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.

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.

Bombers 4, Yankees 1

A Yankees team on a hot streak cooled down quickly upon returning to Casa de Pablo. The team only got 10 hits total on the game, nothing better than a double, and a good portion of those hits were actually fielder’s choices, leading to them only being able to score 2 runs on the game. Meanwhile, the Bombers stayed consistent, putting up 4 runs for the second game in a row, and that was all they needed to collect the win once again. 13 of their 14 hits were singles with just a solo home run to break up the monotony, but the Bombers were less prone to fielder’s choices and the extra hits helped make the difference in a low-scoring matchup. The win leaves Baltimore alone on top of the NL Central after the initial division series, with a 3-0 record despite tying for the lowest run total in the division.

Player of the game: Cliff Floyd gets the nod, going 3-for-4 with two singles and the solo home run.

Mariners 6, Tapirs 4

The Tapirs struggled in their first home game, only getting 5 hits off of the stalwart Seattle defense. Three of those five hits were home runs, though, allowing them to stay on the scoreboard regardless. But the Mariners had their breakout game this week, their run total of 7 exceeding their first two games’ combined, to claim their first victory. Like the Tapirs, the Mariners didn’t get a lot of hits outside of a trio of home runs, but they were able to get more, eight singles to Albuquerque’s two, and enough of those hitters were driven in to allow them to maintain the lead even when Dominic Hoskins surrendered a run on the mound. This result ties three of the NL Central’s four teams for last place at 1-2, giving the Bombers a strong position indeed to start out.

Player of the game: The seven runs and three home runs on the Mariners were all evenly spread around the team, but Sally Dobbs accomplished the most with her one of each. She didn’t get any other hits on the game, but her home run drove in three runs, enough to make all the difference in this matchup.

Orioles 23, Melonheads 7

After a strong start to the season, the Melonheads came crashing down this week. A weakened Jane Davis couldn’t accomplish very much, Sidney Webber went 0-for-3 after starting the season 8-for-9, nobody except Rosanna Phelps achieved more than two hits, and Maria Luna gave up her first run of the season on a solo shot by Joella Minotti, all leading to a run differential less than half of the team’s first two. By contrast, the Orioles were absolutely on fire this week, as everybody on the team except for Phil Nevin got at least four hits on the game, leading to a complete smackdown. The O’s didn’t just get on base a lot – they got a lot of extra base hits too, with eight doubles, three triples, and a whopping nine home runs helping to drive them in. The blowout victory puts the O’s at the top of the AL West heap, and if they keep on this hot streak then they’ll be the favorites to win the division.

Player of the game: Ken Griffey, Jr. was at the center of a dominant O’s performance. In addition to proving a consistent thorn in the side of the Melonheads’ offense, he went 4-for-6 on the Orioles’ side, with a triple, and three home runs adding up to 8 RBI.

Angels 14, Cardinals 2

The Cardinals came out with their strongest hitting performance yet this game. Everybody got at least one hit, six of nine hitters got at least two, and as a result both the Cards’ hit and run total exceeded what they had achieved in the first two games combined. But despite recording an impressive 13 strikeouts, Mr. Clanky struggled to contain the Angels’ offense the rest of the time, giving up ten hits and four runs to mostly whittle away the Cards’ total. Meanwhile, hungry for a win, the Angels fired on all cylinders on this matchup to also record their best game yet. Other than Jose Meisenheimer and Chad Koppel, who combined for three hits, each player on the Angels recorded at least three, and their 14 total extra-base hits compared to just 5 in the first two games seemed to make the difference in allowing the team to put up a high score – in fact, their run total of 17 is the best score achieved by a Frontyard League team so far this season! That win gets the Angels out of the basement and reins in the Cardinals, leaving the NL East teams all close together as the teams branch out to face those from the other divisions.

Player of the game: Julie Dunkel nets the award despite giving up three runs on the mound – that dubious distinction is outweighed by her 4-for-5 day at the plate, tripling three times, hitting one home run, and scoring all four times while also batting in three runs.

Braves 7, Marlins 7

After a rough second game, the Marlins bounced back in their third outing. They only recorded one less hit in this game than in their first two combined, with every player except Perry Marx getting on at least once, and this week were able to shut out the AI Braves. However, their efficiency wasn’t so good, only scoring 7 runs as 15 runners failed to make it around. The Braves were a total opposite in this regard, only getting 8 hits across the entire game with over half of their players shut out on the game, but scoring all but two of the runners who did get on base. The long ball played a heavy part in their strategy, as half of those hits were home runs, and the combined total was just enough for the multiplier to boost them over the Marlins in the tightest contest of the week. The victory ties the Braves for the division lead, and in a hopeful position given that their run total so far is over double that of their close rivals the Cardinals.

Player of the game: Mikey Thomas went 3-for-3 with a triple, two home runs, and 4 RBI.

Indians 12, Pirates 5

The Pirates played much the same in their third game as they did in the first two. They were solid at getting on base, everybody except Brad Radke getting on at least once, but with their hits mostly consisting of singles their final score was still fairly low. The Indians had their worst game yet this season, actually recording one less total hit than the Pirates in a notable decrease from their first two games, but a total of five home runs from the slugging squad helped them to score more efficiently, only failing to score with 5 runners compared to the Pirates’ 10. That was the big difference in this game, and allowed the Indians to start the season off with a 3-0 record to lead the AL Central, while the Pirates are one of three teams left in the league without a win.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov led the Indians’ efforts by going 3-for-3 with a single, two home runs, and 3 RBI.

Blue Jays 24, Wombats 14

The Jays’ first two scores of the season hadn’t been particularly impressive, but they showed a new side in their first game played away from a sandy field. While attaining four batting powerups was a significant boost to their efforts, they dominated their game nonetheless, as every player got at least two hits, seven players got at least three, and six players got on base at least four times, all adding up to a score that thoroughly trounced their opponent’s effort. For the Wombats’ part, they bounced back fairly well from their crash in Week 2, but didn’t reach the level of their dominance in Opening Week. Everybody on the team got at least one hit, and they had their lowest number of runners fail to score of the season so far, at just six of nineteen, showing that they can still put up a fight as the interdivisional matchups begin. Nevertheless, they’re set back in what could be a tight division race, as the Blue Jays’ win ties them with the Orioles for first place.

Player of the game: Chico Pappas was unstoppable and especially took advantage of the short left-field fence in this game. He went 6-for-6 on the game, with 2 singles, a double, 3 home runs, 5 runs scored, and 8 RBI.

Red Sox 21, Diamondbacks 16

Hoping to get their first win in an unrelenting division, the Diamondbacks put on a truly remarkable display of baserunner efficiency. Everybody got on base at least once, and the team scored 16 runs on the whole – and at the same time managed to have only one runner fail to score the entire game! Four home runs, including three from Sheila Basanti, were undoubtedly helpful in this effort. Unfortunately for the D’Backs, the Red Sox still outdid them – they didn’t reach the same height of efficiency, with eight runners failing to score, but with far more hits, they didn’t need to. The Sox’s effort was boosted by a plethora of extra-base hits, 17 of their 29 hits getting to second base or farther, and with all their players ranging from 2-4 hits, their offensive was rather evenly distributed to help as well. With 6 HRs to Arizona’s 4, the Red Sox outclassed their opponents in every aspect of this game to take their first win of what, with interdivisional matchups on the horizon, they hope to be many.

Player of the game: Pete Wheeler went 4-for-6 with a single, a triple, two home runs, four runs scored, and five RBI.

Monsters 24, Athletics 18

Playing against the second-most dominant team in the league so far, at a home field that doesn’t suit them too well, the Monsters were at their most vulnerable in this game, and the A’s put forth their best effort to beat them. Other than Achmed Khan who had a slump of a game, everybody on the team got at least three hits, and while the team only got one home run compared to 16 in their first two games combined, they still only barely scored lower than they did last week. But it still wasn’t enough to stop the powerhouse Monsters team, even when on their end they put up their weakest performance of the season so far. With everybody except Tom Glass getting on at least twice, though, and the team still scoring 20 runs on the game, it would be a stretch to call this a ‘weak’ game from the Monsters, and their effort was aided by stealing 21 bases off Amir Khan’s weak arm. Their toughest hurdle now overcome, the Monsters sit atop the Division of Doom and appear poised to go to town beating up on the weaker competition from the other divisions.

Player of the game: Ramona Bennett went 4-for-5 with a single, double, two home runs and four runs scored and batted in.

Devil Rays 9, Expos -7

The AI Devil Rays team completed their devastation of the NL West this week with a 6-run smackdown of the Expos. The Expos themselves were able to triple their hit count from their first two games, but with all of those hits coming as singles, they still weren’t able to translate it to run production, and like their division rivals they were unable to stand up to the AI Devil Rays’ offensive. The player-controlled Devil Rays also had a field day this week, putting up their best score so far and exceeding their first two games’ run totals combined. Though they only got a few more hits this week than before and a similar number of extra-base hits, they managed to use their baserunners more efficiently this time, only failing to score with 6 compared to 9 and 8 in the first two weeks. The Devil Rays (and their AI counterparts) are still undefeated and sit atop the NL West, and this stronger performance gives them good prospects as they head out to face the other divisions. Meanwhile, the Expos’ improved performance gives them hope that their breakout game and first win may be coming soon.

Player of the game: Holly Franklin really drove in the runs for Tampa Bay, knocking in 6 of the 10 total runs. She did that on two doubles and a home run, going 3-for-3 on the game.

Rockies 19, Tigers 14

Full stats are unavailable for the Tigers’ side of the matchup, but it is clear that after a rough second week they bounced back to Week 1 form in this game. Unfortunately for them, after a weak opening match and decent second game, the Rockies really came out in full force this week, more than doubling their season hit total and nearly tripling their run total. A change of scenery seemed to help, as this was their first game at their home field and they ramped up their extra-base hits to 16 this game, compared to 4 in the first two games combined. Even with a five-run late penalty, they defeated the Tigers soundly to claim second place in the division. If they keep up this strength, they have the potential to challenge the Indians for the division lead.

Player of the game: Lindsy Felgate hit for the cycle this week, tacking on an extra double as well as she went 5-for-5 on the day. In addition to scoring three runs, she also batted in 9.

Giants -3, Cubs F

The Giants had a rough time of it this week. They were only able to get eight hits, all of them singles, leading to just three runs, and on the mound, Luanne Lui wasn’t able to contain the Cubs’ dynamic offense, giving up five runs and leaving things looking bleak for the Giants. However, they got a reprieve as the Cubs were unable to play this week, and thus forfeited the match. That leaves the Giants’ AI undefeated after three weeks, and gives them the second place position in the division, one game above the Cubs. And some good news: Cubs manager MarcoMcGwire is still around and returned to play in Week 4.

Player of the game: Marilyn McDonnell went 2-for-3 with two singles, a run scored, and an RBI, the best performance of any player on the Giants.

Devil Rays -5, Giants -5

In a contest between two teams whose AI counterparts had both beaten human players in Opening Week, it was a slaughterfest – by those AI teams. Both teams got comparable numbers of hits to their opposition, but couldn’t convert them into enough runs to keep up. Both Marilyn McDonnell and Maya Woodruff on the Giants went 3-for-3, but were stranded by their teammates time and again and couldn’t score, while Luanne Lui gave up 5 runs on the mound. The Devil Rays were doing all right until the AI Giants turned a double play, and then mercilessly barraged them with Crazy Bunt after Crazy Bunt to build a commanding lead. In the end, the Giants lost by only four runs to the Devil Rays’ 5 – but for the first time in league history, the home team modifier made a difference by being applied to an AI team! The AI Devil Rays never got to bat in the sixth inning and so got an extra run tacked on to their 5, sending the contest into a dead tie, and the Devil Rays won this incredibly close matchup thanks to their home team advantage in a wacky ending. They now sit atop the NL West with a 2-0 record.

Player of the game: Ronny Dobbs went 2-for-3 with a single and a triple, batting in two of the Devil Rays’ four runs, then sealed the deal with a 1.3 inning relief stint that gave up no runs and only a single hit, saving the game for his team.

Orioles 12, Wombats 4

After a strong Opening Week performance, the Wombats ran up against a wall while facing the Orioles, getting stymied in a matchup where their runs and hits combined tallied less than their run total in the previous game. Ichiro and Vladimir Guerrero had good days at the plate, but nobody else did, and a total of five strikeouts contributed to the Wombats stranding 9 runners while only scoring 4. On the flip side, the Orioles were able to bounce back quite nicely from their Opening Week loss, nearly doubling their number of hits and drawing an impressive six walks from the Wombats’ pitching staff. Everybody got on base at least twice, and all except Jim Thome scored as well. The O’s proved that they can be competitive, while the Wombats’ future in the division is in much more doubt than it was before this game. Now both 1-1, the teams await the second result from their division to see if there will be a clear leader or if all four teams will be tied after this week.

Player of the game: Isabelle Marelli gets the nod here, going three-for-four with two singles and a grand slam.

A’s 25, D’Backs 9

The Diamondbacks saw a marked improvement from their Opening Week contest, racking up nine more hits and eight more runs in a solid effort. Fred Benson headlined for the team with two singles, two doubles, and three RBI, while everybody on the team got on base at least twice. But their effort was dampened when Chris Milton gave up three runs on the mound, and the A’s went on a second romp almost as effective as their first to annihilate their score. Last week’s star Nomar Garciaparra actually didn’t do so well, hitting just one home run and going 1-for-5, but he was the least successful hitter on the A’s. The A’s improve to 2-0 and are again one of the toughest teams in the league, while the D’Backs are a struggling 0-2 to being the season.

Player of the game: Fellow shortstop Derek Jeter was there to fill Nomar’s shoes, going 5-for-5 with 4 singles, a home run, and 4 each of runs scored and runs batted in.

Bombers 4, Tapirs 3

After a strong start to the season, the Tapirs fizzled in their second game. They only got on base nine times total, less than half of last week’s total, and while Gwen Sears went 3-for-3 including a home run, four other players failed to get on base at all, resulting in a low score on the whole. Meanwhile, the Bombers so far haven’t been the powerhouse that some expected preseason, but they’ve been getting the job done. They scored one less run in this contest, but it came on one more hit and before extra innings, signalling an improvement over last week. Only Jillian Paine failed to get on base, and the resulting team effort was just enough to hand them a narrow victory. The Bombers now sit alone at the top of the NL Central with a 2-0 record.

Player of the game: Peggy Heffernan went 2-for-3 with a single and a double; she really merits this distinction by virtue of having batted in 3 of the Bombers’ 4 runs.

Yankees 9, Mariners -1

The Mariners struggled to score in their second game, only getting one run and then having victory stolen from them by a series of Screaming Linedrives by the AI Yankees. Meanwhile, the player-controlled Yankees stayed consistent, putting forth an effort nearly identical to last week’s – but while 15 hits and 9 runs might not have stood up to the Tapirs’ strong first game, it was enough to win this week’s game with a comfortable margin. Everybody except Arlene Perez contributed at least one hit to give the Yankees their first win of the season.

Player of the game: Yankees holdover Gary Allen gets the nod this week, going 3-for-3 with a single and two doubles and scoring after each of those hits.

Cardinals 2, Marlins -2

Still not in the groove yet, the Cardinals had a quiet day on their end, with a mere six hits resulting in two runs. When, led by Deschenes and his insane speed, the Marlins were up by four after two innings in their livestreamed end of the matchup on Saturday, it looked like the game was already a wrap. But the AI Cardinals struck back, stalling out the Marlins’ hitters and going on their own hitting spree as the game went on. Two runs put the Cards back in contention, a third gave them some insurance, and then, after the Marlins failed to pull off a rally to save the matchup, the AI Cards sealed the deal with a two-run shot by Hillary Vargas to defeat the player-controlled Marlins. That result leaves the Cardinals as the only undefeated team in the NL East despite scoring the least runs of the four, showing that being in the right place at the right time – and avoiding giving up runs to the AI – can matter just as much in some games.

Player of the game: In addition to being the only Cardinal with two hits (a single and a double) and scoring one of their two runs, Mr. Clanky pitched a second consecutive shutout with 10 strikeouts, ensuring no disasters happened on that end and establishing himself as the leading candidate early on for the Ace Wilson.

Braves 7, Angels 6

The Angels may have been a bit demoralized after their close loss to the Marlins. Each player still got on base at least once for them in a solid effort but this time nobody got more than two hits and the team collectively got eight players less on base, even though their final score was only one run worse. On the flip side, the Braves put up a nearly identical effort to their first game: in both games, they recorded 30 at-bats, 14 hits, 8 singles, 3 doubles, 7 runs, 8 strikeouts, and 3 errors! This time, though, they were able to keep the AI Angels down on defense as Randy Johnson pitched an 8-K shutout and turned last week’s +1 into this week’s much better +7. That gives them their first win of the season, while despite their promise the Angels have started the season off with two narrow defeats.

Player of the game: Lance Lambert once again stuck out for the Braves, this time batting 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a home run, three runs scored, and five RBI.

Melonheads 17, Blue Jays 6

Full stats aren’t available for the Blue Jays, but it is known that they had trouble hitting the ball to places where the Melonheads’ fielders weren’t, giving them trouble and resulting in a weaker showing than they had in Opening Week. Meanwhile, the Melonheads followed up a good effort last week with a better one this time, racking up an extra 7 hits and 4 runs. Everybody except perennial struggle Rosanna Phelps got at least two hits, the team as a whole hit six home runs to boost their effort, and reigning MVP Jane Davis had an appropriate high-caliber game with four extra-base hits – all of this without the aid of powerups this time. This result puts all four teams in the AL West tied with a 1-1 record after two games – it’s the only division with this distinction, and leaves it very much appearing to be anybody’s for the taking. The competition in here could be fierce all season long.

Player of the game: Despite Davis’s strong game, the distinction goes to Maria Luna. She was a bit less impressive at the plate but still strong, 3-for-5 with a single, two home runs, three runs scored, and 4 RBI. To secure the PoTG distinction, she supplemented that with an excellent one-hit shutout on the mound.

Monsters 27, Red Sox 13

Despite getting two more players on base this week than last week, the Red Sox still managed to score five less runs. Only two home runs instead of five no doubt was a contributing factor, as the Monsters’ tough defense ensured that the Sox could only get extra bases on three of their 26 hits. It was still a good showing by the Sox, especially Pete Wheeler, who went 5-for-5 with both of the team’s home runs. But while the Monsters failed to score 50 again, they still scored plenty enough to blow their opposition out of the water. After a game where multiple hitters got 9 hits, one with a high hit count of 5 seemed pathetic by comparison, but it was still enough to easily give the Monsters the highest-scoring game of the week – 28 hits supplemented by 33 stolen bases does tend to be tough to beat. Now 2-0, the Monsters will face fellow division leaders the A’s in a blockbuster matchup for Week 3.

Player of the game: Ramona Bennett led the team with 5 hits – four singles and a double, with four runs scored and 2 RBI.

Indians 15, Tigers 5

The Tigers had a rough game, not helped by a home run by AI Cheryl Reynolds, leading to their second showing producing a much lower score than their first one. The Indians looked a bit worse too thanks to playing at a less hitter-friendly park, but they still did plenty enough to get the job done. Everybody got on base at least once, and a strong 6 home runs kept the offense up even though nobody got more than three hits this week. The Indians now lead the AL Central and are looking to give Crazyei8hts another successful season, while after two very different games, the Tigers’ future is much more in doubt.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov went 3-for-4 – all three of those hits home runs! Those also batted in a total of 7 runs, for nearly half of the Indians’ total.

Cubs 4, Expos -2

After suffering a devastating loss to the Devil Rays in Opening Week, the Expos tightened up on defense and saw a payoff, only giving up two runs to the AI Cubs. Unfortunately, they continued to struggle on offense, only able to achieve three hits and no runs. On the flip side, the Cubs also tightened up on defense, giving up just three runs as opposed to last week’s 6, and their output on offense also went up, getting a few more hitters on base and using their runners more efficiently this game to squeeze in a couple more runs. Everybody on the team except Kenny Kawaguchi contributed at the plate to give the Cubs their first win.

Player of the game: Alicia Blakely went 2-for-4 with a single and a double, but nabs this distinction thanks to having batted in 4 of the Cubs’ 7 runs.

Rockies 10, Pirates 6

The Pirates put forth a similar effort to their Week 1 performance in terms of run scored, but looked weaker on the whole as they got 8 less hits on the game, a pair of home runs helping them to use the hits they did get efficiently. On the other hand, after a rough opening week, the Rockies bounced back for their next game to capture their first win. The team got five more hits on the game, but more impressively were able to draw 6 walks from the Pirates to really get the edge and surge forward in a solid showing where everybody got on base at some point during the game, and prove that they will be able to play competitively this season. Now 0-2 and due to face their division leaders next week, the Pirates’ prospects aren’t looking so good.

Player of the game: Cindy Chang went 2-for-2 with two singles, and later displayed her patience with three walks on the game, getting on base five times total to earn this distinction.

Giants 2, Expos -8

The Expos were still trying to adjust to some of the rules that the BBL has in place, but had a rough time of it this game as they were swept away by the Giants’ AI. Luanne Lui pitched a lockdown performance, as the Expos couldn’t get their timing down and struck out eleven times. The Giants put up a modest effort themselves, with only 11 total bases in 22 at bats, but they didn’t have a very hard target to beat. Four hitters didn’t attain a single hit, but the other five were able to put together a couple of small rallies and get the job done. We expect that both teams will improve over the course of the season, and there should be considerably more fireworks when they face each other again for the final week of the season.

Player of the game: Mike Piazza got two of the Expos’ three hits of the game, but Libby Futterman of the Giants matched him, going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles that batted in three of the Giants’ four runs.

Monsters 50, D’Backs 4

The Monsters wasted no time in asserting themselves as the BBL’s dominant team for this season, recording the first-ever 50 under the Lulu ruleset in the first week of the season! There was nowhere to hide, as the least productive Monster still got on base four times, and the team as a whole nocked 60 hits, including 48 singles paired with 46 stolen bases. By comparison, no player on the Monsters even came up to bat four times! Stan Olafson and Stuart Sullivan headlined their effort with 3-for-3 days, but they couldn’t put much together on the whole. Dueling shutouts by Jody Palmer and Chris Milton provided the only similarity between the two teams’ performances.

Player of the game: Three Monsters went a ridiculous 9-for-9 on the game, but of the three Wally Evans far outpaced the others with 13 RBI on seven singles, a triple, and a home run, scoring six runs of his own as well.

Tapirs 12, Yankees 9

The Tapirs talked a small game before the season, but failed to live down to that in their initial outing, scoring 12 runs on 20 hits to win the contest. Only Gail Weinmann failed to get a hit, as five players on the team recorded 3 or more, that steady stream making up for the eight runners left on base. The Yankees were more efficient in their game, with only four runners left on, but got seven less hits overall and weren’t quite able to catch up. Still, it was a solid outing for them, especially Ray Tran who opened the season with a 3-for-3 day.

Player of the game: Derek McCattery was the most reliable hitter on the Tapirs, going 4-for-4 with 4 singles and scoring three times.

Marlins 7, Angels 7

The Angels were off and swinging on Opening Day, racking up 20 hits and drawing a walk to get 21 batters on base. Tony Delvecchio and Tonya Lesco especially shined, getting on base in every single at-bat. But the Angels had trouble converting all those hits into runs, leaving 14 runners on base for the game as they could rarely get better than singles. That opened up the door for the French fish, who got only 12 hits on the game, but were able to convert them to runs at a better rate thanks to a quartet of homes runs by Deschenes, Goodreau, Raquel, and Yvonne. The home team multiplier made all the difference in the closest game of Opening Week, boosting the Marlins’ 6-0 final score into 7-0 and giving them the win via tiebreaker.

Player of the Game: Stat-wise, there wasn’t much to differentiate the four Marlins who went yard, so the distinction goes to the one with the most total bases: Henri Deschenes, who also hit a double as he went 2-for-3 on the day.

Bombers 5, Mariners 4

Two teams built for defense struggled to get many hits against each other in this matchup. For most of the game, the Mariners did better, snagging extra bases on most of the hits that they did get and scoring 5 runs, boosted to 6 thanks to the multipler, while the Bombers got only a smattering of singles and couldn’t score, their game sent into extra innings. But the Bombers woke up in the seventh inning, putting together a clutch five-run rally to get right back into the thick of things. A two-run AI home run given up by Dominic Hoskins was the nail in the coffin, pushing the Mariners back just enough to give the victory to the Bombers in a true nail-biter.

Player of the game: Jillian Paine was not just the only Bomber to never record an out, going 3-for-3 with three singles – she also kicked off the team’s late rally, scoring the first of those five runs.

A’s 27, Red Sox 21

Two of the top four teams from last season were at it again, and put up a slugfest for the rest of the league to watch. Each Red Sox player put up 2-4 hits in their slugfest, with five of those as home runs to keep the momentum up. Parker Collum alone hit three home runs on a 4-for-4, 6 RBI game. But the A’s went even harder, with only a single player getting less than three hits, two getting more than four, and a total of twelve home runs to supercharge their effort. A series of powerups gave an extra boost to seal a strong victory even against Boston’s powerful performance.

Player of the game: Nomar Garciaparra went 5-for-6 with a double and four home runs, batting in a full third of the A’s runs at 9.

Blue Jays 10, Orioles 5

A team built to rely on the long ball, the Orioles weren’t able to deliver much in their initial contest. Ken Griffey, Jr. hit two home runs to help the team’s effort, but nobody else was ever able to record better than a single, which bogged the O’s down at Sandy Flats. The Blue Jays recorded the exact same number of hits and two less walks on the game, but with more extra-base hits and a few stolen bases used them more efficiently to rack up several more runs and take the win. Betty Houston also pitched the season’s first perfect game for an auspicious start for the Jays.

Player of the game: While honorable mention goes to Jason Kendall, it was Rafael Hendrix who really seemed to be the backbone of the Jays’ efforts and made the bottom half of their lineup count. He went 3-for-3 with a triple, two home runs, and five RBI, scoring three runs of his own.

Tigers 13, Pirates 6

Both teams in this contest actually got almost an identical number of runners on base – 20 for the Pirates vs. 21 for the Tigers. But the Tigers were far more efficient with their hits, scoring double the runs and not seeming to mind the Pirates’ defense one bit. Hitting five home runs helped their case, as did the Pirates’ Karen Donato as a mediocre catcher who allowed six stolen bases. It was a good day for hitting, as every player on both teams recorded at least one hit and only four total got a single hit. Not such a good day for pitching, though, as the teams’ pitchers combined allowed four runs and struck out just six batters total.

Player of the game: Just a slightly more impressive statline than several of her teammates, but Sonja Hagen went 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI.

Devil Rays 3, Cubs -1

Two Frontyard League teams were getting warmed up for the new season, and weren’t at their best yet for the opening matchup. The Cubs did pretty well on offense, each player getting at least one hit and Jimmy Rollins leading the team with three singles, but Kenny Kawaguchi struggled to anchor effectively on the mound and gave up six runs to give them a loss in their own game. By contrast, the Devil Rays had a quiet, unremarkable game on offense with, but Ryan Vanderhoek pitched a shutout to give them the edge they needed to collect the win.

Player of the game: Leah Wayne led the Devil Rays yet again, going 3-for-4 with a single, triple, and solo home run.

Wombats 17, Melonheads 15

The first Super-Duper matchup belonged decisively to the Wombats, who came out of the gate strong and quickly built up a good lead. Each Wombat got on base at least twice during the game, with 27 hits and one walk total, leaving the result a foregone conclusion before long. They faltered later on, scoring only one run in the last two innings combined, but by then the damage was done, and even a powerup-fueled rally wasn’t enough for the Melonheads to make up the difference. As for the Melonheads, their early lineup hit well, but their last three hitters going just 1-for-8 plus two walks meant that they couldn’t keep up. One bright spot for them: Maria Luna was one of only two pitchers in the league to face the minimum number of batters this week.

Player of the game: Claudia Villatra was a monster at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a single, three homes runs, and a whopping 9 RBI that eclipsed the rest of the team combined.

Indians 25, Rockies 2

Full stats aren’t available for the Rockies’ side of this contest, but their score alone makes it clear that the Indians’ defense defused their group of hitters, leaving them struggling to score at all. Meanwhile, crazyei8hts picked up right where he left off last season, with another dominant performance the likes of which most coaches can only dream of. Each player got at least two hits, and four walks given up by the Rockies only helped their efforts. While the Indians didn’t do the most slugging this week, they still eclipsed most of the rest of the league with eight home runs, further boosting their score. Frank Thomas also pitched one of the best games of Opening Week, tying for the most strikeouts at 10 while giving up just two hits in a shutout effort.

Player of the game: Cheryl Reynolds gets the nod here, going 4-for-5 with two singles, two home runs, and six RBI.

Cardinals 2, Braves 1

The Cardinals’ first game was a rather quiet one, with just eight hits on the game, four players going hitless, and Mr. Clanky striking out 10 Braves en route to a shutout. They made a much bigger splash on the Braves’ side, pummeling Randy Johnson for fifteen hits and six runs and putting Atlanta in grave danger of losing to the AI. The Braves’ top four hitters went 11-for-15 on the game, but their bottom five went just 3-for-15, interrupting their rallies and setting them behind going into the bottom of the sixth. Lance Lambert saved the Braves’ game with a walk-off three-run shot, and normally their 7-6 final score would, with the multiplier, be good enough for the win. But since they did bat in the sixth inning, the multiplier was not applied, giving the Cardinals the win in a twist ending to cap off Opening Week.

Player of the game: 3-for-3 with a double and two solo shots, Marsellus Marx was the Cardinals’ offense in this matchup and took them to a win all on his own.