Yankees 2, Giants 1

After a break from playing in Week 3, the Giants’ fearsome AI came next for the Yankees. Like the other teams to face the Giants, the Yanks struggled to keep the AI under control, giving up a total of six runs. However, they were able to put up their own offensive as well, as six of their players got two hits or more each, including six extra-base hits, providing enough of a push to become the first team to defeat the AI Giants this season. On their end, the Giants got only two hits less than the Yankees, but with a sole double as their only extra-base hit, they weren’t able to use their runners as efficiently, leaving 11 on and scoring 5 less runs than the Yanks. That still would have been enough for the win, but the Yankees AI got in a punch of their own: they scored 2 runs off of Luanne Lui, which was just enough to give New York a narrow victory.

Player of the game: While Jessica Wassersas had the best statline on offense this game, giving up 6 runs on the mound bumps her off. The distinction instead goes to Gary Allen, 2-for-3 with a double, triple and 2 RBI.

Cardinals 5, Cubs 1

After missing Week 3, the Cubs were fortunately back, but the week off didn’t seem to do them any favors. With only eleven hits on the game and nobody on the team getting more than two, their effort was pretty limited, and a pair of solo shots by Weis and Goodfellow was canceled out by Kenny Kawaguchi giving up two runs on the mound, leading to a regression from their Week 2 showing. By contrast, the Cardinals, a 2-1 team that hadn’t yet scored more than 5 runs in a game, had their best game yet this week, scoring 8 against Chicago’s middling defense. They actually achieved the same 16 hits and 5 extra-base hits that they had in last week’s contest, but were able to score 3 more runs this week, showing how their baserunners are getting smarter. Mr. Clanky did give up three runs on the mound, but made up for it by scoring all three times he came up to the plate. This win put St. Louis up to 3-1, with the potential to take the division lead alone if the Braves lost.

Player of the game: Mr. Clanky’s three runs allowed excludes him from consideration, so Jeff Conine gets the nod this week, going 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, and 2 RBI.

Diamondbacks 16, Wombats 7

A Wombats team that’s been lukewarm since their Opening Week win wasn’t able to regain their momentum this week. While their score of 7 was better than Week 2’s mark of 4, it only came on one more hit and walk than that week’s effort, as while Ichiro, Sexson, and Proutt could get on base regularly, the rest of the team struggled at a collective 4-for-16. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks relished the opportunity to finally face teams outside the Division of Doom, and took full advantage of it in this game with a strong 14-run performance that was more than enough to blow out the competition. Despite Ichiro behind the plate preventing any stolen bases, the D’Backs prospered, with everybody except Jocinda Smith getting on base at least twice and four players getting on three times. That win pushes the Wombats back to an increasingly bleak 1-3, while the Diamondbacks secure their first win, leaving only the Pirates and Expos winless.

Player of the game: Yankees import Shelia Basante not only got on base every time, but was also helpful in getting her teammates to score. She went 4-for-4 with three singles, a triple, and 3 RBI.

Angels 13, Mariners 7

After their breakout game last week, the Mariners were out to prove that it wasn’t a fluke, and did so convincingly this week. Their 17 hits surpassed their highest previous total by more than half en route to their highest run total yet, with Davy Marian hitting two home runs and driving in 6 to lead the offensive. But the Angels were on a similar mission, and themselves came out in force for the second week in a row, logging 5 more hits and 4 more runs than the Mariners. While Anaheim wasn’t able to get any hits better than doubles, 8 doubles did help their efforts, as did over half the team getting 3 hits or more. Chad Koppel also got his day in the spotlight, as he was able to pitch more than two innings for the first time since winning the Ace Wilson in Season 4. While a bit rusty, giving up 9 hits and 2 runs, he was able to strike out seven and complete the game. Despite being just 2-2 after four weeks, the Angels are increasingly looking like a top threat in the NL, while the Mariners will need to get some more favorable matchups to have a chance at the playoffs.

Player of the game: Troy Glaus led his pro team’s effort, 4-for-4 with a single, three doubles, three runs scored, and 4 RBI.

Marlins 9, Bombers 6

It was largely business as usual for the Bombers this week; while a pair of home runs by Heffernan and Klinker helped them to beat their previous best score by 1, their game was otherwise very similar to their efforts in the first three weeks of play. The big difference this time was in how their opponents performed. Perhaps energized by playing at home for the first time, the Marlins had their best game of the season so far, scoring two more runs than last week despite logging six less hits. They essentially traded eight singles for two home runs, but in this case it worked out well for them, and Perry Marx was the day’s only dud as the rest of the team all contributed. That keeps the Marlins in the running for now in a tight NL East race, while the Bombers were handed their first loss (leaving only the Indians, Monsters, and Devil Rays undefeated) but still sit atop the Central.

Player of the game: Monseuir Deschenes was valuable as always, 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, and 3 RBI.

Indians 13, Orioles 2

After a pair of strong finishes, the Orioles came crashing down to the sandy earth when they returned to their home field. Just 10 singles and 2 doubles, spread across almost the whole team, couldn’t be converted to many runs at the Flats, and Matessa Sturges gave up four runs on the mound to all but invalidate the runs they did score. Meanwhile, the Indians once again came short of being truly dominant, but kept their flawless record of scoring over 10 runs per game alive and did well enough to remain undefeated after four weeks. While Delgado and Kowalski only got one hit combined, the rest of the team each got at least two to keep the team running strong, even if their 4 home runs are the lowest total yet for a coach best known for his homer prowess.

Player of the game: Cheryl Reynolds went 5-for-5 with a single, double, three home runs, and 5 RBI.

Melonheads 17, Monsters F

The Melonheads’ fourth game was a slow start – multiple double plays turned by the Monsters defense and a general lack of good hitting for the ‘Heads left them tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, before a massive Under Grounder-fueled rally produced 14 more runs to launch them right back up with a respectable score. That score was still expected to be blown away by the Monsters, though, and initially that’s just what happened, as initial results showed them winning 29-17. However, on review of footage, it was determined that one tactic the Monsters had been using so far this season doesn’t fall under acceptable tactics per the league’s ruleset. Coach Aesnop was offered the chance to let this score stand or replay the Monsters’ side of the game, but decided that he would feel better simply forfeiting the game. That gives the Monsters an unorthodox first loss, while the Melonheads now sit at an arguably undeserved 2-2.

Player of the game: Even though she gave up three runs on the mound, Maria Luna only gave them up on a series of Crazy Bunts and otherwise pitched a flawless game. But she gets the distinction for being the strongest hitter on the team this week, going 4-for-4 with three singles, a home run, and three runs scored and batted in, all without a single Under Grounder use.

Red Sox 30, Pirates 20

After three weeks of fairly low scores, the Pirates finally had their breakout game this week. With 21 runs scored and just five runners left on base, they exhibited exemplary efficiency in this game. 11 total extra-base hits, plus the fact that six of nine hitters recorded at least three hits, showcased just how effectively they played, if observers weren’t clued in by the fact that they scored more than in the first three games combined. Unfortunately for them, the Red Sox had an absolute slaughterfest of a game themselves, as everybody on the team got at least two hits, seven players got at least four, and over a third of their 36 hits were for extra bases. Even with the Pirates’ strong effort, they stood no chance against Boston’s onslaught, and so remain winless after four weeks, even as the Red Sox struggle to keep pace with their tight competition in the AL East.

Player of the game: Zena Fromme went 5-for-6 with two singles, three home runs, and 9 RBI.

Rockies 12, Blue Jays 11

We saw a whole new Blue Jays team in Week Three, and they were hoping to keep up that momentum this week. But while they didn’t fully return to their first two weeks’ performances this time, they also weren’t able to perform as well in this matchup. It was still a strong performance, though, with eight players getting at least two hits, five getting at least three, and Jason Kendall batting in 7 runs as he was a single shy of hitting for the cycle. The Rockies had a similar story, unable to repeat their Week 3 success fully, and on the whole having a less impressive game than the Jays. They weren’t helped by their worst three hitters going a collective 2-for-10, but eight extra-base hits along with a fair helping of singles allowed them to put forward a decent performance nonetheless. In the end, while the Jays finished the game with the higher run total, five runs given up by Betty Houston, combined with the Rockies getting the home team multiplier, set the Jays back enough for the Rockies to just barely sneak out the win, keeping their hopes of competing for the Central title alive while the Blue Jays’s West division is a mess where three teams at 2-2 are tied for the lead.

Player of the game: Former MVP Debby Nagasawa was living up to the title this week, 4-for-4 with two singles, two doubles, and 3 RBI.

Devil Rays 3, Braves -1

The Braves had gotten on a roll recently, but that all came crashing down this week. A quartet of solo home runs – two by Lambert and one each by Estrada and Mikey Thomas – were the only four runs they were able to score all game, while the murderous Devil Rays AI struck once more, scoring 5 runs off of Randy Johnson to advance their record to 4-0. Meanwhile, the Devil Rays weren’t able to find the success that they had last week, and in fact put out their lowest hit total of the season so far, but two home runs amid a smattering of other hits still sufficed to score a few runs and convert them into another win. The result sets the Braves back in a tough NL East race with little room for error, while the Devil Rays sit comfortably atop the West as one of the two remaining undefeated teams.

Player of the game: Holly Franklin, 2-for-3 with a single, home run, and 2 RBI.

A’s 28, Tigers F

Fresh off what may be one of their toughest games of the season, where they narrowly lost to the Monsters, the A’s bounded right back in a merciless bashing of the Tigers. While Amanda Hellerman was “only ” able to get two hits on the game, everybody else got at least three, with over half the team scoring four or more, and of all those hits, there were only two more singles then there were extra-base hits. Garciaparra was at it again, nocking two more home runs and batting in eight runs this week. The result was likely to be a win in any case, which is part of why a Tigers coach GSchlim, pressed for time, chose to forfeit this week. With the Monsters’ earlier forfeit the A’s are now tied for the division lead, and it doesn’t seem like they have any chance of missing the playoffs.

Player of the game: Achmed Khan gets it for hitting for the cycle, with an extra single thrown in for good measure. Not recording a single out this game, he also both scored and batted in four runs.

Tapirs 14, Expos -6

The Expos narrowly missed the cutoff this week, resulting in a five-run penalty, but it didn’t make a difference in this case. While Angela Delvecchio had her best game yet this season, giving up only a single run, the Expos couldn’t get anything going at all against the Tapirs’ AI, getting no-hit at the inhospitable Sandy Flats. The Tapirs’ game was the exact opposite, as they enjoyed a near-total slugfest at their home park. Everybody got on at least once, and eight players at least twice, and with eight extra-base hits, they were able to roll in the runs as well, all leading up to the week’s second-strongest score in the Frontyard League. After two strong games and two weak games, the Tapirs now sit at 2-2, within spitting distance of the division-leading Bombers.

Player of the game: Ricky Johnson went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and home run, batting in 4 runs.