#234---Perth v. Brisbane, 1/15/2021

 

This was the second ABL game I had the opportunity to watch in the winter of 2021, but I actually saw/scored it after #208 which was played on 1/20/2021, thanks to the odd programming choices of the random cable channel showing these games on tape delay. This game, played as the first of a split doubleheader at Adelaide, was billed as a pitcher’s duel between former big leaguer Travis Blackley and reigning ABL pitcher of the year Dylan Unsworth, and it didn’t disappoint. Blackely broke first, yielding a two-run homer in the fourth and dodging two errors in the fifth. He was yanked after walking two in the sixth, but despite another error Brisbane escaped with the score 2-0.

Unsworth, meanwhile, was sent out to try for the complete game (seven-inning doubleheader), but removed with run out and a runner at third after Dutton took two bases on a groundout. He struck out seven without a walk over 6 1/3, but former big leaguer Zac Reininger allowed the game tying hit. In the eighth, a double play resulted in Perth failing to cash in, while after two failed bunt attempts Fritsch dumped the game-winning single into right for Brisbane.

If I have to use a scoresheet with diamonds (and don’t worry, no one forced me), this is an example of what I prefer:

1) a very small diamond, since the space inside the diamond is wasted

2) “cheater” dots rather than a more complete outline of the diamond, so that if the batter does not reach base they leave as little clutter and superfluous ink as possible

Unfortunately, this approach takes the level of artistic talent needed from “trace a line” to “draw a line between two points”, and even that tiny increase in difficulty can result in some unfortunately-shaped lines when I am the one holding the pencil.

#233---PHI @ NYA, 8/5/2020

 

This was the first game of a doubleheader, so in 2020 that meant it was scheduled for seven innings. The Phillies used big innings in the fourth and sixth to take command, but the bullpen troubles that vexed them for the “whole” season reared their head in the seventh, eventually forcing nominal closer Hector Neris into the game with the tying run on deck. He got Miguel Andujar to fly to deep right-center on the first pitch.

One change to my scoring that is visible here is that I ceased circling the numbers of the lineup position that caused baserunners to advance (if it resulted in a runner scoring, it is still boxed). This reduces clutter on the scoresheet, although for the first week I needed to keep my eraser handy as it took some re-programming after 22 seasons of circling. The original idea behind circling was that it would distinguish the use of, say, “4” for the cleanup hitter from the use of “4” for the second baseman. However, it finally dawned on me after all this time that I would never have cause to refer just to “4” to describe what happened to a runner. A plain “4” could be a popup to second for the batter, but if a runner was putout at second by the second baseman, there would always have to be some kind of modifier, like “FC4” or “DP4” – the notation under my system would never just be “4”. So the use of the circle was unnecessary, although when I first started using this system in 1998 I did have some unmodified outs; I just saw an example where I used “74” for a batter-runner thrown out at second trying for a double. I would now mark that as “OS74”.

#232---CLE @ LAA, 9/9/2019

 

Shane Bieber pitched seven strong innings, retiring seventeen of the last eighteen he faced to get the win, but the most interesting about this game is three milestone homers for individual players on the extreme ends of the spectrum. Albert Pujols hit his 655th homer in the third inning, while both an Indian (Yu Chang) and an Angel (Jared Walsh) hit their first.

#231---WAS @ ARI, 5/12/2018

 

Troy Scribner needed 98 pitches to get through 3 2/3 innings, while Stephen Strasburg needed 108 pitches to get through 6 2/3 innings. All three runs scored off the starters, with Strasburg not surprisingly having the upper hand, fanning nine and walking one.

#230---KC @ CLE, 8/27/2017

 

This was the Indians’ fourth-straight win in a skein that would eventually reach 22. All of twelve runs were scored in Cleveland’s first two times at bat, including the nine-run second which came all on home runs – first a two-run shot from Francisco Lindor, then a three-run blast from Carlos Santana, and capped by a grand slam from Yan Gomes. Every Cleveland starter had a hit except Edwin Encarnacion (he had a walk, and Roberto Perez singled while pinch-hitting for him in the eighth). On the pitching side, Carlos Carrasco needed just 83 pitches to go seven shutout innings with eight K and no walks.

This game capped a three-game weekend sweep; Kansas City entered six games behind Cleveland and left nine games behind.

#229---CLE @ BOS, 5/22/2016

 

In David Ortiz’ last big league season, he had a huge game against the Indians, reaching all five times including two doubles and his 514th career homer. Cleveland would gets its revenge in October.

#228---NYA @ TOR, 9/23/2015

 

Toronto extended their AL East lead to 3.5 with ten to play by scoring four runs, all with two outs, in the sixth and seventh. Russell Martin’s three-run shot off Andrew Bailey was the big blow, supporting Marcus Stroman’s seven shutout innings.

#227---CLE @ CHA, 4/10/2014

 

Danny Salazar had an interesting outing in this one. He struck out the side in the first (albeit on twenty pitches), then struck out three more in the second (albeit after allowing a leadoff homer to Jose Abreu). He struck out two more in the third (albeit after allowing another leadoff homer and a third run). He struck out Adam Dunn to lead off the fourth, then allowed three runs before fanning Adrian Nieto. He was then relieved by Josh Outman having faced eighteen batters, making 93 pitches, and recording eleven outs, a whopping ten of them on strikeouts. He was “on pace” (I hate doing that, but in this case it’s fun) to strikeout 24 batters and make 228 pitches.

Two personal notes for the White Sox:

1. This was an era, like the current one, in which they could put four Cuban players in their lineups (Abreu, Dayan Viciedo, Alexei Ramirez and Nieto).

2. Jordan Danks got into the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth; his brother John had started but was relieved in the seventh.

#226---ATL @ PHI, 8/4/2013

 

Alex Wood and Cliff Lee both made 95 pitches, so you’d assume that the latter was more efficient and pitched deeper into the game in this matchup of lefties. You’d be incorrect, as Lee allowed four runs over five innings and Wood allowed one over six. Neither bullpen allowed multiple baserunners in any inning and 4-1 was the final. Delmon Young took the golden sombrero which I’m sure was heartbreaking to many, many people.

#225---DET @ CLE, 7/25/2012

 

Max Scherzer fanned 8 and walked 4 over seven innings, capped with a five-pitch seventh. The Indians also went down on just six pitches in the ninth, but scored a run on Travis Hafner’s solo homer. Derek Lowe walked the bases loaded to leadoff the fifth, but escaped only allowing one run on Prince Fielder’s sacrifice fly. Johnny Damon and Casey Kotchman teamed up for most of the Indians offense by walking and homering to lead off the third (this probably represents their shining moment in Cleveland uniforms. Probably). But most interesting is the back-to-back throwing errors committed by Asdrubal Cabrera in the second. The first allowed Omar Infante to reach following a leadoff double from Alex Avila. The second came in an attempt to get the force at second and presumably start an inning-ending twin killer.