QEY - 4 LIN - 0 F
W - Rodgers (2-2) L - Schoenweiss (2-3)
QEY: Rodgers: CG (1), 0 ER, QS (5)
LIN: Schoenweiss: 6 IP, ER, QS (5)
QEY: Catalanotto: 2-4, 2B, RBI 12)
QEY: Jenkins: 3-3, 2 2B, RBI (9)
QEY: Guillen: 2-3, RBI (1)
 |
| Got his first CG of the year |
Both teams were attempting to imitate the Bobians early on, with rather aggressive base running. From both teams, three players were caught stealing while two others were thrown out trying to go for extra bases during the first third of the game. The help from the defense was not wasted by either team's respective starter, who both settled down and pitched rather well in the middle innings. The Warriors were able to squeeze out a run in the fifth, however, thanks to a Frank Catalonotto double. Both offenses went back to being very quiet, as the Lindsyan bullpen and Queynos starter Kenny Rodgers powered through the late innings. But Lindsyan reliever Aquilino Lopez ran into trouble in the top of the ninth, loading up the bases with only one out. Lindsyan closer Robb Nen then entered the game, but he was not able to stop the bleeding and proceeded to surrender a three run rally to the Warriors. Interesting to note, Warriors shortstop Carlos Guillen achieved his first RBI of the season during this rally...despite the fact that it was also the very last game of the season. A four run lead was more than enough for Rodgers to go the distance, as his 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the ninth secured the victory. Not a very meaningful game, as both teams have long since been eliminated from playoff contention. Nevertheless, decent but overall disappointing seasons for both teams who had the unfortunate circumstance of being in a very difficult division.
-----------------------------------------------------
MMD - 1 AXN - 3 F
W- Zito (3-0) L - Schilling (4-2) S - Kolb (7)
AXN: Zito (6 IP, ER, QS (5)
MMD: Schilling: 6 IP, 3 ER, QS (5)
AXN: Fullmer: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI (6)
MMD: Zaun: HR (5), RBI (18)
AXN: Cameron: 2-4, RBI (12)
 |
| 16th career win; most in AXN history |
With the expectation of a pitching duel, both teams entered their final game of the season without much to play for. While the Darkpaws are just trying to avoid a last place finish, Meow Meow Dui could secure second place and homefield advantage for the first round of the playoffs with a win. The Darkpaws got off to a promising start in the first inning, completing a two run rally off the normally unhittable Curt Schilling, with the help of a completely botched double play attempt by the Meow Meow defense. On the other side of things, long time Alyxian starter Barry Zito was effective, looking strong, but not dominant. He surrendered a run in the fifth, however, when MMD catcher Gregg Zaun capped off his career year with his fifth homerun and eighteenth RBI. The Darkpaws responded in the sixth, thanks to an RBI double from former Melmegetian Brad Fullmer, his second of the game. Schilling was then pulled from the game, a quality start but undoubtedly his worse showing of the year which could affect his chances at a spot in the very competitive all star rotation. Back to this game, both teams went to the bullpen after the sixth, and both bullpens pitched shutout baseball: two innings from Kevin Gregg for Meow Meow while Vladimir Nunez and Danny Kolb rounded things out for the Darkpaws. Interesting to note that Danny Kolb earned his league leading seventh save, which says a lot when the entire team has only nine wins. Because of the strong showing of the Darkpaws in the second half of the year, the team has agreed to keep GM ALLIED_MASTERCOMPUTER on for another year. But he has said that the team will most likely undergo some restructuring in the offseason. As for MMD, they now prepare for their first ever playoff appearance against the Z-Slayers.
---------------------------------------------------------
TYC - 2 STL - 8 F
W - Oliver (1-2) L - Wood 04 (0-2)
STL: Oliver: 7 1/3 IP, 2 ER, QS (4)
TYC: Wood: 5 IP, 6 ER
STL: Walker: 3-4, 2 HR (8), 4 RBI (17)
STL: Polanco: 4-4, RBI (6), SB (3)
STL: Renteria: RBI (15)
 |
| Weapon of Mass Destruction |
Since the Marauders own the tie breaker, the Cardinals tonight were simply playing the role of spoiler as well as hopefully positioning themselves not to finish the season with the worst record in the league. As for the Tycoons, much more was at stake; a win would clinch the division, a first round bye, as well as homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. But as John Kruk called it at the beginning of the game "There was no chance that the Tycoons were gonna win this game. The gut has spoken." His intuition seemed on point from the get go, with the Tycoons looking very shaky in the first two innings; they were quite lucky to come out of it only one run behind. On the other side of things, the highly serviceable Cardinal starter Darren Oliver had yet another very solid performance, and was dominant in the early and middle innings. Tycoons starter Kerry Wood 04 seemed to settle in after the second, going 1-2-3 in both the 3rd and 4th innings. But he simply fell apart in the fifth, surrendering a five run rally, which was culminated in the form of a Larry "Weapon of Mass Destruction" Walker three run blast to the upper deck. Walker homered yet again in the 7th, this one a solo shot representing his eighth of the year. At 7-0, things looked all but over until Darren Oliver allowed two Tycoon baserunners on in the eighth before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Closer Jason Isringhausen struggled to the point that both those base runners came home, tagging two runs to Oliver in what was otherwise a near immaculate performance. The Cardinals added yet another run in the ninth, before putting the Tycoons to be in the ninth with a very nifty gold glove double play. After the game Kruk remarked "What a shame these Cardinals aren't going to be in the playoffs. They sure are a fun team to watch. Not like these Tycoons, they stunk up the joint like Doc Vindaloo on falafel day. No offense to the good doctor, by the way." Indeed, for a team that was entertaining hopes of winning Division 2, the win represents a bittersweet end to a wild season for a team that is not likely to change much in the offseason. They will most likely finish the year in the number 5 spot of the Pee Wee league. As for the Tycoons, they could still win the division and the first round bye IF the Red Clay Aces lose their last game against the Bombers. If the Aces win that game, the Tycoons drop down to the second seed and will need to face off against the yet to be determined third seed in the first round of the playoffs.
No comments:
Post a Comment