George Mullin’s July 4, 1912 no-hitter was one for the books.  In shutting down the St. Louis Browns 7-0 (five hits and five walks), Mullin:

• Tossed the Tigers’ first-ever no-hitter;
• Pitched just the second MLB Independence Day no-hitter;
• Became the first – and still only – MLB pitcher to throw a no-hitter on his birthday (Mullin was born on July 4, 1880);
• Went three-four-four at the plate, with a double and an RBI.

Mullin had a 14-season MLB career (1902-15), pitching for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Indianapolis Hoosiers (Federal League) and Newark Pepper (FL).  He won twenty or more games in six seasons, including an American League-leading 29 (eight losses, 2.22 earned run average) in 1909. From 1905 through 1911, he averaged 21 wins and fifteen losses per season for the Tigers, with a 2.71 ERA. Over the same period, he averaged 308 innings pitched per season (Mullin pitched more than 300 innings in six seasons during his career). His career line was 228-196, 2.82 and he completed 353 of 428 starts,  He also pitched in seven World Series games (1907-08-09), going 3-3, 2.02 and completing all six of his World Series starts.

As a hitter, Mullin had a .262-3-139 line in 1,531 at bats. He hit .280 or better in four seasons, topping .300 twice (.325 in 1902 and .312 in 1914).

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

 

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It’s July 1 and time for Baseball Roundtable’s 2023 monthly Wrap Up (for June)  – a look at Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, the Trot Index, the May leaderboards and the stats and stories that caught Baseball Roundtable’s eye during the past month. And, as always, there was plenty to revisit:

• A Perfect Game;
•  Two cycles;
• A player chasing .400 and recording three five-for-five days in the month;
•  A player hitting 15 home runs and striking out 37 batters;
• A player getting a game-tying and game-winning hit in his MLB debut;
• Two games in London;
• One player getting his 300th homer, another his 2000th hit;
• Two more complete-game shutouts;
• One team hitting an NL-record (for any month) 61 homers;
• One team hitting over .300 for the month – and another team’s pitching staff being hit for a .300+ average;
• One team with an ERA north of 6.00; and
• More.

Location, Location, Location

The Twins, located in the AL Central Division, ended June with a 41-42 record on the season and in first place.  The Red Sox, located in the AL East, ended June also at 41-42 – in last place 15 games out. 

You’ll find these and other stories from June in the Highlights Section, but first,  the Players and Pitchers of the Month.

–——BB ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH——-

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of the Month – (Tie)  Luis Arreaz, 2B, Marlins & Ronald Acuna, Jr., RF, Braves

Baseball Roundtable is swayed by “bright and shiny things.”  One of those things is a.400 average.  So, enter he Marlins’ Luis Arreaz.  A .406 average for the month, an MLB-leading 43 hits (two homers/19 RB/17 runs scored). Arreaz notched 11 multi-hit games in June – including three five-for-five contests. The spray hitter is clearly a major factor in the Marlins’ surprising showing  thus far in 2023. As June ended, his average on the season was .390.

The Braves’ Ronald Acuna, Jr. continued his MVP-level performance with  a .356-9-22 month, finishing second in the NL in June in average (among players with at least 60 at bats); hits (37), homers, runs scored (26) and RBI (tied) – while also stealing an MLB-best 14 bases.

Honorable Mentions: Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks.  Martel hit a solid .315 in June, poked  seven home runs, tied for the second-most NL June RBI with 22 and led MLB in June runs scored with 30. He gets extra credit for the fact that his walks (20) outpaced his whiffs (18). The Roundtable also give a shout out to  the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll. The 22-year-old put up a .291-8-22 June, with eight steals in eight attempts.

Pitcher of the Month – (Tie)

Blake Snell, LHP, Padres & Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins

Blake Snell went 3-1, 0.87 in five June starts – while fanning an MLB high 53 batters in 31 innings. He whiffed ten or more batters in four of his five starts – and his month included victories over the Rays and Giants. He gave Just one home run in 31 innings. and held hitters to a .1214 average.

Twenty-year-old rookie Eury Perez made five June starts, went 3-0 and put up the lowest earned run average  – a minuscule 0.32 – among pitchers with at least 25 June innings. He gave up just 18 hits and one run  in 28 innings, holding hitters to a .178 average – with a little run support he could have been 5-0 (in his two no-decisions, the Marlins scored just one run.)

Honorable Mentions:  Taijuan Walker of the Phillies. Hard not to recognize the only MLB pitcher to notch five wins in June.  Walker went 5-1, with a 1.50 earned run average in six starts. Walker went six or more innings in four of his six starts and gave up more than one run only once.  Dodgers’ southpaw Clayton Kershaw,  went 4-0 in five June starts, with a 1.09 earned run average. Reds’ rookie Andrew Abbot also went 4-0, with a 1.21 ERA in five starts.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Shohei Ohtani, DH, Angels

Easy call here. Ohtani led MLB in June homers with 15 and RBI with 29. He also led American  Leaguers with at least 60 June at bats with a .394 average, In addition, he scored 27 runs (tops in the AL), had 41 hits (tops in the AL) and legged out three triples (tied for tops in the AL). Ohtani had ten multi-hit games during the month and ten multi-RBI games.  In addition (and this didn’t figure into his Player of the Month selection, he went 2-2, 3.26 on the mound, fanning 37 batters (fifth-best in the AL) in 30 1/3 innings (five starts). The man is playing in a league of his own.

Honorable Mentions: Cleveland 3B Jose Ramirez hit .340 in June, with seven home runs (tied for third-best in the AL)  and 23 RBI (fourth-best). He also walked more often (23 times) than he struck out (13) and stole four bases in five tries. Rangers’ SS Corey Seager went .369-5-25 (with a league-topping 14 doubles) for the month.

Pitcher of the Month – Kevin Gausman, RHP, Blue Jays

The American League’s only four-game winner in June (4-1, 2.97 in six starts), Gausman went at least six innings in all but one of his starts and had three starts of ten or more strikeouts (11, 12 and 13).  Gausman fanned an AL-high 50 June batters (in 36 1/3 innings).

Honorable Mentions:  The Blue Jays’ Jordan Romano saved 12 games in 12 opportunities, putting up a 2.84 ERA and fanning 14 in 12 2/3 innings. The Red Sox’ James Paxton went 3-0, 1.74 in five starts and fanned 34 batters in 31 innings.

________________________________________________

Surprise of the Month – Josh Sborz, RHP, Rangers

The 29-year-old Sborz came into the season with a 5-4, 4.85 record over four seasons (2019-22) and 93 MLB appearances.  In April and May, he went  1-2, 4.76 (three holds, one blown save) for the Rangers. In June, he may have been the most valuable arm out of the Rangers’ pen.  In 10 games, he recorded three wins (no losses) and six holds (one blown save).  He put up a 0.55 earned run average, gave up just three hits, fanned 22 batters and walked just two in 16 1/3 innings – holding hitters to a 0.77 batting average.

Honorable Mentions: Reds’ 23-year-old rookie SS Matt McLain, who made his MLB debut May 15, hit .287 in June, with five homers,  20 runs scored and  19 RBI. (He does need to work on plate discipline – five walks and 33 whiffs – which makes the .287 average even surprising).

Location, Location, Location

Spencer Strider, located on the Braves’ staff, had a 5.46 June ERA, but went 4-0. in five starts  Johan Oviedo, put up a 3.23 ERA in June, but went 0-4 in five starts. 

_______________________________

TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through June 30,  35.5 percent of the MLB season’s 93,601 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.7%); walks (8.6%); home runs (3.1%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits 21, 142 – 20,598.

The 35.5 percent figure is up from 2022’s full season 34.6 percent.  Other recent seasons: 2021 – 36.3 percent; 2020 –  37.3 percent;  2019 – 36.2 percent; and 2018 – 34.8 percent.  By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.  

__________________________________________

Notably, the top five W-L records in June belonged to NL teams – led by the Braves at 21-4. The Braves caught fire in June, leading MLB in home runs (61 – an NL team record for any month), batting average (.307) and run scored (175).  The value of that offense is reflected in the fact that their ERA was about in the middle of the NL (3.87 – tied for sixth).  Key June contributors were MVP candidate RF Ronald Acuna, Jr. at .356-9-22, with 14 steals;  2B Ozzie Albies (.278-7-20); 1B Matt Olson (.272-11-25) and LF Eddie Rosario (.325-9-22).  Overall, the Braves outscored their opponents 175-104 for the month.  Through the month, the Braves only once lost two in a row – and had winning streaks of 7, 8 and 6 games (still active).

The Phillies and Giants had strong months at 18-8, both balancing pitching and offense. The Giants enjoyed a 10-game winning streak (June 11-21), while the Phillies twice won six straight during the month (June 3-9 & June 13-18).

The Reds’ surprising(18-9) month of June was highlighted by a 12-game winning streak, during which they notched six one-run victories. Surprisingly, for a team with the third-most June wins, the Reds had  a 5.03 earned run average for the month (third-worst in the NL) and the NL’s sixth-best batting average. They did, however, have the NL’s second-most long balls.

No player on the Reds had more than six round trippers in  June. Ten Reds had at least three.

Youth was served on the Reds.  Among the key players were 23-year-old rookie SS/2B Matt McLain (.287-5-19); 21-year-old rookie SS/3B Elly De La Cruz (.307-3-12, with 20 runs scored and nine steals in 21 games); 25-year-old 1B Spencer Steer (rookie status still intact for 2023) at .270-5-20 for June; 25-year-old LF Will Benson (.350 in 22 games – in his second MLB season): and 24-year-old rookie pitcher Andrew Abbott ( 4-0, 1.21 in five starts).

Youth, Sweet Youth

The value of the Reds’ youngsters was illustrated on the final day of the month, when they became the  first MLB team (according to STATS ) to have one rookie hit a game-tying homer and another rookie hit a walk-off homer in extra innings in the same game.  (More of #InBaseballWeCountEverything.) As the Reds  topped the Padres 7-5,  Matt McLain it a game-tying two-run homer n the bottom of the tenth and Spencer Steer hit a game-winning two-run shot in the eleventh.  

Moving on to the AL, the big surprise might have been the Yankees scoring  the second fewest runs of any team during the month (88) and putting up the lowest batting average in the AL at .208.

Ten Yankees played 15 or more games in June – and seven of them hit under .200.

Meanwhile,  the Rays continued to look  solid with a  with a 16-10 record, best in the AL for June.  They did it with a nice balance of  the AL’s best ERA and second-most runs scored.

The Guardians made a bit of a move in the dismal NL Central (as of June 30, no team in the Central Division was over .500 on the season). The Guardians went 14-12 in June – on the strength of  of the AL’s fourth-best June ERA and fifth-most  runs scored. They did it with base-to-base baseball, notching only 21 home runs, third-fewest in the AL.  Key contributors were 3B Jose Ramirez (.330-7-23 in June) and  1B Josh Naylor (.370-2-18). The bullpen was critical as Cleveland starters  won only six of the team’s  14 games in June.  In June, no Cleveland pitcher won more than three games – and the 14 wins were divided among ten pitchers.

——-Team  Statistical Leaders for June  2023 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Braves (175); Reds (153); Diamondbacks (144)

American League – Rangers (140); Rays (130); Angels (137)

The fewest runs in June were scored by the Royals – 83. The Cardinals tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 92. Others under 100 were the: Yankees (88); A’s (93); Nationals (95); Twins (95); White Sox (97). 

AVERAGE

National League – Braves (.307); Marlins (.267); Diamondbacks (.265)

American League – Guardians (.279); Rangers (.274); Rays (.260)

The lowest team average for June belonged to the Yankees (.208). The lowest in the NL was the Brewers (.219).

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (61); Reds (42); Mets (36)

American League –  Angels (47); Rangers (42); Astros (38)

The Royals hit the fewest home runs in June, 17. The  Nationals were at the bottom of the NL at 21.

The Braves led MLB in slugging percentage for June at .572.  The Angels led the AL at .477. 

STOLEN BASES

National League – Reds (50); Phillies (29); Diamondbacks (28)

American League – Astros (31); A’s (30); Royals (28)

The Tigers stole the fewest sacks in June  – just six in eleven  attempts.   The Giants were at the bottom of the NL, with eight in ten attempts. 

WALKS DRAWN

National League –   Padres (106); Giants (103); Diamondbacks (102)

American League  Angels (105); Rangers (105); Astros (94)

The Braves led MLB in on-base percentage for June at .372. The Rangers led the AL  at .347.  The Yankees had MLB’s lowest OBP for June  at .273.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Rockies (273); Brewers (267);  Giants (245)

American League – Twins (275); Tigers (247); White Sox (243)

Nationals’ and Braves’ batters fanned the fewest times in June  (176).

 

Bonus Stats

• Braves’ batters racked up the most total bases in June at 503.  The Yankees were at the bottom of MLB at 283.
• The Padres led in sacrifice bunts for June with six. Seven teams recorded zero sacrifice bunts.

_______________________________________

Earned Run Average

National League – Phillies (3.05); Cubs (3.34); Marlins (3.43)

American League –  Rays (3.38); Yankees (3.48); White Sox (3.54)

The Rockies had the highest June ERA at 6.84.  Others over 5.00 were the: Royals (5.73); Cardinals (5.27); and Reds (5.03).

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Marlins (266); Phillies  (254); Braves (248)

American League –  White Sox (269); Blue Jays (263); Rays (256)

The White Sox  averaged  an MLB-best 10.47 strikeouts per nine innings in June. The Marlins averaged an NL-best 9.92.  Twelve teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League  – Marlins (54); Phillies (65); Giants (66)

American League – Blue Jays (56); Yankees (60); Twins (65)

The Marlins  walked an MLB-lowest 2.01 batters per nine innings in June.  The Rockies walked an MLB-worst 4.24 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Braves (13); Giants (13); Reds (12)

American League – Blue Jays (13); Angels (9); Yankees (9); A’s (9)

Bonus Stats:

• The Rockies gave up an MLB-high 46 home runs in June– The  Giants gave up an MLB-low 19.
• The Rays held opponents to an MLB-low .213 average in June; the Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .304 during the month.

 —–JUNE HIGHLIGHTS—–

Bringing the Heat

On June 2, as the Twins faced the Guardians in Minnesota, Twins’ closer Jhoan Duran picked up his eighth save. He went 1 1/3 innings, giving up one hit and one walk, while fanning three. Notably, after using 14 pitches to get out of an inherited jam in the eighth, he came back  to pitch a scoreless ninth.  (During the eighth, he came on with a runner on second, one out and the Twins up 1-0 and proceeded to sandwich a pair of strikeouts around an intentional walk.)

In his outing,  the 25-year-old flamethrower launched two pitches at 104+ MPH, one of them matching his own mark for the fastest pitch of the 2023 season – 104.6 mph. At the time, Duran was the only pitcher to reach 104 mph this season – and it was his fifth pitch at that velocity. (Since the, Jordan Hicks has reached the 104 mph mark once. Through June 30, Duran was 2-2, 1.45, with 11 saves and 423 strikeouts in 31 innings.

Give Me Five, Luis

On June 3, Marlins’ leadoff hitter and second baseman Luis Arreaz (acquired in an off-season trade with the Twins), became the first Marlin  to record five hits and five RBI in the same game – as the Marlins topped the A’s 12-1 in  Miami. Arreaz singled to lead off the bottom of the first; rapped an RBI single in the second; hit a three-run double in the third; had an RBI (ground rule) double in the fifth; and hit  a one-out double in the seventh.  It wasn’t Arreaz’ first foray into the Marlins’ record books. On April 11, he became the first Marlin ever to hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, homer in the same game).

As June  closed,  Arreaz, the 2022 AL batting champ, was leading the NL with a .390 average.

The Marlins’ Arreaz produced three five-hit games in the month of June (June 3, June 16, June 19) – making him just the fourth major leaguer to deliver three five-hit games in a month, joining: George Sisler, Browns, August 1921; Ty Cobb, Tigers, July 1922; Dave Winfield, Yankees, June 1984).

Celebrate a Win – With a Burger

On June 4, White Sox’ DH and number-two batter Jake Burger came up in the bottom on the ninth with the bases loaded, one out and his White Sox  tied 2-2 with the Tigers. Burger took a 1-0 pitch from Tigers’ closer Alex Lange to deep left center for a walk-off Grand Slam. It was Burger’s first MLB walk-off homer and first MLB Grand Slam.

Comeback Player of the Year? Seems Like It.

White Sox’ righty Liam Hendriks picked up the win in Chicago’s June  4 game against the Tigers – after pitching  a 1-2-3 top of the ninth (two strikeouts) to preserve a 2-2 tie.  The White Sox scored in the bottom of the inning to give him the victory. It was Hendriks’ first  decision since coming back from treatment for Stage Four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – and it came on National Cancer Survivors Day.

McClanahan a True Rays’ Ace

One June 5, Rays’ southpaw Shane McClanahan threw six one-run innings (five hits, two walks, five whiffs) as the Rays topped the Red Sox 4-1 in Boston.  In the process, McLanahan became NL’s first nine-game winner in 2023 – running his record to 9-1, 2.02.

McClanahan, who came into the 2023 season with a 22-4, 2.92 record, closed June with an 11-1, 2.53 record on the season.

1-2-3 … That’s How Easy It’s Gonna Be

On June 8, as the Guardians topped the Red Sox 10-3 in Cleveland, Guardians’ 3B and cleanup hitter, Jose Ramirez truly “cleaned up.”  Ramirez homered in his first three at bats, notching his first-ever three-homer game and (with the second homer) his 200^th MLB long ball.  And, there was more, Ramirez broke a 13-game homer-less streak and a zero-for-sixteen slump. Ramirez ended the game three-for-five with three runs scored and five RBI. He ended June at .295-13-52 on the season. Ramirez, in his eleventh MLB season, is a four-time All Star and has topped twenty home runs in five seasons (topping 30 twice); recorded 100+ RBI in three seasons; and has 20 or more  stolen bases in five campaigns.

100 Wins … Good for Yu 

On June 9, Yu Darvish won his fifth game of the season for the Padres (5-4, 4.30), as San Diego topped the Rockies 9-6 in Colorado. Darvish went  5 1/3 innings – four runs on five hits and four walks, with six whiffs.  It was also Darvish’s  100^th MLB win.  Darvish – 16-8, 3.10 for the Padres a year ago –  finished June with a 5-6, 4.84 record on the season.

How About Those Early Returns?

Dodgers’ 24-year-old righty, rookie Bobby Miller, got his MLB career off to a pretty darn good start. Making his major league debut on May 23, Miller picked up three wins (no losses) and a 0.78 over his first four starts (May 23, May 29, June 4, June 10).  Things got a bit tougher in his next three starts, as Miller gave up 16 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.  He finished June with a 4-1, 4.23 record on the season.

2,000 … That’s a Nice, Big, Round Number

On June 11, five -time All Star Andrew McCutchen, in his fifteenth MLB season, led off at DH for the Pirates (in Pittsburgh). McCutchen rapped a first-inning single off Carlos Carrasco for his 2,000^th MLB safety. He went one-for-three (with a walk) in the game, won by the Pirates (over the Mets) 2-1.

As June closed, McCutchen’s was .287-10-28 on the season and  .277-297-1,030 for his career.

A (Bi)cycle Built for Two

We saw two cycles (single, double, triple, home run in the same game) in June.  First, on June 12, Phillies’ C J.T. Realmuto went four-for-four with a walk – as the Phillies lost to the Diamondbacks 9-8 in Arizona. Realmuto led off the second inning with a solo home run; hit a two-run triple in the third; singled in the fifth; walked in the seventh; and doubled to lead off the ninth. In another example of how #InBaseballWeCountEverything, Todd Zolecki at MLB.com reported that there have been 22 times in MLB history that a player has hit for a cycle, added a walk, had three RBI and three runs scored -and this was the first time that player’s team lost the game.

On June 23, the streaking Reds won their 12^th straight game – squeaking by the Braves 11-10 in Cincinnati. In the contest, 39-year-old veteran Joey Votto hit a game-tying solo home run to lead off the fourth and a go-ahead three-run bomb in the fifth.  The 39-year-old veteran, however, was upstaged by 21-year-old rookie 3B Elly De La Cruz, who collected the Reds’ first cycle (single, double, triple, homer in one game) in 34 years.  De La Cruz, batting cleanup, doubled to lead off the second inning; hit a two-run homer in the third; had an RBI single in the fifth; and stroked a run-scoring triple in the sixth.  The cycle came in De La Cruz’ fifteenth MLB game. Only two players have recorded a cycle earlier in their MLB career (per the Elias Sports Bureau):  Cliff Heathcote of the 1918 Cardinals (sixth MLB game) and Gary Ward of the 1980 Twins (fourteenth ML:B game.)

FASTEST Cycle Ever

On June 18, 2000, Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing completed the fastest cycle ever in an MLB game.  As the Rockies topped the Diamondbacks in Colorado by a 19-2 score, Lansing, batting second, completed his cycle in just four frames:

• A run-scoring triple in the first inning;
• A two-run home run in the second;
• A two-run double in the third;
• A single in the fourth.

Lansing played nine years in the major leagues, hitting .271-84-440 in 1,110 games.

A Winning MLB Debut

On June 17, I was lucky enough to be in Kansas City (on a Ballpark Tours trip), as the Angels took on the Royals – and 24-year-old Samad Taylor made his MLB debut for the Royals, batting eighth and playing LF. Taylor, by the way, was hitting .304-6-37, with 34 steals in 62 games at Triple-A when called up.

In a game that saw the Angels jump out to a 9-2 lead by the top of the seventh, Taylor had grounded out in bottom of the second, flied out to right in the fifth, walked and scored in the seventh and walked and scored in the eighth. Ultimately, in his MLB debut, Taylor found himself  at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on third,  one out and the scored knotted at nine apiece.  Taylor delivered his first major-league hit – and it was a walk-off (game-winning) single.

Rebuilding

The Royals’ starting offensive lineup on June 17  included six players in either their first or second MLB season.

A Tying and Winning MLB Debut

Twenty-nine-year-old Zach Remillard was in his seventh minor-league season when he finally got the call to the “Show” (with the White Sox). He made his major-league debut in a game against the Mariners (in Seattle) on June 17 – coming on in the fourth inning to replace starting shortstop Tim Anderson, who reported right shoulder soreness.  (Anderson went to the bench, starting second baseman Elvis Andrus went to SS and Remillard came in at 2B, batting in the number-two spot.)

It was one heck of a day for the rookie.

• In his first plate appearance (top of the fifth), he walked on five pitches.
• In the seventh, he beat out a bunt single.
• In the ninth, he rapped an RBI single that tied the game at 3-3.
• In the eleventh, he added another RBI single that proved the game winner (it gave the White Sox at 4-3 lead).

So, in his debut, Remillard reached base in all four plate appearances, went three-for-three and (according to MLB.com) became the first player since 1901 to drive in the tying and winning runs in his MLB debut.

So Darn Stingy.

In the month of June, Mariners’ righty Ge0rge Kirby walked only one batter in four starts (24 innings), while fanning 21. On the season, he’s walked just seven in 15 starts (94 innings,) while fanning 79 and going 6-7, 3.26. In two MLB seasons, the 25-year-old Kirby has walked just 29 and fanned 212 in 224 innings. 

A Bittersweet Record

On June 18, 12-season (2011-2015, 2017-23) MLB veteran Lance Lynn tied a White Sox franchise record and reached a career high by fanning 16 batters in a game. The outing came in Seattle and was bittersweet, since Lynn gave up three earned runs (in seven innings) and took the loss, as the Mariners topped the White Sox 5-1.  In the game, Lynn threw 114 pitches (71 strikes) and gave up just four hits and two walks.

On the season, through June, Lynn is 5-8, 6.47. Lynn is a two-time All Star (2012 and 2021), and has won 15 or more games in four seasons.  His career mark is 128-92, 3.68.

Lighting It Up

On June 20, the Cardinals’ Jordan Hicks – moved into the closer role the previous week – became just the second MLB pitcher to throw a pitch in excess of 104 mph this season, blazing a 104.3 mph sinker.  This heat came despite it being Hicks’ third consecutive day on the mound.  Hicks faced four batters in picking up the save in the 8-6 Cardinals’ win – and six of his pitches were 102 mph or better.  The 104.3 mph sinker was the fifth-fastest pitch in MLB this season. (The Twins’ Jhoan Duran holds the top four spots. Hicks had earned one-inning saves on both June 17 and  June 18.

A Long Ball in the Minors

On June 20, the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees’ outfielder Jo Adell mashed a 514-foot homer to left center field at Salt Lake City’s Smith Ballpark. It was his minor-league leading 20^th homer of the season.

Buxton Goes Deep

On June 22, in a 6-0 win over the Red Sox (in Minnesota), Twins’ DH Byron Buxton bashed a 466-foot home run in the first  inning and added a 465-foot shot in the third.  In more of #InBaseballWeCountEverything, Statcast reported that he is the first player in the Statcast era to hit multiple homers  of 460-feet or more in a single game and one of just five to hit multiple Statcast-measured 450-foot homers in a game (joining Austin Riley, Willson Contreras, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story).

The two long balls were Buxton’s 12^th and 13^th of the season.

 

I’m A Travelin’ Man … Been All Over the World

On June 24, MLB went international again – as the Cubs and Cardinals played a two-game series in London. In more of #InBaseballWeCountEverything, the Elias Sports Bureau reported that his start at first base made the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt the first MLB player to play a regular-season game in five different countries (USA, Australia, Canada, Mexico and England).

For those who like to know such things, the two teams split the two games. Game 1: Cubs win 9-1. Game Two:  Cardinals win 7-5. The two games drew a total of 110,167 fans. (or at least curious onlookers.)

23-Zip … In the Fourth

On June 24, the Angels faced the Rockies in Colorado – and I expect more than a few fans left early.  After just four innings, the Angels had  collected 12 singles, five home runs, two doubles, four walks and one hit batsman – and led 23-0. The final was 25-1. In the game, four Angels had four or more RBI:  SS David Fletcher with five runs driven in and 2B Brandon Drury, 1B Hunter Renfroe and RF Mickey Moniak with four each.

Martinez Rolls a 300

On June 27, as the Dodgers topped the Rockies 5-0  in Colorado, Dodgers’ DH J.D. Martinez rapped his 17^th and 18^th homers of the 2023 season – a two-run shot in the third and a solo homer in the sixth. They were the  299^th and 300^th career round trippers for Martinez, now in his 13^th MLB season. A five-time All Star, Martinez has eight seasons of 20 or more homers, a high of 45 in 2017. Ironically, in that 45-homer campaign, he was traded – from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks. That season, Ramirez went .305-16-39 in 57 games for the Tigers and .302-29-65 in 62 games for the Diamondbacks.  After helping the Diamondbacks reach the 2017 post-season, Martinez signed with the Boston Red Sox (as a free agent), where he he hit .330-43-130 in 2018 – and again found himself in the post-season.

Obligatory Ohtani Note

It wouldn’t be a monthly wrap up, without the obligatory Shohei Ohtani accomplishment.  On June 27, as the Angels topped the White (in LA), Ohtani started on the mound and picked up the win – going 6 1/3 one-run innings and fanning ten batters.  At the plate, Ohtani went three-for-three, with two home runs.  This outing made him just the sixth major leaguer to strikeout ten batters and hit two homers in a game since 1900. For the stories on all six, click here.

Shohei Ohtani’s three-hit game on June 27 was his fourth three-hit game as a starting pitcher this season.  It’s the most by any pitcher since Warren Spahn had five three-hit games with the Braves in 1958.

El Perfecto

On June 28, Yankees right-hander Domingo German threw just the 24^th perfect game in MLB history – as his Yankees topped the A’s 11-0 in Oakland.

• German needed just 99 pitches (72 strikes) to record his 27 outs and he fanned nine along the way.
• The Yankees won 11-0 and those 11 runs are the most ever scored by the winning team in a Perfect Game.

For more on German’s perfecto -and MLB’s 23 other Perfect Games, click here.

 

Shutouts Keep Coming

In addition to Domingo German’s  Perfect Game (see above),  the Twins’ Joe Ryan threw a complete-game shutout on June 22 – as the Twins topped the Red Sox 6-0.  Through June, there have been 11 single-pitcher shutouts in MLB. Through June of 2022, there had been just six single-pitcher shutouts.

Never Give Up!

Two of 2023’s surprise team are the Reds and Orioles, who would both be in the post-season if the season ended today.  Their June 28 matchup may provide a clue as to why.  When the two squads faced off in Baltimore on that day, they each could look back on an MLB-best 28 come-from-behind victories this season.  Well, true to form, the Reds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.  The Orioles came back in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-3 lead. In the top of thee second, the Reds came back to take a 6-3 lead. That grew to 7-3 by the top of the eighth. Then, the Orioles came back to tie it 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth and the Reds came back with four in the top of the tenth for the win – their 29th come-from-behind victory of 2023.

30-for-30

On June 30, the Reds scored three runs in the bottom of the eleventh inning to beat the Padres 7-5 – for their MLB-best 30th come-from-behind win.  

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

On June 30, as the Angels faced the Diamondbacks (in Anaheim), David Fletcher started for the Angels at SS and his brother Dominic Fletcher started in LF for the Diamondbacks. Notably, it wasn’t the first time this season, they opposed each other on the professional baseball field.  The two had faced each other at Triple-A this year, with David playing for the Sale Lake Bees and Dominic for the Reno Aces. The Diamondback prevailed 6-2. David Fletcher went zero-for-two for the Angels ; Domincc Fletcher went one-for-four for the Diamondbacks.

–——Individual Statistical Leaders for June 2023———

AVERAGE (minimum 60 June at bats)

National League – Luis Arreaz, Marlins (.406); Michael Harris II, Braves (.372); David Peralta, Dodgers (.365)

American League –  Shohei Ohtani, Angels (.394); Josh Naylor, Guardians (.370); Corey Seager, Rangers (.368);

The lowest June average (among players with at least 60 at bats in the month)  belonged to the Diamondbacks’ Pavin Smith  at .130 (9-for-69)

HOME RUNS

National League – Matt Olson, Braves (11); Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (9); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (9);  Eddie Rosario, Braves (9)

American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (15); Luis Robert, Jr., White Sox (11); four with seven

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani had the highest June slugging percentage (at least 60 at bats) at .925.  The NL leader was the Braves’ Eddie Rosario at .711.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Matt Olson, Braves (25); five with 22

American League –  Shohei Ohtani, Angels (29); Corey Seager, Rangers (25); Alex Bregman, Astros (24)

HITS

National League – Luis Arreaz, Marlins (43); Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (37); three with 35

American League –  Shohei Ohtani, Angels (41); Corey Seager, Rangers (39); Josh Naylor, Guardians (37)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani led MLB (at least 60 June at bats) players in on-base percentage at .492. The NL  leader was the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen at .462..

DOUBLES

National League –   Christian Walker, Diamondbacks (15); Fernando Tatis. Jr., Padres (12); Jeimer Candelario, Nationals (11)

American League – Corey Seager, Rangers (14); Alex Verdugo, Red Sox (10); Josh Naylor, Guardians (10)

TRIPLES

National League – Matt McLain, Reds (4); twelve with 2

American League –  Javier Baez, Tigers (3); Andres Gimenez, Royals (3); Alex Verdugo, Red Sox (3); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (3)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani led all hitters with 25 extra-base hits in June. The NL leader was Christian Walker of the Diamondbacks with 19. 

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (14); Trea Turner, Phillies (11); three with nine

American League – Esteury Ruiz, A’s (13); Maikel Garcia, Royals (9); Jarren Duran, Red Sox (8); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (8)

The Phillies’ Trea Turner had the most June  teals without getting caught (11).

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Padres (23); Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks (20);Andrew McCutchen, Pirates (20)

American League –  Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (21); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (21); Isaac Paredes, Rays (20)

The Rays’ Isaac Paredes led in walks/strikeouts ratio (among batters with at least 75 June plate appearances) at 1.3 … 20 walks versus 15 whiffs in 24 games.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (37); Brandon Nimmo, Mets (35); three with 33

American League – Nick Pratto, Royals (42); Jake Burger, White Sox (38); Ryan Noda, A’s (38)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Taijuan Walker, Phillies (5-1); Andrew Abbott, Reds (4-0); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (4-0); Joe Musgrove, Padres (4-0); Spencer Strider, Braves (4-0); Marcus Stroman, Cubs (4-1)

American League – Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (4-1); thirteen with three

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 June innings pitched)

National League –  Eury Perez, Marlins (0.32); Blake Snell, Padres (0.87); Ranger Suarez, Phillies (1.08)

American League – Reid Detmers, Angels (2.05); Brayan Bello, Red Sox (2.14); Dylan Cease, White Sox (2.20)

Among pitchers with at least four June starts or 20  innings pitched, the Rockies’ Chase Anderson had the highest June ERA at 10.80 (30 earned runs in 25 innings in six starts).

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Blake Snell, Padres (53 K / 31 IP); Max Scherzer, Mets (46 K / 36 IP); Jesus Luzardo, Marlins (42 K / 35 2/3 IP)

American League – Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (50 K / 36 1/3 IP); Pablo Lopez, Twins (45 K / 36 1/3 IP): Dylan Cease,  White Sox (42 K / 28 2/3 IP)

Among qualifying players, the Padres’ Blake Snell had the highest strikeout per nine innings ratio for June  at 15.39. The  White Sox’  Dylan Cease led the AL at 13.19.

SAVES

National League – Camilo Doval, Giants (10); Alexis Diaz, Reds (9);  Raisel Iglesias, Braves (8)

American League – Jordan Romero, Blue Jays (12); Felix Bautista, Orioles (7); Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (7); Carlos Estevez, Angels (7)

WHIP (Walks +  Hits per Inning Pitched – minimum 25 June innings)

National League – Blake Snell, Padres (0.68); Kyle Hendricks, Cubs (0.71);  Jesus Luzard0, Marlins (0.76)

American League – James Paxton, Rd Sox (0.77); Brayan Bello, Red Sox (0.86); Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays (0.87)

BONUS STATS

• The Rockies’ Chase Anderson and Orioles’ Dean Kremer each gave up an MLB-high ten home runs in June.
• Among player with at least 25 June innings pitched , the Padres’ Blake Snell held hitters to the lowest average (.124) – 13 hits in 31 innings.
• The Twins’ Joe Ryan, Rangers’ Jon Gray and Yankees Domingo German  pitched the only June complete games.

________________________________

If the season ended today, the post-season would include:

American League: Rays; Rangers; Twins;  Wild Cards: Orioles, Yankees, Astros

National League: Braves, Diamondbacks, Reds.  Wild cards: Marlins, Dodgers, Giants.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; ESPN.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Yesterday (June 27, 2023), the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani started on the mound and, as usual, was in the lineup at Designated Hitter. Ohtani picked up the win – running his record to 7-3, 3.02 – going  6 1/3 innings and striking out ten batters.  At the plate he went three-for-three, with a walk and a pair of solo homers (his 27^th and 28th of the season).  In the process, he became just the sixth MLB pitcher to record ten or more strikeouts and hit two home runs in a game.  Here’s the list.

Milt Pappas, Orioles … August 27, 1961

Pappas pitched two-hit shutout, fanning 11, as the Orioles beat the Twins 3-0 in Minnesota.  At the plate, Pappas went two-for-four with two  solo home runs.

Right-hander Pappas had a 17-season MLB career (1957-73 … Orioles, Reds, Braves, Cubs). He was a two-time All Star and won fifteen or more games in seven seasons. His final stat line was 209-164, 3.40. His best season was 1972, when he went 17-7, 2.77 for the Cubs. At the plate, Pappas went .123-20-67 in 1,073 at bats.

Pedro Ramos, Indians … July 31, 1963

As the Indians topped the Angels  Sox 9-5 in Cleveland, Ramos went 8 1/3 innings giving up 11 hits and five runs, while fanning 15.  At the plate , he was two-for-four, with two solo round trippers.

Right-hander Ramos pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1955-67, 1969-70 … Senators/Twins, Indians, Yankees, Phillies, Reds, new Senators). From 1958-61, he led the American League in losses every year – going a combined 49-75, 3.94 over the four seasons.  He also lead the league in starts in two of those campaigns. His final stat line was 117-160, 4.08. A switch-hitter, Ramos hit .155-15-56 in 703 at bats.

Rick Wise, Philllies … August 28, 1971

With his Phillies topping the Giants 7-3 in Philadelphia, Wise went the full nine innings, giving up eight hits and three runs and fanning 11.  At the plate, he was two-for-three with a solo homer and Grand Slam.

Wise pitched in 18 MLB seasons (1964, 1966-82 … Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, Padres). The two-time All Star won 15 or more games in six seasons, with a high of 19 with the 1975 Red Sox (19-12, 3.95).  At the plate, he went .195-15-66 in 668 at bats.  From 1967 through 1970, he hit .200 or better in four seasons, going .231-5-22.  In 1971, he hit .237, with six homers and 15 RBI in 39 games.

Two Blasts and a NO-NO

While he didn’t notch ten strikeouts, Rick Wise gets a special shout out for being the only MLB pitcher to hit two home runs in a game in which he also tossed a no-hitter. On June 23, 1971, Wise no-hit the Reds (in Cincinnati) as his Phillies won 4-0. Wise walked one and fanned three in his no-hitter and also drove in three runs with a pair of long balls. 

Madison Bumgarner, Giants … April 2, 2017

On Opening Day in 2017, Madison Bumgarner and the Giants beat the Diamondbacks 6-5 in Arizona.  Bumgarner got the win, pitching seven innings and giving up six hits and three runs, while fanning 11.  At the plate he went two-for -two, with two solo homers and a walk.  (Side note:  Zack Greinke started for the Diamondbacks, two years to the day before he would also notch a two-homer, ten-strikeout game.)

Bumgarner, still active in 2023 (currently a free agent), is in his 15th MLB season (2009-23 … Giants, Diamondbacks). The four-time All Star has won 15 or more games in four seasons and owns a career mark of 134-124, 3.47. His best season to date is 2015, when he went 18-9, 2,93 for the Giants.  As a hitter, Bumgarner has a .232-19-65 stat line in 633 at bats. In 2014, he hit .258-4-15 in 31 games.

Zack Greinke,  Diamondbacks … April 2, 2019

Exactly two years after  Madison Bumgarner pulled off the two-homer, ten-whiff combo against Greinke and the Diamondbacks, Greinke notched a similar game for himself.  As his Diamondbacks topped he Padres 8-5 in San Diego, Greinke got the win with six innings of three-run ball (three runs, ten whiffs). At the plate, he went two-for-four. With a solo homer and three-run shot.

Greinke has pitched in 20 MLB seasons (2004-2023 … Royals, Brewers, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Astros). He has won 15 or more games in nine seasons. The five-time All Star’s and 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner’s  best season was 2015 ( 19-3 for the Dodgers, with a league-low 1.66 earned run average).  At the plate, Grienke has hit .225-9-34 in 521 at bats. In 2013, he hit .328 (15-for-58) for the Dodgers.  Greinke also has six Gold Gloves on his MLB resume.

Shohei Ohtani, Angels … June 27, 2023

As the Angels bested the White Sox 4-2 (in LA), Ohtani got the  win with 6 1/3 innings of four-hit, one-run ball – while fanning ten.  At the plate, he went three-for-three with two solo homers. (Note: Probably more two-homer/ten-whiff games in his future.)

Ohtani, a two-way star in Japan, signed with the Angels in December of  2017.  Since joining the Angels, he has gone 35-17, 2.97 on the mound with 568 strikeouts in 445 innings pitched. At the plate, he has gone .272-155-406 in 645 games.  Ohtani was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 and the league MVP in 2021. In his MVP season, Ohtani hit .257-46-100, stole 26 bases and led the AL with eight triples – also going 9-2, 3.18 on the mound (23 starts).

Primary resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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On this date (June 27), twenty years ago, the Boston Red Sox set the MLB record for the most runs scored by a team in a game before making their first out.  The game was played in Fenway Park and the opponents were the Florida Marlins – who lost to the Red Sox 25-8 and gave up ten runs before retiring a single BoSox batter.

The inning went like this:

Carl Pavano, who came into the game with a 6-8, 4.21 record on the season, started for the Marlins.  To give you some idea of now potent this Red Sox lineup was, I put each player’s batting average entering the game in parenthesis after his name.

• CF Johnny Damon (.255) – Doubles to right on a 2-2 pitch.
• 2B Todd Walker (.302) – Singles to center (1-0 pitch), scoring Damon.
• SS Nomar Garciaparra (.343) – Doubles to center (0-1 pitch), Walker goes to third.
• LF Manny Ramirez (.314) – Hits a three-run homer to left (first pitch).
• DH David Ortiz (.287) – Doubles to right (2-1 pitch).
• 1B Kevin Millar (.316) – Singles to center on a 1-1 pitch, scoring Ortiz.

Miguel Tejera replaces Pavano on the mound. (Pavano has surrendered five runs on six hits, in just 22 pitches – and is responsible for Millar on first.) Tejera will see the Red Sox standing tough in the batter’s box. He will face just five batters, with three of those requiring at least eight pitches.

• RF Trot Nixon (.305) – Greets Tejera with a first-pitch single to right, with Millar moving to second.
• 3B Bill Mueller (.315) – Works Tejera for a nine-pitch walk, loading the bases.
• C Jason Varitek (.279) – The number-nine hitter lines a single to center (2-2 pitch), scoring Millar and Nixon and sending Mueller to second.
• Damon – Up for the second time in the inning, hits a 2-2 pitch, the ninth pitch of the at bat, for a triple to deep right, scoring Mueller and Varitek.
• Walker – Gets his second single of the inning, a groundball single to left scoring Damon. It comes on the ninth pitch of the at bat, a 3-2 count).

Allen Levrault replaces Tejera, who has given up four hits and a walk on 32 pitches. Levrault slows the carnage. Getting Garciaparra on a foul pop up.  Ten runs have scored before this first out.

The Red Sox go on to score four more runs to take a 14-1 first-inning lead.

A few other tidbits:

• Damon, who got three-fourths of the way to the cycle in the first inning (double, triple, single) will  collect two more hits  in his final four plate appearances.  They will both be singles and he will not  get the coveted cycle.
• Six members of the Red Sox will collect at least three hits in the game.
• Despite giving up five runs in five innings, Red Sox’ starter Byung-Hyun Kim will get the win.
• The Red Sox will be eliminated by the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.  The Mariners will make it to the World Series, where they also will fall to the Yankees.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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Baseball Roundtable, reporting again from Bleacher Bums XL … The Tulsa Culture Tour, which began on June 16.  The  trip has  taken our busload of 32 baseball fans and friends to six ball games (major- and minor-leagues), in five cities, in four states in eight days.   Along the way, we’re taken in five cultural/historical sights; visited  a few breweries; partaken of seven free breakfasts, a dynamite free social  hour, three in-the-ballpark Happy Hours and a “Thirsty Thursday”; picked up a free bobblehead; seen fireworks above a ballpark and Venus in the night sky;  and enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow baseball fans and friends.  This post (Episode Five From the road) looks at Day Seven of our trip.  For Episode One of our journey, click here.  For Episode Two, click here. For Episode Three, click here.  For Episode  Four, click here.

Going forward, Baseball Roundtable will return to its normal slate of blogging topics.

Day 7 – June 22

We were off at 9:30 a.m. … headed for Kansas City, Kansas (after another free breakfast, of course), sadly contemplating  the last ball game on our journey.

Our first stop was The Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant in Topeka, where we feasted on the likes of craft beer, home-brewed root beer, pulled pork and prime rib sandwiches, soup, salads and what appeared to be the largest (and tastiest, stuffed fried mushrooms ever (see photo).

 

Then it was off to Kansas City, Kansas where our hotel (Country Inn and Suites) was just across the parking lot from Legends Field – Home of the Kansas City Monarchs.

Great seats once again, down the first base line.  Of special interest to our group were two key facts:

• $3 sixteen-ounce domestic beers, as part of “Thirsty Thursday”;
• Adult beverages were served (at the reduced price) until the top of the ninth.

Our game featured the independent American Association Kansas City Monarchs and Sioux City Explorers. The two teams had six former major leaguers on their rosters:

• Keon Broxton (OF, Monarchs) …Pirates, Brewers, Mets, Orioles, Mariners (2015-19, 376 games).
• Brandon Finnegan (P, Monarchs) … Royals/Reds (2014—18, 57 games).
• Odubel Herrera (OF, Monarchs) … Phillies (2015-19, 2021-22; an All Star with the 2016 Philllies).
• Chris Herrmann (C, Monarchs) … Twins, Diamondbacks, Mariners, A’s (1012-19, 370 games).
• Luis Madero (P, Sioux City) … Marlins (2012, six games).
• Patrick Weigel (P, Monarchs) … Atlanta Braves, 2020-21, four games).

Legends Field was a typical singled-deck minor-league park.  The concourse was spacious and there were plenty of concession stands. The Barbeque Project was among the most popular. The team (formerly the Kansas City T-Bones  – which in 2012 announced a marketing partnership  with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – had plenty of Kansas City Monarchs branded items available in the team store.  In addition, the team pays homage to the Negro Leagues with framed tributes to Negro League stars throughout the park.  Notably, the Satchel Paige Tribute was blocked by a vacant Lemonade Cart.  One of our group (Eileen, she of the on-the-bus Bloody Mary Bar) corrected that slight by moving the cart.  We did notice that it had later been moved back, but the gesture was appreciated.

The Monarchs lost the game 8-1 with the big hits being a two-run triple by SS Miguel Sierra and a two-run home run by DH Daniel Perez (both in the top of the sixth. Those runs brought the score to 5-0. The Monarchs countered with a solo home run by DH Justin Wylie in the bottom of the innings, which would be their only score of the night.  Sioux City iced the game with three unearned runs in the shakily played eighth.

The Star of the game was Topeka starting pitcher Trenton Toplikar, who went eight innings, giving up seven hits and just one run, while walking one and fanning 5.  Toplikar is now 1-0, 1.68 in three starts for Sioux City. The 27-year-old righty pitched four seasons in the San Francisco Giant system – 2018-22, climbing as high as Triple-A Sacramento.

A popular post-game spot was “Jazz – A Louisiana Kitchen … where members of the group enjoyed Cajun cooking  and Louisiana Soul Food, as well as a one-man jazz band  Side note: Pre-game, some tourers hit the nearby (walking distances) Legends Outlet Mall.

 

 

Finally, on the way back to the hotel, we were treated to a bit of a light show, as the plant Venus was visible. It’s a small spot in the photo, but was a bright object in the evening sky.

So, all that’s left now is the bus ride back to Saint Paul.  And, with that, Baseball Roundtable will end these reports from the road and return to  its usual (some would argue “unusual”) baseball topics.

 

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