May 12, 2022
--
1. Christian Yelich hits for the cycle for the third time
It’s now the third time in his career he’s hit for the cycle against the Reds, and one of just six players in history to hit three overall in his career.
Here are the triples from three cycles, synced up together:
It takes a little of the glory away, that the Reds won the game (and series) yesterday, turning around a bit their terrible start to the year — but still, the cycle threepeat might sit atop the podium for the Weird-and-awesome-and-only-happens-in-baseball Feats of the Year.
2. There was a major ump show in Atlanta last night
Bases loaded, two outs, full count, tie game. And a pitch that’s a good three inches below the strikezone — called for a strike looking. Inning over. Outrage right away. Ejections right after.
And a few innings later, the score still tied, the Braves walked it off.
3. The “Field of Dreams” site in Iowa might build a permanent ballpark
4. The Padres might be signing Robinson Cano
It’s a strange move for a contending team, considering how the Mets just decided days ago that Cano’s value was so low that they’d prefer to pay him tens of millions to be off the team, rather than in the lineup.
5. The defensive plays of the day: Wentz, Crawford, Choi
6. The early MVP front-runners after the first month
Mike Trout and Manny Machado leading the way, with Jazz Chisholm making a surprise run into the top five:
7. The awful strikeouts of the day: Jorge Alfaro & Francisco Mejia
Two of these in the same day, and you just marvel at the ineptitude.
8. Pedro Martinez struck out Shaquille O’Neal
Like a strange dream, suddenly appearing on your screen:
9. Shane McClanahan was dominant on the mound last night
Completely shutting down the red hot Angels, and the Rays avoid a sweep out in Anaheim.
7.0 IP • 11 K • 1 BB • 3 H • 0 ER
10. And A’s rookie Zach Logue dominated his third-career MLB game
Part of the haul they got back from Toronto in the Matt Chapman deal.
11. The best game to watch tonight: Yankees vs. White Sox
The Yankees have the best record in baseball, and the Sox have turned their bad start around this past week—meeting tonight at 8:10 ET after an balmy, sunny, 85-degrees spring day in Chicago.
It’ll be Luis Gil for the Yankees tonight, just re-summoned from the minors, and Dylan Cease for the Sox, who shut down the Angels in his last home start.
12. And lastly, another gem from the great Joe Maddon
After Anthony Rendon homered in his first left-handed plate appearance he gets a special new designation in the lineup card.
Here was the home run, in case you missed it:
