All articles tagged with #baserunning
Bryce Harper ignores the stop sign from Phillies third-base coach Dusty Wathan and races home on Nick Castellanos' RBI double, scoring a pivotal insurance run in the Phillies' 4-1 win over the Marlins in the National League Wild Card Series opener. Harper admits it was his fault for not picking up Wathan's sign but defends his decision, reaching home in 10.34 seconds with a sprint speed of 28 feet per second.
Giancarlo Stanton's slow baserunning cost the New York Yankees a run against the Houston Astros as he was easily thrown out at home plate. Stanton did not slide and slowed down when he saw the catcher was going to receive the throw in time. Manager Aaron Boone stated that Stanton may have been prioritizing his health and protecting himself. The Yankees' offense has been struggling to score runs, making every run against Astros' pitcher Justin Verlander precious. The team is still deciding what to do with Luis Severino, whose ERA has risen to 7.74 after a poor performance against the Astros. Jonathan Loaisiga is expected to be available for the Yankees after completing his rehab. Aaron Judge returned to the lineup after a day off, with Stanton serving as the designated hitter.
Newly inducted Hall of Famer Scott Rolen continues to have a significant influence on the Cincinnati Reds, even a decade after his last game. Rolen's emphasis on defense and baserunning has resonated with the team's current players and coaches, who credit him with teaching them the importance of taking the extra 90 feet and making smart decisions on the basepaths. The Reds have excelled in extra bases taken this season and attribute their success to Rolen's teachings. Additionally, Rolen's impact extends beyond the field, as he has built special relationships with the Bell family and continues to be remembered as a great person and player.
The Cubs lost 4-3 to the Rays, with Justin Steele leaving the game due to forearm tightness. The Cubs had taken an early lead, but let the Rays tie it up in the seventh inning. The Cubs regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh, but lost it again in the eighth. They had a chance to tie it in the ninth, but ultimately fell short. The Cubs took two of three from the best team in baseball, but still have work to do. Steele's injury is being evaluated, but he is optimistic.
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 with a perfect 7-for-7 line in stolen bases. The Rays' baserunning brilliance, hustle, and aggressive plays were the recipe for success. Zach Eflin dominated on the mound, scattering six hits and two walks over seven innings. The Rays lead the majors in steals and attempts and are on pace for more than 300 home runs this season. They will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series at home starting Friday.
The Cincinnati Reds showcased their offensive strength in a 10-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, with nearly every hitter in the lineup contributing to the 18 hits. The Reds used aggressive baserunning to create runs and make up for a lack of power hitters. Starting pitcher Ben Lively had a successful outing, allowing only two runs in six innings. Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson had a big at-bat in the first inning, driving in two runs, and is starting to get more consistent results at the plate.
Anthony Volpe's small-ball display and baserunning helped the Yankees come back from a 6-4 deficit to defeat the Rays 9-8. Volpe opened the sixth inning with a bunt single, stole second and third base, and scored on a wild pitch. His energy plays inspired the team, and he became the first Yankee to start his career with 13 straight successful stolen bases. The Yankees chased Rays reliever Ryan Thompson and put up a pivotal five-spot in the sixth inning to secure the win.
The Chicago Cubs lost a frustrating 5-4, 14-inning game to the Miami Marlins, dropping their record in one-run games to 2-8 and putting them back at .500 overall. The game was the longest Cubs game (by innings) since the placed runner rule came into effect in 2020. The Cubs missed opportunities to score, including a baserunning mistake by Matt Mervis in the fifth inning. The Marlins scored the winning run on a controversial balk call in the 14th inning. Despite the loss, Hayden Wesneski threw six good innings for the Cubs, allowing just one run.
The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a humiliating 13-0 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, with pitcher Matt Strahm exiting early due to a bloody thumb. Strahm sliced his thumb on a seam of the ball while uncorking a warmup pitch, and was replaced by Andrew Bellatti who allowed a three-run homer by Wil Myers. The Phillies have made nine outs on the bases so far this season, the most in the majors, and are on pace for 97 baserunning outs. Bryson Stott extended his season-opening hitting streak with a leadoff double.
The Detroit Tigers lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in extra innings, falling to 2-9 on the season. The Tigers had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but the bullpen blew the lead once again. The game went into extra innings, and the Blue Jays scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning. The Tigers also struggled with baserunning blunders throughout the game.
St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Tyler O'Neill was left out of the starting lineup for the series finale against the Atlanta Braves after manager Oliver Marmol took issue with his baserunning effort in the previous game. O'Neill disagreed with Marmol's assessment and wished the situation had been handled differently. The loss dropped the Cardinals to 2-4 on the season.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol criticized outfielder Tyler O'Neill's "unacceptable" effort rounding third base during Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. O'Neill was thrown out at home plate by Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to end the seventh inning. Marmol said that O'Neill's effort was not the team's style of play and that it was unacceptable. O'Neill had two hamstring injuries in 2022 and has been working on different running mechanics to stay healthy during the season. The Braves won the game 4-1 behind five strong innings from Dylan Dodd, who made his major league debut on Monday.