Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Buchholz Goes the Distance
Matt Stonie shocked the world Saturday by defeating Joey Chestnut, the LeBron James of gluttony, in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.
And somehow, it still wasn’t the biggest upset of the day.
Okay, maybe it was, but not by much. In baseball, the day’s biggest upset belonged to the Boston Red Sox.
Boston’s victory wasn’t the shocking part. It was how they did it—with pitching.
Clay Buchholz took matters into his own hands Saturday, delivering a nine-inning gem against the Houston Astros. He nearly had his seventh career shutout but settled for a complete game after Luis Valbuena knocked in a run with a two-out single in the ninth. Boston’s 6-1 victory helped erase Houston’s five-game winning streak.
The 30-year-old Texas native has always been sharp against the Astros. In four starts against them, he’s 3-0 with 39 strikeouts and a 1.39 ERA. Two of his nine career complete games have come against Houston. His complete game Saturday was the first by a Red Sox pitcher on July 4th since Paul Quantrill in 1993.
Saturday was Boston’s first complete game of the season. The last starter to throw one was Buchholz August 31 against the Rays.
Buchholz has built excellent chemistry with Sandy Leon. In 13 starts with Leon behind the plate, the right-hander has a remarkable 2.47 ERA. Leon even helped with his bat, contributing three hits and two runs. He had just four hits total in the month of June.
The Red Sox also got a lift from Shane Victorino. In his first start since coming off the disabled list, Victorino went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. He’s hit .550 (11-for-20) during his seven-game hitting streak.
Jose Altuve singled off Buchholz in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. The two teams combined to use only three pitchers. Fourteen were used Friday in Houston’s 12-8 victory. That game lasted four hours and 23 minutes.
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Bryant Blows Up
Joc Pederson might be the favorite to win National League Rookie of the Year but Kris Bryant is narrowing the gap.
The Cubs third baseman exploded for two home runs and six RBI Saturday in a blowout win over the Marlins. That’s the most RBI by a Cubs rookie since Anthony Rizzo drove in six runs against the Pirates on September 16, 2012.
Bryant plated four runs in the second inning with a grand slam off Jared Cosart. The 375-foot blast was Bryant’s second career grand slam. His first came off Indians outfielder David Murphy last month in a 17-0 Cubs victory. Before Bryant, the last Cubs rookie to hit two grand slams in the same season was Billy Williams in 1961. He’s also the first Cub to hit a grand slam on the 4th of July since Wildfire Sculte in 1911. Saturday was Bryant’s second career multi-homer game.
Anthony Rizzo went 0-for-3 but reached base on a hit-by-pitch. He’s now been plunked 17 times this season. That ties a club record set by Marlon Byrd in 2010.
Clayton Richard limited the Marlins to two runs in 6 1/3 innings for his first win since 2013. He became the 2000th player in Cubs history on Saturday.
The seven runs allowed by Cosart were the most he’s given up since April 18, 2014 at Oakland. The Marlins sent him to Triple-A New Orleans after the game and activated first baseman Michael Morse from the 15-day disabled list. Cosart is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA over his last five starts.
National League hits leader Dee Gordon recorded a walk on Saturday. It was his first free pass since May 24. That explains why Gordon’s on base percentage (.364) is barely higher than his batting average (.343).
Strasburg Sidelined
Stephen Strasburg just can’t catch a break.
The former No. 1 pick left Saturday’s game with an oblique injury, departing after 3 2/3 scoreless innings. The Nationals right-hander will be reevaluated on Sunday. Given Strasburg’s long history of injuries, he’s likely headed to the disabled list.
It’s a shame because Strasburg was just starting to find his groove. In three starts since coming back from a left trapezius strain (whatever that means), he’s 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA. Before that, he was 3-5 with a 6.55 ERA.
But Saturday wasn’t all bad for the Nats. Bryce Harper launched a majestic home run in the second inning and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Harper was also involved in a bizarre play at second base. It started when Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford engaged Harper in a conversation during the seventh inning. The distraction gave center fielder Gregor Blanco just enough time to cover second base. Yusmeiro Petit surprised Harper by throwing over to second but he got back just in time.
Madison Bumgarner was lousy Saturday, allowing a season-high six runs in only five innings of work. In two career starts at Nationals Park on the 4th of July (I was there for the first one in 2012), Bumgarner is 0-2 with an 11.70 ERA. The Nationals have piled on 17 hits and five homers in those two outings.
American League Quick Hits: Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will miss six weeks with a Grade 3 calf strain. It’s Cabrera’s first trip to the disabled list in 13 seasons … Alex Avila made his first career start at first base on Saturday. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Victor Martinez (180 starts at first base) will not be in the mix for playing time at first … Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick will come off the disabled list Sunday. He’s missed the last two weeks with a strained left hamstring. Domingo Santana was sent down to Triple-A Fresno in the corresponding roster move … The Astros entered Saturday with baseball’s highest minor league winning percentage, according to mlbfarm.com (57.07). The Brewers are last in that category (40.01) … The Orioles are moving Bud Norris to the bullpen. Kevin Gausman will start in his place Tuesday at Minnesota … Saturday was Bobby Jenks Bobblehead Night at U.S. Cellular Field. Jenks hasn’t played for the White Sox since 2010, but hey, better late than never … White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia saved the game Saturday by robbing Chris Davis of a home run in the ninth inning. The catch preserved a 3-2 Chicago victory … Chicago’s pitching has been lights out. Over the last four games (all victories), the White Sox have posted a 0.95 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 38 innings … Ervin Santana will make his Twins debut Sunday against the Royals. He just finished serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs … Joe Mauer went 4-for-5 on Saturday. It was his first four-hit game since August 14, 2013 against Cleveland … Danny Santana has two extra-base hits in his last two starts. Before that, he hadn’t had one since May 20 … Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma will rejoin the rotation Monday against the Tigers. A strained lat has kept him sidelined since April 21 … Felix Hernandez lost at the Oakland Coliseum Saturday for the first time in 13 starts. His last loss there came on September 19, 2008 … Kendall Graveman extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings Saturday by hurling seven shutout frames against the Mariners. He’s pitched at least seven innings in each of his last six starts … Rays outfielder Steven Sousa Jr. broke out of an 0-for-26 slump Saturday with a fourth-inning single off Michael Pineda. He struck out 16 times during his drought … The Angels torched the Rangers for a season-high 17 hits in Saturday’s blowout win. Erick Aybar is 8-for-9 in the series with five runs and three RBI … Cody Anderson became the first Indians pitcher to throw at least 7 2/3 innings in each of his first three starts. He’s 1-1 with a 0.76 ERA over that stretch … If you haven’t watched it yet, you have to see Trevor Bauer’s at-bat from the seventh inning Friday against Pittsburgh. He imitated the stances of teammates Mike Aviles, Jason Kipnis and Ryan Raburn on his way to a nine-pitch walk.
National League Quick Hits: Pirates reliever Jared Hughes is the only active player born on July 4. He was born in Stamford, Connecticut, home of the best fantasy sports website on the Internet (hint: you’re on it right now) … Pirates starter Jeff Locke retired the last 19 hitters he faced Saturday against Cleveland. He scattered just two hits over eight shutout innings as the Pirates won 1-0 … Derek Norris is tough as nails. The Padres catcher sprained his left AC joint Friday but still played Saturday. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles … Padres starter Brandon Morrow completed a 40-pitch bullpen session on Saturday. He’ll throw a simulated game in Pittsburgh next week. After that, he’ll begin a rehab assignment … Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham doubled off Padres reliever Marcos Mateo in the sixth inning Saturday for his first career hit. He added his first steal two innings later … Cincinnati starter Josh Smith drilled four hitters in Saturday’s loss to the Brewers. No Red has done that since Jake Weimer in 1907 … Todd Frazier pounded four hits Saturday. It was his first four-hit game of the season and the third of his career … Carlos Gomez left Saturday’s game with a left wrist contusion. His X-rays came back negative … Before he flew out to left field in the sixth inning, Wilmer Flores had singled in five straight at-bats. He singled again in the eighth … Matt Harvey matched a career-high with five walks Saturday. The other time he walked five was August 10, 2012 against Atlanta … Zack Greinke ran his scoreless streak to 27 2/3 innings Saturday in a win over the Mets. He’s thrown all zeros in each of his last four starts. Orel Hershiser owns the team record for consecutive scoreless starts with six in 1988 … Andre Ethier drew his first walk against a left-handed pitcher on Saturday. It only took him 28 plate appearances … Troy Tulowitzki doubled Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. He’s reached base in each of his last 32 games …Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu notched three hits Saturday to break out of an 0-for-16 slump … The Braves ripped Phillies starter Kevin Correia for nine runs in 3 1/3 innings Saturday. That’s the third time Correia has allowed nine runs in a game. The most recent occurrence came on August 26, 2010 in a loss to Arizona … Patrick Corbin held the Rockies to two runs in five innings Saturday in his first game back from Tommy John surgery. The win was his first in 661 calendar days … Cubs manager Joe Maddon attended Friday’s Grateful Dead concert at Soldier Field. Theo Epstein will be at Sunday’s concert.
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