Bombers Walk-Off With 3 in the 9th

 

The Royals let one slip through their fingers as the Bombers plated 3 in the bottom of the 9th to walk off with the win.  The loss wasn't the worst thing that happened on the day, as their injury-plagued starting centerfielder Dominic Archey went down with a strained groin (at least he didn't hit himself in the face again.)

 

The Royals offense started off strong, as leadoff man Sean Spires kicked things off with a single.  Chris Powell followed with a double, and Bobby Calzadillas knocked in a run with a fielder's choice/error.  Mike Miller belted a 75-foot rbi-infield single, and Jay Wasserman brought home another on a double play ball.  Calzadillas would take the mound for his first start of the year and work a quiet first, leaving the score 3-0 after 1.

 

The Royals kept up the pressure in the 2nd.  Dan Lebsock reached on an error, going all the way to third on a routine ground ball.  Robert Padilla would bring him home on a ground out, and the Royals would lead 4-0.

 

The Bombers would respond with 1 of their own, but the Royals would answer back in the 3rd.  Mike Miller would walk to lead things off, and move to third on a Jay Wasserman ground ball/error.  Dominic Archey would single home Miller, and one out later, Lebsock would ground out to plate Wasserman, giving the Royals a 6-1 lead.  But the Bombers would answer right back with 2 of their own to make it 6-3.

 

The 4th inning would feature more offense on both sides of the field.  Jason Bolding would lace a single to left and score on a Sean Spires ground ball/error.  One out later, Calzadillas would hit a deep sac fly to plate Spires, and the Royals would again lead by 5.  But the Bombers would score once in each of the next 2 innings.

 

The Royals would continue to threaten in the 5th, as Wasserman would lead off with a walk.  Archey would follow with a fielder's choice, but unfortunately, he'd strain his groin beating out the throw to first and would have to come out of the game.  Pinch runner Greg Falk would swipe second and try to score on a Dan Lebsock single, only to be gunned at the plate (in a controversial no-slide/catcher-in-the-baseline call.)  Looking back, this was the play that shifted the momentum in the game, as the Royals bats would go quiet.  Another Bomber run in the bottom of the 5th followed by a mammoth 2-run home run to right center in the 6th would chase Calzadillas from the game with the score 8-7.  Dennis King III would relieve and quiet the Bombers offense for the time being.

 

After another quiet inning from the Royals, the Bombers would put more runners on base in the 7th and 8th.  But King would pick one man off, and Lebsock would throw out his second runner of the game to keep the Bombers off the scoreboard.  Meanwhile, the Royals would score another in their half of the 8th.  Pinch hitter Greg Falk would single - the first hit of his Royal's career - and Lebsock would double him home.  Robert Padilla would single for his first Royals hit, but the Bombers would escape a bases loaded jam to keep the score at 9-7.

 

In the top of the 9th, the Royals would threaten to break the game open.  Miller would reach on an error and move to 2nd on a Dennis King walk.  With a full count and 1 out, both runners took off and Falk hit a sinking liner to center.  The centerfielder made a diving catch and easily doubled up Miller to end the threat.

 

King would start the 9th on the hill, but a walk, a long fly out, an rbi-double and a hit batsman would end his afternoon with the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on base.  Chris Powell would come in and induce a ground ball, but it was just too slow for the solid Royals defense to turn 2.  After a passed ball moved the go-ahead run into scoring position, and a walk put a force at any base with 2 outs, a ground ball just out of the reach of shortstop Falk would plate a pair and send the Bombers home in jubilation.

 

Congrats to the Bombers on a well-played game - they earned this one.  And congrats go out to Greg Falk and Robert Padilla, who both got their first career hits.

 

 

 

Pitching

Bobby Calzadillas - 5.1IP, 4ER, 9H, K, 2BB

Dennis King III - 3IP, 2ER, 2H, K, 4BB, HBP

Chris Powell - L, .1IP, ER, H, BB

 

Batting

Sean Spires - 2-5, 2R, 2SB

Dan Lebsock - 2-4, 2B, R, 2RBI

Chris Powell - 1-3, 2B, R, 2BB

Mike Miller - 1-4, R, RBI, BB

Dominic Archey - 1-2, RBI, BB

Greg Falk - 1-2, R, SB

Robert Padilla - 1-3, RBI, BB

Jason Bolding - 1-4, R

Jay Wasserman 1-4, R, BB

Bobby Calzadillas - 0-3, R, 2RBI, BB, SACF

Royals Offensive Onslaught Powers Win

 

The Royals brought their bats to El Cariso on Sunday, pounding out 20 hits and coming back from an 8-2 deficit in the 2nd to take down the hot-hitting Brooklyn Bums 21-9.  Dominic Archey and Bobby Calzadillas both scored 4 runs each, while the 3-4-5 men in the lineup (Calzadillas, Mike Miller and Jay Wasserman) combined to go 7 for 12 with 13 rbis in the victory.  Strong defense by catcher Dan Lebsock and relief pitching by Chris Powell would quiet an early Bum hitting streak to give the Royal bats a chance to come out ahead.

 

Dennis King III took the hill for the Royals, but playing with a heavy heart, the Bums got to him early.  6 first inning runs had the bullpen up and running, but the Royals would respond.

 

Dominic Archey would be called out on a close call at first, and Chris Powell would line a ball by the second basemen, but be thrown out at first after injuring himself on the swing.  With 2 outs, Bobby Calzadillas would work a full-count walk, and Mike Miller would reach on a fielder's choice.  Back-to-back singles by Jay Wasserman and Chris Blum would plate a pair, and the Royals would trail 6-2 after 1.

 

The Bums would get those 2 runs right back in the 2nd, and while King would finish the inning with a strikeout, his day on the mound would be over.

 

The Royals offense was just getting started, however, as Chris Miller and Chris Middleton would reach on a walk and hit by pitch to start the 2nd.  With 1 out, Archey would single home one, and Chris Powell would single to load the bases.  Calzadillas would get hit by a pitch to plate another, and with 2 outs, Wasserman would single home a pair.  Blum would reach on an error, to bring home another, and after 2 innings (and 1 hour), the score would be 8-7 Bums.

 

After watching the Bums tee off against Dennis King's heater, the Royals would bring in crafty lefty Chris "Mr. Go" Powell.  Powell would work a quiet inning (picking off a runner on 1st in the process), and the Royals would pick right up where they left off in the bottom of the inning, batting around for the 2nd straight frame.  Chris Miller would lead off with a single, and move to third on a Chris Middleton double.  Robert Padilla, in his first plate appearance as a Royal, would hit a deep sac fly to left to move both runners up 90 feet (knocking in Miller.)  Archey would single home Middleton, and after a Chris Powell walk, Calzadillas would single home Archey, bringing to the plate cleanup hitter Mike Miller.  Miller would waste little time before blasting a ball off the wall in center for an rbi double, and Wasserman would drive in another with a groundout.  Blum and Dan Lebsock would lace back-to-back singles to plate another, and after 3, the Royals would lead 13-8.

 

Powell would work around a single in the top of the 4th thanks to the increasingly strong defense of catcher Dan Lebsock, who threw out his second baserunner of the game - after catching a runner stealing in the first, this time he back-picked a man at first.

 

The Royals wouldn't stop there, as Middleton, Jason Bolding, Archey, Powell and Calzadillas would start off the 4th with 5 consecutive singles.  But a line-drive off the bat of Mike Miller would lead to a double play, and the threat would stop with only 3 Royals crossing the plate.

 

The Bums would finally get to Powell in the 5th, scoring 1, but the Royals would get it right back.  With 1 out, Lebsock would single for the second time in the game, and Padilla would eventually cash him in with an rbi-ground out.

 

Powell would work a quiet top of the 5th, and needing only 4 runs to put the mercy into effect, the offense would keep rolling.  Pinch hitter Greg Falk and Archey would walk, and following a Powell hit by pitch (his 13th in 36 games as a Royal), Calzadillas would walk in 1.  Mike Miller would follow with a 2-run double - his second double of the game, and Wasserman would drop in a walk-off single to put the mercy into effect.

 

Good luck to the Bums as their hot bats will cause problems for a lot of teams this season.  We face off again in the last week of the regular season.

 

Congrats to Dan Lebsock, who got the first 2 hits of his Royal career, and to Robert Padilla, who knocked in 2 runs in his Royals debut.  So many guys on the team had big days today, this was truly a team victory.

 

 

 

Pitching

Dennis King III - 2IP, 4ER, 7H, K, BB, HBP

Chris Powell - W, 4IP, ER, 4H, 4K, BB

 

Batting

Dominic Archey - 3-4, 4R, 2RBI, BB

Jay Wasserman - 3-5, 5RBI

Chris Powell - 2-3, 3R, RBI, BB, HBP

Bobby Calzadillas - 2-2, 4R, 5RBI, 2BB, HBP

Mike Miller - 2-5, 2 2B, 2R, 3RBI

Chris Middleton - 2-2, 2B, 3R, BB, HBP

Chris Blum - 2-4, 2RBI

Daniel Lebsock - 2-4, R

Chris Miller - 1-3, 2R, BB

Jason Bolding - 1-2, R

Robert Padilla - 0-1, 2RBI, SACF

Greg Falk - 0-0, R, BB

 

 

 

Royals Score 4 in 8th, Come Back to Win vs. Warriors

 

The Royals have officially won as many games as they did last summer, taking the season opener 6-3 over a strong Warriors squad.  Chris Miller and Bobby Calzadillas combined to hold the Warriors to 3 runs while striking out 11.  While the offense had trouble picking up key hits in the early innings, everything finally came together in the 8th as the boys in baby blue would send 9 men to the plate to take the lead for good.

 

Chris Miller, coming off a strong spring, would take the mound for the Royals, but the Warriors would take advantage of some early rust and plate one in the bottom of the first.  The Royals would turn a smooth double play to get out of the jam, but would trail 1-0 heading into the top of the 3rd.

 

With two outs, Chris Powell would walk, and pinch runner Sean Spires would swipe second.  Rookie Bobby Calzadillas would single home Spires for his first career hit, and move to third on a Mike Miller ground rule double.  Jay Wasserman would single home Calzadillas, and the Royals would regain the lead.

 

In the bottom of the 3rd, Chris Miller would throw a nasty 2-seamer inside to a batter, inducing a ground ball off the knob of the bat.  Unfortunately, he'd roll an ankle while fielding the ball, and after 2 batters reached base, would have to come out of the game injured.  Enter Calzadillas, who would make an immediate impact in his debut on the mound, striking out the first 2 batters he faced to get out of the jam and keep the lead intact.

 

In the top of the 4th, Dominic Archey and rookie Chris Blum would lead off with back to back singles (Blum's first as a Royal.)  But a strikeout,and an interference call on a ground ball would end the rally.

 

Both pitchers would be cruising along, but the Warriors would finally get something going in the bottom of the 5th.  A leadoff home run and 2 singles would plate a pair, making it a 3-2 Warriors lead.

 

The score would remain the same heading into the 8th, as both teams were having outstanding days pitching and on defense.  The Royals knew they were running out of time, but the top of the lineup would come through again.  Sean Spires would lead off with a single and immediately swipe second.  Chris Powell would single him home to tie the game.  Calzadillas would lace a double into left center to put men on 2nd and 3rd, and Mike Miller and Jay Wasserman would crush back-to-back rbi-singles - neither of which reached the outfield grass.  Rookie Dan Lebsock would ground into an rbi fielder's choice to cap the scoring, giving the Royals a 6-3 lead.

 

With the bullpen warming, Calzadillas would finish the game himself, striking out 2 and getting the Warriors to hit into 2 double plays over the last 2 innings to get the victory.

 

A great game played by both squads, they get to face off again in the next to last week of the regular season with playoff positioning on the line.  Congrats go out to Calzadillas and Blum, each getting their first hits as Royals, and to Lebsock for his first rbi.  And double congrats to Calzadillas, who accomplished his feat while getting his first win on the mound and striking out 10!

 

 

Pitching

Chris Miller - 3.1IP, ER, K, 5H, BB

Bobby Calzadillas - 5.2IP, 2ER, 10K, 4H, BB

 

Batting

Chris Powell - 1-2, 2R, RBI, 2BB, HBP

Mike Miller - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB

Jay Wasserman - 2-4, 2RBI

Bobby Calzadillas - 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2R

Chris Blum - 2-4, 2B

Dominic Archey - 1-3, BB

 

Royals Championship Hopes Dashed, Lose 21-4

 

The Royals turnaround season ended abruptly on Sunday, as the Dodgers' offense scored early and often, while stellar starting pitching and great defense kept the Royals bats quiet until it was far too late.

After a quiet first inning for the Royals, the Dodgers would establish the pace of their offense early.  6 runs against last season's Cy Young winner Randy Casey Jr would put the Royals in an early hole.  They would threaten in the top of the 2nd, as Chris Miller and Mike Miller would work back-to-back 2-out walks, but the rally would stop there.  The Dodgers would score twice more in the 2nd, chasing Casey Jr from the game, and putting the score at 8-0 after 2.

Chris Powell (team Cy Young, and 5th in the regular season AA Cy Young points) would relieve for the Royals, and would work a pair of quiet innings, but the Royals offense continued to put up zeroes.  Heading into the bottom of the 5th, the score was still 8-0 Dodgers.  With 2 outs and men on second and third, Powell would induce a pop-up that would fall foul for an error, and as championship squads usually do, the Dodgers would capitalize on the blunder.  4 runs would eventually score, putting the Royals within 3 outs of being on the wrong end of a championship game mercy.

With 2 outs in the top of the 6th, Armando Mesa would line a triple off the outstretched glove of a Dodger outfielder (breaking up the no-hit bid), and 1 pitch later, Ryan Elliott would blast a double off the left field wall for the Royals' first run of the day.  The Dodgers would score 2 more in the bottom of the frame to make it 14-1, but elect to continue playing their long-time rivals (ignoring the mercy rule.)

After a quiet top of the 7th, the Dodgers would plate 2 against Royals flamethrower Dennis King III, making it 16-1, but the Royals offense would finally show life in the top of the 8th.  Tracey Warren would lead off with a single and swipe second and third.  1 out later, pinch hitter Chris Middleton would reach on an error, plating Warren.  Team MVP (and second in the regular season AA MVP points) Sean Spires would lace an rbi triple, and eventually score on a Ryan Elliott fielder's choice.

But the Dodgers had answers all day, and they would plate 4 in the 8th off Tom Herbert.  Heading into the 9th, the Royals would need to bat around twice to have a chance, now trailing 21-4.  Two runners WOULD reach, but that wasn't nearly enough as the Dodgers would finish things off and capture their second fall championship in the past 3 years.

Congrats to the Dodgers for running the table - after a rough summer season of their own, they held a share of first place since week 1 of the fall campaign.

 

Pitching

Randy Casey Jr - L, IP, 6ER, 3H, 4BB, HBP

Chris Powell - 5IP, 2ER, 5K, 9H, BB

Dennis King III - IP, 0ER, K

Tom Herbert - IP, ER, 4H

 

Batting

Josh Miranda - 2-4, 2B

Armando Mesa - 1-2, 3B, R, 2BB

Tracey Warren - 1-3, R, 2SB

Sean Spires - 1-4, 3B, R, RBI

Ryan Elliott - 1-4, 2B, RBI

Chris Miller - 1-2, 2BB

Mike Miller - 1-3, BB

Chris Middleton - 0-1, R, RBI

Royals Sweep Weekend, Headed to Championship Game

 

The Royals played a full weekend of playoff baseball, and thanks to timely hitting, strong pitching and solid defense, will reach the championship game for the first time since the Fall 2009 season, when they lost to the Hammers and current Royals Josh Miranda.

Game 1 featured Randy Casey Jr against a contentious Red Sox team.  The Sox would plate 1 in the first on a balk, but the Royals would respond in the second.  Tom Herbert would lead off with a single and move to second on a Josh Miranda single.  Mike Miller and his balky hamstring would beat out a double play ground ball to put runners on the corners with 2 outs.  Pinch runner Austin Simmons would make the Sox nervous enough to throw over 3 straight times, eventually launching one down the right field line to score Herbert and tie the score at 1.

After a quiet third, the Royals would score again in the bottom of the 4th.  Chris Powell would double, and Herbert would reach on catcher's interference.  Chris Miller would reach on a fielder's choice, with Powell scoring on an overthrow, giving the Royals a temporary 2-1 lead.

The Sox would score another in the top of the 5th and chase Casey from the game, leaving men on the corners and 1 out.  Enter Chris Powell, who would pick a runner off first before even throwing a pitch, then strike out the next batter to get out of the jam.

 

The Royals would use that momentum to take control of the game.  Pinch hitter Casey Jr would reach on a hit by pitch, and after working the count full, Sean Spires would line a ball into the left center gap for an inside-the-park home run.  Armando Mesa would single and swipe second, moving to third on a Ryan Elliott fielder's choice (Elliott would reach and move to second on a botched pickle play.)  Powell would follow immediately with a 2-run double to right-center, and Herbert would triple one pitch later down the right field line.  Josh Miranda would single home Herbert to cap the scoring, with the Royals now leading 8-2.

But the Sox would put up a fight in the 6th.  After scoring one on a double, an error and a single, Powell would strike out the next 2 batters.  But after a walk, a dropped fly ball would load the bases for the Sox most dangerous hitter.  He would make the Royals pay with a 3-run double to bring the Sox within 1, but a long fly ball to left would end the inning.

The Royals would seal the victory in the bottom of the inning.  With time running low, Jay Wasserman would reach on a walk.  Sean Spires would double to left, but pinch runner Simmons would be nailed at the plate.  With 2 strikes and 2 outs, Mesa would single home Spires and swipe second (for the 4th time in 4 at bats!)  Elliott would single home Mesa, and move to second on a Chris Powell hit by pitch.  Herbert would single him home, and time would expire with the Royals winning 11-7.

 

Game 2 would pit Tom Herbert on the mound against the second-seeded Shock & Awesome.  The Royals would need a strong performance from the southpaw, and he would give them everything he had.

After a quiet first, the Royals would start the scoring in the second.  Chris Powell would get hit by a pitch (his 4th straight game getting hit, and the 8th time in 12 games this season!)  Herbert would single, and catcher Chris Miller would lace a triple down the left field line to plate both runners.

 

The Royals would continue their offensive

onslaught in the 3rd.  Red-hot Tracey Warren and Sean Spires would lead off with back-to-back singles, and after Mesa dropped a sac bunt to move the runners over, the Sox would elect to intentionally walk Powell (they obviously have seen the Mr. Go promo) to face Tom Herbert.  Herbert would make them pay with a 2-run opposite field single.  Josh Miranda would follow with an opposite field single of his own to plate 2 more, and the Royals were up 6-0.

But Shock would plate 1 in the bottom of the inning before Herbert would strike out a man with the bases loaded to end the threat.

The Royals would get some more breathing room in the 4th.  Chris Middleton, making a rare starting lineup appearance, would make the most of his chance by lining a single to left.  He would score on a Sean Spires double, and after Mesa (fielder's choice) and Elliott (hit by pitch) would load the bases, Powell would single home a pair to give the Royals a 9-1 lead.

 

Shock would score another in the bottom of the 4th, but the Royals offense would heat up again in the 6th.  Warren would lead off with a double, but be erased on a Sean Spires fielder's choice.  Mesa would single, and both men would move into scoring position on an error.  With 2 outs, Powell would single them both home to take an 11-2 lead.

But it was only a matter of time before the Shock offense woke up.  They would score 6 of their own runs in the 6th, chasing Herbert and bringing in flame-thrower Dennis King III.  After working into more trouble (including the ejection of Shock's leadoff hitter), King would settle down and strike out a pair to end the threat with the Royals still leading 11-8.

After a quiet top of the 7th, Shock seemed poised to take control of the game.  2 batters into the bottom half of the inning, Chris Powell would come in to relieve for the second straight day.  He would hit the first batter with his first pitch, loading the bases and bringing up the go-ahead run.  He would strike out the next batter, but one pitch later, a foul ball would hit catcher Chris Miller directly in the helmet, knocking him from the game with concussion-like symptoms for the second time in 3 weeks.  Back-up catcher Mike Miller, fresh off the DL, would come in to a tough situation - the leadoff hitter up, 1 out, and the tying run on first base.  Mike Miller was Powell's personal catcher over the summer, and their connection showed today when they needed it most.  Powell would quickly strike out the leadoff man, and now with 2 outs, the runner would break from third on an attempted steal of home.  Powell would fire an outside fastball to the left-handed batter, and Miller would receive it and dive across the batter's box, blocking the plate and ending the inning in a most dramatic fashion.

 

Fired up after escaping a HUGE jam, the Royals offense would be re-engerized.  Pinch hitter Randy Casey Jr would single and make way for pinch runner/speedster Austin Simmons.  With 2 outs and Simmons on second, Mesa would single to shallow center and Simmons would barely beat the throw for a big insurance run.

In the bottom of the 8th, Shock would lead off with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no one out.  But the crafty Powell would pick off his second runner of the post-season (and third runner in 4 games), allowing the man on third to score but getting an important out.  The Royals would escape the inning without any further damage, hanging onto a 3-run lead.

Looking for more in the top of the 9th, Josh Miranda would lead off with a double to left.  Mike Miller, pinch hitting for slugging catcher Chris Miller (no relation, even if they WERE both sporting sexy Movember 'staches), would drop a clutch rbi-single into shallow right to plate Miranda and give the Royals a 12-8 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th.

 

 

Powell would reach back and pull out every trick in his bag, striking 2 of the next 3 hitters he faced and sending the Royals into the championship game!

With exciting games both days, all of the teams proved their postseason worthiness!  The Royals look forward to facing the Golden State Dodgers - the team they've played most in their 11-year PCBL career - in the championship game.  In their first meeting this season, the two teams tied 7-7 before the second game of the doubleheader went lopsided.  The Royals will be looking to even the season series in their last game of the 2013 campaign.

 

 

Pitching (game 1)

Randy Casey Jr - 4.1IP, 2ER, 2K, 3H, 6BB, HBP

Chris Powell - W, 3.2IP, ER, 3K, 3H, BB

 

Pitching (game 2)

Tom Herbert - W, 5IP, 4ER, 3K, 4H, 4BB, HBP

Dennis King III - IP, 2ER, 2K, H, BB, HBP

Chris Powell - S, 3IP, ER, 4K, 2H, HBP

 

Batting (both games)

Armando Mesa - 6-8, 4R, RBI, 4SB, SACB

Tom Herbert - 5-8, 3B, 4R, 4RBI

Sean Spires - 5-8, HR, 2 2B, 5R, 3RBI, SB

Chris Powell - 4-6, 2 2B, 4R, 6RBI, BB, 2 HBP

Josh Miranda - 4-8, 2B, R, 3RBI

Ryan Elliott - 2-8, 2R, RBI

Tracey Warren - 2-5, 2B, R

Chris Miller - 1-7, 3B, 2RBI

Randy Casey Jr - 1-2, R, HBP

Mike Miller - 1-4, RBI

Chris Middleton - 1-4, R, BB

Royals Clinch 3 Seed With Late Rally

 

After a fast start, the Royals found themselves again in familiar territory - needing late-inning heroics to salvage a win and stamp their postseason ticket.  With a different set of heroes every week, Ryan Elliott and Roger Acuna took care of business to seal the victory.

 

With Tom Herbert on the mound, the Royals knew they'd likely be in the game all day.  The Sox put up one in the first, but the Royals would come out of the gate hot.

 

Sean Spires would lead off with an infield single, and Armando Mesa would reach on a fielder's choice/error.  Ryan Elliott would single home one, and Chris Powell would knock in another with an error/dropped fly ball in left.  Herbert would help his own cause with a long sac fly to right.  Chris Miller would walk, followed by a Jay Wasserman rbi-single.  Tracey Warren would knock in another with an rbi-double, and Spires would bat again, knocking in 2 with his second single of the inning.  After 1, the Royals would lead 7-1.

 

After a quiet top of the second, Elliott would reach on an error to start the bottom of the inning.  Roger Acuna would lace a double to left to plate Elliott, and the Royals would lead 8-1.

 

But the Sox would come back with 4 in the 3rd, and 1 more in the 4th to cut the lead to 8-6.  The Royals would respond again in their half of the 4th.  Mesa would lead off with a single and swipe second.  One out later, Acuna would lace another double to plate Mesa and make it 9-7.

 

The Royals' bats would go cold, while the Sox kept up the pressure.  After a home run would knock Herbert from the game, Chris Powell would come in and quiet things down.  But the Sox would score in both the 7th and 8th to knot the game at 9.

 

With their playoff hopes in the balance, the Royals would need another late-inning rally.  Tracey Warren would lead off the bottom of the 8th with a single, but after 2 quick outs, things appeared grim for the Royals.  Armando Mesa would walk, bringing up Ryan Elliott.  With a full count and on the 8th pitch he saw, Elliott would line a single up the middle to give the Royals the lead.  Roger Acuna would follow suit, working the count full and on HIS 8th pitch, would blast a 3-run shot WAY out of left field to put a definitive exclamation point on the game.

 

Powell would work a quiet 9th for the victory, and the Royals would clinch the #3 seed and a rematch with the Sox next weekend.

 

Congrats to Roger Acuna - already an accomplished hitter with a long PCBL legacy, this was his first home run in baby blue!

 

 

Pitching

Tom Herbert - 5.1IP, 4ER, 4K, 12H, 2BB

Chris Powell - W, 3.2IP, 2ER, 3K, 5H

 

Batting

Roger Acuna - 4-5, HR, 2 2B, 2R, 6RBI

Ryan Elliott - 3-5, 4R, 2RBI

Armando Mesa - 2-4, 3R, BB, SB

Tracey Warren - 2-4, 2B, 2R, 2RBI

Sean Spires - 2-5, R, 2RBI, SB

Chris Miller - 1-3, R, BB

Jay Wasserman - 1-4, R, RBI

Tom Herbert - 0-2, RBI, BB, SACF

 

Spires Hits for the Cycle as Royals Offense Rolls

 

For just the second time in 22 seasons in the PCBL, a member of the Royals has hit for the cycle.  Sean Spires had a career day, topping it off with a line drive home run out of left as he etched his name in the Royals' record book.  The rest of the offense wasn't too shabby either, as they pounded out 24 runs on 19 hits, battling a strong-hitting Bombers team lineup that fought all the way to their final out.  Slugger Chris Powell said it best - "It was a Bugs Bunny cartoon out there today!"

 

The Royals would leave 2 men in scoring position in the top of the first (led by a Ryan Elliott double), opening the door for the Bombers to strike first.  Randy Casey Jr would take the mound for the Royals, but it was apparent from his first pitch that he didn't have his A-game today.  4 Bombers would cross the plate in the first to take a 4-0 lead.

 

The Royals would respond right away in the 2nd.  Chris Powell would get hit by a pitch and move to second on a Jay Wasserman single.  After a walk to Tracey Warren, Austin Simmons would ground into a fielder's choice to plate one.  Sean Spires would double to clear the bases, and after Elliott would get hit by a pitch, Roger Acuna (subbing in for the injured Mike Miller) would line a single to center to knock in Spires.  Elliott would score on a wild pitch, and Tom Herbert and Chris Powell would walk to load the bases, but the Bombers would stop the bleeding, with the Royals now leading 6-4.

 

But the Bombers seemed to have an answer all day long, and would score 4 times in their half of the second to retake the lead 8-6.

 

The Royals would bat arround for the second straight inning in the 3rd.  Chris Miller would lead off with a single, followed by a Warren walk.  Austin Simmons would reach on an rbi-infield single - his first hit as a Royal - and quickly swipe second.  Spires would hit a sac fly to center to plate Warren, and Armando Mesa would double home SImmons.  Acuna and Herbert would both walk, with Mesa scoring on a wild pitch.  With 2 outs, Chris "Mr. Go" Powell would blast his second home run in as many games to cap the scoring for the moment, with the Royals now leading 13-8.

 

The Bombers would score 1 in the bottom of the 3rd, but the offensive onslaught would continue for the Royals.  After 2 quick outs, Simmons and pinch hitter Chris Middleton would each walk, and Spires would waste no time knocking them both in with a 2-run triple to right center.  Mesa would walk, and one run would score on Ryan Elliott's second double of the game.  Acuna would walk and Herbert would single to knock in one and have another thrown out at the plate, making it a 17-9 lead.

 

Casey Jr would work a quiet bottom of the 4th, and the Royals would go quietly in the top of the 5th - a rare down period on the afternoon.

 

The Bombers would finally chase Casey Jr from the game in the bottom of the 5th, but Powell would come in and strike out a batter to get out of the jam.  But the Bombers would get 3 more, and after 5 innings in the book (and 2 hours), the score would be 17-12.

 

The Royals would get those runs back and then some in the top of the 6th.  Simmons, MIddleton and Spires would lead off with back-to-back-to-back singles (with an rbi for Spires), and Mesa would walk to load the bases.  Acuna would walk to bring home another run, and Herbert would single in a pair.  Powell would single in one more, before Jay Wasserman would crush his first of two inning-ending, line-drive double plays (some guys have all the luck - but those guys aren't named Wasserman today.)

 

Powell would work two quiet innings on the mound, and heading into the last inning, the Royals led 22-12.  Luckily (depending on how you look at it), there were still 3 minutes remaining, so both teams would get one final at bat.

 

Spires would lead off and make the most of the opportunity.  With a 1-2 count, he would line a home run deep over the left field fence to complete his cycle (more on his historic day in a bit.)  Elliott would single, and move into scoring position on Acuna's 4th walk of the day.  Herbert would knock in Elliott, and the Royals would lead 24-12, needing only 3 outs to guarantee a .500 season and keep their playoff hopes alive.

 

Hard-throwing Roger Acuna would take the mound, but the defense must have already gone home.  11 Bombers would come to the plate, and on 4 hits, a walk, and 4 errors(!!!), they would score 7 times (still with no outs) and get the Royals bullpen up and throwing in a hurry.  But Acuna would settle down and do it himself, striking out 3 of the last 4 batters he faced to secure the victory.

 

Congrats to the Bombers - a see-saw game all day, they never gave up and showed the resolve that led them to a single-A championship last summer.  We look forward to seeing them again in the future!

 

As for the Royals, a few big moments today:  Austin Simmons not only got his first hit, rbi and stolen base, but scored 4 runs to lead the team from the 10-hole!  Chris Middleton and Chris Miller both stole their first base as Royals (and Chris Powell would have had his as well, had it not been for a foul ball.)  Tom Herbert had 3 hits and 4 rbis, both season highs for him.  But obviously, Sean Spires stole the show today.  As well as hitting for the cycle, his 8 rbis are second all time, only to home run king Brett Draimin (who had 9 at the same field a few years back.)  Spires also moved into the league lead in MVP points with just 1 game to go - while Casey Jr won the division Cy Young last year, no Royal has ever won a league MVP.  Way to go, guys!

 

 

Pitching

Randy Casey Jr - 4.2IP, 5ER, 3K, 7H, 3BB, 3HBP

Chris Powell - W, 2.1IP, 2K, H

Roger Acuna - IP, 2ER, 3K, 4H, BB

 

Batting

Sean Spires - 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, 4R, 8RBI, SACF, SB

Ryan Elliott - 3-5, 2 2B, 3R, RBI, HBP

Tom Herbert - 3-4, R, 4RBI, 2BB

Chris Powell - 2-4, HR, 2R, 4RBI, BB, HBP

Austin Simmons - 2-4, 4R, 2RBI, BB, 2SB

Armando Mesa - 1-4, 2B, 3R, RBI, 2BB, SB

Roger Acuna - 1-2, 2R, RBI, 4BB

Chris Middleton - 1-2, 2R, BB, SB

Chris Miller - 1-3, R, BB, SB

Jay Wasserman - 1-5, R

Tracey Warren - 0-3, 2R, 2BB, SB

Randy Casey Jr - 0-1, SB

 

Veterans Come Through in 9th, Royals Win 14-13

 

The Royals would take an early 7-1 lead, but would squander it and find themselves down 13-9 heading into the bottom of the 9th.  But with 2 outs, 3 of the oldest members of the squad would come through (back-to-back-to-back) with huge hits to tie things up, and an "El Cariso Bounce" (trademark pending) would secure the victory for the boys in baby blue over Shock and Awesome.

 

Tom Herbert would take the hill for the Royals and allow only 2 earned over the first 4 innings.

 

Sean Spires would start things off, as usual, reaching on an error and quickly swiping second.  Armando Mesa would single him home, but be retired on a double play ball.  Tom Herbert would double and score on a Chris Powell single, and after 1, it was 2-0 Royals.

 

In the second, Jay Wasserman and Chris Miller would lead off with back-to-back singles, and Tracey Warren would reach on a hit by pitch.  With the bags juiced, Spires would single home a pair, and Mesa would single home another.  Ryan Elliott would plate Spires with a sac fly to deep center to give the Royals a 6-1 lead after 2.

 

In the third, Powell would lead off with a single and move to second on a ground out.  Chris Miller would single him home with 2 outs and the Royals looked to be in cruise control, leading 7-1.

 

But Shock and Awesome are in second place for a reason, and the Royals would soon find out why.  6 runs over the next 2 frames would knock Herbert from the game (5 were unearned, courtesy of a pair of errors in the infield.)

 

The Royals would respond with 1 in each of the next 2 innings.  In the 5th, Mike Miller would single with 1 out, move to second on a Chris Miller single and score on a Tracey Warren 2-out line drive single to left.  In the 6th, Mesa would reach on a single, move to 3rd on a Ryan Elliott single and score on a Tom Herbert sac fly.

 

With a 9-7 lead, the Royals would hand the ball to Wasserman, the 3rd longest-tenured active Royal.  After a quick first inning, another error would cost the team dearly, as it would immediately be followed by a 2-run home run to give Shock an 11-9 lead.  Shock would continue to carry the momentum forward, scoring once each in the 8th and 9th off reliever Armando Mesa, taking a 13-9 lead into the bottom of the 9th.

 

After a quick first out, Mesa would double into shallow left (for his 5th hit of the day!!!)  But Shock looked to have the game in hand as they struck out the dangerous Ryan Elliott - 1 out from victory.  Tom Herbert would work a 7-pitch at bat before drawing a walk, and Chris "Mr. Go" Powell would live up to his nickname, crushing a towering home run to deep right to bring the Royals within 1 before beating his chest "Mr. Go"-style (okay, maybe that was just in my head.)  Mike Miller would quickly get 2 strikes on him, but would fight off a good pitch and line a trademark single into right, putting the tying run on first.  Jay Wasserman would also quickly get 2 strikes, but after fighting off a few pitches himself, would shoot a sinking line drive to center.  The centerfielder dove, but the ball would land in front of him and skip by towards the wall.  Miller, running on the swing, easily scored the tying run as Wasserman cruised into second.  As the team cheered, their excitement would be dampened as they found Miller lying on the ground by home plate with a strained right hamstring (he remains day-to-day, hopeful to dodge a trip to the DL.)  A new pitcher would come in to face Chris Miller (already with 3 hits on the day.)  He would would waste no time lining a tough 1-hopper to second base, but an "El Cariso Bounce" would skip through his legs and the speedy Wasserman would score the winning run!

 

A sloppy game on both sides, it's no wonder that this one came down to the team who was up last.  Good luck to Shock and Awesome, as they've already punched their ticket for the postseason!

 

 

 

 

Pitching

Tom Herbert - 5IP, 2ER, 5K, 6H, 4BB, HBP

Jay Wasserman - 2IP, ER, 4H

Armando Mesa - W, 2IP, 2ER, 2K 2H, 2BB

 

Batting

Armando Mesa - 5-5, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, SB

Chris Miller - 4-5, R, RBI, Walk-Off Hero

Chris Powell - 3-4, HR, 2R, 4RBI, BB

Jay Wasserman - 2-5, 2B, 2R, RBI

Tracey Warren - 2-3, R, RBI, HBP

Mike Miller - 2-5, 2R

Tom Herbert - 1-3, 2B, 2R, RBI, BB, SACF

Sean Spires - 1-5, 2R, 2RBI, SB

Ryan Elliott - 1-4, 2B, RBI, SACF

 

Royals Start Strong, Fade Away in Doubleheader

 

The Royals' day would start well, as they led into the bottom of the 9th inning before they would give up the lead and tie game 1.  Game 2 was all Dodgers as the Royals' bats would suddenly go quiet.

 

Randy Casey Jr made his best start of the season, striking out 11 in his first 8 innings of work.  But a pesky Dodger offense would plate 3 in the 9th to tie the game, and force Casey to turn the ball over to Tom Herbert for the final out.

 

The Royals' bats were solid all game.  Sean Spires would lead off the game with a single, moving to second on a sac bunt, and eventually scoring on a passed ball.

 

With the score tied at 1 in the 5th, Spires would lead off the inning with a walk.  Mesa would single, and after a Chris Powell sac bunt, Ryan Elliott would single home 1 (with another being gunned at the plate.)  Herbert would walk to put men on the corners for Mike Miller, who would lace a triple to center to plate both.

 

Leading 4-3 heading into the 8th, Josh "Mr. Walk" Miranda would walk, and after Spires' fielder's choice, Mesa and Powell would walk to load the bases.  Elliot would single home one, and Miller would ground out to knock in another, making it 7-3.

 

But the Dodgers would plate 1 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to escape with a tie.

 

In game 2, the Royals would turn to Dennis King III.  While his fastball was dominant (3 strikeouts in 2.1 innings), he would struggle a bit with his control (7 hits, 3 walks and a hit batsman) to give the Dodgers an early 8-1 lead.  Tom Herbert would come in for his second appearance on the day, and would dominate with his fastball as well (3 strikeouts in 1.2 innings.)  But errant defense and a few big Dodger hits would plate 4 against him.  Chris Powell would finish the day on the mound, but would allow 4 runs of his own, and the Dodgers would continue to run away with this one.

 

The Royals scattered a few runs on offense, but could never string together a big inning.  Miller would lead off the 2nd with a double, move to 3rd on a Jay Wasserman screaming line drive, and score on a Chris Middleton ground out.  In the 3rd, Mesa would walk and eventually score on a Ryan Elliott single.  In the 5th, Jason Bolding would get his first career hit, swipe second and score on a Tracey Warren pinch hit single.  And finally, in the 6th, Powell would get hit by a pitch, and pinch runner Mesa would swipe second and be singled home by Elliott - his third hit of the game and 5th of the day.

 

Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Royals would have left in them, and they would lose game 2 16-4.

 

Congrats go out to Jason Bolding for finally getting his first career hit as a Royal - he's hit the ball hard a few times right at players, so it was nice to see him finally find a gap!

 

 

BOTH GAMES

Pitching

Randy Casey Jr - T, 8.2IP, 6ER, 11K, 10H, 2BB

Dennis King III - L, 2.1IP, 4ER, 3K, 7H, 3BB, HBP

Tom Herbert - 2IP, 3ER, 3K, 2H, 2BB

Chris Powell - 2IP, 4ER, 6H, BB

 

Batting

Ryan Elliott - 5-7, R, 3RBI

Mike Miller - 2-7, 2B, 3B, R, 3RBI

Sean Spires - 2-6, 3R, BB, 2SB

Tracey Warren - 2-3, RBI

Jason Bolding - 2-4, R, RBI, SB

Armando Mesa - 1-4, 2R, 2BB, SACB, 2SB

Chris Powell - 1-4, 2R, BB, HBP, SACB

Tom Herbert - 1-4, R, 3BB

Jay Wasserman - 2-6

Chris Miller - 1-3, BB