RECORD: 0-1.
Players of the Week:
Julio Comas and Ryan Rothenberg (the battery)
Jose Martinez: 2 for 5, 2B, 1SB, 1RUN
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RECORD: 1-1
Players of the Week:
Bert Montero 2 for 3, 2RUNS, HBP
Julio Comas 6inn, 10K's, 2ER
Jose Martinez 2 for 3, 2-2B, 2RUNS, HBP
Now as for pitching, the "Beast" came out again hurling 4 innings of great baseball. Julio posted only 1 ER with 4 K's to get the Win. Moises was excellent in relief for 2 wth 2 K's and Albert closed them out with 1 inning and 2 K's. 17-7 win.
WAY TO GO GUYS--ATHLETICS WENT DOWN HARD THIS WEEK. LETS KEEP THEM DOWN. GO RAYS!!!
RECORD: 2-1
Players of the Week:
Everyone gets the nod this week. Game ball to David and Freddy (2 doubles each)
Julio and Moises, great game
Bert and Ryan E. get the award this week for "team" players, giving up their spots to get everyone in (even me)
After 2 great wins, the "BEAST" had a rough going in the 5th giving up 4 hits and 4 runs to give the A's a 9-5 advantage. Hats off to Julio debuting this year having a 2-1 record.
Then with a man on second and only one out in the inning, number 44 came out of the 3rd base coaching box and took the mound. To his own amazement, Fred Krochmal went 3 2/3 with no hits, walks, or runs giving up only 1 BB.
Although this was a strong performance, it was too little too late. The Devil Rays managed to squeeze 2 more out in the 7th to make it a 9-7 game. Then, Jose Martinez came up in the bottom of the last inning with 2 on and JUST missed a gaming winning shot. He flied deep to left to end the game. Final Score 9-7.
Now that the Rays have dropped two, there is no more room for error. Either they step it up and finish strong, or KISS their playoff chances goodbye. Look for a little "mixing" up on the field next week. Several "key" players will be missing giving those wanting a shot every opportunity to prove themselves. Next week will be a "TEAM" win or "TEAM" loss, no heros here!!!!
RECORD: 2-2
Players of the Week:
David Krochmal (2) and Ryan Rothenberg (3) both had a multiple hit day.
JP Fernandez sent one deep to the fence for the longest double I've ever seen.
Brian Stone with the big 2 out 2 RBI hit that tied the game in the 4th.
Fred Krochmal pitched 3 2/3, 4K, 1BB
Then a rally, 9 hitters long, put us ahead by two heading for the 6th. Ryan R. started it off followed by Freddy, David, Jose, and Pete all with hits. Bert and Kenyon both had walks.
Julio ran into a little trouble in the top of the 6th giving up four on one error. So now we head to the bottom of the 6th down 10-8. Julio needs his team to come through with 2 for the no decision and 3 to give him a shot at the win.
The D'rays came through for their pitcher with another long rally, this time 8 men long. Albert lead off with a walk that eventually scored. Then Brian, Ryan R., Freddy, David, and Bert all had hits. Jose posted a walk and scored as well. The D'rays were headed to the 7th and final inning up by 3 runs.
Now the coach, with a 3 run lead decided to leave his reliever in to start the 7th. JP started with the first assist with a beautiful through from short. The next guy reached on a tough error putting the tying run in the hole. Julio reached back and struckout the next hitter but the runner now was on third. With a 2-2 count, a nice hit scored the runner and with two outs the coach made a change.
Seeing a lefty come to the plate, the coach decided to put himself in to have a lefty "face-off". After taking the mound, it was discovered, as the batter approached the plate, that he was a switch hitter. After taking out his pitcher, the coach had to throw. He struck the man out on 5 fast balls to win the game and register the first save for the D'rays this season. Final score 13-11, Devil Rays win!!!
RECORD: 3-2
Players of the Week:
David Krochmal (2), Pete Enriquez and Ryan Rothenberg (3) all had a multiple hit day.
Julio shut them down for 3 to give us a chance to get back in the game.
Brian Stone with 4 runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
Jose, Ryan R., and Freddy B. all scored 2 runs.
Then the bats woke up. The D'rays came back strong to tie it again at 4 in the 6th. After two and 1/3 innings on the mound, Julio, in the eighth inning, ran into some trouble giving up 2 back to back hits in the bottom of the 8th. Kenyon West, for his first close of the year, was called from the bullpen to shut out the 8th and giving the D'rays a chance in the 9th to come back.
Sure enough, 2 more are scored in the top of the 9th to tie the game. The D'rays left the go-ahead run on third with no outs and stranded him there.
But now, the Rangers came back with a strong inning. With two outs and a two strike count with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Kenyon through a hard one inside that scooted aways from Ryan behind the plate. Far enough away to give the runner at third a chance to win the game for his team.
Although the play was close, the Rangers were able to squeek by with a bottom of the 9th win. FINAL 7-6--GREAT GAME GUYS!!!!
RECORD: 3-3
Players of the Week:
David Krochmal and Kenyon West had multiple hit days.
Defense was lead by JP Fernandez making several spectacular plays.
All three pitchers who gave the team every opportunity to put this one away
DEVIL RAYS WIN BY FORFEIT OVER THE BROWARD YANKEES
RECORD: 4-3
Players of the Week:
Everyone who showed up this week. Gotta have 8 to play.
But someone was looking out for us cuz it never rained enough to end the game. The Poor Yankees were actually going to have to win this one the old fashioned way.
After a very slow start and a 5 run deficit in the 5th, Albert "King" Lorenzana took the mound and gave the team the opportunity to come back if they wanted it.
As the D'rays always do in the end of every game they staged a comeback. Up until now, it has always been just not enough. But not today. With the combination of 3 walks and 4 hits in the bottom of the 7th, the D'rays managed to put together 6 runs to leave the Yankees, once again, on the field, jaws open, wondering if anyone got the liscense of the truck that just hit them.
Like I said, there were three walks to start the bottom of the 7th by Bert, Kenyon, and Pete. Then we exploded with Efrain "Madman" Monzon smacking a single to score 2, Brian and Kenyon. JP "The Bull" then singled knocking in Jose "Going, Going, Gone" Martinez. pinch running for Pete "Scoopmeister" Enriquez. Then Albert "King" Lorenzana came up and crushed one to right scoring JP "The Bull" Fernandez who leveled the catcher on Albert's hit to tie the game at 8. Then, like he always does, Ryan "The Burger" Rothenberg made ground beef of a pitch taking it opposite field to score Albert for the winning run.
Albert "King" Lorenzana stopped them dead in their tracks in the 5th coming in for the ailing starter. He finished the game strong picking up his first win. This time the team took advantage of the situation that the D'rays pitching staff has given them all season.
The cameras picked up something from the dugout during the second rainout. The Manger/Pitcher was giving a speach to his team. We are not exactly sure what was said, but something woke up the bats as the D'rays staged their largest 1 inning comeback all year!!!
DEVIL RAYS 9 YANKEES 8
RECORD: 5-3
Players of the Week:
Albert Lorenzana--"King" of the Hill; and can hit too!!
Efrain Monzon--"Madman"--starting the hitting rally with a 2 RBI single
Ryan Rothenberg--"The Burger" with 3 singles and winning RBI, now .481 on the year
Pete Enriquez--Top 5 OB% on the team; "Scoopmeister"
Jose Martinez--"Going, Going, Gone!!"
Bert Montero--"Rally Man"--has lead off in 70%+ of our big rallies this year
JP Fernandez--"The Bull" taking out the catcher for the tying run.
First, I would like to welcome back Rey Nunez, who finished strong at FMU with a .390 avg. Good to have ya back.
Now it began early in the game when Albert put them down in the first and we came up to the plate. David led off with a hit and Ryan manged to push his way on. Now Rey came up and drew a 2-1 count. The coach put on a hit and run. Rey, like poetry in motion, ripped the ball to left center scoring both David and Ryan (from 1st base).
Then Albert had a rough inning. With several "key" plays missed by his defense, Albert was forced to throw to several more hitters. By the time the dust cleared, the D'rays were down 5-2. Not one run was earned.
But Albert hung in there pitching 6 (5K'S, BB, HBP, 1 ER) and giving up just one more before he left to a personal obligation. He missed the "D'ray special" in the bottom half of the inning coming back to give him the W.
Now, with a 6-4 score, the D'rays lit up the opposing pitcher. David and Ryan led off with back to back hits. Rey walked. Jose hit the ball hard scoring a run. Kenyon reached base scoring a run. Ryan E. singled scoring a run. When it was over, the D'rays went on top 9-6.
Fred Krochmal took the mound in the 7th and finished the game with a strong 2 for the D'rays (3K's, 5BB, 0 runs)
A couple more came across the plate in the 8th, and the D'rays sustained a rally long enough to pass the time limit leaving the Hurricanes on the field.
FINAL SCORE: DEVIL RAYS 11 CORAL GABLES HURRICANES 6
RECORD: 6-3
Players of the Week:
Albert "King" Lorenzana--Hell of a game..you deserve the Win!
David "1st Pitch" Krochmal--multi-hit game scoring twice and stealing.
Ryan "The Burger" Rothenberg--multi-hit game, scoring, and saving the game at 3rd.
Ryan "PM" Ennis--multi-hit game, 3 RBI, scoring, and stealing.
Rey "Shotgun" Nunez--multi-hit game, scoring twice, 2 RBI, and stealing.
Kenyon "Smiley" West--scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI's with 4 stolen bases.
FOR THE RECORD:
This game, a couple of veterans got into the mix. Although they shall remain nameless for reasons I cannot explain, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!! So here we go, from now on, any player who decides to talk to, look at, question, or breath in the general direction of an umpire will automatically be BENCHED. Anyone ejected from a game, will leave the field and will miss the next game as well. Anyone ejected twice in a season will automatically be removed from the roster. Infractions shall be determined by the Manager and CANNOT be questioned.
But as game time approached, there was not a Brewer in sight. Once again, a forfeit was eminent. The umpires called it at 10:15AM. Kenyon, Rene, and Jason showed up after the game was called, but were ready for the the next one.
All the guys went their seperate ways and met back at the field at 12:15PM. With the South Dade Padres next, all the guys made it back and we looked like a full team again.
Fred started the game and was gone by the second. Even though his team gave him a 9 run lead, the Padres found holes even where there weren't any. JP cam in for 3 or 4 batters and struggled as well.
Now the D'rays were down by one, squandering a 9 run lead, when Kenyon West took the mound. He came in and shut down the Padres for 4 innings. Kenyon had only 6 hits and 4 K's with 2 ER to keep the Padres down. Efrain caim in and closed his first game. Sorry Efrain, no save with this kind of lead.
As Kenyon was breathing life back into his team, the bats woke up and the rest is history. Multiple hit day by Ryan E., Pete, Jose, Ryan R., and Brian Stone. Everyone contributed at the bat scoring 25 runs in only 7 innings. FINAL SCORE:
MIMAI DEVIL RAYS 25 SOUTH DADE PADRES 15
RECORD: 4-3
Players of the Week:
Kenyon "The Stopper" West--4 1/3 inn, 6 H, 4 K, 2 ER
Ryan "The Hammer" Ennis--4 for 5 with 5 RBI and 2 Triples
Pete "Scoopmeister" Enriquez--2 for 4 with a HR and 5 RBI
David "Speedy" Krochmal--Scored 4 runs
Jason "My Back" Levine--2 Runs scored and 1 SB
Jose "Going, Going, Gone" Martinez--Hit another dinger going 2 for 4 with 4 RBI
Bert "Rally Man" Montero--2 BB, 2B, and 1 RBI
Ryan "The Burger" Rothenberg--Through the grinder again; 3 for 5 with 2 RBI
Brian "The Body" Stone--3 for 3 with 2 Runs scored and an RBI
RECORD: 8-4
Players of the Week:
If you can think of any, let me know!!!
The game started out with a bang with the D'rays getting 2 early but only to give them back in the bottom of the first.
Then, like a scene out of 61, Pete Enriquez took Chaz yard with bases loaded to give the D'rays a lead that would keep them ahead the rest of the game.
Kenyon came in to pitch in the 4th and single handedly (of course with "The King's" help) kept the Phillies off balance to make it possible for the D'Rays to keep up the intensity and never allow the Phillies even to tie.
The D'Rays at the plate were magnificent. All but one starter succeeded in batting for base hits. Multiple hits were produced by Freddy, Ryan E., David, Jose, and Rey.
Of course, we can't forget all the Homeruns hit by: Pete (GS), Ryan E., and "The King" Rey hit 2 HR's to bring the total to 4 for the game.
But with all of this run production and great pitching, the game was won by the defense. It was very tough to see the ball in the outfield, causing some very precarious situations. But with our middle infield playing the best ball all year, Efrain's and JP's plays out there were by far the plays of the week. The dives, Double Plays, and ball containment was the best seen all year!!!
The Coach of the D'Rays was interviewed after the game and was asked what he felt the most important aspect of the game that kept the D'Rays on top. He was quoted as saying,"Everyone has their spot on this team and the role they play. This was a team effort. And with this kind of effort and team solidarity we can't lose."
RECORD: 9-4
Players of the Week:
Everyone on the team from the starters to the bench. You all made this possible!!!!
Although we played well, we did not play well enough. This was the second loss this season to the Cards by 1 run. All I can say is:
WE WILL BE GUNNIN' THE CARDS WITH A VENGEANCE!!!
LOOK OUT!!!!
RECORD: 9-5
Players of the Week:
What a season. I just want to thank everyone who participated.
