Dirt Dogs Push Pitchers Back to .500

It was a tough Sunday at the ballpark for the Empty PItchers, who fell short offensively in both games against the New York Dirt Dogs, by scores of 10-3 and 4-2.

The Pitchers, still riding high from their pair of victories over the Stealers on Saturday, jumped out to an early lead in Game 1. A single from Julie easily brought home Felix, who had legged out a lead-off triple, and both Nicole and Greg would cross the plate in the second, scoring on consecutive singles by Alicia, Brian and Eric. But that was the end of the offense for the Pitchers, whose defense failed to blank the Dogs in any of the game's remaining innings.

In the second game, Damian was shocked to see his scoreless pitching streak end at six innings. Switch-hitting Felix was again at the center of the Pitchers' meager scoring opportunities, driving in Greg with another triple in the second and then scoring on a sac fly by Brian in the fifth. In between, Damian and Greg took the opportunity to flex their muscles with over-the-fence outs at inopportune moments and the Pitchers soon found themselves out of time and unable to piece together any more runs.

While Felix -- "Dangerous as a lefty," in the words of the ump, and batting above .900 according to my Excel spreadsheet -- received votes for Player-of-the-Games honors, the tip of the cap this week has to go to Alex, who played seriously impressive defense at third all morning long.

Next game: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Blanket and Murph get their shot at running the show.

Empty Pitchers vs. NY Dirt Dogs

Game 8 Box Score
10/11/2009

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
EP     0  1  0  0  1  0  0   2
DD     0  1  2  0  0  1  X   4

PLAYER       AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG 'On the Day'
28 Eric CF    3  0  2   0   0   .500 (3-5)
13 Julie C    3  0  2   0   0   .286 (3-6) 
15 Damian P   3  0  1   0   0   .611 (4-6)
 5 Alicia EH  3  0  2   0   0   .458 (3-6)
44 Alex 3B    3  0  0   0   0   .438 (2-6)
11 Nicole RF  3  0  0   0   0   .143 (0-6)
00 Greg 1B    3  0  2   1   0   .800 (4-6)
 3 Rachel RCF 3  0  0   0   0   .200 (0-6)
 5 Felix SS   2  1  2   1   0   .905 (4-5)
 8 Debbie 2B  2  0  1   0   0   .200 (1-5)
   Brian LF   2  0  0   1   0   .438 (1-5)
13 Matt EH    2  0  0   0   0   .636 (1-4, walk)

2B - Greg (4); 3B - Felix (2)
OTF - Damian (1), Greg (2)

Game 7 Box Score
10/11/2009

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
DD     1  0  2  2  2  1  2   10
EP     1  2  0  0  0  0  0   3

PLAYER       AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG
 5 Felix SS   3  1  2   0   0   .895
13 Julie 2B   3  0  1   1   0   .222
13 Matt P     2  0  1   0   1   .700
 8 Debbie RF  3  0  0   0   0   .000
44 Alex 3B    3  0  2   0   0   .538
 3 Rachel EH  3  0  0   0   0   .235
15 Damian EH  3  0  3   0   0   .667
11 Nicole C   3  1  0   0   0   .182
00 Greg LF    3  1  2   0   0   .824
 5 Alicia 1B  3  0  1   0   0   .429
   Brian CF   3  0  1   1   0   .500
28 Eric RCF   2  0  1   1   0   .474

2B - Felix (5); 3B - Felix (1); OTF - Greg (1)

Stealers, France Succumb to Pitchers

The Pitchers took both games of a doubleheader from the Avengers' international coalition on Saturday, coming from behind in the first game to win, 12-9, and then jumping out ahead in the second game and never looking back, winning 8-0.

In Game 1, the Pitchers had a big fourth and fifth innings, with Matt leading off both innings with a solid hit. He - along with Felix and Eric - posted three hits in the early game. Eric also drove in four runs and Damian went a perfect 4-for-4.

The story of Game 2 was a shutout pitched by Damian in his Pitchers pitching debut, and more rock-solid defense from Felix and Alex in the infield. Greg went 3-for-3 in the game, and he, Rachel and Felix all had big two-out hits to drive in a pair of runs.

The Pitchers also capitalized on a key injury to the Avengers squad, as a bad back led one of their players to be replaced by Frenchie (possibly Russkie, possibly Czechie), apparently making his debut in the American sport at any level. He performed valiantly, entering midway through Game 1, but in the end, wound up in the vicinity of too many fence-scrappers of the Pitchers for the Avengers to ever have a chance.

Stealers vs. Empty Pitchers

Game 6 Box Score (4 innings)
10/10/2009

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
EP      2  4  1  1  X  X  X   8
SH      0  0  0  0  X  X  X   0

PLAYER       AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG 'On the Day'
15 Damian P   3  2  2   0   0   .583 (6-7)
13 Julie RCF  2  0  0   0   1   .200 (1-6, walk)
00 Greg CF    3  3  3   2   0   .857 (5-7)
 3 Rachel C   1  0  0   2   2   .286 (0-4, 3 walk)
 5 Felix SS   3  0  2   3   0   .938 (5-6, walk)
 5 Alicia 1B  3  0  2   0   0   .444 (4-7)
28 Eric 2B    3  0  0   0   0   .471 (3-7)
11 Nicole RF  2  0  0   0   0   .250 (0-4, 2 walk)
44 Alex 3B    2  2  2   0   0   .500 (4-6)
13 Matt LF    2  1  2   1   0   .778 (5-6)

2B - Alex (1), Greg (3)

Game 5 Box Score
10/10/2009

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
S      1  2  0  4  2  0  0   9
EP     0  0  2  5  4  1  X   12

PLAYER       AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG
 5 Felix SS   3  3  3   1   1   .929
13 Julie C    4  1  1   1   0   .231
28 Eric CF    4  1  3   4   0   .571
 3 Rachel RF  3  0  0   0   1   .308
44 Alex 3B    4  0  2   2   0   .375
 5 Alicia 1B  4  1  2   0   0   .400
13 Matt P     4  2  3   0   0   .750
11 Nicole 2B  2  0  0   0   2   .333
00 Greg LF    4  2  2   2   0   .818
15 Damian RCF 4  2  4   2   0   .556

2B - Alicia (1), Matt (1); 3B - Greg (1)

Sub & Heroes Torpedo Pitchers

The Pitchers dropped two closely-fought games last weekend against Sub & Heroes, falling just short in the first game, 8-6, and never really getting their bats going in the second game, 6-2.

In Game 1, the Pitchers at least had a balanced offensive attack, with everyone recording a hit. (Excepting, of course, for Julie. whose inadvertent benching came as a shock to both her and Koach K). David and Felix both recorded a pair of hits each. In Game 2, the story was a well-pitched effort by Matt and Tara, and an offense that never really got it going (though Matt's defense of his 2007 batting crown continued with a 2-for-2 game, and Alex recording the very first Over-the-Fence Out of the Pitchers' young season).

Giving up a five-run inning in each of the games was the Pitchers ultimate undoing. If there was any solace to be found in the losses (aside from learning that the victorious team's name was borne of an unattained dream to be sponsored by a sandwich shop), it was in the happy accident/serendipitous coaching act of Felix and Eric turning multiple 6-4-3 double plays.

I couldn't find any scenes from "30 Rock" of the episode where Dennis Duffy becomes a 'subway hero':

Empty Pitchers vs. Sub & Heroes

Game 4 Box Score
9/27/2009

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
EP      0  0  0  1  0  0  2   2
SH      0  5  1  0  0  0  X   6

PLAYER       AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG 'On the Day'
5 Felix SS   2  0  1   0   0   .909 (3-4)
18 Tara 2B    2  0  1   1   0   .364 (2-4)
28 Eric CF    2  0  0   0   0   .500 (1-4)
3 Rachel C   2  0  1   0   0   .400 (2-4)
44 Alex 3B    2  0  0   0   0   .250 (1-4)
13 Julie EH   2  0  0   0   0   .222 (0-2)
12 Brian EH   2  0  1   0   0   .545 (2-4)
3 Lisa RF    2  0  0   0   0   .250 (1-4)
99 Jared LF   2  0  1   0   0   .667 (2-4)
8 Stacey 1B  2  1  1   0   0   .636 (2-5)
13 Matt P     2  0  2   0   0   .750 (3-5)
11 Nicole EH  2  0  1   1   0   .500 (2-4)
15 Damian EH  2  0  0   0   0   .200 (1-5)
5 Alicia RCF 1  0  0   0   0   .364 (1-4)
1 Dave D. EH 1  1  1   0   0   .750 (3-4)

2B - Felix (4); OTF - Alex (1)

Game 3 Box Score
9/27/2009

TEAM   1  2  3  4  5  6  7   FINAL
SH     0  1  0  0  5  1  1   8
EP     1  1  0  0  2  2  0   6
PLAYER       AB  R  H  RBI  BB   AVG
15 Damian LF  3  1  1   1   0   .333
5 Alicia 3B  3  0  1   0   0   .400
1 Dave D. P  3  0  2   0   0   .667
8 Stacey RCF 3  1  1   1   0   .667
13 Matt 1B    3  1  1   0   0   .700
3 Rachel C   2  0  1   0   0   .375
5 Felix SS   2  1  2   1   0  1.000
18 Tara 2B    2  0  1   1   0   .333
99 Jared RF   2  0  1   1   0   .714
11 Nicole EH  2  1  1   0   0   .500
28 Eric CF    2  0  1   0   0   .625
3 Lisa EH    2  1  1   0   0   .500
44 Alex EH    2  0  1   0   0   .500
12 Brian EH   2  0  1   1   0   .556
2B - Felix (3), Jared (2)