I’m too glum about Detroit’s loss to cover the races, so here’s some stupid stuff instead:
@D’backs 10, Giants 2: Rookie Patrick Corbin tossed 8 strong innings, but his biggest contributions came with the lumber. He drove in 4 runs — a new high for a pitcher this year — with 2 hits, including a triple with the pillows plumped that broke a 2-2 tie in the 4th and foiled an intentional walk. Corbin came in with just 2 hits in 28 ABs and no RBI, but he looks hitterish up there, no? In the minors, Corbin was 12 for 50 with 5 walks against 13 Ks.
- Only one other Arizona pitcher ever had 4+ RBI in a game.
@Padres 12, Rockies 11: Admit it — you’re half-sure I’ve misreported the locale. It’s the first time in the 643-game history of Petco Park that both teams scored 10+ runs in regulation. As a bonus, we have the first career HR for Colorado’s Matt McBride, the first grand slam by Josh Rutledge (tying the game in the 8th), and the 2nd HR in as many games by pitcher Alex White, a 3-run drive. And with all that, the game ended on a thrilling play at home after a single by Yonder Alonso, who drove in the game’s first run the same way. It was his first walk-off RBI.
- White is tied with 2 others for the pitcher HR lead, including the only other pitcher with a 3-run HR, which came against Colorado the day after White’s 1st HR. He’s the first pitcher since 2009 to homer in consecutive games. (I had hoped that Micah was the answer here, too, but Johnson’s streak came a month later.) The only other pitcher to homer at Petco this year is Drew Pomeranz in this losing effort; of the 8 pitcher HRs ever hit there, only Mat Latos did it for the home team.
- Chase Headley regained the NL RBI lead with a 2-run HR. Only Dave Winfield ever won an RBI crown as a Padre. (Pop quiz: Who won the only HR crown as a Padre?)
- Here’s the only other Petco contest where both teams scored 10+ runs (in 11 innings).
- Here’s the only other one where both teams scored 9+ runs in regulation.
Reds 5, @Marlins 4 (11): Here’s the last time the Reds had 17+ hits with no more than one extra-base hit. (That’s also the only searchable Reds game with 17+ hits and no XBH.)
- Ryan Ludwick really likes a 2-1 count. And that’s what he hit for the deciding run.
@Cubs 13, Pirates 9: Alfonso Soriano became the first since 2008 with 100+ RBI at age 36 or older. There were 31 such years from 1996-2008, and the same number from 1901-95.
- Soriano also will likely be the 5th Cub ever with 100+ RBI and less than 70 Runs. He has 61 Runs in 136 games.
@Braves 5, Nationals 1: No dice in Gio‘s first bid for win #20. Here’s the only 20-game-winner in franchise history.
- Why does Orel Hershiser favor Gonzales over R.A. Dickey in the CYA race? “More wins.”
@Astros 7, Phillies 6: First consecutive Houston wins in over a month. After going 8-46 in July & August, they’re now 8-7 in September, looking for their first winning month since Sept. 2010.
- Roy Halladay still needs 2 wins for 200, with 3(?) starts left. I’m pretty sure this guy was the last to get #200 in Phillies uni.
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Pop quiz answer: Woof-woof!
