{"id":719,"date":"2008-09-22T14:40:07","date_gmt":"2008-09-22T21:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/22\/diamond-rundown-%e2%80%93-edition-twenty-five\/"},"modified":"2008-09-22T14:40:07","modified_gmt":"2008-09-22T21:40:07","slug":"diamond-rundown-%e2%80%93-edition-twenty-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/22\/diamond-rundown-%e2%80%93-edition-twenty-five\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamond Rundown \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Edition Twenty Five"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Rare Power Source<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 Juan Pierre <\/strong>of the Dodgers hit the 13th<\/sup> home run of his career on Monday in their 8-2 win over the Pirates.\u00c2\u00a0 It was his first in 1,070 at-bats.\u00c2\u00a0 Pierre\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 13th<\/sup> career homer came on his 5,132nd<\/sup> career at-bat.<\/p>\n

Snap!<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Seattle\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Raul Ibanez <\/strong>went 0-for-3 in their 3-0 loss to the Royals on Monday.\u00c2\u00a0 The performance ended Ibanez\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s streak of reaching base at 32 consecutive games.<\/p>\n

Even Better Than the Babe<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 Alex Rodriguez <\/strong>homered for the 35th<\/sup> time this season on Wednesday and surpassed the 100 RBI mark giving him 35 home runs and 100 RBI for the 12th<\/sup> season — one more than Babe Ruth<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Also, the Yankees beat the White Sox 5-1 as A-Rod became the first player to homer 35 times in 11 consecutive seasons passing Sammy Sosa <\/strong>who hit at least 35 homers in 10 consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n

Notable Quotable I<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not enjoying this.\u00c2\u00a0 Are you crazy?\u00c2\u00a0 Walking out there every three minutes?\u00c2\u00a0 [Fans] didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t come to see me.\u00c2\u00a0 They come to see the guys play.\u00c2\u00a0 This is not the way we drew it up, but we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to do what we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to do to win.\u00c2\u00a0 We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll laugh about it, hopefully, in November.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Mets manager Jerry Manuel <\/strong>who used seven different relievers in their 9-7 win over the Nationals on Wednesday.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Team Turnaround<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Tampa Bay Rays won their 90th<\/sup> game on Wednesday over the Red Sox 10-3.\u00c2\u00a0 They became just the sixth team in Major League history to follow 10 consecutive losing seasons with at least 90 wins.\u00c2\u00a0 The 2008 Rays joined the \u00e2\u20ac\u212212 Senators, \u00e2\u20ac\u212214 Braves, \u00e2\u20ac\u212256 Reds, \u00e2\u20ac\u212279 Expos and 2006 Tigers.<\/p>\n

One Happy Return<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Detroit\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Freddy Garcia <\/strong>made his first start in 15 months a successful one on Wednesday.\u00c2\u00a0 Garcia went five innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk in their 17-4 win over the Rangers.<\/p>\n

Notable Quotable II<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wow!\u00c2\u00a0 This year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been really, really crazy.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just here for one reason.\u00c2\u00a0 I want to win and keep going.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Geovany Soto<\/strong> of the Cubs who slammed a game-tying three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to send their game with the Brewers to extras on Thursday.\u00c2\u00a0 The Cubs won on a walk-off single by Derrek Lee<\/strong> to beat the Brew Crew 7-6 in 12 innings.<\/p>\n

Consolation Prize<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Rays lost to the Twins 11-8 on Thursday but Evan Longoria <\/strong>became just the second player in Rays\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 history to hit three home runs in a game.\u00c2\u00a0 The only other Ray to do so was Jonny Gomes <\/strong>in 2005.<\/p>\n

Major Maybin<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Florida\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Cameron Maybin <\/strong>had four hits for the second consecutive game, had eight consecutive hits and reached base 10 consecutive times both streaks tying franchise records.\u00c2\u00a0 The four-hit performance by Maybin on Friday helped the Marlins beat the Phillies 14-8 and Maybin ended the night with an .818 average through his first three \u00e2\u20ac\u212208 games.<\/p>\n

Reversal<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Tampa Bay\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Carlos Pena <\/strong>became the first to benefit from instant replay as the call on the field of fan interference and a ground-rule double was reversed after review and Pena awarded a home run in their 11-1 win over the Twins on Friday.\u00c2\u00a0 The first use of instant replay also took place at Tropicana Field on September 3.<\/p>\n

Rookie Power<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Cincinnati\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Joey Votto <\/strong>hit his 19th<\/sup> and 20th<\/sup> homer and Jay Bruce <\/strong>hit his 20th<\/sup> homer on Friday to help the Reds beat the Brewers 11-2.\u00c2\u00a0 Votto and Bruce became the only pair of rookies on the same team to blast 20 home runs this year.<\/p>\n

Whiff Ball<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Oakland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Jack Cust <\/strong>struck out for the 186th<\/sup> and 187th<\/sup> time on Friday to set a new American League record for strikeouts in a season.\u00c2\u00a0 On a good note, the Athletics won the game against the Mariners 2-0.<\/p>\n

Clinch I<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cardinals 5-4 on Saturday and clinched their second consecutive National League Central title.<\/p>\n

We Have A Winner<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Philadelphia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Joe Blanton <\/strong>has not been dominant since joining the team after a mid-season trade with Oakland but he is a perfect 3-0 in 12 starts with the club.\u00c2\u00a0 On Saturday, the Phillies won 3-2 behind Blanton\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s five-inning, two run and nine strikeout performance.<\/p>\n

Clinch II<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their first-ever playoff berth on Saturday with a 7-2 win over the Twins.<\/p>\n

Streakin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Atlanta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Kelly Johnson <\/strong>extended his hitting streak to 19 straight games in the Braves 7-6 come-from-behind win over the Mets (Do the Mets lose any other way?) on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Bullpen Blow-Up<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Mets\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bullpen fell to 2-8 since August 11 and the bullpen registered their 16th<\/sup> blown save since the All-Star break — the most in the Majors — on Sunday in their loss to the Braves.\u00c2\u00a0 Scott Schoeneweis <\/strong>took the loss, his third since August 26.<\/p>\n

Dynamic Duo<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Oakland\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bullpen duo of Brad Ziegler <\/strong>and Joey Devine <\/strong>are nothing short of amazing this year.\u00c2\u00a0 On Sunday, Ziegler picked up the win and Devine notched his first save in their 5-3 win over the Mariners.\u00c2\u00a0 Ziegler is 3-0 with 10 saves and a 0.78 ERA and Devine is 6-1 with one save and a 0.62 ERA.<\/p>\n

Closing In<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Philadelphia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Brad Lidge <\/strong>is a perfect 40-of-40 in save opportunities this season after Lidge\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fourth save of the week on Sunday.\u00c2\u00a0 The Phillies beat the Marlins 5-2 and extended their National League East lead to 1-1\/2 games and Lidge moved closer to becoming only the second player in Major League history to save at least 40 games without blowing an opportunity.<\/p>\n

Notable Quotable III<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I feel like I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m losing an old friend.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad I was here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson <\/strong>on Sunday\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s game at Yankee Stadium — the last before the Yankees move across the street.<\/p>\n

Shutting the Doors<\/u><\/strong>:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The Yankees closed out Yankee Stadium with a 7-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles behind Andy Pettite <\/strong>who picked up his 14th<\/sup> win, Jose Molina <\/strong>who hit the last home run at the Stadium and Mariano Rivera <\/strong>who pitched a perfect ninth inning.<\/p>\n

Numbers Game<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/strong>200:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Seattle\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Ichiro Suzuki <\/strong>went 3-for-3 on Wednesday to notch his eighth consecutive 200-hit season matching only Wee Willie Keller <\/strong>for the most consecutive seasons with 200 hits.
\n1,007:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Kansas City\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Brandon Duckworth <\/strong>struck out Wladimir Balentien <\/strong>in the sixth to register the club\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 1,007th<\/sup> strikeout, a franchise record.\u00c2\u00a0 The previous record of 1,006 was set in 1990.
\n1,270:\u00c2\u00a0 Derek Jeter <\/strong>of the Yankees delivered his 1,270th<\/sup> hit at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.\u00c2\u00a0 The first inning single moved Jeter past Lou Gehrig <\/strong>for most hits in Yankee Stadium history.<\/p>\n

Grand Slams<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/strong>Taylor Teagarden, Texas <\/strong>vs. Detroit (9\/15)
\nTroy Tulowitzki, Colorado <\/strong>vs. San Diego (9\/15)
\nChris Ianetta, Colorado <\/strong>vs. San Diego (9\/16)
\nAdam LaRoche, Pittsburgh <\/strong>vs. LA Dodgers (9\/17)
\nJorge Cantu, Florida <\/strong>vs. Houston (9\/17)
\nAdam Kennedy, St. Louis <\/strong>vs. Chicago Cubs (9\/19)
\nJoey Votto, Cincinnati <\/strong>vs. Milwaukee (9\/19)
\nAlexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox <\/strong>vs. Kansas City (9\/19)<\/p>\n

Walk-Off Archive<\/u><\/strong>
\nSingle:\u00c2\u00a0 Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay <\/strong>vs. Boston (9\/16); Chris Davis, Texas <\/strong>vs. Detroit (9\/16); Cliff Pennington, Oakland <\/strong>vs. LA Angels (9\/17); Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs <\/strong>vs. Milwaukee (9\/18); Jamey Carroll, Cleveland <\/strong>vs. Detroit (9\/19)\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nDouble:\u00c2\u00a0 None<\/strong>
\nTriple:\u00c2\u00a0 None<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0
\nHome Run:\u00c2\u00a0 Victor Martinez, Cleveland <\/strong>vs. Minnesota (9\/16)\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Facts, figures and other tidbits from the twenty fifth 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-719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/719","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=719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/719\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}