Diamond Rundown – Edition Seventeen

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

Well Supported : On Monday, Sidney Ponsonof the Yankees went to 2-0 and the team moved to 4-0 in his four starts since joining the team after his release from the Rangers earlier this season.  Ponson pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on nine hits and two walks in the 12-4 win over the Twins.  In Ponson’s four starts, the Yankees have scored an average of 10.25 runs per game.

Hall of Fame Numbers : Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr.hit his 606 ^th career homer but it was not enough to propel the Reds over the Padres as San Diego’s Trevor Hoffmannotched his 542 ^nd career save.  The Padres won 6-4 and earned their first comeback win after trailing at the end of eight innings.  Before Monday’s three-run ninth, the Padres were 0-53 when trailing at the end of eight innings.

Pour It On : The Pirates exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth to overcome a 3-2 deficit on Monday.  The exclamation point of the comeback was a three-run inside-the-park home run by Freddy Sanchez.  The Pirates beat the Astros 9-3.

New Cubs Ownership : Arizona’s Randy Johnsonnotched his 291 ^st career win on Monday with seven innings of two-hit scoreless ball in their 2-0 win over the Cubs.  In 14 starts against the Cubs, Johnson is 13-0.

Gobbled Up : Kansas City’s Jimmy Gobblebecame the second pitcher in less than a month to give up 10 runs in an inning or less work matching Cincinnati’s Bronson Arroyowho gave up 10 runs on June 24, 2008.  Gobble was the seventh since 1956 to accomplish the dubious distinction in their 19-4 loss to the Tigers on Monday.

No Long Goodbyes : The Minnesota Twins lost the second game of a three-game series with the Yankees on Tuesday 8-2.  The loss guaranteed their seventh consecutive series loss at Yankee Stadium since 2002.  On Wednesday, the Yankees completed a sweep of the Twins with a 5-1 win and Minnesota fell to 3-19 at Yankee Stadium since 2002.       

Cool Combo : Spot starter Rick Vandenhurkof the Marlins pitched five innings of no hit baseball against the Braves with five walks and seven strikeouts after his return from a 3 ½ month trip to the Minors.  Joe Nelsongave up one hit in his inning followed by two hitless innings by Renyel Pintoand a hitless inning by Matt Lindstromto give the Marlins’ pitchers a combined one-hit win over the Braves on Tuesday.

Notable Quotable I : “I was really good except for Mark (Grudzielanek).  He is hitting like .800 off me.  I threw one pitch eight to 10 inches off the plate and he doubled down the line.  I’ve thrown him everything.  The catcher doesn’t have enough fingers.  I told him when I was walking off that the next time I was going to throw him a knuckleball and I don’t even throw a knuckleball.  I wasn’t joking.  He’s hit everything else.”  Detroit’s Kenny Rogerswho broke a personal five-game losing streak against the Royals on Tuesday but gave up three of his four hits to Mark Grudzielanekin his six innings of work.  Grudzielanek is 12-for-23 (.652) in his career off of Rogers.

With A Bang : Cleveland’s Grady Sizemorehit his sixth lead-off homer of the season in their 3-2 loss to the Angels on Tuesday.  The six lead-off homers this season set a new team record and pushed his career lead-off home run total to 17 — one behind Kenny Lofton’s team record of 18.

Winning Isn’t Everything : San Diego’s Greg Madduxextended his winless start streak to 14 despite leaving with a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning after allowing an unearned run.  Cla Meredithreplaced Maddux and surrendered a home run on the first pitch to Edwin Encarnacionwhich pushed Maddux to a no decision and the team lost 9-5 to the Reds on Wednesday.

Something Brewing I : Milwaukee’s CC Sabathiathrew his third consecutive complete game on Wednesday in their 3-0 win over the Cardinals.  Sabathia became the first Brewer since Cal Eldredthrew four consecutive complete games in 1994.  Sabathia went to 4-0 since joining the Brewers.

Birthday Boy : Free agent home run king Barry Bondsturned 44 on Thursday.

Something Brewing II : Milwaukee’s Ryan Braunhit a two-run homer in the ninth inning of Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Cardinals to put the Brewers ahead and extended their home run streak to a franchise record 20 straight games.

Something Brewing III : In the same game, Milwaukee’s Salomon Torressaved his 19 ^th game by striking out the side on 13 pitches.  It was the sixth time in his career that Torres registered three strikeouts in one inning of work but first time without allowing a runner on base.

Winner’s Circle : Cleveland’s Cliff Leewent to 14-2 with an eight inning, two-run outing in their 5-4 win over the Twins on Friday.  Lee became the fourth player in club history to register 14 or more wins in their first 16 decisions of the season.  Lee joined Jim Bagby(14-2 in 1920), Johnny Allen(15-1 in 1930) and Gaylord Perry(15-1 in 1974).

Hard Luck :  Rich Hardenof the Cubs pitched five innings and allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out 10.  Harden left with a 2-1 lead but failed to get a win in all three of his starts with the Cubs.  Harden struck out 10 in all three games and is 0-1 with a 1.04 ERA since joining the Cubs.  The Marlins won 3-2 in 12 innings on Saturday.

Oh, Snap : Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollinswas caught stealing by Brian McCannon Saturday for the first time this season after 25 straight successful attempts and 39 straight dating back to August 31, 2007.

One For The Record Books : The Braves lost 10-9 to the Phillies on Saturday after they blew a six-run lead when Philadelphia put up seven runs in the fifth inning.  The rally was capped by a three-run pinch-hit home run by Greg Dobbswhich was his 20 ^th pinch hit of the season.  The 20 ^th pinch hit tied a team record set by Doc Millerin 1913.  The one-run loss marked the 25 ^th consecutive time the Braves lost a one-run road game dating back to August 2007 — a Major League record. 

Notable Quotable II : “No.  That’s all guys.”  Alex Rodriguezof the Yankees when asked if he thought the pitch from Boston’s Craig Hansenthat hit him in the forearm was intentional.  The fans at Fenway cheered when the pitch hit A-Rod but the team lost 10-3 to the Yankees on Saturday.

Hit Me Baby One More Time : Cincinnati’s Homer Baileybecame the first Reds’ pitcher since Jimmy Andersonon June 26, 2003 to give up 15 hits in a game.  The Reds lost to the Rockies 5-1 and Bailey fell to 0-4 on Saturday.

Six Pack :  Skip Schumakerof the Cardinals went 6-for-7 with three runs scored in their 10-8 win over the Mets in 14 innings on Saturday.  Schumaker became the first player since Terry Mooreon September 5, 1935 against the Boston Braves to register six hits in a game.

Hallelujah : The Sunday losing streak of the Orioles ended this week at 15.  Baltimore beat the Angels 5-2.

First Down :  Jeff Samardzijamade a bittersweet debut on Friday when he gave up one run in two innings which tied the game that the Cubs eventually lost.  However, the rookie registered his first Major League save on Sunday with two hitless innings where he notched three strikeouts.

Special Start : Oakland’s Brad Zieglerpitched two scoreless innings in their 6-5 win over the Rangers on Sunday.  The two scoreless innings extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 27.  Ziegler’s streak to start his career of 27 set a new Major League record previously held by George McQuillanwho pitched 25 consecutive scoreless innings to start of his career in 1907.  To mark the feat, a pair of Ziegler’s shoes and his hat was sent to the Hall of Fame.

Nation Invasion :  Bobby Abreuof the Yankees reached base for the 25 ^th consecutive time at Fenway Park in his career on Sunday.  Since joining the Yankees, Abreu has reached base in all 20 games he has played at Fenway including Sunday’s 9-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Numbers Game
10: Toronto’s Matt Stairsbecame the first member of the team to register double digits in home runs in their 103 ^rd game of the season on Friday marking the second longest period of time for the Blue Jays to have a player reach double digits.  In 1981, John Mayberryhit his 10 ^th home run in their 116 ^th game of the year.
23: Philadelphia’s Brad Lidgeregistered his 23 ^rd consecutive save since joining the Phillies on Saturday.  The previous record of 22 consecutive saves was held by Billy Wagner.
44:  Torii Hunterof the Angels singled in the first to score Macier Izturisand Vladimir Guerreroen route to an 11-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday.  The Angels are 44-5 when they score first this season.
292: Arizona’s Randy Johnsonpicked up his second win of the week in seven scoreless innings of work in their 7-2 win over the Giants on Sunday.
1500:  Johan Santanaof the Mets struck out four on Tuesday to bring his career strikeout total to 1,500.  He left the game with a 5-2 lead but the Phillies scored six in the ninth which cost Santana a victory for the fourth time this season.

Grand Slams
Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Soxvs. Texas Rangers (7/22)
Adam Dunn, Cincinnativs. San Diego (7/23)
Jeff Mathis, LA Angelsvs. Cleveland (7/23)
Reed Johnson, Chicago Cubsvs. Arizona (7/23)
Brian McCann, Atlantavs. Philadelphia (7/25)

Walk-Off Archive
Single:  Joe Inglett, Torontovs. Seattle (7/25)  
Double:  Jeff Keppinger, Cincinnativs. San Diego (7/22)
Triple:  None 
Home Run:  None