Around the ABL: July 2-8

We have reached the All-Star break! In the Clemente League, Ann Arbor overtook Dallas for the lead in the Lasorda, with red-hot New York lurking; Montgomery overtook Seattle for a half-game lead in the Cox; and Minnesota sits comfortably atop the La Russa. Boston now has the Munson League's best record, but Cabo is on their heals in the Weaver; Maple closed the gap with San Francisco in the Martin; and Mile High is closing on Las Vegas in the Anderson.

Stephen Jackson

July 2: Kansas City 6, South Carolina 7. Down 6-1, the Bombers score two in the seventh on Gunner Smart's 434-foot shot to center. They then tie the game with three runs in the eighth. In extra innings, Stephen Jackson smashes a mammoth 447-foot home run to left-center, and the Bombers live up to their nickname and win in walk-off fashion.

Bob Watkins

July 3: Kansas City 8, South Carolina 4. The Tornadoes come right back. Bob Watkins hits three doubles and two singles in five at-bats: he scores three, drives in three, and (for good measure) steals a base. Speed-demon Lawrence Fox helps the cause with three hits of his own, including a pair of doubles.

July 4: Ann Arbor 7, Carolina 1. Lorenzo Rodríguez provides the fireworks on the Fourth of July. The league's home run leader lit up the sky with two home runs to lead the Barn Owls over the Crush. Z-Rod also doubled, walked, scored three times, and drove in three runs. Adrían Carne pitches a complete game and strikes out seven while allowing only a single run.

Michael Davis

July 4: Minnesota 23, So Cal 4. So Cal's Gerardo Vasquez looked to be working himself out of a sixth inning jam. With two runners aboard, he struck out Roderick Gray for the second out and the bottom of the Minnesota order coming to bat. That's when it all went to hell. The Berserkers score 13 runs—all with two outs. They send 17 men to the plate, and there are seven walks, three singles, a double, and an error that would have ended the inning after just three runs. Michael Davis caps the scoring with a two-run home run. (Thanks to Alex for this write-up.)

Charles Luce

July 5: Maple 0, Cabo San Lucas 3. Charles Luce has been pitching like an ace. Traded from So Cal to Cabo at the end of May, Luce's Torero career got off to a rocky start when he gave up five runs in a loss to Montgomery. Since then, Luce has won all six games that he has started—allowing only six earned runs over those games. In this game, the rubber match of Cabo's series with Maple, Luce pitches eight innings of shutout baseball, allowing only two singles and a walk.

Maurice Gould

July 5: Las Vegas 8, Los Angeles 4. Maurice Gould and Evan Warner, the first two pitchers to be drafted, squared off in a thrilling game. Warner was not at his best, allowing eight hits and three walks while failing to strike out a single batter. Nevertheless, he only allowed two runs over 7 1/3 innings: both runs came on a Troy Tracy home run. Gould allowed only one run in eight innings, striking out nine. The hitters were clearly glad to see the two starters leave the game. In the ninth, down by a run with two outs and two strikes, Empire's Ryan Turner singles to left: Tommy Harris races home to score, just beating Tracy's throw. In the 10th, Vegas scores a pair, but Los Angeles respond with a pair of their own. Unfortunately, the Empire leave the bases loaded and the winning run stranded at third. In the 11th, the Jokers pull ahead for good: they score four runs, with the key hit being a double from Vic Jennings that drives in two. Vegas wins the game, but Los Angeles, winners of their previous two matchups, takes the series.

Wilfred Brooks

July 7: San Francisco 0, Cabo San Lucas 6. Wilfred Brooks scatters eight hits and shuts out the Earthquakes. Mark Bennett doubles in two runs and hits a solo home run. Cabo heads into the break with a five-game winning streak.

July 7: Nottinghamshire 10, Greenville 9. Nottinghamshire scores six in the ninth to tie the game. In the twelfth, Steve Schneider singles in one run and scores a second. Peter Kelly goes two for five with a home run.

Eduardo Gómez

July 7: South Carolina 6, Eureka 7. Eduardo Gómez doubles in two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Mike Bergeron is starting to hit. The #2 draft pick, Bergeron spent a few weeks on the DL and has disappointed when in the lineup, but he's had a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .412 with two home runs, scoring nine while driving in eight.

July 7: Boston 6, Maple 4. Javier Ramón hits a grand slam in the seventh, Norm Jackson gets his 14th win, and Boston goes into the All-Star Break with the best record in the Munson League.

Notes: Montreal's Stanislav Izyurov wins Clemente League Player of the Week. In 14 at-bats, he has 10 hits, two doubles, and three home runs. He scored six and drove in seven. ... South Carolina's Kirby Andrews wins Munson League Player of the Week. In 24 at-bats, he racked up 11 hits, including two home runs. He scored four and drove in four.