[pauwoo]

Elsewhere: While we were busy with travel and relaxation on our day off, Angry Eloy, of the Mississippi Hound Dogs, kept himself busy by going 3 for 4 with 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs in his clubs 10-9 win over the Nolanville ‘Nauts. Both clubs are currently in 2nd of their respective divisions (Nolanville in the Independence Division and Tupelo in the Justice Division) and looking to solidify their standing as an eventual playoff club. Eloy is now tied for the Bush League lead in HRs and RBIs with Shreveport’s Thomas Torin. It should be noted here that Torin spent 16 years in the MLB before signing with Shreveport during the offseason – he had a lifetime .232 with 204 HRs and 741 RBIs, was a 1-time all-star in 2074 while in Montreal and won a title in Seattle during the 2073 season.

Miami United (62-63, .496, 4th NL East) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (70-54, .565, 1st NL East)
We’re somewhat fortunate here – while it’s never a great time for our bootleg brand of ragtag baseball to face the Steelers, that we’re are getting them for only two, Franzone-free, games here is something to feel good about. Adding to our good fortune is the fact that we will also miss the return of Big Tom Franzone by about 7 days… which is not to say that his absence makes us the favorite here, it just means that we are, ever so slightly, less likely to get our doors blown off. Pittsburgh has, in my estimation, a very good shot at winning their first title since the 2020 season when they beat the Carolina Panthers in a thrilling 7-game series. That club, like this one, was built on superior pitching… the difference, however, is that this version of Pittsburgh pairs that top-flight staff with a nearly equally great offense that is 1st in HRs and 4th in runs scored. At full strength, had they not lost the Notorious B.I.G.-T. due to a broken collarbone, most baseball insiders would be giving them more of the ink that’s been reserved for the Golden State Warriors so far this season. Pittsburgh isn’t a dark horse in the traditional sense – they are THE horse, pulled from a few races due to fatigue, that’s back in the stables and primed to kick up some dust.

126 of 162: Rad Taylor (4-2, 3.99) @ Steve Allen (3-10, 5.82)
Loss, 4-3. As it turns out, Elvira is a big supporter of our Bubbalicious lids… she’s declared that they are to be, from this moment forward, our away cap. As such, the mood in our clubhouse is mixed… Rad gave a good account of himself today, pink cap included, and gave us a solid 8-inning outing that was undone by a late run from Pittsburgh in the bottom of the 8th inning that put them up for good. He was saddled with the loss here – Donavan did his level best to keep it competitive, his 2-run homer in the top of the 2nd gave us the lead until we squandered it with a series of poor at-bats until Rad’s command gave out during the aforementioned bottom of the 8th. We’re now 2-2 as pink tops and 8-7 head-to-head against Pittsburgh.

Elsewhere: Big loss for the Golden State Warriors… LF Severino Serrano is out for the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle in a tilt against the Seattle Sounders. To add insult to injury, Seattle won the contest by a score of 5-2 and Ethan Mullens went 3 for 4 with a 2-run, two-bagger, and a run. Frodo ventured out of the Shire long enough to hit a solo home run of his own during the game and now has amassed 18 HRs in 2079, his best as a Major Leaguer by 4.

127 of 162: Murray Wagner (5-6, 4.08) @ Gregory Morgan (12-9, 4.19)
Win, 7-0. Murray Wagner had his breakout game as a starter – he went the distance, allowed six hits, handed out 4 free passes, and fanned 7 without a single run finding its way home for Pittsburgh. It’s a tale of two clubs – the one who fizzled out after the 2nd inning last night and this, smashmouth version that takes the mount and pounds you like a savage until the ref steps in to pull them off. Scharmer went 2 for 4 with a 2-run dinger, Magee secured three RBIs on 2 for 5 hitting, Len hit a SAC BUNT, and we pilfered three bags as a unit. This one was a complete and thorough shellacking courtesy of the pink tops.

Elsewhere: 1B Arnold Webster (VAN) went 3 for 3 with 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 3 runs, and 2 walks in the Giants’ 10-8 loss against the Los Angeles Galaxy – his effort was thwarted by CF Julian Wagner’s 3 for 4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, and 4 run effort for the Galaxy. Phoenix destroyed the Houston Dynamo by a score of 12-0 in a game that included no home runs – they made up for it in doubles (6 total with 2x for Norton Manning and some guy called Steve Ericson), SAC FLIES (Declan Liles & Jacob Wells), and swiped bags (CF Jason Bland & SS Ray Gerhold). In International League action, SP Howard Min was at it again for the Columbus Bluejackets in a complete game, 2-hitter where he kept the San Jose Sharks scoreless while fanning 13 hapless batsmen. And, finally, in Bush League action, RF Cannon Leatherman, of the Shreveport Sashimi Samurai went 2 for 4 with 2 jacks (both solo), 3 runs, and a walk during their 6-4 win over the Gainesville Gamecocks. Oh, and, I guess there is just one more thing – the fall of the Golden State Warriors may, finally, be upon us… they’ve lost their last two games, both against Seattle, by a combined score of 12-4 while Phoenix has been on a tear and, after taking their last two off of Houston, find themselves within one game of earning the top record in all of baseball.