Welcome to Izzy Productions Panthers Park!
The new season is upon us, as the Traverse City Panthers are anxious to put last season behind them, they open the season hosting the National League Champion - Portland Microbrewers, who are once again loaded for another title push, led by young phenom, center fielder Mike Trout and their much-feared pitching rotation.
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| Two of Japan's finest starting pitchers in Iwakuma and Darvish, go head-to-head. |
The Panthers send their first franchise pick to the mound in Yu Darvish, he did not live up to his numbers in what was a dismal 2013 campaign, a losing atmosphere can even effect the best of arms sometimes; He's looking to rebound this season, and will face Japanese counterpart Hisashi Iwakuma, who's expected to have a bigger impact this season.
Top of the 1st -- Yu Darvish strikes out the side, while allowing a single to Freddie Freeman. During the bottom half, the Brew Crew suddenly switched Colby Rasmus and Coco Crisp, the corner outfielders, Rasmus moves to right, Coco to left -- odd move, so early in the game.
Top of the 2nd -- Two-out single to right by Adam Lind, Russell Martin beats out a swinging bunt & the throw from third baseman Josh Donaldson. Brad Miller swings and misses, T.C.'s catcher Devin Mesoraco with a quick throw to first and they nail Lind diving back into first, not sure why he was that far off the bag.
Bottom of the 2nd -- a clean single to right for Josh Donaldson, that's the Panthers' first hit of the ballgame and season, they are expecting big things from Donaldson this season. Hisashi Iwakuma strikes out the next two batters in Hunter Pence & Giancarlo Stanton, while getting the 3rd out with a easy ground-out by Brandon Belt. Score remains 0-0.
Top of the 4th -- Eric Chavez who sent a long ball to the warning track in left, sends a two-out home run over the right-center field wall at Panthers Park off of Darvish. 1-0, Portland.
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| Eric Chavez: The old vet goes yard for Portland. |
Top of the 5th -- Yu Darvish records his 5th & 6th strike-outs of the evening with scoreless action in the half-inning.
Bottom of the 5th -- Colby Rasmus robs a lead-off homer by Brian Dozier, to make it only a loud out.
Top of the 6th -- Scooter Gennett smacks a double off the wall in center that nearly went out, to lead off the inning for Portland -- bringing up Mike Trout. The Panthers elect to pitch to him, getting him to pop up in foul territory behind third. Not out of the woods yet, they will have to face Freddie Freeman, this time the Panthers will intentionally walk Freeman to face Colby Rasmus, setting up the double-play. Rasmus ends up whiffing, leaving their chances to Eric Chavez, who hit a HR in the fourth. This time, Chavez hits a routine fly to center to end the threat.
Bottom of the 6th -- Josh Donaldson collects his 3rd hit of the game, but T.C. will do nothing more, as the score remains 1-1, in what has been mostly a pitchers' duel.
Top of the 7th -- Lead-off double by Coco Crisp, a liner to the right-center gap that Hunter Pence couldn't get to in time. Adam Lind grounds to short, to move the runner up to third. One out, Russell Martin steps up to the plate. Yu Darvish walks Martin, runners now on the corners, Darvish is visibly upset with himself. The Brewers decide to go to the bench, Brad Miller will come out for Charlie Blackmon, a dangerous lefty off the bench. The Panthers have no lefties to counter him, a bad oversight by the front office of the Panthers -- they should do something about that. Blackmon hits a fly to the gap in left-center, Alejandro De Aza is after it, tailing away from him, and it's caught! Crisp is tagging, De Aza with the throw, and Crisp will score! Portland takes a 2-1 lead here in the top of the 7th -- Martin holds at first. Two outs, Scooter Gennett will come to the plate, here comes the Panthers manager Shawn Baier, he's signaling to the bullpen, and is calling on Tyler Clippard to get them out of this inning. Darvish leaves after 6.2 innings, allowing only 6 hits, 2 ER, while striking out 7 Brewers. Clippard delivers, Martin is off and running, the throw by the Panthers' catcher Devin Mesoraco, and he's out -- side retired! Portland 2, Traverse City 1
Bottom of the 7th -- Charlie Blackmon is out, Jhonny Peralta is playing shortstop now for the Portland Microbrewers, Hisashi Iwakuma still on the mound, as he faces Giancarlo Stanton. A healthy cut by Stanton, but it's sent straight up -- pop up to Russell Martin, one away. Brandon Belt sends a single to right. Iwakuma strikes out the last two batters in Brian Dozier and Devin Mesoraco.
Bottom of the 8th -- Jean Segura gets serious wood on a mistake pitch by Hisashi Iwakuma, a blast to left, to tie the game 2-2, but the Panthers couldn't add to the score. Traverse City 2, Portland 2
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| Segura hits the Panthers' first HR of the season, a game-tying solo shot in the 8th. |
Top of the 9th -- Portland's manager Brad Stark goes to his bench and calls on Jason Kipnis to pinch-hit for Colby Rasmus, to face T.C.'s Tyler Clippard. Kipnis would shatter his bat, and get thrown out at first by a step, with a great throw by Josh Donaldson. Clippard issues two-out walk to Coco Crisp. The Panthers go to the pen for Tanner Scheppers, Clippard goes two innings, with a walk & K, he's responsible for Crisp. Adam Lind steps to the plate, Scheppers sets & delivers, outside, Crisp is off & running, the throw from Devin Mesoraco, and he's safe! Crisp is now at second with two outs. Scheppers resets against Lind, the pitch, and Lind is caught looking -- leaving Crisp stranded.
Bottom of the 9th -- The Brewers have Alfonso Soriano take over in right, as Kipnis is now out of the game. Hisashi Iwakuma is still on the mound, as he will have to face, Pence, Stanton & Belt. Hunter Pence steps up, and Iwakuma ends up walking him, the winning run is at first. Iwakuma will now have to face Giancarlo Stanton, the pitch, Stanton grounds it to Eric Chavez at third, the throw to second for one, over to first, not in time, as Stanton beats it out to first -- no double play. One out for Brandon Belt as he steps up to face Iwakuma, Belt steps back out, as the Panthers have Jarrod Dyson running from the dugout, he'll run for Stanton. Iwakuma delivers to Belt, the ball is hit past Freddie Freeman, Scooter Gennett dives and knocks it down, but that's all he can do with it. Runners on first & second for Traverse City. Panthers' manager Brad Stark heads to the mound, he's calling on Mark Melancon in his hopes that Melancon can get a groundball double play to get out of this unscathed. The Panthers counter with lefty Yonder Alonso to pinch-hit for Brian Dozier. Melancon sets & fires, Alonso flies it to shallow left, Jhonny Peralta is running back, and catches it, two down! The Panthers wheels are still turning, they want that winning run, they call on Ryan Raburn, who will be used in this role quite often this season. Raburn gets his pitch, smacks a rocket to right, and it's snagged by Soriano, who is all smiles. Traverse City 2, Portland 2
Top of the 10th -- Hunter Pence moves to left for T.C., as Jarrod Dyson moves to right, Jordy Mercer comes in to play second (replacing Brian Dozier), as Wilson Ramos takes over catching duties.
Bottom of the 10th -- Portland calls on Joaquin Benoit to pitch, strikes out both Jean Segura and Matt Carpenter. This brings up Alejandro De Aza, 0-for-4, Benoit sets & delivers, no doubt about this one, it's over the right field wall -- Goodbye! The Panthers win with a De Aza walk-off as the home crowd has not been this happy, well... since Opening Day last season. We knew this would be a pitchers' duel in this first game, both teams have blown scoring chances, and after two quick strikeouts by Benoit, De Aza got the barrel of the bat on this one!
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| The Panthers' Alejandro De Aza: The walk-off blast & reaction. |
Traverse City wins 3-2 in 10 Innings, against Portland to kick off the 2014 campaign!
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