Top-10 Moments From the MLB Season’s First-Half
July 11th, 2007
Top-10 Moments of the First Half
10. Lou Pinella Tirade – June 2nd
+Pinella got ejected after going nuts at the hot-corner…
+Cubs had lost 6 in a row … Ejection took place a day after Barret/Zamabrano fight
+Cubs were in 5th place at 22-31… Since the incident they are 22-12, climbed three spots
9. Jake Peavy 16 K’s in a loss – April 25th
+Peavy threw 117-pitches… Worked 7-sterling frames… Fanned 16 in the game
+At one point he k’d 9 consecutive batters, 1 shy of the ML record for consecutive K’s
+Gave up 2-hits in 7 shutout innings – didn’t factor into decision… SD lost to Arizona
8. Troy Tulowitzki’s un-assisted triple-play – April 29th
+22yo Colorado Rockies’ rookie-shortstop… Long been considered team’s top prospect
+After a horrific start to seaz TT has come on, swinging a scorching stick… .286-9-38
+His top moment of the year though wasn’t on offense, not a walk-off hit, did it w/ glove
7. Lewis’ cycle May-13 / Ellis’ Cycle June-14th / Huff hits cycle June-29
+Lewis= 24th Giant to hit for cycle, had 4 RBI… 4 days after being called up from Fresno
+Ellis= 17th in franchise, 1st since Byrnes in 03, got bloop single in 10th, wk son was born
+Huff became 3rd Oriole to hit for cycle, first since Cal in 84, first ever at home for an O
6. Chone Figgins strung together a 6-hit day - June 19th
+Went 6-for-6 w/ 4 singles, a 2B, and a game-winning 3B in the bottom 9th in a 10-9 win
+A year ago Figgins set a franchise record for hits in a season by a switch-hitter w/ 186…
+Mr. Versatility — used to be platoon guy, now plays third every day… 60 steal ability
5. Frank Thomas’ 500th HR – June 28th
+Came to plate in top of the 1st with his team already leading 1-0 and 2 runners on … HL
+Thomas became 21st plyr in MLB history to reach 500 HR plateau… Did it w/ 3 teams
+He also doubled in game, tied a season high w/ 4 RBI … And got ejected in 9th inning
4. Sammy Sosa slammed his 600th career HR – June 20th
+Became just the 5th player in the history of baseball to send 600 HR’s into orbit…
+Accomplished the feat in the bottom of the 5th in Texas against who else but the Cubs…
+Had 545 of his 600 + w/ the Cubbies … His 600th didn’t help CHI though, hurt them…
3. Mark Buehrle’s no-hitter on April 18th / Justin Verlander’s no-no on June 12th
+Buehrle’s no-no was the 16th in CWS history… 28 year old did deed w/ 106 masterpiece
+He fanned 8 and walked just one, Sosa, who he picked off at 1st… The game lasted 2:03
+Verlander k’d 12 and walked 4 in Detroit’s 12-0 beat down of the Milwaukee Brewers
+Was clocked at 102 against the final hitter … No-no was 1st since Jack Morris in 1984
2. Craig Biggio’s 3,000th hit – June 27th
+Biggio became 27th member of heralded 3,000 hit-club — Did so w/ 1B off Aaron Cook
+Thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double – fitting – 5th all time in 2B’s w/ 660
+Game was extra special because he churned out 5 hits and scored on C. Lee’s GW-GS
1. Roger Clemens’ 350th win – July 2nd
+RC became 1st P to win 350 since HOF Warren Spahn reached total on Sep 29, 1963
+Rocket worked 8 great inn in a W over the Twins… K’d 4 and BB’d 1 in best start of 07
+Clemens is now 8th all-time on car W list… Pud Galvin + Kid Nichols are next w/ 361