[Westheim]

Raccoons (79-62) @ Loggers (71-71) – September 14-17, 2071

On one paw, the Loggers were 8 1/2 games out with just 22 to play, but on the other paw… well, the Raccoons just couldn’t win against them. Milwaukee led the season series, 9-5, and had a prime chance to reduce the gap to 4 1/2 games by Thursday night, and with 18 to play that would still be possible to make up (keeping in mind the Titans in between there). They had a -1 run differential thanks to the league’s best offense and a just as “spectacular” pitching staff.

Projected matchups:
Val Centeno (3-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. Colt Long (14-8, 3.57 ERA)
Vinny Morales (7-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. Ramon Carreno (6-5, 3.78 ERA)
Jimmy Wharton (13-8, 3.38 ERA) vs. Cory Ritter (9-13, 3.97 ERA)
Tony Gaytan (9-10, 3.54 ERA) vs. Matt Crist (10-10, 3.54 ERA)

Long was one of the two southpaws in that rotation, and the only one we’d face.

Always keep in mind that we had a double header on Friday with Nick Walla and the Mystery Man pitching. No, that’s not a nickname. We literally don’t know what’s gonna happen with that start. Bullpen day? (shivers!)

Game 1
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – CF T. Wharton – 1B Olivares – RF Hamel – C Rivas – 3B Hernandez – P Centeno
MIL: SS Van Leeuwen – LF W. Griffith – RF C. Dominguez – C M. Rodriguez – 1B C. Ramirez – 2B F. Carrera – CF Parrish – 3B Sowards – P C. Long

Hits by Humph and Katz and a passed ball gave the Raccoons a first-inning run they wouldn’t have scored on their own, and the Raccoons would only get one base hit from there until the fifth inning, which wasn’t a lot if you wanted to tack on to help out the poor kit on the hill. The poor kit, though, did reasonably well. Jesse Sowards hit the only long fly the first time through the order, and Jack Hamel tracked that down for a running catch, and so ultimately Centeno gave up just three base hits through five innings as well. The third of those was a leadoff triple in the left-center gap by the recovered Fidel Carrera, whom we had missed the last time ‘round against the Loggers (not that it had helped us much), and so the tying run was at third base with nobody out in the bottom 5th. Centeno popped out John Parrish, Sowards grounded out to Jordan Hernandez, and then Long hit another lazy fly, and Carrera headed back to the dugout without touching home plate after all…!

Yocum opened the sixth with a more modest single to right, and Katz flew out to center. Wharton singled to left, though, and then an Olivares double clanked off the leftfield wall just out of Wade Griffith’s reach to get home the game’s second run. Unfortunately, Hamel whiffed and Gabe Rivas flew out to Carlos Dominguez near the line, keeping a pair in scoring position. In response, the always annoying Sean Van Leeuwen shot a double to center, and Griffith and Dominguez made loud outs. Manuel Rodriguez was also loud … hitting a 2-run homer to left, and the game was tied. Jack Hamel then ran into the sidewall to catch a Cesar Ramirez fly, banged up his knee, and ended up being carted off the field and replaced with George van Otterdijk…

Long gave up more runners in the seventh, which began with Hernandez’ leadoff single. Centeno bunted him to second, but the Loggers walked Humph intentionally. It didn’t *really* work, since Yocum hit an RBI single to left and the Coons had the lead back. A Katz walk loaded the bags for Big Bucks Wharton, who mashed a 2-1 pitch into a 4-6-3 double play and killed the inning dead. Centeno pitched another inning against the 6-7-8 batters, then got hit for after the Otter, Rivas, and Hernandez loaded the bags again on a double and two walks in the top 8th. Jamie Colter came out to bat for him against ex-Coon Angel Alba – and cranked a long one! Oh, that one was very long…! And outta here!! GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!!

Todd Sullivan got the ball in the eighth, but allowed a run on a walk to Van Leeuwen and a 2-out triple by Dominguez; however, Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning before it could get really sticky, and the Coons were still up by a slam. The Coons scattered a few more runners in the ninth, but Gabriel Rios then slammed the door shut on the Loggers. 7-3 Raccoons! Yocum 2-5, RBI; T. Wharton 2-5; van Otterdijk 1-1, BB, 2B; Colter (PH) 1-2, HR, 4 RBI; Centeno 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, W (4-1);

Jack Hamel’s season ended with a knee sprain. He was not replaced on the roster at this point (although a later addition was possible once the AAA season ended).

The Titans and Crusaders got rained out on Monday, so the gap was now five games.

Game 2
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – 3B Katzman – CF T. Wharton – RF Colter – 1B Huckaby – SS McFarland – C Rivas – P Vin. Morales
MIL: SS Van Leeuwen – LF W. Griffith – RF C. Dominguez – C M. Rodriguez – 1B C. Ramirez – 2B F. Carrera – CF Parrish – 3B Sowards – P Carreno

After a couple of calm innings to begin the game, the Raccoons loaded the bases with zero outs and zero base hits in the third inning. Rivas walked, Morales’ bunt was thrown away by Sowards, and Humph coaxed another walk out of former Critter Ramon Carreno. No decisive knock was to be had as Yocum hit a sac fly, Katz hit into a fielder’s choice, and Tyler Wharton drew another walk to refill the bases. But Carreno ran a full count on Colter, then lost him, too, forcing in a second run. Danny Huckaby then flew out to John Parrish. Vinny Morales got three groundouts in the bottom 3rd, and Carreno then drilled Brian McFarland on base to start off the fourth. The runner stole second and scored on a Rivas double, 3-0. Morales flew out to Griffith, but Humph doled a double down the leftfield line to extend the lead further, but he ended up being left on base.

Vinny toed his way around a pair of runners in the fourth, but the Raccoons kept on scoring, getting a solo homer, the second of his career, from Danny Chuckaby (still working on that nickname) in the fifth, and that also knocked out Carreno in a 5-0 game. But Morales kept softening on the hill; he brushed Sowards on base in the bottom 5th and then gave up a hit to Van Leeuwen before Griffith hit a mighty long fly to left – but too high and too short, and Humph got leather on it right against the fence to end the inning…!

A Dominguez homer to lead off the bottom 6th and then a full-count walk to Rodriguez signalled that it was time to engage the pen. Dan Graham gave up the inherited runner on Parrish’s 2-out double, 5-2, but got out of the inning. In turn, Katz smacked a leadoff double to left in the seventh. Wharton got walked with intent, Colter hit a long fly out to center, but Julio Robles – not in the rotation anymore – then plated Katz’ run with a wild pitch. *Huckaby* then got an intentional walk extended to him…! The Loggers paid for the audacity with consecutive RBI singles by McFarland and Rivas, but then Olivares pinch-hit and stuck the ball into an inning-ending double play at 8-2.

Bottom 7th, and Rismiller got an out from Jonathan Wright before drilling the 1-2 batters back-to-back. McMahan replaced him, got a K on Dominguez, but then we sent Rodriguez and his 22 homers’ worth of right-handed stick to first and chose to go after Cesar Ramirez instead with the bases loaded and two outs. He flew out to Wharton. The eighth was calm, and the Loggers’ pen loaded the bags with Huckaby, McFarland, and Rivas in the ninth. Woodley, a bit forgotten on that bench, slapped a pinch-hit, 2-out, 2-run single to center. Morentin grounded out in place of Humphries. Katz and Wharton were also removed ahead of the final inning, the ball going to Noah Newhard, who continued to suck and gave up four hits and three runs, although only one was earned since Chuckaby also hucked in an error to give the Loggers some hope. Cam Jackson had to come in and get the final out. 10-5 Raccoons. Humphries 2-4, BB, 2B, RBI; Huckaby 2-4, BB, HR, RBI; McFarland 2-4, RBI; Rivas 3-3, BB, 2B, 2 RBI; Woodley (PH) 1-1, 2 RBI;

The Titans played a double-header against the Crusaders… and got swept! 3-1 and a 5-4 walkoff in ten innings, and the Titans were now buried 6 1/2 games deep against the Coons.

Game 3
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – CF T. Wharton – RF Colter – 1B Olivares – 3B Hernandez – C Brown – P J. Wharton
MIL: SS Van Leeuwen – 2B F. Carrera – RF C. Dominguez – C M. Rodriguez – 1B C. Ramirez – 3B Sowards – LF Alaniz – CF Parrish – P Ritter

Humph stuck a triple in the leftfield corner to begin the third game of the series, then scored on Katz’ sac fly after Yocum popped out. The lead was immediately surrendered by Jimmy Wharton, who nicked Carrera, the runner stole second, gained third on a wild pitch, and then scored on Dominguez’ single to left. Next time around Carrera tripled into the opposite corner, and again scored on Dominguez’ single, taking a 2-1 lead for the Loggers in the third inning. For a left-hander, Jimmyboy always struggled quite a bit against the lefty-leaning Loggers lineups…

Triple Time continued with Triple Paycheck Wharton, who hit a three-bagger behind Dominguez with one out in the fourth inning, then scored on a Colter single, that Dominguez overran for an extra base, tying the game. Olivares grounded out to third, Hernandez hit an infield single to put bodies on the corners, but Sam Brown struck out. That stranded a pair, but the Raccoons soon got their THIRD triple of the game, which Yocum used to drive Humphries home with in the fifth inning. Yocum scored on a wild pitch, 4-2, and Wharton and Colter hit 2-out singles, but Olivares fanned to keep another pair on base.

Top 6th, and the battery went to the corners through a pair of base hits with one out. Humph walked to fill them up against Omar Vences, but Yocum grounded to short – however, Van Leeuwen bobbled the ball and the Coons got a run on the error. Katz fanned, but Wharton singled home a pair before Colter flew out to Dominguez; however, Jimmyboy gave those two runs back in the bottom 6th, conceding leadoff knocks to Dominguez and Rodriguez, one run to score on Cesar Ramirez’ groundout, and another on Mario Alaniz’ RBI single, 7-4. Parrish then flew out to Humph to end the inning.

Top 7th, and Olivares led off with a homer to left, 8-4. Two outs were made before Huckaby batted for Jimmyboy – and got hit in the head by Julio Robles. The whole park gasped, I gasped, and I guess Danny’s mom also gasped. He sat in the batter’s box for a while, talking to Luis Silva, and then eventually picked himself up and walked off the field under his own power to undergo concussion tests. Guerrero ran for him, stole a base, but was ultimately stranded. This was also the last gasp in the game – the Raccoons scattered a few more runners against the Loggers pen, while Rios, Holzmeister, and Valentin (who needed work) each put up a scoreless inning to put the game in the books. 8-4 Raccoons. T. Wharton 4-4, BB, 3B, 2 RBI; Colter 2-5, RBI;

Danny Huckaby was found to have indeed suffered a concussion and went to the DL. He was also not replaced, since we did not suffer a shortage of first basemen. There was a chance for him to come back at the end of the season.

The Titans lost *again*. (big eyes) The Elks also ended up being eliminated mathematically on this day.

The Raccoons then grabbed a chance to rest a couple of regulars on Thursday: Katz and Humph got the day off ahead of the double-header.

Game 4
POR: 2B Yocum – RF Colter – 1B Olivares – CF T. Wharton – C Rivas – 3B Hernandez – SS McFarland – LF Morentin – P Gaytan
MIL: SS Van Leeuwen – CF Parrish – RF C. Dominguez – 1B C. Ramirez – 2B F. Carrera – LF J. Wright – C Bergeron – 3B Sowards – P Crist

The streak ended at nine W’s in a row. Tony Gaytan retired NOBODY. Of seven batters he faced, he walked three, gave up a single, Yocum fudged in an error, and then Jonathan Wright and Don Bergeron hit back-to-back bombs. Todd Sullivan replaced him, fumbled Crist and Parrish on base, and then gave up a 3-piece to Dominguez, making it 10-0 before the inning was over.

Sullivan, though useless in general, *did* get the first eight outs of the game, and the Raccoons were keen on using as few pitchers as possible here, with the double header in Atlanta looming. Graham got four, and Newhard got through the right-handed 7-8-9 batters without more explosions in the bottom of the fifth at least. The Raccoons had three hits and no runs through five, so weren’t even faking a rally. Come the sixth, Crist gave up singles to Wharton, Rivas, and McFarland, loading the bases with one out. He walked in a run against Morentin, and then Katz pinch-hit and tumbled straight into a double play…

Brian Doster then got the ball in the hope for multiple innings, and logged two frames for another Dominguez homer, a solo shot. Olivares in turn drove in Yocum for an unearned run in the seventh, not that it mattered much. Cam Jackson did the eighth and final pitching inning for the Coons in this rout. Sam Brown’s pinch-hit double and Tyler Wharton’s RBI single in the ninth off Angel Alba only hurt Alba’s already terrible ERA over six, and helped nobody. 11-3 Loggers. Brown (PH) 1-1, 2B; T. Wharton 3-5, RBI;

Our W9 was dead, but the Titans’ losing streak reached L7 as the Crusaders finished off a four-game sweep. Three of the four games ended 5-4 in New York’s favor (Thursday’s in *17* innings!), but losing by one or losing by eight meant the same in the standings. Fortunately.

Raccoons (82-63) @ Knights (82-63) – September 18-20, 2071

Portland and Atlanta had the same record, but the Knights were half a game behind first place in the South. They needed the wins more, and they’d get four chances to beat up on the Coons, who had a 3-2 lead in the season series, thanks to a rainout in Portland earlier in the season. The Raccoons thus officially functioned as home team for the first game of the Friday double-header. Atlanta had the #2 offense with the highest team OBP (.356), but the pitching was middling, and the defense was rather mediocre. They also had no speed. Starter Rob Wilkinson and outfielder David Mendoza hogged the DL.

Projected matchups:
Nick Walla (13-8, 2.81 ERA) vs. Justin Kent (9-10, 4.13 ERA)
Edgar Gutierrez (0-0, 4.37 ERA) vs. Erik Lee (11-11, 3.61 ERA)
Val Centeno (4-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. Brett Bebout (10-10, 3.98 ERA)
Vinny Morales (8-4, 4.28 ERA) vs. Adam Lunn (16-6, 2.46 ERA)

Kent was the only southpaw we saw coming here, assuming there was no surprise spot starter popping up.

Gutierrez had not pitched in Milwaukee and got the spot start since D’Urso and Riggs had by now pitched in AAA – but the Alley Cats had failed to rally and had finished second to the Lubbock Flame (MIL). All paws were on deck for the first game on Friday, and we tacitly were ready to punt the second one.

Game 1
ATL: SS Guangorena – 1B DiPrimio – CF Jo. Soto – C J. Hart – 3B J. Munoz – RF Troxel – 2B Ehlers – LF Schomer – P Kent
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – CF T. Wharton – 1B Olivares – RF van Otterdijk – 3B Hernandez – C S. Brown – P Walla

And guess what – the weather was fuzzy to begin even the first game. Conveniently it only started to rain *after* Walla nailed Joel Ehlers and gave up a homer to Jon Schomer after retiring the first six batters in order, and the Knights took a 2-0 lead. There was a 40-minute rain delay in that third inning, after which a Humph double and a Yocum triple produced a 2-out run in the bottom 3rd, but Katz lined out to Tomas Guangorena to end the inning. Brown had actually reached base to begin that inning, but Walla had bunted into a double play…

The fourth saw Justin Hart single hard past Yocum but getting doubled off on Jorge Munoz’ grounder, and then the Coons flipped the score with a pair of solo homers by Wharton and van Otterdijk in the bottom 4th, but Walla gave it right back in the fifth, which the Knights began with a pair of the ********* singles ever seen back-to-back, as Ehlers hit a duck snort between the Otter and Yocum for a single, and then Schomer legged out an even softer hit infield single. Proper singles by Kris DiPrimio and Jorge Soto then tilted the scales back in Atlanta’s favor, 4-3 in the middle of the fifth.

Walla drowned in runners for good in the sixth inning, as Munoz hit a soft single, and Tom Troxel reached when Walla pounced on his grounder, but went to second – late. He then did it again, getting Munoz at third base on Ehlers’ comebacker, but walked Schomer to fill the bags. Kent whiffed, and Holzmeister came out to face Guangorena, and nearly gave up a bases-clearing double in the gap, but Humphries caught the ball going FULL STEAM and running all the way to second base before slowing down, the inning having ended. The Otter and Brown then somehow got on base in the bottom 6th, prompting a 2-out pinch-hitting appearance by Guerrero, but he fanned miserably.

Alex Dominguez smacked a leadoff double off Rismiller in the top 7th, but was left on base somehow, and Rismiller held the 4-3 score for two innings. The Raccoons still poked around, although they got their chance in the bottom 8th against Tetsu Kurihara by holding still and taking a leadoff walk (Wharton), and another free pass with one out (Otter). Colter batted for Hernandez and ran a 3-1 count before grounding out… Sam Brown didn’t wait around at all and slapped a single past Guangorena right away, and that tied the game! Rivas grounded out, though, batting for Rismiller.

The Coons then went to Valentin in the tied game in the ninth. He got three quick outs from the top of the order, and then the Coons’ top of the order had the rare chance, against righty Mike Rocheford, to hit a walkoff homer in Atlanta. It didn’t happen – the homer, I mean. The walkoff happened, and in this inning, although Humph opened by whiffing. But Rocheford walked Yocum, Yocum stole second, and Katz bolted a double to the centerfield fence to end this charade. 5-4 Critters. Yocum 2-4, BB, 3B, RBI; van Otterdijk 3-3, BB, HR, RBI; Brown 2-2, 2 BB, RBI; Rismiller 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K;

Big Wharton and Yocum then got the second game off. Yes, we were punting it *that* hard.

Game 2
POR: LF Humphries – CF Guerrero – 1B Olivares – SS Katzman – RF Colter – C Rivas – 2B McFarland – 3B Luebbert – P Gutierrez
ATL: SS Guangorena – 1B DiPrimio – CF Jo. Soto – 3B J. Munoz – RF Troxel – 2B Ehlers – C P. Brown – LF Schomer – P E. Lee

Gutierrez struck out a pair in the first inning, and then quickly got under the wheels as Munoz, Troxel, and Ehlers hit rockets for three hits and two runs off him to begin the bottom 2nd. The bottom of the order Browned out, leaving Ehlers on base. Meanwhile the Coons had no hits the first time through. Guerrero broke into the H column with a single in the fourth, but was doubled off by Olivares. Katz hit a solo homer to shorten the score to 2-1.

The Knights answered with more knocks by Guangorena and Munoz in the bottom 5th, pulling a run back for a 3-1 lead; but the Coons had the tying runs on base with nobody out in the sixth: Humph drew another walk, and Guerrero snapped a single to center. Olivares was down 1-2 against Lee, but then RAMMED a double off the wall in leftfield. It was actually hit *too hard*, forcing Guerrero and the tying run to stop at third base behind Humph, who scored to make it 3-2. Katz walked, Colter hit into a force out at home, but Rivas’ groundout brought in the tying run after all, somehow. McFarland stranded runners on second and third by popping out behind the dish on a 3-2 pitch.

Gutierrez was done after 96 pitches in five innings, and we somehow got Newhard through the bottom of the order again without fireworks. Nick Walker was on the mound for Atlanta in the tied game in the seventh, got an out from Luebbert, and then conceded singles to pinch-hitters Jesus Morentin and Tyler Wharton, who had been entered in place of Humph to hit a homer, but not so. Guerrero grounded to Munoz, who tapped the base for an out on the lead runner Morentin, who remained in the game in left after Olivares whiffed to score precisely nobody. Instead the Knights socked Cam Jackson around for three hits and two runs in the bottom 7th, and Dan Graham similarly gave up two more runs on three hits in the bottom 8th, and that’s how we ended up losing this game – even though Yocum landed a pinch-hit 2-out single in the top 9th, and then Guerrero’s RBI double and Olivares’ RBI single brought the tying run to the plate once more. Katz struck out. 7-5 Knights. T. Wharton (PH) 1-1; Yocum (PH) 1-1; Guerrero 3-5, 2B, RBI; Olivares 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Colter 2-3, BB; Morentin (PH) 1-2;

The Titans took out a week’s worth of frustration on the Condors for a 15-3 rout and a W, which put the gap at seven games by midnight. Even then, Boston suffered injuries to Ryan Musgrave and Danny Miller, so even when they won, they lost.

Game 3
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – CF T. Wharton – 1B Olivares – RF Colter – C S. Brown – 3B Hernandez – P Centeno
ATL: SS Guangorena – 1B DiPrimio – CF Jo. Soto – C J. Hart – 3B J. Munoz – RF Troxel – 2B Ehlers – LF Schomer – P Bebout

Katz homered for a 1-0 lead in the first – after Yocum had doubled up Humph’s leadoff single. Wharton then also hit a single, but was left on base. Centeno then pitched a 20-pitch bottom 1st… while facing the ENTIRE lineup. DiPrimio and Soto bashed back-to-back 1-out doubles to tie the game, and then a barrage of singles erupted. The Knights got SIX hits off Centeno before Bebout lined out to Yocum to strand the bases loaded in a 3-1 game. Top 2nd, and the Coons began with a Colter double, and Brown and Hernandez snapped singles, the latter driving in Colter to make it 3-2. Centeno bunted the runners over, but Humph lobbed one softly to Munoz for an out in the air. Yocum was ahead 3-0… poked…! ...and singled, plating both runners and flipping the score to 4-3 Portland…! Bebout then lost Katz on straight balls, and Wharton grounded out on a 3-0 pitch in his infinite wisdom.

Centeno blew the lead allowing another two hits and a walk in the bottom 2nd, as Hart drove in DiPrimio to even the score at four. Did Centeno even know how little bullpen we had…?? Olivares and Colter led off the third with hits and went to the corners. Brown fanned, but Hernandez’ groundout gave the Coons a lead, 5-4. And Centeno blew that one, too! Ehlers doubled, Schomer singled, and John Baxley batted for Bebout and brought in the tying run with a groundout. That was also the end of Centeno. Doster entered and ****** up the score further, giving up an RBI single to Guangorena and an RBI double to DiPrimio, and the Knights led 7-5 after three innings.

Once again, Doster at least got eight outs while doing tremendous damage to his team’s chances, while the Coons left Olivares and Brown on the corners in the fifth. Humph walked and Yocum singled with one gone in the sixth against long man Ramon Ruiz. Katz grounded out, advancing the runners, and Tyler Wharton then singled to center and they both scored, getting even at seven…!

The Raccoons got two innings from Gabriel Rios to hold that 7-7 tie, striking out three and stranding Ehlers, who walked and stole a base in the bottom 7th, at third base. McMahan struggled against the not very lefty-friendly lineup in the bottom 8th, and put DiPrimio and Soto on base with singles to begin the inning… but then struck out Hart, Munoz, and Troxel in order…! The Raccoons were then up against Erik Swain in the ninth inning, which usually didn’t hint at great outcomes, but Katz started the inning with a single. He advanced on Wharton grounding out, but Olivares popped out. Colter bounced a ball through the right side, past a diving Ehlers, and Katz didn’t need to be invited twice to make for home, especially against Troxel’s… not great arm, and he scored to break the tie…! Brown grounded out, then got to receive Valentin against the bottom of the order. Ehlers hit a high fly that Humph caught and Schomer struck out, but Valentin walked Pete Brown and gave up a single to Guangorena, putting the tying and winning runs on the corners. Rafael Murcia pinch-hit in that spot, and hit his first triple of the year into the left-center gap to end this ******* game. 9-8 Knights. Yocum 2-4, BB, 2 RBI; Katzman 2-4, BB, HR, RBI; T. Wharton 2-5, 2 RBI; Colter 3-5, 2B, RBI; Brown 2-5; Rios 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K;

At least the Titans keep losing. (sour look)

Sunday’s game was for the season series and rights to feel a bit better about a series that was messy as ****.

Game 4
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – CF T. Wharton – RF Colter – 1B Woodley – 3B Hernandez – C S. Brown – P Morales
ATL: SS Guangorena – 1B DiPrimio – CF Jo. Soto – C J. Hart – 3B J. Munoz – RF Troxel – 2B Ehlers – LF Schomer – P Lunn

Portland got singles from their 2-3-4 hitters, but also Yocum thrown out at home by Schomer from leftfield, before Lunn plated Katz with a wild pitch. These were first-place teams? REALLY? Morales survived Knights on the corners on a hard groundout by Schomer in the bottom 2nd, then allowed a leadoff single to Lunn in the third inning. Guangorena hit into a fielder’s choice, drew three pickoff attempts and still looked thievish, and then DiPrimio singled to left, getting him to second conventionally. Guangorena then took off for third base – and was thrown out by Brown! Soto then ended the inning.

Morales finally blew the lead in the fourth, nailing Munoz with one out and giving up a double to right to Troxel, followed by a 2-run, score-flipping single by Ehlers, who stole a base and got all the way to third before Lunn grounded out to leave him on. Hernandez then jacked a ball over the fence in right on the first pitch of the fifth inning, tying the game. The battery then made outs, but Humph doubled past Soto in center with two gone. Yocum singled to right, Troxel’s throw didn’t beat Humph, and the Coons took a 3-2 lead. Katz then grounded out, but Vinny at least got three calm outs in an inning for once to complete five.

Vinny held on to the skinny lead through six, but Rismiller blew it at first sight, giving up a pinch-hit single to Baxley and an RBI double off the wall in right to PH Phil Mower in the bottom 7th. All even at three – until Katz uncorked another homer to left, two gone and nobody on in the eighth. Tyler Wharton then doubled, but was left on by Colter. Okay, fine, maybe we can hold a *4-3* lead! Holzmeister had a 1-2-3 inning afterwards, getting a grounder from Munoz and then struck out a pair, but the Raccoons’ 6-7-8 didn’t get on base against Kurihara in the ninth inning. The Raccoons then went to McMahan for the bottom 9th despite zero lefty batters in sight, since Valentin had already pitched two straight days and had gotten blown up on Saturday. Schomer hit a single to center leading off, but PH Santiago Valdez grounded to short, and Katz and Yocum turned the double play! Also, Guangorena was gone, having been double-switched out at some point and Vincenzo Romboni (who??) was the potentially final batter of the game. And McMahan punched him out! Yocum 2-4, RBI; Katzman 2-4, HR, RBI; T. Wharton 2-4, 2B;

In other news

September 14 – The Bayhawks beat the Thunder, 4-3 in 13 innings. Both teams get a run in the seventh inning, and the remainder is all scored in the final inning.
September 19 – The Warriors sew up the FL West by beating the Capitals, 3-0.

Player of the Week (FL): DAL LF/CF Matt Little (.344, 10 HR, 49 RBI), batting .550 (11-20) with 2 HR, 7 RBI
Player of the Week (CL): ATL OF/2B Joel Ehlers (.316, 2 HR, 36 RBI), slapping .552 (16-29) with 1 HR, 10 RBI

Complaints and stuff

Thanks to the Titans DYING in sixth gear, the Raccoons had an 8-game lead with 13 to play after a week with eight games and quite a few struggles, but ultimately a 5-3 record while the Titans won ONE game all week long.

POR (84-65) – BOS (4), IND (3), LVA (3), VAN (3) – .500 – 99.9% (+10.6%)
BOS (76-73) – POR (4), MIL (3), OCT (3), VAN (3) – .493 – 0.1% (-10.3%)

Wellllll, that 4-game set there is still… I mean, you know me, I tend to be cautious. (Honeypaws snickers) Trending towards panicky?

Lamentable that Jack Hamel’s season ended with the bad knee, but he surely but his ugly nose on the map again by hitting .296 with seven homers in 65 games, and maybe won’t be simply non-tendered at the first opportunity.

The 40-man roster is full, and I don’t wish to make any more changes there. So the only additions we can still make would be guys already on it. And we don’t need to rush “Crispy Bear” now – his AAA stint wasn’t THAT brilliant, which is not an indictment for a 22-year-old. Due to injuries, then, the ONLY potential addition still in AAA is lousy lefty Antonio Pacheco. Jaden Wilson remains in DL hell and is unlikely to return in any helpful capacity before the end of the regular season, but might come back for the playoffs (yay?). Huckaby should come back on the final weekend, if the noggin stays on.

Next week is a home week, hosting the Aces (also battling for the title in the South), and then the heinous Elks. Off day – last one of the regular season (cough) – on Thursday.

Fun Fact: The Raccoons look like they might make the playoffs for the first time in TEN years.

2062-2070, at nine seasons, is ACTUALLY the second-longest playoff drought of the franchise. The longest was of course the 13-season span from 1997-2009, including the Decade of Darkness from ’97 to 2006, where the team couldn’t even hack a winning record. These are the only droughts longer than six seasons in franchise history.