Falcons weather Storm - fly to victory

 Storm faced the Falcons to kick off a doubleheader in the middle of an extended road trip. Their previous two meetings ended up in each team winning a lopsided game. Would this game be a tightly contested match, or another rout?

Storm apparently thought hitting some home runs and giving the Falcons lots of space to hit home runs was the right approach. Rene hit a two run shot, and then Kevin hit a solo home run to give Storm three runs in the top of the 1st. Jeff ended the inning by being very grateful to the Falcons catcher for catching a pop up with two strikeouts.

Apparently Storm thought that pitching actually had something to do with their previous result against the Falcons, and had Jeff slated to pitch all seven innings. Only time would tell if this would be a good decision. It seemed like it might not be a great decision as the Falcons loaded the bases in the first. This included a play where the umpire admitted he couldn’t see when Brian picked up the ball so he called the runner safe. Storm got out of it giving up no runs and took a 3-0 lead to the second.

Storm scored 4 runs in the top of the 2nd to take a 7-0 lead. The Falcons would score more runs in the bottom of the 2nd than they did in their previous game against Storm, and it was 7-3 after 2. 

Storm kept the thunder coming in the 3rd. They scored five runs. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Kevin. He had clearly struck fear into the Falcons’ pitchers with his earlier display of power. A pair of doubles by Al and Jeff followed by a couple of singles brought Duran up with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Storm was already +2 thanks to the earlier solo shot, but Duran made the most of it and doubled to score two more. The Falcons, however, were not struggling to hit either, and put up four runs. 12-7 after 3.

The 4th inning saw Storm’s power dwindle. They put up two. It extended the lead, but the Falcons, who couldn’t hit anything Jeff threw in the previous game, had their eyes on his balls all inning. They got some timely hits. Sean watched four pitches land close to, but not on the mat, and then DC launched a mercy inducing grand slam. At this point, the coaching staff probably should have considered a pitching change. Storm still had the lead, 14-13, but the Falcons were not faltering at all. 

The fifth started with Adam taking a mighty cut, but swinging and missing for a strikeout. Storm would manage 1 run, but that didn’t add a lot of cushion as the Falcons were flying. They started the inning with two solo home runs, but those seemed like they’d be okay. However, the Falcons kept hitting. And hitting. And hitting. They scored six before Storm finally managed three outs.

Storm seemed to have run out of steam. They went down in order in the top of the 6th. The Falcons added two more to extend their lead to five. They wouldn’t need it, though. Storm only managed one hit in the top of the 7th.

This was a close game that Storm had control of, but the Falcons mounted a come from behind victory smacking the ball all over the field. 

Notable Boxscores:

Duran 5 for 5, 3 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBI

Bob - 4 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI

Rene - 2 for 5, HR, 4 RBI

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and or Chip Merriweather

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	3	4	5	2	2	0	0	16
Falcons	0	3	4	6	7	2	x	21

Happy 4th of July as Storm take close one against Coulas

Duran started the game with a triple. He’s been having a hard time getting to third base since he became a father. That would change today. This was the first of three triples for Spray as he was speeding around the bases like pre-fatherhood and pre-heart attack Duran. 

Rene followed it up with a double and Joey hit a two run blast. Joey had been praising the no home run strategy that Storm had employed against both the A’s and Isotopes, but apparently he wasn’t serious or didn’t want to run the bases because he launched it. Storm would score six and mercy Coulas. Storm kept Coulas off the board in the first.

The second inning wasn’t nearly as kind to Storm as they only managed to score one (Duran tripled again). Storm then got crushed in the bottom half of the inning, giving up five. The game would get tight as Storm didn’t score in the third and gave up another run to make it a 7-6 game. In the top of the fourth Duran got bored of hitting triples and launched a home run. He needed to catch his breath before his next at bat. Storm scored 3.

Storm made a pitching change, and Jeff held Coulas to only one run in each of the 4th, 5th, and 6th. Storm would score four in the 5th to increase their lead. Up 14-9 going into the seventh, Al could be heard saying, “that’s not enough boys.” Storm took his words to heart and scored five. Rene, returning from a half iron man launched a home run in the inning and Storm took a ten run lead into the bottom of the seventh.

As it turns out, Al was right. Five wasn’t enough, as Coulas found their bats and started to make Storm sweat. They scored six, but it wasn’t enough to come back.

Notable Boxscores:

Duran 4 for 5, three triples, HR, 4 runs, 4RBI

Joey - 4 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs

Rene - 3 for 5, HR, 4 RBI, 3 runs

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and or Chip Merriweather

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	6	1	0	3	4	0	5	19
Coulas	0	5	1	1	1	1	6	15

 

Storm stabilizes in late innings to defeat Isotopes

Storm’s nucleus was a little unstable as they started their game against the Isotopes. The first batter hit a line drive back to Jeff on the pitcher’s mound. He caught it. Then  dropped it. Then picked it up and threw it to Brian, who caught it. Then dropped it. It’s like they were handling radioactive material. And their instability caused an explosion of six runs for the Isotopes.

Storm’s instability continued when they came to the plate. Mills led off with a strikeout. Storm has used a few different leadoff hitters this year. All good hitters who seem to struggle in the leadoff spot. You generally want your leadoff hitters to lead the team in categories kike OBP, AVG. runs scored, or at least walks. The leadoff spot does not lead in any of those. But it is tied for the lead in strikeouts. Someone jokingly said we should call it the K off spot.

Storm managed to settle down in the second inning defensively and offensively. The protons aligned and the neutrons settled in as Storm and Isotopes scored opposite numbers to the first and the score was tied 8-8 after two. Storm batted through the order to score the max six.

In the 3rd Storm gave five runs back and had to come back again. They were unable to do it until the bottom of the sixth when they scored five. Storm’s pitching and defence settled in, and Storm did not give up any runs through the final three boxes on the periodic table, enabling them to hold on to 18-15 victory. 

The Isotopes caused quite a reaction in their first game against Storm, but Storm stayed stable and held on to win, even if nobody could hold on to that first hit of the game. 

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and or Chip Merriweather

Notable Numbers on the Periodic Table:

Lance - 5 for 5, 2 RBI

Duran - 4 for 5, 4 RBI, 2 runs

Bob - 4 for 5, 3 runs, RBI

Adam - 3 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 runs

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Isotopes	6	2	5	2	0	0	0	15
Storm	2	6	2	0	3	5	X	18

Stellar Defence in win over Hanet

 Duran led off the game by turning a single into a double. He wanted to create as much separation between him and Mills. It was a wasted effort. Mills knocked the next pitch out of the park. Storm would score another and take a 3-0. That wouldn’t last, though, as Hanet scored three right back. 

In the second, Mills launched another home run. This one a three run blast. He was really showing off for the fan in the stands! Storm would hold Hanet to two runs and take a lead into the 3rd inning. Storm’s defence really took over from the 3rd to the 5th, not allowing any runs and with six consecutive outs being recorded at first base. In one inning, Joey made all the outs. Nobody taught him to be a good boy and share in the sandbox! Storm put up seven more runs through these frames and took a 13-5 lead into the sixth. After adding two more runs, the sixth ended with an unfortunate incident. George made a fantastic catch on a ball hit right back to him on the pitcher's mound, but it was clear that he was hurt on the play. The batter being Al, Storm’s pitcher, it was clearly not intentional, but emotions run high and Hanet has a lot of family on the team and the temperature was rising both in the physical and metaphorical atmosphere. Cooler heads prevailed and the game was able to finish without  any incident. 

Storm held on to win 15-7.

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and Chip Merriweather

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
Storm	3	3	2	3	2	2	0	15
Hanet	3	2	0	0	0	1	1	7

Stome edge out win over A's

 Brad jokingly called Jeff “batting practice” before the game started. Then Jeff lived up to the name and pitched four solo home runs in the first inning, two for outs. The next three innings would be a cat and mouse game between Jeff and the A's batter as Jeff tried to throw home runs and they tried desperately to keep it in the park. 

In the 2nd, George hit a screaming liner at Adam’s head. Adam recovered from his near death experience to make a play on Doug's grounder. 

In the third, Storm got the A’s to hit another home run out. They also started a new defensive strategy. Jeff deflected a ball to Brad who threw to first to record the out on the good ol 143 out at first.

In the fourth, Storm continued their defensive strategy of deflecting balls as Lance knocked one down that was picked up by Jeff who gunned it to first. Jeff finished his day much like he started it, with a home run that went for an out.

Storm hit well in the fourth through sixth innings and ran the bases aggressively. Most importantly, they kept the ball in the park. 

In the 5th,  Al took a page out of Jeff's book and ended the inning with a home run out. It was bizarro baseball as every time the A’s hit a deep fly ball it was Storm players cheering for the ball to get out. 

Storm took a 13-9 lead into the seventh inning, but the A’s do not go gentle into any good night, particularly not a humid night, so they scored three and got the tying run to second base with their number 3 batter up. Cam launched one in the air, but it stayed in the park and fell right into Mills’ waiting glove. Storm held on to win 13-12. 

Check out the new Podcast of the game as reported by;

Scoops Jockovitch and Chip Merriweather

Boxscore
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total
A’s	2	0	3	3	0	1	3	12
Storm	4	2	3	4	0	0	x	13