Reds 4, @Nationals 3 (15 inn.) — With both sides running out of bodies, Todd Frazier’s 2-run shot broke a tie in the 15th, and the struggling Logan Ondrusek survived some loud outs in his second inning of work to preserve the win. The Reds weathered Washington’s winning bids in the 12th and 14th with great defensive plays, by Brandon Phillips and Billy Hamilton, each ending the frame with a man on third.
How is WAR contributed by major league pitchers? At what age do pitchers become most valuable to a team? I’ll be looking at those question in response to a suggestion by mosc, a regular and thoughtful contributor to our discussions here at HHS.
More after the jump.
Tigers 6, @Red Sox 2 — Not quite a Boston Massacre, but Detroit outscored the champs 13-3 in this weekend sweep, out-hit them 32-16, with an extra-base hits margin of 14-2. The Sox have three XBH-free home games this year, two in this series.
@Royals 1, Orioles 0 — Danny Duffy was perfect into the 7th, dueling Bud Norris with strong defensive backing, and Greg Holland worked through his own problems in the 9th, getting the last two outs on strikes with the tying run on third.
More Julio — yay!
Blue Jays 2, @Rangers 0 — Drew Hutchison finished off a 3-hit shutout in his 20th career game, besting Yu Darvish to be the second Texas visitor this year to do what none could in the prior two.
Johnny Cueto is thus far having a pitching season for the ages. While his level of dominance is surprising, Cueto’s past performance coming into this, his age 28 season, did project to a superior performance and possibly a career best year.
After the jump, more on Johnny Cueto and prime pitching seasons.
@Reds 5, Padres 0 (day) — Is this roll of Johnny Cueto’s really happening? His second 3-hit shutout this year gave him nine straight starts allowing 5 hits or less in 7 innings or more — ten straight if you count last season. Neither streak has a searchable match.
This post is for voting and discussion in the 58th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round adds to the ballot those players born in 1924. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading
After he finished third and fourth, respectively, over the previous two rounds, Juan Marichal’s support this round bounced up and put him over the top, in his 17th round on the ballot. Marichal becomes the 57th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. Continue reading
Your humble narrator makes his first 2014 trip to Mets Park Wednesday night, so here’s a lot of words to keep you busy.
Tigers 4, @Orioles 1 — Tommy Hunter was one strike away from closing a tight 1-0 win. Ahead 1-and-2 on Torii Hunter, with the tying run on second, but lost him. That brought up … uh-oh … Guess who’s back?