Pitcher and Catchers Report Series 2019

Thanks to the PCR Board of Directors (a 30-sided die), the teams for the 2019 Pitchers and Catchers Report Series have been chosen.

2016 Cleveland Indians            1922 New York Yankees
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The Indians lost the 2016 World Series. The Yankees lost the 1922 World Series.

The most common lineups for each team for each season as well as the top three starting pitchers for each team will be used. There is no Designated Hitter in the PCR Series so Cleveland’s lineup is adjusted a bit. The Yankees will rotate third baseman between Joe Dugan and Frank “Home Run” Baker.

Game One

Starting Pitchers
Cleveland:  Trevor Bauer (12-8/4.26 ERA)
New York: Bob Shawkey (20-12/2.91 ERA)

Bauer and Shawkey cruise through the first three innings.

Jason Kipnis doubles in the top of the Fourth Inning for the Indians but is stranded on second base. In the bottom of the inning, Joe Dugan leads off with a single. Babe Ruth grounds out but moves Dugan to second base.Wally Pipp grounds out to third base and Dugan holds. Al Schang clipped a single into right field and scores Dugan to give the Yankees the lead, 1-0.

The Indians load the bases with one out in the top of the Fifth Inning but Shawkey struck out Bauer and Rajai Davis to get out of the jam.

Kipnis leads off the Sixth inning with a single. He then gets a good jump but is thrown out trying to steal second base. Kipnis argues too vehemently and is ejected from the game. Francisco Lindor responds with a single of his own then swipes second base with no doubt. Mike Napoli goes down swinging. Jose Ramirez coaxes a walk before Lonnie Chisenhall crashes a double into right field that scores both Lindor and Ramirez who were running on contact and Cleveland leads 2-1.

Bauer walked Whitey Whitt to lead off the Yankee Sixth Inning then retired the next nine batters through the bottom of the Eighth Inning.

Shawkey walked Roberto Perez to open the Indian Seventh Inning then set down the next nine Indians, four by strikeout, through the top of the Ninth Inning.

Dugan led off the bottom of the Ninth Inning for the Yankees and grounded out to Michael Martinez who had replaced Kipnis at second base. Ruth then stepped into the box and clubbed a home run into the outfield seats to tie the game. Pipp and Schang both ground out to end the game in a deadlock but at that point nearly anything would have been anti-climactic…

Final Score
2016 Cleveland Indians      2
1922 New York Yankees     2

Bauer         9.0 IP  4 Hits  2 Walks  3 Strikeouts  2 Runs
Shawkey   9.0 IP  8 Hits  3 Walks  11 Strikeouts  2 Runs

Game Two

Starting Pitchers
New York:  Waite Hoyt (19-12/3.43 ERA)
Cleveland:  Cory Kluber (18-9/3.14 ERA)
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Jason Kipnis knocked a solo home run in the bottom of the First Inning to put the Indians ahead 1-0.
Wally Schang singled, stole second base and scored on a double by Al Ward to tie the game at 1-1 in the Fifth Inning.
In the top of the Sixth Inning Whitey Witt drew a one-out walk and scored on a home run from Babe Ruth. The Yankees led 3-1 after six innings.

Rajai Davis clubbed another solo home run for the Indians in the top of the Seventh Inning to draw Cleveland closer, 3-2.

Frank Baker led off the New York Eighth Inning with a double. Ruth was walked intentionally. Wally Pipp then coaxed a walk to load the bases. Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw uncorked a wild pitch that got past Roberto Perez and allowed Baker to score. Schang then swatted a double into right field that cleared the bases. At the end of eight innings the Yankees led, 6-2.

Yankees reliever George Murray gave up only one hit in the final two innings and closed out the game.

Final Score
1922 New York Yankees    6
2106 Cleveland Indians     2

Hoyt      7.2 IP 4 Hits 5 Walks 9 Strikeouts 2 Runs (2 Home Runs)
Kluber  6.0 IP  4 Hits Walk 2 Strikeouts 3 Runs (1 Home Run)

Hoyt struck out 9 Indians and Murray fanned 2 Indians.
The Indians have struck out 22 times in two games.

Ruth has homered in two straight games and driven in 3 runs.
Wally Schang has also driven in 3 runs.