BIFF BARNES' BASEBALL BONANZA
(AP-New York, NY)
TML American Baseball Highlight Reel - April 2007 ==========================================================================

The "new-look" Beverly Hillbillies (24-10) streaked to the TML's best record in April, but the Rensselaer Strikers (23-11) are right behind! The surprising Mordor Marauders (22-12) have opened up a 2-game lead over the defending champs, Toxic Waste (20-14). The Crimea River (21-13) look to be back in form, but are being pressed by the up-start Vaparaiso Drench (20-14), who trail by 1 game. The Hialeah Thoroughbreds (20-15) have a slim lead over the Arkansas Travelers (19-15), the Walla Walla Wombats (19-15) and the Cheticamp Micmacs (18-16).

'Skayuna's Albert Pujols leads the TML in batting at .388. Oklahoma's David Ortiz and Rocky Mountain's Ryan Howard both blasted a league-leading 16 homers. Howard's 40 RBI leads the league. Crimea's Grady Sizemore legged out an incredible 10 triples! Valparaiso's Felix Hernandez (1.86) and Oklahoma's Curt Shilling (3.23) are both 7-0. Rensselaer's Jason Jennings (1.71) is 6-0. Beverly's Roy Hallady (5-2) leads the TML in ERA at 1.52. Toxin cast-off and Valparaiso "Ace" closer, Bob Wickman, leads the league in saves with 14.

Below are some awards and tid-bits from the first month of ball in the TML.
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** Player of the Month **

(RM) Ryan Howard (.351, 46-131, 8-0-16, 102 TB, 78 R, 40 BI, 22 W, 47 RC)

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** Pitcher of the Month **

(VD) Felix Hernandez (7-0, 1.86, 7 GS, 2 Sho, 53.1 IP, 38 H, 50 K, .199)


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** Single Game Outstanding Offensive Performance of the Month **
Oklahoma's David Ortiz, blasted 3 consecutive homers. He had led off the 5th with a solo shot (his 3rd HR of the game already), and later that same inning, drew a bases loaded walk for his 6th RBI!

4/18/2007, OS06-GL06, Camden Yard
________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R _H_ E LOB DP
2006 Supercells 3 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 0 12 14 0_ 7 _0
2006 Haymakers _1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 _5 _8 1_ 5_ 0
Supercells AB R H BI AVG
Ortiz 1b __4 3 3 6 .455
1st: 3-run HR; 3rd: solo HR; 5th: solo HR and RBI-BB; 7th: K
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** Single Game Outstanding Pitching Performance of the Month **
Mordor's John Lackey bested Glenmont's Barry Zito, 2-1, in spinning a fine 1-hitter. The only hit was by Granderson in the 4th. The only run he allowed came in on a groundout later that inning.

4/1/2007, GL06-MM06, Comerica Park
_______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Haymakers 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 _3 _0
2006 Marauders 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 x 2 6 2 _6 _0
Marauders ___INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Lackey W 1-1 9.0 1 1 _1 _1 8 120 79 0.53
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** Overtime Game I of the Month **
In the longest game of the month, 17 innings, the River finally put an end to the marathon. The key hit was by Brian Anderson, a 1-out RBI-double, with runners on 1st & 2nd. Each team had scored a run back in the 13th.

4/13/2007, DW06-CR06, Wrigley Field
________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 R H E LOB DP
2006 DW 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 _0 _0 _1_ 0_ 0 _0_ 0_ 3-10-1-11-3
2006 CR 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _0 _0 _1 _0 _0 _0 _1 _4- 5-0-12-1
************** Bottom of the 17th inning, River batting
3-3 0 --- 31 Botts walked (CBBBB)
3-3 0 1-- 00 Pratt flied out to right (X)
3-3 1 1-- 20 Botts stole second (111BB>B)
3-3 1 -2- 30 Reyes was walked intentionally (111BB>B.I)
3-3 1 12- 20 Anderson lined a double , Botts scored, Reyes to third
(BBX)
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** Overtime Game II of the Month **
After scoring 3 times in the 8th, the Bobcats finally put this game away in the 15th. Bill Mueller, in his final days as a Bobcat, hit a slow 1-out grounder to second and Kevin Youkilis scored on a failed double play attempt!

4/20/2007, M906-CT06, Camden Yard
_____________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1415 R H E LOB DP
2006 Nine ___3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 _0 _0 _0 _0 _0 0 5 10 0 11 3
2006 Bobcats 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 _0 _0 _0 _0 _0 1 6 17 2 10 1
************** Bottom of the 15th inning, Bobcats batting
5-5 0 --- 00 Youkilis lined a single up the middle (X)
5-5 0 1-- 12 Ross,D grounded a single between first and second,
Youkilis to second (CCBFX)
5-5 0 12- 32 Spilborghs struck out (CBBFFBS)
5-5 1 12- 01 Anderson lined a single to shallow right, Youkilis to
third, Ross,D to second (CX)
Geary now pitching
5-5 1 123 21 Mueller reached on a fielder's choice to second, Youkilis
scored, Ross,D to third, Anderson to second, Mueller to
first (CBBX)
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** Overtime Game III of the Month **
The Supercells' David Ortiz ripped a walk-off GRAND SLAM in the bottom of the 10th off Francisco Cordero, giving the 'Cells an 8-4 win.

5/4/2007, TR06-OS06, AT&T Park
________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E LOB DP
2006 Dodgers ___0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 _0 4 14 0 11 1
2006 Supercells 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 _4 8 16 1 13 1
************** Bottom of the 10th inning, Supercells batting
Cordero now pitching
Duncan pinch hitting for Blanco
4-4 0 --- 02 Duncan flied out to left (CCFX)
4-4 1 --- 10 Lugo,J lined a single to shallow center (BX)
4-4 1 1-- 00 Freel lined a single to right center, Lugo,J to third (X)
4-4 1 1-3 30 Dye was walked intentionally, Freel to second (IIII)
4-4 1 123 31 Ortiz homered, Lugo,J scored, Freel scored, Dye scored
(BBSBX)
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** Comback Game I of the Month **
Mordor's John Lackey was working his "magic" again, but the roof caved in during the 8th inning. The Toxins, down 8-2, rallied for 6 runs, without the benefit of an extra-base hit, to tie the game at 8-8. The Toxins then came up with another 5 runs in the 9th, this time by homers
by Chris Snyder and Jason Giambi, to coast to a 13-8 road victory!
5/1/2007, TX06-MM06, Comerica Park
________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R _H _E LOB DP
2006 River Rats 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 5 13 14 1 10 2
2006 Marauders _2 0 0 0 3 2 1 0 0 _8 12 4 10 1
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** The Almost Comback Game II of the Month **
The Travelers had built up a 7-0 lead and the T-Breds chipped away and chipped away at the lead, pulling to 7-4 heading into the bottom of the 9th. The Travs' closer Brian Fuentes was in for the save, but the T-Breds continued their momentum, scoring 2 more runs, to pull
within 1, at 7-6. With runners on 1st & 2nd, and Travs' Manager Willlie Jelks pacing the dugout, Fuentes got Torii Hunter to ground to third, ending the game and the comeback. (The "Insider News" claims that the Travs *will* have a real closer before the May games commence.)

4/26/2007, AR06-HT06, PNC Park
___________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H _E LOB DP
2006 Travelers ____0 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 13 1_ 6_ 3
2006 Thoroughbreds 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 6 15 0 _9 _3
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** The Pitching Duel I Game of the Month **
The Hillbillies Roy Halladay locked up into a 0-0 pitching duel with, who else, Mordor's John Lackey! In the 8th, the Hillbillies took advantage of an error by Mike Lamb (1b) leading off the inning. Two singles later, Beverly scored the unearned run, to take a 1-0 lead. In the home 9th, Mordor put runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out, but Halladay induced Carlos Lee to fly to center and end the game!

4/11/2007, BV06-MM06, Comerica Park
_________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Hillbillies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 6 0 _5_ 1
2006 Marauders__ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 +3 _1
Hillbillies ___INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Halladay W 1-0 9.0 5 0 _0_ 0 2 +94 65 0.00
Marauders _____INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Lackey L 0-1 __8.0 6 1 _0 _2 8 131 80 0.00
Eyre __________1.0 0 0 _0 _0 1 _12 _7 0.00
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** The Pitching Duel II Game of the Month **
T-Breds Jeff Francis and Jon Rauch, could not best Micmac James Shields. The game's only run came in the home 3rd, when Gary Bennett drew a bases loaded walk! That run held up for the 1-0 win as Shields scattered 9 hits in his complete game victory.

4/28/2007, HT06-CH06, Busch Stadium
___________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Thoroughbreds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 _7 _3
2006 Micmacs ______0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 x 1 6 0 _5 _1
Thoroughbreds INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Francis L 0-1 7.0 6 1 _1 _3 3 105 63 1.29
Rauch ________1.0 0 0 _0 _0 0 __6 _5 8.31
Micmacs ______INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Shields W 2-0 9.0 9 0 _0 _0 7 107 72 1.61
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** The Pitching Duel III Game of the Month **
In a pitching duel between Albany's Casey Janssen and nearly the entire Micmacs' pitching staff, Micmac Aubrey Huff socked a lead-off, bottom of the 9th, walk-off homerun and securing a thrilling 1-0 win!
The Micmacs got credit for a team, 10-hit (?) shutout.

4/9/2007, AV06-CH06, Busch Stadium
_______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Avalanche 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 12 1
2006 Micmacs __0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 _5 1 _4 4
Avalanche ____INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Janssen L 0-1 8.0 5 1 _1 _1 4 _87 _57 1.13
Micmacs ______INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Wright ____4.1 6 0 _0 _4 3 101 60 0.00
Riske ________0.2 1 0 _0 _0 0 __7 _4 8.10
Feliciano ____2.0 1 0 _0 _1 4 _37 20 0.00
Timlin W 1-1 _2.0 2 0 _0 _0 0 _19 15 5.40

************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Micmacs batting
0-0 0 --- 00 Huff homered (X)
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** The Other "Walk-Off" Homer Games of the Month **

4/4/2007, GL06-MM06, Comerica Park
_______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9_ R _H E LOB DP
2006 Haymakers 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 1 _6 _8 0 _9_ 1
2006 Marauders 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 4 10 11 3 _3_ 1
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Marauders batting
6-6 2 123 31 Nick Johnson homered, Clayton scored, Kendall scored,
Payton scored (BBBCX)

4/3/2007, CA06-RM06, Yankee Stadium
______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R _H _E LOB DP
2006 Crawfish 0 2 0 0 1 1 2 4 0 10 17 0 13_ 0
2006 Chinooks 2 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 3 12 17 1 11_ 0
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Chinooks batting
10-9 2 1-3 21 Ryan Howard homered, Pierre scored, Sexson scored (BSBX)

4/4/2007, ML06-TX06, Coors Field
________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H _E LOB DP
2006 Liners ____0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 6 12 0 _7 _1
2006 River Rats 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 4 8 15 0 _6 _0
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, River Rats batting
6-5 2 1-3 10 Jason Giambi homered, Crawford scored, Teixeira scored (BX)

4/22/2007, HT06-CH06, Busch Stadium
___________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Thoroughbreds 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 5 0 _6 _3
2006 Micmacs ______0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 9 0 _5 _0
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Micmacs batting
3-2 2 1-- 00 Aubrey Huff homered, Crosby scored (X)

4/22/2007, CT06-DW06, Rogers Centre
______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Bobcats_ 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 11 1 7 _4
2006 Diamonds 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 2 7 10 0 6 +1
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Diamonds batting
5-5 1 1-- 10 Scott Hatteberg homered, Buck scored (BX)
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** The "Walk-Off" Walk (?) Game of the Month **
The Hillbillies brought their "Ace" closer Akinori Otsuka in for what was expected to be an "easy save", leading 5-2. The Crawfish put a hurt on Otsuka, knocking him out of the game with his first blown save in 5 attempts. Scott Shields came in with 1 out, runners on 1st and 3rd, and the game tied at 5-5. Joe Mauer (hitless on the day) was walked intentionally to load the bases. Eric Chavez worked the count full, before drawing the "walk-off" walk! (The "Insider News" claims that Beverly G.M. Mike Dickinson may end up in a bidding war with Arkansas' Jelks, now that new Chicago GM Jack Stephens has put "A.K.R." closer B.J. Ryan on the block!)

4/28/2007, BV06-CA06, RFK Stadium
_________________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Hillbillies 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 5 11 1 10 0
2006 Crawfish___ 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 12 1 +7 0
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Crawfish batting
Otsuka now pitching
5-2 0 --- 21 Betemit homered deep to center (CBBX)
5-3 0 --- 22 Podsednik lined a single down the left field line (CBCBX)
5-3 0 1-- 10 Hall reached on an infield single to second, Podsednik to
second (BX)
Mientkiewicz pinch hitting for Johnson
5-3 0 12- 22 Mientkiewicz singled to shallow center, Podsednik scored,
Hall to third (BCSBX)
5-4 0 1-3 32 Wilson,J struck out (CBBFBFS)
5-4 1 1-3 00 Clark lined a single down the left field line, Hall
scored, Mientkiewicz to third (X)
Shields now pitching
5-5 1 1-3 30 Mauer was walked intentionally, Clark to second (IIII)
5-5 1 123 32 Chavez walked, Mientkiewicz scored, Clark to third, Mauer
to second (BBCSBB)
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** The Dogfight Game of the Month **
The Avalanche, down 10-4 in the 8th inning, rallied for 8 runs on a *pair* of GRAND SLAMS, one by Hanley Ramirez and the other by Ryan healy! For Shealy, it was his second homer of the game. Then, in the home 9th, with Avalanche closer Aaron Heilman on the hill, the Wombats came back for 3 runs to win 13-12! The rally began after 2 were out. The final blow came from Casey Kotchman, who devlivered a game-winning double, scoring the tying and go-ahead runs.

4/20/2007, AV06-WW06, Wrigley Field
_______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9_ R +H E LOB DP
2006 Avalanche 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 8 0 12 13 2_ 8 _0
2006 Wombats __0 0 0 2 4 4 0 0 3 13 15 1 _6 _3
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** The Wright Games of the Month **
The Wombats snatched victory from the "hand of defeat" on consecutive days against the Diamonds, scoring 3 in the bottom of the 9th both times! And, both times, young David Wright was the hometown hero!

4/26/2007, DW06-WW06, Wrigley Field
______________1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Diamonds 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 9 0_ 6 _4
2006 Wombats _0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 7 1 +3 _4
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Wombats batting
2-1 0 123 20 Wright lined a single up the middle, Bradley scored,
Furcal scored, Teahen to second (BBX)

4/27/2007, DW06-WW06, Wrigley Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Diamonds 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 11 2 14 0
2006 Wombats 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 5 8 0 9 0
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Wombats batting
4-3 1 1-3 12 Wright grounded a double down the first base line,
Shelton scored, Furcal scored (SBSX)
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** Blowout Game of the Month **
The Marauders jumped on Brad Radke, who lasted 0.1 innings, giving up 6 runs! The Marauders blew up David Weathers later in the game, tallying another 8 runs off him, on their way to a 15-0 victory. Jay Payton had 4 hits, and Carlos Lee, Brandon Inge and Jose Castillo each drove in 3 runs.

4/19/2007, MM06-ML06, Shea Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Marauders 6 0 0 0 3 6 0 0 0 15 16 0 3 1
2006 Liners 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 7 1
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** Butterfingers Game of the Month **
The Chinooks and Hillbillies tried to give this game away, committing eight errors between them. Five of the six Hillbilly miscues were made by Quinlan and Aybar. Ten of the 18 runs (5 for each) in this game were unearned!

4/9/2007, RM06-BV06, Yankee Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2006 Chinooks 0 0 4 1 2 0 1 2 0 10 11 2 5 0
2006 Hillbillies 0 0 5 0 1 0 2 0 0 8 10 6 9 1
E-Howard, Punto, Ethier, Quinlan 3, Aybar 2.
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Tune in next time for May highlights!
Staff Columnist - Biff Barnes