AL East Round 2: Bob Loblaw takes 2-of-3 from Army of Steamrollers

While the phones at the Bob Loblaw Law Office continued to ring off the hook, his strat team went to work, going 2-1 against Scott's Army last night. Two notes: Manny Delcarmen may save every game and Erik Bedard may strike out 300 this strat season.

Game 1: Bob Loblaw 5, Army of Steamrollers4
W: J.Tavarez (1-0), L: B.Wolfe (0-1), S: M.Delcarmen (3)

Bob led 4-1 going into the bottom of the 6th and looked to be cruising to victory...then Army broke out the lumber. Nick Markakis' solo HR (2nd) in the 6th was followed by solo HRs by Derek Jeter (1st) and Melvin Mora (1st) in the 7th to tie the game 4-4. The mood on the Steamroller bench quickly faded, however, as Travis Hafner led off the 8th with a HR (1st) to provide the eventual winning run. Alex Rodriguez hit is 3rd HR of the season and Brian Roberts went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles for Bob, while Melvin Mora was unstoppable for Army going 3-for-3. Markakis, Jeter and Curtis Granderson added 2 hits apiece.

Game 2: Army of Steamrollers 3, Bob Loblaw 2
W: J.Litsch (1-0), L: J.Towers (0-1), S: B.Seay (1)

Derek Jeter and Aubrey Huff had RBI singles and Grady Sizemore stole 3 bases to help Army hand Bob their 1st loss of the season. The matchup of #5 starters turned in a pair of solid pitching performances. Winner Jesse Litsch gave up 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2 over 8 innings, while loser Josh Towers went the distance giving up 6 hits and 3 walks and struck out 7 Steamrollers. Kevin Youkilis and Delmon Young each had 2 hits for Bob.

Game 3: Bob Loblaw 5, Army of Steamrollers 3
W: CC Sabathia (2-0), L: E.Bedard (0-2), S: M.Delcarmen (4)

Erik Bedard matched the 15 strikeouts he had in his opening start, however he also matched the loss as well as Bob Loblaw was able to get wood on enough of Bedard's pitches to win the rubber match. Manny Ramirez's RBI double in the 3rd broke a 2-2 tie. Brian Roberts and Delmon Young added RBI singles in the 4th and 5th innings to puch the lead to 5-2. Army pulled one back on a Franklin Gutierrez sac-fly in the 8th but could get no closer. Grady Sizemore continued to run wild, stealing his 7th base of the season and he, Gutierrez and Nick Markakis all had 2 hits. C.C. Sabathia struck out 8 as he went 7.1 innings for his 2nd win of the season.