Robert Custard's groundout in the top of the seventh inning scored Allen Davis to break a 6-6 tie and he pitched a one-two-three bottom of the inning to earn the victory in the Motor City Royals 7-6 triumph in the rain over the Zug Island Lugnuts at Bicentennial Park in Livonia. Custard was the fourth Royals pitcher. He had given up a two-run single by Chris Miller in the fifth that gave the Lugnuts a short 6-5 lead.
The Royals took advantage of four 'Nuts errors in the opening inning to score three unearned runs off Mark Wrubel, who went the distance on the mound for Zug Island. One run scored on a groundout by Nate Moore, one on a catcher's throwing error, and one on an infield hit by Jeff Britton. Almost all the 13 hits by the Royals and nine by the Lugnuts were of the infield variety due to the wet infield, although Motor City got a double each from J.C. Lewis, Don Zane, and Charles Yates. Wrubel, who led the league in strikeouts last year, struck out four, but the four Royals pitchers (Tom Richards, Greg Hunt, Moore, and Custard totaled nine strikeouts.
It was the managerial debut of Tom Izzo of the Lugnuts, who featured lots of new faces: Mitch Katsuda, Bob Leathley, Gerry Turner, Tracy Conyer, Jim Hunter, and Oscar Deleon.
A double by James Hopson drove in an unearned run and Andy Lukacs hit a two-run single in the four-run opening inning for the Indians to give them all the runs they needed in a 10-3 time-shortened victory over the Zug Island Lugnuts. The Indians got four more runs in the second inning, one unearned, with two scoring on Rick Wheeler's single. Most of the seven hits in the two innings were of the infield variety.
Meanwhile, Earl Lafontaine stymied the Lugnuts for four innings before Greg Housey singled and ended up scoring after consecutive singles by Tom Kabrovich and Don Ukrainec. Mitch Katsuda added another hit. Tracey Conyer, who had singled and reached second on a throwing error on the play, scored on another error and the Zuglugs added a run in the sixth on a line-drive single by Dave Franklin after Jim Hunter singled, advanced on a ground out, and stole third.
Conyer started on the mound but had to leave in the second inning with arm problems. Mark Wrubel and Ukrainec went the rest of the way. It was Ukrainec's pitching debut and he gave up one scratch single an an unearned run in two innings, while Wrubel gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings.
The Indians batted 15 guys, five in A-B configurations. The Lugnuts batted 15.
Gary Parsons (five innings) and Steve Kosuda (two innings) combined on a six-hit shutout and their Nationals teammates, who got just two hits against Mark Wrubel and Art Wakeford, scored two unearned runs due to missed popups on the infield to beat the Zug Island Lugnuts 2-0
The first miss came at second base in the fourth inning. David Windstead was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning off Art Wakeford, who was tied up in traffic and relieved starter Wrubel. With two outs and the runner on third, Walt Kraft's popup was misplayed for an error, scoring Windstead. The other run came in the next inning when a different second baseman let a routine popup near first off the bat of Dave Lazar fall in because he thought the first baseman had called it. Lazar stole second and wound up scoring on Jim Howland's ground out.
Wrubel gave up one hit and struck out two in his three innings and Wakeford gave up one and struck out four.
The first two Lugnuts, Tom Tavolacci and Stan Gotinsky got singles to open the fourth off Parsons and advanced on a nice sacrifice bunt by Dave Franklin, but were stranded. The Lugnuts also got a runner to third in he sixth of Kosuda, who then got the next three batters out.
The Nationals took a 2-0 lead off starter Mark Wrubel in the first inning, added solo runs in the second and third, then broke things open with a five-run fifth en route to a 12-1 victory over the Zug Island Lugnuts, the team they narrowly beat 2-0 a few days earlier. Steve Kosuda went most of the way on the mound for the Nationals, striking out six and spacing five hits in his six innings, with Bob Hanon finishing up.
The lone Lugnuts run came in the fourth when Don Ukrainec singled with one out, stole second, took third when the third baseman threw to first on a ground out, and scored on the play when the throw back from first went wild for an error.
Mike Kiruncyk's two-run double was the key hit in the Nats' fifth, along with a two-run single by Jim Howland. J.P. McBride and Gary Parsons singled in runs in the National's first; Pat Kelly singled in a run in the second; and a run scored in the third on a fly ball to left with two outs, with the left-fielder making a long run only to have the ball pop out of his glove.
Garry Kuneman relieved Wrubel in the sixth and walked four and was subsequently relieved for the last out by Larry Paladino, but the Nationals got three runs. Wrubel came back to pitch the seventh.
Art Wakeford and Keenan Brown were locked in a pitching dual all game, but Brown's Tigers scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a 2-1 deficit with one out and beat the Zug Island Lugnuts 3-2 among two teams with a 0-4 record in the 55+ division.
Leadoff man Bob Knoell singled to open the Tigers' seventh and was erased by Fred Krause's forceout. Krause stole second and the next two batters hit grounders, the first, by Jack DiGiovanni, going under the shortstop's glove to score the tying run and the next, by Joe Fioroni, going under the first baseman's glove to score the runner from second..
Wakeford scattered six hits in his gem. The other run he gave up came on a single by Pat Brainard in the fifth to score Bill Harper, who had reached on a fielder's choice following Pat Demers' bloop hit. Ex-Lugnut Brown, meanwhile, gave up nine hits. Mitch Katsuda singled in the Zuglugs first inning, stole second, and scored on a single by Chris Miller, who was 3-for-3.
Jim Hunter got a bounce single to lead off the Lugnuts fourth, then Garry Kuneman was safe on a fielder's choice and stole second. Gregg Brownrigg was safe, also, on a fielder's choice and Kuneman came home on a ground out by Oscar DeLeon.
Brown struck out nine and the Lugnuts, missing a number of key players, stranded 10 runners.
The Zug Island Lugnuts reverted to their 2016 form on defense, committing 13 errors, and the Motor City Royals took advantage -- and also pounded the ball off three pitchers -- to crush the 'Nuts 20-1. They scored seven runs in the second inning off Mark Wrubel, four unearned thanks to five errors; scored two more unearned off him in the third when there were two errors; then tagged Tracy Conyer for seven runs (four unearned) in the fourth. Larry Paladino pitched the sixth and gave up four more unearned runs as there were four errors.
But the Royals did belt out 18 hits, including four doubles and a triple, and Robert Custard was in command on the mound for four innings, with Tom Richards finishing up.
The lone Lugnuts runs came in the fifth off Richards, who walked Conyer to open the inning. Conyer reached second on a passed ball, third on a single by Oscar Deleon, and scored on Wally Frontera's ground out.
A bloop infield hit by Rob Silverstein opened the bottom of the second inning for the Marlins and Greg Chastang followed with a deflecting off pitcher Mark Wrubel's glove for an infield hit to open the door to three runs and they went on to beat the Zug Island Lugnuts 9-1. After those cheap hits there were two infield errorsd and a fielder's choice grounder to produce the runs. The Marlins added two more runs in the fourth, one unearned due to a botched pickoff throw to second; three in the fifth on singles by Glenn Roland, Jess Monticello, and Jerome Callahan, plus a walk to Tim Belcher and Gene Baratta hit. Silverstein led off the Marlins sixth with his third hit and came home on Tim Small's double.
The 0-7 Zug Islanders led 1-0 after the first inning. Leadoff man Don Ukrainec singled and stole second and scored on a single by ex-Marlin Chris Miller, who on defense threw out two runners trying to steal second. Lugnuts rallies were thwarted in the second and fifth innings due to line-drive double-play shots off the bats of Tom Tavolacci and Oscar DeLeon.
Marlins' starter Gary Gavlinski gave up four singles, a walk, and a hit batter in his four-inning victory, with Doug Brown working the final three innings and giving up two singles and hitting one batter.
Art Wakeford retired the first seven batters he faced before a shrinking strike zone in the third inning helped him walk two batters. After Robert Custard's sacrifice bunt, Lawrence Mortemore singled in a run and Charles Yates followed with a two-run single, and the Motor City Royals tied the game 3-3 en route to an 8-5 victory over the Zug Island Lugnuts.
They pulled ahead with three more runs in the fourth, with a single by Jeff Britton, double by Mike Guitar, and single by Jose Medina knocking in the runs off Wakeford, who had played in a 35+ game earlier in the day. Mark Wruble pitched the last two innings for the Lugnuts and allowed two runs, driven in by Mortemore after singles by Vctor Alejandre and Custard, who pitched a complete game victory.
The Zuglugs had jumped to a 3-0 lead off him in the second inning, all runs unearned due to two infield errors. One run scored on a ground out by Greg Housey, one on a single by Sam Williams -- making his first game of the season after injury, and one scoring on an error. Stan Gotinsky walked to open the sixth for the 'Nuts and was erased at second on a line drive to center by Don Ukrainec that resulted in a forceout. Ukrainec stole second and scored on Mitch Katsuda's single. A ground out in the seventh by Housey scored the final Lugnuts run after singles by Oscar DeLeon and Jim Hunter.
Art Wakeford (four innings) and Tracy Conyer (two innings) scattered eight hits and once each stranded the bases loaded and their Zug Island Lugnuts pushed across a run in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie for a 4-3 triumph over the powerhouse A's in what would have to be the upset of the year in the 55+ division.
The A's scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning on a single by Joe Zimmerman with two outs, following a dropped popup to open the game off the bat of Dave Noonan and a two-out single by Joe Gorelski.
But the Zuglugs countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning off Mike Favoretto -- after the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch but then picked off. Mitch Katsuda followed with a walk and stole second. Bob Leathley lined a single to center and stole second, then both runner scored on a long double by Conyer over the left fielder's head.
Gary Broyles and Andy Cohen singled off Wakeford to begin the second and both scored. The official scorer marked two errors after that, mixed in with a Dave Noonan single, making the runs unearned.
The 'Nuts, now 1-8, tied it in the third. Tom Tavolacci singled to begin the inning and Don Ukrainec got a hit. After a forceout at third, Conyer walked -- and Ukrainec scored on a wild pitch.
He relieved Wakeford to start the fifth inning and earned the victory thanks to the Zug Islanders' run in the sixth off Lenny Malach. Leathley opened with an infield hit (that may have been scored an error by the other team since the throw at first was bobbled). Leathley stole second and third. After a walk to Chris Miller with one out, Tom Kabrovich hit a dribbler to the left of the mound and Leathley, after hesitating, ran home as Malach threw the runner out at first.
Conyer survived a bases-loaded one-out jam in the seventh. The second out came on a force at the plate on a good throw from shortstop Ukrainec on a Noonen grounder. Ukrainec fielded Doc Welby's grounder and threw to Larry Paladino at second for the forceout to end the game. It was Paladino's 75th birthday. The Lugnuts celebrated by going home to get some sleep.
Mark Wrubel allowed just five hits, but six errors ruined his day and accounted for three Nationals runs as they won 5-4 over the Zug Island Lugnuts in a tight game decided in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI groundout by Walt Kraft.
The Lugnuts, fresh from a 4-3 victory over the A's, trailed 4-0 until a four-run uprising in the forth off starter Ken McHenry. But the Nats got a leadoff walk from Dave Windstead in the fifth; he stole second; got to third on Ron Forbes groundout to the right side; and scored on Kraft's grounder to first.
Leadoff man Kraft reached on an error in the first inning and No. 2 batter Mike Kirunchyk walked. Consecutive singles by Mark Henderson and J.P. McBride scored the runs. They added two runs in the third, both unearned, due to three infield errors.
But the Lugnuts started blasting the ball in the fourth, beginning with Bob Leathley's leadoff single. Tracy Conyer ripped a double to score him and then he scored on Sam Williams' double. Williams, in turn, came home on a double by Gary Kuneman. Tom Tavolacci followed with sixth straight hit, a single, and Oscar DeLeon drove in the fourth run with another single, bringing Steve Kosuda on to pitch. The next batter hit into an unusual 1-3-2 double-play, with the runner on third being forced to try for the plate because the runner behind him had reached third. The Zuglugs had another double-play with the bases loaded in the third as the Nationals got out of a jam.
The 'Nuts had a chance to tie in the seventh, getting runners on first and second with two outs, but a strikeout by Kosuda ended the game. The Zug Islanders had 14 hits for their best offensive showing of the season, but Wrubel hasn't been able to get defense behind him.
The Marlins pounded out 26 hits, mostly line drives or gappers, en route to a 16-2 victory against the Zug Island Lugnuts.
Facing the Zuglugs top two pitchers, Art Wakeford and Mark Wrubel, the Marlins were in control from the start, scoring four runs in the opening inning, five more in the third, then two unearned off Wakeford in the fourth. Wrubel came on and gave up five runs in the fifth.
Tim Small was dominant in his start for the Marlins, allowing just two hits for the first four innings. Don Ukrainec, who reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third and scored on a forceout by Bob Leathley. The Lugnuts got their second run in the fifth on a double-steal, with Sam Williams scoring from third after the throw to second to try to get Gregg Brownrigg out. They had both singled. Doug Brown shut the 'Nuts out the last two innings.
The Marlins had five doubles and errors, usually a problem with the Zug Islanders, were hardly a factor.
Suffice it to say The Tribe, although benefitted by a few errors, pounded the ball in the abbreviated 4.5-inning game, collecting 17 hits in a 27-2 runaway -- although with the usual scorekeepers in the field, it might really have been 26-2. That one run sure made all the difference in such a tight game.
The Tribe scored twice in the opening inning and then 10 runs in the second, five of which were unearned. They got 10 more in the third, three of which were unearned, and wrapped things up with a four-run fourth.
The Lugnuts got their two runs in the fifth as Don Ukrainec ripped a triple and scored when Wally Frontera reached on an error, Frontera later stealing second and scoring on a hit by Tracy Conyer, the starting pitcher. He had relief "help?" from Larry Paladino and Stan Gotinsky.
Gary Kuneman got his first pitching start of the season and was doing well until he started walking batters in the third inning and the Royals turned a 1-0 lead into an 8-0 route with seven runs and coasted to a 20-0 victory over the Zug Island Lugnuts. Kuneman only allowed three hits in his three innings, but walked four in the seven-run third, with the big blow being a two-run single by cleanup hitter Allen Davis. Four of the runs against Kuneman were unearned.
Tracy Conyer came on to pitch the fourth and fifth of the time-shortened game and gave up nine unearned runs, as the defense-starved Lugnuts committed nine errors, including some balls that skipped past outfielders or throws that missed cutoff men. Larry Paladino faced the final three batters, giving up an unearned run on a sacrifice fly, as the 'Nuts fell to 1-12 and the Royals climbed to 7-5.
Stan Gotinsky got a line single and a walk for the Lugnuts and Dave Franklin played a strong game at first and got an infield single. The Zug Islanders managed just two hits off starter Tom Richards, with Lawrence Montemore finishing up in the sixth inning.
Don Ukrainec was making his starting pitching debut for the Zug Island Lugnuts but couldn't get any defense behind him, lasting four innings, as the Tigers coasted to a 16-1 victory in the wind and cold of Bicentennial Park.
The Tigers scored all the runs they needed in the first inning, two, thanks to five errors and no hits. They scored two more in the second and five in the third, three of them unearned. Jerry Turner started on the mound in the fifth inning for the Lugnuts in his first try at pitching, facing five batters, who all reached -- three on hits, one on a walk and one hit batter -- and the Tigers poured seven runs across in the inning.
Larry Paladino came on and worked three innings, allowing two unearned runs in the fifth.
The lone Lugnuts runs came in the fourth off starter Greg McGlone, with catcher Chris Miller singling home Bob Leathley who had walked and reached second on a passed ball. The Zuglugs managed just three hits off McGlone and none off Ron Elswick, who walked one batter in pitching only the sixth inning.
Ed Harmon held the Zug Island Lugnuts to two hits in his three innings and his Indians teammates took advantage of numerous 'Nuts errors to roll to a 16-2 victory at Bicentennial Park.
Art Wakeford gave up an earned run in the opening inning and then was the victime of three errors in the third that resulted in four unearned runs with two outs. He gave up another unearned run in the fourth, an inning in which catcher Chris Miller threw out two baserunners trying to steal -- probably a first in Lugnut history. Wakeford struck out six in his four inning stint, after having pitched a couple innings the previous day for his 35+ team.
Gary Kuneman came on to pitch for the Zuglugs in the fifth and had control problems. The Indians scored seven times in the inning, with the help of three walks and four hits, plus two errors and a couple bad plays besides. Larry Paladino pitched the last inning and two-thirds, giving up two runs in the fifth, but one unearned. Don Ukrainec pitched the seventh and gave up three earned runs.
Counting the Lugnuts 65+ team, the Zuglugs have lost four consecutive games in which they've allowed 16 runs.
The Nationals broke open a 2-1 lead with a 12-run second inning, though only getting five hits -- including dribblers and bloops in the right places, to roll to an 18-2 victory over the Zug Island Lugnuts.
Tracy Conyer was the pitching victim in the bad inning. Six of the runs were unearned, but he walked six in the inning and hit a batter. Art Wakeford calmed things down the next three innings, giving up a pair of runs in the fourth, and Mark Wrubel was the victim of four runs in the sixth, three of them unearned.
Steve Kosuda gave up six hits in his five innings, the lone run coming in the first on a single by Conyer after Don Ukrainec led off with a single and Oscar DeLeon added another with two outs. The final Lugnut run came in the seventh on a short popup by Ira Strickstein for an infield hit to score DeLeon, who had singled, advanced on a Conyer single, and got to third on Tom Izzo's ground out.
The Nationals got 15 hits, three fewer than their run total.
Eight Lugnuts errors led to nine unearned runs, including six in the first inning, as the Motor City Royals beat Zug Island 10-3.
The first inning began with a throwing error to put leadoff man J.C. Lewis on base. Jeff Britton singled and Lewis scored when the hit got past the left fielder. Jose Medina got an RBI hit; Larry Mortemore followed with a double, Mike Guitar was safe at first when the first baseman dropped a throw and a run scored. Victor Alejandre singled in a run; Gerry Garcia's fielder's choice grounder brought home another and Greg Hunt singled in a run.
A throwing error and outfield error put the first two Royals on in the second and they got a run on a bases-loaded walk to Alejandre. Two more unearned Royals runs came in the fourth due to two errors and a single by Alejandre. They got their final run, the only earned one, in the seventh on hits by Mortemore and Alejandre.
Mark Wrubel pitched a complete game. He only struck out two for the Lugnuts, but had most Royals swinging and missing a lot at his breaking ball. He also played a stellar game on the mound, fielding numerous grounders and throwing runners out.
The Lugnuts scored twice off Gerry Garcia in the third. Ira Strickstein reached on a bounce single over the third baseman's head. The courtesy runner stole second and got to third on Gerry Turner's single. Larry Paladino blooped an RBI hit and Jim Hunter followed with another RBI single. Chris Miller soubled home a run in the seventh for the 'Nuts after Tracy Conyer singled and took second on a passed ball.
Three first inning errors and Jack DiGiovanni's RBI single gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead and they didn't need any more runs in beating the Zug Island Lugnuts 9-0 behind the five-hit pitching of Greg McGlone.
Art Wakeford pitched a strong five innings for the Lugnuts, striking out five, but DiGiovanni's two-run single was a big hit in the three-run third, with another scoring on a single by Ken Barnowski. The Tigers added two unearned runs in the fourth.
Mark Wrubel pitched the final two innings for the Zuglugs, giving up a pair of runs (one unearned) in the sixth and a run in the seventh. The closest the 'Nuts game to scoring was in the second inning when Wrubel was cut down at the plate on a bases-loaded grounder to third by Ira Strickstein.
Manager Tom Izzo got two of the Lugnuts' hits, one on a bunt and another on a gapper. The Tigers infield was busy, with 13 outs coming on ground balls.
The only game the Zug Island Lugnuts won this year was against the A's, 5-4, but in the rematch the revenge was emphatic as the A's crushed the 'Nuts 21-1 -- with the help of 10 errors to go along with 18 hits, many of which were on balls that should have been caught.
The A's scored two legitimate runs in the opening inning off sacrificial lamb Mark Wrubel, then 10 unearned off him in the second when nobody could catch a ball and there were six errors. A missed fly ball in the third led to four more unearned runs. Three errors in the fifth helped the A's to two more unearned runs. And they scored three runs in the sixth, highlighted by Jerry Cockrell's triple and Matt Rybinsky's home run to the right field fence.
The 1-18 Lugnuts got five hits total off Mike Favoretto and a relief man, with Don Ukrainec driving in the lone run in the fifth on a single after Jerry Turner was hit by a pitch and advanced on a ground out.
Next on the Zug Islanders agenda is the 17-1 Tribe. Oh, what fun.
The last place Zug Island Lugnuts battled the first place Tribe even at 2-2 -- for one inning -- before the roof fell in in the 10-run second inning off Larry Paladino and Tracy Conyer and the 18-1 Tribe rolled to a 21-2 victory, dropping the 'Nuts to 1-19. Of the Tribe runs, 15 were unearned as the Lugnuts committed nine errors. Mark Wrubel pitched the last two innings for Zug Island.
The Tribe got 16 hits and stole lots of bases. They also were hit by a pitch three times and got seven walks.
Of the seven hits off Doug Moyers, five came in the first inning. Leadoff man Don Ukrainec, the catcher who had cut the tip of a finger off earlier in the day in a shop accident, singled and stole second. Mitch Katsuda followed with a single and Ukrainec came home on a force-out by Bob Leathley, who stole second and scored after hits by Conyer and Jim Hunter. Wrubel also got a hit in the inning. The only other Lugnuts hits were a single by Ukrainec in the third and one by Conyer in the fourth. Moyers struck out six.
Missed fly balls let the Tigers score three runs in the third and two in the fourth inning and they got six unearned runs in all off hard-luck starter Mark Wrubel as they beat the Zug Island Lugnuts 9-2.
They scored two legitimate runs in the opening inning on a two-run single by Pat Demers following an infield hit by Bill Harper and singles by Gary Murawa and Ron Elswick. They added four runs in the third as Murawa, Elswick, Jack DiGiovanni, and Ken Barnowski all singled, but a missed fly ball in right with the bases loaded and two outs cleared the bases.
Two dropped fly balls in left put Harper and Murawa on in the fourth inning and they both scored on a single by DiGiovanni. The Tigers got another earned run in the sixth, but Murawa, Elswick and DiGiovanni all had hits.
The 1-20 Lugnuts got an unearned run in the opening inning. Leadoff batter Don Ukrainec reached on a wild throw to first, stole second and scored after singles by Tracy Conyer and Chris Miller. But Sam Williams seemingly hit a sacrifice fly to center, but swift runner Mitch Katsuda still didn't beat a fine throw to the plate for a double-play to end the inning.
Stan Gotinsky put the Lugnuts on the board with a run in the second to knot the score at 2-2. He singled and stole second/or advanced on a wild pitch, depending on the interpretation. He reached third on Tom Izzo's groundout to the pitcher and scored when the first baseman threw wild to third trying to get Gotinsky out there.
Gene Baratta went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs for the Marlins as they defeated the Zug Island Lugnuts 8-2 behind the pitching of Tim Small and Jess Monticello.
The Marlins scored twice in the first inning off workhorse Mark Wrubel, who pitched his second complete game in four days. They got another run in the second, two in the third (one unearned), an unearned run in the fourth and lone unearned runs in the fifth and sixth. The Lugnuts had eight errors.
The Zuglugs put two on with one out in the second and didn't score. They rallied in the fifth with two runs, driven in on Oscar DeLeon's bases-loaded single to the gap in right-center. Another hit reloaded the bases with one out, but pitcher Tim Small snagged Tom Tavolacci's line drive and doubled the runner off third to end the threat. The Zug Islanders loaded the bases in the seventh off Monticello but didn't score.
The Indians got stellar pitching from Ed Harmon and Rick Wheeler and their batters pounded out 19 hits and took advantage of seven errors in crushing the Zug Island Lugnuts 17-1.
Art Wakeford was the complete game pitcher for the Lugnuts and there wasn't much he could do. Most of the big hits came after errors ruined each inning -- either bad throws or mediocre throws that first basemen couldn't catch or scoop. The Indians scored an unearned run in the first inning, five unearned in each the second and third, with four of the six runs in the fifth being unearned.
Tim Sullivan had a two-run single for the Indians in the second inning and drove two in with a fielder's choice grounder in the third. Mike Reid, hitting in front of him, was on base five times, had one hit, two walks, one safe on an error, and scored three runs. The Indians played with just nine batters. The Lugnuts used all 16 in the order, with five in A/B alignments. The last seven spots in the order were 0-for-14, with no one reaching base.
Harmon retired 10 of the first 11 batters and gave up three hits. Wheeler gave up the lone Lugnuts run on a ground-out by Mark Wrubel in the fifth after Chris Miller singled, took second on a Wheeler wild throw to first, and third on Sam Williams ground out. Don Ukrainec had two hits for the Zuglugs and two stolen bases.
The Zug Island Lugnuts closed out their regular season with a 1-23 record, but in their finale against the Nationals they played an excellent game, losing 4-2, with the four runs off workhorse Mark Wrubel being all unearned as he pitched a six-hitter, struck out four and didn't walk anyone. Counterpart Mark Henderson, meanwhile, pitched a five-hitter, striking out four, scoring two of the runs, driving one in with a forceout, and getting two hits.
The Nationals scored an unearned run in the openig inning. Walt Kraft led off with a single and Mike Kirunchyk's grounder to short was thrown wild for an error. Kraft, who had reached third on the error, scored on Henderson's fielder's choice grounder.
But the Zuglugs tied it in the bottom of the inning. Don Ukrainec opened up with a single and stole second. Mitch Katsuda beat out an infield hit -- his 100th career hit -- and Ukrainec scored on a single by Tracy Conyer. A double-play and ground out ended any further damage.
In the fourth the Nationals scored two unearned runs. Kirunchyk led off with a grounder that was bobbled twice at second for an error. Henderson singles and J.P. McBride singled to load the bases. After a pop out, Gary Parsons got an RBI hit to drive in a run and then Pat Kelly hit a sacrifice fly.
The 'Nuts got a run back in the fifth on another hit by Conyer, following Katsuda's first-ever triple. But after stealing second and reaching third on an errant pickoff throw by Henderson, the next three batters went out 1-2-3.
Henderson's single in the sixth led to an insurance run as he got two bases when the ball skipped past the center fielder. Henderson got to third on a passed ball and scored on ex-Lugnut McBride's sacrifice fly.
The Lugnuts batted 14. The top three in the order were 5-for-6 with two runs and two stolen bases. The other 11 went 1-for-21, plus a walk and four strikeouts.
Zug Island Lugnuts Schedule