Swarm Pows Kissers Outta First with Sweep

DETROIT, MI -  Issac's Pow! Right on the Kisser! entered the series at 24-19 and in sole possession of first place in the AL division. Joseph's Swarm came in at 22-21 in 5th. The first game of the series saw two lefties, Bobby Shantz (3-2, 5.46) squaring off with Alex Kellner (2-4 4.37). The Swarm struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning, scoring 2 runs and never looked back in the 7--1 victory. Shantz pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 run in the win, and Hal Jeffcoat (4-0, 2.03) pitched the final 4 innings for his 4th save. The real story was Bill Skowron (.921 OPS), getting a rare start for the Swarm, posted a 4 for 4 day with 2 doubles, a triple, and a Homerun. 

 

The second game started in much the same way as the first. Joseph scored one in the 1st and 4th to enter the 5th inning with a 2-0 lead. 3B Eddie Mathews missed a ball down the line for a base hit and then George Susce (3-1, 3.45) struggled to get any outs as the Kisser sent 10 men to the plate in the inning, plating 5 runs in an explosion of offense. Pow! SS Ernie Banks went 2 for 5 with 2 doubles and a pair of RBIs in the game; unfortunately for Issac, the 5-2 lead was not enough. Joseph got 2 runs back in the 6th on a Mathews HR, his 12th. And then Issac scored 2 more in the th to take a 7-4 lead into the 8th inning. George Zuvernick (2-1, 4.85) gave up consecutive singles to Ennis, Berra, and Amoros, before getting Gilliam out on a fielder's choice. With a 7-6 lead Virdon singled and with runners at 1st and 2nd and 1 out, Bob Miller came in to try to salvage the victory. The Swarm countered by pinch hitting with Skowron, who singled to load the bases. A Robinson single and Johnny Logan double netted 2 more runs and Joseph took a 9-7 lead into the 9th inning, where Sandy Consuegra shut Kisser down for his 8th save.

 

Third game of the set was far less dramatic. Gene Conley (4-3, 6.21) pitched 7 innings, allowing only 1 earned run, 2 runs total, in a 7-2 route by the Swarm. Yogi Berra launch a 2-run Homer.

 

Of note in the series, Issac only had 1 ballpark HR opportunity, an unfortunate miss from Ernie Banks. Joseph rolled three consecutive 2-5's at one point, and converted more ballpark singles (1-5 chance) than was mathematically probable. That's the curse of first! I fully expect that the Swarm series with Larry's team will be the opposite result.

 

April 11, 2023
Detroit, MI