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April 27, 1981 | Rustlers Grounds | Dallas, TX
Detroit Dukes vs. Dallas Rustlers
Watch it on ABL Vision
Let’s meet our teams:
The
Detroit Dukes, fresh off their championship season in 1980, have begun their 1981 campaign with a strong showing, boasting a 12-7 record and a .632 winning percentage. They are currently positioned well in their division, with a razor-thin run differential of +1, scoring 88 runs while allowing 87. This tight margin underscores their competitive edge in both offense and defense. Financially robust with a $13 million revenue and a $7 million trade budget, the Dukes are well-equipped for strategic acquisitions to bolster their roster. Key performers such as Mike Miranda, who leads the pitching staff with a stellar 1.49 ERA, and veteran batter Francisco Fernandez, hitting .319, exemplify the balanced contributions from both the mound and the plate .
However, the Dukes face challenges that require attention. Despite their solid start, the pitching staff shows inconsistencies beyond their ace, with Brett Helvie and others needing to elevate their game to support a deeper playoff run. Defensively, the team is competent but has room for improvement, particularly in reducing errors and enhancing their fielding efficiency. Their conservative baserunning approach, with minimal stolen base attempts, puts the pressure squarely on their hitters to drive in runs. As they navigate the season, the Dukes must leverage their financial flexibility and fan support to address these areas and maintain their status as championship contenders .
The
Dallas Rustlers are off to a strong start in the 1981 season, boasting a 12-7 record and a promising .632 winning percentage. This performance marks a significant improvement from their lackluster 72-90 record in 1980. The team's early success is driven by a balanced combination of young talents and seasoned players. Key performers include Jose Castillo, Devon Barlow, and Cliff Barron, who are leading the charge offensively. Castillo is tearing it up with an OPS over 1.000, Barlow is excelling behind the plate and with a .910 OPS, and Barron provides power at the hot corner. The pitching staff, led by Gabriel Zayas, Anton Garay, and Warren Holster, is also showing promise, keeping the team's ERA respectable and managing to control the games effectively .
Financially, the Rustlers are in a stable position with a $4.5 million balance, which provides flexibility for mid-season acquisitions to strengthen their roster further. Despite some early-season injuries, the team has managed to maintain their performance, indicating good depth and resilience. The fanbase shows cautious optimism, with a 30-day uptick in interest and a stadium fill rate of 94%, though the overall enthusiasm is still measured. The Rustlers' combination of financial stability, a strong start, and a mix of promising young players and reliable veterans positions them well for a potential deep run in the Grand Tournament of Champions .
Detroit Dukes lead the series 110 - 88 | season series tied 0-0
Key players
Milestones:
DET – LF
Francisco Fernandez #80 needs 57 hits to reach 1500
RHP
Marcos Real #16 needs 22 saves to reach 200
RHP
Garret Brown #11 needs 10 games to reach 500.
DAL – 1B
Bill Parlier #30 needs 53 bases on balls to reach 1000.
All-Star Caliber:
Blue players:
DET - None
DAL - None
Green players:
DET - LF Francisco Fernandez #80 | Age: 37 | Bats: R | Throws: R
RF Ethan Harrison #28 | Age: 36 | Bats: L | Throws: L
DAL - None
The Game:
Welcome baseball fans to Dallas, Texas, home of the Dallas Rustlers. Today’s featured contest pits the home team against the Detroit Dukes of Detroit, Michigan, who are striving to improve their standings in the NBC Central Division. Both teams have demonstrated strong potential early in the season. The Dukes are looking to capitalize on their clutch hitting and moments of pitching brilliance, while the Rustlers aim to maintain their balanced approach and solidify their position in the division.
According to early season predictions, both teams are hungry for wins and determined to climb the division ranks… but alas sports fans, it's just April! The Rustlers are looking to build on their consistency, while the Dukes aim to gain momentum and rise in the standings. This matchup promises to be a thrilling contest between two competitive teams with their sights set on long-term success this season.
Today’s pitching matchup is RHP
Brett Helvie #47 [2-1 4.85] for Detroit and for the Rustlers RHP
Warren Holster #12 [1-0 4.82].
Hello, ABL fans, Big Earl here... coming to you live ... and in color from Dallas TX...! Welcome to Rustlers Grounds...! It's Weekday Series 4! Today we're witnessing an NBC Central Division matchup between... Ethan Harrison and the defending Grand Champion Detroit Dukes... versus... Bill Rambow and the Dallas Rustlers... This is Game One of a Four-Game Series
Attention! ... Attention please! ... ... Have your pencil ... and scorecards ready ... and I'll give you... the correct lineups ... for today's ball game.
First, for the visiting Detroit Dukes... Managed by Jose Perez... Batting first... playing center field... #1... Alex Diaz... Batting second... playing second base... #22... Luis Rios... Batting third... playing first base... #11... Juan Aranda... Batting clean-up... playing right field... #28... Ethan Harrison... Batting fifth... playing third base... #7... Roberto Rodriguez... Batting sixth... The designated hitter... #27... Mezian Ridha... Batting seventh... playing left field... #32... Tony King... Batting eighth... the shortstop... #9... Armando Garcia... Batting ninth... the catcher... #12... Jake Simper... The starting pitcher... for the Detroit Dukes... Right hander ... #47... Brett Helvie...
And now here is the starting lineup for the home-standing Dallas Rustlers... Managed by Brian Parsley... Batting first... playing center field... #56... Alex Moreno... Batting second... playing second base... #19... Jalen Smith... Batting third... the catcher... #13... Devon Barlow... Batting clean-up... playing right field... #84... Bill Rambow... Batting fifth... The designated hitter... #30... Bill Parlier... Batting sixth... playing first base... #1... Ray Swerdlove... Batting seventh... playing left field... #28... Yi Li... LF Batting eighth... playing third base... #4... Jose Castillo... Batting ninth... the shortstop... #24... John Thurston... The starting pitcher ... for the Dallas Rustlers... Right hander ... #12... Warren Holster...
We are about to get underway here at Rustlers Grounds Today's attendance looks in excess of 23,000 fans... It's cloudy, but a comfortable 71 degrees at first pitch ... with the wind blowing in from left at 12 mph ...
Play Ball!!
⚾
ABL
DETROIT DUKES @ DALLAS RUSTLERS
04/27/1981 Game 1 of 4
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TOP OF THE 1ST
Detroit Dukes batting - Pitching for Dallas Rustlers : RHP Warren Holster
Pitching: RHP Warren Holster
No Outs, Bases empty
Batting: RHB Alex Diaz
0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F
0-1: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7, EV 86.9 MPH)
1 Out, Bases empty
Batting: RHB Luis Rios
0-0: Foul Ball, location: 7LMF
0-1: Swinging Strike
0-2: Ball
1-2: Ball
2-2: SINGLE (Line Drive, 89M, EV 101.9 MPH)
1 Out, Runner on 1st
Batting: RHB Juan Aranda
0-0: Called Strike
0-1: Swinging Strike
0-2: Ball
1-2: Ball
2-2: Foul Ball, location: 5FF
2-2: DOUBLE (Flyball, 8RXD, EV 101.3 MPH)
Luis Rios to third
1 Out, Runners on 2nd & 3rd
Batting: LHB Ethan Harrison
0-0: Ball
1-0: Foul Ball, location: 3SF
1-1: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 78M, EV 98.1 MPH)
Runner from 3rd tags up, SCORES, no throw by LF
Dukes 1, Rustlers 0
2 Outs, Runner on 2nd
Batting: SHB Roberto Rodriguez
0-0: Ball
1-0: Called Strike
1-1: Swinging Strike
1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F
1-2: Ball
2-2: Strikes out swinging
Top of the 1st over - 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base; Detroit 1 - Dallas 0
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Well, there you have it... Let's take a look at the totals for the game. First for the victorious Detroit Dukes, 1 run, on 4 hits, No errors, they left 5 men on base. They improve their record to 13-7. for the Dallas Rustlers, No runs, on 5 hits, 2 errors, they left 10 men on base. They fall to 12-8.
The Detroit Dukes faced the Dallas Rustlers in a tightly contested match. Detroit took an early lead in the top of the first inning when Luis Rios singled, followed by Juan Aranda's double, allowing Ethan Harrison to drive in Rios with a fly out. Despite threatening in subsequent innings, Detroit couldn't extend their lead further. Dallas struggled to generate offense, managing only a single hit in the fourth inning by Bill Parlier. Detroit's pitcher, Brett Helvie, kept Dallas in check, scattering just a few hits and securing a crucial early run advantage for his team.
As the game progressed, Dallas had several opportunities to score but failed to capitalize. In the second inning, they left two runners on base, and in the eighth, they once again left two men stranded. Detroit's defense held strong, and their pitching staff, including a brief appearance by Jordan Allison, shut down the Rustlers' attempts to rally. The Dukes managed to maintain their slim lead throughout the game, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory. This win highlighted the importance of timely hitting and solid pitching, with Helvie's performance being a standout, successfully navigating through Dallas's lineup and ensuring Detroit's early run was enough for the win.
The winning pitcher is... Brett Helvie... his record improves to... 3-1... Jordan Allison gets the save... His sixth. Warren Holster gets the loss... His record falls to 1-1
The player of the game is Dukes starter Brett Helvie.
The paid attendance was 23,329 fans.
To recap...
Detroit pitcher Brett Helvie did his part in helping his team beat the Dallas Rustlers, 1-0. The right-hander kept opposing batters in check throughout the game. The winner was Helvie. He threw 7.2 innings of shutout ball. The loser was Warren Holster. The defeat makes Dallas 12-8. Ethan Harrison, who finished 4th in the NBC in OPS with 9 10 in 1972, had a direct impact on the outcome. Harrison contributed a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning to put Detroit up, 1-0. "Honestly, I'm not frustrated," said Dallas manager Brian Parsley. "The effort was great." Detroit improves to 13-7.
This is Big Earl signing off from Rustlers Grounds in Dallas. Where today's final score is...
Detroit Dukes 1 – Dallas Rustlers 0..
Until next time... This is the Game!
WIN!!
Note: The Minneapolis at Chicago game was postponed due to weather and will be replayed on April 28, 1981 as part of a doubleheader.
Real. Fictional. ⚾.
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