London picked up a win at London Stadium, bumping off the Athens Fighting Centaurs, 10-5. Pitcher Rick Clarijs was a major reason the Monarchs emerged victorious. London has run its win streak to 5 consecutive.
Mike Cox had a big 3-run home run for the Monarchs in the bottom of the second inning. With London leading 2-0 and runners on 1st and 3rd, he sized up a fastball from 24-year old left-handed pitcher Romain Cormier and punished it. The result was his 2nd home run of the season, which put the Monarchs on top, 5-0.
"Nice to tuck this win away," said Cox.
Romain Cormier was on the mound for Athens and lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing six runs, with 2 of those coming via the long ball, on six hits to pick up the loss and fall to 2-8 on the year. Zafir bin Hamzah came in form the bullpen and didn't fare much better, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks.
London second baseman Ruben Santiago had a 3-RBI game, which helped his team beat the Athens Fighting Centaurs, 9-5. The win lifted the London record to 55-41.
Santiago contributed a big hit, a 2-run home run, for London in the bottom of the fifth. With his team trailing 4-3, Santiago took a fastball from Vincente Hernandez and stroked the home run to right-center. His 10th home run of the season allowed the Monarchs to leap in front, 5-4.
"Rubén is still learning," said Monarchs manager Jack Gulliver. "The sky's the limit for him."
Huo-tu Shaw led the way offensively for Athens, going 3-for-5 with a run batted in. Vincente Hernandez got the start for Athens, lasting 4.2 innings and allowing 5 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. But Safiy Hodson picks up the loss in relief, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits in his 1.1 innings of action.
Piraeus Park was the site of a competitive game between the Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers and Athens Fighting Centaurs.
The Athens Fighting Centaurs defeated the Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers, 5-3. Doing his part was designated hitter Matthew Woods, who was 2 for 3 with a home run, a triple, and a walk. He scored 3 times and drove in 2. Athens pitcher Marco Blenkhorn earned the win, hiking his record to 6-5. Ed Noble suffered the loss.
Huo-tu Shaw drove in 2 runs for Athens. The 32-year old center fielder had a key at-bat in the bottom of the eighth. With one out and runners on 1st and 3rd, he broke a 3-3 tie with a run-scoring sacrifice fly off Ed Noble. It was his 39th RBI of the season.
"I give credit to my teammates for this win. We got it done," Shaw told the Athens Times. The Fighting Centaurs go to 34-61 with the win.
The Athens Fighting Centaurs knocked off the Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers, 9-1, at Piraeus Park. Andres Soto was a big reason Athens won. The right fielder was 3-3 with a home run, a double, and 2 walks. He scored 2 times and drove in 3. The win has Athens at 35-61.
In the bottom of the fourth, Athens shortstop Zach Trewartha had a productive at-bat. With the bases loaded and two out, Trewartha stroked a 2-run single to left-center. It made the score 3-0, Athens. For the game, he was 1 for 4, while adding 2 RBI.
Said losing manager Alfredo Cuellar: "We had a bad night. It happens."
Abdul-Muhaimin Saleem pitched one of his best games of the season. Pitching a solid 8.0 innigns, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts. Saleem moves to 6-6 on the season.
The Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers swept past the Athens Fighting Centaurs, 16-7, at Piraeus Park, paced by catcher Tokimasa Yano. The 37-year-old Yano got 5 hits in 5 at-bats, helping to down the Fighting Centaurs.
Tokimasa Yano singled in the 2nd, singled in the 4th, hit an RBI single in the 4th, singled in the 6th and doubled in the 9th.
This year, Yano is batting .292 with 87 hits, 9 home runs, 34 RBIs, 26 walks, .355 OBP and has scored 48 runs.
Pitching coach Cisco Gonzales should feel lucky to still have a job after this game. Sarsour bin Salman was on the mound for Athens, picking up the loss and falling to 3-7 on the season. Salman lasted just 3.0 innings and allowed 6 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Zafir bin Hamzah came in from the bullpen and was even worse, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits with a walk. Safiy Hodgson pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits, while Sandy Mallandaine pitched the final 3.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits.
Tokyo pitcher Yue-jiu Lai had a large part in his team beating the Athens Fighting Centaurs, 12-0. The left-hander kept opposing batters in check throughout the game. Tokyo has run its win streak to 4 in a row.
The Fighting Centaurs had trouble solving Lai, who surrendered no runs on 4 hits over 7.1 innings.
Pearls manager Tiljad Mwarania had nothing but praise for his players after an impressive win, calling the result one of the team's best performances of the season. "Everything just came together on our end," he said. "I didn't need to do too much."
Jehan Knutson, Jake Bryant, Ismael Comesana & Carl Torraville each registered a single hit for Athens. Romain Cormier picked up the loss for Athens, pitching 4.0 innings allowing 6 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Cormier falls to 2-9 on the season.
