[Westheim]

Raccoons (24-20) @ Condors (23-21)

Both teams had an eye on the leader in their division.

Carlos Reyes pitched a very fine game in the opener, where pitchers did the most damage on either side of the pitch. Up 2-0, Reyes allowed an RBI single to opponent John Douglas in the third, before he drove in two with a 2-out bases-loaded single himself in the sixth. A double by Cesar Baez in the eighth got him in trouble, but Jackie Lagarde put out the fire, and West pitched a quick ninth. 4-2 Raccoons. Higgins 2-5, 2B; Osanai 2-5; Reader 2-4; Reyes 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, W (3-2) and 1-3, 2 RBI;

In the middle game Jason Turner took a no-hitter into the sixth, before Cipriano Ortega hit a bloop single to short left. By then, the Coons led 3-0. Turner collapsed then, surrendered hit after hit, and the Condors tied the game, and loaded the bases. Lagarde fell behind as the Condors logged a 7-hit, 5-run inning. Those were the only hits the Condors had in the entire game. The Raccoons in turn left runners on third base three times, and lost 5-3. Johnston 2-5, 2 2B; Higgins 2-5, 2B, RBI; Osanai 2-4; Gonzalez 2-4, 2 2B; Campbell 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K;

It stings. Why do these monster innings just keep on happening??

Kisho Saito and Jose Macias exchanged zeroes early in the rubber game. The Coons had Osanai and Hall in scoring position in the fifth with nobody down – and hadn’t scored but for a wild pitch by Macias with two down and Saito at the plate. Shimpei Iwamoto immediately reversed the score with a 2-run homer in the bottom 5th. Hall’s leadoff walk in the seventh and some small ball followed by a Vinson lobber just over 2B Juan Valentin with two down tied the game. Saito was lifted for O’Morrissey to pinch hit with Vinson on first, but the youngster struck out and Saito didn’t get a decision. The Condors hit five singles in the eighth, the first three off Bentley, who didn’t retire anybody. The Raccoons had the tying runs on base in the ninth with one out, but Vinson struck out and Johnston popped out. Naturally. 4-2 Condors. Hall 2-3, BB, 2B;

Raccoons (25-22) @ Aces (24-24)

Tetsu Osanai carried a 14-game hitting streak, while Scott Wade still had that 9-0 record from his first nine starts of the year, and he was due up first in the series. Also, the Raccoons were not looking at a left-handed pitcher in either this or the next series.

Wade went seven innings, allowing a total of three runners – unfortunately including a fourth inning homer to Ira Houston. The Coons struggled just as well at the plate, and only had two hits through seven against oldie Miguel Sanchez, who gave away the tying run in the sixth with a wild pitch for Johnston to come in to score. Wade still had gas left after seven, but led off the top 8th at the plate and was removed for Quinn, who struck out. Johnston flew out danger-free, before Higgins drew a walk and advanced to second on another wild pitch by Sanchez. Hall doubled him in to get Wade in line for W #10. Dadswell added an insurance run in the ninth and West held the Aces to a pair of 2’s – they had four base runners in the entire game. 3-1 Raccoons. Dadswell 2-4, RBI; Wade 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, W (10-0);

Wade’s streak was allowed to live, but Osanai’s ended after an 0-4 day. Wade’s W-guarantee. (sings) Ten-oh, Wa-ade, aaa-ya-yayay, you’re so cap-ti-vating …!

Middle game. The Aces countered a first inning 2-run single by Osanai with a leadoff homer by Manuel Guzman off Logan Evans. They tore up Evans in the third, with a bases-clearing double by Lowell Allen making it 5-2 Aces and knocking out Evans, who had absolutely nothing. Suto was beaten up next and didn’t get past the fifth, down 7-2. Bentley was bludgeoned with two homers in the sixth and the Raccoons were rolled over once more, 9-2 Aces. Hall 1-2, BB, 2B; Quinn 1-1, 2B; Martinez 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K;

The rubber game was 2-2 through three. With two down in the top 4th, Carlos Reyes had a man on third and grounded to 1B Vicente Ramírez, who bobbled the ball for the go-ahead run to score. The Coons loaded the bases, but Hall struck out on a nasty splitter by Jou Hara. Ramírez redeemed himself with a 2-out RBI single in the sixth, tying the game again off Reyes. Our starter kept going, but the Aces had RF Paul Dundee on second with two down and “Icon” Allen up. He was a swich-hitter, as was Ira Houston behind him, but Allen was weaker against right-handers, as opposed to Houston. With righty Reyes still up, we opted not to walk Allen, one of the most feared sluggers in the game. He flew out to Stevens in center. In the bottom 10th of a 3-3 game, Lagarde was in his second frame. “Icon” Allen singled, Houston doubled, and Allen made for home, but was thrown out. Houston was on third with one out. Grant West came in, struck out Angelo Cardenas and got a grounder to Higgins to end the inning. Top 12th: Johnston’s leadoff double was followed by Higgins walking. Now Hall was up. We considered bunting, but that would have the Aces put on Tetsuuuu intentionally and then Dawson would hit into a double play. So Hall was to swing and the runners go on contact. Unfortunately, Hall grounded out and now first base was open and Osanai was walked. Vinson pinch hit for Dawson, but fouled out, but thankfully Dadswell hit a 2-run double into left. West was sent out again with left-handers to come up in the inning, including Houston and if anybody got on, Cardenas would be the tying run. It was Allen, who got on, and was on third when Cardenas came up, but he grounded out to Higgins. 5-3 Coons in 12 innings. Johnston 2-5, BB, 2B; Higgins 2-4, 2 BB, RBI; Osanai 2-4, BB, RBI; Reader 2-3, BB; West 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, W (1-2);

The Coons had now snail-paced again to within half a game of the Crusaders. MR Yasushi Suto was optioned to AAA, and we called up Jeff Martin again, who batted .315 in AAA.

Raccoons (27-23) vs. Falcons (24-26)

Martin was right away starting in center in the series opener back home in Portland and logged hits in his first two AB’s. The first was a 2-out double and Turner left him on, but the second was a bases-loaded RBI single for the Coons taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Jason Turner was mostly good, but walked in the tying run in the top 6th with two down, giving the latter of back-to-back walks to Keith Lake (coonskinner for life). Turner was left with the no-decision after yielding to a pinch hitter (Quinn) to no effect in the bottom 6th. From there, the Coons paraded in relievers in a futile attempt to hold the Falcons down. A 2-out RBI single between Higgins and Osanai hit by Alfonso Aranda lost them the game. 2-1 Falcons. O’Morrissey 2-4; Gonzalez 2-4; Martin 3-4, 2B, RBI; Turner 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K;

Leadoff walks were a theme in the middle game. Saito put the leadoff man on in the first two innings (one scored), but got support from Osanai with a 2-run homer in the first, and then Dadswell drew a leadoff walk in a bottom 2nd that quickly escalated away from Charlotte starter Julio Rodriguez. A 3-run homer by Higgins that made it 7-1 chased him without ever collecting an out in the second. Jerry Ackerman came in and was quickly burnt by Hall with a 2-run homer. Osanai was the eighth man up and made the first out in the inning. When it was over for the Falcons, the Coons led 9-1. Ackerman allowed three more runs in the third, but two were unearned, in a game that was out of hand completely now. Meanwhile, Saito didn’t throw a very good game – while he struck out six, he also walked three (plus one intentionally) and balked in a run in the fourth, and just barely fulfilled the requirements for a quality start with six frames, three runs against. The Falcons scored three more against Berry in the ninth, but the Coons prevailed 13-6. Higgins 2-5, HR, 3 RBI; Gonzalez 2-5, RBI; Hall 2-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Osanai 2-3, HR, 2B, 5 RBI; O’Morrissey 2-5;

The same day, the Crusaders’ rally against the Condors fell just short, and the Condors won 5-4. What did this do? It moved the Raccoons into first place in the CL North!

And with Wade to pitch the rubber game, what could go wrong?

Wade’s opponent was Manuel “Bam Bam” Movonda (who woulda-coulda-shoulda been a Coon, but …) and well – Wade had huge trouble in the first two innings, with Stevens making a heroic catch to end the inning with the bags full. The Coons led 2-0 since the first, until Hall made it 3-0 with a solo shot. Wade pitched into the sixth, but a 43-minute rain delay interrupted and held him to 68 pitches. Bentley continued and we hoped to have him pitch the seventh, too, so when Stevens was on first (and stole second) with two out in the bottom 6th, Bentley was sent to bat. He doubled to the base of the wall in right center, and the Falcons fell apart in their entirety in a 2-hit, 2-walk, 2-error, 1-balk, 5-run inning. But Falcons fans didn’t have to worry, since Bentley and Campbell became unglued in the top 7th, too, and allowed three runs to get back to Charlotte. But Goodman and West threw the stop on the Falcons from there, and the Raccoons won 8-3. Johnston 2-4, BB; Hall 2-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Osanai 3-4, 2B, 4 RBI; Wade 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, W (11-0);

Wade still perfect!! All hail the king!! Not even rain can stop him!! He’s gonna go 34-0!!

Or 12-15.

Raccoons (29-24) vs. Canadiens (26-25)

Those Canadiens yet again. Can’t they move to another division? Or to another sport?

Logan Evans was up for the opener, but was quickly torched for four runs in the second. The game didn’t get any less unenjoyable for the home crowd from here. The Coons left runners on in terrifying numbers and still crawled back in to 5-3 down through seven. Lagarde came in and hit the first two men in the eighth – both scored. 7-3 Canadiens. Dadswell 2-4, 2B; Martin 2-3, BB, 2B;

Starting pitching didn’t necessarily get better in the middle game. Reyes went six, spent all day behind in the count, gave up nine hits, but was fortunate enough to encounter Vernon Robertson, the opposing pitcher, with the bags full and two down twice and Robertson both times made outs (outfielders’ heroics notwithstanding). Reyes left in a 1-1 tie. The Raccoons offense was hapless and completely unable to mount any threat. A 2-out flyer to left dropped in in the top 9th and went under Daniel Hall’s glove and the Canadiens scored a runner from second. The Coons left the tying run on base themselves and lost 2-1. Quinn 3-4, RBI;

This loss also cost the division lead. ****ing Canadiens. I hate that team. I just hate that team.

Turner up in game 3 to save whatever there was left so save. Higgins and Osanai both homered in the bottom 1st, and while Turner no-hit the Canadiens the first time through the lineup, they battered him a good bit in the fourth and tied the game. Soon, control also went away from Turner, and after walking five and falling behind 4-3 he got the hook in the sixth. In the seventh, the Canadiens loaded the bags with nobody out against Bentley. Martinez sat the next three men down without allowing a run. While the Coons trailed only by a run, it felt like ten at that point, though. Dawson pinch hit for a single for Martinez with one out in the bottom 7th. Johnston walked and Higgins singled. Bases loaded, Hall up: he flew out, but Dawson scored to tie the game. Osanai flew out and left two on. The Raccoons lost it again in the ninth. 5-4 Canadiens.

Canadiens.

In other news

May 24 – NAS Luis Guzman (4-4, 3.48 ERA) 2-hits the Warriors in a lopsided 12-0 rout.
May 26 – CIN SP Ricardo Torres (3-7, 5.86 ERA) 2-hits the Wolves in a 6-0 win, which may or may start a turnaround to his season.
May 26 – MIL LF/RF Jim Wood (.370, 0 HR, 10 RBI) missed the team flight and was later listed as unavailable for a few days. Rumors say he slipped on a banana peel at the airport.
May 27 – The Crusaders are dealt a terrible blow with news that their ace SP Travis Newton (8-1, 2.65 ERA) is out for the season with a torn flexor tendon. Newton ranked second to Scott Wade in W’s in the Continental League.
May 28 – Indians sophomore R.J. Stinton came just off the DL and is right back on with a knee sprain for a month. Last year’s CL ROTY is just batting .206 in 18 games this season.
May 29 – Salem’s Terry Murphy (5-4, 2.89 ERA) dominates the Rebels in a 7-0 shutout, allowing only three hits.
May 30 – Cincy’s MR Seung-ook Yi (1-0, 1 SV, 5.28 ERA) struggled with his pitching all year long and is now out with shoulder inflammation until September. Yi was a closer for the last six seasons with a high water mark of 3.41 in ERA (PIT, 1985).
May 31 – SFW 2B Pat Graham (.332, 2 HR, 16 RBI) has a 3-hit day against the Cyclones, extending his hitting streak to 20 games.
June 2 – The Scorpions are already reeling heavily again, and now they lose Tommy Norton (.378, 2 HR, 22 RBI) to a hamstring injury for about three weeks.
June 2 – BOS INF Chad Fisher (.289, 5 HR, 23 RBI) will miss time until mid-July with a strained ACL.
June 3 – Sioux Falls’ Bruce Cannon, 37, announces his retirement after suffering a concussion. In his 13-season career, Cannon collected 2,072 base hits, and retires with a .294/.363/.335 line. He was on the 1981 Indians that won the World Series.
June 4 – TOP Arnold McCray (6-3, 3.51 ERA) 3-hits the Rebels as the Buffaloes win 4-0.

Complaints and stuff

And how could this not have happened? Scott Wade was the CL Pitcher of the Month for May 1989, going 6-0 with a 2.56 ERA and 23 K in 38.2 IP! Yay!! All hail Wade!!

And then there is Mark Dawson, who isn’t getting anything done – at all. He had that one hot week, and apart from that he’s batting like .130 and starting to strike out a lot now.

Meanwhile, I’m constantly getting ****ed by the same players and the same teams over and over and over again. It’s no fun. I mean, it’s no wonder. This is a bad team with gaping holes after all. But … still. The Canadiens have pounced on the Raccoons for years like the year we were nose-to-nose at the All Star break (1986? Gotta look that up, but I'm too depressed now) and they swept not one, but TWO 4-game sets from us and winning the division by a mile, and I am SICK of it!! I HATE that team! I HATE THAT TEAM!!