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TABLE OF CONTENTS
RED SOX SWEEPS LEAD TO TROUBLE
A REAL WHEELER DEALER
ESREVER SHUTOUT SWEEPS
26-0
ASTROS PARTY LIKE IT’S 2008
OH-FOR-JULY
WHAT A PLAY BY BELLI
THE RETURN OF WOODRUFF
WHO IS IN THE HOME RUN DERBY?
RED SOX SWEEPS LEAD TO TROUBLE
The last time the Red Sox swept a series was against the Yankees from June 13 to 15. Shortly after that sweep, the Sox dealt Rafael Devers to the Giants in a blockbuster trade. This time, shortly after the Sox completed a sweep of the Nationals, Washington fired both Manager Dave Martinez and General Manager Mike Rizzo. The loss on Sunday dropped Washington to 37-53 on the season, so on the surface, the move was understandable. What made the move particularly unexpected is that it came just a week before the MLB Draft, in which the Nationals hold the No. 1 pick.
Martinez was in his eighth season leading the Nationals, and it was his first managerial job in the league. He led the team to its first and only World Series title in 2019. The team hasn't reached the playoffs or had a winning record in the six seasons since. When the Nats beat the Tigers last Thursday, it was the 500th win for Martinez. He ends his tenure with a 500-621 record.
Both Rizzo and Martinez were in the final year of their contracts.
A REAL WHEELER DEALER
Is Zack Wheeler the best pitcher in the National League? After his virtuoso performance on Sunday against the Reds, you might find it hard to argue with that declaration.
According to Mr. Baseball, yesterday, Wheeler became the first pitcher in modern Phillies history to give up one hit or fewer, with 12 or more strikeouts and no walks. It was the fifth complete game of Wheeler’s career. This continues Wheeler’s brilliant pitching of late. The NL Pitcher of the Month has been just better than everyone else. Wheeler has a 2.17 ERA behind only Paul Skenes’ 1.94 in the NL. Since June 9, Zach is 3-1 with a 0.68 ERA, a 0.70 WHIP, with 54 strikeouts and seven walks in 40.0 IP. Look at his last six starts:
June 9 vs. Cubs: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
June 15 vs. Blue Jays: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
June 20 vs. Mets: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
June 25 at Astros: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
June 30 vs. Padres: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K
July 6 vs. Reds: 9.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
ESREVER SHUTOUT SWEEPS
Baseball is wonderful. On any day, or over any given group of days, it will send you forward or in reverse.
Look at the Pirates. Last week, the Pirates hosted the Cardinals in a rude manner by shutting them out in three straight games. They then left to visit Seattle, which did the same thing to them. The Pirates were shut out in three straight games for the first time since August 1968, when it happened to them twice, first by the Giants and Dodgers and then by the Cardinals and Braves. In those six games, Bob Veale lost twice, and Jim Bunning, Steve Blass, Bob Moose, and Dock Ellis once apiece. It is fun to write those names.
The Pirates are the first team in major league history to follow up a series sweep of three shutouts with another in which they were blanked three straight.
The more you know: This is the 38th 1-0 game of the season. The exact total for all of last season. There were 48 1-0 games in 2023.
26-0
Before we leave the Pirates-Mariners series, just one great item from yesterday’s 1-0 Seattle victory, Paul Skenes threw 5.0 IP, striking out 10, walking none, and getting a no-decision in a deGrom. Winning pitcher George Kirby threw 6.1 IP, striking out nine, walking none. By the time this masterpiece ended, the two teams combined for 26 strikeouts and no walks. BTW: each team struck out 13 times.
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