[Westheim]

Raccoons (33-22) @ Indians (32-23) – June 6-9, 2072

The Raccoons brought a tender 1-game lead to Indy (stemming wholly from our 2-1 lead in the season series), and so needed to split the 4-game series to not lose it to the Indians. Indy ranked fifth in runs scored and sixth in runs allowed for a +27 run differential (Coons: +7). Andy Sciutto and Nate Marazzo were out injured, and the team wasn’t ranking in the top OR bottom three in any major category.

Projected matchups:
Nick Walla (6-1, 2.97 ERA) vs. Mike DeWitt (4-6, 4.68 ERA)
Steve George (2-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. Jorge Flores (4-2, 3.68 ERA)
Crispino D’Urso (4-3, 3.56 ERA) vs. Pablo Apodaca (3-7, 3.59 ERA)
Jimmy Wharton (6-4, 3.88 ERA) vs. Victor Perez (6-2, 4.08 ERA)

Left, right, left, right – the Indians would send a different-handed starter every day in this series.

Game 1
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – 1B V.D. Morales – CF Hamel – RF van Otterdijk – 3B Gonzales – C Brown – P Walla
IND: 3B Ma. Martin – SS Valadez – CF Hilario – 1B Ma. Rogers – 2B W. Richmond – LF T. Torres – C A. Morris – RF Layell – P DeWitt

Humph doubled and scored after a Yocum groundout and Katz’ sac fly in the first inning, while Matt Martin legged out an infield single to begin the bottom 1st, then legged out his own leg on the base paths. Batting just .200 even with the single, he’d head for the DL after the game with a mild hamstring strain, and was replaced in the game by Cesar Pena. Even without Martin, the Indy lineup was very much leaning left-handed, and Walla had his troubles with long counts and plenty of base runners. The Indians tied the game in the bottom 3rd after getting leadoff singles from both Brian Layell and DeWitt, then two productive outs if nothing else. They loaded the bases in the fourth inning, including an intentional walk to Layell with two outs, so that Walla could strike out the pitcher to bugger out of the inning. While the Coons had only three hits through five innings, Walla tumbled through five on a lofty 83 pitches, and then had to stagger around an infield single by Walter Richmond to begin the bottom 6th. Tony Torres forced out the faster runner and then remained on base, but Guillermo Lujan batted for the pitcher and hit another single to begin the seventh. Walla got a groundout from Pena, then was removed in a double-switch along with Edgar Gonzales for Gabriel Rios and Nick Luebbert. Fernando Valadez lined out to left and Jose Hilario grounded out sharply to Luebbert to keep Walla’s run on base and give him a no-decision.

When right-handed catcher J.P. Jack batted for Matt Rogers to begin the bottom 8th, the Raccoons went to Holzmeister, and soon regretted it. Holzmeister walked the pinch-hitter, allowed a single to Richmond, threw not one, but *two* wild pitches, giving Indy the lead, and then walked Torres, too. Cam Jackson inherited a collapsing baseball game, saw Torres steal second while ringing up Andy Morris, then walked Layell, had Richmond score on a passed ball, Torres score on PH Scott Franks’ single, and when Franks was caught stealing, walked Pena. He, too, was yanked, and Rismiller got the third out of the inning on Valadez’ fly out to right.

The Coons entered the ninth inning trailing 4-1, then faced ex-Coon Josh C(arrington). Katz drew a leadoff walk, but Morales and Hamel made poor outs. LeVan batted for the Otter and raked a 2-out triple, then scored on Woodley’s pinch-hit RBI single. Brown singled to right, and Gabe Rivas batted for Luebbert… and struck out. 4-3 Indians. LeVan (PH) 1-1, 3B, RBI; Woodley (PH) 1-1, RBI; Brown 3-4;

Jason Holzmeister (1-2, 7.11 ERA, 4 SV) found himself and his 6.2 BB/9 on waivers after this game. Noah Newhard returned from AAA as replacement.

Game 2
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – SS Katzman – RF V.D. Morales – C Rivas – 1B Woodley – 3B Gonzales – CF LeVan – P George
IND: 2B W. Richmond – C A. Morris – CF Hilario – 1B Ma. Rogers – SS Valadez – LF T. Torres – RF Layell – 3B C. Pena – P Jo. Flores

The Indians continued to plonk an annoying amount of singles, including Hilario reaching on an infield single in the first inning. They scored a 3-spot on George in the second inning, as Valadez walked, and Torres, Pena, and Richmond all snapped singles. Pena drove in Valadez with the go-ahead run, and Richmond tacked on two more with two gone. Morris grounded out to end the bottom 2nd, and the Raccoons then got a first-pitch double from Gonzales to begin the third inning. He advanced on a wild pitch and scored on LeVan’s single to right. George’s bunted was misfielded by Flores to put him on base, too, and the runners advanced on Humph’s groundout after nine pitches and a full count against Flores, who then walked Yocum in another full count. Bases full, one out, Katz grounded to third base, but Pena only got the out at second, the defense being too slow to turn the double play, and another run scored, but Morales flew out to Layell to leave the tying and go-ahead runs on the corners.

LeVan hit another single to begin the fifth, then stole second inning. He got to third on George’s groundout, and Flores walked Humph. Come on, boys. Get that tying run home! Yocum grounded one over to Richmond then, but again the Indians infield couldn’t turn the double play, and conceded the tying run to score – barely. Yocum stole second and Katz hit an infield single with two down, but Morales again stranded runners on the corners with another fly out to Layell. George held the tie at this point, while Woodley put the go-ahead run in scoring position again by doubling to left in the sixth inning… and then he left the game with visible discomfort. Morales moved in to play first base, while the Otter took over rightfield and pinch-ran, but was left on base by Gonzales and George (LeVan being intentionally walked). The Raccoons FINALLY managed to take the lead in the seventh on a solo homer by Katz, 4-3…!

Steve George then had the leadoff man on base in both the seventh (Torres) and eighth (Richmond) innings. Three straight outs stranded Torres, while George was lifted for McMahan after Morris and Hilario made productive outs to shift the tying run to third base. The Indians countered with Alex Gomez to pinch-hit, and a sharp single to center fell in and tied the ******* ballgame.

On to the ninth, and McFarland led off the ninth, having entered in another Gonzales-removing double-switch along with McMahan in the prior half-inning. He dished a liner into the right-center gap, all the way to the wall, and rushed to third base on a leadoff triple against lefty Ryan Croft! The Raccoons then spectacularly didn’t score despite getting nothing but good counts against Croft, who walked Humph, popped out Yocum, got Katz to ground out to third to pin the runner, and then Morales continued to not get anybody – dead or alive – across home plate and flew out to Torres. The Indians were then just as bad in the bottom 9th, getting leadoff singles from Torres (run for by Lujan) and Layell against Newhard… and stranded them in scoring postion.

Vinny Morales got the ball in extra innings to play until the bitter end, probably, even though when Katz left the game with another injury on Scott Masterson’s groundout ending the bottom 10th, that was bitter, but not the end. Luebbert replaced him for the remainder of the game. Before long, we were in the 13th, and Jack Hamel hacked a 1-out double off Justin Esch from the #7 spot (Vinny had led off the inning grounding out). LeVan was walked intentionally, and the Raccoons were not played like that and sent them for the double steal, which somehow surprised the Indians battery of Esch and Morris. With runners in scoring position, McFarland fell to 0-2, then shanked a ball through makeshift first baseman Alex Gomez, 37-year-old catcher, for a double and to score both runners. Humph singled, McFarland scored on Yocum’s groundout, and Luebbert flew out. Valentin then got the ball for bottom of the inning, along with the 3-run lead. Hilario singled on a 1-2 pitch, but the next three batters all struck out to end the game. 7-4 Raccoons. Katzman 2-5, HR, 2 RBI; Gonzales 2-4, 2B; LeVan 2-4, 2 BB, RBI; McFarland 2-3, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI; Vin. Morales 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, W (1-4);

Vinny and Valentin both struck out three. The three pitchers used in regulation had only three strikeouts between them (one for George and two for Newhard).

Injury report: Josh Woodley had a mild hammy tweak that would keep him out of a couple of games, but wouldn’t send him to the DL.

And after 13 games of furiously raking .333 with five homers, Katz was back to the DL with a biceps strain and probably wouldn’t come back before the All Star Game.

(buries face in paws)

Excellent defensive INF Omar Vigil, who had just turned 22 and had batted .270 for the Alley Cats, was called up for his major league debut. He was understandably beaming about the occasion, but I snarled at him in the clubhouse on Wednesday, because he wasn’t Katz, and I wanted Katz at short.

**** my life…..

Game 3
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – CF Hamel – 1B V.D. Morales – RF van Otterdijk – 3B Gonzales – C Rivas – SS McFarland – P D’Urso
IND: 2B W. Richmond – C A. Morris – CF Hilario – 1B Ma. Rogers – SS Valadez – LF T. Torres – RF Layell – 3B C. Pena – P Apodaca

Brian Layell and Gabe Rivas hit home runs the first time through, but unfortunately Rivas’ was a solo deed and Layell’s followed a single hit by Valadez off Crispy Bear, and the Indians had a 2-1 lead after three innings. But Apodaca was struggling with command and walked Hamel on four pitches in the fourth inning, and while V.D. Morales remained upsettingly useless and grounded out, the Otter knelled a game-tying, 2-out RBI double into the left-center gap to get the Coons even again. Gonzales whiffed, and then Crispy Bear was behind EVERY one of numerous batters in the bottom of the same inning. Rogers got a leadoff walk in a full count, Valadez singled in a full count, and Torres brought in the go-ahead run with a groundout in a full count. Layell then walked on four pitches. Bases loaded, Pena singled to right on 2-0, but Torres was thrown out at the plate by the Otter, and Apodaca grounded out to keep the score at 4-2.

After two more full counts, a hit batter (Morris), and an RBI triple by Rogers, D’Urso departed after five ghastly innings. Rismiller gave up another run in the sixth, and the Coons trailed by a slam. Humph and Morales hit singles in the top 6th, but were left on base, and both were on base again in the eighth inning, but then with Hamel in between them, bringing up the Otter with two gone. Ryan Croft came in for this occasion, but gave up an RBI single, and then was replaced with Esch. LeVan batted for Gonzales, who seemed to be signed part-time since he left every game after seven innings now, but grounded out.

Cam Jackson held the game close and the Raccoons had the tying run back at the dish in no time in the ninth inning thanks to Josh C walking both Rivas and McFarland. Luebbert was in the #9 hole already and hit into a fielder’s choice, and Humph popped out. Yocum fanned to end the game. 6-3 Indians. Van Otterdijk 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI;

V.D. got dropped in the lineup on Thursday, and Vigil made his ABL debut after not getting into this sad-sack loss.

Game 4
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – C Rivas – RF Hamel – CF LeVan – 1B V.D. Morales – 3B Gonzales – SS Vigil – P Wharton
IND: LF W. Richmond – SS Valadez – CF Hilario – C A. Morris – 1B Ma. Rogers – RF T. Torres – 2B Masterson – 3B C. Pena – P V. Perez

Humph and Yocum got on base to begin the fourth game of the series, but Rivas hit into a double play and Hamel whiffed to prevent an early offensive success. Rivas and Hamel were just as useless with Humph and Yocum on the corners and one out in the third inning, popping out in the shallow outfield the both of them, and in between Gonzales had struck a triple with two out, nobody on, an with no help from the debutant behind him. That made already five left on base in three innings. The Indians left nobody on base the first time through against Jimmyboy, who allowed a single to Rogers, who got caught stealing in the second inning.

Gonzales hit into a double play in the fourth after Morales walked to finally leave clean and tidy bases behind, and Vigil got drilled by Perez to begin the fifth, which probably wasn’t how little Omar had dreamed up his ABL debut as a kid in the Dominican Republic. He was left on base after a bunt and two more pops.

The Indians then had enough of this stupid team and took a 1-0 lead on Andy Morris’ homer to left in the bottom 5th, then beat Jimmy Wharton’s skull in for five more in the sixth inning. There was no bad luck or subtlety about it. Valadez tripled, Hilario walked, Morris bashed a 2-run double, and once two were out, Torres homers, and Masterson, Pena, and Perez all reached base, Perez driving in the sixth run with a first-pitch single. Rios then struck out Richmond to end the ******* inning. The Raccoons’ token run came late and on the first ABL hit of Omar Vigil, singling home Morales for no greater good. 6-1 Indians. Humphries 2-3, BB;

Raccoons (34-25) vs. Stars (33-27) – June 10-12, 2072

Dallas had the highest batting average and the best offense in the Federal League, but we’d get them out of their shoebox and have them murder us in Portland instead. They also allowed the second-most runs but had a +14 run differential at least. Their rotation was the worst in the sport by ERA, but they’d get three easy games here – at least the remains of it, as Stewart Doubleday, Steven Fenstermacher, and Bobby Marceau were all out for the season and so the rotation contained a lot of replacement flitter. Antonio Mendez, infielder, was ALSO out for the season. The last meeting in 2071, the Coons had won two of three games.

Projected matchups:
Tony Gaytan (3-3, 4.76 ERA) vs. Adam Johnson (3-0, 2.57 ERA)
Nick Walla (6-1, 2.85 ERA) vs. Ian Peters (1-4, 5.68 ERA)
Steve George (2-0, 2.48 ERA) vs. Cody Childress (1-1, 11.57 ERA)

Three right-handed starters, including the former Critter Childress, who still looked out of his depth in the majors.

Game 1
DAL: RF Jad. Wilson – LF M. Little – CF Stockton – C Varner – SS Hills – 3B Schomer – 1B Bursley – 2B Corpus – P A. Johnson
POR: LF Humphries – 2B Yocum – CF LeVan – RF Hamel – C Brown – 1B V.D. Morales – 3B Gonzales – SS McFarland – P Gaytan

Dallas’ Dallas Stockton and Steve Varner did damage inside the park with a pair of 2-out doubles off Gaytan to give the visitors a quick 1-0 lead in the opener, but the Raccoons tied it up on straight hits by the 2-3-4 batters in the bottom of the inning. Brown lined out, but Morales walked. Gonzales then singled to center to get LeVan home with the go-ahead run, but Hamel was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Even with a 2-1 lead, the Raccoons found ways to look like idiots. Gaytan bunted into a force play in the second inning, and Brown smacked a grounder into a double play in the third, all while I was waiting for that #1 offense to show up. But Dallas looked out of sorts, and didn’t get another hit until Alex Corpus legged out an infield single in the fifth inning and was left on base. Another former Raccoon, Brian Hills hit a leadoff double in the seventh inning, but strikeouts to Jon Schomer and Josh Bursley, and Corpus being held to an infield single by Gonzales held him at third base, and then Johnson popped out to end the inning.

So the Critters staggered on, having Morales caught stealing in the sixth before McFarland had a 2-out hit and was left on base. Humph reached on a soft single to begin the bottom 7th, but couldn’t get a steal off. Yocum’s grounder got him to second… and then TWO wild pitches by Johnson got him home with the insurance run. Johnson then walked LeVan, but Hamel hit into a double play…

The insurance then disappeared when Matt Little homered off Gaytan in the eighth inning, reducing the score to 3-2, although Gaytan then survived more deep fly balls by Stockton and Varner to get out of the inning. Bottom 8th, Alex Quevedo pitched for Dallas and shoveled the bags full with the 5-6-7 batters and nobody out. McFarland snapped an RBI single to center, 4-2, before Rivas pinch-hit into a force at the plate and Humphries flew out to right. Gonzales tagged, went, and was thrown out by twice-a-Coon Jaden Wilson. Valentin then struck out the side in order. 4-2 Raccoons. Humphries 2-5; Yocum 2-4, 2B; V.D. Morales 2-2, 2 BB; Gonzales 2-4, RBI; McFarland 3-4, 2B, RBI; Gaytan 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (4-4);

Woodley was back in the lineup and V.D. got a day off on Saturday, as did Yocum.

Game 2
DAL: RF Da. Wright – 1B M. Medina – CF Stockton – C Varner – SS Hills – 3B Schomer – LF Jad. Wilson – 2B Corpus – P Peters
POR: LF Humphries – CF LeVan – RF Hamel – 1B Woodley – C Rivas – 3B Gonzales – SS McFarland – 2B Vigil – P Walla

Dallas’ Dallas Stockton singled and was caught stealing in the first inning before the Raccoons scored a run without making an out as Humph got on base by having a breaking ball by Peters tickle his uniform buttons, LeVan reached on an infield single, and then Hamel hit an RBI single to center. Woodley punched a 2-run double to right, then was left stranded. Vigil walking, LeVan’s RBI single, and a 2-run homer by Hamel doubled the lead in the second inning, and Peters then loaded the bases with the 4-5-6 batters before McFarland popped out to end the inning.

Peters was hit for at the first opportunity, while Walla should have a nice day out now with a 6-0 lead, but gave up two singles in the third inning, and then nicked Schomer to begin the fifth. Corpus hit a 1-out single, and Walla almost gave up a pinch-hit 3-run homer to Steve Jordan, who had his fly to right caught at the fence by Hamel. And then he gave up an *actual* 3-run homer with two down to the former Logger Dave Wright… In the sixth a Woodley error put Stockton on base and Schomer legged out an infield single to bring the tying run to the dish, but Wilson’s pop to shallow center had so much hangtime that LeVan almost looked bored waiting for it to come down. Walla would pitch to the stretch for 106 pitches, striking out eight, half of them in the last two innings he pitched. McMahan had a decent eighth, while the Critters got pinch-hit singles from Morales and Yocum in the bottom 8th, but ultimately left the bases loaded against righty Erik Bithell, and then sent Valentin out. He struck out the side again, although Josh Bursley hit a double from the #9 hole with two outs. 6-3 Raccoons. LeVan 2-5, RBI; Hamel 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Yocum (PH) 1-1; Woodley 2-2, 3 BB, 2B, 2 RBI; V.D. Morales (PH) 1-1; Walla 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, W (7-1);

An Indians loss on Saturday got the Raccoons back into a tie for first place, with the Crusaders just half a game behind.

Humph and Gonzales got Sunday off.

Game 3
DAL: RF Da. Wright – LF M. Little – CF Stockton – SS Hills – 3B Schomer – C Preston – 1B S. Jordan – 2B Corpus – P Childress
POR: 2B Yocum – LF LeVan – CF Hamel – 1B Woodley – RF V.D. Morales – SS McFarland – C Brown – 3B Luebbert – P George

The weather virtually promised to be an issue on Sunday, so taking the lead early was definitely advisable. Only Morales reached base against Childress the first time through, though, which was for sure disappointing and annoying. George scattered three runners in the early innings, but neither side had more than one base hit until the Coons’ 2-3-4 batters opened the fourth inning with straight singles and LeVan aggressively scored from second on Woodley’s single to left-center. Morales then popped out, McFarland flew out to center, and Brown attempted to ground out, but Hills made an error and loaded the bases instead for the .200 hitter Luebbert, who then lined out to Hills. Wright doubled with two gone in the fifth, but was left on base by Little. Stockton reached on an error by Woodley in the sixth inning, but Hills popped out and Schomer found Yocum for a 4-6-3 double play.

George lasted 6.1 innings and didn’t yet get wet, but then was replaced in a double-switch along with McFarland as Rios and Vigil took over. The former got two quick outs to end the seventh inning, and the latter hit into a double play to erase Brown’s leadoff single in the bottom of the inning. Newhard and McMahan split duties in the eighth inning, with the skies darkening. LeVan hit a single in the bottom 8th, then got forced out by Hamel, who was trying to get a steal off just when lightning struck and thunder rumbled and the game went into a rain delay real quick – and never resumed as the storm whipped the ballpark for several hours before the game was called and the Coons got a cheap end to a sweep. 1-0 Blighters! LeVan 2-4; George 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, W (3-0);

In other news

June 8 – NYC SP Russell Anderson (4-4, 3.22 ERA) spins a 3-hit shutout to beat the Titans, 4-0.
June 8 – Knights LF/CF Eddie Marcotte (.255, 10 HR, 36 RBI) could be out until the All Star Game after breaking his thumb.
June 9 – BOS SP Bryce Wallace (1-6, 5.65 ERA) pitches 7.2 no-hit innings against the Crusaders before allowing singles to NYC INF Kyle Reber (.252, 1 HR, 13 RBI) and OF Brad DuKate (.240, 3 HR, 18 RBI), then two walks to force in the only run in a 1-0 New York victory.
June 10 – The Blue Sox beat the Condors, 4-0 on four solo homers. 37-year-old NAS LF/1B/RF Tony Roman (.215, 5 HR, 19 RBI) hits two of them.
June 11 – DEN LF/RF/1B Miguel Sandoval (.303, 10 HR, 36 RBI) bashes five hits, misses the cycle by the triple, and drives in a run in a 6-2 win against the Indians.
June 11 – Tijuana OF/SS Josh Rugar (.276, 8 HR, 34 RBI) hits a homer in the eighth inning to beat the Blue Sox, 1-0.
June 12 – SFB SP Liberio Ivo (4-3, 2.34 ERA) twirls a 1-hitter and strikes out nine Miners to beat Pittsburgh, 7-0. Miners OF Anthony Schneider (.287, 8 HR, 32 RBI) has the lone single for the visiting team.
June 12 – LAP SP Melvin Lebron (7-5, 4.03 ERA) pitches a complete-game 7-hitter to beat the Knights, 14-2, and drives in four runs himself on the occasion, snapping three hits, including a grand slam off reliever Tim Cropp (0-0, 4.95 ERA).

Player of the Week (FL): LAP OF Mike Hulett (.307, 6 HR, 39 RBI), clipping .464 (13-28) with 1 HR, 13 RBI
Player of the Week (CL): LVA OF Roy Ben (.700, 2 HR, 7 RBI), making his season debut this week, 7-for-10

Complaints and stuff

Bring a blanket when you talk about the top half of the CL North, because the Critters, Arrowheads, and Crusaders will all comfortably fit under one. Just half a game separating these teams right now.

Jason Holzmeister passed through waivers unclaimed and was assigned to AAA. When nobody wants to take a pounce on you after 227 major league outings and a superficially decent 3.57 ERA, there are usually reasons. Four homers and 13 walks in 19 innings this year are already 17 reasons. And Slappy says it’s quite hard to get 11-letter names on the back of a uniform. He must know, given that his full name is Slapendious.

Speaking of minor league pitchers, last year’s #7 draft pick, SP Andrew Speed, ruptured finger tendons this week and would miss the rest of the season after just having been promoted to St. Petersburg in May. I am very dis-May-ed.

Blue Sox, Titans, Loggers on the upcoming road trip, with a detour through New York for Semchez and myself as we’ll head there for the draft taking place on Wednesday.

Fun Fact: Three years ago, Liberio Ivo led the CL with 21 losses.

Ivo is a weird one; the 32-year-old righty is Venezuelan, but was drafted by the Blue Sox at #18 in 2062 since his all-you-can-eat shrimp restaurant influencer parents (quite a mouthful, even before you watch their online channels), had moved to Florida when he was little, and so he had to go the draft route as a U.S.-based student.

He only became a full-time starter with the Sox in his age 28 season and posted a 4.63 ERA, then got traded to San Fran that winter. The first year was horrible, but since 2070 he has somehow caught himself and is beginning to actually win games. Last year he went 13-9 with a 3.25 ERA. For his career, he was 52-65 with a 3.96 ERA and three saves, but only 577 K in 972 innings.