Ladies and gentlemen, another Wednesday is upon us. What does that mean? In this case, an extra fun day of baseball that starts with five afternoon games, folds in a double-header, and finishes with Shohei Ohtani pitching in Yankee Stadium. Sign me up for a first-class ticket on the looking-forward-to-that express. But first, about last night…
Can we take a moment to shamelessly celebrate Alex Fast for killing it on TV?
YES!!!! pic.twitter.com/nXW0RST6Ec
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) June 30, 2021
That’s a qualified baseball source if I’ve ever seen one. Very trustworthy. Way to pick ’em, ESPN.
Another fun thing that happened yesterday was Trey Mancini formally accepting his invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby this year with his own hype video, much like Trevor Story’s from Monday.
See you Denver on July 12! #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/lzyGE5tR0k
— Trey Mancini (@TreyMancini) June 29, 2021
We also got the news that Apple Studios is developing a major TV series based on Satchel Paige and the Negro Leagues, produced by none other than Magic Johnson. Check it out:
We are really excited to watch this great story about the Negro Leagues and Satchel Paige. https://t.co/1hCTGc6WCq
— MLB (@MLB) June 29, 2021
Now, on to the best moments you missed (or didn’t!) from Tuesday.
Schwarbie Special
If you’re an MLB pitcher whose team has the unpleasant fortune of facing Kyle Schwarber and the Nats right now, July can’t come soon enough. On the penultimate day of June, the girthy slugger launched his seventh leadoff homer of the year and 16th of the month—this time without even waiting to see a pitch.
🗣 ANOTHER KYLE SCHWARBER LEAD-OFF HR BECAUSE WHY NOT?!?! 💥
(VIA @JGROC) pic.twitter.com/C2ljDzcmI4
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 29, 2021
Sixteen bombs in 18 days is a lot to keep track of. Thankfully, @Nationals helped us put things in perspective:
Home Runs Since June 12:
Kyle Schwarber – 16
Mets – 16
Tigers – 16
Marlins – 15
Royals – 15
Phillies – 14
Reds – 14
Pirates – 13
Cardinals – 11
Dbacks – 9
White Sox – 8@kschwarb12 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/fdZzZJscqv— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 29, 2021
And as a further kindness, they proceeded to compile all of them into one video graphic for us. How convenient!
Here are all SWEET SIXTEEN of Kyle Schwarber's home runs since June 12.@kschwarb12 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/vaSLibYPJr
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 29, 2021
All I know is, if that man sees another middle-middle pitch to lead off the game today, something has gone terribly wrong.
Shohei 2, Bleachers 0
Your MLB home run leader touched down in New York City this week, and so far, he has left a trail of death and destruction every which way. Shohei Ohtani and the Yankee Stadium short porch? A match made in heaven. After going deep in the first inning on Monday, Sho Time got right to work in the third today:
#27 for your new MLB home run leader! pic.twitter.com/JujH3bSg5K
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 29, 2021
…and again, in the fifth:
We are going to need an organized filing system of Ohtani home runs at Yankee Stadium. 3 in 2 days… It's getting tough to keep track 😅
(via @Angels) pic.twitter.com/mIc0NraQEu
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 30, 2021
Honestly, it’s little wonder Nestor Cortes was in no hurry to face him in the seventh:
Nestor Cortes vs. Shohei Ohtani. 😀 pic.twitter.com/6IFCIa3VX4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 30, 2021
Three homers in two days, the clubhouse leader to start at DH in the All-Star Game, and Wednesday’s starting pitcher in the Bronx. Yet another very normal thing that Ohtani is doing. Guess we’ll add it to the list.
Marquez Magic
We were so close. SO CLOSE. Since Coors Field opened in 1995, only one pitcher has managed to last nine innings without allowing a hit. That would be Hideo Nomo, who pulled off the feat against the Rockies in 1996. The closest any Colorado player has really come is Kyle Freeland’s 8.1-inning hitless performance that was broken up by Melky Cabrera and the White Sox in 2017.
But last night, Germán Márquez had it in his grasp. He threw 86 pitches in the first eight sparkling innings against the Pirates, and not one of them dropped for a hit. Everyone else is doing it, so why couldn’t this be the year the Coors streak ends?
He even got the signature defensive play to save the thing, courtesy of Trevor Story:
Trevor Story makes an incredible leaping play to keep German Marquez's no-hitter alive in the 8th inning! pic.twitter.com/017qzIreOi
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 30, 2021
He also went 2-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles, which is all you need to know about the kind of day he was having.
After Elias Diaz's second homer in two days gives him a 3-0 lead over the #Pirates, #Rockies RHP German Marquez rolls a double down the third-base line. He also hasn't given up a hit through five innings. pic.twitter.com/rlfiwPnc3G
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) June 30, 2021
But alas, the baseball gods had other ideas. That’s the only explanation I can find for this party-pooping ninth-inning knock by Ka’ai Tom, who had all of two hits in the entire month of June prior to last night.
German Marquez allowed just 1 hit over 9 IP. The one hit came in the 9th vs Kai-ai Tom, who is batting .129 this year.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 30, 2021
Of course, a 94-pitch shut-out “Maddux” is a perfectly impressive consolation prize. Marquez is just the second player in Coors history to do that, joining the model of efficiency himself, Aaron Cook. So it’s history nonetheless!
What’cha Gonna Do?
I can’t even begin to describe what’s going on in this clip, but it’d be a sham if I didn’t include it. So here you go, enjoy it. I certainly did.
we might have to get Jacob deGrom on the next episode of @AEW Dynamite. 🤣pic.twitter.com/FXjWwkY2hp
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 29, 2021
*Do* Meet Your Heroes
What’s the best way to get a little authentic bling in your wardrobe? It helps to have an MLB jersey hanging in your locker. Just ask Joe Kelly, the proud owner of this guy’s fabulous mariachi jacket:
Joe Kelly traded his Dodgers jersey for a @mgarijc mariachi jacket 👀
(via mgarijc/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/xDwaPx2IFB
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 29, 2021
As commissioner of my local fantasy fashion league, I rate this trade an A+ for both sides.
Dazzlin’ D
Finally, here are a few of the glovework plays that made yesterday particularly awesome. First, we have known third baseman Nolan Arenado doing what he does:
Nolan makes it look so easy. pic.twitter.com/wExg7tB6ko
— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2021
Then, of course, we have lesser-known third baseman, Jesús Aguilar, doing what he, it would seem, can also somehow do:
Jesús Aguilar: Elite Third Baseman™️ pic.twitter.com/qygqMvuxWA
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 30, 2021
From one corner to the other, here’s Vladdy Jr. making a picture-perfect barrel roll off the scoop:
let the vladdy roll!!! pic.twitter.com/8V9dlD37EW
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 30, 2021
And, to cap things off, here’s Mike Tauchman continuing his quest to cause the Dodgers nightmares with ridiculous outfield catches. It’s a quest that I, for one, fully support.
Tauchman made another insane catch at Dodger Stadium pic.twitter.com/jSsdD41mfn
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 30, 2021
Until next week, people. Go baseball!