A Family Affair
The Dodgers made light work of the Cubs on Sunday Night Baseball off the back of a virtuoso performance from veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw went eight strong innings in the 7-1 win, striking out 13 and allowing just one run off a solo homer from Javier Báez.
Clayton Kershaw against the Cubs:
8.0 IP | 4 H | 1 ER | 13 K
The 1️⃣3️⃣ strikeouts are his most in a regular season game since July 9, 2017.
🎥 @MLBpic.twitter.com/OclewkKCaH
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 28, 2021
The slider was humming…
https://gfycat.com/thirdidlebellsnake
…as was the Cooperstown Curveball.
https://gfycat.com/naiveevilamericancicada
The whole gang was on call for the cute family photo to celebrate the victory on a balmy Sunday night in Los Angeles. It’s why we love baseball.
https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1409333592346464256
Swerving Irvin
The A’s keep finding diamonds in the rough, season-in-season-out. This year, that guy is left-handed starter Cole Irvin. The 27-year-old was acquired by Oakland in a trade with the Phillies prior to the season for cash considerations. He picked up his sixth win of the season yesterday, throwing eight shutout innings against the Giants in San Francisco. He has now won three of his last six starts and looks anchored in at the back of the A’s rotation. His stuff isn’t mind-blowing, but it is effective.
This overlay is not exciting, because Cole Irvin’s stuff is not exciting. But he reps a difficult part of analyzing an SP by breaking them into parts: all of his pitches are ~average, so Stuff+ meh (88) & lacks out pitch, but has 4 (or 5) pitches he can command (115). Useful. pic.twitter.com/nPZPSgGox7
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) June 22, 2021
There might be more to today’s performance, however.
Cole Irvin said that he brought donuts for everyone this morning. No wonder they all played so well today.
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) June 27, 2021
That extra sugar helped him perfectly execute a squeeze play at the plate!
Perfect squeeze by Cole Irvin and Tony Kemp 🤝 pic.twitter.com/IyfPR3GTRK
— The Rickey Henderson of Blogs (@RickeyBlog) June 27, 2021
Tip of the cap to all the under-the-radar baseball players out there.
Shohei Sunday
I mean, let’s be honest about this – it is pretty much “Shohei Every Day” right now! The Angels’ MVP front-runner was in scintillating form once again in the 6-4 win over the Rays, falling a single short of the cycle.
Shohei Sunday. https://t.co/9FQyJGQnFx pic.twitter.com/pam6wf5lsH
— MLB (@MLB) June 27, 2021
He finished up his day with a solo blast off Pete Fairbanks to send the world into raptures once again.
🦄🦄🦄 pic.twitter.com/Nx2PQLlB5T
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 27, 2021
Turn it up for this one…
The sound off Shohei's bat 😱 pic.twitter.com/cgm9rPI7ZM
— MLB (@MLB) June 27, 2021
And go fullscreen for this…
This angle of Ohtani's homer >>> pic.twitter.com/lvIgWIGbri
— MLB (@MLB) June 27, 2021
Ke’Bryan Ke’What?!
Pittsburgh Pirates sensation Ke’Bryan Hayes has followed in the footsteps of his underrated teammates Bryan Reynolds and Adam Frazier by providing elite defense, one of the few reasons to tune in and watch the team right now. This phenomenal grab and throw from the young third baseman to retire Yadier Molina was as good as it gets at the position.
KE'BRYAN HAYES.
THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE TWEET. pic.twitter.com/Bh3Mrir1i4
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 27, 2021
You can see from this alternative angle that Hayes is nearly three rows backs in the stands when he lets go of the ball. Wow!
still trying to comprehend how ke’bryan hayes made this play pic.twitter.com/ZgP5lAstYS
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 27, 2021
That Sweet Sound
The obligatory Sunday dose of the bat hitting the ball out of the stadium. Sound up…
Sunday dingers. pic.twitter.com/QMfyIvzPEZ
— MLB (@MLB) June 28, 2021
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)