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Unofficial holidays are some of the best. Saturday’s May the 4th celebration of everything “Star Wars” gave MLB social-media teams and scoreboard operators carte blanche to morph anything in something related to the iconic franchise. More shenanigans could be in store for today as May 5 is not only Cinco de Mayo, but another day to celebrate “Star Wars” as it is Revenge of the 5th.
Today’s Headlines
12 Straight For Twins
If you believe in omens, Saturday was a pretty big day for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins entered the day riding an 11-game winning streak. The last time they hit 12 in a row? That would be 33 years ago, the same season the Twins last won the World Series. Saturday’s triumph was of the run-of-the-mill variety, with Max Kepler homering, Carlos Correa driving in a pair and right-hander Pablo López striking out eight over six innings to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1. The 1991 Twins team set the franchise record with 15 consecutive wins en route to a World Series championship.
Kepleround the bases‼️ pic.twitter.com/wGC6PZKU72
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 4, 2024
Arraez Shines In Padres Debut
Luis Arraez was very eager to join the San Diego Padres. Just hours after the trade that sent him from the Miami Marlins to the Padres became official, Arraez made the quick trip from Oakland, where the Marlins were facing the A’s, to Phoenix, where the Padres had just started a series against the Diamondbacks. Arraez made an instant impact. Batting leadoff as the designated hitter, he doubled in his first plate appearance and finished 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI in the Padres’ 13-1 triumph. The two-time batting champion became the first player in team history with four hits in his debut.
We already love this guy 🥹 pic.twitter.com/EV5vE8A9kF
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 5, 2024
Muncy Drills 3 HRs, Dodgers Blast Atlanta
When facing the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ lineup, it is pick your poison. Mookie Betts? Shohei Ohtani? Freddie Freeman? Will Smith? They all can single-handedly win a game. But then there are the other guys for the Dodgers. Andy Pages is starting to look like an impact player. But Max Muncy has been doing it for a few years now. On Saturday, he had one of those games, clubbing three homers for the first time in his MLB career as the Dodgers blew out Atlanta 11-2. As part of a four-hit night, Muncy hit a two-run homer in the second inning, then his solo shots in the seventh and eighth innings. That gives him eight homers, tying Ohtani (who also homered Saturday) for the team lead. (More on Ohtani’s homer later.)
Max for two! pic.twitter.com/QIKaS8Zrtc
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2024
MAD MAX. pic.twitter.com/aQhVdv6GuO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2024
MAX IS UNSTOPPABL3. pic.twitter.com/6mnHduyIBP
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2024
A’s Score 20, Reach .500
Name the first team to score 20 runs in a game this season. If you said the Oakland A’s, you probably had inside info. But the A’s are the correct answer. The A’s, following a 3-hour, 23-minute rain delay, exploded against the Marlins for a 20-4 victory. The onslaught included a 10-run third inning in which Brent Rooker hit two home runs, a two-run rocket, and a three-run blast. He became the first A’s player since Mark McGwire on September 22, 1996, to hit a pair of homers in the same inning. Rooker’s big inning slightly overshadowed rookie third baseman Brett Harris who hit the first two homers of his MLB career. This was also the A’s sixth straight victory and brought them to .500 at 17-17.
Two home runs in one inning 🤯
Brent Rooker is the first A’s player to homer twice in the same inning since Mark McGwire on September 22, 1996! pic.twitter.com/OzkdqUR9hL
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 5, 2024
Best Moments From Yesterday
Double-Colored Lightsaber
Check out Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson’s bat for May the 4th. One question: Is he a Rebel or with the Empire?
Gunnar Henderson's Star Wars bat goes insanely hard 🤯
(via g_henderson00/IG) pic.twitter.com/CRgby9vWM3
— MLB (@MLB) May 4, 2024
Ohtani Gives Roberts A Porsche?
Shohei Ohtani hit his team-leading eighth homer of the season. Generally, that wouldn’t be a noteworthy accomplishment, but Ohtani’s blast broke a tie with manager Dave Roberts for the most homers by a Japanese-born Dodgers player. The day before, Ohtani walked into Roberts’ office and said he had gotten the skipper something to commemorate Roberts’ mark: a car. It just wasn’t any car though, it was a Porsche, although it was of the miniature variety.
Shohei got Doc a car. This is a true statement. 😂 pic.twitter.com/dXerO0QPT9
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2024
Shohei Ohtani passes Dave Roberts for the most homers by a Dodgers Japanese-born player with eight! pic.twitter.com/YHPf7jjufv
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2024
A Crew For Brew
It has long been a tradition of a team’s rookies making a Starbucks run before a day game at Wrigley Field. For the Milwaukee Brewers, who are one of the youngest teams in MLB, that means sending about one-third of the active roster to fetch beverages.
The rookie coffee run hits different when you have 9 rookies 🫢 pic.twitter.com/YLb7pxrBKr
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 4, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (right elbow discomfort) threw off a mound for the first time since spring training, saying, “It’s a good step.”
⚾ As expected, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (left hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Infielder Kody Clemens was called up from Triple-A. Turner said he expects to be out at least six weeks.
⚾ San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey went on the seven-day concussion IL. Catcher Blake Sabol was promoted from Triple-A.
⚾ The Chicago White Sox called up top third base prospect Bryan Ramos from Double-A to make his MLB debut. Ramos is the White Sox’s No. 4 prospect. Infielder-outfielder Danny Mendick (lower-back tightness) went on the 10-day IL.
⚾ Atlanta right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson (right elbow inflammation) was put on the 15-day IL. Right-handed reliever Jackson Stephens was called up from Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
Quantifying the power of the first-pitch strike — Travis Sawchik, The Score
Giants haunted by inability to develop outfielders — John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle
A season of chaos? It is looking that way — Joel Sherman, New York Post
Fantasy Baseball Coverage