Category: Linescores of the Day

5 AB, 5 R, 3 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB

Johnny Damon played a big part of the Yankees’ rout of the Blue Jays on Saturday, 17-6. One of his two home runs was an upper deck blast. The five runs he scored was a career high for the former caveman. Among his postgame comments:

“It’s just the way I play this game. That’s the one thing you can always do, is to go out there and hustle. It is a good example, not just for our team, but for the Little Leaguers coming up.”

These days you don’t hear the pro ballplayers speak to their young fans. It’s nice to hear Damon recognize that the players are setting examples for the kids who also play the game. Are you listening, Delmon Young?

 

4 AB, 3 H, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB Brandon Phillips, the new Reds acquisition, singled and doubled off Roy Oswalt then got another key hit off the Houston bullpen to lead the Reds past the Astros. Roy Oswalt was 15-0 in his career against the Reds in 20 appearances before this game. Don’t look now, but the Reds are now in first place in a very competitive NL Central division.

Josh Beckett threw them in there and Ben Broussard hit them out of there. I couldn’t believe when I watched Ben’s highlights of this game on ESPN before Broussard stepped in to face Beckett with the bases loaded Ben yawned. Talk about relaxed, or maybe lack of sleep. Whatever it is, is working.

Ben Broussard 4 for 5, 2 HRs (1 a GS), 8 RBIs (7 with 2 out), 2 runs, .407 season average

Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds

8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (Win)

The Reds’ Bronson Arroyo has quietly become a 4-0 pitcher this season.  Yesterday’s victim was Washington.

Speaking of the Nats, they may well want to start thinking of pleasing the home fans.  They’re 1-7 at home and the effects are beginning to show.  The attendance of last four games was lower than the lowest from last year.

Brad Lidge, Houston Astros

2/3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K (Loss, Blown Save)

In a very uncharacteristic Brad Lidge appearance, Lidge blew his first save in 12 opportunities against the Dodgers.  His ERA ballooned from 3.60 to 6.75.

Those MLB relief pitchers who still have a 0.00 ERA (9 innings min.)

• D. Baez, LAD  11 inn
• D. Cortes, Col  11
• S. Eyre, ChiC  9.2
• J. Papelbon, Bos  11.1
• F. Rodney, Det  9
• B. Ryan, Tor  9
• D. Sanchez, NYM  12

 

Miguel Tejada, Baltimore Orioles

4 for 4, HR, rbi, run

Miguel “Must I do it all?” Tejada had a good day at the plate for the AL Birds.  He went 4 for 4 with a dinger.  But what made it extra special was that that he was the sole source of offense for the Orioles Sunday.  No other Oriole had a hit, run or rbi.  Ok, Chris Gomez did muster a walk. 

The Orioles lost to the Yanks 7-1.

Damian Miller, Milwaukee Brewers

4 for 4, 3 2B, HR, run, 5 rbis

Miller was part of history yesterday.  In the fourth inning, five Brewers went yard.  Bill Hall, Damian Miller, Brady Clark, JJ Hardy, and Prince Fielder all hit homeruns.  And that, folks, tied an MLB record.  Other teams to accomplish this feat:  1966 Minnesota Twins, 1939 New York Giants, 1949 Philadelphia Phillies, and the 1961 San Francisco Giants.

In addition, Miller had 3 two-baggers.

Alfonso Soriano, Washington Nationals

4 for 5, 3 HR, 3 runs, 5 rbis

Alfonso was patient today.  Well, in the sense he had to wait for a 2-hour rain delay.  Regardless, he had a career day.  This was the first time he’s hit 3 homeruns in one game.  His last shot, a three-run dinger, broke a 3-all tie and broke it open for the Nats.

Honorable mention to Michael Young of Texas who was 5 for 5 with 5 rbis and 3 doubles.

Dishonorable mention goes to Jerome Williams (who continues show I was wrong when I said, “I think he’s a good pickup for the Cubs” when we got him in the Hawkins deal).  Not only did he allow 7 runs in 1 1/3 innings, he walked the pitcher with the bases loaded.

 

Nick Johnson had a day hitters dream about in his game against the Phillies. His first homer came off Ryan Madson in the 2nd with a runner aboard and was driven into the 2nd tank in RF. Nick’s second blast was driven far over the centerfield fence, a no doubter! Nick Johnson’s day helped Frank Robinson win his 1,000 game as a manager. I remember when Frank Robinson broke in as the first black manager in the big leagues. He was a player manager for the Cleveland Indians. Once he put himself into a game against my beloved White Sox as a pinch hitter and came through with a game winning homer, it broke the Southsiders spirit that year. Here’s to you Mr. Robinson!!!

A runner-up for the Linescore of the Day would have to be the NY Mets Kaz Matsui who for the 3rd consecutive year hit a homer in his first at bat. This time it was an inside the parker against the Padres.

Nick Johnson 4 for 4, 3 RBIs, 3 runs, 2 HRs, 1 2B, 1 BB, .400 season avg

In the day of juiced balls when baseball scores are looking more like football scores and everybody is happy with the numbers their fantasy hitters are putting up, it’s refreshing to see dominating pitching performances. This reminds me of the old joke when there’s this overpowering phenom pitcher totally dominating, strikes out all 27 batters he faces, in fact only one batter fouls off one pitch the entire ballgame. Of course the MLB scout immediately signs the hitter who fouled off the pitch to a multi-million dollar contract. The batters who got the hits were Doug Mientkiewicz & Esteban German for the KC Royals vs Javier Vazquez and Freddy Sanchez & Ronny Paulino for the Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chris Carpenter. Both the White Sox and the Cardinals defeated their struggling opponents 4-0.

Javier Vazquez W 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO
Chris Carpenter W 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO