Angels 44, Cubs 4

In Week 6, the Cubs continued in the same vein as their last two matchups – 11 hits (12 average in Weeks 4 and 5), three extra-base hits (3.5 average), and four runs (3.5 average). They were able to successfully buck the trend of runs allowed, though, as Kenny Kawaguchi shut out the AI Angels for his first shutout of the season. But the AI Cubs were the opposite of successful in that regard – instead, they were the victims of a slaughterfest by the Angels, as the team truly broke out with the second-highest score of the entire season so far, and the best game yet by a Frontyard League team. The entire team went off, nobody getting on base less than four times, and even with only two triples and two home runs, all the Angels’ singles and doubles, combined with five walks and 23 stolen bases, worked well at Tin Can Alley to demonstrate why that can be such a desirable field. Dunkel and Koppel split pitching duty in a clean shutout to punctuate the Angels’ game, as they hope to break out of their tie for last in the NL East.

Player of the game: The entire team had a big day, but nobody more so that Julie Dunkel, who went 7-for-7 with 3 singles, 3 doubles, a home run, 6 RBI, 7 runs scored, 4 stolen bases, and 3 scoreless innings pitched.

A’s 20, Melonheads 9

A slumping Melonheads team failed to break out of it and regain their earlier form this week. Several undergrounders, as well as two home runs and 6 RBI by Fabienne Callahan, helped them to not totally bomb the game, but five of their players combining to go 3-for-16 put a damper on any rallies they attempted. That left the Athletics free to take care of business as normal, which they proceeded to do. They actually recorded their lowest run and hit + walk totals so far this week, but at 17 and 24 compared to previous lows of 18 and 26, it wasn’t noticeable in the big picture. Nomar Garciaparra had a comparatively bad day with just three singles, but his teammates picked up the slack and everybody got a piece of the action, with the A’s tacking four more home runs on as well as they continue to comfortably lead the league (sans the Indians) in that category. The A’s continue to coast to a likely playoff spot, while the Melonheads’ poor division competition can only help them stay afloat there for so long.

Player of the game: Amir Khan filled the void that Nomar left this week, 4-for-4 with two singles, two home runs, and four runs scored and batted in.

Mariners 6, Braves -2

The Braves had another standard game for them at the plate, with three home runs account for 4 of their 6 runs and Lambert, Estrada, and Thomas continuing to carry the team. But this week, they were unable to control the AI Mariners, as neither Johnson nor Huggins could stop them on the way to a game-winning 8 runs. Meanwhile, the Mariners had a similar game to their recent efforts, but with just five runs and twelve hits, it was a bit muted in comparison. The bottom five players went a collective 2-for-14, which undoubtedly was the biggest cause for their lack of output, but the top four going 10-for-12 with six extra-base hits was enough combined with their AI to carry the team to victory despite Hoskins giving up two runs on the mound. That gives the Mariners hopes of welcoming company to the basement of their division this week, even as the Braves are put in danger of sliding to their own division’s.

Player of the game: Susan Gore went 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run, and two runs scored and batted in.

Bombers 8, Expos 3

After logging their first two runs and first victory against the AI last week, the Expos followed it up with an even stronger performance this week, scoring five runs total. A three-run shot by Mike Piazza helped, and everybody except Billy Jean Blackwood got in on the action as the team set a new high of 13 hits on the game, leaving their improvement clear even if Angela Delvecchio surrendered three runs on the mound. But it wasn’t enough to stand up to the Bombers’ onslaught – seven of their players got two hits or more, and despite just four extra-base hits and 10 left on base, the resulting stream of hits was enough to drive in run after run until the team had locked up both the victory this week, and the sole division lead in the NL Central for at least one more week.

Player of the game: Terry Vega went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and two runs scored and batted in.

Cardinals 4, Yankees 1

Stuck at their hated Casa again and facing a strong Cardinals defense, the Yankees suffered badly this week. They got plenty of hits – a total of 14, including four by Jessica Wassersas – but extra bases were few and far between and they were only able to bring two of those runners around to score. Bobby Bulgrien also struggled on the mound, giving up a hit for every batter he struck out and giving up one run to halve the Yankees’ differential. That opened up the opportunity for the Cardinals to return to their early-season form, scoring not a lot, but enough to get the job done. Even though they got three less hits than the Yankees, they still managed to score four more runs, helped greatly by a trio of home runs, and that plus their staunch AI defense gave them the victory despite Mr. Clanky giving up two runs to the AI Yankees. The Yankees drop into a tie for last in the NL Central, while the Cardinals extend their lead in the East to two games.

Player of the game: Marseullus Marx was 2-for-3 with a single, home run, three RBI, and two scored.

Tapirs 19, Giants 2

The Giants’ latest game was squarely average when compared to their other efforts so far this season – 10 hits (average of 9.6 in the first five games) and 2 runs (average of 2.2), although like the Cubs, they were able to buck the runs allowed trend by shutting out the AI Tapirs. Their two runs this week came on a pair of solo shots by McDonnell and Futterman, with nobody else able to circle the bases this week. But if the Giants were hoping for their AI to shut out another team, they were gravely disappointed, as a Tapirs team on a hot streak continued it for their strongest game yet. While Morgan and Harding combined to go 1-for-8, everybody else on the team got on at least three times, and 18 stolen bases set them up perfectly to continue their rallies and leave just four runners on. With home runs by normally weak hitters in Haldi and Johnson, it looks like the Tapirs also benefitted from some powerups. Their latest smackdown moves them into a sole second place, nipping on the Bombers’ heels just one game behind, while the Giants continue to stagnate multiple games behind the Devil Rays.

Player of the game: Gwen Sears went 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple, two runs scored, and a team-leading 5 RBI.

Rockies 6, Orioles 6

Indians 24, Monsters 5

With Monsters coach Aesnop unable to play this week, Eauxps I. Fourgott subbed in for him, and as could be expected, they didn’t have the biggest day under the management of a substitute coach. While Liz Kinghorn went 4-for-4 and Wally Evans smacked a three-run shot to center, it was otherwise slow scoring for the Monsters, and their effort wasn’t helped when Sammy Sosa hit an extremely questionable “home run” off-screen in the left-field corner. That left an easy win for the Indians, but not an uneventful one. Their effort stood out by virtue of the fact that they had a field day smacking it out of the park – hitting an amazing total of 14 home runs on the day! With only 8 other hits, that truly did define their game, and allowed home run legend Crazyei8hts to cement his lead for the most home runs of the season, as with 11 more total than the next-closest team, he’ll be hard to catch for the rest of the season. The Indians also remain standing as the only undefeated team in the league, while the Monsters have now been knocked out of the lead in the AL East for the first time.

Player of the game: Cheryl Reynolds led the slugfest by going 4-for-4 with four solo home runs.

Tigers 16, Diamondbacks 5

Pirates 7, Blue Jays 3

The Blue Jays had one of their roughest games all season this week. While they were able to scrounge up five extra-base hits, they were of limited use when paired with just six singles, and they lost several runs of their lead when the AI Pirates lucked out by having a Crazy Bunt go outside the field but still be counted as in play. Meanwhile, after two very strong games, the Pirates fell back some this week, only scoring an eight runs that they had doubled or better in each of the past two weeks. Making their effort even more frustrating, they got a full 20 hits and one walk, meaning 13 runners were either out on fielder’s choices or left on base. Put in a different perspective, the Pirates achieved nine more hits than the Jays this game, but a mere two more runs. Still, those two runs, combined with giving up three less runs than the Jays, were enough to give them their second win in a row. The Pirates are still in the basement of the AL Central but now have a realistic chance of climbing out of it; meanwhile, with the same record of just 2-4, the Blue Jays manage to still be in a tie for the division lead with the Melonheads and Orioles.

Player of the game: Adam van Doren went 4-for-4 with two each of singles, doubles, runs scored, and RBI.

Marlins 9, Devil Rays 4

One week after getting thrashed by the Yankees AI, the Devil Rays were able to rebound. Dobbs and VanderHoek combined to shut down the AI Marlins, while three singles from Grace Tipton resulted in two runs and led the Rays’s offensive. But the Rays weren’t the only team to recover from an AI loss this week, as the Marlins bounced back and proved that the curse of the AI Devil Rays was broken in an 8-run effort where Esther French pitched a shutout. A team that normally relies on the long ball to do well, the Marlins made it through this game with no home runs at all, and four of their hitters went a combined 3-for-14, but a total 16-for-19 by their other five hitters resulted in several rallies, especially on balls hit to a struggling Dobbs in center field, that drove in quite a few runs and gave the Marlins their third victory of the season. The Devil Rays still have a two-game lead in the West, but if they continue this slide and one of their division rivals heats up, they could see that lead slip away. Meanwhile, the Marlins maintain a tie with the Braves and Angels at the bottom of the East.

Player of the game: A boosted Anna Goodreau continually contributed to the Marlins’ effort, going 4-for-4 with four singles, scoring twice, and batting in three runs.

Red Sox 22, Wombats 9

A struggling Wombats team had another game along the lines of many of their efforts this season, producing a score that was decent but not high. While the team managed to draw an impressive six walks, everybody except Vladimir Guerrero got on either two or three times, and four different players contributed home runs, they still struggled to bring runners home, with 11 of their 22 runners failing to score, and Bosworth had a dud of a game, striking out only one hitter and giving up two runs to cut into their score. The result still would have been enough to beat out several mediocre efforts by AL teams this week, but not the Red Sox. With everybody getting at least two hits, six players getting at least three, and three players getting at least four, it was another smackdown week for Boston. The fact that half of their 28 hits were for extra bases underscored their dominance for the matchup as they continue their reign of terror outside of the AL East. The Sox catch up to the Monsters with this win, as they continue to nip on the A’s heels in the East, while even in their weak division, the Wombats continue to drift in last place with no victories since Opening Week.

Player of the game: Earl Abbott was a true workhorse this week. At the plate he went 5-for-5 with three singles, two doubles, and four runs scored, while on the mound he pitched five-and-a-third scoreless innings.