Oconomowoc beats Denver Four Games to Two

Game 1

The first game went 12 innings, with Mocs pitcher Jeff Suppan getting a two-out pinch-hit single in the top of the 12th inning to drive in what turned out to be the winning run.  Both teams used every batter on the roster, and the only reliever who didn't get into the game was the Snow Dogs' Jim Mecir.  The Mocs thought they might have it won in the 10th when Milton Bradley hit a solo homer, but then Aaron Guiel hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the inning to tie the game again.  Both teams hit 3 homers, but in the end, it was Suppan with the big hit.  It's a funny game sometimes.

Game 2

The second game was all Snow Dogs, as they jumped all over Freddy Garcia and tired him out in the second inning.  He ended up "taking one for the team" and pitching 8 innings in a 9-1 loss.  Brandon Webb was sharp for the Snow Dogs, allowing just a solo homer to Geoff Jenkins.  Brady Clark was the big slugger for the Snow Dogs, going 4-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI.  Just one of those games.

Game 3

Mocs 4, Snow Dogs 2 - The Snow Dogs jumped out in front with 2 runs in the fifth inning on a single-triple-single sandwich by Jack Wilson, the pesky Brady Clark and Jose Vidro. The Mocs got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to Miguel Cabrera, but missed an opportunity to cash in big when pinch-hitter David Bell grounded out against reliever Chris Capuano. In the sixth inning. Miguel Tejada led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Tadahito Iguchi. After Ray Durham struck out, Kenny Lofton came on to pinch hit, and was issued an intentional walk. Brad Wilkerson then drew a walk to load the bases. At that point, the Mocs got incredibly lucky when Milton Bradley got a single on a Si* 1, lineout 2-20 roll, tying the game. Then Nick Johnson drew  another walk, forcing in the lead run. The Mocs added an insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Bradley, and Bob Howry retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. Jeff Suppan scattered nine hits over 6-2/3 innings for the win.

Game 4

Mocs 3, Snow Dogs 1 - This was an outstanding pitchers' duel between Roger Clemens and Kirk Saarloos. Clemens retired the first twelve Mocs in a row, while his offense gave him a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.on a single and three walks, the last one by Emil Brown forcing in a run. Saarloos looked shaky in the first, but settled down after that. In the fifth inning, Geoff Jenkins led off with a single to break up the perfect game and no-hitter, and then singles by Miguel Tejada and Tadahito Iguchi plated Jenkins and tied the game 1-1. In the sixth inning, Nick Johnson slammed a two-run homer (batter card) that gave the Mocs the lead.  Saarloos ran into a bit of trouble in the eighth inning when he allowed a one-out single to Morgan Ensberg, so the Mocs brought in Chad Cordero to  face pinch-hitter Matt Stairs, who promptly walked, putting the tying runs on base. Cordero bore down and retired the next two batters, then set down the Snow Dogs in order in the ninth for the save. Both teams had only six hits on the day.

Game 5

Game 5 was all Snow Dogs, as they jumped all over Jeremy Bonderman and won, 9-2. Brandon Webb (2-0) got nine runs scored behind him for the second time of the series.

Game 6

The Mocs grabbed a quick lead in the top of the first in Game 6 on a two-run homer by series MVP Geoff Jenkins, his 4th of the series. The Mocs made it 3-0 on an RBI double by Wily Mo Pena in the fourth inning. The Mocs' Freddy Garcia had a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when Manny Ramirez broke it up with one out by hitting a solo homer, his first of the series, making it 3-1 Mocs. Pena added a solo homer in the eighth to pad the lead to 4-1. The Snow Dogs threatened in the eighth but didn't score, and added a solo homer by Morgan Ensberg off reliever Luis Ayala in the ninth to make it 4-2. Chad Cordero came on and promptly yielded a double to Jose Vidro, but then retired Aaron Rowand, Oscar Robles and Sal Fasano to close out the game and the series.

Jenkins was 10-for-19 (.526) with 4 homers and 6 RBI for the Mocs, which helped to make up for the total lack of contribution from regular season team MVP Miguel Cabrera.