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SEPTEMBER
2002
IN THE NEWS: Boston trims the Indians, 7–1, behind the strong pitching of Tim Wakefield, who doesn't allow a hit before Matt Lawton's home run in the 5th. Manny Ramirez and Brian Daubach hit back–to–back HRs, and Johnny Damon scores three runs. Jim Thome reached 100 walks for the 4th consecutive year and the 6th time in his career. Thome is the only player in Indians history to ever have consecutive 100 walks seasons.
Arizona tips the Giants, 7–6, as Tony Womack smacks two homers and lays down a 9th inning bunt single to load the bases. David Dellucci follows with a 2-run double to win it. Jeff Kent has two RBIs to reach the 100-RBI mark for the 6th straight time, a record for secondbasemen. D'Back pitchers continue to respect Barry Bonds, walking him four times today. They walked him twice yesterday and four rimes on the 30th, giving him 10 walks in three straight regulation-length games. Barry will have tomorrow off and get a walk on the 3rd.
IN THE NEWS: The A's defeat the Royals, 7–6, for their 19th straight victory to match the longest winning streak in American League history. The 1906 White Sox and the 1947 Yankees both reached 19.
The Dodgers pummel the Diamondbacks, 19–1, with only a 9th inning score preventing them from tying the team mark for most lopsided shutout ever. The 24 hits ties the mark for the team in Los Angeles. They score eight of their runs in the 7th inning, with Beltre and Kinkade homering in the frame. The last hit for LA is the first ML homer by Dave Ross, and it comes off Mark Grace, who pitches the 9th inning.
The Cubs beat the Brewers, 17–4, to salvage a split in their doubleheader after Milwaukee takes the opener by a score of 4–2 on solo homers by Ron Belliard (2), Eric Young and Jose Hernandez. Glendon Rusch wins his 8th straight over the Cubs. Chicago P Kerry Wood ties a major-league record in the second game by fanning four Brewers in the 4th inning. Wood also homers off Andrew Lorraine, one of five gophers he serves up. Another is Sammy Sosa's 494th homer, moving him ahead of Lou Gehrig on the all-time list.
Four pitchers post their first win of the year:
Braden Looper (1–5) in his 66th relief appearance of the year, extends the Mets home losing streak to 15 in the 12–inning first game of a doubleheader. Florida wins 3–2. Preston Wilson ties the game in the 9th with a home run, and Juan Encarnacion wins it with an RBI double. The Mets take the nitecap, 11–5, overcoming back-to-back home runs in the 2nd by Derrek Lee and Mike Lowell. Mike Piazza drills a pinch 3-run home run. The win snaps the Mets home loss streak at 15 games, a National League record set the 1911 Braves. They last won at home on July 31.
Jon Rausch (1–1), the tallest pitcher in major league history, lowers his career ERA from 9.82 to 9.72 with two ER in two IP in his first appearance since May 2. The White Sox win, 5–4, as Jose Valentin hits a pair of homers, the 2nd snapping a tie.
Pittsburgh's Salomon Torres (1–0), pitching in the majors for the first time since July 20, 1997, starts and goes 8.1 scoreless innings against the Braves. He also collects his first hit since 1994. as the Pirates win, 3–0. Torres, 30, retired as an active player in 1997 and served as Montreal's pitching coach in the Dominican Summer League before signing with Pittsburgh in January. Fortunately for the Braves, only 18,931 fans, the smallest crowd in Turner Field history, see the game.
IN THE NEWS: Three Rangers pitchers combine to 1–hit the Orioles, winning by a score of 7–1. Starter Aaron Myette was ejected after throwing two pitches and replaced by Todd Van Poppel who threw two hitless innings. Van Poppel was in turn replaced by rookie Joaquin Benoit who did not give up a hit until Jerry Hairston's leadoff triple in the 9th. Benoit got credit for a 7–inning save, the longest since saves were first recorded in 1969.
Pittsburgh P Salomon Torres makes his 1st ML appearance since 1997 as he defeats the Braves, 3–0. Torres retired in 1997, became a coach in the Dominican Republic, then began his comeback in January.
Andy Van Hekken (1–0), with a fastball topping out in the mid–80s, becomes the first American Leaguer to throw a complete game shutout in his debut since Mike Norris in 1975, and the first Tiger since Schoolboy Rowe in 1933. He stops Cleveland 4–0. The Holland, Michigan native was 5–0 at Toledo (AAA) before his promotion.
The Mets lose the 1st game of their doubleheader against the Marlins, 3–2, but bounce back to take the nightcap, 11–5. The loss in the opener sets a new National League record for consecutive home losses with 15.
IN THE NEWS: The Athletics set an American League record by defeating the Royals, 12–11, for their 20th straight win. Oakland blows an 11–0 lead, but score in the bottom of the 9th for the victory.
Aaron Myette, ejected yesterday for two pitches behind Melvin Mora, starts today's game, allowing six of the 11 walks in an 8–3 loss to Baltimore. According to the New York Times, it is the first back to back start by a pitcher since Steve McCatty in 1980 [though five pitchers -- Dennis Martinez (Baltimore), Bert Blyleven (Cleveland), Pete Vuckovich (Milwaukee), Rick Langford (Oakland), and Juan Eichelberger (San Diego) -- made the last start before the 1981 strike and the first start after].
IN THE NEWS: Anaheim beats Tampa Bay, 10–1, as OF Garret Anderson homers twice and drives home seven runs.
Texas pounds Baltimore, 11–2, as SS Alex Rodriguez homers twice to give him 50 for the year. He becomes the 5th player in history to record successive 50–HR seasons.
IN THE NEWS: The Twins shut out the A's, 6–0, to end Oakland's American League–record winning streak at 20 games.
The Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 11–2, as brothers Andy Benes and Alan Benes oppose each other in the 7th matchup of brothers in ML history. Andy gets the win while Alan takes the loss. The Cards score all 11 of their runs in the 3rd inning.
IN THE NEWS: The Tigers defeat the Yankees, 2–1. Detroit 1B Eric Munson hits a home run in his 1st ML at bat.
Texas pounds Tampa Bay, 11–2, with Herbert Perry's 3–run home run being the big blow. The round–tripper enables the Rangers to tie a major-league record by hitting homers in 25 consecutive games.
IN THE NEWS: The Rangers set a major-league record by homering in their 26th consecutive game as Texas falls to Tampa Bay, 6–3. Rafael Palmeiro's solo shot in the 6th inning is the record–breaker. The streak will be ended at 27 games on the 10th.
The Mariners score eight runs in the 11th inning and go on to defeat the Royals, 16–9. This ties the American League mark for most runs by a team in the 11th, last tied in 1991.
IN THE NEWS: The Diamondbacks beat the Padres, 5–2, as Randy Johnson reaches 300 strikeouts for the 5th consecutive season, extending his ML record.
IN THE NEWS: A game after their 10–game win streak ends, the Angels inch closer to the first place A's with a 6–5 win at Anaheim. The A's blow a 4–0 lead but the Angels tie in the 4th and go ahead on Shawn Wooten's 2–run double in the 6th. The Angels lead the M's by six games in the wild card race.
IN THE NEWS: At Yankee Stadium the Yankees remember the tragedy of last year with a special monument in Monument Park memorializing those killed as part of the 50–minute pregame ceremony. The Orioles wear 5–sided patches honoring the victims of the attack on the Pentagon. The game goes 11 innings, before Nick Johnson ends in with an RBI single. The Yankees win, 5–4, despite striking out 14 times. Orlando Hernandez issues a walk in the 8th when he goes to his mouth on a 3–2 count while standing on the mound. It was the first walk in six full games (65 innings) by a Yankee pitcher, the longest steak since WW2, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Steve Karsay later hands out another walk.
The Mets and Braves split a doubleheader, with Atlanta winning the 1st game, 8–5, and New York taking the nightcap, 5–0. John Smoltz gets the save in the opener, making him the 7th pitcher in history to record 50 saves in a season. Smoltz will set the National League season saves record with 55, topping the old mark of 53 shared by Randy Myers and Trevor Hoffman. Chicago's Bobby Thigpen set the major league record of 57 in 1990.
IN THE NEWS: The White Sox score eight runs in the 9th inning to seal a 13–2 win over the Yankees.
IN THE NEWS: P Derek Lowe wins his 20th game as the Red Sox beat the Orioles, 6–4. Lowe becomes the 1st pitcher in history to win 20 games the season after saving 20. He is also the 1st to record at least 40 saves and later win 20. Dennis Eckersley and John Smoltz did it the other way around.
The Yankees beat the White Sox, 8–4, in a rain–shortened affair. Chicago C Miguel Olivo hits a 3–run home run in his 1st ML at bat.
The Diamondbacks shut out the Brewers, 5–0, as Randy Johnson wins his 22nd game of the season. Johnson fans 17 Milwaukee batters in the contest.
IN THE NEWS: The Minnesota Twins become the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs, defeating the Indians, 5–0. Minnesota will be making its 1st postseason appearance since 1991.
The Angels trounce the Rangers, 13–4, as 3B Troy Glaus strokes three home runs.
The Diamondbacks beat the Brewers, 6–5, as Curt Schilling fans eight batters to give him 300 on the season. He and Randy Johnson become the 1st teammates to record 300 strikeouts in the same season.
The Cubs shut out the Reds, 6–0, as OF Sammy Sosa drives in his 100th run of the season on a 3–run home run in the 8th inning. In doing so, he joins Mel Ott and Willie Mays as the only National League players to post eight consecutive 100–RBI seasons.
IN THE NEWS: Alfonso Soriano gets five hits, including a 2B and home run, as the Yankees fall to the Devil Rays, 9–7. Bernie Williams scores his 100th run in the loss to reach that mark for the 7th straight year. He is the 4th Yankee to score 100 this year, the first Yankee team to do so since 1941. Williams and Derek Jeter combine to tie the major-league record for consecutive years for teammates both having 100+ runs.
IN THE NEWS: The Diamondbacks trounce the Padres, 10–3, as 1B Greg Colbrunn hits for the cycle. Colbrunn adds a 2nd home run among five hits and drives home four runs for Arizona. Colbrunn is the first player to hit two home runs in a game while hitting for the cycle since George Brett (May 28, 1979).
IN THE NEWS: The Braves defeat the Phillies, 6–0, as Bobby Cox becomes the 12th manager in ML history to reach the 1,800–win mark.
The Expos beat the Marlins behind Bartolo Colon. Colon becomes just the 2nd pitcher in ML history to win 10 games in both leagues in a single season, joining Hank Borowy who turned the feat for the Yankees and Cubs in 1945.
Toronto beats Baltimore, 9–3, as Blue Jays OF Shannon Stewart gets five hits, including a double and home run.
In Chicago, the Royals top the White Sox, 2–1. In the 9th inning of the contest, KC 1B coach Tom Gamboa is attacked by two shirtless fans that jump out of the stands. He suffers several minor cuts, and the father, William Ligue, Jr., and son pair are arrested and charged with assault.
Minnesota rookie OF Mike Ryan gets two hits, scores two runs, and drives home two runs, all in the 1st inning of his ML debut. Unfortunately, the game is rained out after two innings and all records are washed away.
IN THE NEWS: The Cardinals clinch the National League Central title with a 9–3 win over the Astros.
Baltimore's Mike Bordick sets a major-league record with his 102nd consecutive errorless game at SS as the Orioles drop a 4–2 decision to the Red Sox. He also extends his ML mark of errorless chances at SS to 504.
IN THE NEWS: The Yankees beat the Tigers, 3–2, to clinch the American League East for the 5th straight year.
The Rockies collect 20 hits and crush the Diamondbacks, 15–8, as OF Juan Pierre strokes five base hits. The Snakes blow a 5-run lead, but need just one win to clinch the National League West. They also lose P Brian Anderson who is forced to leave the game after suffering a broken foot when he is hit by a line drive off the bat of Ben Petrick in the 3rd.
Florida's Brad Penny goes to 3–0 this year against the Braves, winning 6–4. Kevin Millar, who's 25-game hit streak was stopped yesterday, has an RBI in the 8th.
Behind Wade Miller's 12th straight win, Houston beats the Cardinals, 6–3. Miller's streak ties a club record. Lance Berkman has a double and homer, driving in three runs, and Eli Marrero hits a home run for the 3rd straight game. Miller's batterymate Brad Ausmus collects his 1000th career hit, but also ties the NL record with his 30th GIDP of the season. Ernie Lombardi had 30 GIDP to set the mark.
IN THE NEWS: In the final game to be played at Cinergy Field (the former Riverfront Stadium), the Phillies top the hometown Reds, 4–3.
The Braves beat the Marlins, 4–1, as Greg Maddux joins Cy Young as the only pitchers in ML history to win 15 or more games in 15 consecutive seasons.
Pedro Martinez (20-4) allows two runs in the 1st inning, then coasts to his 20th win of the season as the Red Sox beat the hapless Orioles, 13–2. Trot Nixon hits a grand slam and Johnny Damon a pair of homers to keep the Sox playoff hopes alive. Martinez joins Derek Lowe in giving the Sox the first pair of 20-game winners since 1949.
Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals and Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox are locked in a tight race for the American League batting title. After play today, Sweeney has a lead of less than .001 over Ramirez, .346578 to .346062. But, by Thursday, Ramirez will move ahead by .003099 after going 4–for–11 to raise his average to .3465116 while Sweeney will go 2–for–10 to put his mark at .343413.
The Pirates beat the Cubs, 5–4, as Kris Benson wins his 5th straight. Fred McGriff hits his 30th home run for the Cubs, setting several marks with the round-tripper. He is the first player to hit 30 homers for five different teams, and it is the 42nd ML park he has homered in, breaking a tie with Ellis Burks at 41.
IN THE NEWS: The Cardinals use nine consecutive 2–out hits to score 10 runs in the 7th inning on their way to a 13–1 win over the Diamondbacks. The D'Backs lose more than the game when Luis Gonzalez separates his shoulder in an outfield collision with Tony Womack's knee.
The Red Sox edge the visiting Orioles, 5–4 in 15 innings. Johnny Damon walks, goes to 3B on a wild throw to 1B by Willis Roberts, then scores on a wild pitch. Both teams score in the 14th, as Jeff Conine homers to make up for an error in the inning. Gibbons has two solo home runs for Baltimore, and Shea Hillenbrand one for Boston. The O's have lost 26 of 30.
IN THE NEWS: The Braves beat the Phillies, 7–1, as OF Andruw Jones clouts three home runs and drives home four runs.
Casey Fossum gives up solo homers to Frank Thomas and Joe Crede, but the Red Sox score four in the 6th off Jon Garland to beat Chicago, 4–2. Fossum helps his cause by snaring a pop bunt in the first inning and trotting to 1B to complete an unassisted DP.
Completing the worst season in the franchise's 34-year history, the Milwaukee Brewers replace Wendy Selig–Prieb as president and Dean Taylor as general manager. Ulice Payne takes over as president while Doug Melvin replaces Taylor. Milwaukee (56-106) is one of four teams this year to lose 100 games, a first in major league history. Kansas City will finish 62–100, Detroit (55–106) and Tampa Bay (55–106). The last season with three 100–game losers was 1985 (Cleveland, Pittsburgh and San Francisco).
IN THE NEWS: Livan Hernandez (12–16) pitches a masterful 2–hitter as the Giants beat the Padres, 6–0. Hernandez is tied with Ben Sheets for most losses in the National League. The Giants stay three games ahead of LA for the wild card spot. Reggie Sanders connects twice for homers, and Barry Bonds walks in his 16th straight game to tie Jack Clark's NL record set in 1987. He's walked 194 times; he'll end the year with 198 passes, a new major-league record topping Ruth's mark of 1923. Bonds will finish with a .582 on–base percentage, easily topping the old mark of .553 that Ted Williams had set in 1941.
IN THE NEWS: The Pirates beat the Cubs, 13–3. Brian Giles scores five runs for Pittsburgh and drives home six with a double and a pair of home runs. Giles will hit a pinch 2-run home run tomorrow to finish the year with 103 RBIs.
The Dodgers keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a 1–0, 10-inning win over the Padres. Paul LoDuca's homer off Jeremy Fikac is the winner.
IN THE NEWS: At San Francisco, the Giants clinch the National League wild card over LA by defeating the Astros, 5–2. The two clubs set a major-league record by using 16 pitchers in the game. Barry Bonds has two RBIs, including a splash homer, his 46th of the year. It's the 20th he's plopped in the bay; only 26 have been hit there. Jeff Bagwell and Lane homer for the Astros.
The Diamondbacks clinch the NL West title by virtue of a 17–8 win over the Rockies. The 17 runs ties a club mark. Matt Williams and Steve Finley each homer twice and Rod Barajas has four hits and four RBIs.
IN THE NEWS: The D'Backs clinch the home field advantage with an 11—8 thumping of the Rockies. John Patterson is the winner over fellow rookie Stark (11–4). In the 2nd, Patterson is thrown out at 1B by RF Gabe Kapler 9–3, on an apparent hit, and serves up a home run to Juan Pierre, his first homer in 590 at bats. Pierre avoids matching Harold Reynolds, who went homerless in 1989. Curt Schilling, in his first relief appearance since 1992, tees up a 3–run home run to Brant Butler in the 8th. Chad Moeller leads the Snakes with a 4–for–4 effort, including two homers and six RBIs.
The Cardinals win their 97th, beating the Brewers, 4–0. Andy Benes pitches five innings before leaving with a back twinge. Wayne Franklin pitches seven innings for the Brewers. Edgar Renteria knocks in the game's 1st run in the 8th with the 1st of two RBIs. He finishes with 82 RBIs, the highest for a Bird SS since Doc Lavan's 82 in 1921. Albert Pujols has no RBIs, but finishes with 127, one behind National League leader Lance Berkman. Pujols is the first batter since Ted Williams in 1939–40 to drive in more than 250 runs in his first two seasons in the majors. Pujols drove in 257 runs in his first two campaigns. Just four big–leaguers have posted 250 or more RBIs in their first two years in the majors. Joe DiMaggio holds the record with 292 ribbies in his first two; Dale Alexander with 272, is in 2nd place.
The Florida Marlins report their second–largest crowd of the year—28,599—thanks to the purchase of 18,000 tickets by an unnamed fan. Thus the Marlins end the season with an attendance mark of 813,118 just ahead of the Expos reported 812,545. The Marlins reward the fans with a 4–3, 10th-inning win over the Phillies. Luis Castillo, with three stolen bases in the game, scores from 3B on a foul fly. He finishes the year with 48 steal, high in the NL. The Marlins finish below .500 again, and have only finished above .500 in 1997, when they won the World Series. The Phils (80-81) finish below .500 for the 14th time in 16 years.
The Cubs fire manager Bruce Kimm, who took over from Don Baylor on July 5. Kimm requested that the announcement be made prior to the game, a 7–3 Cubs win. Kerry Wood (12-12) strikes out nine in six innings, and the Cub relievers add six more. The Cubs end the season leading the majors in strikeouts by batters (1,269) and pitchers (1,333), the first team to accomplish the feat since Boston (UA) in 1884. Sammy Sosa hits his 49th to lead the NL; it is 499th career homer (45 have come in starts by Wood). Pluses for the Bucs include two homers, one by Tony Alvarez, his first in the majors. Josh Fogg (12-12) sets a modern club record for starts by a rookie (33); Sam Leever had 39 in 1899.
IN THE NEWS: The Devil Rays and Tigers both fire their managers, with Hal McRae leaving Tampa Bay and Luis Pujols exiting from Detroit.
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