The Pastime Baseball League

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Wow, SL West is like Giants and Braves in '93!!

Kind of...Giants went 10-2 in their last 12, Braves 8-4...Giants came up a game short. Them both winning every day is fun to watch. I thought Arizona would lose it once Thompson went down. Potential for three final day decisions here.

Chicago and Sacramento lock up for a 3-game set coming up.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by EMSoccerCoach

Kind of...Giants went 10-2 in their last 12, Braves 8-4...Giants came up a game short. Them both winning every day is fun to watch. I thought Arizona would lose it once Thompson went down. Potential for three final day decisions here.

Chicago and Sacramento lock up for a 3-game set coming up.

Yep, I was thinking more in terms of both the Sandmen and Idols have a chance to reach 100 wins.

[PhillieFever]

This pennant race is absolutely awesome baby!!!! A 3 team race in the NL West, a possible collapse in the SL East, and a wicked battle in the SL West, between possibly the two best teams in the entire league! As usual, I must make some bad predictions, so here goes:

Sacramento will defeat Milwaukee in a playoff to decide the division.
New Orleans will catch and then pass fading St Louis
Arizona will hold off hard charging LA

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Yep, I was thinking more in terms of both the Sandmen and Idols have a chance to reach 100 wins.

Ha, totally oblivious by me...I completely missed that part of it Good call.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by PhillieFever

This pennant race is absolutely awesome baby!!!! A 3 team race in the NL West, a possible collapse in the SL East, and a wicked battle in the SL West, between possibly the two best teams in the entire league! As usual, I must make some bad predictions, so here goes:

Sacramento will defeat Milwaukee in a playoff to decide the division.
New Orleans will catch and then pass fading St Louis
Arizona will hold off hard charging LA

Placing faith in the guys who've done it in Sacramento and New Orleans...I've got a feeling LA will come back, too. Their offense is just scary.

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 23, 2017

Northern League West

Milwaukee Bangers	82	72	.534	-
Chicago Hitmen	82	72	.534	-
Sacramento Stingers	81	73	.526	1.0

Milwaukee 4, Louisville 2: Their recent #1 picks pay off as Milwaukee's John Montefusco won his 19th game of the season, going 7 1/3 and allowing one run and Al Rosen had three hits and an RBI as the Bangers got to Roy Oswalt. Ron Davis saved his 29th for Milwaukee.

Chicago 11, Sacramento 6: Heinie Peitz drove in four and Rodney Scott drove in three as the Hitmen took game one of a pivotal three-game set, getting to Rube Marquard.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	84	70	.547	-
New Orleans Knights	84	70	.547	-
Alabama Airmen	79	75	.512	5.0

Memphis 5, St. Louis 2: Tim Lincecum won his 16th and Joe Crede hit two homers for Memphis as the Tides dropped their sixth straight game.

New Orleans 9, Los Angeles 8: It's not the ideal start to reach a milestone, but Dontrelle Willis improved to 14-14 and won his 150th game despite allowing 7 runs over a 5 2/3. Turkey Stearnes, Doc Gessler and Pete Rose each had three hits to overcome 2 RBIs apiece from Ellis Valentine, Roy Sievers and Hardy Richardson.

Orlando 3, Alabama 2: 16-game winner Dan Haren got little support from the Alabama bats, and Denny McLain threw 8 strong innings for the Orcas before Harry Brecheen picked up his 27th save.

Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen	97	57	.634	-
Los Angeles Idols	94	60	.614	3.0

Arizona 1, Oklahoma City 0: Walter Johnson is used to no support, but this was extreme. Johnson allowed 1 run over 8 innings of four-hit ball, but Mike LaCoss threw a complete game one hitter, allowing only a double by Doug Decinces to lead off the 8th. Larry Gardner drove in the only run for Arizona.

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 24, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	83	72	.538	-
Milwaukee Bangers	82	73	.530	1.0
Sacramento Stingers	81	74	.522	2.0

Louisville 4, Milwaukee 3: Mickey Harris won his 21st for Louisville and Brad Lidge closed his 27th as Louisville threw a monkey wrench at the Bangers' playoff chase. Nellie Fox drove in a pair for Louisville. Joe Tinker drove in all three runs for Milwaukee, while Smokey Joe Williams fell to 12-13.

Chicago 3, Sacramento 2: Len Barker improved to 14-11, allowing 1 run over 8 innings despite failing to strike out a batter. Barker's been tremendous, going 4-1 with a 1.22 ERA over his last 7 starts. Babe Ruth, Roger Connor and Frank Baker each drove in a run for Chicago, which took over sole possession of first place.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	85	70	.551	-
New Orleans Knights	84	71	.543	1.0
Alabama Airmen	80	75	.516	5.0

St. Louis 15, Memphis 5: After dropping six straight, the Tides unload for 21 hits to hand Ralph Branca his 18th loss. Duke Snider tripled, homered and drove in 4 and Hal Chase drove in 3 for the Tides, who overcame Willie Stargell's two homers to give him 33 to take over the Southern League home run lead from L.A.'s Dan Brouthers.

Los Angeles 4, New Orleans 2: Ewell Blackwell blew his 5th save in the 9th for New Orleans and Eddie Murray hit a walkoff 2-run homer for Los Angeles to drop the Knights a game back and give the Idols a much-needed win as they continue to chase Arizona.

Alabama 2, Orlando 1: After each team scored once in the first, Alabama's Larry Sorensen and Orlando's Al Javery threw up zeroes until the top of the 10th, when Mike Hegan hit a 2-out RBI double off Harry Brecheen to give Alabama the lead.

Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen	97	58	.630	-
Los Angeles Idols	95	60	.618	2.0

Oklahoma City 2, Arizona 1 (10 innings): Ron Guidry won his 13th, outdueling 23-game winner Dutch Leonard as September callup Carlos Quentin, a one-time 30-homer man, hit his first homer of the season to win it in the 10th.

NOTE: San Antonio's Tim Raines hit a first-inning single to extend his hitting streak to 32 games, one shy of the PBL record set by Richie Ashburn last season.

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 25, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	83	73	.534	-
Milwaukee Bangers	83	73	.534	-
Sacramento Stingers	82	74	.526	1.0

Milwaukee 11, Louisville 1: Joe Coleman allowed only two hits and Nick Swisher hit his 16th homer, driving in 5 runs in the game, as Milwaukee rebounded to take the rubbermatch of the three-game set.

Sacramento 10, Chicago 4: The Stingers avoided the sweep and earned a much-needed victory, roughing up Ben Sanders. Whitey Lockman hit two homers and Justin Morneau and Joel Youngblood each added one as Sacramento rolled to support Steve Rogers for his 12th win. Babe Ruth drove in a pair for the Hitmen.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	86	70	.555	-
New Orleans Knights	85	71	.547	1.0
Alabama Airmen	80	76	.512	6.0

St. Louis 7, Memphis 1: That long-awaited strong start from Frank Smith finally came. Smith threw a complete game three-hitter and Fred Lynn had four hits to lead the Tides in the romp.

New Orleans 12, Los Angeles 2: Chad Tracy hit a pair of homers and Mark Prior went the distance for his 16th win as the Knights jumped all over Shawn Chacon, who has fallen apart in the second half after an All-Star first half.

Orlando 4, Alabama 2 (12 innings): After tying the game with an RBI double in the ninth, Jimmy Wynn hit a 2-run walkoff homer off Kyle Lohse in the 12th to give the Orcas the victory and cut Alabama's tragic number to 1.

Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen	98	58	.634	-
Los Angeles Idols	95	61	.614	3.0

Arizona 9, Oklahoma City 1: Phil Garner drove in 4 runs and John McGraw had three hits for Arizona, which rolled in a game delayed by rain for an hour at the end of the fourth inning.

NOTE: San Antonio's Tim Raines hit a first-inning single off Las Vegas' Juan Cruz to tie the PBL hitting streak mark of 33 games set by Richie Ashburn last season. Raines and San Antonio visit Arizona tomorrow as Raines tries to get the record. Sixteen-game winner Justin Verlander takes the hill for Arizona.

[CatKnight]

Sacramento needed that game. Badly.

I see the NLW coming down to the final day. If not beyond.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by CatKnight

Sacramento needed that game. Badly.

I see the NLW coming down to the final day. If not beyond.

Quite possible. But something will have to give...Milwaukee and Sacramento play a three-game set to end the season. Should be interesting.

[EMSoccerCoach]

For Raines, Hits on Parade
San Antonio Rookie Sets Hitting Streak Mark at 34

PHOENIX -- For the second year in a row, a rookie makes his mark.

San Antonio's Tim Raines raised his hitting streak to 34 games, passing Richie Ashburn - who set the PBL mark with 33 last season as a rookie with the Louisville Racers.

"It's a thrill," Raines said after the game, a 4-3 loss to Arizona. "It's been a tough season for us here, but once the season is over I think I'll be able to enjoy the personal stuff a bit more."

After striking out his first two times up against Justin Verlander, Raines batted with one out in the fifth inning and lined a clean single into left field. The Phoenix crowd responded warmly given that they are in the heat of a pennant race with the Los Angeles Idols.

Raines' streak began against Las Vegas on August 20. Raines left two different games after one at bat for leg injuries, but both times got a hit in that at bat to keep the streak alive. Over the course of the streak, Raines has hit .353 (47 for 133). Amazingly, and not to minimize the streak at all, but in the final 18 games of the streak Raines had multiple hits only twice.

"It's been a rough year," San Antonio skipper George Gibson said. "But Tim has given us some hope we can get back to where we're supposed to be."

Tim Raines

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 26, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	83	73	.534	-
Milwaukee Bangers	83	73	.534	-
Sacramento Stingers	83	74	.530	0.5

Sacramento 4, New York 3: Al Zarilla hit a 2-run double to give Sacramento a 3-2 lead in the 7th and Joel Youngblood added what would prove a needed insurance run as the Stingers cut it to a half game deficit as one of only four games on the Monday docket.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	86	70	.555	-
New Orleans Knights	85	72	.543	1.5
Alabama Airmen	80	76	.512	6.0

Memphis 9, New Orleans 6: Joe Crede stayed hot, driving in four runs for the second time in four days as Memphis pounded Sammy Ellis for 7 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen	99	58	.638	-
Los Angeles Idols	95	61	.614	3.5

Arizona 4, San Antonio 3: In a game that drew notice for Tim Raines' hitting streak record, Arizona had more pressing issues as they try to win the division. Willie Wells drove in a pair and Mike Hargrove hit a walkoff RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to up the pressure on second-place Los Angeles.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Funny, and I just added it to the Raines story...going through his hitting streak, in the final 18 games of the streak, Raines had only two multi-hit games. He really was living dangerously with keeping it alive!

[kenyan_cheena]

*** fingers crossed for those Hitmen!!! ***

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 27, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	84	73	.535	-
Sacramento Stingers	84	74	.532	0.5
Milwaukee Bangers	83	74	.529	1.0

Chicago 3, Wichita 2: Charley Jones returned from the disabled list with two hits and Denny LeMaster won his 18th for Chicago. Brandon Lyon saved his 23rd.

Indianapolis 4, Milwaukee 0: Leon Day, who came in 2-7 with an ERA of 5.81, threw a four-hit complete game shutout at the Bangers who couldn't help 19-game winner John Montefusco in a brutal pennant race loss.

Sacramento 6, New York 3: Bob Veale won his 18th game and Whitey Lockman hit two homers for the second time in three days as the Stingers kept pace.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	87	70	.558	-
New Orleans Knights	85	73	.543	2.5
Alabama Airmen	80	77	.508	7.0

St. Louis 8, Alabama 6: Jeff Francis couldn't make it out of the second and Virgil Trucks rode a 7-3 lead after two to a St. Louis victory that ends Alabama's postseason hopes. Fred Lynn stayed hot, homering and driving in four. But the story is Luis Salazar, who picked up playing time when Tris Speaker was lost for the rest of the regular season, and has hit .351 with 14 RBI this month in his stead.

Memphis 3, New Orleans 2: Chad Tracy homered again and Jesse Barfield broke a 2-2 tie in the 8th with a homer off Jim Wilson as the Strummers continue to try and play spoiler.

Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen	100	58	.642	-
Los Angeles Idols	96	61	.618	3.5

Arizona 5, San Antonio 0: Dan Casey, who lost his rotation spot in August, threw his second straight great outing since getting it back, hurling a complete game four hitter. John McGraw picked up three more hits and Willie Wells drove in a pair as the Sandmen won their 100th game of the season. Tim Raines was held hitless, ending his streak at 34 games.

Los Angeles 12, Las Vegas 0: Dave Winfield, Dan Brouthers and Roy Sievers - who hit two homers - each drove in three runs and Eddie Murray added three hits and 2 RBI to help get John Clarkson his 17th win and keep L.A. faint hopes alive.

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 28, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	85	73	.538	-
Sacramento Stingers	85	74	.535	0.5
Milwaukee Bangers	83	75	.526	2.0

Chicago 3, Wichita 1: Len Barker continued his great stretch run, allowing one run over 6 1/3 and four relievers helped shut down the Brigade long enough for Babe Ruth, who had three hits on the day, to drive in a pair for the win. The Hitmen, who started the month 1-8, have gone 11-4 since.

Indianapolis 5, Milwaukee 4: The Bangers are making things real hard on themselves here, as Smokey Williams is touched up early and the Bangers can't get to Erik Bedard until late, when Charlie Bennett's 2-run homer in the 9th got them within one, which was as close as they could get.

Sacramento 7, New York 2: Rube Marquard won his 14th as Jack Clark hit a solo homer and a two-run double as the Stingers knocked around Johnny Antonelli to stay on Chicago's heels.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	88	70	.561	-
New Orleans Knights	85	74	.540	3.5

St. Louis 8, Alabama 7: With their role reduced to spoiler, Alabama jumps out to a 7-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings, pounding Tommy Bond. But the Tides show championship mettle and rally for 5 in the fifth, one in the 8th and a pair in the 9th, culminating with Duke Snider's walkoff single to gain a win that may well carry them home to the division crown.

Memphis 5, New Orleans 3: Reserves Bob Bailey and Hurley McNair hit back-to-back two-out homers in the 8th off Tom Underwood and Tim Lincecum won his 17th as the Knights cling to life support.

Southern League West

Arizona Sandmen	101	58	.646	-
Los Angeles Idols	96	62	.614	4.5

Arizona 6, San Antonio 3: Despite 3 errors, the Sandmen get a pair of three-run homers - one from Ruppert Jones and the other from Willie Wells - to give Mike LaCoss his 19th win.

Las Vegas 8, Los Angeles 5: The Idols blow a 5-1 lead in a loss that ends their playoff hopes. Dick Allen hit his 25th homer for Las Vegas.

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 29, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	86	73	.541	-
Sacramento Stingers	85	74	.535	1.0
Milwaukee Bangers	84	75	.529	2.0

Wichita 5, Chicago 2: George Stone hit a 3-run homer off Ben Sanders in the 8th to break a 2-2 tie. Rube Waddell was solid over 6 1/3 for Wichita and Frank Killen threw 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief. Sanders fell to 12-14 and is 0-3 with a 7.59 ERA in his last three starts.

Milwaukee 7, Indianapolis 4: Joe Coleman won his 17th and Charlie Buffinton lost his 17th as the Bangers got 2 RBIs apiece from Al Rosen and Charlie Bennett in a much-needed win.

FINAL WEEKEND MATCHUPS: Chicago hosts Indianapolis, Sacramento visits Milwaukee.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	88	71	.558	-
New Orleans Knights	85	74	.540	3.0

Alabama 7, St. Louis 1: Alabama's Dan Haren and St. Louis' Bronson Arroyo locked up in a good one that was scoreless through 7. But the Airmen exploded for 6 in the 8th and went on to victory, delaying the popping of the champagne for another day. Haren ultimately won his 17th to improve to 17-11. Arroyo fell to 18-8.

FINAL WEEKEND MATCHUPS: St. Louis hosts San Antonio, New Orleans visits Orlando.

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Sept. 30, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	86	74	.538	-
Sacramento Stingers	86	74	.538	-
Milwaukee Bangers	84	76	.526	2.0

Indianapolis 6, Chicago 4: The Hitmen fail to take advantage of three Indianapolis errors and Hanley Ramirez homered and drove in three runs as Atlee Hammaker struggled early and the Hitmen couldn't recover.

Sacramento 6, Milwaukee 4 (12 innings): The Bangers rally back from a four-run deficit only to have RBI singles from Whitey Lockman and Juan Pierre come through against Bruce Sutter in the 12th.

Southern League East

St. Louis Tides	89	71	.561	-
New Orleans Knights	86	74	.543	3.0

St. Louis 2, San Antonio 1: The Tides have rolled since Frank Smith's strong start last weekend and he followed it up herewith 8 innings of 1-run ball. Joe Sambito earned his 31st save after Hal Chase's tiebreaking 8th inning SAC Fly to give the Tides the division title.

New Orleans 10, Orlando 3: Larry Jansen won his 18th and Chad Tracy kept up his power surge, blasting his 28th and 7th of September, but it was all for naught as St. Louis' victory ended the Knights' hopes.

[PhillieFever]

Gotta hand it to St. Louis, they righted the ship just in time, and held on for the title. As for L.A., in the end they just weren't good enough. I used to love that about baseball, only the division champions(or league prior to 69') have the right to the post season. There should be no rewards for finishing 2nd, not after 154 games(or 162)

[EMSoccerCoach]

PENNANT RACE REPORT

Oct. 1, 2017

Northern League West

Chicago Hitmen	87	74	.541	-
Sacramento Stingers	86	75	.535	1.0
Milwaukee Bangers	85	76	.529	2.0

Chicago 6, Indianapolis 4: Heinie Peitz hit a 2-run homer, Roger Connor hit a 3-run homer and Denny LeMaster won his 19th game of the season as the Hitmen get back on track after last night's loss.

Milwaukee 7, Sacramento 1: Pete Hill went 4-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI and John Montefusco won his 20th game of the season as Milwaukee, though knocked out of contention by Chicago's win, ensured the best Sacramento can do is force a one-game playoff Monday, provided they win tomorrow and Chicago loses. The Hitmen win and they're in.