Red Sox 7, @Athletics 6 (10 inn.) — As I said, Jon Lester is off to his best start ever. Clearly. (Now, pardon me while I bow towards Buster Olney.)
Sunday Game Notes (June 22)
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Author Archives: John Autin
Game Notes from Friday: Ozuna’s ‘Walk-Off’ Dart
Some called it “Comeback Friday” — but the best dramatic finish was a rally that fell short.
@Marlins 3, Mets 2 — Voice of the Marlins on Marcell Ozuna’s late heroics: “The best arm out of the bullpen tonight was the left fielder!” Twice in the last two innings, Ozuna nailed the would-be tying run at home with pegs as pretty as a picture.
Game Notes from Wednesday, 6/18: Kershaw Gets His
@Dodgers 8, Rockies 0 — Clayton Kershaw had all his breaking pitches dancing to their master’s tune. The perfecto died on Hanley’s throwing error in the 7th, but two whiffs and a nice play by Miguel Rojas, deep behind third base, kept the no-no going. Two more strikeouts in the 8th made fourteen, a new career high, and seven of the last ten Rockies.
Game Notes, Mon. 6/16: This 1-0 Just Not Meant to Be
Philly 6, @Atlanta 1 (13 inn.) — Atlanta rallied to force extras, but Freddie Freeman flubbed a DP ball, and the floodgates fell open. After Ryan Howard soloed in the 2nd, Cole Hamels and the Phils nursed that 1-0 lead to the 9th. But the weight of history was against them:
Pitching In When the Starter Goes Down … (plus G.N.)
(To avoid front-page clutter, I’m packaging this essay with some weekend game notes. Enjoy!)
On Sunday, June 15, Daisuke Matsuzaka started for the Mets against the Padres, but had to leave after one scoreless inning with an upset stomach. New York went on to win, 3-1, with three relievers covering the last eight innings.
Is that a surprising result? What would you guess is the winning percentage of teams whose starter lasted one inning or less without yielding a run?
Friday game notes: Polanco to the Rescue
Pirates 8, @Marlins 6 (13 inn.) — Someone pinch Gregory Polanco. The wunderkind’s first home run not only gave him five hits in the game, but also saved the Bucs from a potential loss that would have haunted Clint Hurdle all year. They led by 6-2 after eight, behind Jeff Locke’s career-long outing and the big nights by Polanco and Starling Marte at the top of the order. And then the roof collapsed:
Game Notes plays catch-up, backwards from Wed. 6/11
Twins 7, @Blue Jays 2 — The new, improved Phil Hughes passed a big test with top marks. Against the sluggin’est squad, in this year’s best home-run venue, Hughes stared down his long-ball demons and never blinked, earning his first win in Toronto since 2011; 7.77 ERA in 5 starts there the past two years.
Chisenhall-of-Fame Game
Lonnie Chisenhall was already hitting out of his mind, so what do we call Monday’s rampage? Five for five, spiking his season average to .385, with 3 HRs, 9 RBI, and a double that one-hopped the wall. His 15 total bases are one shy of Rocky Colavito’s team record, in their only 4-HR game. Pat Seerey, Bobby Avila and Ellis Burks also had 15 TB for Cleveland.
It’s the 34th game with at least 9 RBI since 1914. No player has done it twice. Some notes on those games:
Game Notes: Sunday Drives
Astros 14, @Twins 5 — Houston pulled away with two late grand slams, career firsts by Chris Carter and Jon Singleton, plus George Springer’s 12th homer. Collin McHugh was staked to a 5-0 lead, but his wildness kept him from getting through five and cost him a win.
Game notes from Saturday, June 7
(I need a gimmick, so I’m only doing games with at least one team over .500.)
Cardinals 5, @Blue Jays 0 — Shelby Miller took a no-no to the 6th and finished off a 3-hitter, and Randall Grichuk’s maiden homer broke a scoreless tie in the 5th to hang a tough loss on Mark Buehrle.