Diamond Rundown – Edition Seven

Facts, figures and other tidbits from the seventh week of the ’08 major league baseball season.

One Small Step… : With their split of a Monday doubleheader, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their season series with the Atlanta Braves.  Winning 5 out of 7, the Pirates won the season series for the first time since 1997.

How Low Can You Go? : Despite a no decision, Cleveland’s Cliff Leelowered his major league leading ERA to 0.67 after 9 scoreless innings.  Unfortunately, Cleveland could not score and lost in extra innings to the Blue Jays, 3-0.  Later in the week, Lee would also lose the league lead in ERA.

2×2 : Milwaukee’s Ryan Braunhit two home runs for the 2 ^nd consecutive game on Monday in their 8-3 win over the Cardinals.  Braun was the first Brewer to hit 2 home runs in back-to-back games since Geoff Jenkinsdid it on April 28 ^th and 29 ^th in 2001.

Notable Quotable I : “What a game!  I guess y’all didn’t think we had a chance when we fell behind 5-0 to (Erik) Bedard.  We fooled y’all and Bedard.”  Rangers manager Ron Washingtonon their 13-12 win over Seattle in 10 innings on Monday that ended with a Ramon Vazquezgame-ending home run.

Keep On Runnin’ : Houston’s Lance Berkmanscored for the 15 ^th game in a row in their 7-3 win over the Giants on Monday.  The streak tied a team record set previously by Carlos Beltran.  Berkman failed to break the record on Tuesday when he was stranded twice including on third base with one out in the third inning.

New Ace In Town : Cincinnati’s Edinson Volquezpitched his 8 ^th consecutive game in which he went at least 5 innings and gave up 1 or less runs.  Volquez went 6 innings and gave up just 1 run in Cincinnati’s 5-3 win over the Marlins.  He raised his record to 6-1 with a 1.12 ERA and a league-best 57 strikeouts at game’s end on Tuesday.  Since 1956, only one Reds pitcher had a longer such streak – Bill Gullicksonfrom July 29-September 2, 1986.

Notable Quotable II : “I just got a little too inside I guess.”  Mets pitcher John Maineafter hitting Washington’s Felipe Lopezwith the first pitch of the game on Tuesday.  Lopez was visibly angry but should have expected it.  The plunking came a day after Nelson Figueroacomplained that the Nationals were “bush league” because they were cheering like a group of “softball girls” in the game prior.

Hope #101 Comes Faster : San Diego’s Shawn Estesfinally won his 100 ^th game of his career in his 4-3 win over the Cubs on Tuesday.  It was his first victory since September 9, 2005.  Then, Estes had another solid outing on Sunday but Heath Bellblew the save and cost him victory #101.

Back To Form : After a slow start, Pittsburgh’s Damaso Marteis back on track.  He made three appearances this week, gave up just one hit and picked up a win and 2 holds.  In his last 12 appearances, Marte is 3-0 with 6 holds and a 0.63 ERA. 

Dazzling Debut : Cincinnati’s Paul Janish’s first major league action ended with a walk-off single and a bloody nose on Wednesday.  Janish entered in the 8 ^th inning of a 6-0 game and was on the field as the Reds bullpen coughed up the lead in the 9 ^th .  The Marlins tied it up and the game went extras.  With two out and runners on 1 ^st and 2 ^nd , Janish singled to score Johnny Cuetofrom 2 ^nd as a pinch runner for David Ross.  Cueto crossing the plate earned the Reds the win and Janish was mobbed and pummeled by teammates so hard in the post-game celebration, he received a bloody nose.

Second Guessing : Milwaukee’s Ned Yostsaid he had Eric Gagneavailable on Wednesday but went with Guillermo Motain the 9 ^th instead and the Angels made Yost’s Brewers pay as the Angels came back to win 6-4.

Ver(lander)y Big Problems : How serious are Justin Verlander’s problems?  Detroit’s ace not only fell to 1-7 after going 6 innings and gave up 2 runs in their loss to the Royals but dropped his first loss in 10 career starts against Kansas City on Wednesday.  Going into the game, Verlander was 6-0 with a 2.65 ERA against the Royals.

Torre Knows Best : With third baseman Blake DeWittsidelined due to a back injury, the Dodgers’ brain trust had to make a quick decision about who would play third on Thursday.  Third base coach Larry Bowasuggested Torre start Chin-Lung Hubut Torre ignored Bowa’s advice and moved Russell Martinto third and put Gary Bennettbehind the plate.  Bennett, told 15 minutes before the game started, went 2-for-4 including a 3-run homer and an RBI double.  Russell Martin, playing third base for the 5 ^th time in his career, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.  Bowa’s choice Hu did get in the game as a defensive sub and struck out.

Notable Quotable III : “Someone tell me why the (expletive) you’re talking to the closer.  I didn’t even play.  They’re over there, not being interviewed.  I got it.  They’re gone.  (Expletive) shocker!”  Mets closer Billy Wagnerafter their 1-0 loss to the Nationals.  This explains why Wagner left Philadelphia because the fans were ripping his teammates; he wanted to be the main voice critical of his teammates.

Career First :  Philadelphia’s Cole Hamelsgot his first complete game shutout of his career in his 60 ^th start in their 5-0 win over Atlanta on Thursday.  The 4-hitter was his 29 ^th career win.

Overcoming The Odds : The White Sox bucked a trend on Thursday in their 4-3 win over the Angels… they beat Francisco Rodriguez.  The Angels had won 25 consecutive games when Rodriguez appeared and it was the third 20+ win streak the Angels had experienced. 

Werthwhile Game : Philadelphia’s Jayson Werthhit 3 home runs (including his 1 ^st grand slam) and 8 RBIs (which tied a team record) in Philadelphia’s 10-3 win over the Blue Jays on Friday.  Werth was the 18 ^th Phillie to hit 3 home runs.

Lead-Off Drop-Off : Lineup position doesn’t matter?  Don’t tell Kansas City’s Joey Gathrightthat.  Gathright, the sometimes lead-off hitter of the Royals, hits .220 with a .272 On-Base % in games where he is in the lineup as the lead-off hitter.  In any other lineup position, he’s hitting .277 with a .345 On-Base %.

Streak Snapped : St. Louis’ Albert Pujolsstreak of reaching base ended at 42 in their 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday.  It was the 5 ^th longest streak to start off a season since 1956 and the longest since Derek Jeterreached base in his first 53 games of the year for the Yankees in 1999.

Notable Quotable III : “How many people they hold here?  I hope 45 (thousand) show up today and they can boo A.J.  We get used to it.  We boo A.J. when he takes batting practice, I think A.J. loves that.  Every time they do that he has a good game.”  White Sox manager Ozzie Guillenon Giants’ fans booing A.J. Pierzynskiwho left San Francisco to play for the White Sox after the 2004 season.  On Giants employee told Pierzynski that “he ruined the organization.”

Interleague Incredible : Mets ace Johan Santana’s mediocre outing against the Yankees on Saturday was good enough for his 5 ^th win of the season and help raise his record in Interleague play to 17-4.

Déjà vu : Cincinnati’s Adam Dunnbeat the Cleveland Indians for the 2 ^nd time in 3 seasons with a walk-off home run.  His 3-run homer on Saturday off of Masa Kobayashigave the Reds a 4-2 win over their interstate rival.  Dunn also did it with a grand slam on June 20, 2006 off of Bob Wickmanto give the Reds a 9-8 win over the Indians.

Jump Start : Detroit’s Matthew Joycehit his 4 ^th major league home run in his 33 ^rd plate appearance of his major league career on Saturday.

Caught I : Houston’s Michael Bourn had a tough weekend on the base paths on Saturday and Sunday when Texas’ Gerald Lairdgunned down Bourn three times on stolen base attempts.  Prior to this, Bourn had stolen 18 consecutive bases.

Night And Day : Kansas City’s Brian Bannisterlost to Florida after giving up 6 runs in 6 1/3 innings of work on Saturday.  The loss dropped Bannister to 0-5 with an 8.23 ERA in night games.  He’s been a different pitcher in the day with a 4-0 record and a 0.62 ERA in day games.

Woe Is Z : San Francisco’s Barry Zitoworked 5 innings, gave up 2 runs and picked up his 8 ^th loss of the season on Saturday.  Zito became the first Giants pitcher to open the season with 8 losses since Jesse Burkettin 1890.  Zito is just one loss away from matching the longest streak since 1956 when Washington Senators pitcher Chuck Stobbslost 9 in a row without a win from September 9, 1956 to May 24, 1957.

Marquee Match-Up : Cleveland’s Cliff Leeand Cincinnati’s Edinson Volquez’s squared off with league leading ERAs (0.67 for Lee and 1.12 for Volquez) on Sunday marking the third time in Interleague play that it happened.  In 1998, Al Leitertook the loss against Hideki Irabuin a Mets-Yankees match-up and in 2002, Derek Loweoutpitched Tom Glavinein Boston’s win over Atlanta.  Volquez got the win over Lee in the 6-4 Reds win over the Indians.

Caught II : Boston’s Jacoby Ellsburywas caught stealing for the first time in his major league career on Sunday.  It was his first time caught in 26 attempts.  His 25 consecutive steals without being caught was a team record.

Numbers Game
14: Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabreraturned an unassisted triple play on Monday, the 14 ^th player in major league history to do so.
47: Chicago’s Alfonso Sorianohit his 46 ^th and 47 ^th home run to lead off a game on Wednesday and Friday.  He is 3 ^rd all-time behind Craig Biggiowith 53 and Rickey Hendersonwith 81 in home runs to lead off the game.
44 1/3: Cleveland’s starting pitchers went 44 1/3 consecutive innings without giving up a run from May 9-15.  They still managed to sweep Oakland with a 4-2 win on Thursday even with Aaron Lafferygiving up an unearned run in the 2 ^nd inning.  It was the longest such streak since the Orioles’ starters registered 54 consecutive scoreless innings from September 1-7, 1974.
288: Another week, another win.  Arizona’s Randy Johnsonpicked up his 288 ^th career win on Sunday after going 7 scoreless innings against the Tigers.  The Diamondbacks won 4-0 and Johnson is now tied for 24 ^th on the all-time wins list, just 12 away from 300 wins.
498: Boston’s Manny Ramirez498 ^th career homer was one of the few highlights in Clevena’s 7-3 loss to the Twins on Monday.
1401: Detroit’s Gary Sheffieldbecame the 26 ^th player in major league history to walk 1400 times on Tuesday and added one more to his career walk total later in the week.
1502: Houston’s Brad Ausmusnotched his 1500 ^th hit on Tuesday and added two more to his career total by week’s end.
2401:  Tony LaRussa’s Cardinals helped him achieve and surpass 2,400 wins with two walk-off wins on Saturday and Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
2405: Yankees Derek Jeterpassed the 2400-hit mark on Thursday and ended the week with 2,405 hits.

Grand Slams
Jay Payton, Baltimorevs. Boston (5/14)
Carlos Quentin, White Soxvs. Angels (5/14)
Jayson Werth, Philadelphiavs. Toronto (5/16)
Rod Barajas, Torontovs. Philadelphia (5/17)

Walk-Off Archive
Single:  Gabe Gross, Tampa Bayvs. Yankees (5/13);  Paul Janish, Cincinnativs. Florida (5/14)
Double:  Skip Schumaker, St. Louisvs. Tampa Bay (5/18)
Triple:  None
Home Run:  Ramon Vazquez, Texasvs. Seattle (5/12);  Ryan Ludwick, St. Louisvs. Tampa Bay (5/17);  Adam Dunn, Cincinnativs. Cleveland (5/17)