Pitcher of the Sim
Steve Warren
Warren is still in search of his first career win, and giving up 3 runs on 6 hits over 6 innings isn't exactly a superb sim.... But he's getting the nod because in the Lumberjacks' 10-9 extra inning win over Hawaii this week, Warren struck out a career high 9 batters. In light of the Lumberjacks' farm and recent draft developments, Lumberjacks fans are starting to get real excited about the status of their pitching rotation in 2047 and beyond. Let's get that first win next sim, what do you say Steve-o!
Hitter of the Sim
Jorge Lugo
Lugo had 5 consecutive games with at least 2 hits and propelled him to our top hitter of the sim. Over that 5 game stretch, Lugo went 12 for 21 with 3 runs scored and 2 runs batted in. The club spent some big money to make Lugo the team's long term solution at SS and would love to see Lugo continue to have stretches like this each and every month!
Kate's Kookies Top Moment of the Sim
Portland won three of its four games by 1-run, but none as exciting as the extra innings affair against Hawaii. Trailing 8-6 heading to the bottom of the 8th, a Millard Younger sac-fly cut the game back to 1. That's when the wheels fell off of the Tropics bullpen. Luis Santiago was pulled after a walk to the next batter. Bob McConnell proceeded to walk the next two batters, that latter of which forced in the winning run. "It's amazing how the crowd gets into a frenzy over an RBI scoring walk."
Trailing 9-8 in the 10th, Younger doubled with one out and advanced to 3B on the following out. Down to their last out and trailing by one, Younger scored on an Andrew Gallagher single to extend the game.
With runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the top of the 11th, Luis Marquez forced Mike Campbell into a ground ball to 3rd to end the threat. The game needed only two more pitches.
On an 1-0 count, Juan Mendoza deposited a Raymond Ortiz pitch 408 feet into the left center field seats for a walk-off victory. And that homerun is this week's, "Kate Kookies, Top Moment of the Sim!"