Minnesota Moonlighters Baseball

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larrysiegfried20
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:42 pm

Minnesota Moonlighters Baseball

Post by larrysiegfried20 »

The Minnesota Moonlighters are on a big time roll that began way back on August 1st, 1950. Since then they have gone 20-5 and moved to within two games of first place Toronto who have lost three straight and one game behind second place Washington who lost their last game.

Minnesota just played game five of a six game road trip that looked ominously like it would be a high mountain to climb in the beginning but has in truth been a five game wining streak thanks to clutch hitting, good defense and great pitching.
Right hander Scott Hernandez pitched his best game over his last five starts going the distance for the second time this season. The complete game gave the Moonlighters starting staff eight this year which ranks second in the league.

Hernandez, now 4-3 with a 3.43 ERA after thirteen starts, gave up just four hits, two of those hits were to Christy Gilmore, a solo homerun, his 3rd of the season and a ninth inning single, Christy also drew one of two walks Hernandez issued. Hernandez had nine strikeouts getting seven of the nine starters once and had the hat trick on catcher Beau Jones.

Minnesota scored in the 3rd inning and never trailed in the game. After Hernandez and and Smith struck out Mike Straub tripled. 'Mr RBI' Anthony Ribrant singled in the run.
1-0 Minneosta.

In the 4th inning Minnesota scored a second time. Ron McRae hit Rick Beckert with a pitch. Beckert advanced to second on Goose Weeden's ground out to second base. Catcher Amos Streuli double to left centerfield driving in Beckert. Ferrell Martini, picked up off the waiver wire to play defensive shortstop singled in the run. Hernandez tried to bunt the runner along but bunted it back to the pitcher who got the force on Martini at second and the pitcher had to run the bases. Not a good thing if you are trying to go nine but Keith Smith helped him out by swinging at the first pitch and flying out to end the inning.

3-0 Minnesota.

It stayed that way until the 7th inning when Chuck Trillo pinch hit for Martini and singled up the middle. Trillo stole second base. Hernandez whose bunted poorly his last at bat got the bunt down the second time advancing Trillo to third base with one out. Smith singled in Trillo. to make it 4-0 Minnesota.

Minnesota added two more in the ninth inning, Mike Straub had a run scoring double and Aaron Mora singled in Straub.

FINAL SCORE 6-1.
Last edited by larrysiegfried20 on Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:58 pm, edited 3 times in total.
larrysiegfried20
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:42 pm

Minnesota Moonlighters Baseball; Perfect on the road!!!

Post by larrysiegfried20 »

Minnesota completed a six game road trip with six wins in a row. Y-Duen Buondap, the man from the Vietnamese highlands, went seven innings gave up five runs (3 earned) walked four struck out six to even his record at 5-5. Buondap was also the victim of two more un-earned runs and now leads the club with un-earned runs allowed with eight of the dreaded scores.

Boundap was taken deep by Terry Cedeno in the first inning, his 8th of the season and Boston starting pitcher Fred Epstein shutout the Moonlighters until the third inning. The Minnesota bats woke up with one out in that inning. Anthony Ribrant tied the game with his 4th homerun high over the Green Monster in left field. Rick Beckert followed that blast with one of his own off Epstein that stayed in the park hitting high off the left field wall and bouncing back towards the infield long enough for Beckert to motor around to third base for a one out triple.

Aaron Mota lofted a high fly ball to right center field that was deep enough for Beckert to tag up and come in to score on putting Minnesota ahead for the first time 2-1. Minnesota catcher Amos Strueli gave another Epstein offering a ride over the left center field fence to put the Moonlighters up by two. 3-1.

The lead did not last long. Buondap began the bottom of the 5th by walking the pitcher Fred Epstein hitting .214. Terry Cedeno reached on a two base throwing error by third baseman Anthony Ribrant. Epstein then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jack Hoch.

Eric Kazanski singled to center driving in Cedeno a nd Eddie Ullger doubled with two outs driving in the third run to give Boston 4-3 lead.

Minnesota responded in the top of the s6th. Ribrant doubled with one out and Beckert followed with his 6th homerun of the season putting the visitors back in front 5-4.

Jeff Batton took over the pitching for Boston.

George Gonzalez came off the bench to start the 7th to pinch hit for shortstop Ferrell Martini, the new gloveman acquired by Minnesota off waivers. Gonzalez, another waiver acquisition at the beginning has done an outstanding job pinch hitting for Minnesota, double this time past first baseman Jack Hoch.

BAuondap bunted succesfully to move Gonzalez to third base where he tagged and scored on a flyball hit by pinch hitter Brad Ward, batting for CF Goose Weeden. putting Minnesota ahead 6-4.

It was time for Minnesota to go to their two Jacks. Jack Fitzke pitched a socreless 8th inning, giving up one hit one walk and recording one strikeout. Prince Jack gave way to the Jack of Diamonds, Jack Saurez.

Saurez shutdown Boston for his 12th save allowing one hit while striking out two in the inning.

Boundap was the winning pitcher; 5-5. Epstein took the loss; 4-3.

The winning road trip left Minnesota now just one game behind Washington and Toronto who are tied for first place. Toronto has lost five of its last six and have gone 4-6 in their last ten as has Washington despite being winners in their last game.

The six losses have breathed now life into Minnesota who have won 20 of their last 25 since August the 1st.
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