Inter-division play begins today. Can the best of the West knock off the beast of the East? Read on and find out…
KALAMAZOO KAZOOS 1, CAROLINA COMETS 0
All things considered, the Kalamazoo Kazoos are having a solid first season. But manager Jacques DeFlute believes that they could be doing even better if they can fix the handful of problem spots on their roster.
One of the biggest problems is the performance of starter Jeremy Schedel. The Kazoos expected the 21-year-old southpaw to be a solid mid-rotation asset, but Schedel’s rookie season has been a disaster. After Calfornia knocked him out in the 2nd inning in his last start, Schedel’s record dropped to 0-5, and his ERA stood at an unsightly 10.73. DeFlute decided it was time for a change.
To replace Schedel, DeFlute turned to Brian Goreman, who was California’s fifth starter last season. Goreman has done well as Kalamazoo’s long man, so DeFlute hoped he could at least count on a respectable showing from him.
Goreman was a lot more than respectable today, holding the Carolina Comets to a pair of singles over 7 1/3 innings as the Kazoos pulled out a 1-0 win.
“I’m just glad for the opportunity,” said Goreman (1-0). “I’m glad to be getting paid for this. So when Jacques gave me the opportunity, I wanted to show he was right to trust me.”
The one Carolina hitter who gave Goreman anything resembling trouble was LF Stargell Jackson. The Comets star led off the game with a walk, but was thrown out stealing second. In the 4th, Jackson snuck a ball through the right side for Carolina’s first hit, and then successfully stole second. Goreman easily retired the next two hitters to end the inning. In the 7th, Goreman plunked Jackson with two outs, and then walked SS Lucky Barnes to give the Comets their one scoring threat. But 1B Pete Shives flew out to end the inning with the shutout intact.
“Felt really confident out there today,” said Goreman. “Everything was jumping out of my hand, plenty of movement.”
Davey Skargard (2-3) was the hard-luck loser for Carolina. The diminutive righty went the distance, allowing only five hits and collecting five strikeouts. Most days, that would be enough for the win, but not today.
Skargard didn’t allow a base runner until the 4th, when Kazoos RF Victor Gomez lined a one-out double to the gap in left-center. The Comets escaped damage that inning when RF Adam Vise made a terrific throw to cut down Gomez at the plate on a Damian Mash single. But when CF John Taylor led off the 5th with a triple, Carolina couldn’t keep him for scoring on a groundout.
“That’s baseball,” said Skargard. “Some days you get hammered and your offense bails you out. Some days you lose 1-zip. No use dwelling on it. If I keep pitching like that, I’ll get the win 95 times out of 100.”
When Goreman finally tired after 112 pitched, DeFlute called on Schedel to get the final five outs. He did and picked up his first career save.
“I’m hoping to get another chance to start,” said Schedel. “But I know I’m gonna have to earn it, one inning at a time. This is the first step.”
5/8/2017, KAL16-CAR16, Catawba Century Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2016 Kazoos 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 3 0
2016 Comets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 5 1
Kazoos AB R H BI AVG Comets AB R H BI AVG
Cross 2b 4 0 0 0 .257 Jackson lf 2 0 1 0 .302
Gomez rf 4 0 2 0 .226 Barnes ss 3 0 0 0 .190
Mash dh 3 0 1 0 .217 Shives 1b 4 0 1 0 .290
Shorts 3b 4 0 0 0 .266 Jones cf 4 0 0 0 .220
Taylor cf 3 1 1 0 .198 Vise rf 3 0 0 0 .212
Mack 1b 3 0 0 1 .294 Jeffreys ph 1 0 0 0 .059
Leach c 3 0 1 0 .308 Mote 3b 3 0 0 0 .227
Parker lf 3 0 0 0 .293 Carpenter c 3 0 0 0 .219
Puffer ss 3 0 0 0 .288 Gaytan 2b 3 0 1 0 .340
30 1 5 1 Cosgrove dh 2 0 0 0 .267
Cipolla ph 1 0 0 0 .222
29 0 3 0
Kazoos INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Goreman W 1-0 7.1 2 0 0 2 5 112 66 2.45
Schedel S 1 1.2 1 0 0 0 2 18 14 10.04
9.0 3 0 0 2 7 130 80
Comets INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Skargard L 2-3 9.0 5 1 1 1 5 97 63 3.67
9.0 5 1 1 1 5 97 63
CAR: Cipolla batted for Cosgrove in the 8th
Jeffreys batted for Vise in the 9th
2B-Gomez(2). 3B-Taylor(1). RBI-Mack(13). SB-Jackson(14). CS-Jackson.
K-Cross 2, Shorts, Mack, Parker, Barnes 2, Jones 2, Vise, Mote, Cosgrove.
BB-Mash, Jackson, Barnes. HBP-Jackson. HB-Goreman.
GWRBI: Mack
Temperature: 73, Sky: clear, Wind: right to left at 17 MPH.
KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 5, CALIFORNIA SHARKS 4
In the first matchup of the season between the Patriot League’s division leaders, the Knoxville Smokies ambushed California Sharks closer Eugene Grace, mounting a stunning four-run rally in the 9th to walk off with a 5-4 win.
“See, even the best come shaking in their boots when they have to face us,” said Smokies manager Snuff Wallace. “Those Hollywood boys ain’t used to this kind of play.”
The Smokies had been shooting blanks for most of the game against Sharks pitching. Starter Kevin Conner held Knoxville to a single unearned run over 6 innings of work, and seemed to be in line for the win as California went to the last of the 9th up 4-1. But Grace allowed three straight singles to start the inning, and manager Eduardo Aponte wasted no time going to rookie Bob Orf.
But Orf (0-1) was not the answer, allowing another single and an intentional walk to load the bases with the lead shaved to one run. Aponte then called on righty Milan Constant for his first appearance of the season; Constant allowed a single to Smokies 1B Eddie Battin that plated the tying and winning runs.
Rookie Jason Landau (3-0), who got the final out in the top of the 9th, picked up the win for Knoxville.
5/8/2017, CAL16-KNX16, Rocky Top Park
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2016 Sharks 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 13 1 10 2
2016 Smokies 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 11 0 10 0
Sharks AB R H BI AVG Smokies AB R H BI AVG
Corona rf 5 1 2 0 .279 Johnson lf 5 1 3 1 .317
Smyth ss 5 3 4 1 .341 Campo 2b 4 0 0 0 .255
Canales cf 5 0 0 0 .217 Moriarty ss 4 0 1 0 .348
Mader lf 5 0 2 2 .349 Battin 1b 4 0 2 2 .301
Nix dh 5 0 0 1 .376 Campo rf 3 0 0 0 .308
Lockley c 4 0 2 0 .253 Credle c 3 0 1 0 .272
Gerke 1b 3 0 1 0 .265 Figeroa 3b 3 0 0 0 .185
Oller 3b 4 0 1 0 .309 Vernon ph 1 1 1 0 .267
Strachan 2b 4 0 1 0 .315 Valentim dh 3 1 1 0 .274
40 4 13 4 Bossard ph 1 0 1 0 .500
Arias pr 0 1 0 0 .250
Blair cf 3 1 1 1 .250
34 5 11 4
Sharks INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Conner 6.0 5 1 0 3 6 110 70 2.09
Lendon H 4 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 13 7 2.08
Arzola H 5 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 10 7 2.61
Grace H 2 0.2 3 3 3 0 0 13 10 6.48
Orf H 2, L 0-1 0.1 1 1 1 1 0 13 7 10.50
Constant BS 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 6 5 0.00
8.1 11 5 4 5 8 165 106
Smokies INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Green 8.0 13 4 4 1 8 130 90 2.73
Einhorn 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 7 5 4.91
Tile 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 3.94
Landau W 3-0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 1.23
9.0 13 4 4 1 9 145 100
KNX: Vernon batted for Figeroa in the 9th
Bossard batted for Valentim in the 9th
Arias ran for Bossard in the 9th
E-Smyth. 2B-Smyth(10), Lockley(6), Johnson(13). HR-Smyth(8). RBI-Smyth(16),
Mader 2(30), Nix(23), Johnson(16), Battin 2(25), Blair(15). K-Corona, Smyth,
Canales 2, Mader, Nix, Oller 2, Strachan, Johnson, Campo, Moriarty, Battin,
Campo, Credle, Blair 2. BB-Gerke, Moriarty, Battin, Campo, Credle, Blair.
SH-Campo.
GWRBI: Battin
Eddie Nix was injured for this game only
Temperature: 80, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: left to right at 13 MPH.
MILWAUKEE BEAR CLAWS 3, ORLANDO CALRISSIANS 2
The unlikeliest of plays, a sacrifice bunt by Felipe Mateo, drove home the winning run as the Milwaukee Bear Claws defeated the Orlando Calrissians, 3-2.
The play resulted from a bold strategic gambit by Bear Claws manager Poss Horton. With the score tied at 2 in the 5th, CF DeRonde Maxwell and SS Red Petitt opened the inning with back-to-back walks against Calrissians starter Oliver Jones (3-2). 2B Richard Iddings then hit a potential double-play ball to short, but thanks to Petitt’s blinding speed, the only out was at first.
That brought Mateo, one of the league’s most feared power hitters, to the plate. Most expect ted to see him swing for the fences. Instead, Horton ordered him to bunt. He laid down a perfect sacrifice, and Maxwell raced home with the run that would decide the game.
“We’re not afraid to play small ball sometimes,” said Horton with a grin after the game. “Whatever works.”
Benicio Torrenueva (3-0) pitched 6 strong innings to pick up the win for Milwaukee. Oscar Buenaventura pitched around a two-out single in the 9th for his seventh save.
5/8/2017, MIL16-ORL16, Bespin
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2016 Bear Claws 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 4 1 4 0
2016 Calrissians 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 8 1
Bear Claws AB R H BI AVG Calrissians AB R H BI AVG
Petitt ss 3 1 1 1 .307 Buendia 2b 4 0 1 1 .297
Iddings 2b 4 0 0 0 .232 Bryant 1b 4 0 1 0 .293
Mateo 1b 3 0 2 2 .317 Lesher c 4 0 0 0 .171
Raine dh 4 0 0 0 .236 Lebow lf 4 0 1 0 .262
Stefani rf 2 0 0 0 .230 Larson dh 4 1 1 1 .254
McGuigan c 4 0 0 0 .244 Hernandez ss 4 0 2 0 .213
Castleberry lf 3 0 0 0 .235 Law rf 3 1 0 0 .279
Busing lf 1 0 0 0 .308 Aceuedo 3b 2 0 0 0 .250
Perry 3b 3 0 0 0 .236 Maben ph 1 0 0 0 .333
Maxwell cf 2 2 1 0 .355 Crofoot 3b 1 0 0 0 .000
29 3 4 3 Barber cf 2 0 1 0 .216
Sleder ph 2 0 1 0 .333
35 2 8 2
Bear Claws INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Torrenueva W 3-0 6.0 6 2 2 1 3 82 53 4.11
Almon H 5 2.0 1 0 0 0 4 31 20 2.20
Buenaventura S 7 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 11 8 4.15
9.0 8 2 2 1 8 124 81
Calrissians INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Jones L 3-2 6.0 4 3 3 3 6 114 67 3.92
Smith 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 9 6 4.71
Clawson 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 11 7 6.10
Quesara 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 10 4 4.32
9.0 4 3 3 4 9 144 84
MIL: Busing inserted at lf in the 6th
ORL: Maben batted for Aceuedo in the 7th
Sleder batted for Barber in the 7th
Crofoot inserted at 3b in the 8th
Sleder moved to cf in the 8th
E-Almon. 2B-Petitt(5), Mateo(15), Maxwell(13). 3B-Hernandez(2).
HR-Larson(12). RBI-Petitt(23), Mateo 2(25), Buendia(15), Larson(27).
SB-Mateo(4), Stefani(2). K-Petitt, Iddings 3, Raine 2, McGuigan, Perry 2,
Buendia, Bryant, Lesher 3, Larson, Hernandez, Aceuedo. BB-Petitt, Stefani 2,
Maxwell, Law. SH-Mateo. SF-Buendia.
GWRBI: Mateo
Josh Castleberry was injured for this game and 2 more days
Temperature: 70, Wind: none.
SILVER CITY OUTLAWS 5, JACKSON HAMMERHEADS 1
Silver City Outlaws starter Kevin Jennings pitched the best game of his young career, and the Silver City Outlaws bashed their way to a 5-1 win over the Jackson Hammerheads at Cash Carter Downs.
“We figured we were due to cool off a bit after that [eight-game] winning streak,” said Jackson manager Bob Henley. “But we’re gonna find ourselves underwater in a hurry if we don’t heat back up right quick.”
Jennings (2-1) has struggled quite a bit in his rookie campaign, but has shown signs of improvement lately. Today, the 20-year-old righty looked like an old pro as he carved up the Hammerheads lineup. He fired a complete-game six-hitter and struck out an amazing 13 hitters. 1B John Lassen’s RBI double in the 3rd plated Jackson’s only run.
Hammerheads righty Tony Harris (2-1), meanwhile, looked more like the worn-out journeyman he was in Jacksonville last year than the rejuvenated savior he’s been so far this season. Outlaws RF Nathaniel Wason took him deep for a three-run shot in the 1st to give Silver City all the runs it would need. The Outlaws’ keystone combo, Arlen Ginder and Dominique Barkan, padded the lead in the 6th with back-to-back RBI doubles.
5/8/2017, SCO16-JCK16, Cash Carter Downs
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2016 Outlaws 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 10 0 6 0
2016 Hammerheads 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 8 0
Outlaws AB R H BI AVG Hammerheads AB R H BI AVG
Brewmaker 3b 5 1 1 0 .286 Deason dh 4 1 2 0 .368
Hintz lf 4 1 2 0 .207 Lassen 1b 2 0 1 1 .234
Ivey dh 4 0 1 0 .319 Righter 2b 3 0 0 0 .383
Wason rf 4 2 3 3 .353 Doyle c 3 0 0 0 .308
Whittier rf 0 0 0 0 .073 Suarez cf 4 0 2 0 .278
Elliott 1b 4 0 0 0 .169 Rodriguez rf 4 0 0 0 .321
Ginder ss 4 1 1 1 .300 Arispe lf 4 0 0 0 .218
Barkan 2b 4 0 1 1 .266 Fleitas 3b 4 0 0 0 .199
Cardona cf 4 0 1 0 .233 Westerberg ss 3 0 1 0 .293
Watson c 4 0 0 0 .172 31 1 6 1
37 5 10 5
Outlaws INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Jennings W 2-1 9.0 6 1 1 5 13 137 86 5.80
9.0 6 1 1 5 13 137 86
Hammerheads INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Harris L 2-1 6.0 8 5 5 1 4 120 80 3.49
Sircy 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 15 11 2.93
Pollan 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 15 9 7.36
Boniface 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 10 8 2.86
9.0 10 5 5 1 9 160 108
SCO: Whittier inserted at rf in the 8th
2B-Hintz(5), Wason(7), Ginder(1), Barkan(9), Lassen(7), Westerberg(9).
HR-Wason(13). RBI-Wason 3(26), Ginder(3), Barkan(15), Lassen(16).
SB-Deason(10), Suarez(15). CS-Deason, Westerberg. K-Brewmaker 3, Hintz,
Ivey 2, Elliott, Cardona 2, Righter 2, Doyle 3, Suarez 2, Rodriguez,
Arispe 2, Fleitas 2, Westerberg. BB-Hintz, Lassen 2, Righter, Doyle,
Westerberg.
GWRBI: Wason
Temperature: 78, Sky: clear, Wind: in from right at 1 MPH.
Patriot League 