Diamond Rundown – Edition Nineteen

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

Notable Quotable I : “I was trying to nibble way too much, trying to make perfect pitches and ended up missing by a lot most of the time.”  Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Gallagherafter a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.  The first two runs scored when Gallagher hit batters with the bases loaded in the second and third innings.

Big Inning : In a 10-run seventh inning against the Twins on Monday, Seattle’s Raul Ibanezhit a grand slam and a two-run single to set a club record for the most RBI in one inning — six — one more than Ken Griffey Jr.’s five-RBI fifth inning on April 29, 1999.  Ibanez was the first Mariner since Bret Booneon July 19, 2004 to register six RBI in a game.

Notable Quotable II : “Weird.  Your stomach doesn’t churn when you come to the ballpark — what are you going to do, walk him?  Pitch to him?… I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that.  It’s the truth.  You’d have to think for the other managers it was the same.  He was that dominant.  I haven’t seen Barry.  I haven’t read about him.”  Braves manager Bobby Coxon playing against a Giants team without Barry Bondsin San Francisco on Monday.

Longball Longoria : Rays’ rookie Evan Longoriahit his 22 ^nd homer in their 8-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.  Longoria’s 22 ^nd home run set a new team record for a rookie.  The previous record was 21 hit by Jonny Gomesin 2005.

Blown Away : Detroit’s Kyle Farnsworthin the eighth and Joel Zumayain the 14 ^th were credited with blown saves and Zumaya took the loss in their 10-8 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday.  Zumaya gave up a three-run home run to Nick Swisherfor a walk-off win for the White Sox.  This season, the Tigers’ bullpen has blown 22 of 42 save opportunities.

Dazzling Debut : Baltimore’s Chris Watersthrew eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday in their 3-0 win.

… And Give Me 20 :  Vladimir Guerreroof the Angels hit his 20 ^th home run of the year in their 9-4 win over the Orioles on Wednesday.  Guerrero hit 20 home runs for the fifth consecutive season as an Angel.  He is the fourth player in Angels’ history to hit 20 home runs in five consecutive seasons joining Garret Anderson, Brian Downingand Tim Salmon.

Almost Perfect : Pittsburgh’s Jeff Karstensretired 23 consecutive batters before finally allowing a hit to Arizona’s Chris Youngwith two outs in the eighth inning.  Karstens finished the game for a complete game two-hit shutout in their 2-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Back to the Drawing Board : Royals manager Trey Hillmanprepared his team to face Boston’s Tim Wakefieldby throwing his version of a knuckleball at batting practice before Wednesday’s game.  Unfortunately, the strategy failed.  Wakefield pitched six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and the Red Sox won 8-2.

Keeping it in the Yard : Florida’s Chris Volstadpitched six scoreless innings in their 3-0 win over the Phillies on Thursday.  In the Minors and Majors this season, Volstad has pitched 124 2/3 innings without giving up a home run.

Notable Quotable III : “Raul hit the ball so hard, it didn’t have time to go foul.”  Mariners manager Jim Rigglemanon Raul Ibanez’s walk-off home run in their 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

Goose Eggs : Oakland’s Brad Zieglerearned his first career save and extended his Major League record scoreless inning streak to 37 to start off his career.  The two-inning save also extended his streak to tie the club record of 37 innings previously held by Mike Torrezset in 1976.  The A’s beat the Tigers 4-2 on Friday.

Blank Men : The Phillies were shut out for the second straight game on Friday by the Pirates following being shut out by the Marlins on Thursday.  The 12-inning 2-0 loss on Friday marked the first time the team was shut out in back-to-back games since September 11 ^th and 12 ^th in 1999 by the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The Phillies also went 23 consecutive innings without scoring.

Snell Shelled : Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollinswent 4-for-4 with two triples and two runs scored in their 4-2 win over the Pirates on Saturday.  All four hits came off of Pittsburgh’s Ian Snelland Rollins raised his average against the Pirates pitcher to .632.  He is 12-for-19 with four triples and a homer off of Snell.

Hit Machine : Seattle’s Ichiro Suzukiwent 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBI in their 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Rays on Saturday.  It was Suzuki’s 36 ^th four-hit game of his career and extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Cy Young Candidate I : Cleveland’s Cliff Leepushed his record to 16-2 and lowered his ERA to a Major League-low 2.45 with eight innings of scoreless ball in their 4-0 win over the Blue Jays on Sunday.  It was Lee’s fifth consecutive decision that resulted in a win and he has not lost since July 6 when he lost to Minnesota. 

Road Sweet Road : Boston’s Dustin Pedroiaextended his road hitting streak to 29 games on Sunday with a first inning double.  The Red Sox lost to the White Sox 6-5 but Pedroia’s road hitting streak is the longest since Tris Speakerhit in 29 consecutive road games in 1913.

Rocky Start : Colorado’s Livan Hernandezdebuted on Sunday with a 2 2/3 inning outing where he gave up nine runs on seven hits and four walks.  The Padres beat the Rockies 16-7 and Hernandez’s National League ERA is 30.38.

Franchise Record I : In their loss, Colorado’s Matt Hollidayextended his franchise-record scoring streak to 15 games when he scored on a Brad Hawpehome run in the fourth inning of their 16-7 loss on Sunday.

Cy Young Candidate II : Arizona’s Brandon Webbraised his record to 17-4 on Sunday with a six inning one-run outing that lowered his ERA to 2.88.  The Diamondbacks beat the Braves 6-1 and Webb went to 6-0 in his last nine starts.

Gone Streakin’ : Baltimore’s Aubrey Huff(18 games), LA’s Garret Anderson(16 games) and Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki(16 games) all kept their hitting streaks alive on Sunday.

Franchise Record II : The Tampa Bay Rays won their 71 ^st game on Sunday which was one more than their 70 wins in 2004 when they went 70-92.  The Rays ended the week at 71-46.

Numbers Game
1: Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyertook the L in an 8-2 loss to the Marlins on Tuesday.  Moyer fell to 10-1 lifetime against Florida.
146: Arizona’s Mark Reynoldsstruck out for the 146 ^th time this season — a Diamondbacks record — and added to it later in the game on Sunday when he struck out for the 147 ^th time.  The previous record was held by Troy Glauswho struck out 145 times in 2005.
513: In a losing effort, Manny Ramirezof the Dodgers hit his 513 ^th home run on Wednesday to move into 20 ^th place on the career home run list passing Ernie Banksand Eddie Mathews. 
$869: The New York Mets announced that seats from Shea Stadium will be sold for $869 per pair online at Mets.com beginning August 25.
1087: It was 1,087 days between wins for Atlanta’s Mike Hamptonwho got credit for the win in their 11-4 win over the Giants on Tuesday.

Grand Slams
Marlon Byrd, Texasvs. NY Yankees (8/4)
Raul Ibanez, Seattlevs. Minnesota (8/4)
Richie Sexson, NY Yankeesvs. Texas (8/5)
Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubsvs. Houston (8/6)
Albert Pujols, St. Louisvs. LA Dodgers (8/6)

Walk-Off Archive
Single:  Kevin Mench, Torontovs. Oakland (8/5);  Henry Blanco, Chicago Cubsvs. St. Louis (8/8);  Aaron Rowand, San Franciscovs. LA Dodgers (8/9);  Tony Pena Jr., Kansas Cityvs. Minnesota (8/10);  Chone Figgins, LA Angelsvs. NY Yankees (8/10);  Eugenio Velez, San Franciscovs. LA Dodgers (8/10)
Double:  None 
Triple:  None 
Home Run:  Marlon Byrd, Texasvs. NY Yankees (8/4);   Nick Swisher, Chicago White Soxvs. Detroit (8/5);  Ryan Ludwick, St. Louisvs. LA Dodgers (8/5);  Carlos Pena, Tampa Bayvs. Cleveland (8/6);  David Wright, NY Metsvs. San Diego (8/7);  Raul Ibanez, Seattlevs. Tampa Bay (8/7);  Gabe Kapler, Milwaukeevs. Washington (8/10)
Walk:  Chone Figgins, LA Angelsvs. Baltimore (8/4)