The Roland Stags lost starting pitcher Gabe Kefentse for the season, but continued to play well enough to lead the Wild Card standings by 3 games as of this morning. Salvation star Andy Thompson returned to the Brothers lineup this week, along with starting pitcher Mike Gurr. The White Sox keep winning games and making deals.
As the NPL season reached its midway point this week, Reapers CF Jimmy Hamm returned from injury to resume his hit streak and the Spiders made a major trade to add former White Sox star Daniel Lia Yorino to their infield in their pursuit of the National Cup.
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UA News:
8/3:
- Stags starter Edward Mercier’s sore shoulder is medically sound, but still causing him discomfort. He will likely be back to full strength in 4-5 days.
- White Sox LHP Domingo Lia Itoldino strikes out 9 in 7.1 innings, but Deerborn loses to Salvation, 1-0.
- Rivals LF Julio Kastro hits 2 doubles and a home run, but the Stars win in 11 innings Railey, 6-5.
- Another injury scare in Roland: Stags RHP Gabe Kefentse leaves in the 4th inning clutching his right shoulder, appearing to be in severe pain. We await word on the nature of the injury. The Stags beat the Trail Blazers 5-3.
8/5:
- The Stags learn that RH SP Gabe Kefentse is out for the year with a torn rotator cuff. LHP Victor Silva will move back into the starting rotation. He’s appeared in 12 games this year, with 6 starts for a 1.55 ERA. They also learn that 1B Francisco Kosgei will be out for about 2 weeks with a sprained ankle.
- Taawa RF Aubin Francois goes wild with a double and 2 solo bombs, but the Herders walk off in 10 innings on an RBI double by 3B Claudio Konzalez.
- Platte 3B Juan Tokorres is hot on the heels of Curt Sawyer’s HR lead with his 26th of the year, but the Stars beat the Bears in the first of a 3-game series, 7-5. RF Antonio Teakowa hits his 23rd HR and teammate 3B Mario Olivo hits his 20th in the win. Delle remains 2 games behind Roland in the Wild Card standings.
- Brothers RHP Mike Gurr returns from a herniated disc sustained in Spring Training to make his first start of the year. He is brilliant in the 4-0 win over Redwood, allowing zero runs on just 1 hit over 7 innings.
8/6:
- Chargers 1B Eric Jackson hits 2 dingers in Taawa’s 9-4 win over Cherricaw.
- Roland LHP Rich Smith strikes out 11 in 7 innings, but the Rivals rally against Roland CL Arturo Buyoya for 3 runs in the 9th to win the game, 7-6. Stags 2B Albert Pentana takes a fastball to the knee and may miss a few days with some nasty swelling.
- White Sox RF Curt Sawyer hits his league-leading 28th homer, but the Trail Blazers take the win in Prissley, 6-4.
8/7:
- The Stags walk off against the Rivals on LF Jose Lia Tinta’s infield grounder. Carlos Katamori beats the throw home for the 5-4 win in the 11th. Roland takes 2 of 3 from Railey and notch their 40th win of the season.
- Roberto Tokorres goes 8 innings for the White Sox and CF Jimmy Lia Morro hits 2 home runs for 4 RBI in Deerborn’s 8-3 win against Prissley.
- The Miners take 2 of 3 from Northsouth with a 7-5 win today. The Guardians face the Brothers in their next series, with both teams trying to hold onto a chance to make a run at the playoff this year.
- Stars C Jon Garcika has a 4 for 4 day with a double and a triple in Delle’s 7-4 win over Platte. The Stars take 2 of 3 in the series.
- Austin Edwards allows 2 runs on 3 hits in 7 innings as the Brothers beat the Owls, 6-2. Salvation sweeps the Redwood for their 4th win a row. The Brothers are back above .500 now, and looming 7 games behind Platte in the West.
8/8:
- The White Sox continue to shake up their roster and look ahead to the future, even as they dominate the league this season. They send 1929 Windsor Cup Finals MVP Daniel Lia Yorino to the NPL’s Wight Spiders in exchange for 32-year old RHP Esteban Muiru and power-hitting prospect Kevin Bradley. Both clubs are tops in the standings and both will likely benefit from this trade as they look to put the stranglehold on their respective leagues down the stretch this year.
- White Sox RHP Matthew Huertata dominates with 13 Ks over 7 IP, allowing just 3 hits and no runs. Deerborn beats Railey, 3-0. Huertata’s 13 strikeouts are a White Sox team record.
- LF Andy Thompson returns to the Salvation lineup and goes 2 for 4 with a double and a home run as the Brothers beat the Guardians, 4-1, to win their 5th straight game. Salvation starter John George leaves the game in the 3rd inning with a twisted ankle. He will be questionable for about the next 5 days.
- The Stags and Bears start a big 3-game series in Platte. Platte starter Craig Ogg goes 8 scoreless innings, allowing only 3 hits. However, the Stags rally for 3 runs in the 9th as Mike Cleveland blows his 2nd save of the year for the Bears. Final: ROL 3, PLA 2.
8/9:
- Stars 3B Mario Olivo hits his 21st and 22nd home runs in Delle’s 7-2 win at Taawa.
- Rivals 3B Gavin Jones strains a back muscle, but doctors say he’ll be fine in a day or two. The White Sox beat the Rivals, 8-5.
- Northsouth 1B Cal Oluoch hits a pair of long balls as the Guardians bounce back for a win over Salvation, 6-1.
- Bears 3B Juan Tokorres ties the league lead with his 28th home run, but the Stags beat the Bears again, 9-4. Platte leads Northsouth by 3 games in the UA West.
Current UA Standings:
Current UA League Leaders:
NPL Watch:
8/3:
- The Toppers beat the Reapers, 1-0. Reapers C Jason Wanner is ejected in the 5th inning for arguing with the home plate umpire, and calling him a “bag sniffer,” among other more colorful insults.
8/4:
- After being released by the Salvation Brothers on July 15, RH RP Julian Marquez signs a 1-year deal with the Plains City Reapers worth $1.08 million. The Reapers are hoping the 1930 UA All-Star and former Windsor Cup champ can help them bring home an NPL title this season.
- Spiders CF Jim Ellison goes 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs and 3 RBI as Wight wallops the Kings, 11-2.
- The Canaries keep pace with the Spiders atop the NPL with a 9-0 beating of the Carp.
8/5:
- The Lakers take 2 of 3 from the Metros in Tiny Sea, winning today by a score of 4-3.
- Wight DH Lier Semb homers in back-to-back games and 2B Lonnie Hernankez goes 3 for 4 with a double and a HR as the Spiders beat the Kings, 6-2, to remain in first place.
- Carp 1B Pedro Bausi goes deep twice, but the Canaries win, 8-7. Petchon has lost 6 in a row after being swept in their 2nd straight series. The Canaries remain tied with Wight for first place.
- RHP Geoff Brooks gives the Reapers 8 innings and a 2-1 lead, but CL Jeremy Wheeler blows the save in the 9th. It takes the Reapers 15 innings, but they come away with the win on a solo home run by DH Chris Taylor. CF Jimmy Hamm returns from 2 weeks away with back stiffness and resumes his hit streak, now up to 13 games with a single today.
8/6:
- After being released last month by the Canaries, LH RP Jose Lia Puedris has joined the Reapers in a big $2.72 million deal for the rest of this year. Lia Puedris pitched 33.2 innings between Wight and Carver last season and took home an NPL championship ring with the Canaries.
- Spiders DH Lier Semb homers in his 3rd straight game for a total of 12 on the season. Wight beats up on Petchon, 10-2.
- The Canaries walk off in the 10th inning on a passed ball from Lakers CL Gustavo Retoyes. The 4-3 win keeps Carver tied with Wight for first place. Raul Sotio ties teammate Bob Jones for the NPL home run lead with his 13th.
- Toppers 1B Lee Gutierrekaz ties Sotio and Jones with his 13th home run of the year, but the Kings win today’s game, 6-5.
- Today marks midseason in the NPL’s 70-game schedule.
8/7:
- Canaries 2B Barney Lowery is 3 for 4 with a double and a home run for 3 RBI, but the Lakers overcome Carver, 10-7.
- The Spiders hand the Carp yet another loss, 3-1, as Wight takes sole possession of first place.
- Despite dealing with a swollen knee after being hit by a pitch yesterday, Kings 3B Dean Payne goes deep twice. He has all 4 RBI in the Kings’ 6-4 loss to Trimble.
8/8:
- The White Sox continue to shake up their roster and look ahead to the future, even as they dominate the league this season. They send 1929 Windsor Cup Finals MVP Daniel Lia Yorino to the NPL’s Wight Spiders in exchange for 32-year old RHP Esteban Muiru and power-hitting prospect Kevin Bradley. Both clubs are tops in the standings and both will likely benefit from this trade as they look to put the stranglehold on their respective leagues down the stretch this year.
- Spiders DH Lier Semb hits his 13th homer as the first-place Spiders hand the last-place Carp their 9th straight loss, 10-7.
- Reapers C Jose Mantegna goes for a 2 home runs and ties the NPL record with 7 RBI as Plains City unloads on the Metros, 14-1. Reapers starter Julian Rault allows just 4 hits over 7 scoreless innings for the win. Reapers CF Jimmy Hamm goes 2 for 4 with a homer today to extend his hit streak to 16 games.
- Bob Jones takes the league lead with his 14th HR and the Canaries beat the Lakers, 5-3, to take 2 of 3 in the series. Carver trails Wight by 1 game.
8/9:
- The Wight Spiders keep making moves. This time they strengthen their bullpen with the addition of free agent lefty reliever Ed Dasher. They’ll give him $3.04 million for the the rest of this season.
Current NPL Standings:
Current NPL League Leaders:
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