YANKEES WON A MARATHON AT WRIGLEY
The blazing New York Yankees had to work longer than usual in Sunday night’s/Monday morning’s 5-4 victory over the sagging Chicago Cubs at Wrigley.
New York completed a three-game sweep over the defending world champions with a 5-4 victory in 18 innings.
The Yankees are 19-5 since their 1-4 start this season. The Cubs are 16-15.
There were a Major League Baseball-record 48 strikeouts. That covers a lot of games for a lot of years.
The Yankees set franchise records for strikeouts for their pitchers (26) and strikeouts by their hitters (22).
It was the longest game by innings in interleague history.
The game lasted 6 hours and 5 minutes. It was the Sunday Night Game of the Week on ESPN and there probably weren’t many folks tuned in on the East Coast when it ended.
American League batting leader Starlin Castro and Yankees teammate Didi Gregorius each was 0-for-8.
Pitchers trying to bat were 0-for-8 with 5 strikeouts. The game ended when Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks struck out as a pinch-hitter with two runners on base. Manager Joe Maddon had no option. No one else was available.
A total of 15 pitchers threw 583 pitches, including 366 strikes. Home plate umpire Cowboy Joe West appeared to get many of the strike and ball calls right.
Former Red Wings lefthander Brian Duensing threw two scoreless innings for the Cubs.
The two exhausted teams are scheduled to play Monday night – the Yankees in Cincinnati and the Cubs in Colorado.
The teams were making roster moves Monday to get some fresh arms in the bullpen. Rizzo (drilled in the forearm by Chapman) and Javier Baez (bruised foot after fouling off a pitch) will be hurting – if they play.
A COMEBACK FOR BOXING – FOR AT LEAST ONE NIGHT (ON SEPT. 16 –MAYBE)
Last Saturday’s Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Chavez Jr. “Mexican Super Bowl” had all the competitiveness of an NFL pre-season game.
Alvarez completely dominated Chavez, scoring a 120-108 shutout on the scorecards of all three judges. CompuBox punch stats showed Alvarez 228-for-604 (38 percent) and Chavez 71-for-302 (24 percent).
The highlight of the evening happened in the ring after the fight, when Alvarez and undisputed middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin confirmed that their much-anticipated showdown will be September 16, in Las Vegas or Arlington, Texas (in Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys playpen).
It will be Mexican Independence Day weekend and the Cowboys won’t be playing at home on that date. That probably was not a coincidence.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya said, “This is the most anticipated fight, right next to Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao, but the difference is this fight will have a lot of action, nonstop action.”
De La Hoya also gushed, “Boxing back, bigger and better than ever.”
For one, at least – September 16, they’re promising us – De La Hoya could be right.
GGG VS. CANELO TALE OF THE TAPE
Age – Golovkin 35 (B: 4-8-1982)...Alvarez 26 (B: 7-18-1990)
Record – Golovkin 37-0...Alvarez 49-1-1 (only loss decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. 6-17-2006)
Knockouts – Golovkin 33 (89 percent)...Alvarez 34 (67 percent)
Rounds fought – Golovkin 353...Alvarez 172
Height – Golovkin 5-10 ½...Alvarez 5-9
Reach – Golovkin 70’...Alvarez 70 ½
Native of – Golovkin Kazakhstan (lives in Santa Monica, CAL)...Alvarez born and resides in Guadalajara, Mexico.
IS ALWAYS DREAMING A TRIPLE CROWN THREAT?
Jockey John Velazquez’s silks said it all after Saturday’s 143rd Kentucky Derby. The track surface was a sea of mud but he was spotless.
His mount, Always Dreaming, had a dream trip to win the Run for the Roses by 2 ½ lengths. He broke on top and settled nicely just behind 54-to-1 longshot State of Honor while 17 of the other 18 horses (Thunder Storm wheeled at the start and was pulled up) played a losing game of catchup. After putting away State of Honor, the colt was never seriously threatened.
Always Dreaming went off the 4.70-to-1 favorite and undoubtedly will be shorter odds against a smaller field June in the Preakness Stakes.
Is Always Dreaming a probable Triple Crown winner? That’s much too early to project.
Always Dreaming’s early speed played well on a wet track at Churchill Downs. Classic Empire finished fourth in the Derby despite a troubled start and traffic problems in the stretch. He looks like a worthy challenger in the Preakness Stakes May 20 in Baltimore. But several other Derby also-rans figure to skip the Preakness in favor of resting up for another shot at Always Dreaming. There might also be fresh horses with more stamina than speed being pointed to the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes June 10.
HUGE ROAD WIN FOR THE RATTLERS
Three former superstars from three of college lacrosse’s greatest programs sparked the Rochester Rattlers to an important 12-11 overtime victory over the Ohio Machine Saturday in the new lacrosse-specific Fortress Field in Obetz, Ohio.
Jordan Wolf (Duke) had five goals and two assists, Ty Thompson (Albany) had two goals – including the game-winner in OT – and goalie John Galloway (Syracuse) was spectacular in the fourth quarter and had 17 saves.
Jeremy Boltus also scored two goals for the Rattlers and Matt Dunn and John Lade were sturdy on defense.
The Rattlers have a recent history for slow starts because they usually open with several road games. In a 14-game regular season, it is difficult to make the playoffs after spotting opponents a few wins in this highly-competitive nine-team league.
The Rattlers open their home season Thursday, 7:30 p/m., at Capelli Sport Stadium. They’ll play at the Boston Cannons Saturday night.
Through four games, a 2-2 start would be OK and a 3-1 start would be great.
RHINOS START U.S. OPEN CUP QUEST MAY 17
The Rochester Rhinos won the Lamar Hunt U.C. Open Cup in 1999. The Rhinos were the first – and still the only – non-Major League Soccer team to win the prestigious competition.
It probably was the greatest accomplishment by in Rochester’s pro soccer history. Am I wrong?
The Rhinos will host a U.S. Open second-round match Wednesday, March 17, at Capelli Sport Stadium against the winner of Wednesday’s FC Motown (USASA) vs. New Jersey Copa (NPSL) match.
The Rhinos game at St. Louis FC was postponed by flooding that made Toyota Stadium unplayable. A makeup date will be announced.
Rochester hosts the Richmond Kickers Sunday, May 21, 4:05 p.m., at Capelli Stadium.
AT LEAST ONE THING IS FUNCTIONING RIGHT IN WASHINGTON
The Washington Nationals have been by far the most potent team in the Major League Baseball this season (second-best MLB team in parentheses):
Batting average – .285 (Yankees/Houston .275)
Runs – 194 (Yankees 167)
Home runs – 50 (second to Milwaukee’s 53)
Total bases – 540 (Cincinnati 499)
On-base percentage – .362 (Yankees .352)
Slugging percentage – .491 (Cincinnati .468)
OPS (on base % + slugging %) – .852 (Yankees .812)
The big surprise has been first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who leads MLP in the Triple Crown categories (BA, HRs, RBI; plus hits, total bases, slugging percentage and OPS):
2016 – 115 games; .218 batting average (93-for-427); 60 runs; n18 doubles; 1 triple; 15 HRs; 46 RBI; 158 total bases; .272 on-base percentage; .370 slugging percentage; .642 OPS.
2017 – 29 games; .435 batting average (47-for-108); 28 runs; 12 doubles; 0 triples; 13 HRs; 34 RBI; 98 total bases; .475 on-base percentage; .907 slugging percentage; 1.382 OPS.
SPRAYING BASEBALL HITS TO ALL FIELDS
I wonder if Los Angeles Dodgers fans are wishing their team were in the American League so it could use a designated hitter. With struggling veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.255; 0 HRs; 11 RB)I on the disabled list (sore back) for the first time in his MLB career, 21-year-old rookie fill-in Cody Bellinger has been phenomenal (.357; 5 HRs; 14 RBI in 11 games)....Bellinger is the son of former infielder Clay Bellinger, who had a big season for Rochester in 1996 (.301; 34 doubles; 4 triples; 15 HRs; 78 RBI), when little Cody turned one on July 13.
Two reasons the Colorado Rockies are a surprising 20-12: 9-0 in one-run games and 11-5 on the road.
The National League (with pitchers hitting for themselves) has a .250 batting average; .321 on-base percentage; .417 slugging percentage; and .737 OPS...The American League is .245/.317/.399/.716. It’s early.
The AL leads the NL 21-14 in interleague play.
Home teams are 253-215.. The Yankees are 12-3 and Baltimore 11-3.
Oakland has a MLB-most 30 errors. Kansas City has a MLB-fewest 9 errors.
Best run differentia: Washington +53...Yankees +52...Dodgers +38...Houston +33.
A SAD SUNDAY AT ESPN – FINAL EDITION OF “THE SPORTS REPORTERS”
After 29 years, the most intelligent show on ESPN is no more. Sunday mornings won’t be the same without “The Sports Reporters.
ESPN is desperate to boost rating. “Hot takes” and hosts, including many retired jocks, specialize in loud and fake laughs whenever a colleague says something “funny.”
Dick Schaap and John Saunders were intelligent, thoughtful and polite hosts. They respected their subject matter, the panels on the show and the viewing audience.
The list of panelists, many of whom went on to prominent roles with other networks, included Bob Ryan, Mike Lupica, Mitch Albom, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, Stephen A. Smith (the show was so good he let other people talk), Bill Conlin, Skip Bayless, William Rhoden, Jemele Hill, Christine Brennan, Mike Downey, Byran Burwell, Jason Whitlock, Jon Feinstein, Selena Roberts, Manish Mehta, Jackie MacMullen and Jeremy Schaap.
Why is the show no more? One expressed theory is that it couldn’t keep the attention of the desired young portion of the audience. That’s sad. Sometimes it isn’t so bad to be old.
SHORT SHOTS
Early odds from Bovada: Gennady Golovkin -165 (bet $165 to win $100)...Canelo Alvarez +135 (bet $100 to win $135).
ESPN’s “Post-Draft NFL Power Rankings” list the Buffalo Bills 26th. That’s exactly where the Bills were in ESPN’s “Post Free-Agency Power Rankings” rankings. Shouldn’t an apparent excellent draft count for something?
he Western New York Flash shocked the National Women’s Soccer League last season by winning the league championship and then bolting from Buffalo/Rochester to Cary, N.C., as the North Carolina Courage. The team is proving the 2016 title was no fluke. The Courage won 1-0 Sunday at the Boston Breakers (attendance was 2,276) to boost their record to a NWSL-best 4-0. They’ve outscored opponents 5-1 and host the Orlando Pride (featuring Mart) on Sunday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY...
Monday, May 8 – Sam Dekker (23)...Kemba Walker (27)...Sean Gilmartin (27)...Adrian Gonzalez (35)...Ronnie Lott (58)...Lovie Smith (59)...Bill Cowher (60)...Steve Freeman (64)...Mike D’Antoni (66)...Angel Cordero Jr. (75).
Tuesday, May 9 – Yogi Ferrell (24)...Oswaldo Arcia (26)...Jake Long (32)...Chase Headley (33)...Price Fielder (33)...Brandon Webb (38)...Doug Christie (47)...Steve Yzerman (52)...Tom Chism (63)...Calvin Murphy (69). Billy Joel (68) can sing Happy Birthday at the party.