Goldy Finally Plays an AL Series, and Wins!

Championship rings were handed out to all 3 members of the 2010 AL title team in attendance in a pre-game ceremony.

 

 

Sunday was a great day for a little PTP action as Ben and Nick met up at the Varsity Club in scenic New Berlin,WI. The highlight of the Varsity Club was the Sunday Hot Ham and Rolls special. $4.99 for the Hot Ham and fries or only $7.99 for some hot ham and 6 rolls. What a country!

 

On to the action (Ben/Royals were the home team):

 

Game 1: J. Weaver @ A.J. Griffin

 

Start of the game was delayed by a pre-game ceremony honoring the defending AL Champion Kansas City Royals and a short concert from Scandinavian music sensation, Roxette. What a pitching battle this was. A 12-inning 1-0 affair. Griffin pitching 8 shut out innings for Goldy and Weaver going 9 and a third for Nick. In the bottom of the 8th, Coco Crisp hit a HR for Goldy but it was jammed down to a deep drive and ended up falling short of the required HR distance. In the top of the 9th, The first 2 batters reached for Nick, but he could not plate a run. In the top of the 12th, Alex Gordon hit a 2-out home run and Goldy went down meekly against Scott "Fort" Atchison in the bottom of the inning, giving Nick a 1-0 win in the series opener. Miguel Cabrera goes 0-5 with 4 strike outs and 5 men LOB for Goldy. Nick wins 1-0.

 

Game 2: B. Morrow @ J. Parker

 

Little bit more scoring in this game as Nick starts it off with back-to-back doubles to open the game and take a 1-0 lead. Goldy responded with 2 in the 2nd thanks to a barrage of singles, stolen bases and passed balls. Nick manages to score single runs in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, including a bomb from Adam Dunn, but Goldy keeps pace with single tallies of his own in the 4th, 5th, and 7th. An 8th inning double from Andy "Dirka-Dirka" Dirks scores David "Guitar" Murphy and Nick can't make any noise in the 9th, leading to a Royals win. Alcedes Escobar goes 3-4 with 3 runs scored and 4 stolen bases to lead the Royals. Drunk Salsa Cabrera goes 0-5 with a K and 6 LOB. Goldy wins 6-5.

 

Game 3: Z. Greinke @ C.J. Wilson

 

Hey! Another 12 inning game! Nick jumps out to a 4-0 lead early thanks to a 2-R Kinsler HR in the 3rd and plates another 2-runs in the 4th, forcing an early exit from C.J. Wilson after only 3 and 2/3 innings pitched. Goldy responds with 2-runs in the bottom of the 4th thanks to double from Ryan "Doughnut" Doumit. Nick ads a run in the 7th on an Alex Gordon solo shot to take a 5-2 lead. Goldy ties it in 8th thanks to a RBI triple from Escobar and a 2 out, 2-run pinch hit HR from Adam Jones. Nothing much going on for either team until the bottom of the 12th. Nick brings in Guy Frieri and he proceeds to walk the first two hitters he faces. Adrian Beltre follows that with a single up the middle to win the game for the Royals. Cabrera goes 0-4 with 2 Ks and and only 1 runner LOB, and manages to walk twice! Goldy wins 6-5; Goldy wins series 2-1

 

It was a pretty entertaining series. Three 1-run games and two 12 inning affairs. Some good dice rolling, good beer, good hot ham, and good conversation.

2011 NL Playoffs: Marlins v. Padres - another Fish & Torto classic



Fish and Torto give a hearty Sullivan Saloon 'Cinco de Mayo Welcome' to every goddamn fucking Harley Davidson motorcycle in Waukesha, Walworth, and Jefferson Counties.

PTP living legend Scott Fisher and I met up on Cinco De Mayo to roll out our highly anticipated Marlins/Padres 2011 NL Playoff series. The charming Sullivan Saloon, located in (yup, you guessed, Sullivan, WI) was the venue for a mid-morning start, serving breakfast and elk burgers. After my standard perpetually 15-minute late arrival and the ordering of a bloody mary, we were ready to roll. Here’s the details:


Game 1 – C.Kershaw @ R.Halladay
This pitchers’ duel was as-advertised, with both Kid Kershaw and Doc Halladay allowing a sprinkling of base runners in the first 5 innings, but always working their way out of jams. Scoring started up in the 6th inning, with Fish scoring 3-runs, on a Han-Ram error, plunked ‘Black Logan Morrison’, followed by a Chase Headly and Clint Barmes RBI-hits. Tort struck back with a single run of his own on a pinch hit Rod Barajas RBI-single. Kershaw cruised to the 8th, and Fish picked up an insurance run off LaTroy Hawkins in the top of the 9th. Salas closed the door for Fish on game 1.
Fish wins 4-1 (Fish up 1-0); Player of the Game – Clayton Kershaw (8 IP, 8H, 11K, 3BB, 1 ER)

Game 2 – M.Cain @ I.Kennedy
Another solid pitching matchup, but again Fish had the edge (that Kershaw-Cain combo is fearsome). Fish got on the board first with a 3-run 4th, all on a base-clearing 2B by Nick Hundley. Bottom of the 6th saw the game tied up, on RBI hits from The Heisman and the HGH pumping 39-year old Miguel Cairo (B-power, B+ range??). All tied up and with Kennedy tiring, Torto brought in Matt Belisle for the 8th, only to have him yield the game-winning run on a leadoff triple to O-Dog Hudson, followed by a wild pitch. The Marlins got 2 baserunners in the 8th, but could not score off the Mojito (Mujica) and went quietly in the 9th against Salas again. All 4,800 Marlins fans in attendance were in shock, quietly sauntering out of Joe Robbie/SunLife/LandShark Stadium, dejectedly dragging their walkers, life alert bracelets, and oxygen tanks behind them.
Fish wins 4-3 (Fish up 2-0); Player of the Game – Nick Hundley (3 RBI)

Game 3 – J.Collmenter @ T.Stauffer
The series shifted from Florida to the comfortable climes of San Diego, and the salty breezes of the Pacific Ocean seemed to have an effect on the Marlin’s bats. After scoring just 4 runs in 2 games with only 3 XBH (3 x 2Bs), the Billed Fishes went on a tear, getting 2 runs in the opening frame, and another pair in the 2nd. Fish countered with 4 runs of his own and it was 4-4 in the top of the 3rd. Power was finally displayed by Torto’s usually homer-happy squad, with back-2-back solo jacks by Fielder and Stanton in the top of the 4th followed by a Josh Collmenter ‘helping his own cause’ RBI single. Fish push 2 across in the bottom of the frame, but Torto would not yield the lead from here on out, picking up another solo shot and 2RBI double from Stanton down the stretch. Giancarlo (Mike) would not be denied this game.
Torto wins 10-7 (Fish up 2-1); Player of the Game – Mike Giancarlo Stanton (4-5, 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI)

Game 4 – H.Kuroda @ E.Jackson
Following the much needed confidence boost that game 3 provided the Marlins, Hiroki Kuroda made his own momentum with a stellar start over journeyman innings eater Eddie Jackson. Kuroda allowed a single unearned run in the 2nd, on a Cairo error, and pitched 7 and 2/3rds of 4 hit ball. Torto plated 2-runs in the 1st (2-RBI 2B by McCann) and got a late insurance run in the 7th on a solo job by The Heisman (brought to you by Nissan). A situational relief pitching combo of Belisle and Affeldt got the Marlins thru the remainder of 7th and 8th, while Sergio Romo closed the door after allowing the first two batters to reach on singles.
Torto wins 3-1 (series tied 2-2); Player of the Game – Hiroki Kuroda (7.2 IP, 4 H, 3BB, 7K, 0 ER)

Game 5 – R.Halladay @ C.Kershaw
The last game in Petco would be Kershaws final start of the series, and the guy was nearly as unhittable as Game 1. While Halladay struggled, giving up 3 first inning runs (almost a 4th if not being able to jam out a Black Logan Morrison HR to a deep drive out – last minute catch by Torto), then gave up another run in the 2nd. Spotted a 4-run lead, Kershaw cruised the rest of the way, pitching a complete game, and only giving up 2 runs (2 RBI double to El Caballo) in the 5th). Meanwhile the Padres picked up 3 more insurance runs along the way to seal the win for Fish’s squad. This was the first game of the series won by the home team.
Fish wins 7-2 (Fish leads series 3-2); Player of the Game – Clayton Kershaw (CG, 6H, 8K, 5BB, 2 ER)

Game 6 – M.Cain @ I.Kennedy
Determined to not let the Marlins lose this must-win game, and improve upon his dismal Game 2 start, Ian Kennedy took the ball and pitched a gem. After giving up 1st inning run to the Padres (Votto RBI-single), Kennedy bore down and didn’t yield a single hit further, frustrating the Fish’s hitters in a 3 hit, 13K complete game performance. The Marlins got all the runs they needed from Princey’s bat, who went 3-4 with 2 HRs and 3 RBI. The Heisman (brought to you by Nissan) also added on a solo jack in the 7th to put a cap on things.
Torto wins 7-1 (series tied 3-3); Player of the Game – Ian Kennedy (CG, 3H, 13K, 3BB, 1 ER)

Game 7 – T.Stauffer @ J.Collmenter
Like so many playoff series Fish and I have had, after playing 6, it all came down to a single game with our tertiary starters. Sometimes I wonder why we even bother playing games 1 thru 6. Frustrated by his team’s inability to hit Kennedy in Game 6, Fish got off to a quick start against Collmenter, using a 3-run HR from Joseph Daniel Votto to jump out to an early lead. The Marlins got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd, on a 2-out, 2-RBI triple by Omar Infante. Undaunted by Votto’s HR, Collmenter settled into a groove, pitching thru the 6th, and yielding only 3 hits. Meanwhile, on the bottom side of the frame, the Marlin’s offense kicked it in gear with a Jimmy Rollins RBI groundout in the 5th, followed by a door-kicking down 6th inning lead by fellow beard-afficianado Brian McCann. After walking Prince, and yielding a Giancarlo 2B, Fish took out the gassed Stauffer in favor of his lock down reliever, The Mojito. Undaunted by the Mojito’s impressive past performances of the series, McCann belted a long drive over the fence for a 3-run shot off the righty. To make things worse, The Mojito walked Cairo, allowed another Infante double, and with 2 outs, gave up an 2-RBI single to Jimmy Rollins. With a 5-run lead, Torto turned the 7th and 8th over to Tyler Clippard, and Sergio Romo handled a 1-2-3 ninth. Marlins win! Marlins win!
Torto wins 8-3 (Torto wins series 4-3); Player of the Game – Brian McCann (2-4, HR, 3 RBI)

Fellow beard-afficianado Brian McCann carries the day for Marlins in Game 7

Another outstanding hard-fought series between Fish and I, and after losing the last two playoff appearances in 7 to Fish, this seemed about fitting. I also looked up our all-time playoff record vs. each other, and this Game 7 win put me at 17-16 vs. Fish all-time in the playoffs. Obviously, I expect to lose the next time we face in the playoffs. Throughout all 7 games, there were jams, clutches, ons/offs, H&R A-1Bs, and all the charting nuances you’d expect from us in a highly contested series. The only downers for me on the afternoon was the fact that the Sullivan Saloon was out of elk burgers and the parade of Harley’s on Hwy 18 that increased my permanent hearing loss.

Spencer - let's get this World Series ON!

Billy sez - "Hey Spencer, suck on this!"

Thrilling NLCS Goes Seven. Charles Ramsey Impressed.

"Maaaaaaaaaaaaan, I knew something was wrong when you see a pretty little
 white girl (Nick) jump right into a black man's (Spencer)  arms."

      Well, it came down to two grizzled old rival managers to decide who faces the "Billy Bean" of PTP,  Jon "Tort" Tortomasi in the 2012 NL World Series.  The Nick and Spencer rivalry can be traced back to the mid to late 1980's as both got their first taste of dice rolling in a summer school course taught by the legendary Lynn Held.  Don't let the name fool you, Lynn Held is a man because, as we all know, women cannot play baseball.

The rivalry heated up in the early 2000s as a new league was formed and new competition spawned from all across parts of the state.  Some teams showed promise (DoubleStaxx), some dominated winning multiple championships (Fish) and some, just bad (Keith).
Nick and Spencer both took a similar yet different path to each winning a World Series championship.
While Nick prefers the "platoon" style of mix and matching players to his advantage, Spencer relies on the simple concept of good starting pitching, good solid defense and running with the same lineup.  Both are shrewd GMs who like take risky picks yet know how to find good value in later rounds and fill out and use an entire roster.  Sparks and Weirdeness usually, and did happen in this series.

NLCS 2012 -- #1 Seed NICK HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

GAME 1 -- Cliff Lee @ Mat Latos

Good solid classic baseball game in Game 1.  Nick busted Lee early for 3 runs in the 3rd inning that included a 2B for Kung Fu Panda, a RBI 1B from Latos, and RBI 2B from Matt Kemp.

Spencer scored one in the Top of the 4th on a RBI 1B from John Buck.  Nick answered right back in the 6th with a Ryan Benigans solo job.  

Spencer closed it to within 4-3 with a pinch-hit 2-R HR from the Hall-of-Fame, chaw-chewing, switch-hitting Chipper Jones.  However, Nick scored a AAA insurance run in the 8th and Spencer did nothing in two innings vs. Drew Storen.  NICK WINS 5-3

W - Latos  7.0, 5h, 3er, 8k, 1hr               HR - Chipper Jones, Ryan Benigans/Hannigan

L - Lee      6.0, 10h, 4er, 10k, 1hr           *Hannigan   3-4, HR, 2B, 2RBI, R

S - Storen  2.0, 1k

GAME 2 -- Tim Hudson @ Cory (Billy) Luebke

Tim Hudson was absolutely dominant.  Huddy throws a CG, 4-hitter as SPENCER WINS IN A ROMP 7-1  Huddy's only blip was a solo job to Matt Kemp in the 9th, but the game was way outta reach at that point.  Spencer stole two runs in the 3rd as he executed a successful double steal with Dee Gordon and Al Pujols.  Ryan Zimmerman cleared the bases after Carlos Beltran's walk.  Dee Gordon added a SAC FLY in the 3rd and Pujols hit a 2-R job in the 7th.

W - Hudson   CG, 4h, 1er, 1w, 2k, 1hr            HR - Al Pujols, Matt Kemp

L - Luebke   6.0, 5h, 5er, 3w, 6k,                     *Andrew McCutchen   2-4, 3B, 2R, RBI

                                                                          *Spencer 5 SB in game  Gordon 2, Pujols 2, Beltran

GAME 3 -- Jordan Zimmerman @ Cole Hamels

Another good solid baseball game, low Scoring.  Nick started strong in the Top of the 1st as that fucker, Ryan Hannigan/Bennigans plated two with a single.  Spencer answered in the Bottom of the 1st as Alien McCutchen led off with a 2B and scored on Beltran's 2B.  That would be the only run Spencer scored as NICK WINS 3-1.  Great pitching from Nick's bullpen (Christy Martinez & Storen) 4.0, 3h, 1w, 4k

W - Zimmerman   5.0, 3h, 1er, 2k 2hbp            HR - NONE

L - Hamels  7.0, 5h, 3er, 3w, 8k                        *Carlos Ruiz   2-3, HBP

S - Storen   2.0, 1w, 1h, 3k                                * Laci Peterson 1-1, PH RBI 3B

GAME 4 -- Vance Worley @ Yovanni Gallardo

Maybe Nick drafted too "platoony" against leftys because Yovanni Gallardo had a lot of tequila in him and put Nick to beddy-bye. 

Yo started the game with five (5) consecutive Ks and struckout 9 of 16 batters through 4. He finished the game with 13 Ks, but could not record the final out as Ryan Madson had to come secure the last out of a bases loaded jam that could have potentially tied the game.  SPENCER WINS 5-1

W - Gallardo    8.2, 9h, 1er, 13k, 2w                HR - NONE
L - Worley       4.0, 5h, 2er, 4k, error               *Carlos Ruiz  2-3, w, RBI, r
S - Madson      0.1                                            *Josh Thole 2-4

GAME 5 -- Mat Latos @ Cliff Lee

Back to the aces for Game 5.  Nick scored two early in the second on a Rueben Tejada 2-R 2B.  Spencer answered with three in the bottom half on a Ankiel SAC FLY and Cliff Lee 2-R 2B.
Matt Kemp's solo bomb on the 7th tied the game 3-3, but Spencer finally got to the overused and now figured out Drew Storen in the 8th as Thick Dick Rick Ankiel slapped his cock for an RBI single.  Jor El Hanrahan saved the 9th as SPENCER WINS 4-3

W - Cliff Lee  8.0, 5h, 3er, 3w, 5k, 1hr, 2-3, RBI                HR - NONE
L - Storen  1.0, 2h, er                    
S - Hanrahan  1.0, 2h, k

GAME 6  Tim Hudson @ Cory Luebke 

Disasterous game for Spencer as he got absolutely beatdown as NICK WINS 13-8.  The major story to come out of the game was the year ending, 9-game injury suffered by Albert Pujols as he crashed into the barricade chasing a foul ball he did not catch

W - Christy Martinez  3.0, 5h, 5er, 2w, 4k                          HR - Holliday x 2, Thole, Beltran                    
L - Hudson                  5.1, 11h, 9r, 7er, 2k, 2h              *Matt Holliday, 3-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI
                                                                                     *Gaby Sanchez (replacing Pujols) 2-3, 2B, 2RBI

GAME 7 -- Cole Hamel @ Jordan Zimmerman

Game 7 again started off as a disaster in the 1st for Spencer as Andrew McCutchen (who had survived a BIZZARE INJURY CHECK  wall crash and diving catch in the series previously) decided to run head-on into Rick Ankiel leading to a Jason Bourgois 2B.  McCutchen was fine.....for now, Ankiel was lost for the season (15 games).  Nick quickly went up 4-0 scoring one in the 2nd and three in the 3rd as Matt Kemp and Blake DeWitt drove in runs.
Things only got worse for Spencer as Andrew McCutchen finally ran into one too many walls and was injured in the 3rd inning for the rest of the game.
However Spencer rallied his troops around his three injured men and depleted bench as he squeaked out two runs in the 4th, as Nate Sheirholtz (replacing Ankiel) drove in a pair with a single.  Chooch Ruiz made it 4-3 Nick as he singled home Gaby Sanchez (replaced Pujols) in the 6th.  Nick made in 5-3 Nick in the 7th on a Blake Dewitt 3B.
(ENTER JJ PUTZ...STAGE LEFT)  Down 5-3 and with no bench left  and the top of the order Spencer went to work.  Dee Gordon led off with a 2B, stole 3rd then scored on a single by Angel Pagan (replaced McCutchen).  After Gaby Sanchez (replaced Pujols) walked, Ryan Zimmerman sent Spencer to the World Series on a 2-R 2B.  Mark Melancon of all people closed out the 9th 1-2-3 on Nick's stunned team as SPENCER WINS 6-5.  SPENCER WINS SERIES 4-3

W - Randy Wolf  1.0, 2w                                        HR - Todfather Helton
L - JJ Putz    0.2, 3h, 3er, 2k, w
S - Melancon  1.0


Wicked awesome series.  Glad I made it back to the World Series.  Looking to win my 2nd championship but am clearly the underdawg with no Pujols or Ankiel all series.  Should be a good matchup!!!!

Site Updated. NL Playoffs to begin.

Long time coming, yes, but it's done.  The site is now finally completely up to date (check for errors, just in case though).  But more importantly, the 2011 NL season playoffs is kicking off the first round this weekend!

Will Nick's best team ever (constructed via collusion with Carlo) cruise past Spencer's "0.500-slide into the playoffs by default" squad?  Will Fish get the opportunity to repeat as NL champ?  Will Torto make his 3rd consecutive WS appearance?  We'll know on Monday!

Fish vs Spencer - NL Series

Location: Deb Marzahl Residence

Beverages: Coffee ("I have whiskey in my coffee"), Moon Man, Alaskan Amber

Game 1: T Hudson at T Stauffer

Fish jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st with a single by O Hudson, stolen base, Cargo moving him to third, and Ruiz let a past ball go by to bring him in.  Spencer answered quickly a run in the top of second from Beltran, moved over by Ruiz, fielders choice to third by cocaine Espinosa, and sac fly by Ryan Zimmerman.  In the bottom of the 4th, a lead was extended by Fish with a lead off walk to Votto (0-0 on the day with 4 walks, two runs scored), base hit by Hundley, moved them over with Black Logan Morrison, and a 2 RBI  single by the Headley Connection.  Some insurance runs were had in the 8 inning when AA Morrison and Headley had RBI singles.  Fish wins 6 -4.

Win - Stauffer
Loss - Hudson
Save - Salas

Game 2: Gallardo at Kershaw

Fish took the lead early with a third inning two run Home Run by Clint Barmes.  Spencer would tie the game in the top of the 6th with consecutive single - double - double by Espinoza, Pujolas and Beltran.  Fish would quickly answer in the bottom of the frame with a 2-run Home Run by Carlos Gonzalez and pick up insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th with a three run blast by Craig Allen.  Fish wins 7-2.

Win - Kersahw
Loss - Gallardo

HR- Barmes, Cargo, Craig

Game 3: Kendrick at Cain

After a run was scored on both pitchers, all hell would break loose on Kendrick in the bottom of the 5th inning.  He gave up two 3-run home runs in the frame, the first to Carlo Gonzalez and the second to the Black Logan Morrison.  Things didn't get much better for relief pitcher Guerra in the 6th inning, giving up 5 runs on 3 hits.  Fish wins 12-1

Win - Cain
Loss - Kendrick

HR - Cargo, Morrison
Injury - Beltran - 1 game, next series

Series MVP - Carlos Gonzalez

Fish at Keith

Location: Christy's Landing - Madison Wisconsin (picture not representative of current conditions)


















Beverages - Pitchers of Miller Lite
Conditions - initially 57 degrees and sunny, needed to head indoors for Game 3, still too cold

Don't have the stats - unfortunately.  Keith won Game 1 on account of a great game by Mark Trumbo, what  a stiff.

Game 2 was won by Fish - in 15 innings.  After Nick Swisher had 6K's in the game, he belted a 15th inning 2-run home run to win the game, 4-2.

Game 3- Justin Masterson of all people was locking my team down, until a 5 run orgy occurred in the 7th inning, with an AJ Pierzynski "Clutch" three run home run.

Fish wins the series, 2-1.  I have never seen Keith so ill from the common cold and so irritated by loosing in PTP.

Series MVP, reluctantly: Nick Swisher

Papi vs. Felix

You Can't Spell King without the "K"

Toronto at Seattle

Yep, that's right.  Nick and I played once, and now we've played again.  Unfortunately for Nick, he came across King Felix both times...

Game One - Masterson @ Grienke

The oft-drafted Masterson was woefully overmatched in this one, as Greinke (CG, 1 ER, 13K's, 2BB's) got stronger as the game went along and Big Papi (3-4, 2 2B's, 1 HR, 4 RBI) lifted the offense on his back and ran.

Nick - 6
Keith - 1
(Nick leads 1-0)

Game Two - Hernandez @ Hammell

King Felix responded to Grienke's strong performance with a complete game (1 ER, 14K's, 4BB's) outing of his own.  In two series against Nick, Hernandez has 30 K's.  It doesn't take a calculator to figure out he's leading the league in this category - he went a complete game in a 10-inning 1-0 loss in the season opener.  Hey Buttrock, how about a copy of that series?

Keith - 3
Nick - 1
(Series tied 1-1)

Game Three - Peavy @ Blackley

This well-played game saw Keith hold on to a 3-2 lead on the strength of a Nelson Cruz HR and a Curt "I only play because Choo is constantly injured" Granderson two-run jobber.  Reddick and Gordon collected RBI's for Ewoldt.

Keith - 3
Nick - 2
(Keith wins series 2-1)

Mariners sweep Red Sox; Grab first place

Did you know that potential league MVP Big Papi was once a Wisconsin Timber Rattler? Me neither. Did you know that he was originally called David Arias and not David Ortiz? Me neither. I didn't even need to photoshop in a logo this time!

Poor Spencer drives all the way up to Wisconsin, only to get swept by my homer-happy team. Sorry brah. In the series, the traveling Mariners outscored the Red Sox 30-10. The Mariners are now in first place with a 8-4 record.


GAME ONE: Travis Blackley -vs- Tommy Millone***
The M's wasted little time in game one, scoring twelve runs on 25 hits (yes, 25 hits), in three innings off Red Sox starter Tommy Millone. David Ortiz had four hits including a homer, J.P. Arencibia hit two home runs and a double, Evan Longoria had four hits and four RBI and Viciedo collected three hits and three RBI. Ian Kinsler and Jamey Carroll each had three-hit games, as well. Travis Blackley pitched seven tidy innings, yielding only one run and five hits. For Spencer, Matt Weiters had two hits and a RBI.
HRS - Arencibia (2), Ortiz
Win - Blackley, Loss - Millone
NICK 15, SPENCER 2

GAME TWO: Jered Weaver -vs- Brandon McCarthy
A seventh inning rally, featuring back-to-back, run scoring doubles from Alex Gordon and Big Papi, secured a tight, game-two victory for the Mariners. Adam Dunn hit a grand slam in the first inning, before the Red Sox tied things with two runs in the second and two more in the bottom of the fourth.  For Spencer's Red Sox, Alberto Callaspo reached base twice and had two RBI, Paul Konerko had three hits and Omar Infante had a two-run double.
HR - Dunn (GS)
Win - Fort Atkinson, SV - Balfour, Loss - McCarthy
NICK 6, SPENCER 5

GAME THREE: Brandon Morrow -vs- Chris Sale***
The Mariners secured the series sweep in game three, thanks to seven doubles, nine runs and solid pitching from starter Brandon Morrow who whiffed eight batters and yielded just one run. Longoria had two doubles, a single and two RBI for the M's. Viciedo had a double, two RBI and a run scored. For the Red Sox, Paul Konerko had a multi-hit game and a home run, ElZobrist and Revere each had two hits and Jeff Mathis hit a solo homer.
HR - Konerko, Mathis
Win - Morrow, SV - Balfour, Loss - Sale  
NICK 9, SPENCER 3

*** Left hand pitcher. Just saying.

I am the goddamn manager.

As if anybody actually needed another reason to love Jim Leyland. The man delivers it straight. Right to his primadonna superstar.  Awesome.

Fish at Nick

Location: Nick Ewoldt Family Residence, East Troy Wisconsin

Food: Exceptional Deb Breakfast including eggs over medium, waffles, sausages and breakfast bread

Music: Very little – background noise of American Pie Wedding Movie

Game 1: Price at Morrow

This was a low scoring game with two excellent pitchers on the mound.  Viciedo hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 4^th to give Nick a 1-0 lead, which held up to the 9^th inning.  Grant Balfour came on for the save and was denied by an AJ Pierzynski Clutch solo home run to tie the game.  In the 10^th inning, Lorenzo Cain had a brain cramp allowing a double and error to beginning the inning off the bat of Skeletor, and was scored with an Alex Rios single.  Tim from Seattle closed the 10^th out for his 1^st save of the season, including a Jammed out home run by Adam Dunn in the bottom of the 10^th.  Fish wins 2-1

Win – Price

Loss – Balfour

Save – Tim from Seattle (Wilhelmsen)

Home Runs – Viciedo, AJ

Game 2: Diamond at Grienke

You would think it was Hanukkah as Ian Kinsler hit a home run to lead off the frame in the bottom of the 1^st.  But it would not be 8 crazy nights as Zach Grienke would get light up like a menorah.  Alex Rios was 3-5 on the game with two RBI’s, including triple and double.  Will Middlebrooks assited in the offense with a 2-3 performance including a solo home run.  Nick’s team was paced by David Ortiz who was 3-4 on the day including a solo home run.  Fish wins 6-4.

Win – Diamond

Loss – Grienke

Save – Tim from Seattle

Home Runs – Kinsler, Middlebrooks, Cain, Ortiz

Game 3: Kuroda at Hammel

Another close game as these two evenly matched teams faced off.  Nick took an early lead with an Ortiz solo home run in the bottom of the 1^st.  Skeletor answer in the 4^th inning with a RBI double, plating Middlebrooks.  Nick’s string of solo home runs continued with an Andrews solo shot in the bottom of the 5^th.  Skeletor cross the plate in the 7^th when Action Jackson drove him with a base shot.  The game went into extra innings and Nick eventually won the game in the bottom of the 12^th as “JJ” Reddick hit a bases loaded sack fly.  Nick wins 3-2

Win – Frieri

Loss – Burton

Home Runs – Ortiz, Andrews