Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Sunday Night Baseball could not have had a better script even if Quentin Tarantino himself wrote it. Going into the matchup between the Dodgers and the Giants in San Francisco, the Giants knew that a win against their rivals would send them back to the top of the National League West at a crucial stage of the season. It was more than a sweet victory, it was more than a series win, it was more than first place in the NL West. It was a season-defining victory.
✅ #SundayNightBaseball win
✅ Series win
✅ 1st place in the NL WestIt was a HUGE night for the @SFGiants. pic.twitter.com/6052S4G0mD
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2021
The Giants are full of unsung heroes, but none more so than slugger Brandon Belt, who lit up Oracle Park with a monster homer off Walker Buehler in the first inning to get the Giants rolling. It was his 21st home run of the year.
Belted one. #SundayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/y43IXrAjY5
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
The Giants went after Buehler again in the second inning, scoring three runs and added another two runs in the third inning thanks to this line-drive double from Brandon Crawford.
A Giant 2nd inning for San Francisco. #SundayNightBaseball
(MLB x @GEICO) pic.twitter.com/vujv7hqAdw
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
Crawford, the Giants shortstop, also put down one of the greatest bunts you will ever see.
A perfect bunt is so satisfying. 😍 pic.twitter.com/rZf48XWSNS
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2021
With a four-run lead going into the top of the ninth inning, Jake McGee made things interesting by serving up a hanger to Albert Pujols, who obliged by blasting the 678th home run of his career to bring the game to within two with nobody out.
Home run No. 678 for @PujolsFive. #SundayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/B4bcpN8J0p
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2021
However, the Giants hung on and even got some helpful calls around the strike zone late to seal a momentous win. What will happen next in the NL West?!
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) September 6, 2021
Grand Slam Central
A miraculous day for the loaded-bases gang today with Grand Slam homers popping up everywhere, including three in one game – the Pirates’ slugfest with the Cubs. Bryan Reynolds got things going with the first of his career.
The first career salami for Bryan Reynolds. pic.twitter.com/QCzK4V6sfi
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
Cubs infielder Matt Duffy then hit a salami to make it two homers and five RBI in two at-bats. Mind, blown!
It's the 3rd inning and @mm_duffy has 2 homers and 5 RBI. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hJFA2dI8Jr
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
Frank Schwindel then hit the third slam of the game in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead blast. The Cubs outlasted the Pirates, 11-8.
We've got another go-ahead grand slam to report.#SCHWINNNNNNG pic.twitter.com/sNmeeeGscx
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 5, 2021
Elsewhere, Brewers power bat Daniel Vogelbach pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded against Alex Reyes. He crushed this ball.
PINCH-HIT ULTIMATE GRAND SLAM FOR DANIEL VOGELBACH! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/yJzLaMAWBu
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
Kevin Pillar put the game against the Nationals to bed for the Mets in the top of the ninth, thanks to…yes, you guessed it, a full bagger!
Big-time insurance, @KPILLAR4.#SeptemberBaseball pic.twitter.com/Z8sOKdax51
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
And not to be left out, Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez also went yard with the bases loaded. I got bored of all the front views of these Grand Slams!
a lil gary sánchez grand salami for your sunday pic.twitter.com/fpscrL65Uy
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 5, 2021
Just kidding, here it is in all its glory. Gary Slamchez…why didn’t I think of that!
Gary Slamchez. pic.twitter.com/SDZz57cCjO
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 5, 2021
Here are the facts!
There have been NOW BEEN SIX grand slams MLB-wide today
That's tied for the 2nd-most on a single date in MLB history, with 5/21/2000 (pending the inclusion of Negro Leagues stats), behind only:
6/3/2017: 7
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 5, 2021
The Legend of the Opening Pitch
The upcoming Marvel movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, stars Canadian actor, writer, and stuntman Simu Liu. Turns out, he is also a mean starting pitcher with elite command. Admire the pitch, stay for the backflip!
.@SimuLiu with a perfect strike AND a backflip. 😱
Gotta be one of the best first pitches this year. 👏 pic.twitter.com/RUAZyGDAmM
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
Salvi Sunday
…or just every day this season really. Home run number 41 for Royals catcher Salvador Perez.
41 HR, 102 RBI!
We've run out of ways to describe the season @SalvadorPerez15 is having! 😱 pic.twitter.com/7hicjvtH6K
— MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2021
It was Salvi’s 102nd RBI on the year, second to only José Abreu, who is one ahead of him. The enigmatic Royals catcher, who was rewarded with a bumper new deal prior to the season, is now also second on the home run leaderboard.
LIVE look at the HR leaderboard:
Shohei Ohtani: 43
Salvador Perez: 41*
Vladimir Guerrero Jr: 39
Fernando Tatis Jr: 37
Marcus Semien: 35** = HR today
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 5, 2021
He is also making history through time. He is now only four home runs short of Jonny Bench’s 1970 record for most homers by a catcher in a single season.
Most HR in season, catchers (75% of games at C):
1970 Johnny Bench: 45
2003 Javy Lopez: 43
2021 Salvador Perez: 41
1996 Todd Hundley: 41
1953 Roy Campanella: 41— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 5, 2021
Vladdy Slo-Mo-Sunday!
Just because we want to. We know what our audience wants.
‼️ INCOMING SLO-MO VLADDY SLIDE ‼️ pic.twitter.com/m8s93lv8fL
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 5, 2021
That Sweet Sound!
The sound that should be injected into your veins every day.
The best sound in sports. 😍 pic.twitter.com/LycBIjJi1y
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2021
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)
Quentin Tarantino, along with his blatant foot fetish, has a few other issues, and I expose these as a HUGE fan of his early work…
He was a tool of Harvey Weinstien –
Enough said, right? There were so many.
He went from unrecognized writer, to a recognized media mogul SURVIVING the Wienstien problem in less than a couple years and getting an Oscar nom…
Gotta wonder how that happened…
I think Tarantino is one of the most gifted directors ever, PF is probably my favorite film EVER, but things are weird now, and I hope Weinstien “enjoys” his impending prison sentence.
Medieval…