Hey Now, You're An (NL) All-Star

The All-Star break is upon us again, and for the last several years, our tradition here at Kernels has been to steal a page from MLB and select one "All-Star" from every team. This year we've split it into two posts; be sure to check out our American League team as well. But proving that we do scour every boxscore every day, we've come up with each team's most notable performance just from the past week.


Arizona Diamondbacks: Robbie Ray, SP; Fernando Rodney, RP

These two were both "stars" of Thursday's game, but in entirely different ways. Ray scattered five singles and struck out 13 Dodgers before departing after 6 innings. That was his second 13-K game for the Diamondbacks; the other was last August 20 against the Padres. Only four D'backs pitchers have ever recorded 13 strikeouts in a game; Randy Johnson did it (no, really!) 35 times, and Curt Schilling eight. Brandon Webb also notched a 13-K outing on April 18, 2007.

Arizona took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th on Thursday. Rodney took care of that-- facing six batters but retiring exactly none of them. Two hits and four walks eventually led to the Dodgers walking off on a Chris Taylor bases-loaded single. In just 20 seasons, the Diamondbacks have actually had five pitchers face six batters and get none of them out; the most recent was David Hernandez on June 7, 2011. Greg Swindell (2002), Matt Mantei (2000), and Armando Reynoso (2000) also did it.


Atlanta Braves: Nick Markakis, RF; Julio Teheran, SP

The Braves owned Washington on Saturday, dropping a 13-0 score on the Nationals who were shut out for the first time this season (leaving the Yankees as the last team to not be). It was the largest shutout by Atlanta in nearly a decade; they hung a 14-0 in Arizona on July 29, 2007 (and another 13-0 against the Nationals a month before that).

Markakis was the first Atlantan to collect three hits and four runs scored in over three years; Evan Gattis did it at Coors Field on June 10, 2014. Only three teams had gone longer without a player doing that; the Orioles, Brewers, and Pirates last saw it in 2014 as well, but earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Teheran obviously didn't allow a run, but he did drive in three of them with a pair of scoring-position singles. The last Braves pitcher with two hits and three RBIs was Kevin Millwood in Houston on August 11, 2002.


Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant, 3B

Bryant dominated Friday's Wrigley Field matinee with two home runs and a triple against the Pirates. No Cub had collected those hits in a game since Todd Walker did it in Houston on June 14, 2004. The last Cub to do it at home was Andre Dawson in a 13-2 win, also against the Astros, on June 2, 1987.

In fact, no player for any team, had homered twice and tripled at Wrigley Field since Gary Varsho of Pittsburgh on July 2, 1991. Bryant also drove in four runs, the first Cub with that full line (2 HR, 3B, 4 RBI) since Shawon Dunston did it in St Louis on June 4, 1989.

A single gave Bryant 12 total bases in Friday's game, his third time with 12 TB and 4 RBI. That trails only Sammy Sosa (five) in Cubs history; Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks, also had three. Bryant is also the only one ever to do it multiple times before the age of 26.


Cincinnati Reds: Josh Hamilton, CF

We comment on leadoff homers a lot around these parts, but not so much leadoff triples. Hamilton had one of those on Thursday as the Reds beat Colorado 6-3. It was the first one ever hit by the Reds at Coors Field, and it was the fourth of Hamilton's career. Pete Rose is believed to be the team's all-time leader with 10, although play-by-play from any earlier is pretty sketchy. We can say, however, that since Rose's debut in 1963, the only other player to have four was Eddie Milner from 1982 to 1986.

On Saturday Hamilton didn't triple, but he did reach base four times, steal three bases, and drive in a run as the Reds shut out Arizona. The only other game where Hamilton did that was in his very first major-league start, on September 18, 2013. (He batted ninth, that's how long ago it was.) And since RBI became official in 1920, he's one of only two Reds ever to post that line twice. Joe Morgan did it in 1972 and again in 1975. All other Reds since then have combined for four such games.


Colorado Rockies: German Marquez, SP

Although he's a pitcher, Marquez got this vote not for throwing the ball, but for hitting it. Like the Braves' Teheran, he had a pair of hits on Friday and also scored two of the Rockies' 12 runs. Tyler Chatwood (June 3) and Kyle Freeland (May 21) have also posted that line, the first time in the Rockies' 25 seasons that three different pitchers have done so.

Marquez narrowly beat out the top three in the Rockies' order-- Charlie Blackmon, D.J. LeMahieu, and Nolan Arenado-- who each homered in that game. They also each homered on May 31 of last year, becoming the first trio of 1-2-3 hitters in Colorado history to do it twice.


Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, SP; Alex Wood, SP; Rich Hill, SP

These three folks dominated the Diamondbacks this week, each going seven innings and holding Arizona to three or fewer hits, one or zero runs, and at least nine strikeouts. Even throwing out the three hits, it was the first time in 55 years that three consecutive Dodger starters had allowed a max of one run and fanned at least nine opponents. You've probably heard of the last trio: Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Podres from June 30 to July 2, 1962.

Kershaw stepped things up even further on Sunday, needing only 99 pitches for a complete-game win over the Royals. He did allow a two-run homer to Eric Hosmer, but he somehow struck out 13 batters in those 99 pitches. Obviously it takes at least three (and usually several more) to get a K, which drives up the pitch count as opposed to putting the first or second pitch in play all the time. To that end, Kershaw is the first pitcher in the known population of pitch counts (which covers the vast majority of games back to 1988) to throw a 13-K CG in under 100 balls.


Miami Marlins: Dee Gordon, 2B

We really wanted to give this one to Jeff Locke for allowing 11 earned runs on Monday but somehow not surrendering a homer (a first since the Angels' Scott Schoeneweis on May 23, 2001). But we'll focus on the positive and point out Gordon's two notable games this week.

In the series finale with the Cardinals on Thursday, Gordon had two hits and was plunked once. He then stole two bases and scored on all three trips around. Only one other Marlins leadoff hitter had ever posted that line (2 hits, 2 SB, 3 scored) in a loss, that being Luis Castillo against the Cubs on July 12, 2002. It was Gordon's third such game (win or lose) with the Marlins, tying Juan Pierre and Hanley Ramirez for the most in team history.

On Friday, Gordon had four hits out of the Marlins' 16-hit attack (more on that when we get to the Giants section), his 10th career four-hit game and sixth with Miami. That already ties him for the third-most such games by a leadoff hitter in Marlins history. Pierre had 11 and Ramirez eight, while Luis Castillo and Chris Coghlan matched Gordon's total of six.
Honorable mention to A.J. Ellis, whose game-winning pinch-hit home run in the top of the 11th on Sunday was just the second one ever hit by the Marlins. Their only other PH HR in extras was a Cliff Floyd walkoff to beat the Cubs on June 25, 2000.


Milwaukee Brewers: Jesús Aguilar, 1B

After being used "sparingly" during three callups with the Indians, Aguilar had a breakout game on Friday when he homered twice and drove in seven of the Brewers' nine runs against the Yankees. It's the 11th 7-RBI game in Brewers history (though only one is prior to 2000), but just the second to include a sacrifice fly as one of the RBIs (Ryan Braun last year). Aguilar became the first visiting player with a 2-HR, 7-RBI game at the current Yankee Stadium; the last at the old place was another National Leaguer, the Mets' Carlos Delgado on June 27, 2008.

Aguilar was also the second player in Brewers history to drive in seven or more runs in a game where the team only scored in single digits. Rickie Sexson had two homers and a triple to singlehandedly beat the Cardinals, 7-5, on April 18, 2002.

But he's not perfect. Aguilar was also charged with one of the Brewers' five errors in the game, the first time in over five years that a team has committed five miscues and won. The Diamondbacks pulled that off against the Giants on April 8, 2012.


New York Mets: Curtis Granderson, PH

Monday night's game with the Nationals was a 2-0 affair after eight innings and seemed destined for another Mets defeat. And it was, but not before Granderson drilled a 2-run homer on an 0-2 pitch to tie the game with two outs in T9. (Ryan Raburn then walked off in B9.) It had been over a decade since the Mets hit a tying or go-ahead home run when down to their final strike; Damion Easley-- also as a pinch-hitter-- hit one against the Rockies on April 24, 2007, in the bottom of the 10th inning after Colorado had scored in T10. (Endy Chavez then won that game on a drag bunt in the 12th.)

A backhanded honorable mention to Jacob deGrom, who managed to squeak out a win on Friday despite allowing four solo homers. Only two other Mets pitchers have ever pulled that off: Johan Santana (June 9, 2009, vs Phillies) and Rob Gardner (August 18, 1966, vs Pirates).



Philadelphia Phillies: Aaron Nola, SP

Much like the Mets, the Phillies didn't have a lot to get excited about this week as they lost five straight. Nola was the lone bright spot, working eight innings against the Padres on Saturday and fanning nine batters. (He still lost, because it was a 2-1 game.) Nola is the only Phillies starter to make it through eight innings this season (he's done it twice), and Saturday marked his fourth straight game with at least eight strikeouts. That's the longest streak by a Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee ended the 2013 season with five in a row.

Although these are individual nominations, the Phillies did break the losing streak with a 7-1 win on Sunday wherein all the runs scored on homers. Six of them. The Phillies hadn't hit six homers in a game since August 11, 2004, and that was the game where pitcher Randy Wolf hit two. The only teams to go longer without a 6-HR game are the Royals (2003), Angels (2003), and this weekend's opponent, the Padres (1998!).


Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen, CF

We had several choices for this week's Pirates representative, but the national pasttime is rife with interesting events on July 4 and we couldn't let this one go. McCutchen had two homers in a 3-0 win, which isn't unusual, but the game was in Philadelphia. On July 4. (You may have to remember a little history and a big bell and stuff here.) It had been exactly 30 years since anyone hit two homers in Philly on Independence Day; Von Hayes did it in 1987. The last visiting player ("tourist", if you will) was Cesar Cedeño of the Reds in 1984. (We started compiling the whole list, but in the days of two teams there, it just ended up being too long.)

As for Bells, on Wednesday, Josh became the first Pirate with an RBI triple at Citizens Bank Park, and two innings later, Jordy Mercer became the second. That marked the first time two Pittsburghers had done it in the same game IN Philadelphia since Roberto Clemente and pitcher Vern Law each had one on May 26, 1957.

One honorable mention to Gregory Polanco, who wrapped up the series on Thursday by becoming the first Pirate ever to have a 4-hit game at CBP. Their last to do it at the Vet was Warren Morris on September 20, 2000.

And another mention to Francisco Cervelli, who hit a grand slam in the 1st inning on Sunday. That's notable because he bats second. You can't hit a grand slam from the top three spots in the order without batting around, which the Pirates did in a 10-run frame. George Springer of the Astros hit one in similar fashion last June, but there have only been nine in the past 30 years. And Cervelli was the first batter in Pirates history (1882) to do it.


San Diego Padres: Jose Pirela,... DH (?)

Because they're in the National League, the Padres don't often have a designated hitter. And even less often does that DH bat in the leadoff spot. In fact, Pirela on Wednesday became just the second ever to do that, joining Rickey Henderson in 1997, the first season of full interleague play.

Pirela responded with three hits including a triple, the first San Diego DH ever to post that line. To be fair, though, two others did have three hits including a home run: Greg Vaughn on June 30, 1997, and the Padres' first-ever DH, Kurt Bevacqua in the 1984 World Series. Bevacqua actually did it in a home game at Jack Murphy Stadium; in those days, the World Series alternated using the DH in even-numbered years for the entire series, regardless of the game site.


San Francisco Giants: Matt Moore, SP

Speaking of even-numbered years, 2017 isn't one, so the Giants weren't really expected to dominate, but they weren't expected to do this, either. Our most "notable" performance of the week from the San Fran club involved giving up 12 hits in 3.1 innings as the Marlins beat them 6-1 on Friday. No Giants hurler had done that since William VanLandingham lost a 7-4 decision to the Padres on June 30, 1996.


St Louis Cardinals: Paul DeJong, SS

MLB Gameday lists him as "DeJong, P" to differentiate him from Chase De Jong of the Mariners, and it always tricks us into thinking he's a pitcher, especially since he bats toward the bottom of the order. Which would have made it extra special on Saturday when DeJong had three doubles and a home run in the Cards' 4-1 win over the Mets.

As always, boxscores from before 1910 or so are hard to come by and even harder to search, but DeJong is the first Cardinal we could find to have four extra-base hits while batting in either the 8- or 9-hole. And still a few weeks shy of age 24, DeJong is the youngest Cardinal to have 4 XBH from any spot in the order since 22-year-old rookie outfielder Terry Moore did it at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia on August 28, 1935.


Washington Nationals: Daniel Murphy, 2B

"Murph" was among the players who made our radar twice this week, first in Tuesday's "a.m." game (one of two morning starts in the majors this year, the other being Patriots' Day in Boston). In the Nats' 11-4 win over the Mets (11-4 on 7/4?), Murphy had four hits and five RBIs, the first player with that line on Independence Day since Casey McGehee in 2009, and the first ever in the nation's capital on July 4. ("Home Run" Baker, then of the Yankees, did it unofficially in 1918.)

(Andrew Benintendi would duplicate the line a few hours later; see our AL post for more on that.)

Murphy also had a 4-hit, 5-RBI game against the Cardinals on April 11. Only one other player in Nats/Expos history has done it twice in a season, and that's Andre Dawson in 1985.

On Friday, Murphy brought an end (just before the rains came again) to the Nationals' 5-4 win over the Braves with a walkoff single in the 10th. Back on April 14 against the Phillies, he also had a 10th-inning walkoff (this one a double), and is the third player in Nationals history (2005) with two extra-inning walkoffs in a season. Elijah Dukes had a homer, a single, and a bases-loaded walk to win three games in 2008, while Ryan Zimmerman also drew a walk, and hit a single, in 2006.


Did You Know?

The last pitcher to actually have four extra-base hits in a game was the Sultan Of Swat himself. In his fourth season, Babe Ruth started transitioning to the outfield on days he wasn't pitching. The first of those "everyday" starts was on May 6, 1918, and three days later when it was his turn to pitch again, the Babe legged out a triple and three doubles in a 10-inning loss to the Senators.