF Mike Bednarski (.314, 0 HR, 8 RBI) to miss most of the remaining season with torn ankle ligaments. April 14 – 22-year-old sophomore 3B/RF/LF Mike Matias (.257, 0 HR, 1 RBI) will miss the rest of the month with a sprained ankle. Complaints and stuff Here is not that much to say right now; the offense is not exactly firing on all cylinders with a bunch of players we are counting on hitting around .200 or quite a bit below. We also have the second-worst rotation at this point, although the pen has been unnerving as well. I think right now 6-6 is generous, and 89-73 is quite a way off. *Fun Fact:* Six years ago this Saturday, on April 13, 2018, Michael Foreman of the Loggers no-hit the Crusaders. It was the first of four no-hitters that year, the most ever in an ABL season. More obscure than this fact is the following one: Foreman is one of only two former or current Raccoons pitchers that spun a no-hitter for a team other than the Raccoons. The other? Angel Romero, who no-hit the Warriors as a Pacific in 1994. Attached Images __________________ Portland Raccoons, 94 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 * 2061 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.