Category: Linescores of the Day

Scott Thorman: 4 for 4, HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis

Atlanta firstbaseman is doing his best to see if Brave fans can forget Adam LaRoche. This was his 3rd dinger of the year and he’s hitting .292 (significantly higher than last year’s .234). The word on him is that he has some plate discipline problems but so far so good.

Special mention to a few pitchers who put in some good performances. Jamie Moyer (7 shutout innings), Claudio Vargas (5 shutout innings), John Maine (7 shutout innings with 8 Ks, he’s 4-0 now!) and what’s this? Fausto Carmona? He allowed just one run in 8 1/3 (but just one K).

Jarrod Washburn: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, ER, 2 BB, 2 K (Win)

In some ways, this was a very typical Washburn outing. Not many walks but not many strikeouts either. It was the quickest game for the A’s since ’79.

At the same time, Washburn completed the game, something he hasn’t done in two years. His opponent, Joe Blanton, also pitched a CG, allowing only a two-run homer. Seattle won 2-0.

Special mention goes to Philadelphia’s Chase Utley who went 5 for 5.

AROD

Alex Rodriguez 1 for 5, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run, 1 GAME OVER

In the top of the 9th there was a chopper to ARod that he had to wait on as a runner passed in front of him, by the time he got the ball & sidearmed it over to firstbase the runner beat it out, but because his throw was high, and this is NY, and this is ARod (not Derek Jeter), Rodriguez was credited with an error that put the Yanks down 6-2. Alex was 0-4 up to that point, with two strikeouts.

Then came the bottom of the 9th. Cleveland closer Joe Borowski retired the first two hitters before Josh Phelps cut it to 6-3 with a solo shot. Then Jorge Posada dribbled one up the middle, Johnny Damon walked, Derek Jeter delivered an RBI single, and Bobby Abreu followed suit. Which brought up Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte had told Alex to be ready cuz he might get one more at bat. That premonition came to fruition as ARod stepped to the plate. And was he ever ready to crush the 1-0 offering high & deep over the centerfield fence for a walkoff home run! The fans went crazy! As did Rodriguez & his Yankee teammates! He knew it as soon as he connected, looking over to his dugout, and tossing his bat aside upon contact. He is the first hitter in AL history to reach the ten homer plateau in his first 14 games. After being interviewed on the field about his accomplishments, he tossed his batting gloves into the stands of screaming fans.

The next day at Fenway ARod hit two more home runs, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it and the Yanks lost to the Bosox. So far though Rodriguez’ home run totals for the year remind alot of folks of the Bambino’s, he has more homers at this point than alot of TEAMS!

Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, .205

There are alot of elements that make up Linescore of the Day. This was about a man coming home to Chicago. Certainly it was a different part of Chicago, but it was Chicago, none-the-less. All but 18 of his 591 homers have been hit while wearing a Chicago uniform, granted most came while playing for the Cubs. And granted most White Sox fans hate the Cubbies almost as much as they love the White Sox. And alot of that Sox fan hatred was directed at Sammy Sosa. The White Sox gave Sosa to the Cubs in exchange for George Bell. Cub fans would never let Sox fans forget that.

But then came the corked bat incident, the steroid allegations, and the boom box (still don’t completely understand that one). Soon Sammy was banished to Baltimore, where he struggled through a rough season before calling it quits. He didn’t really retire, he just kinda vanished. Then this spring he reappeared where he started, with the Texas Rangers.

All of these thoughts came to mind as I watched the goings on occur at the Cell. I didn’t boo, I didn’t cheer, I didn’t know what to do, but I did know it was time to go home when Sammy’s three run shot put Texas up 8-1.

Marco Scutaro

Marco Scutaro 1 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run, 2 Ks, .095

I could only imagine the chanting of “MARCO” and the reply “SCUTARO” in Oakland after his game winning blast against the Yankees. I first heard to chant in Arizona this spring at an A’s versus White Sox game. You’ve all heard it played by children, mostly in swimming pools, but with Marco Polo being the Marco of choice in that game.

This Marco’s last name is Scutaro. He is a utility infielder out Venezuela who has gotten a lot of action lately subbing for the oft-injured Bobby Crosby at SS. On Sunday Scutaro was filling in at secondbase for Mark Ellis.

New York was leading 4-2, Mariano Rivera was brought on for the save, Todd Walker got a two out single, Jason Kendall walked, and Marco stepped to the plate as the potential winning run. Marco has never hit more than nine home runs in a season and was just one for twenty thus far in 2007. Scutaro’s drive had the distance and struck the leftfield foul pole, for a game winning blast!

Carlos Lee

Carlos Lee, 3 HRs, 3 runs, 6 RBIs, .324

The Philadelphia Phillies learned first hand pitching around Lance Berkman is not a good idea. It’s especially not a good idea when El Caballo’s hotter than a firecracker, batting behind Berkman in the order, protecting him. Lee proved stronger than a double strength condom when he hit a solo blast leading off the 2nd, a two out grand slam an inning later, both off Brett Myers, and then a two out homer in the 9th with nobody on off Madson to cap off his night.

Travis Hafner, aka, PRONK

Travis Hafner was given the nickname PRONK, which is a combination of Project and Donkey for the way he runs the bases. Well on Thursday afternoon in Milwaukee the big guy didn’t have to run the bases after connecting with a Scot Shields pitch. He turned it and the game around in a hurry, sending it way over the centerfield wall. It was estimated at 425 feet, but it seemed like it went at least 440. It cleared the stands beyond the wall and almost bounced off the glass that encloses the dome around the stadium.

What made it all the more incredible was that it snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, the three run blast changed the game from 2-1 Halos, to 4-2 Tribe. The Angels were just sailing along, when BOOM!

King Felix Hernandez

Hernandez (W 2-0) 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0.00 ERA

Everybody came out to see Dice-K, but King Felix stole the show! Hernandez lost his bid for a no-hitter when J.D. Drew got an eighth inning leadoff single up the middle that eluded Felix and a diving Jose Lopez. “I asked Jose after the inning, ‘Why didn’t you catch that, bro?'” Hernandez said. “I was just kidding.”

The King was dealing and has yet to allow a 2007 run in two starts. Ironically he may have had a better game in his first start against Oakland when he K’d 12 A’s and got 12 groundouts over eight innings, he didn’t even need an outfield, although he was roughed up for three basehits.