Baseball Roundtable

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

Last Friday (June 12), Astros’ DH and number-two hitter Yordan Alvarez hit his 23^rd and 24^th home runs of the season. Not totally remarkable, he is a good hitter in the midst of an outstanding season. As I post this, Alvarez is MLB’s 2026 leader in slugging percentage (.651), total bases (170) and home runs (tie at 24) and the Al leader in average (.326), hits (85) and RBI (54).   What was noteworthy, from the Tidbit point of view, is that he hit both homers in the first inning of an Astros’ 10-8 win over the Royals (in Kansas City). In his first at bat of the frame, he hit a two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch from Royals’ starter Luinder Avila. Alvarez came to the plate later in the inning with the bases loaded (Mason Black on the mound). The Houston DH tattooed a 1-0 pitch off Black to deep center for a Grand Slam.  One inning, two homers, six RBI. Not a bad start – and it turned out the Astros needed all those runs.

As always, “One thing led to another,” and I got to thinking about two-homer innings – and whether they are any baseball unicorns to be found among them. First of all, a player launching two homers in an inning is not a unicorn-worthy feat.  It’s happened 65 times since 1900 (70 if you go back to 1880 and include the Players League and American Association of the time). Side note: 32 of those two-homer innings have occurred since the year 2000. 

So, what about that unicorn? It appears in the form of Red Sox’ 2B Bill Regan, who  rapped two home runs in the fourth inning of a Red Sox 10-5 win over the White Sox (in Chicago).  The first one was the easy one. He led off the inning with a home run over the LF wall (off Ted Blankenship (The Red Sox were down 3-0 at the  time).  By the time Regan came to the plate again in the inning, the Sox were up 6-3, Sarge Connally was on the bump for Chicago, there were two out and a runner on first – and Regan smacked a line drive to deep center field. Only this time, he had to run.  He dashed his way to an inside-the park two-run homer to give the Red Sox an 8-3 lead.

That performance made Regan the only MLB player in the Modern Era (post-1900) to hit an inside-the-park and over-the-fence homer in the same inning. In addition, Regan’s 18 career home runs are the fewest ever by a player with a two-homer inning on his resume. Regan played six MLB seasons (1926-31 … Red Sox, Pirates), going .267-18-294 in 641 games. Disclaimer: Negro Leagues’ single-game statistics from 1920-48 have not been fully incorporated into MLB record books. 

Well, as usual, one thing led to another.  So here are a few more two-homer innings tidbits.

Going Where No Man Has Gone Before … Or Since

Seventeen players have launched a Grand Slam as part of a two-homer inning, but on April 23, 1999, Cardinals’ 3B Fernando Tatis not only hit two homers in an inning – he hit two Grand Slams in one inning (giving him unicorn status that he still retains). It was the 11-run third inning of the Cardinals’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers in LA.  Equally surprising to BBRT is the fact that Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park was on the mound for both Grand Slams (the second finally drove Park from the game).  This gives both Tatis and Park (the only pitcher to give up two Grand Slams to the same hitter in an inning) unicorn status.  Park’s inning went like this:  single – hit batsman – single – Tatis’ Grand Slam – ground out, first base-to-pitcher – home run (by C Eli Marrero) – walk – walk – fielder’s choice – error by first baseman – single – fly out to right field – Tatis’ second Grand Slam – relieved by Carlos Perez, who got the final out of the inning on a foul pop up.

Teaming Up for a Two-Homer Inning

On May 2, 2002, Brett Boone and Mike Cameron became the first (and still only) two teammates to hit two home runs in one inning in the same game – and they did it in the same inning (a ten-run first in a 15-4 win over the White Sox) and they did it back-to-back (out of the number-two and number-three holes in the batting order). Now, that is a double unicorn.

2 X 2 = A Record

To date, only five  players have achieved two home runs an inning twice in their careers:

• Jeff King, Pirates (April 8, 1995 and April, 30, 1996);
• Willie McCovey, Giants (April 12, 1973 and June 27, 1977);
• Andre Dawson, Expos (June 30, 1978 and Sept. 24, 1985);
• Alex Rodriguez, Yankees (September 5, 2007 and October 4, 2009).
• Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays and Mariners (July 26, 2013 and April 8, 2019, respectively).

From Both Side Now

The Indians’ Carlos Baerga (August 8, 1993), the Cubs’ Mark Bellhorn (August 29, 2002) and the Angels’ Kendrys Morales (July 30, 2012) are the only players to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning.

Two in One Frame … Why Not Double Up with Two More?

The Braves’ Bobby Lowe (May 30, 1894) and Mariners’ Mike Cameron (May 2, 2002) each achieved a two-homer inning in the midst of a record  four-homer game.

Bothersome Brothers

Brett Boone (May 2, 2002) and Aaron Boone are the only two brothers to both go deep twice in one MLB inning. Brett has the career edge in MLB home runs – 252 to Aarons’s 126.

A Winning ‘Ticket

No team that had a player record a two-homer game has ended up  on the wrong side of the final score in that contest.  The closest call came on July 22, 2006, when Tampa Bay SS (and leadoff hitter) Julio Lugo hit a pair of two-run homers in the fifth inning versus the Ori0les. Tampa ended the inning with a 10-3 lead over Baltimore. The Devil Rays extended the lead to 13-3 in the sixth, but the Orioles scored nine in the seventh.  Tampa ultimately escaped with a 13-12 victory.

Lucky 13

The sixth inning has seen the most two-homer inning (by one player) performances, with 13.  The ninth inning has seen the fewest, with one. On May 2, 2025, the Tigers broke up a 1-1 tie with eight runs in the top of the ninth – versus the Angels). Detroit DH Riley Greene broke the tie, opening the inning with a solo home run off Kenley Jansen. Greene came up later in the inning (against Jake Eder) and added a three-run dinger.  No player has ever hit two-home runs in an extra inning.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1172

 

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.  (Yes, I know it’s Monday, but I’ve got a conflict tomorrow and “better a day early than a day late. ”

This week we’re exploring the answer to the gripping (for some of us) question, “Who is the only MLB player in the Modern Era to have a season of at least one hundred plate appearances and put the ball in play every time – zero strikeouts and zero walks?”  The records cited in this post will be for the Modern Era.

Perhaps not the answer you would expect. It was Braves’ right-handed pitcher Johnny Sain, who returned from three years of military service in 1946 and put up 20-14, 2.21 record on the mound (with a league-leading 24 complete games) and hit .298-0-17. Within that batting stat line, you’ll find zero walks and zero strikeouts in 104 plate appearances (40 games).  Side note: In 1948, Sain nearly repeated the feat. He not only was once again a 20+ game winner on the mound, in 40 games (118 plate appearances), he fanned only once (he did draw three walks). That season, he hit .346-0-18..

Going a little deeper:

• From his last two at bats on July 21, 1942 through his game of June 22, 1947, Sain appeared in 69 games (153 consecutive plate appearances) without drawing a walk or striking out.
• For his career, 433 games (857 plate appearances) and had just 24 walks and 20 strikeouts. (I’ll do the math; that’s one strikeout every 42.9 plate appearances.) His final offensive stat line was .245-3-101.

Sain’s professional baseball career took some interesting  turns.  Signed as a teenager, he went  58-41, 3.60 over six minor-league seasons before making his MLB debut (as a 24-year-old) with the 1942 Braves. In his first season with Boston, Sain was used primarily in relief, going 4-7, 3.90 with six saves (awarded retroactively). Then, along came World War II and a draft notice.

In 1943, Sain enlisted in the Navy, where he completed flight training, apparently with such “flying colors” that he served as a Navy flight instructor. During his service, he also took time to  pitch for the “North Carolina Pre-Flight” baseball team, known as the Cloudbusters.

Babe’s Send Off

On July 28, 1943, Johnny Sain pitched for his Navy Cloudbusters baseball team in an exhibition game at Yankee Stadium to raise war-relief funds.  The opposition was a team of New York Yankee and Cleveland Indian reserves. Adding to the attraction was the Yankee-Indians team’s third-base coach – 48-year-old retired major-leaguer Babe Ruth.  Sain was told to take it easy on Ruth, who ultimately walked.  Why is that here in the Tidbits?  It was Babe Ruth’s last at bat in an organized baseball game.

Thanks to Jan Finkel, who wrote Johnny Sain’s Society for American Baseball  Research Bio. 

Sain was discharged and returned to professional baseball – and the Braves – in 1946 and quickly proved that the three-year hiatus from the majors had not dulled his skills. In fact, it may have sharpened them. (Sain would later say learning to fly improved his ability to concentrate.)

Whatever the reasons, Sain’s return to civilian life and the baseball diamond was a success.  In his first year out of a Navy uniform and back in a Braves’ uniform (1946), Sain went 20-14, 2.21, leading the National League in complete games (24) and finishing second in ERA, wins and games started and third in strikeouts.

A few other tidbits I stumbled across in putting together this post:

• Sain is one of just three Modern Era players with a season of 100 more plate appearances and zero strikeouts: OF Lloyd Waner had 234 plate appearances in 77 games (Braves, Reds, Pirates) in 1941 and hit .292-0-11,with zero whiffs and 12 walks; C Bill Randon had 108 plate appearances in 39 games (Reds) in 1920 and hit .283-0-10, with zero strikeouts and five walks.
• Fifty players have recorded seasons of 100 or more plate appearances with zero walks (all but eight were pitchers). Atop this list is White Sox’ P Ed Walsh, who (in 1907) came to the plate 156 times and hit .162-1-10, with zero walks (44 strikeouts). Among position players the leader is Phillies’ C Craig Robinson, who came to the plate 148 times in 1973 and went .226-0-7 with zero walks (25 strikeouts).

A Brief Diversion … How The Game Has Changed

Reggie Jackson struck out more than 100 times in a record 18 (out of his 21) MLB seasons, leading the league in strikeouts five times). Babe Ruth also led the league in strikeouts five times, but did not strikeout 100 times in any 22 seasons.

Back to Johnny Sain.

In his first three seasons back from the Navy, Sain was a two-time All Star and three-time 20-game winner (29-14, 2.31 in 1946; 21-12, 3.52 in 1947; and 24-15 in 1948). In 1948, he led the NL in wins, starts and complete games.

Things went a bit south in 1949 for Sain, as he developed a sore shoulder (perhaps from overwork the previous three season, or a screwball he experimented with, or both).  He ended the season at 10-17, 4.81. Although he rebounded to 20-13, 3.94 in 1950, things still did not seem quite right  and, after starting 1951 at 5-13, 4.21, Sain was traded to the Yankees in late August  (for Lew Burdette, who would beat the Yankees three times in the 1975 World Series). Sain went 2-1, for the Bronx Bombers in 1951 (seven games/four starts).

Sain pitched for the Yankees from September 1951 through mid-May 1955 (traded to the Athletics during his final MLB season). To give you some idea of how his role changed in New York (perhaps recognizing a tender shoulder): Eighty percent of Sain’s 257 appearances with the Braves were starts, while 75 percent of his 155 appearances with the Yankees were in relief. Notably, Sain adapted well. In 1954, he went 6-6, 3.16 for New York, appearing in 45 games (all in relief) and leading the AL in games finished (39) and saves (awarded retroactively) with 26.

In 11 MLB seasons, Sain went 138-116, 3.49, with 53 saves (412 appearances, 245 starts). He was a three-time All Star and led the league once in wins and once in saves.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Johnny Sain Society for American Baseball Research Bio, by Jan Finkel.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1172

In the recent (June 1), Baseball Roundtable May Wrap Up post, the last round of edits was not incorporated.  This has not happened before, so I am quite sure it’s operator error. (Like I, perhaps, didn’t hit “Update” after the edits.) This led to some errors (mosly typos) like Chase Burns being “Chase Burns” in a chart, but “Chris Burns”  in the text later, or Hayden Senger being referred as both “Senger” and “Singer. ”   Most notably, the entire “Individual Stat Leaders for May” section was omitted. The corrections have been made and I send out thanks to the reader(s) were clued me in on the issues.

Mea Culpa. BaseballRoundtable.com

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.  (Disclaimer: Game-by-game stats from 1920-48 Negro League games have not been fully incorporated into MLB records.)

This week’s Tidbit was prompted by the fact that on this date (June 2) in 2002, Phillies righthander Robert Person started on the mound (in Philadelphia) against the Expos. Although he gave up three hits and four walks (five strikeouts) in five innings, he surrendered only one run and picked up the win. It’s what he did at the plate, however, that got The Roundtable’s attention.

In the bottom of the first inning, with the Phillies already up 3-0, he rapped a 0-1 pitch from Montreal starter Britt Reames for a Grand Slam home run.   In the third inning, he drew a five-pitch walk (Bruce Chen now on the mound) and later scored on a Bobby Abreu double. In the fifth frame (Masato Yoshii on the bump), Person battled through a six-pitch at bat and slammed a three-run homer to left.  He was relieved from pitching (and hitting) duties in the top of the sixth with the Phillies up 17-1.

In five innings, Person had gone two-for-two (two homers) with a walk in three plate appearances, scoring three runs and driving in seven. Not a bad day for a moundsman. (Person, by the way, hit .117-4-16 over nine MLB seasons … 251 plate appearances. As a pitcher, he was 51-42, 4.64  for the Mets, Blue Jays, Phillies and Red Sox.)

Well, as usual, one thing led to another and I got to thinking about pitchers with multi-homer games. Turns out they are a bit rare (but not unicorn rare).  There have been 72 documented two-homer games by pitchers – delivered by 59 different hurlers. (No pitcher has ever had a regular-season three-homer game.) Well, 59 is (as noted earlier) not unicorn territory, do I decided to pare it down and look at pitchers with multiple two-homer games at the plate. There were nine.  Now, we were getting somewhere.

Still, I was looking a little bit rarer air. So, I made one more cut –  paring down to pitchers with multiple two-homer games in the same season. That got me to a manageable five. The pitchers with two two-homer games in a season are:

• Wes Ferrell, 1934 Red Sox;
• Don Newcombe, 1955 Dodgers;
• Jack Harshman, 1958 Orioles;
• Dick Donovan, 1962 Indians;
• Tony Cloninger, 1966 Braves; and
• Rick Wise, 1971 Phillies

Here a few Tidbits about these five moundsmen, in the order in which they piqued my interest.

Rick Wise, RHP, 1971 Phillies

Wise tops my list  because, in the first of his two 1971 two-homer games (June 23), he also pitched a no-hitter, shutting down the Reds (no hits, one walk, three strikeouts) 4-0 in Cincinnati. In the game, Wise went two-for-four, with the two long balls, two runs scored and three RBI. That gives Wise unicorn status as the only  MLB pitcher to pitch a no-hitter and hit TWO home runs in the same game. His homers came in the second inning (two-run) and eighth (solo). Accounting for three of the Orioles’ four runs.

 Wise’s second two-homer game of the season came on August 28, in a 7-3 over  the Giants in Philadelphia. Wise went two-for-three, with two homers and five RBI in that one. Those blasts came in fifth inning, a solo shot giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead and in the seventh (a Grand Slam) breaking a 3-3 tie.  Wise gave up a more mundane three runs (two earned) in the complete game (eight hits, two walks and eleven strikeouts).

Wise finished 1971 at 17-14, 2.88, with 17 complete games and four shutouts in 35 starts; and .237-6-15 at the plate.

In 18 MLB seasons (1964, 1966-82 … Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, Padres) as a moundsman, Wise (a two-time All Star) went 188-181, 3.69 in 506 games (455 starts), with 138 complete games and 30 shutouts.  He won 15 or more games in five seasons.  As a hitter, he went .195-15-66. He hit at least one homer in six seasons, with a high of six in 1971 (when he also saw his career high in RBI with 15).

Tony Cloninger, RHP, 1966 Braves  

Close call here. Cloninger came close to pushing Wise off the top of this list, but that no-hitter was a bright and shiny distraction.  Cloninger had two two-homer games with the Braves in 1966, and they were both laughers (Braves winning by scores of 17-1 and 17-3). In the second of those games, Cloninger made unicorn status, as both of his homers were Grand Slams – making him then (and still) the only MLB pitcher with two Grand Slams in a game. In the July 3, 1966 17-3 win over the Giants in San Francisco, Cloninger went three-for-five, with two runs scored and nine RBI (the MLB record for RBI in a game by a pitcher). In addition to the two Grand Slams, he had an RBI single.  On the mound, he went the distance, giving up three runs on seven hits (two walks, five strikeouts).

In his first two-homer game of the season (June 6), he had a less unicorn-like three-for-five with two runs scored and two RBI in a 17-1 win over the Mets (in Atlanta).

In 1966, Cloninger went 14-11, 4.12 with 11 complete games and one shutout on the mound (39 appearances/38 starts). At the plate, he was .234-5-23, with career highs in homers and RBI.

In 12 MLB seasons (1961-72 … Braves, Reds, Cardinals), Cloninger went 113-97, 4.07 on the mound, with 352 appearances (247 starts), 63 complete games and 13 shutouts. As a hitter he went .192-11-67. He had his best season as a pitcher in 1965, 24-11, 3.29 in the Braves’ last season in Milwaukee. Side note: After retirement from MLB, Cloninger went on to become and All-World Slo-pitch Softball third baseman.  For more on his career, click here.

  A Little Diversion 

The first documented regular-seasons two-homer game by a pitcher belongs to none other than Cy Young  (April 20, 1984). The most recent? You can guess it. Shohei Ohtani (June 27, 2023). Ohtani also has a three-homer game as a pitcher in the post-season (Game Four of the 2025 National League Championship Series). 

Wes Ferrell, RHP, 1934 Red Sox

Ferrell, who pitched in 15 MLB seasons (1927-41 … Indians, Red Sox, Nationals, Yankees, Dodgers, Braves) holds the all-time record for home runs in a season by a pitcher (9) and in a career by a  pitcher (37) … he also had one as a pinch hitter). He homered in ten of his fifteen seasons and, between 1931 and 1936, hit .289-34-147 over 334 games. He also holds the record for most multi-homer games as a pitcher at five. He is a unicorn.

His first two-homer game of 1934 came in a July 13 7-2 win over the Browns in Saint Louis. Ferrell went three-for-four with:  a leadoff homer in the third to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead; a three-run homer in the fifth; was retired in the sixth; and laid down a sacrifice bunt in the eighth.  His second two-homer game of 1934 came on August 22, in a 10-inning 3-2 over the White Sox (in Boston).  Ferrell went two-for-three (a pair of solo homers) with a walk in that one. His second long ball of the game was a walk-off, game winner with two out in the tenth. In his ten frames on the mound, he gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits (one walk, five strikeouts).

In 1934, Ferrell was 14-5, 3.63 on the mound (26 games/23 starts, 17 complete games and three shutouts) – and .284-4-17 at the plate.  For his career, he was 192-128, 4.04 on  the mound (374 appearances/323 starts, 227 complete games, 17 shutouts) – and   .280-38-208 at the plate. (Yes, you read that right 34 more complete games than victories.) He was a six-time 20+ game winner and led his league in complete games four times and innings pitched three times. As a hitter, he had four seasons of five or more homers and five seasons of 20 or more RBI.

Jack Harshman, LHP, 1958 Orioles

As you might imagine, a lot of these pitcher’s multi-homer games were blowouts. In Hartman’s case, his dingers were crucial to a pair of one-run wins for his Orioles: 6-5 over the White Sox on July 16, 1958 and 3-2 over the Nationals on September 23.

In the first game, Harshman’s first homer (solo) came with the Orioles trailing 3-0 in the third inning. His second homer, a three-run shot in the sixth gave Baltimore a 6-5 lead (the final score of the game). He was two-for-three, with a walk and pitched a complete game (five runs – three earned – on nine hits and one walk, one strikeout).

In his second two-homer game of the season, Harshman went yard in the third to cut the Senators’ lead to 2-1 and he went deep again in the fifth to tie the game at two. Frosting on the cake: In his third, and final, plate appearance, Harshman hit an RBI double in the seventh to provide the winning run (and driving in all his team’s runs in the game).  In this one, he again gave up nine hits (just two runs), but he walked none and fanned nine.

In 1958, Harshman went 12-15, 2.89 on the mound (34 appearances/29 starts, 17 complete games and three shutouts).  As a hitter, he went .195-6-14.

Over his MLB career, Harshman went 69-65, 3.50 in 217 appearances (155 starts) over eight seasons (1952, 1954-1960 … Giants, White Sox, Orioles, Red Sox, Indians). He had 61 complete games and 12 shutouts. As a hitter, he was .179-21-65. Side note: Harshman first made it to the majors as a first baseman (14 games for the Giants in 1948 & 1950).

Don Newcombe, RHP,1955 Dodgers

Newcombe gets a little extra interest with three two-homer MLB games (two in 1955), second only to Wes Ferrell’s five career-two homer games. His first 1955 two-homer game came on April 14, in a 10-8 win over the rival Giants at the Polo Grounds. Newcombe hit a solo shot in the fourth to extend the Giants lead to 4-1 and added a two-run shot in the seventh to extend the lead to 10-3. For the game, he was two-for-four, with two runs scored and three RBI. On the mound, He got the win, but was roughed up for eight runs on 12 hits and two walks (three strikeouts) in seven innings.

His second two-homer game of the season came on May 30, in an 8-3 win over the Pirates. Newcombe singled in the  first (and later scored); hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead; and added a solo shot in the six to extend the lead to 4-2. He grounded out in his last at bat in the eighth. On the mound, her went the distance, giving up 12 hits and two walks, but only three runs (he fanned nine).

In 1955, Newcombe went 20-5, 3.20 in 34 games (31 starts), with 17 complete games and one shutout. That season, he hit .359-7-23 (his career highs in homer and RBI).

As a pitcher “Newk” was 156-96, 3.58 over 12 seasons (1944-45 in the Negro Leagues, 1949-51 & 1954-60 … Dodgers, Reds, Indians).  He had 308 starts in 362 appearances, with 148 complete games and 24 shutouts. The four-time All Star’s  best season on the mound was 1956 (Dodgers), when he went 27-7, 3.06 and won both the Cy Young and MVP Awards. That season, he hit .234-2-16.  Newcombe hit over .300 in four seasons and finished with a stat line of .270-15-110.

Dick Donovan, RHP,  1962 Indians

Donovan’s two two-homer games came in 1962 (for the Indians). His first two-homer game came on May 18 in a 9-2 win over the Tigers (in Cleveland). Donovan hit a solo homer in the third (to tie the game at one) and a second solo homer in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-1.  He was two-for three, with just the two homers in the contest. On the mound, he went the full nine innings (five hits, two runs, one walk, three strikeouts).

His second  two-homer game of the season came on August 31 – in a 9-6 win over the Orioles in Cleveland. In that one, Donovan again had two solo homers (in four at bats this time) – one in the second, tying the game at 1-1; one in the third, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. (Both homers were hit off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. Donovan went the distance, giving up six runs on ten hits (one walk, five strikeouts).

The 1962 season was Donovan’s only 20-win season (20-10, 3.59) In 34 starts, he had 16 complete games and a league-topping five shutouts. At the plate, he went .180-4-9. Donovan pitched in  15 MLB seasons (1950-52, 1954-65 … Braves, Tigers, White Sox, Senators, Indians), going 122-99, 3.67 in 345 appearances (273 starts), with 101 complete games and 25 shutouts. As a hitter, he was .163-15-64.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1171

It’s June 1, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s May Wrap up – a look at the stats and stories that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month, as well as The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month, Trot Index and more.  Just a few of this month’s highlights that you will find in this post:

• A four-strikeout inning;
• Three bases-loaded hit-by-pitches in a single game;
• A ten-run twelfth inning and a 13-run third inning;
• A “Maddux”;
• A three-pitcher no-hitter;
• An unassisted double play by a left fielder;
• A five-run inning in which the baseball never got out of the infield; and
• More.

Read on… and on … and on for all the stats and stories. Let’s start with a look at Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE MAY 2026 PLAYERS/PITCHERS OF THE MONTH

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of The Month … Juan Soto, LF, Mets

A tough one here, as no one really  jumped out as the dominant force. Miami SS Otto Lopez led MLB with 37 May hits; Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber led MLB with 11 May home runs; LA CF Andy Pages and Reds’ LF JJ Bleday tied for the NL lead with 25 RBI; Nationals’ RF James Wood led MLB with 21 May runs scored; and San Francisco 2B Luis Arreaz led NL batters with at least 25 May at bats with a .340 average for the month.

After much deliberation, I went with Mets’ LF Juan Soto, who (while he did not lead in any of these categories) had the best all-around numbers. Soto went .281-10-21, with 20 runs scored and five steals in May.  His 21 RBI tied for fifth in the NL, his ten long balls were second, his 20 runs scored tied for third and his five steals tied for eleventh. He was one of just three NL players to both score and drive in at least 20 runs in May (the other two were CJ Abrams and Andy Pages).

Honorable Mentions: Miami SS Otto Lopez at .330-1-12 for May. with an MLB-leading 37 May hits; Reds’ LF JJ Bleday tied for the NL lead in RBI (25), with a .301-8-25 line; Phillies’ DH Kyle Schwarber with an MLB-leading 11 May homers (a .243-11-19 stat line …. but I couldn’t get my “old school” mind past his 46 strikeouts versus nine walks); Dodgers’ CF Andy Pages at .266-8-25, with 20 runs scored; Nationals’ SS CJ Abrams at .292-4-21, with 20 runs scored; and Giants’ 2B Luis Arreaz, who hit .340-2-12, with 34 hits and 18 runs scored – and struck out only three times (versus  eight walks).

 

Pitcher of the Month

Tie : Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Brewers & Cristopher Sanchez, LHP, Phillies

The Roundtable has often admitted to being distracted by “bright and shiny things” on the ballfield.  Well, in May, two NL pitchers not only amassed some impressive stats, but also delivered something “bright and shiny.” The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez went the entire month (five starts) without surrendering a single run, while the Brewers Jacob Misiorowski not only led MLB in strikeouts, but had a game in which he threw a record (since pitch tracking began in 2008)  57 pitches at 100 MPH+.  Both deserve this recognition.

Cristopher Sanchez

Sanchez’ month of May saw him pitch 39 innings in five starts (averaging 7.8 frames per start) and included a six-hit, complete-game, shutout of the Pirates (six hits, no walks, 13 strikeouts) on May 16.  His final line for the month was 4-0, 0.00.  Yep, he didn’t allow a single runner to reach the plate in five starts.

Sanchez completed at least seven innings in every outing and, as noted earlier, did not surrender a single run. He was second in the NL in strikeouts with 45 (while walking just three batters); second in MLB (among players with at least 25 May  innings pitched) in WHIP (0.72); and  held hitters to a .181 average.  He ended May with an active 44 2/3 consecutive scoreless inning streak (the bright and shiny thing).

Jacob Misiorowski (The Miz)

Let’s lead off with the bright and shiny thing here. Misiorowski continued to bring the heat in historic fashion. On May 25,  he threw a record 57 pitches of 100 MPH+, reaching 102+ MPH on 22 pitches and 103+ on nine. He threw a total of 96 pitches in that outing, which meant 59.3 percent were in triple digits. In the contest, a 5-1 Brewers win over the Cubs, he gave up just two hits and one run, walking one and fanning 12.

For the month, The Miz was 5-0, with a stringy 0.23 earned run average (second only to Sanchez, above). He gave up just one run 38 1/3 innings.  He fanned an MLB-highest 57 batters, walking just six.  His WHIP of 0.52 and batting average against of .109 were the best among MLB pitchers with at least 25 May innings.

Honorable Mentions: The Dodgers’  Shohei Ohtani went 3-1, 1.08 in four May starts, fanning 27 in 25 innings (and leading off a pair of games with home runs as a DH and starting pitcher); The Reds’ Chase Burns was also in the mix at 4-0, 1.19 for May, with 33 strikeouts (versus just eight walks) in 30 1/3 innings and a 0.79 WHIP.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month … Nick Kurtz, 1B Athletics

A much easier decision than in the NL here. Kurtz led MLB in May RBI with 26, while hitting .333, with five home runs. In addition, he was the only AL player to record at least 20 runs scored (21) and 20 RBI in the month. His .333 average was the fourth highest among American Leaguers with at least 75 May at bats and his 34 May hits were tied for the league lead. He also tied for the AL lead in May runs scored.  His .456 on-base percentage was second in the AL to Jonathan Aranda (.464) among hitters with at least 75 May at bats and his .556 slugging percentage was sixth among that group. Kurtz got on base in 27 of his 28 May games (included was a portion of a 48-game, on-base streak that ran from April 1 through May 25). He was, in short, an on-base machine.

Honorable Mentions: Rays’ 1B Joseph Aranda hit .374 for the month, MLB’s highest average  MLB among players with at least 75 May at bats. His 34 hits tied for the AL May lead and he hit four homers, drove in 18 runs and scored 17. Yankees’ LF Cody Bellinger went .304-5-23, with 19 runs scored – and walked more times (20) than he struck out (15).

Pitcher of the Month … Cade Smith, RHP, Guardians

Guardians’ closer Cade Smith appeared in 13 games in May and saved 13 (the next best saves total for the month was nine). He put up a 1.32 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and held hitters to a .188 average. Further, he fanned 25 batters in 13 2/3 innings, while walking just one.

Honorable Mentions: Some new names here. The Astros’ Spencer Arrighetti was tough when he had to be. Despite giving up 17 walks and 16 hits in 29 innings, he went 4-1 in five starts, with a stingy 0.93 ERA (lowest in the AL among pitchers with 25 or more innings pitched). Davis Martin of the White Sox went 4-0, 2.05 in five starts and fanned 38 batters in 30 2/3 innings, while walking just six.  His 38 strikeouts were fifth in the AL. The White Sox’ Anthony Kay went 4-0, 2.05 in six starts and Red Sox’ veteran Sonny Gray went 4-0, 2.00 for a team that went 13-14.

 

 

SURPRISE PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Tie: Astros’ RHP Spencer Arrighetti and Guardians’ 2B Travis Bazzana

This month’s Surprise Players are two who have shown potential, but delivered on their potential to a surprising degree in May.  (Side note: I still kind of wish Bazzana was in the lineup for the Savannah Bananas.)

Spencer Arrighetti

Arrighetti was a sixth-round draft pick in 2021 (out of the University of Louisiana).  In three college seasons (TCU, Navarro College and the University of Louisiana),  he went 11-8, 4.14. In the minors from 1921-24, Arrighetti went 19-15, 4.36. An early 2024 call up to the Astros produced a 7-13, 4.53 major league stat line (29 games, 28 starts, 171 strikeouts in 145 innings). A thumb injury shortened his 2025 season (he pitched in three minor-league games and seven with the Astros, going 1-5, 5.35 for Houston). So, coming into 2026, his MLB record was 8-18, 4.69 in 36 games/35 starts.

But there had been flashes of potential.  In May of 2024, he pitched six one-run innings in a 1-0 loss to the Rays, fanning a career-high 12 in the process.  He came black six days later to fan 13 in seven innings (two runs) in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox. In fact, he reached double- digit in strikeouts four times that season.

Arrighetti started 2026 in the minors, but injuries to the Houston rotation led to his call up on April 15. And it’s been lights out since. In April, he went 3-0, 2.00 in three starts and, in May, he surprised with a 4-1, 0.93 record. Wow.

Travis Bazzana, 2B Guardians

The rookie, who made his MLB debut on April 28, was fifth in the AL in  May base hits (32), while putting up a .311-3-11 line, with 13 runs scored and eight steals.  Not a total surprise, of course, he was a first-round, first-overall  draft choice in 2024 –  out of Oregon State University (where he hit .360-45-165, with 66 steals in three seasons … 184 games). Still, in three minor-league seasons, he hit .252-14-61, with 25 steals in 135 games.  When he was called up this season (he made his MLB debut April 28), he was hitting .287-2-10, with eight steals at Triple-A. After  13 MLB games (as of May 12), he was hitting just .195. Then, from May 13 to the end of the month, he stroked at a .353-2-5 pace. Looks like he made the adjustment.

Honorable Mention: Marlins SS Otto Lopez hit .260 over his first three MLB seasons (268 games in 2021-22 & 2024-25). However, he has turned it on in 2026. He hit .322-3-12 with five steals in March/April and a surprising .330-1-12 in May – leading MLB in May base hits.  (Side note: He did hit an even .300 over eight minor-league seasons, so maybe this isn’t that much of a surprise.

 

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through May  31,  35.3% of the MLB season’s 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 (22.0%); walks (9.2%); home runs (2.8%); HBP (1.2%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

The 35.0% is up a bit from  the 34.5% through May in 2025. I’ve also looked into full-year Trot Index figures for the years I have been a fan: 34.9% in 2024; 30.3% in 2010; 29.9% in 2000; 31.7% in 1990; 23.1% in 1980; 27.0% in 1970; 25.1% in 1960; and 22.8% in 1950.

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The biggest surprise in those numbers may be the surging White Sox, who finished second in the NL in runs scored and tied for first in May home runs; while finishing in the middle of the pack in ERA and runs all0wed (eighth and seventh, respectively).  They were led on offense by 1B Munetaka Murakami (.244-8-18 for the month); SS Colson Montgomery (.235-7-15); and 3B Miguel Vargas (.250-7-19). Their pitching got a boost from Anthony Kay (4-0, 1.95) and Davis Martin (4-0, 2.05). Coming into the season, the pair had a combined MLB record of 14-23.  This year, they have  combined for 13 wins against just two losses.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Rockies continue  to struggle, with  a May ERA of 6.77 and an offense that was eleventh in the NL in May runs.

——-Team Statistical Leaders for May  2026 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Nationals (149); Pirates (148); Dodgers (147)

American League – Yankees (152); White Sox (146); Orioles (130)

The fewest runs in May were scored by the Tigers (81). In the National League, it was the Padres (88).  The only other teams scoring fewer than 100 May runs were the Cardinals (92) and Royals (95).   

AVERAGE

National League – Pirates (.264); Giants (.260); Dodgers (.252)

American League – Rays (.270); Red Sox (.265); Yankees (.258)

The lowest team average for May belonged to the Padres at .200 – the Tigers were at the bottom of the AL at .204.

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (41); Nationals (40); Phillies (39)

American League – White Sox (42); Mariners (42); Astros (39)

The fewest home runs in May were hit by the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Tigers (18).

TOTAL BASES

National League – Giants (440); Nationals (431); Pirates (407)

American League – Yankees (421); White Sox (401); Mariners (387)

The Nationals led MLB in May Slugging Percentage at .453.  The Yankees led the AL (.449)

DOUBLES

National League – Giants (68);  Nationals (61); D-backs (53)

American League – Twins (55); Yankees (53); Royals (50)

TRIPLES

National League – D-backs (7); Giants (7); Nationals (6)

American League – Rays (6); Red Sox (6); Yankees (6)

The White Sox were the only team with zero triples in May.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Marlins (32); Phillies (26); Padres (26); Nationals (25)

American League – Guardians (32); Yankees (23); Mariners (21); Red Sox (21)

The Giants stole the fewest sacks in May with seven – in just nine attempts.

Six of the top seven teams in May steals were in the NL.

WALKS DRAWN

National League – Cubs (125);  Dodgers (116); Pirates (113)

American League – Guardians (123); Yankees (122); Athletics (110)

The Rays led MLB in May on-base percentage at .348. The Pirates led the NL at .346. The Padres had MLB’s lowest May OBP at (.276).  The Astros anchored the AL at .287.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (253); Pirates (249); Cubs (234)

American League – Angels (255); Tigers (253); Orioles (252); Twins (252)

Rays’ batters fanned the fewest times in May (182). The Cardinals fanned the fewest times in the NL at 190.

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Brewers (2.52); Dodgers (2.95); D-backs (2.98)

American League – Mariners (3.23) Red Sox (3.24); Yankees (3.31)

The Rockies had the highest May ERA at 6.77.  The Orioles had the highest ERA in the AL at 5.10. The only other team at five-plus was the Reds at 5.51.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Mets (262) ; Brewers (261); Phillies (260)

American League – Guardians (270); Mariners (252); Red Sox (248)

The Brewers averaged an MLB-best 10.13 strikeouts per nine innings in May. The Guardians averaged an AL-best 9.35.  Eight teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League –   Phillies (61); Dodgers (66); D-backs (66)

American League – Rays (68); Mariners (75); Red Sox (77)

The Phillies walked an MLB-lowest 2.19 batters per nine innings in May.  The Angels walked an MLB-worst 4.81 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Nationals (12); Phillies (12): Brewers (10)

American League – Guardians (14); Rays (13); Twins (10)

The Tigers  blew the most saves in May – eleven (in 13 opportunities).

Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)

National League – Dodgers (1.02); Brewers (1.06); D-backs (1.10)

American League:  Mariners (1.13); White Sox (1.16); Red Sox (1.20)

Bonus Stats:

• The Reds gave up an MLB-high 51 home runs in May. The Brewers gave up an MLB-low 12 home runs.
• Brewers’ pitchers held opponents to an MLB-low .195 average in May. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .311 averag

——MAY 2026 HIGHLIGHTS —- 

 

May 2 Saw The End of Two Impressive Streaks (All Good Things Must Come To An End)

Always Wanted To Be A Hit Man

On May 2, the Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas was held hitless for the first time this season – ending his season-opening hitting streak at 24 games. During his streak, Vargas hit .404 (36-for-94), with six doubles, two triples, six home runs and 21 RBI. (Side note: Vargas also hit safely in his last three games of 2025).

We visited Vargas’ history in the March/April Wrap, but here’s a recap.  A true journeyman, utility player, in his first nine MLB seasons (2017-25) Vargas: 1) played for the Diamondbacks, Nationals, Cubs, Twins and Pirates; 2) appeared in 174 games at 3B, 145 at 2B, 48 at SS, 29 in LF, five on the mound and two in RF – plus 104 games as a pinch-hitter, 14 as a pinch-runner and seven as a DH. In 2021 alone, he took the field for the Cubs, Pirates and Diamondbacks.

In those first nine MLB seasons, he appeared in an average of 51 MLB games per season, never reaching 100 games.  (In seven of those nine, he also spent time in the minors). Over those nine seasons, Vargas hit .249-20-145 over 458 games.  Side Note:  Vargas also has a dozen seasons in the Venezuelan Winter League on his baseball resume.  And, true to his versatile history, this season, during his 24-game opening hitting streak, he  appeared at 1B, 2B, 3B, SS,  LF and DH.

Vargas ended May with a .295-7-37 line on the season.  l(Oh, for those who like to know such things, the longest season-opening hitting streak belongs to the Tigers’ Ron LeFlore at 30 (1976).

Nothing Beat A Leisurely Walk In the Park

Also, on May 2, the Athletics’ 1B Nick Kurtz did not draw a walk – ending a streak of 20 consecutive games with a free pass (dating back to April 1) . Kurtz did  go two-for-five ion the game (an A’s 14-6 loss to the Guardians).  Kurtz’ line during the walk streak was: (17-for-69) .246-5-13, with 25 walks, 26 strikeouts and a .447 on-base percentage.

Rookie Rules

On July 25, 2025, Nick Kurtz became the first rookie and youngest player ever (22 years-135 days) to hit four home runs in an MLB game.  In the contest, a 15-3 Athletics’ win at Houston, Kurtz went six-for-six, with four home runs, a double, a single, six runs scored and eight RBI. Note: He also tied the MLB record for total bases in a game at 19 (also accomplished by the Dodgers’ Shawn Green on May 23, 2002).

Ramirez Rolls A 300

On May  2, Guardian’s 3B Jose Ramirez swiped third base in the fifth inning of a Cleveland 14-6 win over the Athletics (right after hitting a two-run double to give the Guardians a 4-3 lead). The steal was the 300^th of Ramirez’ 14-season MLB career (all with the Indians/Guardians) – and, at the time, he was also just nine homers shy of 300 … which, when he gets there, will make him just the ninth MLB player to reach 300-300. He is also now second on the Guardians’ franchise stolen base list, trailing only Kenny Lofton’s 452. (Side note: At the time of the 300^th swipe, Ramirez was 13-for-13 in steal attempts  this season.) Ramirez ended May with eight homers on the season and 293 for his career – and a league-leading 20 steals (307 for his career).

Fireworks During The Game, Not After

On May 2, the Pirates toppled the Reds 17-7 (thankfully in Pittsburgh). By the end of the fourth inning:

• the score was 15-3;
• the Pirates had collected 10 hits and 10 walks;
• every Pirate in the starting lineup had at least one RBI.

Ultimately, the Pirate plated 17 runs on 19 hits and 11 walks and, surprisingly (in today’s game) not a single home run.

In the fourth inning, after Pirates’ CF Oneil Cruz struck out to open the frame, Reds’ pitchers walked seven consecutive batters – enabling the Pirates to plate five runs in the inning, without single base hit. In fact, without a ball leaving the infield (the seven walks were followed by two groundouts).  The Pirates were just the third team to issue seven consecutive walks in an inning (August 25, 1909, White Sox & May 25, 1983 Braves).

Ouch! But Worth It!

On May 6, Angels’ DH Jorge Soler had an unusual day at the plate in the Angels’ 8-4 victory over the White Sox in Anaheim. Soler’s perfect day “at bat” consisted of a single, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in four plate appearances. It was the HBP that grabbed The Roundtable’s attention.   It was one of three HBP in the game and they all came with the bases loaded. (Elias Sports Bureau reported it was the first time in at least 70 years that an MLB game featured three bases-loaded plunkings).

Soler’s HBP was the first of the game.   It came in the fourth inning The Angels were up 5-1, there were two outs,  and the Halos had loaded the bases on a single and two walks off starter Noah Schultz. Osvaldo Bido came on in relief of Schultz and plunked Soler on a 1-1 pitch, forcing in a run and leaving the sacks full.  On the very next pitch, Bido hit Angels’  RF Jo Adell forcing in another run.  Then Osvaldo Bido retired 3B Oswald Peraza (a battle of the Ozzies) on an 0-1 grounder to first.

The score stayed at 7-1 until the seventh inning, when the Angels loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks (sandwiched around a flyout and a bunt ground out) off Brent Suter. Drew Pomeranz came on in relief (and like the White Sox’ Bido before him) proceeded (on a 1-2 pitch)  to hit the first batter he faced (LF Sam Antonacci) forcing in a run. He then struck out slugging 1B Munetaka Murakami to end the frame.

Mason Miller Brings It

Let’s face it, Padres’ reliever Mason Miller has some nasty “stuff.”  At the end of May, he led the NL  with 17 saves, had a 0.72 ERA and had fanned 49 batters in 25 innings. One of the highlights of his month came in a nerve-wracking frame on May 9, when he became the first pitcher to fan four batters in an inning in 2026. (It’s not that rare an event, Baseball-Almanac.com lists 108 instances in which a pitcher fanned four batters in an inning – but Miller made it especially interesting by loading the bases in the process.)  It happened in the ninth inning of a Padres’ 4-2 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Miller was brought in to start the inning and protect the two-run lead.  It when like this:

• Number-five hitter 3B Nolan Gorman – Five-pitch walk;
• SS Masyn Winn – Strike out on a 3-2 pitch;
• CF Nathan Church – Five-pitch walk;
• LF Thomas Saggese – Strike out on three pitches;
• C Yohei Pozo – Fans on an 0-2 wild pitch, reaches first base, Church goes to second, Gorman to third;
• 2B JJ Wetherholt – Fans on a 1-2 pitch.

I do love coincidences and, coincidentally, the last Padres’ pitcher to fan four batters in an inning was in the dugout –  current Padres manager Craig Stammen (in 2021).

A Maddux … It Can Still Happen

Okay, given today’s game, pitching a “Maddux” – a complete game shutout of 100 or fewer pitches – is a rarity. On  May 12, in a Twins 3-0 win over the Marlins – Minnesota’s’ Bailey Ober did just that. Ober needed just 89 pitches to shut down and shut out the Marlins over nine innings (two hits, no walks, seven strikeouts).  For more on Ober’s Maddux and Madduxes in general, click here.

MLB Debut … A Walk In The Park, And Then Some

On May 12, Mets’ 21-year-old CF A.J. Ewing made his MLB debut in New York (versus the Tigers), batting in the eight-hole.  His first game in the majors went like this:

• Second Inning – Battled for a seven-pitch walk;
• Fourth Inning – Fly out;
• Sixth Inning – Six-pitch walk, stolen base, later scored;
• Seventh Inning – RBI triple, later scored;
• Eighth Inning – RBI single.

Why a highlight?  In the spirit of #InBaseballWeCountEverything, Anthony DiComo reported – in  an MLB.com article – that Ewing is the only player in the Modern Era to record three walks, a triple, a stolen base and multiple RBI in his MLB debut. Ewing had hit .339-2-11, with 17 steals in 30 2026 minor-league games (AA & AAA) before his call up. In four minor-league seasons, he hit .290-15-118, with 101 steals in 251 games. (He was  drafted, right out of high school, in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft). At the end of May, his MLB line was .238-1-6.

Seeing Double Is Lucky On The 13th

On May 13, Rockies’ LF Jake McCarthy completed one of those “you-never-know-what-you’ll- see-at-a-ballgame” plays. In the bottom of the first frame of a Rockies’ 10-4 win over the Pirates, the leftfielder turned an unassisted double play.  Ikea would have been proud of his “put-it-together-yourself” initiative.

It started with Pirates’ leadoff hitter and CF Oneil Cruz on second with one out and  Pittsburgh LF Bryan Reynolds at the plate.  Reynolds lined a first-pitch changeup from Jose Quintana to shallow left-center, which spurred a lot of movement. McCarthy was coming in fast toward the infield to make the catch, Cruz was running toward third on the pitch. As McCarthy made the catch, he saw Cruz would have no chance to beat him to second base, so McCarthy “cruised” into the infield and stepped on the keystone bag for the force out and seven-unassisted twin killing.

Finally, The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Game

On May 15th, the Diamondbacks’ 37-year-old righty Merrill Kelly drew the unenviable assignment of starting against the Rockies in hitter-friendly Coors Field. Not only that, hitters in general had not been kind to Kelly in this, his  MLB season.  His 2026 record going into the game was 2-3, 7.62. At this point, he had made 177 MLB starts (over 7+ MLB seasons) without recording a complete game. The stars did not seem aligned in his favor.

Kelly, however,  came through with a nine-inning gem.  A complete game, four-hit, 9-1 win. Per Elias Sport Bureau, this made Kelly the second-oldest pitcher to twirl his first MLB complete game.

For those who like to know such things, the oldest was the Senators’ Connie Marrero, who threw his first complete game (May 21, 1950) at age 39. Curveballer Marrero, notably was in his first MLB season (he had been a star in Cuba) and was making just his second MLB start when he went the distance in a 6-2 win over the Tigers. Marrero pitched in five MLB seasons, going 39-40, 3.67 with 51 complete games in 94 starts (118 total appearances).

Shutouts, Always A Highlight These Days

On May 16, Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez picked up his fifth win of the season (5-2, 1.82), as the Phils topped the Pirates 6-0 in Pittsburgh.  It makes the highlights because it was also his first complete game of the season – and a shutout.  (At the end of May, there were only four complete-game shutouts in MLB this season).  Sanchez gave up six hits, while walking none and fanning 13.

Ghost Runner.  We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Ghost Runner, (For Blazing Saddles fans.)

On May 18, the Mets and Nationals went into the twelfth-inning (in Washington D.C.) tied at 6-6. The Mets, of course, started the top of the twelfth with a runner placed at second base. That proved to be an unnecessary move, as the Mets went on to score ten runs in the inning  (on their way to a 16-7 win).   It all started innocently enough, with Mets’  LF Tyrone Taylor “placed” at second base and C Hayden Senger sacrificing him to third.  What followed was: single; single; intentional walk; bunt single; single; single; pitching change (names withheld to protect the innocent); single; flyout; single; double; double; foul out. Note: Nine Mets, players scored in the frame.

For those who like to know such things:  The most runs scored in an extra-frame is 12, by the Texas Rangers in the 15^th-inning of a July 3, 1983 win over the Athletics (in Oakland).  In that one (there, of course, was no placed runner to start the frame), the Rangers collected  five singles, three doubles and two walks (and were aided by an Athletics’ error and wild pitch). As in the Mets’ recent ten-run twelfth, those runs scored without the benefit of a home run.

Ouch! What A Turn Around

On May 18, Athletic righthander J.T. Ginn, making his 30^th MLB start (42^nd appearance) was rolling along – seemingly headed for his first complete game, first shutout – AND a no-hitter. Going into the bottom of the ninth, he held a 1-0  lead over the hometown Angels.  He had thrown 99 pitchers (62 strikes) and had allowed just two base runners (walk, hit by pitch).  Ginn had fanned ten and gone to a three-ball count on only two batters.  Wow!

In the ninth inning, things went south.  Angel’s second baseman Adam Frazier (batting in the nine-hole) singled on an 0-2 pitch leading off the inning and was replaced by pinch runner Jose Siri (no relation to Apple’s Seri).  SS Zach Neto was up next and hit an 2-0 pitch beyond the centerfield wall for a 2-0 walk-off Angels’ win. So, for Ginn – a complete game, but no no-no and a loss.

Gotta Love Those Baseball Nicknames

On May 19, Jhostynxon  Garcia, acquired by the Pirates (from the Red Sox) in a December trade, made his Pirates debut, starting in RF and batting sixth as the Buccos took on the Cardinals in St. Louis.  (Garcia , a top-100 prospect, went one-for-seven in an August 2025 call up – five games – with the Red Sox).

Garcia makes the highlights because of his nickname “Password” – based on how his first name mirrors those computer-generated random passwords. Takes me back to the Blue Jays’ Marc Rzepczynski, whose last name earned him the nickname “Scrabble.”  It also gives me a chance to direct you – click here – to a past Roundtable post detailing my All- Nickname(best and worst) MLB teams.

Grand Slam … But You have To Run For it

On May 19, as the Nationals topped the Mets 9-6, Nationals’ RF and leadoff hitter James Wood gave the hometown crowd a thrill with a second-inning Grand Slam (his first career MLB GS).  Neither Wood nor the crowd, however, get to savor a trot around the bases.  Wood toured the “three bags and a plate” in just 15.2 seconds.  Yep, that first Grand Slam was an inside-the-parker. It came on the first pitch (a sweeper) of Wood’s second at bat of the game (he had a single in the first inning) against Mets’ starter Noah McLean (the Nat’s trailed 4-0 at the time). Woods hit the ball to deep left center, with Mets’ LF Nick Morabito and CF Tyrone Taylor  intent on running  it down.  The ball bounced off Morabito’s glove and rolled into center, and he slammed into the LF wall and fell to the warning track. Long story short, as Morabito tracked the ball down, Wood toured the bases in those 15.2 seconds and slid head first into home, with his first (well-earned) MLB Grand Slam.

A Shohei Highlight … And, then, A Repeat

On May 20, Shohei Ohtani once again showed why he is “The Show.”  Batting leadoff (DH) and pitching that night, he opened the game in San Diego by belting the first pitch (a four-seam fastball) from Padres’ starter Randy Vazquez, who came into the game 5-1, 2.58 on the season) for his eighth home run and 26^th RBI of 2026. He then went on to pitch five innings of no-run, three-hit ball, earning his fourth win and lowering  his season earned run average to 0.73.  The Dodgers prevailed 4-0. In the spirit of  #InBaseballWeCountEverything, it was the seventh time Ohtani had recorded a scoreless start and gone yard in the same MLB game, setting a new Modern Era record for that combination. (He had been tied with Bob Gibson at six.)  In same vein, even more of a unicorn – per an MLB.com article by Sonja Chen – it was the first regular-season, game-opening leadoff home run by a pitcher in MLB  history.

On May 27, apparently to show that May 20 leadoff home run as a starting pitcher was a no fluke, Ohtani did it again – this time in Colorado.   He opened the top of the first by striking out Rockies’ leadoff hitter, CF Jake McCarthy, as part of a 1-2-3 inning. Then, leading off for the Dodgers in the bottom of the first, he homered to CF on a 1-1 pitch from Tomoyuki Sugano.   It was Ohtani’s ninth homer of the 2026 season. Ohtani did pretty well on the mound, too, picking up his fifth victory (one loss) with six innings of no-hit ball (four walks, seven strikeouts).

There has been one post-season instance of a pitcher going deep while leading off a game for his team.  Whose name goes on that one? You guessed it. Leading off the bottom of the first in Game Four of 2025’s National League Championship Series, Ohtani smacked a 3-2 pitch from the Brewers’ Jose Quintana for a homer to deep right. And, to add a cherry to the top of that sundae: Ohtani went three-for-three, with three homers in the 5-3 Dodgers’ win – and also pitched six shutout innings. Sho-time indeed.

Feel Good Story Of The Month

How can you not love this game?  Bryan Torres surely does. On May 23, Torres made his MLB debut with the Cardinals … in his 11th pro season and 914th game as a professional ballplayer. Torres, signed out of Puerto Rico, started his professional career in 2015 (as a 17-year-old) with the Brewers-affiliated squad in the Dominican Summer league.  His journey to the majors included time in three different farm systems (Brewers, Cardinals and Giants), the Puerto Rican and Dominican Winter Leagues,  as well as in the independent American Association.  He donned the uniforms of the Pioneer League Helena Brewers and Rocky Mountain Vibes;  Arizona League Brewers; Puerto Rican Winter League Gigantes de Carolina and Criollos de Caguas; Northern League Richmond Flying Squirrels; American Association Milwaukee Milkmen; the Puerto Rican team in the Caribbean Series; Texas League Springfield Cardinals; International League Memphis Red Birds; Dominican Winter League Toro del Este; and the Puerto Rican team in the  World Baseball Classic.

When he was called up to the Redbirds, he was hitting .336-2-16 after 36 games at Triple-A Memphis.

Torres not only made his debut that day, he played in two games  … a split doubleheader against the Reds in Cincinnati. And, it proved an MLB debut day worth the wait.  In Game One, seven proved a lucky number for Torres.  He started in LF (seven on your scorecard), batting seventh. He got his first plate appearance in the third inning and worked a six-pitch walk (first MLB walk, first MLB time on base). In the fourth  inning,  he logged his first MLB at bat and collected his first MLB hit (a single to right) and later scored his first MLB run as Ivan Herrera hit into a ground ball double play.  More firsts were yet to come. After grounding out in the sixth and flying  out in the seventh, Torres collected his first MLB home run and first MLB RBIs in the ninth (a two-run shot.) Not a bad first MLB game: two-for-four, one run scored, two RBI, a home run – and his Cardinals won 8-1. Oh, and it was another first – his first MLB day game.

About three-and-a half hours later, another first for Torres … his first MLB night game. He got another  start in LF, batting seventh. In this one, he went one-for-four with a walk (and his first MLB strikeout). The Cardinals lost that one 7-6. Torres closed out May with  a  .273-1-3 line.

On May 23 … A Bit Of Rare Air

Royals’ righty Stephen Kolek pitched his second career MLB complete game (in 23 starts/65 appearances over three seasons). It was also his second MLB shutout. Kolek gave up just four hits and one walk and fanned only two batters (that is also a bit rare for a complete game these days) in the 5-0 win over the Mariners.  The outing ran Kolek’s 2026 record to 3-0, 2.77 in four starts.

Kolek’s gem was  one of seven MLB complete games and four single-pitcher shutouts so far this  season.  (In 2025, there were a total of 13 complete-game shutouts and Kolek tied for the MLB lead with one.)  By comparison, in 1968, the Cardinal’s Bob Gibson had 13 shutouts on his own, MLB saw 20 players toss five or more shutouts and 99 pitchers tossed at least one shutout. Even in 1969 – after MLB shrank the strike zone in response to “The Year of the Pitcher” (1968),  it took nine shutouts to lead MLB (Denny McLain),  eight pitchers fashioned at least five whitewashings and 105 pitchers threw at least one shutout. Oh, how times have changed.

Run, Corbin Run

On May 24, as the Diamondbacks topped the Rockies 9-1 in Arizona, D-backs’ RF Corbin Carroll had a good day – four-for-four, with a run scored, two RBI and two triples. It was his fifth multiple-triple game in four-plus MLB season.  Note: In his first three full MLB seasons (2023-25), Carroll has led the  NL in triples (with 10, 14 and 17, respectively) – and he currently leads the league with eight 2026 three-baggers. Notably, Corbin tied for the MLB lead in triples in 2024 and stood alone atop MLB in 2025. If Carroll leads MLB in triples again this year, he would be the first player to lead MLB in three-baggers in three consecutive seasons and also the first player to lead the NL in triples in four consecutive seasons (like Carroll, the Cardinals’ Garry Templeton led the NL in triples three straight seasons … 1977-79).   Note: The White Sox’ Lance Johnson holds the MLB record for the most consecutive seasons leading his league (as opposed to MLB overall) in triples at four (1991-94).  Sam Crawford holds the record for leading his league in triples over a career at six (over 19 seasons), as well as the MLB career record for triples at 309. Ty Cobb has the record for the most career multi-triple games at 17 (over 24 seasons). Carroll has some targets (near- and long-term) to shoot for.

A No-No … And Santa Delivers

On May 25, Astros’ 23-year-old righty Alimber Santa made his MLB debut in what would normally be a no-stress situation. After all, his Astros were up 9-0 as Santa took the mound to open the eighth.  There was a catch, however, the Astros’ Tatsuya Imai (six innings) and Steven Okert (one inning) had combined to hold the Rangers hitless through seven (five walks, three strikeouts). So, Santa was asked to deliver not only a hold, but also to preserve a shutout and a no-hitter. He was up to the task, pitching two 1-2-3 innings (three groundouts, two lineouts, one strikeout) to complete the first no-hitter of 2026. Coincidently, the last no hitter (before May 25) came on September 3, 2024 and like this on , it was a three-pitcher no-no, started by a Japanese-born pitcher (Shota Imanaga).

For those who like to know such things:  Of MLB’s 327 recorded no-hitters (regular and post-season, per MLB.com and Baseball-Almanac.com, only 22 were combined no-hitters – and 14 of those have occurred post-2000 (since 2003 to be exact).

The Miz

Jacob Misiorowski (The Miz) just keeps bringing the heat (and making these highlights).  On May 25, in his start against the Cardinals, the Brewers’ 243-year-old righthander fanned 12 batters over seven innings – giving up just two hits, one walk and one run – in a 5-1 Brewers’ win.  AND, he threw 57 of his 96 pitches at 100 mph+. That’s the most triple-digit pitches in a game since pitch tracking began in 2008. In the process, he also became the first MLB pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts this season (doing it in 64 innings).

Kurtz Got It On (a lot)!

May 26 was a red-letter day for A’s 1B Nick Kurtz. Red, of course, signals “stop” and May 26 marked the day Mariners’ pitchers stopped Kurtz’ remarkable 48-game streak of getting on base. As the Athletics lost to the Mariners 4-1,  Kurtz went zero-for-four with three strikeouts. It was the first time opponents kept him off the base paths for an entire game since March 31.  In the 48-game on-base streak, Kurtz went  53-for-172 (.304), with eight homers and 37 RBI.  He also drew 48 walks over the 48 games (.464 on-base percentage) and, within the on-base streak, he had a 20-game streak in which he drew at least one walk in every game (April 19 through  May 1).

For those who like to know such things, the record for the most consecutive MLB games reaching base is held by Ted Williams (84 games … July 1 through September 27, 1949).    Williams went 112-for-302 in his streak (.371), with 24 home runs and 80 RBI (as well as 92 walks for a .518 OBP). The record for consecutive games with a walk is 22 (Ray Cullenbine, Tigers … walks were first tracked in the AL in 1913 and the NL in 1910).

Recovering From An Unfortunate Start
White Sox’ 25-year-old righty David Sandlin made his MLB debut against the Twins on  May 27 (in Chicago). He had a bit of a rough start, giving up a home run to Twins’  leadoff hitter Byron Buxton on just his second MLB pitch (the first was a ball). He settled in nicely after that, retiring the next 18 batters he faced (before being relieved to open the seventh). He got the win and gave up just the one hit and run, while fanning four and walking none.  Sandlin was an 11^th round pick in the 2022 Draft (out of the University of Oklahoma.)

A Diversion

Bob Gibson and Bert Blyleven both gave up a home run to the first MLB batters they ever faced. (The only two Hall of Famers to do do.)

 They Call Them The Streaks

This season, the Cubs have already run off two 10-game winning streaks (April 14—24 & April 28-May 8), as well as a ten-game losing streak (May 16-May 26). #InBaseballWeCountEverything:  The Elias Sports Bureau reported that the 2017 Dodgers are the only other team in AL/NL history to have two double-digit winning streaks and a double-digit losing streak in the same season.

The Cubs also had a streak of 15 consecutive wins at Wrigley Field. The home winning streak began on April 17 and ended  with a Wrigley Field loss to the Brewers on May 18. Notably, the Cubs closed out May with a still active six-game home losing streak.

The Gate To Home Plate Is Locked

On May 27, Phillies’ southpaw Cristopher Sanchez (Don’t look it up, it’s Cristopher without an H) picked up his sixth win of the season (6-2, 1.47) – and in doing so supplanted one of the most well-known names in Phillies’ and MLB history. Sanchez threw seven scoreless innings (six hits, no walks, nine strikeouts) as the Phils topped the Padres 3-0 in San Diego.  Why a highlight?  The last time Sanchez gave up a run was in the first inning of a game on April 30. Since then, he has crafted 44 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, now the longest (and still active) scoreless streak in Phillies’ history. Who did Sanchez supplant in the Phillies’ record book? The 41-inning streak tossed by Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander in his 1911 rookie season. Sanchez now holds MLB’s seventh-longest (Live Ball Era) scoreless streak.  The ultimate target?  Orel Hershiser’s 59 consecutive scoreless frames in 1988.

The New M&M Boys

During the month of May the White Sox bashed an MLB-leading 42 home runs, with 1B Munetaka Murakami (8), SS Colson Montgomery (7) and 3B Miguel Vargas (7) leading the way. Notably Murakami and Montgomery  homed in the same game twice during the month, bring the total games in which they both homered to eight on the season.  That put them on a pace to homer together in in 22 games this season.  For a point of reference, in 1961, the Bronx Bombers M&M boys (Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle) set the record for players homering in the same game at 14.

Side note: Murakami suffered a hamstring injury on May 29. He is expected to miss four-to-six weeks, so the new M&M boys  may see their chances of topping the 1961 M&M boys’ record slip away.  

The Drought Ends

It finally happened: Fifty-six games and 207 at bats into the 2026 MLB season,   Fernando Tatis, Jr. (who averaged a home run every 4.4 games and every 17.1 at bats from his debut season of  2019 through 2025) hit his first dinger of 2026.   It came on May 30, the fifth inning of his Padres’ 9-4 loss to that Nationals.  It was a 451-foot blast toi left-center off Foster Griffin – on a 1-0 pitch after Tatis had faked a bunt on the first pitch.

It Just Keeps On Happening

Those who make their way through this monthly highlight know that The Roundtable seems to be featuring a lot of players who go deep on their Bobblehead Day/Night.  Well, it happened again.  On May 30, on a day when the White Sox were holding a “Shared Bobblehead Giveaway” featuring catchers Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel (and Quero’s wife Maria was tossing out the first pitch), Quero (catcher, not wife) hit a solo homer in the seventh inning of a 7-1 win over the Tigers. It was just his second homer of the 2026 season.

(Number) One For Two

On May 30, the Mets’ battery of P Christian Scott and C Hayden Senger  notched a pair of firsts. Scott picked up his first MLB win (tossing five innings of one run ball, fanning eight) and Senger popped his first MLB home run in the seventh inning.  It was Scott’s 16th MLB appearance (all starts) and Senger’s 39^th MLB game.  Oh, the Mets won 6-1.

Isn’t Thirteen, Just 31 Backwards?

Threes were good to the Yankees as May came to a close. In inning number three, on May 31, in a game that would eventually take three hours-and-one minute, the Yankees poured across 13 runs before the opposing A’s managed to get out number-three.  In addition, the first out wasn’t recorded until the 13^th batter in the inning came to the plate. In fact, the Yankees had put across ten runs before the first out in the inning. The Yankees sent 18 batters to the plate and collected 11 hits  – eight singles, two doubles and one triple.  The Bronx Bombers also drew four walks and – adding insult to injury –  stole four bases in the inning. DH Ben Rice was the “star” of the inning, with a two-run double and a two-run triple in two at bats.

Weirdly, it was the only inning in which the Yankees scored in the 13-8 win. In fact, it was the only inning in which they recorded a base hit. Theo DeRosa, in an MLB.com report, indicated it is the most runs an MLB team has ever scored in a game in which all their runs came in the same inning.

Ronald Acuna, Jr. Ends May En Fuego

Braves’ RF Ronald Acuna, Jr. came came into the final four games of May hitting .236, with just two home runs and 12 RBI on the season (42 games played). Then, from May 28 through May 31, in just four games, he went  six-for-thirteen, with five home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored,  seven walks and four stolen bases.

–INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS FOR MAY—

 

BATTING AVERAGE (at least 75 May at bats)

American League: Jonathan Aranda, Rays (.374); Sam Basallo, Orioles (.338); Nick Kurtz, A’s (.333)

National League: Luis Arraez, Giants (.340); Brandon Marsh, Phillies (.333); Otto Lopez, Marlins (.330)

The lowest May average among players with at least 75 at bats belonged to the Phillies’  Adolis Garcia at .125 (11-for-88).

HITS

American League: Jonathan Aranda, Rays (34); Nick Kurtz, A’s (34); Riley Greene, Tigers (330; Josh Jung, Rangers (33)

National League: Otto Lopez, Marlins (37); Luis Arraez, Giants (34);four with 33

The Giants’ Rafael Devers led all MLBers in May extra-base hits with 17 – 14 doubles, one triple and five home runs.  

HOME RUNS

American League: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (10); Byron Buxton Twins (9); Jarren Duran, Red Sox (9); Christian Walker, Astros (9)

National League:  Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (11); Juan Soto, Mets (10); Andy Pages, Dodgers (8); Casey Schmiott, Giants (8); JJ Bleday, Reds (8)

The Twins’ Byron Buxton led all players with at least 75 May at bats in slugging percentage at .647. The Reds JJ Bleday led the NL at .631.

RUNS BATTED IN

American League: Nick Kurtz, Athletics (26); Pete Alonso, Orioles (23);  Cody Bellinger, Yankees (23); Ezequiel Duran, Rangers (23)

National League: Andy Pages, Dodgers (25); JJ Bleday, Reds (25); Michael Busch, Cubs (24)

RUNS SCORED

American League:  Munetaka Murakami, White Sox (21); Nick Kurtz, A’s (21); Zach Neto, Angels (21)

National League: James Wood, Nationals (22); Spencer Steer, Reds (21); four with 20.

DOUBLES

American League: Cody Bellinger, Yankees (9); five with eight

National League: Rafael Devers, Giants (14); Nolan Arenado, D-backs (9); CJ Abrams, Nationals (9); Kyle Tucker, Dodgers (8); Matt Chapman, Giants (9)

TRIPLES

American League:  Nine with two

National League: Corbin Carroll, D-backs (4);  nine with two

STOLEN BASES

American League:  Sam Antonacci, White Sox (8); Randy Arozarena, Mariners (8); Travis Bazzana, Guardians (8); Josh Naylor, Mariners (80: Jose Ramirez, Guardians (8)

National League: Oneil Cruz, Pirates (9); David Hamilton, Brewers (8); Nasim Nunez, Nationals (8); Trea Turner, Phillies (8)

The Mariners’ Josh Naylor and Nationals’ Nasim Nunez, stole the most May bases without getting caught (8).

 

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

American League:  Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays (39); Spencer Torkelson, Tigers (39); Jarren Duran, Red Sox (38)

National League: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (426; Oneil Cruz, Pirates (43); Ian Happ, Cubs (41)

WALKS

American League:  Taylor ward, Orioles (26); Mike Trout, Angels (24); three with 21

National League: Michael Busch, Cubs (25); Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (19); Ian Happ, Cubs (18); James Wood, Nationals (19)

The Highest on-base percentage among players with at least 75 at bats was .464, by the Rays’ Jonathan Aranda. The NL leader was the Cubs’ Michael Busch at .446.

PITCHING VICTORIES

American League:  Davis Martin, White Sox (4-0); Sonny Gray, Red Sox (4-0); Anthony Kay, White Sox (4-0); Shane McClanahan, Rays (4-0); Spencer Arrighetti, Astros (4-1); Will Warren, Yankees (4-1); Bryan Woo, Mariners (4-1)

National League:  Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (5-0); Zack Littell, Nationals (5-0); nine with four

The Tigers’ Jack Flaherty led MLB with five May losses (0-5, 6.26 in six starts. Thirteen pitchers recorded four May losses.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 May innings)

American League: Spencer Arrighetti, Astros (0.93); Shane McClanahan, Rays (1.41); Cam Schlittler, Yankees (1.48)

National League: Christopher Sanchez, Phillies (0.00) ; Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (0.23); Kyle Harrison, Brewers (0.96)

The highest ERA among pitchers with at least 25 May innings or at least four May starts was 12.46 by the Rockies Kyle Freeland (0-4, 12.46, 7.62 in five starts, 30 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings).

STRIKEOUTS

American League: Reid Detmers (46K / 34 1/3 IP); Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (43K / 30 2/3 IP); Jack Leiter, Rangers (41K / 35 IP); Bryan Woo, Mariners (41K / 35 2/3 IP)

National League: Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (57K / 38 1/3 IP); Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (45K / 39 IP); Braxton, Ashcroft, Pirates (42 K / 40 2/3 IP); Chris Sale, Braves (42 K / 32 IP)

INNINGS PITCHED

American League: Michael Wacha, Royals (38); Bryan Woo, Mariners (35 2/3); Kyle Bradish, Orioles (35 1/3)

National League: Braxton Ashcroft, Pirates (40 2/3) ; Ryne Nelson, D-backs (39 2/3) ; Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (39)

WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 25 May  innings)

American League: Joe Ryan, Twins (0.77); Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers (0.79);  Shane McClanahan, Rays (0.84)

National League: Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (0.52); Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (0.72); Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (0.76)

Among pitches with at least 25 May innings, the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski held batters to the lowest average at .109.

SAVES

American League:  Cade Smith, Guardians (13); Bryan Baker, Rays (10); Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox (7)

National League:  Mason Miller, Padres (7); Paul Sewald, D-backs (7); Jhoan Duran, Phillies (7)

Cade Smith of the Guardians saved the most games without a blown save in May (13).  

Bonus:

Among pitchers who faced at least 75 batters in May:

• The Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski fanned the most batters per nine innings at 13.38;
• The Phillies’ Christopher Sanchez had the best strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 15.00. (He walked three batters and fanned 45 in )

 

Four pitchers gave up double-digits in home runs in May: The Reds’ Brady Senger (11); Cubs’ Shota Imanaga (10); Cubs’ Jameson Taillon (10); Rockies’ Kyle Freeland (10).  Those four went a combined 2-15 in May.

 

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; MLB.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1170

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

Twins’ rookie righthander Travis Adams recently had a pretty good series against the Boston Red Sox – picking up a win on May 22 (just his second MLB victory) and needing just one pitch to log his first MLB save on May 24.   In the latter game, he came on with two out in the bottom of the ninth, with the Twins up 6-5 and runners on first and third. He got Red Sox’ CF Ceddanne Raffaela to fly out to CF on his very first offering.

What intrigued The Roundtable was not the one-pitch aspect of the save, but the fact that it made Adams the eleventh Twins’ pitcher to record a save this season.  As usual with The Roundtable “one thing led to another” and I had to know what team held the record for the most pitchers logging saves in a season. Turns out the current record of 17 was set by the 2025 Diamondbacks.  In fact, the top four team figures also occurred in the 2020’s:  2025 Diamondbacks (17); 2024 Dodgers (14); 2021 Rays (14); and 2024 Rays (13).

Oops! Another Bright and Shiny Thing Caught The Roundtable’s Eye

The record for the most saves in a season by a pitcher who recorded ALL of his team’s saves is 47, by Kenley Jansen of the 2016 Dodgers. Jansen went 3-2, 1.83, with 47 saves in 53 opportunities. Eleven other  Dodgers’ pitchers were offered a total of 16 save opportunities without logging a save. The Dodger went 91-71 that season.

I went on to take a deeper look at that 2025 Diamondbacks’ record-breaking staff, Here are a few tidbits about that squad and the late-inning door.

• Injuries played a role in the revolving saves door, as the Diamondbacks lost their top two relievers to injury early on: J. Puk in April and Justin Martinez in June. Veteran Shelby Miller, who stepped up to fill the gap (and led the team in saves with ten) was traded to the Brewers on July 31 – and even he caught the injury bug, going on the IL (as a Brewer) in early September.
• Nine of the 17 pitchers on the list recorded their first MLB save in 2025: Jake Woodford; Andrew Saalfrank; Anthony DeSclafani; Kyle Backhus; Taylor Rashi; Ryan Nelson; Juan Morillo; Drey Jameson; Kyle Nelson.
• For various reasons (injury, demotion to the minors or release), nine of the 17 pitchers have not pitched in the major leagues this season (as I key this post).
• Despite having the most pitchers ever to record save, in 2025 the Diamondbacks logged the second fewest relief appearances in MLB (503).
• Overall, the relief corps notched 42 saves – and had 29 blown saves.
• Surprisingly, the Diamondbacks finished in the top half of MLB teams in total saves 42 (tied for twelfth among the thirty teams). They finished: 29^th in wins by relievers (25); sixth in losses by relievers (35); second in blown saves (29); 14^th in holds (89); and 27^th in bullpen earned run average (4.82).
• The Diamondbacks were one of 21 MLB teams to go to the bullpen in every 2025 game. Still, their 503 relief appearances were the second-fewest in MLB (the Cardinals had the fewest at 487).

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; MLB.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me there for post notifications and links.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

P 1169

It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week, we’re looking at power-hitting teams.  For example. Did you know the  2019 New York Yankees had a record 14 players reach double-digits homers? This week’s post looks at the teams with most players with 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 (or more) homers in the same season.

Side note:  There may be something to the theory that hitting can be contagious. You’ll find 33 names on this list and, of those, 17 made the list in their career-high home run season.

2019 Yankees

Despite having 14 players with ten  or more home runs – and 306 total roundtrippers – the Yankees did not lead MLB, or even the AL, in team homers in 2019, as the Twins bashed a new (since tied) MLB record 307 home runs (more on that in a bit).  The 2019 Yankees did lead the majors in runs scored (943) and won the AL East title with a 103-59 record.  Gleyber Torres led the team in homers and his 38 long balls were sixth in the AL.  The Yankees defeated the Twins in the AL Division Series, before losing to the Astros in the American League Championship Series.

Side Note: Edwin Encarnacion hit 14 homers in 44 games for the Yankees after New York acquired him in a trade with the Mariners in mid-June. He also hit 21 long balls for the Mariners that season.  

• The 2019 season saw the career-high in home runs for eight of the 14 Yankee double-digit home run hitters: Gleyber Torres; Gary Sanchez; Brett Gardner; DJ LeMahieu; Gio Urshela; Mike Tauchman (his only season with 10+ homers); Clint Frazier (his only season with 10+ homers); and Cameron Maybin.
• It was Mike Ford’s rookie season and he popped 12 homers and drove in 25 runs in just 50 games. In six MLB seasons (2019-24 … Yankees, Giants, Mariners, Braves, Angels, Reds), Ford hit 37 home runs in 251 games.
• Aaron Judge played in just 102 games, but stroked 27 homers. He, of course, has had (to date) a 62-homer season and three seasons of between 52 and 58 home runs.
• Luke Voit followed his 21-homer 2019 season with a league-leading and career-high 22 homers in the 2020 (short) season.
• Didi Gregorius hit his 16 2019 roundtrippers in just 82 games and Aaron Hicks hit 12 in 59 games.
• Edwin Encarnacion had ten career seasons with 20 or more homers – putting up a career line of .260-424-1,261 over 16 seasons.

The 2019 AL MVP did not come from the first-place and homer-heavy Twins or Yankees. It was Mike Trout of the 72-90 (fourth-place, AL West) Angels. Trout went  .291-45-104  and led the AL in slugging percentage and on-base percentage. He finished second in home runs, ninth in RBI and sixth in runs scored.

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2019 Twins

The Twins set a new (since tied) MLB team record for home runs in a season with 307, while going 101-61 and finishing atop the AL Central. That season, Minnesota also set the records for the most 20-homer players on a season roster, as well as for the most 30-homer players. They lost to the Yankees in the Al Division Series.

• It was one of 11 20+ homer seasons (and one of four seasons of at least 40 long balls) for Nelson Cruz, who retired with 464 career homers.
• 2019 remains the career high in homers for Max Kepler (he has had three seasons of 20 or more roundtrippers);  Miguel Sano (who has had three 20+ homer seasons); Eddie Rosario (who has had four career 20+ homer seasons); and Mitch Garver (his only season with 15 or more homers).
• C.J. Cron had four 20+ homer seasons; Jonathan Schoop had five 20+ homer seasons; Jorge Polanco has had three 20+ homer seasons.

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The 1973 Braves led MLB with 206 home runs and 799 runs scored, but still finished at 76-85 for fifth place in the  AL West (Don’t ask me why Atlanta was in the “West”).  Side note:  That season, the Braves’ pitching staff had the worst earned run average (4.25) in the National League.

The 1996 Rockies led the NL in homers (221) and runs scored (961), but like the 1973 Braves had the NL’s worst earned run average (5.59). They finished 83-79, third place in the four-team NL West Division.

In 1997, the Rockies repeated as NL leaders in home runs (239) and runs scored (923), but also again had the NL’s worse ERA (5.25) and  repeated their 83-79 third-place finish.

In 2023, the Braves set a new NL record (and tied the overall MLB record) for home runs in a season with 307. They also led MLB with 947 runs scored. They finished 104-58, atop the NL East, but lost to the Phillies in the NL Division Series.

1973 Braves

• 1973 was Davey Johnson’s only season with forty or more homers. In fact, it was his only season with more than 18 home runs. In 13 MLB seasons, he hit 136 home runs (31.6 percent of them in 1973).
• Darrell Evans had just two seasons of at least 40 homers: 1973 (41) and 1985 (40). Evans did have two additional seasons of thirty or more dingers. He finished his 21-season MLB career (1969-89 … Braves, Giants, Tigers) with a .248-414-1,354 stat line.
• Henry Aaron was, of course, no stranger to 40-homer seasons (a high of 47 in 1971), he had eight of them on his way to 755 career long balls.

1996 & 1997 Rockies

• Andres Galarraga was on both the 1996 and 1997 Rockies’ squads, leading the league with 47 home runs in 1996 and adding 41 in 1997. He led the league in RBI in both years, with 150 and 140, respectively. Galarraga played 19 MLB seasons, going .288-399-1,425 and hitting forty or more home runs three times (30+ twice more).
• Vinny Castilla also hit 40 homers for the Rockies in both 1996 and 1997 (40 each time), as well as a career-high 46 in 1998. He played in 16 MLB seasons, going .276-320-1,105.
• Ellis Burks was the Rockies’ third 40-homer player in 1996, as he logged his only 40-homer season. He played 18 MLB seasons, going .291-352-1,206. He topped 30 homers in four seasons (including 1996).
• Replacing Burks as the Rockies’ third 40-homer batter in 1997, Larry Walker hit 49 long balls (to go with a .366 average). It was his only 40-homer season, although he did log three seasons of 35+ homers in his 17-season MLB career (.313-383-1,311).He was the 1997 NL MVP.

2023 Braves

• The Braves had an entirely new cast of 40-homer players in 2023, led by Matt Olson, with a league-topping 54 (he also led the league in RBI with 139). It is, to date, the only 40+ homer season by Olson, who has three additional seasons of 30+ homers.  As I write this, Olson has 302 career homers on 10+ seasons.
• Ronald Acuna, Jr. rapped 41 homers in 2023, as he became MLB’s first 40-70 player, with 73 stolen bases to complement his 41 dingers. It was Acuna’s second 40+ homer season and, as I key this in, he has 188 career homers and 212 career steals in 8+ seasons.
• Marcell Ozuna popped 40 homers in 2023, his only 40-homer campaign to date. Again, as this is posted,  he has 301 career long balls in 13+ seasons, with three seasons (including 2023) of thirty or more dingers. The Braves came closest to adding a fourth 40-homer player (and securing a solo spot on this list), with Austin Riley hitting 37 dingers in 2023.

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1961 Yankees

This  of course was the exciting Maris/Mantle pursuit of Babe Ruth’s (then) record 60 home runs in a season, with Maris reaching 61 on the final day of the campaign.

The Yankees finished 1961 at 109-53, leading the American League. They went on to win the World Series four games-to one over the Reds. They led MLB with 240 team home runs and were second in runs scored (827 to the Tigers’ 841). Maris was the AL MVP.

From 1955 through 1962 (eight seasons), Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris won a combined five AL MVP Awards. Over those eight seasons, the Yankees made it to the World Series seven times and won it four.

• Roger Maris’ 61 homers were, of course, his career high and 1961 was, in fact, one of only three seasons of 30 or more homers for the power hitter. In 12 MLB seasons, he went .260-271-850.
• Mickey Mantle’s 54 homers were, like Maris’ 61, his career high. Mantle, however, had two seasons of 50+ homers, two more of 40 or more and another five of thirty or more.  He retired with a .298-536-1,509 line over 18 seasons.

Roger Maris hit his 61^st home run of the 1961 season in the Yankees’ final regular-season game. It was the only run in a 1-0 win over the rival Red Sox in Yankee Stadium. Surprisingly, only 23,154 fans showed up for a chance to see the record breaker.

Final Tidbit: Five MLB teams have had a record 25 hitters hit at least one for them in the same season: 2001 Rockies; 2011 Diamondbacks; 2016 Mets; 2017 Giants; 2022 Reds; 2023 Angels.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Yesterday (May 12), the Twins’ 6′ 9″ righty Bailey Ober pitched the first shutout of his six-season MLB career (his third complete game) – and he did it in stellar fashion.  Ober twirled an uncommon gem, now commonly termed a  “Maddux” – designated as a single-pitcher shutout of at least nine innings in which the pitcher threw less than 100 pitches.  The victims were the Miami Marlins, who fell to the Twins 3-0 in Minnesota.  Ober used 89 pitches to set the Marlins down on two hits (no walks, seven strikeouts). It was the second Maddux of 2026, and the first also involved the Marlins.  On April 1, the Marlin’s Sandy Alcantara shut down the White Sox (10-0) on 93 pitches (three hits, no walks, seven strikeouts).

In his game, Bailey faced just 29 batters and 72 percent of his pitches were strikes.  He went to a three-ball count only twice and had five innings in which he threw less than ten pitches.  Long story short, Bailey’s outing spurred The Roundtable to update a past blog post on “Madduxes.”

As I looked into Madduxes, I was able to find 397 documented regular-season “Madduxes” – 331 since MLB officially began tracking pitch counts in 1988 and 66 pre-1988 listed by stathead.com.

Now, of course, the Baseball Roundtable’s goal is to find the unicorns among statistics. When it comes to Madduxes, no hitters are  not unicorns. Seventeen of the recorded Madduxes were no-nos. Neither are perfect games. Available pitch counts (Baseball-Almanac.com) show that at least ten of MLB’s 24 regular-season perfect games were completed in less than 100 pitches (and you can add in Don Larsen’s perfecto in the 1956 World Series, which came in at 97 pitches).  A bit of #InBaseballRoundtableOneThingAlwaysSeemsToLeadToAnother, the most pitches thrown in a Perfect Game is 125, by Matt Cain of the Giants in his perfect outing versus the Astros (a 10-0 win) on June 13, 2012. In that one, Cain fanned 14 Astros, giving him a tie (with Sandy Koufax) for the most strikeouts in a Perfect Game.  But I digress. Let’s get back to our regularly scheduled programming.

It became clear, I was looking in the wrong forest for my Maddux unicorn. So, I changed direction – and I found my first unicorn: Only one pitcher has ever thrown a Maddux while giving up ten or more hits.

 

 

 

 

On August 3, 2004, Twins’ righthander Carlos Silva shutout the Angels on 99 pitches – while giving up 11 hits and two walks (he struck out three) and having one batter reach safely on an error. The Twins, ironically, equaled the Angels’ 11 hits, but tallied ten runs. They did draw three walks to the Angels’ two and had two hit batsmen, with no one reaching on an an error. However, there were two big differences.  First, The Angels’ hits were all singles, while the Twins’ hit parade included four home runs and a double.  Second, the Twins turned six double plays behind Silva to zero twin killings turned by the Angels. In Silva’s Maddux, 19 of the thirty batters he faced saw two or fewer pitches (seven of those putting the first pitch of the at bat in play).

Silva went 14-8, 4.21 in 2004 and that Maddux was his only complete game.  For his career (2002-2010 … Phillies, Twins, Mariners, Cubs), Silva went 70-70, 4.68 in 316 games/180 starts, with six complete games and two shutouts.

I also found another interesting unicorn. Only one player has pitched what I’d call an Uber-Maddux. On September 6, 2003, the Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay pitched the only extra-inning Maddux. In a tough 1-0 win over the Tigers, Halladay pitched ten shutout innings (three hits, one walk, five strikeouts) on just 99 pitches.

Now, a few more Maddux’ tidbits.

• Strikeouts, of course, run up the pitch count and diminish the opportunity for a Maddux. The most strikeouts in a Maddux is 13, achieved by the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal May 25, 2025 (in a 5-0, 94-pitch win over the Guardians). Seventy-two of Skubal’s 94 pitches were strikes (includes balls put in play) and his 13 strikeouts used 59 pitches, while the 16 batters he faced that didn’t fan required a total of 35 pitches.
• Walks also run up the pitch count and the most walks issued in a Maddux is five, by the Dodger’s Vic Lombardi in a 5-0, 92-pitch win over the Cubs on July 11, 1947. Lombardi’s Maddux got off to a slow start. In the first two innings, he gave up three walks and a single and used 35 pitches. He struck out two in the game and was aided by four double plays.
• The fewest pitches thrown in a Maddux is 58 by the Braves’ Red Barrett in a 2-0 win over the Reds on August 10, 1944. Barrett’s game was a two-hitter, with no strikeouts or walks. Although the pitch count for this game is not listed in stathead.com (so, if you’ve read this far, you can add one to my 397 Maddux count), it is generally recognized and can be found in his Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) bio by Sidney Davis; The SABR Article “August 10, 1944: Braves’ Red Barrett shuts out the Reds with record-low 58 pitches” (by Jack Zerby); the Baseball-Reference.com Bullpen section; the “Michelson Book of World Baseball Records”; and Baseball-Almanac.com. This outing is also recognized as the fewest pitches ever in any nine-inning complete game.
• As you might expect, Greg Maddux holds the record for the most career Madduxes thrown (13). Next on the list is Zane Smith with seven. Maddux shares the record for the most Madduxes tossed in a season (three in 1998), with Smith (1991) and Sandy Koufax (1964).
• 51 of the 397 Madduxes I was able to document came in right at 99 pitches – no margin for error. Mike Witt, Roy Halladay and Carl Erskine each had three of those. Greg Maddux went to the edge, using 99 pitches in a Maddux, just once in 13 qualifying outings.
• The largest margin in a Maddux was 14-0, Mark Buehrle of the White Sox, over the Indians, on July 21, 2004.
• The oldest pitcher to toss a Maddux was the Mariners’ Jamie Moyer, with A 93-pitch, 4-0 win over the Royals on June 2, 2006 (at age 43-years and 196 days).  The youngest was also a Mariner: Felix Hernandez (age 2o- years and 142 days, ), a 95-pitch, 2-0 win over the Angels.
• The Braves’ Warren Spahn threw two Madduxes in June of 1963 (his age-42 season).
• Jamie Moyer threw his  first (of of our) Madduxes on June 3, 1988 (at age 25) and his last Maddux came June 2, 2006 (at age 43).

I would add that Madduxes are becoming more of a rarity (which is an obvious trend given today’s pitching usage).  Going back to the first year of MLB officially tracking pitch counts as a statistic: The five seasons from 1988-92 saw 92 Madduxes, while the most recent five  complete MLB seasons (2021-25) saw 17. The last season in which we saw ten or more Madduxes was 2014 when there were 12.

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

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It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.

This week we’re looking at a couple of tidbits inspired the first season of the New York Mets franchise.

On this date, May 12, in 1962, just shy of 20,000 Mets fans came to the Polo Grounds to take in a Mets’ doubleheader. Just how long ago was 1962?  The Mets were hosting the “Milwaukee” Braves in a single-admission doubleheader.  At the time, the Mets were 5-17 (ninth place, 13 games out) and the Braves were 13-14 (seventh place, 7 1/2 games out).  Braves’ first-game starter Warren Spahn had thrown two complete games (remember those) in his first six starts of the season and would end the campaign with 22 complete games in 34 starts at age 41 (and no one uttered the words “pitch count.”)  The promise of an exciting day of baseball might have seem a bit off in the distance, but things would change.

In Game One, the Braves (behind the pitching of Warren Spahn) held a 2-1 lead after seven innings. In the top of the eighth, the Mets made a Craig-for-Craig switch – bringing  in righty Craig Anderson in relief of starting righthander Roger Craig (who, incidentally would finish the 1962 season as 10-24, 4.51).

But I digress. Anderson came in an tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth, keeping the Milwaukee margin at 2-1. In the bottom of the ninth, Mets’ 1B Gil Hodges greeted Spahn with an inning-opening single.  Spahn then fanned PH  Cliff Cook and got PH Gus Bell on a pop out. Next, C Hobie Landrith smacked a two-run homer off Spahn, giving the Mets a walk-off win and Anderson a victory.

Game Two had a bit more action, but a similar outcome. This one was knotted at seven runs apiece after eight frames and each team has used four pitchers to get there. Milwaukee CF Hank Aaron was two-for-two, with a home run, a double. A walk, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base; while Mets’  SS Elio Chacon was three-for-three, with a triple, two runs scored and three RBI. In the top of the ninth, the Mets brought in  Vinegar Bend Mizell to pitch and he opened the inning by walking Brave’s SS Roy McMillan. A that point, Casey Stengel brought in Anderson, who dispatched C Del Crandall on a sacrifice bunt, before wild-pinching McMillan to third.  Anderson then  toughened up and retired LF Tommie Aaron on a groundout (pitcher-to-first) and RF Mack Jones on a groundout (first-to-pitcher) to keep the game knotted at seven.  Long story short, the second batter for the Mets in the ninth (1B Gil Hodges, remember his Game One heroics). rapped a walk-off home run for a doubleheader sweep.  Another, “How long ago was that?” moment: The Mets would play 30 doubleheaders that season (they only swept three).

The Mets May 12 1962 doubleheader sweep of the Braves was the first time in MLB that a doubleheader sweep was completed with both games ending with a walk-off home run.

So, the Mets were now 7-17 and three of the wins belonged to Anderson. Things didn’t go as well for Anderson moving forward. He pitched in 40 more games that season and, over that span, went 0-16, 5.81 (he did have four saves)  He finished 1962 (when the Mets went 40-120) with a 3-17, 4.35 line. He pitched in two more MLB seasons, going 0-3, 6.85 and, while I am still digging into this, Anderson is the only pitcher I have been able to find who won both ends of a doubleheader and,  from that point on, never won another MLB game. His final stat line was 7-23, 5.10 and his best season was his rookie campaign (1961 Cardinals) when he went 4-3, 3.26 in 25 appearances.

Now, here’s another 1962 Mets ’diversion that caught my attention.

Double Vision – Or, “That’s Your Uncle(s) Bob.”

On August 15, 1962, the Phillies topped the Mets 9-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.  No big surprise there, as the Mets’ record going into the game was 30-88. What was more surprising was that Phillies’ outfielder Don Demeter hit his 19th and 20th home runs of the season in the game – off a right-handed and a left-handed “Bob Miller.” Oh yes, and he did it while listed in the lineup  two different defensive positions.

In the third inning, with the Phillies’ up 2-0, Demeter (who had started the game in left field and in the five-spot in the order) smacked a solo shot off starter (right-hander) Robert Lane “Bob” Miller. Then in the ninth inning, Demeter – who had moved to center field in the seventh – hit a three-run homer (extending the Phillies’ lead to 9-2) off southpaw reliever Robert Gerald “Bob” Miller. Two homers, in one game, off two Bob Millers, a right-hander and a port-sider.

Demeter, notably, was on the way to his best-ever major-league season. In 1962 (his sixth of eleven MLB seasons), he achieved his career highs for average (.307), home runs (29), RBI (107), runs scored (85), hits (169) and doubles (24).  He played in a total of 11 MLB seasons (1956, 1958-67 … Dodgers, Phillies, Tigers, Red Sox, Indians), going .265-163-563.

The two Millers?  Starter Bob Miller went 1-12, 4.89 in 1962 (69-81, 3.37 with 52 saves in 17 MLB seasons – 1957, 1959-74 … Cardinals, Mets, Dodgers, Twins, Indians, White Sox, Cubs, Padres, Pirates, Tigers). Reliever Bob Miller went 2-2, 10.17 in 1962, the last of his five MLB seasons (6-8, 4.72).  He played in the majors in 1953-56 and 1962.

Next week, another 1962 Mets-inspired, Tidbit a comparison of the only two teams to lose 120 (or more) games in a season in the Modern ERA (since 1900): The 1962 Mets and the 2024 White Sox.

Primary Resource: Stathead.com

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me for new blog post notifications.

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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

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It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye.  (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistic.

On April 26, Blue Jays’ right-handed reliever Brayson Fisher won his ninth MLB game (in his 67^th career appearance).  It gave Brayson (temporarily) an MLB record that it he is very unlikely to keep (unless he chooses early retirement) … the most wins by a pitcher to go his entire MLB career with zero losses. As of this writing, the 25-year-old Fisher is in his second MLB season (2025-26, Blue Jays) and has a 9-0, 2.77 record (69 appearances, one start, 68 1/3 innings, 26 walks, 80 strikeouts.)

Side Note: Brayson is three wins short of the most consecutive wins (without a loss) to start an MLB career – shared by  George “Hooks” Wiltse, Giants, May 20-September 15, 1904 and Clarence “Butch” Metzger,  Giants, September 21, 1974 – August 1, 1976.  Wiltse eventually went 139-90, 2.47 over 12 MLB seasons; Metzger went 18-9, 3.74, with 23 saves over five MLB seasons.  

For those of you who like to know such things (probably just a few, but I am one of them) as soon as Fisher picks up an MLB loss, the record for wins in a zero-loss career will fall back to southpaw reliever Clay Rapada, who pitched in seven MLB seasons (2007-13 … Cubs, Tigers, Rangers, Orioles, Yankees, Indians) and went 8-0, 4.06 in 152 appearances (all in relief), with 93 innings of work (51 walks, 82 strikeouts). Rapada is the subject of this week’s Tuesday Trivia(l)  Tidbit.

A Travelin’ Man … A Tribute to Perseverance … For The Love Of The Game

In fifteen professional seasons as a player, Rapada was:

• signed by eight  MLB franchises
• played in the majors for six of them;
• played in the minors for 12 teams;
• played a season in the Arizona Fall League; and
• played a season in the Venezuelan Winter League

Rapada was originally signed by the Cubs in 2002  (as an undrafted free agent) out of Virginia State University. From 2002-2007, he worked his way up from low-A to Triple-A in the Cubs system – going a combined 21-17 (41 saves), 2.99, with 310 strikeouts and 125 walks in 315 2/3 innings. During that time,  Rapada suited up for Cubs’ affiliates: the Boise Hawks; Lansing Lug Nuts; Daytona Cubs; Iowa Cubs; and West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (as well as for the Mesa Solar Sox in the 2006 Arizona Fall League, where he went 1-1, 3.07 in 16 relief appearances) . He was selected an All Star in both the Midwest League (Iowa Cubs) and Southern League (West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx).

Rapada’s time in the Cubs’ system included one MLB appearance- June 14, 2007 versus the Mariners – when he faced and retired just one batter (Raul Ibanez) on a lineout to RF.

The Old Switcheroo

In 2004, the Cubs suggested Clay Rapada switch to a sidearm delivery (which he had used occasionally in high school and college) and the switch played a role in charting his path to the big leagues.

In August of 2007, Rapada was traded to the Tigers (and added the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens  to his resume). He was called up and got in his first game as a Tiger on September 9, again facing the Mariners’ Ibanez (who tagged him for a three-run homer) – coincidentally again facing just the one batter. (So, at this point in his MLB career, he had pitched in two games, faced just two batters – both times Raul Ibanez.)  Rapada finished the 2007 season with an MLB line of 0-0, 10.13 in five appearances.

In 2008, Rapada split time between Mud Hens and the Tigers. For Detroit, he went 3-0, 4.22 in 25 games (21 1/3 innings, 15 strikeouts and 14 walks). He got his first MLB win on April 15, pitching 2/3 of an inning of scoreless relief versus the Twins. Rapada came in in the top of the eighth with one out, no one on base and the Tigers losing 4-3.  He quickly retired the Twins’ number-three and number -four hitters (C Joe Mauer, groundout and 1B Justin Morneau, strikeout) to end the inning. The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the inning and closer Todd Jones saved the win for Rapada, who would end the season 3-0, 4.22 in 25 appearances (only 21 1/3 innings).

In 2009, Rapada spent most of his season at Toledo, getting in just three games for the Tigers. Side note: It was one game (1 1/3 innings) in April; one game (one inning) in May) and one game (one inning) in October – for an 0-0, 5.40 record.   He was 4-2, 2.76, with five saves for Toledo.

In December of 2009, Rapada was traded to the Rangers.  In 2010,he  pitched for the Rangers-affiliated, Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks (1-2, 1.82, with two saves in 50 appearances), until an early September call up, during which he went 0-0, 4.00 in 13 games (nine innings), with five strikeouts and seven walks for the Rangers.

In 2011, Rapada was back on the move, released by the Rangers and signed by the Orioles in January. He was up and down (major/minors) for the Orioles and finished with a  2-0, with a 2-0, 6.06 record in 32 MLB appearances. At this point, his MLB record was 5-0, 5.13 in 78 appearances (52 2/3 innings, 44 strikeouts and 32 walks), but he was about to move forward into the best MLB season of his career.  In fact, the only season in which he spent the entire campaign in the major leagues.

In in February of 2012, Rapada was released by the Orioles and signed by the Yankees, made the Opening Day roster and went on to a 3-0. 2.82 season (with an MLB career-high 70 MLB appearances, career-high 38 1/3 innings pitched and career-high 38 strikeouts, while walking just 17). Still, he found himself in the Yankees’ minor-league system in 2013, was released mid-season and signed with the Indians’ franchise in June. He got a September 2013 callup to Cleveland, where he went 0-0, 0.00 in four games (just two innings)

Although Rapada would pitch in the Angels, Mariners, Orioles and Giants minor-league systems between 2014 and 2018, he did not get another taste of the big leagues – ending with  the previously noted  career record of 8-0, 4.06. In 13 minor-league seasons, Rapada went 34-27, 2.96, with 60 saves in 497 appearances, with 592 2/3 innings pitched, 567 strikeouts and 223 walks. After retiring as a player, he went on to coach in the Giant’s system.

Bottom line, Rapada is still the only MLB pitcher to complete his career with at least eight wins  and not a single loss on his stat sheet.

A Couple of Trivia(l) Diversions

The Other Side of the Coin – Career Losses for a Player with Zero Career Wins

The record for the most losses in a career by a pitcher without a single win is 16, and it belongs to Terry Felton. Unlike Clay Rapada (above), Felton pitched for just one MLB team in his  MLB career.  From 1979-1982, Felton went 0-16, 5.53 in 55 games (10 starts) for the Twins, pitching 138 1/3 innings, fanning 108 and walking 87. Felton also holds a share of the record the most losses in a season without a single win (13). In 1982, his final MLB season, Felton was 0-13, 4.99 in 48 games (six starts.) Hulon “Lefty” Stamps (1927 Memphis Red Sox, Negro National League) finished 0-13- 6.24 in 20 games/10 starts). In four Negro League seasons, Stamps compiled a 2-23, 5.87 record.

Back to Victory Lane – Most Wins Without a Loss in a Seasons

In 1938, Ray Brown of the Homestead Grays of the Negro National League II went 14-0, 1.88 in 20 games, 11 starts. (The Grays played a 54-game season.) Brown’s MLB career record was 119-46, 3.12 in 14 seasons (1931-33, 1935-45). He led his league in wins six times.

Just behind Brown is Tom Zachary of the 1929 Yankees (12-0, 2.48 in 26 games, 11 starts).   Zachary’s MLB career record (19 seasons, 1918-36) was 186-191, 3.73 in 533 games, 408 starts.

 

Primary Resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; RedHawks Sidearm Relievers  Excelling, April 13, 2010, The Oklahoman, by David Stanley Ford.

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT. Follow me for new blog post notifications.

Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  

 

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

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