After failing to score more than 4 runs in their last 6 games, New York broke out against DC at Shea earlier today, chasing the Nats’ Mike O’Connor with a 6 run, 8 hit 5th inning. David Wright had a 3 run HR (no. 25), a single and a triple (more on that later), Jose Reyes reached base 5 times and knocked in 3, and Paul Lo Duca clobbered his 5th home run of the season.
Wright reached 3rd with a bloop to sort right field in the last of the 8th that led to an ugly collision between 1B Nick Johson and RF Austin Kearns. From MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch :
Johnson raced back from first base, looking over his shoulder as right fielder Austin Kearns rushed in. Neither player called for the ball, which dropped to the turf as both Johnson and Kearns slid, colliding and creating a spray of sunglasses, caps and gloves.
The ball was eventually picked up by second baseman Jose Vidro in right field. Vidro’s first reaction after the crash was to cover his ears, having heard a crack or pop in the collision, followed by Johnson’s screams of anguish.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God,'” Vidro said. “My stomach got really bad right there. It’s really a tough situation for Nick and the ballclub.”
Center fielder Nook Logan saw the play develop and was able to hear the same sounds from his position.
“I was yelling, ‘Look out!'” Logan said. “I saw Nick and Kearnsie going after the ball, and I heard a snap. I stopped and didn’t even want to go over there. What can I do? Just call out the trainers.”
Philadelphia’s 8-6 defeat of Florida moved the Phillies into a tie with Los Angeles for the NL Wild Card. The Dodgers will send Brad Penny to the mound later tonight against the Snakes, losers of 12 of their last 14 road games.
As the AL Central battle continues — with the loser likely to qualify as AL Wild Card, the Twins lead the Orioles, 7-5 in the last of the 5th. Tori Hunter’s 25 home run, a two run blast off Eric Bedard, put Minnesota in front.
The Tigers seem likely to keep pace, as their 10 run first inning against the Royals at Andy Kaufman Stadium should prove insurmountable. Nice pitching line for AL All-Star Mark Redman : 10 batters faced, 9 earned runs allowed, 7 hits, 2 walks. Craig Monroe was the only Detroit hitter who failed to reach base against Redman.
If the carefully arranged snippy snaps over at Soft Hands are anything to go by (and from my recollection, the sequence seems pretty accurate), the YES Network’s Kim Jones should make it very, very clear that she doesn’t date musicians. Drummers, either.