While most of the baseball world was focusing on the sudden multitude of playoff races, a funny trend emerged yesterday.
No, the Twins still didn’t end their losing streak. Rather, it seems that there was a two-for-one special on home runs yesterday.
Not one, not two, but FIVE different players smacked a pair of homers during yesterday’s action. That kind of thing has probably happened before, but what made interesting was the guys who were doing the home run hitting.
Leading the pack was Adam Lind who belted his 25th and 26th homers of the season off of Freddy Garcia. Lind a is a big power guy, so that development wasn’t all that interesting.
Now it starts getting fun, because the next slugger is a Panda. We love Pandas!!! Yup, Pablo Sandoval delivered an encore performance to his recent cycle by belting two dingers in a rout of the Rockies. Again, Sandoval has good power, so this isn’t all that special. But add to it that he also hit a triple, just his third of the season, is kind of special. Plus, that allows me to point out that I’d rather take two homers and a triple over a cycle.
The winner for most unlikely two-homer guy goes to Erick Aybar. The light-hitting shorstop went crazy against Baltimore. Not only did he have his first ever multi-homer today, but he also went 4-for-4 and scored five runs, hit two doubles and drove in four runs. That’s a good month for a hitter of his caliber. The homers also put him at a new career-high, although his previous career high was five, so every homer he hits now is a career high.
A.J. Pierzynski is our next, and least likable, multi-homer man. And since negative feelings are so closely associated with A.J., it is only fair that this day was as well. However, this time the ill will was Pierzynski’s to carry. Despite donning the tools of ignorance for eleven seasons now, A.J. had never been on the disabled list until he got hit by a Bruce Chen pitch last month, injuring his wrist. Pierzynski was no doubt eager to exact some revenge today. While Pierzynski was only able to touch Chen for two singles today, he still had to feel pretty satisfied two launch two longballs against the Kansas City relievers in the late innings to break the game wide oper for a White Sox victory.
Last, but certainly not least, we give you Allen Craig. The man with two first names also is the proud owner of two home runs on Sunday. Making his amazing feat even more amazing is that, including the two homers yesterday, Craig only has a 12 career home runs. Despite that paucity of homers, Sunday was actually the second time in his young career that Craig has hit two home runs in a game. You have to give the kid credit for efficiency.
Also last night: Cy Young Winner-Elect Justin Verlander pitches eight shutout innings on his way to his 24th win… The Cardinals shutout the Phillies to inch closer in the wild card race… and finally, the Rays defeated Boston to cut their wild card lead to just two games.
What to watch tonight: The AL Wild Card race is getting real and it could get even realer (oh snap!) today. The Rays sit idle today, but the Red Sox will be facing the suddenly feisty Baltimore Orioles who have fashioned themselves as this year’s top spoilers after taking consecutive series from the Angels and Rays. To add to the intrigue, the Sox and O’s are scheduled for a doubleheader that Baltimore has a real chance at sweeping since Boston will be sending out Eric Weiland and John Lackey as their starting pitchers. Just think how nice it must be to be on the Rays and maybe gain a game in the Wild Card race without even playing a game. Full schedule with probable pitchers here.
