[Westheim]

Raccoons (89-66) @ Indians (78-77) – September 26-29, 2061

Last week, last chance to get a crippling knee injury before the start of the playoffs…! We had to play four in Indianapolis on the way to Milwaukee, with the Indians sixth in runs scored and third in runs allowed in the CL. The season series was still up for grabs, tied at seven at the start of play.

Projected matchups:
Nick Robinson (14-8, 3.00 ERA) vs. Zach Stewart (7-14, 4.55 ERA)
Justin DeRose (10-13, 4.69 ERA) vs. Jarod Morris (7-8, 2.96 ERA)
Chance Fox (11-9, 2.93 ERA) vs. Aaron Sciuto (7-12, 4.04 ERA)
Angel Alba (5-3, 4.19 ERA) vs. Antonio Pichardo (4-3, 1.98 ERA)

Left, right, left, right went the Indians. Justin DeRose was filling Bobby Herrera’s spot, who would be serving a suspension for the duration of the team’s stay in Indianapolis.

Game 1
POR: 2B Ortega – SS Lavorano – RF Brassfield – 1B Tomlin – C Perez – 3B N. Fox – CF Ayala – LF Kozak – P Robinson
IND: SS Kilday – CF R. Alvarez – 1B Starwalt – C A. Gomez – RF Lovins – 2B Ewers – LF O. Ramos – 3B Zucal – P Z. Stewart

The former Raccoon in the Indians uniform gave up two 2-out runs in the first inning; after Lonzo singled and Brass walked, both were driven in with a pair of 2-out singles by Angel Perez and Nick Fox. Robinson retired the first two Indians before allowing a double to left to Danny Starwalt, then issued THREE straight walks to force in Starwalt’s run before being kind enough to get a groundout from Orlando Ramos to end the inning.

While the dimwitted Raccoons went on to hit into three double plays across the next five innings and didn’t put a paw in scoring position, Stewart held the Indians to that one Starwalt hit until he gave up another Starwalt hit, a sixth-inning, game-tying homer to right-center. Robinson went on to hit a 1-out single in the top 7th before being forced out by Bernie Ortega grounding to short. With two outs, however, Ortega was getting an early start with Lonzo batting and driving a double into the gap in left-center, and came around to score the go-ahead run. Brass popped out to Roger Zucal to leave Lonzo in scoring position, and Robinson held the new 3-2 lead for one more inning before leaving the game. Top 8th, Perez and Fox went to the corners with 1-out knocks against right-hander Juan Carrillo before Joel Starr batted for Ayala and hit a sac fly to center. Caswell batted for Kozak, but grounded out meekly. Ricky Herrera held the 4-2 lead in the bottom 8th before being hit for Joey Christopher, who drew a leadoff walk in the ninth but was immediately forced out by Bernie Ortega. Lonzo and Brass singles loaded the bases. Cody Kleidon struck out Tomlin, but gave up an RBI single to right to Perez, tacking on one more run before Nick Fox’ groundout to second left the bases loaded. Matt Walters then removed the 3-4-5 batters in order with two strikeouts to end the game. 5-2 Raccoons. Lavorano 3-5, 2B, RBI; Brassfield 2-4, BB; Perez 4-5, 2B, 2 RBI; N. Fox 2-5, RBI; Ayala 1-2; Robinson 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, W (15-8) and 1-3;

We out-hit Danny Starwalt, 15-2. No other Indian got on base with a knock.

Game 2
POR: LF B. Morris – SS Lavorano – CF Caswell – RF Brassfield – 1B Starr – 3B Fowler – C Fuller – 2B Bean – P DeRose
IND: 2B M. Weber – CF R. Alvarez – SS Kilday – 1B Starwalt – RF Lovins – C A. Gomez – LF B. Johnston – 3B Zucal – P Jar. Morris

DeRose had pitched on the weekend, so was on short rest, but it wasn’t like anybody expected him to go the distance or not get punched across the snout. The Raccoons found two more double plays to hit into and thus scored no runs from their five base knocks in the first four frames, at which point Danny Starwalt finally got hold of DeRose and smashed a solo jack over the fence in right. Tim Fuller was nicked by Jarod Morris to begin the top 5th then, while Bean popped out and DeRose failed to get a bunt down until he had finally struck out. Ben Morris to the rescue – with a home run over the rightfield wall of his own, flipping the score to 2-1 Critters.

DeRose then got stuck in the bottom 5th as Zucal hit a leadoff single and he then ran three long counts against Morris, Mike Weber, and Ricardo Alvarez, issuing a 2-out walk to the last in that group. Elijah LaBat – himself just coming off a suspension – entered as replacement and got a groundout from .370 hitter Matt Kilday to Jon Bean to keep the two runners on base. Jarod Morris meanwhile had not issued a walk in the first five innings, which made it that more odd when he walked the bags full with the 4-5-6 batters and nobody out in the top 6th. Even odder: Tim Fuller pouncing at once and killing Morris’ outing with a screamer into the gap and a bases-clearing double, 5-1! Shane Fitzgibbon replaced Jarod Morris, got two outs, then walked Ben Morris and gave up an RBI single to Lonzo. The runners pulled off a naughty double steal – with Ben Morris reaching 50 stolen bases for the year – then scored both on a Caswell single to left that sent Fitzgibbon to bed as well. Ex-Coon Hyun-soo Bak rung up Brassfield to get out of the inning after six runs were scored.

The Coons were not done scoring, though. Right-hander Dave Corrao walked Brass and allowed a single to Starr in the ninth inning, then was taken deep with a 435-footer smashed by Tim Fuller, his second 3-RBI bash of the game. The Raccoons collected the remaining outs without accident from LaBat, Erickson, Aaron Harris, and Barton, who allowed a total of one base hit to the Indians while covering the last 4.1 innings. 11-1 Critters! Morris 3-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Lavorano 3-5, 2B, RBI; Starr 3-4, BB; Fuller 2-4, HR, 2B, 6 RBI;

Lonzo stole two bases in this game, giving him 46 for the year, not anywhere near the CL lead, and not even the leader on his own team, but he was now just four away with his career total from Coons legend “Berto” Ramos. Since there were only five games remaining and Lonzo was due at least one more off day, it was probably not something he’d accomplish this year.

Game 3
POR: 2B Ortega – SS Lavorano – RF Brassfield – 1B Tomlin – 3B N. Fox – CF Ayala – LF Kozak – C Arellano – P C. Fox
IND: SS Kilday – CF R. Alvarez – 1B Starwalt – C A. Gomez – RF Lovins – 2B Ewers – LF B. Johnston – 3B Zucal – P Sciuto

Final regular season start for Foxie Brown, and it didn’t look like it would be a good one. First, there were dark clouds overhead that would begin to empty as early as the third inning, and even before that the Indians hit three sharp singles (and more sharp balls for outs) in the first inning; finally, he bunted to force out Marcos Arellano after the catcher’s leadoff single in the third inning, then as punishment had to run hard to score from second base after both Bernie Ortega and Lonzo hit 1-out singles, taking a 1-0 lead. A right-center gap triple by Brassfield and a well-placed groundout by Tomlin added three more runs to run the score to 4-0.

There was a 30-minute rain delay after the third inning, but both pitchers initially continued after that. The Raccoons knocked out Sciuto in the fifth with straight 1-out singles by Lonzo, Brass, and Tomlin, the latter scoring Lonzo to increase the lead to 5-0. Fitzgibbon then restored order by getting Nick Fox and Ayala out. But Chance Fox also wouldn’t finish five innings, getting swatted around in the bottom 5th. Bryan Johnston, Roger Zucal, and Mike Weber hit three singles inside his first six pitches, plating one run, and Ricardo Alvarez added a second run with a sac fly after Kilday had grounded out. Starwalt’s RBI single up the middle reduced the score to 5-3 and was the end for Fox, who left to be replaced by Ryan Sullivan, who waved another run across on Alex Gomez’ RBI double on an 0-2 pitch. Chris Lovins grounded out, leaving the Raccoons with a skinny 5-4 lead.

Marcos Arellano’s first career-homer was a 2-piece in the sixth, following Kozak reaching base with a soft single, and increased the lead to 7-4 again, after which Mike Abrams, Justin Rocco, and Bryan Erickson took it upon themselves to explode for a NINE-spot in the bottom 6th. Abrams got one out for two hits allowed, while Rocco was bashed around for five hits and a wild pitch for one precious out, and Erickson added a wild pitch, a single, and a 3-run homer by Bryan Johnston, at which point – down 13-7 – the ball was given to J.J. Sensabaugh, since the game literally couldn’t get any worse anymore. He got the last seven outs needed for no hits allowed (but three walks), while the Raccoons never even feigned a rally. 13-7 Indians. Lavorano 3-5, RBI; Brassfield 2-4, BB, 3B, 2 RBI; Tomlin 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Arellano 2-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI; Morris (PH) 1-1; Sensabaugh 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K and 1-1;

Well, that was rough. 13 runs in two innings.

Game 4
POR: LF B. Morris – RF Christopher – CF Caswell – 1B Starr – C Perez – SS Fowler – 3B N. Fox – 2B Bean – P Alba
IND: 2B M. Weber – CF R. Alvarez – SS Kilday – 1B Starwalt – RF Lovins – C A. Gomez – LF O. Ramos – 3B Zucal – P Pichardo

Neither side appeared to get much of a paw up in the early innings until Pichardo hit a 2-out single off Alba, who so far had retired eight in a row, and now served up a 2-run homer to Mike Weber for the first markers on the board. Cas singled to get the Raccoons into the H column with one out in the fourth, but was immediately doubled up by Joel Starr. Perez and Fowler opened the fifth with a pair of singles up the middle, and Nick Fox also landed a base hit into centerfield, beating Ricardo Alvarez’ range for an RBI double that put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Jon Bean was walked intentionally to get a K from Alba, but Picardo then also lost Ben Morris on balls and that forced in the tying run. Portland took a 3-2 lead on Joe-Chris’ sac fly, but Cas grounded out to Zucal to leave two stranded.

The Indians again scored with their 9-1 batters heavily involved in the process in the bottom 5th. Zucal hit a 2-out single, and Pichardo’s floater to center was mishandled and dropped by Caswell, putting a pair in scoring position there, too. Alba plated the tying run with a wild pitch before walking Weber before Alvarez grounded out to Nick Fox… Alba was then roughed up for another three runs in the bottom 6th, serving up a go-ahead homer to Starwalt (…) with Kilday on base before allowing a double to Lovins and waving that run around as well. The very annoying Pichardo next hit a leadoff double against Ricky Herrera in the bottom 7th and would come around to score there as well on Kilday’s 2-out single to center. 7-3 Indians. Perez 2-4;

Good, boys, sucking your way into the right groove to face the Loggers…!

Raccoons (91-68) @ Loggers (59-100) – September 30-October 2, 2061

Said Loggers had already rumbled to their 100th loss of the season, but still held an 8-7 edge in the season series. They were just vexingly unplayable with their second-fewest runs scored and second-most runs allowed, and their -176 run differential!

Projected matchups:
Tyler Riddle (12-5, 2.95 ERA) vs. Larry Wilson (4-8, 4.74 ERA)
Bobby Herrera (13-8, 3.21 ERA) vs. Bob Ruggiero (11-10, 4.46 ERA)
Nick Robinson (15-8, 2.98 ERA) vs. Oliver Graham (3-11, 5.27 ERA)

That was probably the order in which we wanted our pitchers for the playoffs, plus Chance Fox. The Loggers were only expected to send up right-handers.

Game 1
POR: LF Morris – SS Lavorano – 1B Starr – RF Brassfield – C Perez – 3B Fowler – 2B Bean – CF Ayala – P Riddle
MIL: CF Franks – LF Garmon – 1B D. Robles – SS F. Carrera – 3B D. Miller – C M. Chavez – RF Milian – 2B Loftis – P L. Wilson

Wilson didn’t last one inning, leaving with arm trouble after allowing a run to score through a leadoff walk to Morris and a Brass RBI single. Matt Green, also right-handed, replaced him and gave up two more 2-out singles to Perez and Fowler, and one more run. Green walked the bags full in the second inning and gave up a 2-out, 2-run single to Brassfield before being yoinked for ex-Coon Julian Dunn, who grounded out Perez, then filled the bases in the fourth by allowing a set of singles to Riddle, Lonzo, and Starr, bringing up Brassfield again, this time with one out, but this time his fly to shallow center was caught by Scott Franks and not good enough to get a pitcher home from third base. Dunn then walked Perez with the bases loaded to force in a run anyway before Fowler flew out to David Milian.

Riddle was far from having a clean game, being slapped around for seven base hits in the first five innings, but the Loggers only got one run in the fourth inning when ex-Coon Marcos Chavez drove in Danny Miller before him and Milian, who singled, were left on base. In the end the Loggers got him for nine hits in 6.2 innings, but only the one run. Ralph Lange opened the bottom 7th with a leadoff single, but was doubled up by Franks, after which Riddle departed. Ruben Mendez collected four outs after him, and Ryan Sullivan finished out the game despite allowing a sharp leadoff single to Milian and a balk in the bottom 9th. 5-1 Raccoons. Lavorano 2-4, BB; Brassfield 2-4, 3 RBI; Riddle 6.2 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (13-5) and 2-3, BB;

Game 2
POR: LF Morris – SS Lavorano – CF Caswell – 1B Tomlin – 3B Fowler – C Fuller – 2B Bean – RF Christopher – P B. Herrera
MIL: CF Franks – 2B Garmon – SS F. Carrera – 1B D. Robles – RF D. Wright – 3B D. Miller – LF Reder – C M. Reed – P Ruggiero

Corey Garmon singled home Phil Reder and Mark Reed with two outs in the bottom 3rd, which was the first runs in the game, half an inning after Joe-Chris got on base, stole second base, and then went for home on Herrera’s single to center – but was thrown out by Franks. Those were the only runs in the first five innings, but the Raccoons came up with a 1-out walk drawn by Ben Morris in the sixth, and he would indeed score on a triple that Lonzo stuck into the leftfield corner. Cas couldn’t get the tying run home with a weak grounder to first base, but Tomlin lobbed a ball over Fidel Carrera to get Lonzo in with a 2-out single, tying the game at two. Fowler grounded out to keep it there, but Joe-Chris socked a homer over the fence in left in the seventh for a 3-2 lead.

Tipsy Bobby went seven, then hoped for some insurance in the top 8th, in which a Carrera error put Lonzo on base. He stole his 47th base of the year, but that was probably too late to think about tying Berto by tomorrow. He was left on base, however, and Carrera tried to make up for his mistake with a 2-out single off LaBat in the bottom 8th, but was left on when Morris snatched a fly Dave Robles – bidding for his 30th homer of the season – hit to deep left off Paul Barton. The Loggers didn’t get on against Walters in the ninth and were thus denied a season series win. 3-2 Raccoons. Christopher 2-3, HR, RBI; B. Herrera 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, W (14-8) and 1-3;

Game 3
POR: CF Christopher – SS Lavorano – 1B Starr – RF Brassfield – C Perez – 3B N. Fox – 2B Bean – LF Kozak – P Robinson
MIL: CF Franks – LF Garmon – 1B D. Robles – SS F. Carrera – 3B D. Miller – C M. Chavez – RF Lock – 2B Loftis – P O. Graham

Oliver Graham managed to throw a 1-2 fastball into Joey Christopher’s foot and breaking it right at the start of the game – just imagine if that had been Ben Morris leading off…! As it was, Caswell was taking over the leadoff spot. Lonzo hit a single and Starr walked, after Christopher hobbled off with Luis Silva, but Brass whiffed. Perez’ RBI single put the Coons on the board, and a second run scored on Nick Fox’ groundout, but Bean’s grounder ended the inning. The Loggers threatened in the second inning, where they got a pair in scoring position with Carrera and Miller before Robinson struck out two, was instructed to put the righty Jeremy Loftis on base, and then struck out Graham; and again in the fourth, then with Chavez and Matt Lock going to the corners, but Loftis now struck out to end the inning.

Top 5th, Cas doubled to left to begin the inning. Lonzo flew out, Starr walked, and Brass singled to center, with Franks bobbling the ball for an error, allowing Cas to score uncontested. The remaining runners went into scoring position on the bobble, and Angel Perez was intentionally walked to fill them up. Nick Fox brought in a run with a groundout for the second time in the game. Graham was lifted after this, down 4-0, and Matt Green got the last out here from Bean, but then disappeared in the tunnel with the Loggers trainer and was also out of the game with an injury.

While Dave Robles got that 30th homer off Robinson with a solo jack in the bottom 6th, 4-1, the Loggers also put Chavez and Lock on the corners again before Loftis popped out to keep them stranded. Robinson got two more outs, finishing his regular season with a K to Scott Franks before departing after 105 pitches. Erickson got a singular out on a Garmon pop to complete the seventh. Top 8th, ex-Coon Raul Medrano allowed singles to Bean and Forbes Tomlin, then got burned when Caswell struck a ball into the leftfield corner with two outs and a 3-2 count, easily allowing the runners to score on the double. Lonzo added an RBI single against Ricky Pippin, then was run for with Fowler, who took over at short after Starr flew out to left to end the inning.

The Coons sent Barton into the 7-1 game for the bottom 8th, which soon became dicey. Carrera homered to right, and Miller, Lock, and Loftis all got on base, plating another run and prompting another move to the pen to get Ricky H. once Phil Reder pinch-hit in the #9 hole. Morris ran down Reder’s fly to left-center to end the inning and strand a pair. Julian Dunn answered with a run in the top 9th, allowing three singles and throwing a wild pitch with the bases loaded to extend the lead to five runs again. It was still a save chance for Ricky Herrera, though, who returned to the hill in the bottom 9th, but gave up a leadoff triple in the right-center gap to Scott Franks. Garmon popped out to Bean. Robles popped out to Tomlin at first base. And Carrera popped out to Nick Fox in foul ground…! 8-3 Raccoons! Caswell 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Lavorano 2-5, RBI; Brassfield 3-4, BB, RBI; Arellano (PH) 1-1; Tomlin (PH) 2-2; Robinson 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, W (16-8); R. Herrera 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, SV (5);

In other news

September 26 – Only three total hits are landed in the Titans’ 1-0 win against the Crusaders, and none of them in the game-deciding first-inning run that comes together on three walks and a sac fly hit by BOS RF/LF Andy Lee (.263, 14 HR, 65 RBI). New York gets two singles, and BOS INF Diego Mendoza (.269, 13 HR, 64 RBI) lands the only base hit for Boston.
September 26 – Scorpions SP Jay Everett (6-8, 4.88 ERA) goes seven scoreless and drives in the only run in a 1-0 win against the Pacifics with a 2-out RBI single against LAP SP Dave Robinson (5-7, 3.39 ERA), who pitches a 3-hitter in a complete-game loss.
September 28 – Miners 1B Kevin Price (.288, 11 HR, 63 RBI) has hit in 20 straight games with an eighth-inning single in a 7-1 loss to the Cyclones.
September 29 – The Capitals clinch the FL East with a 4-2 win over the Blue Sox.
September 30 – The playoff field is completed by the Warriors winning the FL West with a 3-2 win against the Gold Sox.
September 30 – NYC SP Jose Ortega (10-12, 2.61 ERA) throws a 3-hit shutout to beat the Canadiens, 5-0.
October 1 – PIT 3B Juan Ojeda (.314, 1 HR, 43 RBI) goes 3-for-6 in a 13-inning, 8-6 win against the Buffaloes and reaches 2,000 career hits. Just shy of 34 years old, Ojeda is a career .293/.326/.371 hitter with 24 HR, 626 RBI, and 364 SB. The milestone is a single off TOP SP Pablo Lara (13-10, 3.15 ERA).
October 1 – In the same game, the hitting streak of PIT 1B Kevin Price (.286, 12 HR, 65 RBI) ends at 21 games.
October 1 – DEN CL David Hardaway (2-5, 3.16 ERA, 34 SV) puts up his 400th career save in a 9-7 win against the Warriors. The 37-year-old 3-time CL Reliever of the Year, who is in his first season outside the Knights organization since 2043, has a career 2.85 ERA with 83-68 record and 908 K in 1,018.1 innings.
October 2 – Terrible blow suffered by the playoff-bound Bayhawks on Closing Day, as 24-year-old LF Grant Anker (.305, 35 HR, 146 RBI) breaks his arm in a meaningless game and will miss the playoffs.

FL Hitter of the Month: SFW 1B Miguel Medina (.294, 31 HR, 125 RBI), socking .364 with 8 HR, 25 RBI
CL Hitter of the Month: SFB 2B/LF Armando Montoya (.304, 21 HR, 121 RBI), swatting .417 with 7 HR, 28 RBI
FL Pitcher of the Month: NAS SP Juan Sanchez (17-8, 3.03 ERA), going 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA, 33 K
CL Pitcher of the Month: LVA SP Steve Hunter (14-7, 3.04 ERA), hurling for a 5-1 mark with 2.25 ERA, 33 K
FL Rookie of the Month: SAC SP Danny Ortiz (11-5, 4.53 ERA), a perfect 6-0 with a 4.99 ERA, 19 K
CL Rookie of the Month: OCT C Steve Preston (.346, 6 HR, 41 RBI), hitting .385 with 2 HR, 15 RBI

Complaints and stuff

Okay. I was ready to concede the CLCS right away to the Bayhawks, but the offense finally picked it up again, and then Grant Anker broke his arm on Closing Day, which just casually removed the probable Player of the Year from their lineup. I mean, they still have two guys with 110+ RBI, but that’s a huuuuuuge L!

And I was gonna cry over Joey Christopher, a bench bat!

The Raccoons finished the year without losing a season series against a division rival (but don’t ask how those Baybirds games went). We won 14 each against New York and Boston, 10 each against the damn Elks and the Loggers, and split the series with the Indians. The last time we managed to tie or win the series against all five division rivals was in 2048, and the last time we won all five of them was in 2028. Both those years were pennant seasons. We did the “all W or draws” in 2038 as well, however, but that year went bloody nowhere.

Now it’s about resting for a day or two, a trip to the Bay of Evil, and figure out what to do with the roster for the CLCS.

Fun Fact: Lonzo will start the new season in 2062 three stolen bases behind good old Berto Ramos.

Lonzo stole 12 bases in the last quarter and 47 for the year and kept outdoing the competition near and far. Vasquez got only one more base in the last quarter and just seven for the entire year. Omar Sanchez took six more before hitting the DL late in the season, and Danny Ceballos got three. Navarro didn’t steal any more bases, losing his spot in the lineup to 26-year-old sophomore Justin Finnegan in September.

1st – Pablo Sanchez (HOF) – 721
2nd – Enrique “Cosmo” Trevino (HOF) – 708
3rd – Guillermo Obando (HOF) – 686
4th – Alberto “Berto” Ramos (HOF) – 677
5th – Lorenzo Lavorano (active) – 674
6th – Alex Vasquez (active) – 650
7th – Rich de Luna – 570
8th – Omar Sanchez (active) – 558
9th – Danny Ceballos (active) – 527
10th – Chris Navarro (active) – 516

If Lonzo could put up another 47 stolen bases next year, he’d tie Pablo Sanchez for the all-time lead!