Diamondbacks 11, Orioles 8

The Orioles had proven weak in their first two games at home, but were able to improve on those efforts this week. While they got a comparable number of hits, a boost in extra-base hits, especially 4 total home runs from Markart, Nevin, and Sturges, allowed them to increase their run total, while Sturges also pitched her first shutout of the season. But after tasting victory last week, the D’Backs weren’t ready to stop yet, and performed just as well this week despite having to contend with Sandy Flats. Their hit and run numbers were almost identical, but the big difference from last week came in the form of six home runs from four players, which seemed to account for the majority of their runs scored. Both teams now sit a 2-3, though thanks to the divisions they’re in, the defeated Orioles’ overall position is still a lot better than the victorious Diamondbacks’.

Player of the game: Uma Morris was 3-for-4 with 3 home runs and 4 RBI.

Yankees 2, Devil Rays -6

The Rays got a taste of their own medicine this week, as they were swept away by the AI Yankees. The inhospitable Casa gave the Rays a hard time stringing the hits together, so they only scored on solo home runs by Wayne and Uchida, while VanderHoek, Franklin, and Dobbs all gave up runs en route to the AI Yankees scoring 7 all-told. Meanwhile, the Yankees had to confront double demons this week, both playing at a home field where they’ve struggled this season and facing off against a Devil Rays AI that had not yet lost a game, and they did struggle at the plate, only recording seven singles and a double. But Bobby Bulgrien held firm in the face of the AI Devil Rays, ultimately successfully shutting them out as the Yankees become the first team this season to defeat them. The Devil Rays thus suffer their first loss of the season, leaving only the Indians undefeated, but maintain a comfortable lead in the NL West, while the Yankees could catch up to the Bombers with a loss by the latter.

Player of the game: Bulgrien not only shut down a heretofore unbeatable team while striking out ten hitters, but also batted in both of the Yankees’ runs with his solitary single.

Cardinals 14, Expos 1

Shortly after we thought that Expos coach Jarod Johnson had left us, he returned and went on to defeat the AI for the first time this season. While Angela Delvecchio wasn’t able to completely shake off the Cardinals, the Expos were still able to squeeze in two runs, including a solo home run by Billy Jean Blackwood, to claim victory over the Cardinals’ AI. But after their initial “breakout” game last week, the Cardinals really opened up and unleashed their power this week, nearly doubling their run total for the season in a dominant performance. Over half the team got on base at least three teams, and while the other players weren’t so successful, the stronger players’ consistency was enough to keep the Cardinals scoring. While there’s a long season to go yet, the Cardinals really showed their ability to compete and solidified their NL East lead with this win.

Player of the game: Jorge Garcia’s consistency was a big part of the Cards’ success, as he went 4-for-4 with two singles, two home runs, and 3 RBI.

Pirates 19, Melonheads 5

The Melonheads had gotten a decent start to the season, but fell hard in this game. Only three players got on base more than once, and almost every hit they did achieve (as well as every run) was from an error or Crazy Bunt as they never really got going – even a lengthy rules discussion as to whether a play was acceptable turned out to be irrelevant as the next hitter turned the third out anyway. On the flip side, the Pirates followed a strong breakout game last week with another good performance this week. With everybody getting on during the game and all but one getting on at least twice, they were able to keep the offensive rolling, and had another exemplary showing of baserunner efficiency, only stranding six while scoring 16. Five home runs, each by a different player, capped off their effort as a strong showing worthy of producing Pittsburgh’s first win of the season.

Player of the game: Brad Radke did it all this week, going two-for-three with a walk, double, (Aluminum Power-granted) home run, and team-leading four RBI, but also facing the minimum number of batters in a one-hit shutout.

Red Sox 13, Tigers 10

With Tigers coach GSchlim unable to play once again, Yurya took over as a substitute coach this week. The result was a decent if unspectacular game. While six of the Tigers’ hitters went a collective 15-for-20, the other three went a collective 0-for-9 to limit their output. Meanwhile, the Red Sox had a weak game by their standards but still a solid one on the whole, with over half the team getting at least three hits apiece and all but one getting at least two. Even a controversial infield fly call couldn’t dampen their spirits by too much. While the result was beatable, it was enough for the Sox to prevail in this game, advancing them to 3-2 and keeping their hopes of playoffs alive even as the Tigers sink to the bottom of their division.

Player of the game: Parker Collum went 3-for-4 with a single and two home runs, batting in 7 of the Red Sox’s 13 runs.

A’s 21, Rockies 17

Going into a tough matchup against the dominant A’s, the Rockies gave it their all this week and had a strong game indeed. Cindy Chang with two hits was the least productive member of the team, everybody else getting at least three hits, and Pimbleton and Felgate each batted in 6 runs en route to a total of 22 for Colorado, but the team struggled on defense late in the game, as the AI A’s strung together a series of powerups to score 5 runs off the team. That proved to be the difference in a close matchup, as the A’s fell off a bit from their peak to the point that the Rockies would’ve won if they’d secured a shutout. It was still a strong game by the A’s though, everybody getting at least two hits and six players getting three or more, and another four home runs punctuated their effort. Both teams continue their hunt for the division title, but the Rockies’ loss kills their chances of catching the Indians this week.

Player of the game: Nomar Garciaparra continued his reign of terror, 4-for-4 with a single, three home runs, 8 RBI, and zero failures to score.

Tapirs 15, Angels 13

Coming off the heels of two strong victories, the Angels were widely expected to take a third this week, and they performed to standard. Koppell had worked off his jitters from last week to pitch four scoreless innings, and seven of the players got at least two hits each to boost the Angels to a third straight game of at least 22 hits and 13 runs after the multiplier, even if they never got any hits bigger than doubles. But an unexpected twist came when an inconsistent Tapirs team came out with an even bigger game to sweep the Angels off their feet. Only Dominique Lowe failed to achieve at least two hits on the game, and a total of five home runs at Tin Can made the difference, allowing the Tapirs to surge ahead and score five more runs than the Angels despite logging three less hits, with an impressively low left on base total of three. The Angels continue to struggle despite good performances, now 2-3 and tied for last in the NL East, while a loss by the Bombers could let the Tapirs catch up to the division lead.

Player of the game: Gwen Sears was the sole Tapir with more than 2 hits on the game, 4-for-4 with a single, a double, two home runs, and 5 RBI while scoring every time she came to the plate.

Mariners 7, Marlins -1

After losing to the Cardinals AI at the Paveway earlier in the season, the Marlins were wary of visiting the similar Cement Gardens, and their concerns proved well-founded. While home runs by Lebeaux and Deschenes helped them to score a little bit, Sally Dobbs clobbered two hits to help the AI Mariners score four runs and defeat the French Fish once again. Meanwhile, the Mariners continued in the vein of their recent games to secure a second win. It was a slightly lower score than their last two, but still close, and they were helped by the fact that half of their fourteen hits were for extra bases. Everybody except Skiumsby got in on the action, and Beattie and Sweet both had perfect days at the plate even though neither scored any runs, the production instead coming from the top of the lineup. Both teams remain at the bottom of their divisions, but the Mariners looked much stronger this week.

Player of the game: Sally Dobbs gets it for her effective harrassment of the Marlins combined with a decent game on the Mariners’ side: 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and two runs scored.

Indians 18, Wombats 11

The Wombats were hoping to break their losing streak and had a decent game with over ten runs scored. Claudia Villarta was on fire going 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three batted in, while reigning Ace Tiffany Bosworth added 9 strikeouts to her total, all as seven of nine players got two hits or more for a solid game. However, the final undefeated team in the league wasn’t ready to lose just yet, and won their fifth straight game despite a record low of just three home runs for the team. Nobody on the Indians even got more than three hits, but 2 or 3 for most of the players and a low LOB total of just five helped them to put up a strong score of 15 before the multiplier all the same. The Indians continue to cruise atop the AL Central, while the Wombats manage to remain just one game back from the division lead despite having only one win.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov went 2-for-3 with a single, home run, and team-leading 4 RBI.

Monsters 11, Blue Jays 7

After two strong games, the Jays tapered off this week against the Monsters, stranding twelve runners as they only managed to score seven. Even though Houston and Hendrix both went 4-for-4, those were all singles, and a speedy Monsters defense helped limit the usefulness of those slow runners on first. A double and home run by Chico Pappas were the only extra-base hits that the Jays could summon all game, and that resulted in a low score. The Monsters were back after forfeiting the week before, and even though their effort fell short of the strength they’ve exhibited at other times, it was still enough for the win. It was a tale of two halves of the team – four players combined to go just 3-for-13 with 0 runs and 1 RBI, but the other five combined to go 13-for-17 with 10 runs and 9 RBI, and the more successful half was able to drag the team to victory. The Monsters maintain a tie for first with the A’s in the AL East, while the Blue Jays’ loss leaves them tied with the Melonheads and Orioles for the lead in the AL West at an unimpressive 2-3.

Player of the game: Wally Evans led the team’s effort by going 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a triple, and three runs scored.

Braves 5, Giants -5

Much like the Devil Rays, the Giants were a team who were used to beating opponents with their AI, only to have the tables turned on them this week. The AI Braves were too much to handle, scoring five runs on a series of HRs off of Luanne Lui, while holding the Giants scoreless as a hit each for six players was the best they could do. Meanwhile, the Braves rebounded nicely from an AI loss last week, giving up only one run to the AI Giants while scoring six. The top of the lineup did all the work, though, going 13-for-17 with a walk and all the teams runs and RBI while the last five hitters went a collective 3-for-17. Still, a bunch of singles and a pair each of doubles and home runs by that top of the lineup was enough to get the job done. The Braves now stand alone in second place in the NL East, one game behind the Cardinals, while the Giants’ 2-3 record is a more distant second place, 2 games behind the Devil Rays.

Player of the game: Zenon Estrada was 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a solo home run, and three total runs scored.

Bombers 12, Cubs 2

In the final matchup of the week, the Cubs had another small-scale game. While Keisha Phillips led the team by going 3-for-4 and batting in three runs, the rest of the team only got eight singles and two extra-base hits on the game, and two runs given up by Kenny Kawaguchi further reduced their score. Meanwhile, the Bombers broke out this week with their strongest game yet. Their eleven runs are over half their total from the first four games, and everybody on the team got on base for the first time this season. Seven players getting on at least twice helped out, as did a strong total of 14 stolen bases, and all added up to an easy win for Baltimore. That win maintains Baltimore’s tenuous lead on the NL Central, as they still stand just one game above the Tapirs and Yankees.

Player of the game: Cliff Floyd was the only player on the team to go 4-for-4, with two singles, a double, a triple, and 2 runs scored and batted in.