Monday 5/13/2021: Texas' Marcum wins Player of the Week award
It's the 1st time that the Américaine Player of the Week award goes to Texas' pitcher Shaun Marcum. Marcum was overpowering all week long, going 2-0 with an ERA of 0.69. Along the way he struck out 13 in 13 innings. His ERA of 1.57 helped him to a 6-1 record this year. He struck out 47 and walked 7 in 51.2 innings. He has one complete game and one shutout. He's 2nd in the Américaine in ERA and 1st in wins! St. Louis' centerfielder Gary Kroger had some reason to celebrate as well, as the league named him the Nationale Player of the Week. Kroger helped his team with an average of .519 and 10 RBI in 27 at bats. Kroger has walked 4 times this year and posts a .427 OBP. While batting .403, 50 for 124, he has driven in 36 runs. He's 1st in the Nationale in batting, 3rd in homeruns and 2nd in RBI!
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Thursday 5/9/2021: Allen Nelson dominates Tampa Bay, gives up just one hit
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's right-hander Allen Nelson is a great pitcher. And he once again showed his stuff, blanking Tampa Bay on just one hit. It's his 2nd shutout this season, and the 8th time he has done it in his career. Nelson (3-2) struck out 8 and issued 1 BB, throwing 68 of 106 pitches for strikes. 'I was able to keep´em off balance. That certainly helped.' San Francisco's second baseman Stephen Thomas went 1 for 3. That was enough to support the brilliant performance of Nelson. The final score of the game was 1-0.
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Wednesday 5/8/2021: Daniel Beck NO-HITS Texas
TEXAS - Toronto's right-hander Daniel Beck made some history today, firing a no-hitter against Texas. Their hitters found out the hard way that he is among the leagues top pitchers, never having a chance against his overpowering stuff. Beck (6-1) was overpowering, fanning 12 while walking 4, throwing 117 pitches. 'Today I just felt great. I had a good feeling while warming up, and I knew something special was about to happen.' Toronto's rightfielder Joseph Choy finished 4 for 4, blasting a homerun, scoring 2 runs and driving in 3 runs. That was enough to support the brilliant performance of Beck. The final score of the game was 4-0.
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Wednesday 5/8/2021: Travis Hafner drills 6 hits
ANAHEIM - Chicago (A)'s first baseman Travis Hafner accomplished a difficult feat in a 13-3 win over Anaheim, drilling six hits to improve his career batting average to .283! A pitch from Ivory Gomez in the 9th inning left his bat for a RBI double. He had singles in the 1st inning , in the 3rd inning , in the 5th (one RBI) , in the 6th inning and in the 7th (one RBI). Travis scored 2 runs, and he collected 3 RBI as well! He's having a very good season so far, batting .423. Chicago (A) improved its record to 17-15, scoring 13 runs on 24 hits.
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Tuesday 5/7/2021: Matt Garza dominates Philadelphie, gives up just 2 hits
SAN DIEGO - San Diego's right-hander Matt Garza is clearly one of the best pitchers in the game. Philadelphie found out the hard way, getting just 2 hits. Garza 1st shutout this season was a masterpiece, as he was almost untouchable. He has now hurled 13th shutouts in his career. Garza (4-1) struck out an astounding 15 and walked 1, throwing 77 of 116 pitches for strikes. 'That was one of the best games of my career. I had my stuff working very well today.' The hitting star for San Diego was centerfielder Nick Swisher, he got 2 hits in 3 AB, blasting a homerun, with 2 RBI. San Diego improved its record to 20-10, scoring 4 runs on 5 hits.
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Monday 5/6/2021: Atlanta has no chance in a 2-hitter by Beau Henriquez
ATLANTA - St. Louis' left-hander Beau Henriquez is a great pitcher. And he once again showed his stuff, blanking Atlanta on just 2 hits. It's his 2nd shutout this season, and the 39th time he has done it in his career. Henriquez (3-0) was overpowering, fanning 11 while walking none, throwing 97 pitches. 'I didn't feel that I had good stuff while warming up. But it got better the more I threw the ball. I guess I was lucky.' St. Louis' centerfielder Gary Kroger finished 4 for 5, hitting two dingers, scoring three runs and driving in 5 runs. That was enough to support the brilliant performance of Henriquez. St. Louis scored 16 runs on 14 hits.
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Monday 5/6/2021: Stach (NYA) and Kinsler (ATL) win P.O.W. award
The Américaine's best player of the week was New York (A)'s Erik Stach, who wins the award for the 5th time in his career. Erik went 9 for 24 (.375), while hitting 5 HR and collecting 10 RBI. Stach has hit for a .275 average this season. He has 14 extra base hits along with 60 total bases, resulting in a .588 slugging percentage. He's 6th in the Américaine in RBIs and 2nd in homeruns! The Nationale Player of the Week award goes to Ian Kinsler, Atlanta's starting second baseman. He hit .583 with 6 RBI and slugged .958 in 24 at bats. He got at least one hit each game this week and is on a 8 game hitting streak right now.
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Sunday 5/5/2021: Philippe Aumont (SF) will miss 10 weeks
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's right-hander Philippe Aumont suffered a severe injury on Sunday and will be out for at least 10 weeks. In the 2nd of the game against Philadelphie he experienced pain in his throwing arm and had to leave the game. Herniated Disc Back was the diagnosis after x-rays were taken in a nearby hospital. The message shocked teammates and team officials. Opposing players hit .239 against Philippe this season. While posting an ERA of 3.75 he went 1-2 in 7 starts, fanning 38 and walking 12 hitters.
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Thursday 5/2/2021: Jeff Francis blanks Montreal with a 2-hitter
SAN DIEGO - Great days are rare. But not for San Diego's right-hander Jeff Francis. Montreal found out the hard way that he is among the leagues top pitchers, getting just 2 hits. It's his 2nd shutout this season, and the 13th time he has done it in his career. 'I felt early that I was on top of my game. Fortunately I was able to keep that feeling the entire game.' Francis (4-2) struck out 6 and walked 3, throwing 66 of 115 pitches for strikes. The hitting star for San Diego was catcher Warren Falls, he finished 3 for 5, blasting a homerun, stroking two 2B's, scoring 2 runs with 3 RBI. The final score of the game was 8-0.
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Wednesday 5/1/2021: San Diego's Galaz named Pitcher of the Month
Winner of this months Américaine Pitcher of the Month award is Toronto's Kyle Saarloos. His record of 5-0 in 5 was among the leagues best this month. In 33.1 innings of work he allowed just 16 hits while striking out 22, compiling an ERA of just 0.27. The best month of April in the Nationale certainly had San Diego's right-hander Antonio Galaz, earning him the Pitcher of the Month award. He started 5 games in April, going 3-1 and compiling an ERA of 1.67 in 32.1 innings. Antonio fanned 22 hitters.
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Wednesday 5/1/2021: Atlanta's Kinsler named Batter of the Month
The Américaine Batter of the Month award goes to David Dejesus, Anaheim's starting rightfielder. Dejesus helped his team with an average of .301 and 24 RBI in 83 at bats. The Nationale Batter of the Month award goes to Ian Kinsler, Atlanta's starting second baseman. Kinsler helped his team with an average of .341 and 20 RBI in 82 at bats.
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Monday 4/29/2021: Galicia (ANA) and Taveras (CIN) win P.O.W. award
Albert Galicia from Anaheim wins his 3rd Player of the Week award for putting up the best numbers this week in the Américaine. In 23 at bats he hit .609 with 2 HR and 3 RBI. He got at least one hit each game this week and is on a 11 game hitting streak right now. Galicia has hit 2 taters this year while batting .442. He adds 5 doubles, along with 21 runs scored. He's 1st in the Américaine in batting! Willy Taveras from Cincinnati wins his 1st Player of the Week award for putting up the best numbers this week in the Nationale. In 33 at bats he hit .515 with 3 HR and 12 RBI. Willy is hitting .341 this year, with 31 hits in 91 at bats. He has driven in 15 runs, slugging .505.
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Thursday 4/25/2021: Eric Glaze (ANA) will miss 6 weeks
ANAHEIM - Anaheim is without its right-hander Eric Glaze for at least 6 weeks. He injured himself while throwing a pitch to Jose Martinez in a game against Oakland. His face showed signs of pain immediately after the ball left his hand. After being taken to a local hospital, Glaze was examined by specialists. The diagnosis revealed the sad truth, a Ruptured Bicep Tendon. Opposing players hit .191 against Eric this season. While posting an ERA of 1.78 he went 1-0 in 4 starts, fanning 26 and walking 7 hitters.
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Tuesday 4/23/2021: Allen Nelson quiets San Diego bats with shutout
SAN FRANCISCO - Allen Nelson had some fun again. San Diego hitters did not. San Francisco's right-hander gave up just 2 hits in his 1st shutout of the season. He now has 7 career shutouts in 112 games started. 'I felt early that I was on top of my game. Fortunately I was able to keep that feeling the entire game.' Nelson (2-1) fanned 6 and walked 3, throwing 112 pitches. The hitting star for San Francisco was catcher Kirby Labombard, he finished 2 for 4, and driving in 2 runs. The final score of the game was 7-0.
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Tuesday 4/23/2021: Willy Taveras uncorks five hits against Chicago (N)
CINCINNATI - Cincinnati's centerfielder Willy Taveras accomplished a difficult feat in a 12-2 win over Chicago (N), drilling five hits to improve his career batting average to .258! Number 1 in the 1st inning, a shot estimated at 408 feet, cleared the wall in left-center. A pitch from John Danks in the 3rd inning left his bat for a solo homerun, landing 387 feet from home plate in left-center. A pitch from Tim Stauffer in the 7th inning left his bat for a RBI double. He collected singles in the 5th inning and in the 8th (one RBI). Willy scored 5 runs, and he collected 4 RBI as well! He's having a very good season so far, batting .338. The final score of the game was 12-2.
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Monday 4/22/2021: Hannah and Kinsler win Player of the Week award
Leroy Hannah from Chicago (A) wins his 2nd Player of the Week award for putting up the best numbers this week in the Américaine. In 28 at bats he hit .357 with 5 HR and 10 RBI. Leroy managed to drive in at least one run in every game he played this week. Hannah has hit for a .333 average this season. He has 13 extra base hits along with 53 total bases, resulting in a .883 slugging percentage. He's 1st in the Américaine in RBIs and 1st in homeruns! Atlanta's second baseman Ian Kinsler had some reason to celebrate as well, as the league named him the Nationale Player of the Week. Ian went 11 for 26 (.423), while hitting 6 HR and collecting 11 RBI.
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Thursday 4/18/2021: Peter Dailey (STL) will miss 5-6 weeks
ST. LOUIS - When it rains, it pours. St. Louis' ace Peter Dailey will not pitch for at least 5-6 weeks, handing the team a huge setback. He suffered a serious injury in a game against San Francisco where he left the field in the 1st inning. After x-rays were taken the diagnosis did not surprise many: Torn Tricep Muscle. Surgery will be performed next week. This season Dailey compiled an ERA of 2.55, going 2-0 in 3 starts. He fanned 4 while giving up 16 hits in 17.2 innings. He's 1st in the Nationale in wins!
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Monday 4/15/2021: Hampton (ANA) and Snow (ATL) win P.O.W. award
David Hampton from Anaheim wins his 5th Player of the Week award for putting up the best numbers this week in the Américaine. David was on fire, hitting .682 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. Atlanta's pitcher William Snow had some reason to celebrate as well, as the league named him the Nationale Player of the Week. He was in a zone all week, compiling an ERA of 0.60 while going 2-0. He hurled a shutout as well.
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Wednesday 4/10/2021: Chuck James (MON) will miss 5 weeks
MONTREAL - Montreal's ace Chuck James suffered a severe injury on Wednesday and will be out for at least 5 weeks. In the 2nd of the game against Los Angeles he experienced pain in his throwing arm and had to leave the game. Montreal wasted no time and rushed him to an hospital. Team officials were informed later that James had suffered a Strained Tricep Muscle.
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