(AP-Flushing, NY)
TML Biff Barnes Highlight Reel - August 2009
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The Steinmetz Tightens!

Steinmetz Division leader Valparaiso (12-18 in
the Summer Stretch) had a tough Stretch and
watched their once large lead, dwindle to only
3 games over 'Skayuna (17-13) and 5 games over
Mudville (19-11). On the other side of the
Oceanic Confernence in the Ruth, both Walla
Walla (23-7) and Danny Way (22-8) continue to
pull away from the pack. Both could clinch
playoff berths in September.

In the Atmospheric Conference, the Gehrig is
still a 4-way fight between Rocky Mountain
(17-13), Lake Wobegone (16-14), Toxic Waste
(15-15) and Traffic (18-12). Only 5 games
separate all four teams! In the Gatto,
Rensselaer (19-11) leads Beverly (20-10) by
1 game. Leaderless Maine (19-11) is still
in the hunt, but is 7 games out.

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Toxin Waste's Mark Teixeira is making a run at
the "Triple Crown", now leading in batting at
.353 and RBIs with 108, and is tied for second
in HRs with 31, only 1 HR off Duluth's Miguel
Cabrera! Tex is also tied for the lead in
doubles (42) with Cheticamp's Aubrey Huff.
Maine's Johnny Damon is second in batting at
.345 and Cabrera is second in RBIs with 105.
Madison's Ichiro Suzuki is on his way to yet
another 200-hit season, now leading the TML
with 173 hits.

In pitching, Walla Walla's A.J. Burnett is
still having an awesome season at 19-3 and a
2.90 ERA. Teammates Ryan Dempster and Cliff
Lee are second in wins, both at 15-4. Rocky
Mountain has the top two strikeout leaders
in Tim Lincecum (200 K) and C.C. Sabathia
(197 K). Madison's Josh Beckett now leads
the TML in shutouts with 5. Lake Wobegone's
Brian Fuentes leads the TML in saves with
39 to go along with a 1.41 ERA.

There was a team no-hitter (see below) and
a 1-hitter tossed by Walla Walla's Cole
Hamels.

There were 10 2-hitters during the Stretch!

Below are some awards and tid-bits from Summer
Stretch 2009 in the TML American.

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** Player of the Month **

(CH) Aubrey Huff
.412, 49-119, 12-1-8, 87 TB,
26 R, 36 RBI, 14 BB, 41 RC

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** Pitcher of the Month **

(AV) Chris Young
5-1, 2.33, 6 GS, 46.1 IP, 35 H,
5 HR, 13 BB, 35 K, .211 OAVG

.

.

.

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** Best Pitching Performance of the Month **

Maine's duo of John Danks and Bob Howry
combined efforts to no-hit the Micmacs!
After 132 pitches and holding a 12-0 lead,
the "brilliant" Maine MP decided "enough
was enough", and brought in Howry for the
final out! When replacement manager G.L.
Itch was asked why he did not allow Danks
to take a chance at the complete game no-no,
his response was, "Too many walks!"

8/7/2009, ML08-CH08, Busch Stadium
_____________1_2_3__4_5_6__7_8_9____R__H_E
Liners_______0_1_0__2_1_1__4_1_2___12_16_0
Micmacs______0_0_0__0_0_0__0_0_0____0__0_0

Liners_________IP__H__R__ER__BB__K__ERA
Danks_W_13-5__8.2__0__0___0___7__5__4.30
Howry_________0.1__0__0___0___0__0__4.78

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** Best Offensive Performance of the Month **

Drench Jason Bay blasted 3 HRs, good for 7
RBIs, in leading his team to a decisive 15-7
victory over the fading Supercells.

8/1/2009, VD08-OS08, AT&T Park
_____________1_2_3__4_5_6__7_8_9____R__H_E
Drench_______2_4_1__2_1_2__0_0_3___15_18_0
Supercells___0_1_1__1_1_0__2_1_0____7_13_1

Drench_____________AB__R__H__BI___AVG
Bay____________lf___4__3__3___7__.240

1st:_2-RBI-HR;_2nd:_BB;_4th:_2-RBI-HR;_5th:_IW;
7th:_F7;_9th:_3-RBI-HR.
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** Overtime Game of the Month **

The longest extra-inning game of the Stretch
went 19-innings before the Avalance edge the
Chinooks 8-7. The teams played for over 10
innings of shutout ball before Hanley Ramirez
blasted a one-out, GWH-Walk-Off-HR.

7/15/2009, RM08-AV08, Fenway Park
_________123_456_789_012_345_678_9___R__H_E
Chinooks_000_420_010_000_000_000_0___7_13_0
Avalnche_100_222_000_000_000_000_1___8_18_2

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** Blowout Game of the Month **

Two days later, Hanley Ramirez was back to
destroying the Chinooks! Ramirez went 3-5 and
drove in 7 runs, leading his team to a 20-1
blowout of Gehrig Division leader Rocky
Mountain! The Chinooks have not had many bad
games this season, but this was one of them.
A 10-run 4th inning by the Avalanche "iced"
the victory!

7/17/2009, RM08-AV08, Fenway Park
______________1_2_3__4_5_6__7_8_9____R__H_E
Chinooks______0_0_0__1_0_0__0_0_0____1__7_1
Avalanche_____0_5_0_10_0_1__2_2_x___20_16_0

Avalanche___________AB__R__H__BI___AVG
Ramirez,Ha______ss___5__4__3__7___.279

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Up next ...September highlights!

Staff Columnist - Biff Barnes