It was a really uneventful life as far as anyone doing anything particularly interesting happening, but victory was secured in the two most important games, with one team extending their division lead and another winning it's first playoff game.
Las Vegas 3 at Sacremento 4
Las Vegas couldn't quite get there in this one, despite outhitting Sactown 7-6. Adeiny Hechavarria had two of those knocks, bringing his AAA line up to .388/.435/.518. Adam Loewen also had two hits, including a double, while Darin Mastroianni singled and stole a base. On the rubber, Brad Mills went 6, giving up all 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while K'ing 7. Sean Henn finished things out with two scoreless and hitless innings.
New Hampshire 2 at Trenton 7
New Hampshire got romped in a game where the final line was, if anything, generous to them. The club scratched a meager three hits, including a solo shot by Moises Sierra, his 18th. Anthony Gose walked and was hit by a pitch, and managed to steal two bases. Of course. He's now 68/83 on the year. Yohan Pino was the loser here, giving up 4 in 6, with 6 hits, a walk and 4 strikeouts. Despite the setback, New Hampshire still leads their division by 3.5 games, and are in the playoffs by 4 games, so if my math is correct their magic number is 2, with 5 games remaining, including 4 against cellar dwelling Portland.
Dunedin 7 at Lakeland 2
Brad McElroy led the way in this one for the D-Jays, picking up 3 hits including a double, but Sean Ochinko was the real hero, going deep with one out in the fifth. It helped that the bases were loaded, icing the game for the D-Jays. Brad Glenn chipped in with his 25th home run, and Ryan Goins had 2 singles, stole a base and made an error. Vince Bongiovanni's 4th start of the season was a good one, as he allowed only 2 runs in 6 innings. he gave up 4 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 4. In the playoff picture, Clearwater split a doubleheader, so Dunedin extended their lead back up to 1.5 games. As it so happens, they face Clearwater to end the season, in a weird three game series in which the first three games are in Dunedin, and the final in Clearwater. I assume that last one is a makeup game of some sort? In any event, Dunedin needs at least a split to guarantee them the second half championship and a playoff berth.
Great Lakes 1 at Lansing 4
Lansing is already in the playoffs after finishing second in the first half, but have won 4 in a row for good measure. The Loons were the victim this time, behind a sparkling 6 innings (again!) from Marcus Walden. Walden walked 1 and whiffed 3, giving up a run along with 6 hits. Markus Brisker, Carlos Perez and Peter Mooney, with the later two tripling.
Vancouver 1 at Boise 10
Whatever slim playoff hopes Vancouver might have had are officially over. Jonathon Berti had 2 hits, including the only extra base hit, a double and Zach Breault gave up 8 runs in 2 innings.
EDIT: So the playoff system in the NWL is weird, and Vancouver in fact are currently in the playoffs by both 2 and 1 games. Eugene won the first half and is leading the second half by 1 games, and so if they win the second spot goes to the overall season second place, not the second half second place. Right now that's Vancouver, by 2 games. So to make the playoffs Eugene has to play to at least an even record with Everett in the final three games, and Vancouver has to be no worse than one game behind Everett to avoid a tiebreaker, which they would lose based on the second half head to head record between the two teams. Thanks, TdT,
Bluefield 11 at Elizabethton 3
Bluefield rolled in its playoff debut, with Kevin Pillar and Art Charles leading the way with 3 base knocks apiece. Charles hit a solo home run and drove in 2, while Pillar doubled twice. Every starter but Aaron Munoz had at least a hit, and Chris Hawkins had a game leading 4 RBI on two hits including a double. Tyler Ybarra was the victor, doing just enough in going 5.1 and surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Three Stars!
3rd Star! Art Charles - 3/5, HR, R, 2 RBI
2nd Star! Vince Bongiovanni - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
1st Star! Marcus Walden - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Las Vegas 3 at Sacremento 4
Las Vegas couldn't quite get there in this one, despite outhitting Sactown 7-6. Adeiny Hechavarria had two of those knocks, bringing his AAA line up to .388/.435/.518. Adam Loewen also had two hits, including a double, while Darin Mastroianni singled and stole a base. On the rubber, Brad Mills went 6, giving up all 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while K'ing 7. Sean Henn finished things out with two scoreless and hitless innings.
New Hampshire 2 at Trenton 7
New Hampshire got romped in a game where the final line was, if anything, generous to them. The club scratched a meager three hits, including a solo shot by Moises Sierra, his 18th. Anthony Gose walked and was hit by a pitch, and managed to steal two bases. Of course. He's now 68/83 on the year. Yohan Pino was the loser here, giving up 4 in 6, with 6 hits, a walk and 4 strikeouts. Despite the setback, New Hampshire still leads their division by 3.5 games, and are in the playoffs by 4 games, so if my math is correct their magic number is 2, with 5 games remaining, including 4 against cellar dwelling Portland.
Dunedin 7 at Lakeland 2
Brad McElroy led the way in this one for the D-Jays, picking up 3 hits including a double, but Sean Ochinko was the real hero, going deep with one out in the fifth. It helped that the bases were loaded, icing the game for the D-Jays. Brad Glenn chipped in with his 25th home run, and Ryan Goins had 2 singles, stole a base and made an error. Vince Bongiovanni's 4th start of the season was a good one, as he allowed only 2 runs in 6 innings. he gave up 4 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 4. In the playoff picture, Clearwater split a doubleheader, so Dunedin extended their lead back up to 1.5 games. As it so happens, they face Clearwater to end the season, in a weird three game series in which the first three games are in Dunedin, and the final in Clearwater. I assume that last one is a makeup game of some sort? In any event, Dunedin needs at least a split to guarantee them the second half championship and a playoff berth.
Great Lakes 1 at Lansing 4
Lansing is already in the playoffs after finishing second in the first half, but have won 4 in a row for good measure. The Loons were the victim this time, behind a sparkling 6 innings (again!) from Marcus Walden. Walden walked 1 and whiffed 3, giving up a run along with 6 hits. Markus Brisker, Carlos Perez and Peter Mooney, with the later two tripling.
Vancouver 1 at Boise 10
Whatever slim playoff hopes Vancouver might have had are officially over. Jonathon Berti had 2 hits, including the only extra base hit, a double and Zach Breault gave up 8 runs in 2 innings.
EDIT: So the playoff system in the NWL is weird, and Vancouver in fact are currently in the playoffs by both 2 and 1 games. Eugene won the first half and is leading the second half by 1 games, and so if they win the second spot goes to the overall season second place, not the second half second place. Right now that's Vancouver, by 2 games. So to make the playoffs Eugene has to play to at least an even record with Everett in the final three games, and Vancouver has to be no worse than one game behind Everett to avoid a tiebreaker, which they would lose based on the second half head to head record between the two teams. Thanks, TdT,
Bluefield 11 at Elizabethton 3
Bluefield rolled in its playoff debut, with Kevin Pillar and Art Charles leading the way with 3 base knocks apiece. Charles hit a solo home run and drove in 2, while Pillar doubled twice. Every starter but Aaron Munoz had at least a hit, and Chris Hawkins had a game leading 4 RBI on two hits including a double. Tyler Ybarra was the victor, doing just enough in going 5.1 and surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Three Stars!
3rd Star! Art Charles - 3/5, HR, R, 2 RBI
2nd Star! Vince Bongiovanni - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
1st Star! Marcus Walden - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
