Before I get into my ramblings on sports I’d like to take a minute to explain to you why I missed my first blog post since I started writing these for SportsTimeRadio.com.
On Tuesday morning had a doctors appointment. It was just a check up so the doctor could renew my prescriptions. During the examination I mentioned to the doctor that I had some very minor chest pain. When I say minor it was almost very noticeable, but it was persistent. The doctor thought it was worth checking out; so he had an EKG done. The EKG results showed that I was having a heart attack; so the ambulance was called and off to the hospital I went. They didn’t want me driving to the hospital for fear of what could happen. Now the paramedics also did an EKG and they didn’t think I was having a heart attack, but better safe than sorry. After some more tests I was admitted into the hospital as they wanted to run some more tests on Wednesday. At first they where going to do a stress test, but that was changed to them doing an Angiogram. Luckily for me they did the Angiogram and my heart came up clean. The test showed no damage to my heart. So all I need is some rest, but I have a clean bill of health and hopefully no more interruptions for the blog. Now let’s get back to sports.
If your a fan of the Chicago White Sox; how do you feel about what they’re doing? The first move the White Sox made was sending Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs for four minor league prospects. Now earlier this week the White Sox sent 3rd baseman Todd Frazier, close David Robertson and set up guy Tommy Kahnle to the New York Yankees for three minor league prospects and a relief pitcher. The White received left handed pitcher Ian Clakin and outfielders Blake Rutherford and Tito Polo from the Yankees farm system along with Tyler Clippard.
This trade gives the White Sox either eight or nine Top 100 prospects depending on who’s ranking you go off of. After the trade with the Yankees the White Sox called up their #1 prospect Yoan Moncada. Now obviously not all of these prospects will turn into top of the line major league players, but even if just half of them work out the White Sox would have four or five big time players either in their line up or on their pitching staff.
Are the White Sox done dealing? They still have veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera on their roster and he could be a good add for a contender as a fourth outfielder and pinch hitter. The White Sox also have some veteran pitchers that I’m sure they would move if other teams where interested. Could the White Sox add one or more Top 100 prospects before this season is over?
Last night the Arizona Diamondbacks did something I had never seen before. In the bottom of the 1st inning Arizona hit back to back to back home runs to start off the inning. David Peralta hit the first one followed by A.J. Pollock and then Jake Lamb. It was the first time since May 10th of 2012 when the Baltimore Orioles did it in a game against the Texas Rangers. This was the first time in Diamondbacks history that this feat has been accomplished and what makes it even more impressive is that they hit these three home runs off of Max Scherzer.
The Diamondbacks have hit three home runs in a row before and actually hit four home runs in a row against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 10th of 2010.
While this had never happened in Diamondbacks history in was also the first time in Washington Nationals history that an opposing team started the 1st inning off with back to back to back home runs. It’s also no surprise that this is the first time that this has happened to Scherzer, but believe it or not the three home runs in the 1st inning aren’t the most Scherzer has allowed in that inning. On July 2nd of 2011 the San Francisco Giants hit five 1st inning home runs off of Scherzer.
Arizona added a 4th run in the 1st inning as all nine Diamondbacks in the starting line up got a turn at bat. Arizona scored their 5th run in the 2nd inning off of Scherzer as Lamb drove in another run with a double.
With a 5-0 lead against one of the best pitchers in baseball it looked like the Diamondbacks would cruise to an easy win, but it didn’t quite go that way. Washington used a run in the 4th, two in the 5th, one in the 6th and then finally a run in the 8th to make it a 5-5 game and get Scherzer off the hook for the loss.
Now the Nationals bullpen has had it’s much publicized issues this season, but after Scherzer exited the game after just five innings Washington’s bullpen had given up just two hits an a walk while striking out six over three innings headed into the bottom of the 9th.
Enny Romero came into the game for the Nationals to pitch the 9th inning. Romero was greeted by a triple off the bat of Pollock to start the inning. Lamb and then Paul Goldschmidt where intentional walked to load the bases. Gregor Blanco flied out to leftfield, but it wasn’t deep enough to score Pollock. Brandon Drury was the next hitter for the Diamondbacks. Drury was hit less in three at bats with a walk as he stepped into the batters box. Romero’s first two pitches to Drury where balls. Drury fouled off the third pitch to make it a 2-1 count. Drury hit the fourth pitch of the a bat into rightfield for a game winning single as Pollock scored the winning run in a 6-5 Diamondbacks victory.
Diamondbacks close Fernando Rodney (4-3) pitched a scoreless top of the 9th to pick up the win. Romero (2-4) took the loss for Washington. It was Arizona’s second win on a row while the Nationals dropped their second game in a row.
The teams will play again Saturday night. Tanner Roark (7-6) makes the start for Washington while Anthony Banda will make his major league debut for Arizona.
You can listen to Sports Time Radio live on BlogTalkRadio.com or you can find the podcast any time you want at TuneIn.com
Don’t forget that you can find me on Twitter @Burketime
Sports Time Radio 