[Westheim]

Raccoons (0-0) @ Loggers (0-0) – April 5-6, 2044

New year, new success? It was about time. In any case, the Raccoons started the season on Tuesday and with just two games in Milwaukee before they’d head to Portland for a 2-week homestand. That was in the future – for now it was about not getting swept by the Loggers. The Raccoons had last won that season series in 2038, and last year had been an even split.

Projected matchups:
Jason Wheatley (0-0) vs. Sergio Piedra (0-0)
Corey Mathers (0-0) vs. Jose de Lucio (0-0)

Nothing but right-handers to see here.

Game 1
POR: 2B Carreno – 1B Ayala – CF Maldonado – LF Fernandez – RF Toohey – 3B Jimenez – C Kilmer – SS Waters – P Wheatley
MIL: CF Cannizzard – 3B Paul – 1B Brayboy – LF Reeves – RF Hertenstein – SS Del Vecchio – C F. Gomez – 2B Davison – P Piedra

Ricky Jimenez hit a single for the Raccoons’ first base runner of the season, but they were otherwise rather quiet early, while Wheats quickly had one of those innings, issuing walks to Daniel Hertenstein and Felipe Gomez in the bottom 2nd, then bobbled Scott Davison’s 1-out grounder for an error. Bases loaded, he fell 2-0 to Sergio Piedra – then got a grounder to Carreno that was spun for a 4-6-3 ticket out of the inning. Top 3rd, Matt Waters whacked a leadoff double to center, and Wheatley got a ball to drop in front of Bill Reeves for a single, but Waters had to hold at third. Carreno popped out foul, which wasn’t great, but Sal Ayala walked, loading the sacks. Alas, the Raccoons had no more forté than the Loggers with three on and one down; Maldonado struck out, and Manny Fernandez flew out to Hertenstein.

Wheats continued to pitch like a deer in the headlights, racking up five walks against no strikeouts through four innings, while Piedra struck out six in the same time, walking none but Ayala in the third. Ayala batted again with Waters and Carreno on the corners and one out in the fifth and grounded to Davison, but the Loggers couldn’t turn two and Matt Waters scored with the season’s first run. Then Maldonado made it three runs with a jack to left. The Coons also stole their first bag of the year in short order; Manny singled after the Maldo bomb, then took second base by force, but the inning ended with Toohey grounding out. Bottom 5th, the Loggers loaded the bases on a throwing error by Jimenez and shy singles by Jared Paul and Aaron Brayboy, the latter tweaking a calf and being replaced by T.J. Serad. Jon Craig replaced Wheatley once he walked in a run against Reeves, but fell to a 2-out, bases-clearing double by ******* ********* Ted Del Vecchio that gave the Loggers a 4-3 lead through five.

Top 7th, the Raccoons loaded the bases with two outs; Manny singled, Toohey was nicked, and Jimenez walked against righty Ron Purcell. Now Jeff Kilmer matched Del Vecchio, finding the gap in right-center for his own bases-clearing double, and thus flipping the score back to the Coons, 6-4…! That was not the last bit of offense – more followed in the eighth against Caleb Martin. Omar Gutierrez and Arturo Carreno reached base, the latter on a Del Vecchio error, and then Ayala crashed a baseball outta the park in right. Tah! 9-4! That would be enough in this game – as cruddily as Wheatley had pitched in the first 4.1 innings, as stellar was the bullpen. Craig, Kelly, Norris, and Moreno pitched 4.2 innings for three hits and no walks, and also no runs for the Loggers. 9-4 Raccoons! Fernandez 2-5; Kilmer 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Waters 2-5, 2 2B; Baskins (PH) 1-1; Moreno 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K;

Everybody in the lineup had a hit, including Wheats. The only bad spot was the six walks on Wheatley, which we’ll have to talk about. Given the early schedule, he’ll have time to think about what he did until Monday…

Game 2
POR: 2B Carreno – 1B Ayala – CF Maldonado – LF Fernandez – RF Toohey – 3B Jimenez – C Kilmer – SS Waters – P Mathers
MIL: CF Cannizzard – 3B Paul – 1B Brayboy – LF Reeves – RF Hertenstein – SS Del Vecchio – C F. Gomez – 2B Davison – P de Lucio

Mathers didn’t walk the world, but scattered four hits through three innings, which at least didn’t cause any actual damage in the R column. The Coons again started with a Jimenez single in the second, but this time actually scored him with a Kilmer double up the line. De Lucio went on to load the bases against Waters and Mathers (!), then threw a wild pitch to plate Kilmer for a 2-0 lead, but Carreno lined out to strand the other two.

A Kilmer homer made it 3-0 in the fourth and the Raccoons continued to pick de Lucio apart after that. Carreno reached base, stole another one in the fifth, and a string of Critters reached after him. Ayala walked, Maldo hit an RBI double, Manny an RBI single, and Toohey was nicked to load the bases. Jimenez’ sac fly was the final run of the inning, putting the Raccoons up 6-0. Purcell was then bombed by Ayala for a 2-run homer in the sixth, 8-0, and Toohey wouldn’t want to stand back and hit a solo homer of his own in the seventh, 9-0!

After that, some regulars were subbed out at the stretch to get everybody else some playing time before the early off day on Thursday. Mathers pitched shutout ball through six, but brittled in the seventh inning, giving up four hits in a pile for two runs. Tim Cannizzard and Jared Paul were in scoring position with two outs when Chuck Jones came in and struck out Brayboy for his only action in Milwaukee – totally worth the three million bucks! Portland in any case answered with three in the top 8th, with three singles off Adam Giovenco loading the bases before Derek Baskins drew a bases-loaded walk and Toohey doubled in a pair. The Loggers loaded the bases with no outs against Alex Ramirez in the bottom of the inning, but made up only 20% of their deficit with a 2-run single Jonathan Fleming dinked in front of Jonathan Dustal, and that was all they rallied for. 12-4 Raccoons. Carreno 2-5, BB; Ayala 3-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Baskins 0-0, BB, RBI; Toohey 2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI; Kilmer 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Zarate (PH) 1-1; Gutierrez (PH) 1-1;

Whee! Offense!!

Raccoons (2-0) vs. Thunder (2-0) – April 8-10, 2044

The two games had each only played two games; the Coons as scheduled, the Thunder when their last one with the Falcons was rained out on Thursday. We had scored 21 runs in the two games, they had landed 18. They had also not given up a single run all season yet. We had lost the season series in ’43, five games to four.

Projected matchups:
Brent Clark (0-0) vs. Lachlan Clarke (0-0)
Jake Jackson (0-0) vs. Natanael Abrao (0-0)
Sadaharu Okuda (0-0) vs. Jimmy Driver (0-0)

No left-handed opposition to be found yet …!

…and no opposition at all on Friday, with the Raccoons’ home opener rained out. We’d instead try and play two on Saturday, weather … (glances upwards) … permitting?

Game 1
OCT: RF Zurita – 2B Simon – C Adames – CF C. Vega – SS Ban – LF E. Moore – 3B Lusk – 1B Phinazee – P Clarke
POR: 2B Carreno – 1B Ayala – CF Maldonado – RF Fernandez – 3B Jimenez – LF Baskins – C Kilmer – SS Waters – P Clark

Clark without E issued a leadoff walk to Angelo Zurita, which turned into a run on a Carlos Vega single, but the Raccoons countered in the bottom 1st against Clarke with E, getting Carreno aboard, Carreno forced out on an Ayala grounder, but then Maldonado singled and Manny Fernandez cracked a 3-run shot to right. That lead would stand up through five innings, although Zurita took Clark deep in the fifth to cut it down to one run. The Raccoons scattered the odd hit after taking the lead, but couldn’t really harm Clarke.

Clark began the game with three walks without getting a strikeout, but then struck out seven while issuing just one more walk to complete six innings. And then it came apart rather quickly when the Thunder loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh inning. Clarke (…) began it with a single, Zurita legged out an infield single, and Dan Whitley walked in place of Brad Simon. Jon Craig replaced him Clark, but couldn’t have been less useful than a cow on skates in this spot, conceding three runs on three singles up the middle. Exit Craig, enter Jones, and PH Josh Kalinowski would fly out to Manny Fernandez in right, and Manny then threw the ball away on Jesus Adames’ bid for home plate, allowing the other runners to advance… not that it mattered, with Kyle Lusk drawing a walk, and then Jimmy Kuhn and Zurita both hit more singles, and the whole thing spiraled out of control for eight runs in the inning. The Raccoons had no immediate response except than hoping for better luck in the second game, although Manny Fernandez did hit a useless homer in the eighth inning that did not amount to a rally. 10-4 Thunder. Carreno 2-4; Fernandez 3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI; Kilmer 1-2, 2 BB; Ramirez 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K;

Yes, Maud, it’s only one loss. But let’s make a compromise. I will just put it on the table for the second game, and then … (plonks down bottle of Capt’n Coma) … we’ll see how it goes?

Game 2
OCT: RF Zurita – SS Ban – 1B Phinazee – CF C. Vega – LF E. Moore – 2B Simon – C Whitley – 3B Lusk – P Abrao
POR: 2B Carreno – 1B Ayala – CF Maldonado – LF Fernandez – RF Toohey – 3B Cruz – SS Gutierrez – C Zarate – P Jackson

It started just like the first one – clumsy run in the first inning for the Thunder, this one coming together on a Zurita single and Mal Phinazee doubling, and then the Critters took the lead in the bottom half of the frame with a homer, in this case a 2-piece by Sal Ayala. Then there was a dispute in the bottom 2nd, which the Critters began with hits from the bench troupe of Cruz (single) and Gutierrez (double). With two in scoring position, Jose Zarate flew out to center, with Cruz sliding home whiskers ahead of Carlos Vega’s throw. He was called safe, the Thunder vividly disputed the call, but it stood nevertheless, and it was 3-1 Coons. Gutierrez was stranded on groundouts by Jackson and Carreno. Jackson struggled with five left-handers in the lineup, gave up a run on two hits by Phinazee and Vega in the top 3rd, and I found things looking rather bleak, but wouldn’t touch the Capt’n as long as we led, if only to please Maud.

That lead, too, held up through five, and with the same 3-2 score even than in the first game. Like the 3-2 lead in the first game, it didn’t last for much longer than that, though. Vega opened the sixth with a clean single to center, and was almost immediately doubled in by Ethan Moore, tying the game at three. Somehow, Moore was stranded on second base, including an intentional walk to Lusk so Abrao would strike out to end the inning. It was the worst possible timing to blow the lead – it also started to rain just as the Thunder tied the game, the rain got worse and worse in the bottom of the inning, and the game went to a rain delay from which it didn’t emerge until Sunday.

Technically, both starting pitchers were still in the game for the resumption of the game, with a 1-1 count on Maldonado and nobody out in the bottom 6th.

Game 2 (continued)
OCT: RF Zurita – SS Ban – 1B Phinazee – CF C. Vega – LF E. Moore – 2B Simon – C Whitley – 3B Lusk – P Abrao
POR: 2B Carreno – 1B Ayala – CF Maldonado – LF Fernandez – RF Toohey – 3B Cruz – SS Gutierrez – C Zarate – P Jackson

We went down in order in the bottom 6th eventually, while Kyle Lusk left the game with a bum shoulder after that inning, replaced with Jimmy Kuhn. The Coons replaced Toohey with Jonathan Dustal in a double switch in the top 7th, putting Nelson Moreno in the #5 hole to pitch long and well, hopefully. He walked Zurita to begin the top 7th, and gave up the go-ahead run on a triple through Sal Ayala with two outs. Moore than struck out. But it was time for the Capt’n Coma. (unscrews bottle)

That was the only run Moreno gave up in three innings to complete regulation, but it also seemed like it was gonna be enough to defeat the Critters. Carreno reached base in the eighth, but was caught stealing, and that was about it for runners before the ninth inning on Sunday. Right-hander Jesse Allison would be on the hill for the Thunder in the bottom 9th, the inning started with Manny, who drew a 4-pitch walk. Derek Baskins batted for Moreno, but flew out to Zurita in right-center. Jose Cruz had more luck, hitting a fly into left-center that fell for a double, but crucially was cut off by Ethan Moore before it reached the warning track, forcing Manny to be held at third base with one out. Ricky Jimenez would bat for Omar Gutierrez – forfeiting the platoon advantage – and hit a sac fly to pretty deep right, but into an out. Oh well, the game was at least tied, and the winning run was still in scoring position for Jose Zarate, who hit Allison’s very first pitch to the right side, where it went through, and Cruz raced around third base to score well ahead of Zurita’s throw …! 5-4 Critters! Ayala 2-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Cruz 2-4, 2B; Moreno 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, W (1-0);

That left a full game left to play on Sunday … (glances skywards again) … maybe. The Raccoons would be up against Juan Ramos (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Game 3
OCT: RF Zurita – 3B Lusk – C Adames – CF C. Vega – SS Ban – LF E. Moore – 2B Kuhn – 1B Phinazee – P J. Ramos
POR: 2B Carreno – SS Waters – 1B Maldonado – LF Fernandez – RF Toohey – 3B Jimenez – CF Baskins – C Kilmer – P Okuda

To fit in well with the wacky week they were having, the Raccoons went up 2-0 without the benefit of a base hit in the first inning. Carreno walked, Waters reached on an error by Phinazee, and a Maldonado groundout and Fernandez’ sac fly both brought in a run. Then Bryce Toohey reached on an error by Jonathan Ban. Jimenez – not warm yet and struggling to hit anything – grounded out, ending the inning. Okuda struck out Zurita for his first two ABL strikeouts in the first and third innings, and allowed little in between, although Jesus Adames tagged him with a leadoff jack to center in the fourth inning, narrowing the score to 2-1.

There was not a whole lot more Okuda allowed through six; he scattered four hits and a walk, while Matt Waters made an inconsequential error behind him. But the Raccoons had a hard time hitting Ramos, finding only two base hits through five innings, and reaching base mostly by other means, f.e. Waters’ leadoff walk in the bottom 6th, and Maldonado getting nicked. They pulled off a double steal with Adames simultaneously asleep, but Manny struck out for the first retirement of the inning. Toohey took a strike before a wayward pitch almost took off one of his legs, and scored Waters from third base, 3-1. Toohey and Jimenez both struck out – stranding Maldonado at third base. None of the two hits on the team came in support of the three runs at this point, but I’d buy it if it meant a W.

Okuda threw 98 pitches through seven, maintaining a 4-hit, 1-run pace, and would have done more (he was used to throwing 125+ in Japan), but his spot came up with Derek Baskins having stolen his way to second base with one out in the bottom 7th. Ayala hit for him, but ended up walking, then was doubled up on a perfectly-suited grounder Carreno served to Kuhn, ending the inning. Nate Norris responded by scratching off the 1-2-3 hitters in that order in the eighth inning, then handed it off to Rella when the Raccoons went in order just the same against Ramos in the eighth. Vega lined out to Ayala at first base to begin the ninth. Jonathan Ban grounded out to Waters. Moore walked, Whitley walked, and the tying runs were aboard, and .471 hitter Mal Phinazee was in the box, a lefty hitter. I didn’t like it one bit. But then the pitcher Ramos was next, certainly to be hit for – and we didn’t want to bring Chuck Jones when they could then send Kalinowski – the only right-hander on the bench – against him. I’d rather trust in Phinazee not homering, coaxing them into bringing a lefty bat, and THEN throwing Jones against them. The latter thing never happened – Rella got Phinazee to ground out to Waters. 3-1 Critters. Baskins 2-3; Okuda 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, W (1-0);

In other news

April 4 – Richmond 3B Josh Frazier (.167, 1 HR, 4 RBI) hits a walkoff grand slam in the 13th inning to beat the Buffaloes, 12-8, on Opening Day.
April 5 – BOS OF/1B Cullen Tortora (.143, 0 HR, 1 RBI) is hit with a pitch by New York’s Luis Villagomez (0-1, 1.57 ERA) with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to walk off the Titans, 6-5.
April 6 – The Thunder destroy the Falcons, 16-0, with OF/2B Carlos Vega (9-for-9, 1 HR, 3 RBI) dropping six hits and falling a double shy of the cycle while driving two runs. It is the second-ever 6-hit day for a Thunder. In 1990 Alejandro Olvera also dropped six hits on the Falcons. Back then the Thunder won 9-8.
April 7 – The Gold Sox make a late signing in ex-TIJ SP Edward Flinn (88-96, 4.30 ERA), who inks a 2-yr, $4.88M contract.
April 8 – The Pacifics take an early hit with news that OF Juan Benavides (.300, 0 HR, 2 RBI) will miss a month with a strained posterior cruciate ligament.
April 10 – 36-year-old VAN 2B Dan Schneller (.360, 2 HR, 8 RBI) reaches 2,500 career hits with two base knocks in a 6-2 loss to the Knights. The 2037 Player of the Year an 11-time All Star gets the milestone hit off left-hander Aaron Curl (0-0, 0.00 ERA) in the eighth inning.
April 10 – SFW C/1B Ken Wiersma (.364, 2 HR, 9 RBI) drives in six runs in the Warriors’ 15-4 trouncing of the Buffaloes, landing three hits and three walks.

FL Player of the Week: SAC LF/RF Mike Preble (.500, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
CL Player of the Week: OCT OF/2B Carlos Vega (.682, 1 HR, 8 RBI)

Complaints and stuff

Not a bad first week! The offense looks potent (but not necessarily every day, but maybe a regular groove will help), and I don’t think we’ll see too many 8-run meltdowns, so, oh well.

Also, if you play only 3 2/3 games through Saturday night and somehow end the week in first place, it’s already a screamer. We also lead the CL in both stolen bases and home runs (both in ties with 8 each), so that’s something!

The homestand will continue with games against the Aces, Titans, and Elks, ten games total (four against Boston).

Fun Fact: Of all the 6-hit games in league history, Carlos Vega’s is the earliest one has occurred in a calendar year.

He beat the mark by Scorpions third baseman Jason LaCombe set on April 10, 2015 against the Rebels.