{"id":518,"date":"2008-06-16T07:55:39","date_gmt":"2008-06-16T14:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/06\/16\/diamond-rundown-%e2%80%93-edition-eleven\/"},"modified":"2008-06-16T07:55:39","modified_gmt":"2008-06-16T14:55:39","slug":"diamond-rundown-%e2%80%93-edition-eleven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/06\/16\/diamond-rundown-%e2%80%93-edition-eleven\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamond Rundown \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Edition Eleven"},"content":{"rendered":"

Facts, figures and other tidbits from the eleventh week of the \u00e2\u20ac\u212208 major league baseball season.<\/em><\/p>\n

Notable Quotable <\/u><\/strong>I:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s intense, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m intense, and it probably didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help it was 1,000 degrees out there.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Doug Mientkiewicz <\/strong>of the Pirates on Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson <\/strong>walking toward home plate because he was unhappy with Mientkiewicz who stepped out of the batter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s box twice after Johnson threw a pitch that nearly hit him.\u00c2\u00a0 Both players exchanged words and the benches cleared but things quickly returned to normal.\u00c2\u00a0 The Pirates beat the Diamondbacks 5-3 on Monday.<\/p>\n

Third Time, No Charm<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis <\/strong>was demoted to Class A by Detroit the day after he became the third player since 1956 to give up eight or more earned runs on three hits or less.\u00c2\u00a0 On Monday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 8-2 loss to the Indians, Willis gave up eight earned runs in 1 1\/3 innings on three hits and five walks \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a feat previously accomplished by Randy Johnson <\/strong>and Kerry Wood<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Still RED Hot<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Despite giving up three earned runs for the first time this season, Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez <\/strong>picked up his ninth win on Monday in the Reds 9-4 win over the Marlins.\u00c2\u00a0 Volquez gave up three runs on three hits and five walks in six innings which raised his ERA to 1.56 and brought his record to 9-2.<\/p>\n

Streakin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Rangers shortstop Michael Young <\/strong>extended his Major League-best hitting streak to 23 games on Tuesday before finally taking an “0-for” on Wednesday against the Royals.<\/p>\n

Johnny Walker Red<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Reds starter Johnny Cueto <\/strong>became the first Reds pitcher since Steve Avery <\/strong>on June 29, 1999 to walk eight in one game.\u00c2\u00a0 He also gave up multiple home runs for the sixth time in 14 starts in their 10-0 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

No K-onsolation<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>On Wednesday, Phillies ace Cole Hamels <\/strong>tied a Major League season high and set a National League season high with 13 strikeouts against the Marlins.\u00c2\u00a0 Hamels gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in eight innings but got a no decision when Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla <\/strong>hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth off of Tom Gordon<\/strong> to give the Marlins a 6-2 win.<\/p>\n

Two-Sport Star?<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Before Wednesday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Astros-Brewers game in Houston, some members of the Houston Texans football team took batting practice to raise money for charity.\u00c2\u00a0 While the Texans raised $30,800, offensive tackle Eric Winston <\/strong>raised eyebrows by blasting several home runs into the upper deck in right field.\u00c2\u00a0 Impressed by the display, Astros manager Cecil Cooper <\/strong>joked his team would be willing to sign Winston \u00e2\u20ac\u201c if he could hit a curveball.<\/p>\n

Notable Quotable II<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I told him yesterday, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcNo more home runs off me,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 then he hit a home run.\u00c2\u00a0 I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think he listened.\u00c2\u00a0 Oakland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Justin Duchscherer <\/strong>on Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi <\/strong>who hit a home run off of Duchscherer for the third time in his career.\u00c2\u00a0 The Athletics won 8-4 but Duchscherer gave up his first home run in seven starts.<\/p>\n

No Support<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>On Thursday, Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers <\/strong>made his fourth consecutive start of at least seven innings and less than two earned runs without earning a decision.\u00c2\u00a0 Rogers went eight and gave up one run on four hits and a walk but was not around in the ninth to get the decision when Miguel Cabrera <\/strong>won it with a walk-off homer.\u00c2\u00a0 The Tigers beat the White Sox, 2-1.<\/p>\n

Billy Blows<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Mets closer Billy Wagner <\/strong>blew his third consecutive save for the second time in his career when the Arizona Diamondbacks scored two off of Wagner in the ninth and won 5-4 in 10 innings on Thursday.\u00c2\u00a0 It was Wagner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fifth blown save in 18 chances.<\/p>\n

Sweeping In Chicago<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>What happens when the team with the best home record in the National League \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the Chicago Cubs \u00e2\u20ac\u201c plays the team with the worst road record in baseball \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the Atlanta Braves?\u00c2\u00a0 The Cubs raised their home record to 29-8 and dropped the Braves to 7-24 after the completion of a sweep of Atlanta on Thursday.\u00c2\u00a0 The Cubs won 10-5, 7-2 and 3-2 in 12 innings.<\/p>\n

Home Sick<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Not only were the Braves swept by the Cubs, they lost 3-2 in 12 innings on Thursday when Jeff Ridgway <\/strong>hit Reed Johnson <\/strong>with the bases loaded to force in the winning run.\u00c2\u00a0 The loss marked the Braves 21st<\/sup> consecutive one-run loss on the road \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a Major League record.<\/p>\n

Triple Perfect<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>In Thursday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Phillies-Marlins game, three Philadelphia players continued to stay perfect.\u00c2\u00a0 First, Jimmy Rollins <\/strong>extended his consecutive steals streak to 26 when he stole his 12th<\/sup> consecutive base of the season.\u00c2\u00a0 Second, Brad Lidge <\/strong>continued to be flawless in converting saves in a Phillies uniform with his 18th<\/sup> consecutive without a blown save.\u00c2\u00a0 Finally, Jamie Moyer <\/strong>continued his mastery of the Marlins by winning for the ninth time in nine starts after throwing eight innings of two-hit ball.<\/p>\n

Saving Andy<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Yankees closer Mariano Rivera <\/strong>is approaching a unique record.\u00c2\u00a0 On Thursday, he saved an Andy Pettite <\/strong>victory for the 52nd<\/sup> time in his career in their 4-1 win over Oakland.\u00c2\u00a0 The Major League record of most saves of another player is currently held by Dennis Eckersley <\/strong>who saved 55 of Bob Welch<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wins when they played for the Athletics.<\/p>\n

Running Wild<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Phillies potent offense put up 20 runs for the second time this season.\u00c2\u00a0 It was the most runs scored by a visiting team at Busch Stadium and the first time since 1900 that the Phillies scored 20 or more runs twice in a season since 1900 when they did it three times.<\/p>\n

Notable Quotable III<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I had a lot of good memories here in Toronto and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just one more to add to the collection.\u00c2\u00a0 I wish my wife and my family could have been here to see it.\u00c2\u00a0 I expected people to clap but I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know it was going to be as special as that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson <\/strong>on the reception he received from the Blue Jays fans in Toronto.\u00c2\u00a0 Johnson was a fan favorite when he played in Toronto up until last season.\u00c2\u00a0 He even received a nice round of cheers after hitting a three-run homer in the second that helped his Cubs win 6-2 over the Blue Jays on Saturday.<\/p>\n

A First?<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Unfortunately, baseball-reference.com\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Play Index only goes back to 1956 but Colorado\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Willie Taveras <\/strong>might have accomplished something no other player in the history of baseball has.\u00c2\u00a0 Taveras became the first player from 1956 to 2008 to steal five bases in one game and not score a run.\u00c2\u00a0 He is also the 18th<\/sup> player since 1956 to steal at least five bases and second Colorado player to steal five bases in a game.\u00c2\u00a0 Eric Young <\/strong>stole five bases as a Rockie on June 30, 1996.<\/p>\n

The Power of 10<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina <\/strong>won his 10th<\/sup> game on Saturday when the Yankees beat the Astros, 8-4.\u00c2\u00a0 Mussina extended his American League record by winning at least 10 games for the 17th<\/sup> consecutive season.\u00c2\u00a0 He also accomplished 10 wins within 15 starts for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n

Rookie Record<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Boston\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Jacoby Ellsbury <\/strong>set a club record when he stole two bases on Sunday.\u00c2\u00a0 The 32nd<\/sup> and 33rd<\/sup> stolen bases of Ellsbury\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s season set a rookie record previously held by Amby McConnell <\/strong>who stole 31 bases in 1908.\u00c2\u00a0 The American League record for steals by a rookie is held by Kenny Lofton <\/strong>who stole 66 bases in his rookie season with the Indians in 1992.<\/p>\n

Incomplete<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Florida\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Ricky Nolasco <\/strong>tried to end the Marlins streak of games without a complete game on Sunday but was removed with two outs in the ninth after throwing 132 pitches \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the most by a Major League pitcher this season.\u00c2\u00a0 The Marlins won 9-3 over the Rays but extended their games without a complete game streak to 245 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the second longest in the Major League history.\u00c2\u00a0 The longest streak in baseball was stopped earlier this season when the Nationals finally got a complete game from a starter but not before going 261 games from August 31, 2006 to May 31, 2008 without a complete game.<\/p>\n

K-K-K-K Club<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 Scott Baker <\/strong>became the first Minnesota Twin to strike out four batters in one inning on Sunday in their 4-2 loss to the Brewers.\u00c2\u00a0 It was the 50th<\/sup> time in Major League history that such a feat happened.\u00c2\u00a0 It is doubtful Baker will ever do it again, only Chuck Finley <\/strong>has done it more than once \u00e2\u20ac\u201c he did it three times in two seasons.<\/p>\n

Iron \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Met\u00e2\u20ac\u009d-al<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Only one player has played every inning of every game for their team this season.\u00c2\u00a0 That player is Mets third baseman David Wright <\/strong>who played all 18 innings of the Mets doubleheader with the Rangers on Sunday and every inning of the Mets\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 68 games this season.<\/p>\n

Numbers Game<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/strong>21:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Baltimore Orioles hit a double in 21 consecutive games before failing to get a two-bagger in Sunday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 5-4 loss to the Pirates.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The Orioles hit 29 doubles in the last seven games of the streak and Brian Roberts <\/strong>had 10 doubles in the last 11 games.
\n150:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Boston\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Bartolo Colon <\/strong>notched his 150th<\/sup> career win against the Orioles on Wednesday.\u00c2\u00a0 Colon went 6 innings and gave up one run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven in the Red Sox 6-3 win over the Orioles.\u00c2\u00a0 Colon is 4-1 since re-joining the Red Sox rotation.
\n65:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Last year, the Astros managed to steal 65 bases in all of 2007.\u00c2\u00a0 On Thursday and Friday, the Astros stole seven bases — three by Michael Bourn<\/strong>, two by Kaz Matsui<\/strong> and one each by Lance Berkman <\/strong>and Ty Wiggington<\/strong> — bringing their National League leading total to 72.
\n200:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>While Ken Griffey Jr. <\/strong>was hitting his 600th<\/sup> home run in Florida, on the west coast Angels outfielder Torii Hunter <\/strong>hit his 200th<\/sup> home run off of Tampa Bay\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Edwin Jackson <\/strong>on Monday.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite Hunter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s homer, the Angels lost to the Rays, 13-4.
\n1,653:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Boston\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Manny Ramirez <\/strong>took over sole possession of 24th<\/sup> place on the All-Time RBI leaderboard with an RBI on Friday against Cincinnati passing Reds Hall of Famer Tony Perez<\/strong>.
\n2,000:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>On Thursday, Giants second baseman Ray Durham <\/strong>joined the 2,000-hit club and added one more hit over the weekend to raise his career total to 2,001.
\n16,003:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The number of fans that turned out at Dolphin Stadium to see Reds slugger Ken Griffey Jr. <\/strong>hit his 600th<\/sup> career home run.\u00c2\u00a0 The Reds beat the Marlins 9-4 in a stadium not even full to 50 percent capacity on Monday.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite their winning record and a league-wide boost in attendance, the Marlins have the lowest average attendance in the Major League.<\/p>\n

Grand Slams<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/strong>Dan Uggla, Florida <\/strong>vs. Philadelphia (6\/11)
\nDavid Murphy, Texas <\/strong>vs. Kansas City (6\/11)
\nMike Lowell, Boston <\/strong>vs. Baltimore (6\/12)
\nHideki Matsui, NY Yankees <\/strong>vs. Oakland (6\/13)
\nKevin Kouzmanoff, San Diego <\/strong>vs. Cleveland (6\/14)
\nDavid DeJesus, Kansas City <\/strong>vs. Arizona (6\/15)<\/p>\n

Walk-Off Archive<\/u><\/strong>
\nSingle:\u00c2\u00a0 Ramon Hernandez, Baltimore <\/strong>vs. Pittsburgh (6\/14)\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nDouble:\u00c2\u00a0 None\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nTriple:\u00c2\u00a0 None\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>
\nHome Run:\u00c2\u00a0 Carlos Beltran, NY Mets <\/strong>vs. Arizona (6\/11); Dan Uggla, Florida <\/strong>vs. Philadelphia (6\/11); Miguel Cabrera, Detroit <\/strong>vs. Chicago White Sox (6\/12); Chad Tracy, Arizona <\/strong>vs. Kansas City (6\/13)
\nHit By Pitch:\u00c2\u00a0 Reed Johnson, Chicago Cubs <\/strong>vs. Atlanta (6\/12)
\nSacrifice Fly:\u00c2\u00a0 Yorvit Torrealba, Colorado <\/strong>vs. San Francisco (6\/11)
\nError:\u00c2\u00a0 Chris Duncan (reached on Tom Gordon fielding error), St. Louis <\/strong>vs. Philadelphia (6\/15)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Facts, figures and other tidbits from the eleventh week of the \u00e2\u20ac\u212208 major league baseball season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}