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Metro Stars Week In Review, 5/6/19-5/12/19 (2019 - #5)

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:09 pm
by ThePreyingManta
Record: 4-2 Run Differential: +10

To start the week off, the Metro Stars wrapped up a big series in Jerusalem with two wins to take the series. The second game of the series was a low-scoring affair, with SP Reese Rayner shining over five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out four. The bullpen finished it off with four scoreless innings, including Rafael Cruz’s third save of the year. Mumbai got off to an early 5-0 lead in the rubber match on Saturday before the Hebrew Hammers came storming back. The bullpen was fortunately able to hold onto the lead, allowing the Metro Stars to take the series with a 5-4 victory. LF Alfredo Gonzalez had a standout performance, going 4-4 with a homer.

Another big series was next against Bucharest, who had previously taken the only two series lost by Mumbai on the season. The Stars clobbered the Impalers in game one, scoring eleven runs while only giving up three. Alfredo Gonzalez was awarded Player of the Game honors again after going 2-2 with two home runs and four runs scored. The Impalers took game two of the series 6-3 with the Metro Stars being overpowered by Bucharest’s lights-out bullpen. SP Tim Oliver made his return to the rotation in the third game, where he made his presence known. Oliver pitched five innings of one-run ball while striking out eight. The bullpen held on for the win thanks to great outings from Martin Bacardi and Rafael Cruz.

The final game of the week was against hapless Beirut. Despite Beirut’s normal inability to win games, they did take the first game of the series from Mumbai thanks to SP Andres Icaza and the bullpen, who held the Metro Stars to three runs.


Hitter of the Week: LF Alfredo Gonzalez
.524/.616/1.095, 6 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR

Pitcher of the Week: SP Tim Oliver
5 IP 1 W 1 ER 8 K 1.80 ERA 1.00 WHIP 3.59 FIP


Other Notes

With the seventh overall pick in the amateur draft, the Metro Stars selected CF Baden Goulding, a 16-year-old from Sydney, Australia. When asked about the pick, Stars’ GM Will Gibson said that he was elated to have Goulding join the team. Gibson said that the team saw Goulding as the most well-rounded position player in the draft. Goulding is expected to develop a great hit tool and very good power while being a defensive asset in the outfield, able to play any of the three outfield positions. According to reports, Goulding is expected to sign with the Stars organization and be assigned to A Ho Chi Minh City.

The Mumbai bullpen has been on fire lately after the movement of Rafael Cruz into the closer’s role. Asked about the bullpen, manager Mark Bruner remarked, “I feel extremely confident in handing the ball over to my bullpen guys. The entire back end of the bullpen has pitched incredibly well, and I feel like we have the best bullpen in the league.” So far in May, the bullpen (excluding long reliever Stanford Chase) has posted a 1.44 ERA in 31.1 innings. All but one of the four allowed runs were given up by recently deposed closer Bras Gesteiras.

Re: Metro Stars Week In Review, 5/6/19-5/12/19 (2019 - #5)

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:58 pm
by RonCo
Great to see Tim Oliver still pitching.