 |
| Hump Day: the Wonders and their good-luck camel came up a little short in their Wednesday night loss to the Fainting Goats at Herlihy Field. (Dave Roback photo) |
Plug Uglies 8
Isotopes 0
WP: Jeff Whitehead LP: Steve Ostrowski
The Isotopes and Plug Uglies faced off at Shea Field in Agawam with first place on the line late in the season. Going into the game, the Isotopes trailed the Plugs by a half game.
If they could pull out a win, they would be in first place by themselves with just two weeks in the season. But, as they say, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas.
Instead, the Plugs pulled out an 8-0 victory, giving them a 1 1/2 game lead with two to play, and a magic number of 1. Before you rush out to get a 'Plug Uglies regular season champs 2021' tattoo, keep in mind that the two teams meet again next week.
Jeff Whitehead went the distance for the win, while Steve Ostrowski took the loss.
Ostrowski kept the Plug hitters off balance with his off-speed pitches and knuckleballs. The score heading into the top of the 7th was just 3-0, and two of those runs came on sacrifice flies by Mike Olkin and Eric "Noodles" Bennett.
In the top of the 7th, the Plugs put it all together and strung some hits off Ostrowski, scoring 5 runs and putting the game out of reach. Nolan Anaya singled and stole 2nd with one out, and Chris "Chaka" Scanlon and Jon Adolph walked to load the bases. Greg "G-Bomb" Elbaum hit a single to drive in 2, and Matt Boulanger followed with a triple to score 2 more.
Instead, the Plugs pulled out an 8-0 victory, giving them a 1 1/2 game lead with two to play, and a magic number of 1. Before you rush out to get a 'Plug Uglies regular season champs 2021' tattoo, keep in mind that the two teams meet again next week.
Jeff Whitehead went the distance for the win, while Steve Ostrowski took the loss.
Ostrowski kept the Plug hitters off balance with his off-speed pitches and knuckleballs. The score heading into the top of the 7th was just 3-0, and two of those runs came on sacrifice flies by Mike Olkin and Eric "Noodles" Bennett.
In the top of the 7th, the Plugs put it all together and strung some hits off Ostrowski, scoring 5 runs and putting the game out of reach. Nolan Anaya singled and stole 2nd with one out, and Chris "Chaka" Scanlon and Jon Adolph walked to load the bases. Greg "G-Bomb" Elbaum hit a single to drive in 2, and Matt Boulanger followed with a triple to score 2 more.
Whitehead, the crafty lefty had his game on, allowing no runs and just 5 hits over 7. He walked 1 and struck out 2.
Phillies 11
In another wild and wooly match-up, the Phils nearly came all the way back in their final at-bat against the Grays. Down 13-5 in the 6th and sunlight fading, the Phils scored 6 and had the tying run on base before Jay Sadowski nailed down the final out to preserve the victory for starter Mike Whatley.
The game started off as a low-scoring affair as Whatley and Phils starter J.R. Ross dueled. After 2, the score was 2-1 Grays.
Any thoughts of an actual pitchers duel went by the boards in the bottom of the 3rd where the Grays put up a 6-spot. The Phils responded with 4 of their own in the top of the 4th to make it 8-5.
Miracle Max Strubel came on in the bottom of the 4th, but the Grays continued hitting, scoring 5 more times to make it 13-5.
Sadowski, in addition to the save, had a triple, single and run-scoring sacrifice fly. For the Phils, leadoff hitter Sal Gionfriddo was 3-3, Andy Klepacki was 2-2 and a walk, and JR Ross was 2-3 with a double
Wonders 8
The GOATs* bested the Wonders as Eddie "Magic" Esposito confounded and perplexed opposing hitters over 6 innings for the complete game victory.
With his take-a-little-off/put-a-little-on repertoire, Esposito gave up 8 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits and 3 walks. Twelve of the 18 outs recorded were ground balls. The performance was summed up by Pres Pieraccini who said "Eddie's got the magic sauce." (And thus was born a new nickname.)
The Wonders led briefly, 5-4, midway through the 3rd when they scored 3 runs by stringing together 5 straight 2-out hits by super-sub Matt Boulanger, Marty Langford, Senior Jacques, and Wally Lailer.
But the GOATs roared - or is it bleated? - right back scoring 4 in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. Hector Arroyo, Stu Clark, Esposito, Dennis Holmes and Paddy Johnson all had hits. Holmes cranked a double to left to drive in 2.
The Goats extended the lead to 10-5 going into a sloppy sixth where the Wonders scored 3 on a couple of defensive miscues and two balks. With the score 10-8 and twilight rapidly approaching, the Goats scored 3 more runs in the bottom of the 6th. The game was then called on account of darkness and the score rolled back to the top of the inning.
Stu Clark was 3-3 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBI. Esposito was 4-4 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBI.
Nabil Hannoush went the distance in the loss.
*In keeping with tradition, the Goats are referred to as the GOATs after wins.
Dave Roback, the retired award-winning Republican photographer, graced the league again with another visit. These are his photos from the Wonders/ Goats game.
By Jeff Whitehead:
Phillies 11
Dorian Grays 13
WP: Mike Whatley, Sv. Jay Sadowski LP: J.R. Ross
In another wild and wooly match-up, the Phils nearly came all the way back in their final at-bat against the Grays. Down 13-5 in the 6th and sunlight fading, the Phils scored 6 and had the tying run on base before Jay Sadowski nailed down the final out to preserve the victory for starter Mike Whatley.
The game started off as a low-scoring affair as Whatley and Phils starter J.R. Ross dueled. After 2, the score was 2-1 Grays.
Any thoughts of an actual pitchers duel went by the boards in the bottom of the 3rd where the Grays put up a 6-spot. The Phils responded with 4 of their own in the top of the 4th to make it 8-5.
Miracle Max Strubel came on in the bottom of the 4th, but the Grays continued hitting, scoring 5 more times to make it 13-5.
Sadowski, in addition to the save, had a triple, single and run-scoring sacrifice fly. For the Phils, leadoff hitter Sal Gionfriddo was 3-3, Andy Klepacki was 2-2 and a walk, and JR Ross was 2-3 with a double
Wonders 8
Fainting Goats 10
WP: Eddie Esposito, LP: Nabil Hannoush.
The GOATs* bested the Wonders as Eddie "Magic" Esposito confounded and perplexed opposing hitters over 6 innings for the complete game victory.
With his take-a-little-off/put-a-little-on repertoire, Esposito gave up 8 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits and 3 walks. Twelve of the 18 outs recorded were ground balls. The performance was summed up by Pres Pieraccini who said "Eddie's got the magic sauce." (And thus was born a new nickname.)
The Wonders led briefly, 5-4, midway through the 3rd when they scored 3 runs by stringing together 5 straight 2-out hits by super-sub Matt Boulanger, Marty Langford, Senior Jacques, and Wally Lailer.
But the GOATs roared - or is it bleated? - right back scoring 4 in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. Hector Arroyo, Stu Clark, Esposito, Dennis Holmes and Paddy Johnson all had hits. Holmes cranked a double to left to drive in 2.
The Goats extended the lead to 10-5 going into a sloppy sixth where the Wonders scored 3 on a couple of defensive miscues and two balks. With the score 10-8 and twilight rapidly approaching, the Goats scored 3 more runs in the bottom of the 6th. The game was then called on account of darkness and the score rolled back to the top of the inning.
Stu Clark was 3-3 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBI. Esposito was 4-4 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBI.
Nabil Hannoush went the distance in the loss.
*In keeping with tradition, the Goats are referred to as the GOATs after wins.
Next week
It is Yogi Berra Week for Week 15, as all games will be deja vu all over again from Week 14. Each team will play the same opponent they played last week next week. Don't ask; just embrace it.
Wednesday
Phillies @ Dorian Grays, Herlihy, Whately
Thursday
Isotopes @ Plug Uglies, Herlihy, Whately
Fainting Goats @ Shea, Agawam
Standings
Game Photos:
Dave Roback, the retired award-winning Republican photographer, graced the league again with another visit. These are his photos from the Wonders/ Goats game.
By Stu Clark
 |
By Jeff Whitehead:
Comments
Post a Comment