— I’ve lost a few baseballs in the bushes, but never like this.

• Adrian Beltre as a pinch-hitter is 4 for 13 with 3 HRs. But this was the first time he really impacted a game.

— King Felix made the courtiers happy. In 13 starts against the Twins, he has a 2.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP … and a 5-5 record.

• Since 2005, the leaders in “ace starts” (a term I just made up for 8+ IP allowing 1 run or less): Roy Halladay 48, Cliff Lee 44, CC Sabathia 40, Felix Hernandez 39.
• Minnesota already has been held to 1 hit or less in 2 games, matching their 2011 total, which was the MLB high. They’ve had 2 hits or less 3 times and 3 hits or less 4 times, both tops in the majors.

— Not often are the Yankees stymied by a guy with a 10-31 record.

• The Royals will go for a home series win over the Yanks on Sunday, a trick they haven’t turned since April 2008. Since 1996, KC is 39-95 against New York, including 24-43 at home. (Update: They didn’t get it.)

— Mike Minor vs. Jamie Moyer: First NL game this year with both starters allowing 10+ hits. Each one did it in 5 IP; each of the last two season has seen just one such game. There have been 30 such games since 1995, 8 of them at Coors Field.

• #3 hitter Carlos Gonzalez reached safely in all 5 trips, but never scored.
• Michael Bourn has drawn 6 bases-loaded walks in 45 chances.
• In 3 of their last 4 games, the Braves have totaled 37 runs on 52 hits and 15 walks, with 7 HRs and 7 doubles. In between, Joe Blanton skunked them on 3 singles.

— Friday’s first-ever meeting between Jonny Gomes and Brandon Gomes (no relation) resulted in a HBP. Their meeting Saturday ended in a 4-pitch walk. Their fortunes continued diverging from that point: Jonny’s nice catch in the bottom of the 10th and his HR in the 12th led his new mates to victory over the red-hot team that developed him, while Brandon was optioned to AAA after the game.

• This call should be made more often.
• When the bullpens are on the field, you need a ballboy who can really pick it.
• It was a “home run in an elevator shaft,” but Daric Barton only wound up with a single.

— James McDonald and Erik Bedard are both on pace to reach 200 IP. The Pirates are the only team that hasn’t had a 200-IP man in the past two seasons.

— Jose Valverde put the pitch right where his catcher wanted it. Unfortunately, Adam Dunn wanted it there, too.

• If you haven’t seen Addison Reed‘s heater yet, here’s the pitch that saved the day for Chicago. In 16 career IP, Reed he has 24 Ks and 4 walks. In the minors, 108 IP, 155 Ks, 20 walks.

— Don’t sweat it, kid. Giancarlo hits ’em that far off everyone.

— The first HR by an Angels first baseman was a no-doubter. They also got their first HR from the leadoff spot. They still have none from 3B or SS.

— Mike Trout (age 20) is the youngest player to homer this year. Only two position players age 21 or under have appeared in the majors in 2012.

— On 0-and-2, Chris Johnson was looking for the curve, and he got it. His first salami scored three men walked by Jaime Garcia, who hadn’t walked more than 3 in 12 starts since last August.

— John Jay, pick on someone your own size!

— “All aboard for a free ride to Lansdowne Street!”

• Early returns on the Jeremy Guthrie trade: Jason Hammel, 4-1, 2.09 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 38 Ks in 39 IP; Matt Lindstrom, no ER, 0.91 WHIP in 11 IP.
• More favorable trade winds: Last year’s deadline deal of Koji Uehara brought in Chris Davis (.944 OPS) and Tommy Hunter, who’s given them a chance to win 4 of his 5 starts.

Here at HHS Recap, these are a few of our favorite things:

• We like to see our elders doing well.
• We like to see old dogs learn new tricks.
• We love it when pitchers sling the leather and when they get meaningful extra-base hits.
• And we really love outfield double plays.

— Youngsters, here’s a good reason to listen when your folks tell you to polish your shoes.

Belated note:

— Overshadowed by Friday’s dramatic ending was yet another strong start by Tigers rookie (and AL ERA leader) Drew Smyly. The second-year pro is the first Tiger in the searchable era to start his career with 5 starts allowing 2 runs or less. Smyly has 29 Ks in 28 IP; only one Tiger has ever had a qualifying season with 9 SO/9.