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Today’s Headlines
A Big Day in L.A.
The Mets entered this Sunday with a chance to produce a statement sweep in Los Angeles. Alas, it was all squashed quickly, as the Dodgers gave us their most convincing win of the season amid an avalanche of individual milestones. Tyler Glasnow earned his fourth win of the season, tossing eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts. Top prospect Andy Pages hit his first career homerun in what ended as a three-RBI day. Freddie Freeman added a couple of doubles, as seven of the team’s nine hits went for extra bases.
However, the crowning achievement came from Shohei Ohtani, as he hit his fifth homer of the season and became the top Japanese hitter in terms of MLB dingers, surpassing Hideki Matsui. Despite the recent controversy and the team’s uneven start, Ohtani is hitting a league-leading .368 average while also being the only hitter with at least ten doubles.
This was a history-maker for Shohei Ohtani! 💪 pic.twitter.com/YKvz6AnUER
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2024
Something’s Brewing
Despite losing their manager and top pitcher in the offseason and their best player to the IL last week, the Brewers continue to show they are a serious contender in the NL Central. Despite a 12-strikeout gem by Sonny Gray, he was still the losing pitcher after Colin Rea and Milwaukee’s bullpen matched him in putting up zeroes on the board, ultimately shutting down the Cardinals to earn the series sweep and fourth straight win. Gray was almost unblemished, but a tough seventh inning saw the scoreless tie broken with a clutch two-run single by Owen Miller. It could all have changed early, but Blake Perkins stole a potential three-run homer by Lars Nootbaar, giving us the top Sunday web gem.
Blake Perkins brings this ball back into the park! 😮 pic.twitter.com/KxLOEu8JHt
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2024
Rangers avoid sweep
In a battle of World Series contenders, the Texas Rangers ended their visit to Atlanta with a convincing win. Despite what looked like a back-breaking early three-run homer by Marcell Ozuna (who now has 27 RBI over 20 games), Texas held steady and responded with a four-run frame in the fourth, taking a lead they would not relinquish, as Andrew Knizner hit his own two-out, three-run homer. Adolis García would add some insurance with another bomb in the eighth, while Michael Lorenzen settled down after his early hiccup and earned the win with six innings of work. Both teams will enter this week leading their respective divisions.
Casey Mize earns his first win for the @Tigers since 2021! pic.twitter.com/IkvYl1y094
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2024
Best Moments From Yesterday
Easy as 1 to 3
Following a three-run eighth by the Rays that made it a one-run game, the Yankees were barely holding on to secure a series win. With Harold Ramírez at the plate and Victor González on the mound, a tricky line drive initially appeared to further extra drama to this intense series, but Gonzalez made an athletic play to record the final out, while Ramirez committed the ultimate no-no of sliding feet first into first. Here’s hoping that all remaining Yankees-Rays games in 2024 are as fun as this weekend’s.
An incredible play to win it for the @Yankees! 😮 pic.twitter.com/fw1mKeWfw1
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2024
Fan Interferes with History
Despite the humidor and the usual lackluster offense presented by the Rockies, 1-0 games are a true oddity in Coors Field. Only 11 of them have been recorded since the park opened, and today we came this close to the 12th. With a scoreless tie and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jacob Stallings hit what looked like a walk-off homer to give us the coveted 1-0 finish. However, a fan not only interfered with the left fielder’s chance to catch the ball, he did not even catch it! The umpires ruled Stallings out, and the game was decided in the tenth by a more mundane 2-1 result, aided by ghost runners.
Rather than a walk-off solo HR by Jacob Stallings, this was ruled fan interference. Game heads into the 10th inning rather than a Rockies walk-off win
Should this have been a walk-off HR or was it fan inference??? pic.twitter.com/RhHPBDlIek
— Dalton Feely (@dfeely14) April 21, 2024
Casey at the Bump
Following two seasons lost to injuries, Casey Mize was finally able to return to the win column for the Tigers, earning his first W since 2021 with a strong performance against the Twins. The 2018 draft’s first overall pick allowed eight base runners over six shutout innings, with four strikeouts while lowering his season ERA to 2.95.
Casey Mize earns his first win for the @Tigers since 2021! pic.twitter.com/IkvYl1y094
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2024
A True Life Lesson
In the middle of what looks like a nice father-son moment, the camera caught how a young fan in Philly dropped the best part of his hot dog. Unfazed, the kid, while wearing a cool Phillie Phanatic hat, simply picked it up and made proper use of the 5-second rule. Considering the cost of ballpark food, this was probably the sensible thing to do.
5 second rule! pic.twitter.com/Z92F6RXucT
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 21, 2024
The Youngest 46-year-old Ever
Baseball is a sport ripe for debate. Fans will argue all day about the DH, the Hall of Fame, and a plethora of other things, but there is almost a universal understanding that the Phillie Phanatic is the best mascot in the game. In the 46th anniversary of his first appearance, the Phils celebrated him in style, with several birthday cakes and a bunch of his mascot friends to roam around the stadium. Since the White Sox were in town, yet another blowout win served as the icing on the cake.
Happy Birthday to the Phillie Phanatic! You haven't aged a day! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/s0IqiGqvue
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 21, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Astros removed Cristian Javier from today’s scheduled start and placed him on the 15-day IL, where he will join almost a full rotation of Astros pitchers. While the injury is not expected to be serious, Javier had been the best hurler for Houston, with a 1.54 ERA so far this season. Javier’s turn was taken by Hunter Brown, while Spencer Arrighetti was called up to complete the roster.
⚾ In another late scratch, the Diamondbacks announced that Merrill Kelly would return to Phoenix for an MRI following an injury to his teres major strain. The severity of the injury is still unknown, as he was replaced by Slade Cecconi for today’s start.
⚾ The Mets placed lefty reliever Brooks Raley on the 15-day IL with a bout of elbow inflammation. Initial testing showed no structural damage, which portends a quick return for Raley, who has been one of the best pieces for New York’s bullpen.
⚾ After a rough start to his Brewers career, DL Hall is now on the 15-day IL with a left knee sprain. He was arguably the biggest return in the Corbin Burnes trade, though he has struggled in his first chance as a starter, posting a 7.71 ERA after four starts. His spot on the active roster will be covered by Jared Koenig, while Milwaukee will have to shuffle their staff to make up for Hall’s absence.
Articles You Should Read
It’s time for the Pirates to call up Paul Skenes — Dan Szymborski, FanGraphs
Meet the Pitcher who Throws 95 with Both Hands— Matt Monagan, MLB.com
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Sit/Start Week 4: Reviewing All Starting Pitching Matchups
Regarding the fan (or “spectator” as stated in the rules) interference call, it appeared the ball was above the wall and beyond the playing field when the fan touched it. If so, the rules state that an umpire cannot call “spectator interference” under these circumstances. Since they won the game anyway, I guess nobody felt the need to make a fuss about it. Have you heard anything on the subject?
Thanks