Baseball Journal June 14-18, 2018

6-14-18

Yankees versus Rays was the MLB.TV free game.  I would have liked to have seen more of the game, sine the Rays are about the only team I’ve seen that never seems intimidated by Yankee Stadium (they never get a home game against them with all the Yankee fans in Tampa Bay), even with the really large crowd there tonight.  As it was, I only got to sit down and watch the ninth where Aroldis Chapman closed it for a 4-3 Yankees’ win.  Blake Snell for the Rays pitched well.  All of the Yankees’ scoring came off of two home runs in the fifth.  Meanwhile, there was some dude in an orange suit and orange top hat sitting behind home plate during the game.  I’m sure there’s a story there.

In El Paso, the Chihuahuas faced the Sounds again.  Wil Meyers and Franchy Cordero were on the roster tonight for a rehab assignment.  I admit that I wasn’t really listening until later in the evening.  The Chihuahuas had a 5-1 lead after four innings, off of Brett Nicholas hitting a three-run homer, Meyers doubling in Franchy, and Luis Urias doubling in a run.  But, the Sounds would start clawing their way back into it to make it 5-3 late. 

In the eighth, the wind suddenly kicked up and a light rain began to fall, while the Sounds loaded the bases.  One runner came in on a sac fly.  A new pitcher came in and gave up a three-run homer on his first pitch.  Suddenly, it was 7-5 Sounds.  And I thought I recognized the name of one of the Nashville players, Bruce Maxwell.  Tim Hagerty talked about him in the ninth.  He was the only “kneeler” in Major League Baseball during the Anthem “crisis.”  He was on the A’s before being sent down because he can’t hit and had some domestic violence problems.  I’m sure when the police arrived on the scene, I’ll bet he hoped they didn’t recognize him.  Regardless, the Chihuahuas lost 7-5.

6-15-18

It was audio-only again for the MLB.TV free game of the Astros versus the Royals.  KC’s main announcer had this elderly, avuncular voice that was like listening to your grandpa tell you about the game.  I missed almost all of the game, but did hear him complain about a spurious challenge by a manager, “I want that 40 seconds of my broadcast back.”  The Astros are on fire lately and won 7-3, mostly because of a grand slam by Evan Gattis.

Meanwhile, the Chihuahuas were playing the Nashville Sounds again.  A brief shower in the bottom of the first sent the El Paso fans scrambling for cover.  Tim Hagerty assured the listeners that clear skies were in view, and rain did clear off.  I missed most of this game too.  Allen Craig homered in the eighth to get the pups within one at 4-3.  The Sounds increased their lead to 6-3 in the ninth. 

It wasn’t over yet.  With the bases loaded, an error brought in two Chihuahuas’ runs, and a sac fly tied the score at 6.  But in the tenth, with a light mist falling, a leadoff two-run homer gave the Sounds an 8-6 win.  Remember, there’s a free runner at second to start extra innings.  Tim said he’d never called a leadoff two-run homer before.

6-16-18

This Saturday was a busy baseball day with four games on tap.  First up was the Yankees versus the Rays.  This was on a different Mexican station than the last few weeks, though it was the same network.  The Yankees won 4-1.  Though seemingly a close game, it mostly wasn’t.  The Yanks were playing loose and smiling the whole time. 

There were some interesting plays.  Yankees’ starter, Luis Severino picked off a foul popup behind the plate from the glove of catcher, Gary Sanchez.  Severino was laughing afterward, but maybe he actually doesn’t trust Sanchez’s fielding either.  In the eighth, the Yankees turned a 5-3-6 double play that went third to first and back to third.  Severino had a good game, going eight, no runs, 9 K’s.  The first pitcher out to close in the ninth gave up a home run to Matt Duffy.  Jake Bauers then tripled on a ball that went in and out of Aaron Hicks’ glove in center.  Bauers came in standing, but slipped on the bag and was almost tagged out.  Aroldis Chapman had to come in to finish.     

To give you an idea of the afternoon heat in Arlington for today’s Rangers/Rockies game, the crowd applauded when a large cloud passed in front of the sun.  The Rockies bullpen was in direct sunlight, which may have influenced their relief decisions in the game.  The Rockies went up two early.  Jose Trevino, who had just been called up with catcher Robinson Chirinos injured and just became a new father last week, got his first Major League hit to tie the score. 

Rangers’ starter Mike Minor worked out of a second and third, no out jam in the seventh.  In the eighth, the Rangers put up three runs to take the lead.  Rockies’ relievers were not sharp.  Keone Kela got the save.  He’s got 15 this year and not had a blown one.  5-2 Rangers in a speedy two hour, 42 minute game.

In the evening, the FOX game was the Cardinals versus the Cubs.  I was surprised we didn’t get the Giants and Dodgers.  Yadier Molina was back catching for the Cards after his groin injury.  My Aunt Judy must be happy to see her favorite player back playing.  They started off well with a Marcell Ozuna two-run homer in the first.  The Cubs would tie it in the fourth on an Addison Russell homer, but Cardinals’ pitcher, Carlos Martinez helped himself out in the bottom by driving in a run.  Next inning, Kyle Schwarber drove in a run to tie it at 3.  The bases were then loaded, but Martinez got two strikeouts looking to end the inning.

The game was in St. Louis, but there was a lot of blue in the stands.  One pair of fans, dressed in opposing team gear, held up a sign that the cameras caught, “We’re friends 345 days a year.”  Ian Happ put the Cubs up 4-3 with an RBI double.  In the replay, you could see Yadi behind the plate putting his head down and shaking it as the bat hit the ball.  By the ninth, it was 6-3 Cubs, after a Jason Heyward two-run homer.  The Cards threatened in th e bottom with two on and no outs, but came up empty.           

In El Paso, the Chihuahuas started their next series which was against the Memphis Redbirds.  Tim Hagerty reported that the players were still buzzing about a Franchy Cordero foul ball yesterday.  It went an estimated 579 ft. and cleared the stadium.  This game turned into a rout early for the pups.  By the second inning, it was 6-0.  The Chihuahuas batted around in the inning.  All of the runs scored in the second were unearned because of an error on the first batter. 

By the fourth, Carlos Asuaje was 3 for 3 after hitting a home run for his fifth RBI.  This drove Redbird pitcher, Daniel Poncedeleon out of the game.  Tim had talked about him earlier.  Aside from discovering Florida and looking for the Fountain of Youth, he’d taken a shot to the head last year in a game that required brain surgery.  It was amazing he was still able to pitch at a high-level.  (And made me feel bad about him getting shelled.)

In the seventh, Luis Urias’ brother, playing on the Redbirds, made it to second, where they chatted amiably.  Their parents were there, rooting them both on.  In the bottom, Ramon Urias threw out Luis at first.  In the eighth, Asuaje hit a triple which gave him a cycle for the game.  Impressive.  The Chihuahuas won 13-1.             

  

6-17-18

For Father’s Day, I took dad out to lunch at McAlister’s and over to Orange Leaf for dessert (they had a two-for-one special for dads today).  At both places, the cashiers said, “Happy Father’s Day.”  We watched some of the US Open golf tournament afterward.  It was interesting.  Shinnecock doesn’t look like a course for beginners or a friendly game.  I kept laughing at one hole that set the pin on a mesa, surrounded by bunkers that were like massive craters.  I liked a story about one of the younger golfers, Tony Finau.  He was down $800 in a skins game with only $20 in his pocket.  He made a hole-in-one to get back even.  I doubt the US Open was more pressure than that.

Dad left before the end, and I tuned into the Rangers versus Rockies matinee on the radio.  It was the sixth and 5-1 Rockies, but I did not miss the show.  Just after I turned it on, the Rangers scored two runs, then Jurickson Profar hit a three-run homer to make it 6-5.  In the seventh, Jose Leclerc gave up two runs off a couple of misplays.  The bases were then loaded, when Gerardo Parra doubled them empty.  Delino Deshields read that flyball wrong.  10-6 Rockies.  In the bottom, the Rangers came back again with three runs, including one off a Profar double.  10-9 Rockies.

The Rockies added on in the ninth with a Trevor Story two-run homer to right, probably jetstream effected.  12-9 Rockies.  In the bottom, Rox closer Wade Davis couldn’t throw a strike.  The bases were loaded with one out.  One run was walked in.  Then Joey Gallo, who’d struck out four times today, also walked to drive in a run.  Finally, Jose Trevino, who came in for Robinson Chirinos in the eighth after an injury, got a bloop hit that scored two and won the game, 13-12.  As mentioned in the last game, he’s a new father.  He’d also lost his father years ago, so the day had a lot of meaning for him. 

That game nearly went four hours, and I’m sure it was hot there in Arlington.  Hold on a couple more years fans; you’re about to get air-conditioning.  At least it was a great game, though I suspect some Ranger fans left early.  I like both teams.  The Rangers are already out of any contention, while the Rockies still have some chance, so it might have been better if they’d won both these weekend games.  They’re certainly not winning anything with these bullpen meltdowns.

The balls were flying out of Southwest University Park in El Paso tonight.  The Memphis Redbirds got off to a 3-0 lead after two innings, including a solo home run.  Austin Hedges homered for the Chihuahuas in the bottom of second, but the Redbirds added another homer in the fourth to make it 4-1.  In the bottom of the fifth, Shane Peterson drove in a run with two on.  Then, pinch hitter Allen Craig drove in two more to tie it at 4.     

Tim Hagerty told a quick story about the Redbirds winning the PCL Championship last year over the Chihuahuas.  The winning ball was thrown in the air in celebration and went into the stands.  A Chihuahuas fan reportedly picked it up and left.  The Redbirds’ organization wanted that ball and they are still hoping to recover it.  Perhaps the fan was listening tonight.

In the sixth, the Redbirds loaded the bases with no outs.  A sac fly got them back the lead at 5-4, but they didn’t add on.  In the bottom, Wil Meyers homered to tie it again at 5.  The Chihuahuas loaded the bases and got a run on a walk for a 6-5 lead, but they left the bases loaded.  In the seventh, Franchy Cordero had a twinge of pain during an at bat.  He dropped his bat and had to come out.  So much for his rehab.

In the eighth, another home run flew out.  Patrick Wisdom with his second of the game, tied it for the Redbirds.  An error put two runners in scoring position, and both scored on a single to make it 8-6 Redbirds, which would be the final.  The Chihuahuas got runners on in the eighth and ninth, but couldn’t get them in.  A double play anti-climatically ended the game.    

 

6-18-18

The MLB.TV free game was Pirates versus Brewers, featuring Trevor Williams versus Jhoulys Chacin on the mound.  Who could have guessed this would be a pitcher’s duel.  I missed most of the game, but saw all the scoring.  Williams finished seven innings without giving up anything for the Pirates.  Chacin went 6 1/3, but was pulled with runners on the corners.  Jordy Mercer would drive in the only run of the game on a double.  Well, that was the game, 1-0 Pirates.  If I’d been watching more, that probably would have been more tense.

Meanwhile in El Paso, the drama left the game early as the Redbirds racked up five runs in the first off Chihuahuas’ pitcher, Walter Lockett.  Ironically, Lockett didn’t have a bad game after that.  He went seven with 9 strikeouts and no walks and no further runs.  Wil Meyers would single in a run the third.  In the eighth, the Chihuahuas loaded the bases.  Luis Urias had about an 11-pitch at bat, including a missed catchable foul ball, before working a walk and driving in another run.  The Urias brothers’ parents had left after the weekend.  They were happy to have seen both their sons win, since they’re on different teams.  Unfortunately, the pups failed to get any more runs and lost 5-2.