What’s Happening in Baseball Today

The First Pitch: April 25, 2024

In the Phillies’ 7-4 loss at Cincinnati, speedster Trea Turner steals his 41st straight base without getting caught, good for the third longest such streak in major league history—then later sees the streak come to an end when he’s caught in a pickle between third and home on a double-steal attempt. Only Ichiro Suzuki (45) and Vince Coleman (50) have stolen more consecutive bags without getting caught.

Mike Trout goes deep for his second straight game in the leadoff spot, becoming the first MLB player this year to have 10 on the year; as for his Angels, a ninth-inning rally against Baltimore comes to an abrupt and controversial end when Jo Adell, representing the tying run, is called out on a stolen base attempt of second for the game’s final out. The Angels appeal the call and, it appears, they have a case—but the umpires along with the video war room back in New York disagree, upholding the call to the disgust of 20,000 fans at Angel Stadium.

The Orioles’ 6-5 win is barely preserved by closer Craig Kimbrel, who notches his 424th career save to tie #6 John Franco on the all-time list.

Though no MLB players have more homers than Trout, 55 of them do have more RBIs than his 13.

Congrats, Your Box Score Line Was the Best (Hitters Edition)

5-2-4-4—Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
The star shortstop bookended the Mets’ scoring on the day with a pair of two-run home runs, adding two singles in between to boost New York to an 8-2 victory at San Francisco. Lindor thus doubles his home run total on the year to four, and raises his average above the Mendoza Line as he recovers from a poor start (and an even worse spring camp).

Congrats, Your Box Score Line Was the Best (Pitchers Edition)

7-3-1-1-2-6—Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta
Forged back into a starting role after three halfway decent seasons as a reliever, Lopez had yet another strong effort or the Braves, allowing only his second run over 25 innings of work this year. It wasn’t enough to gain his third win in four starts, as the Braves had to fight into extras to secure a 4-3 home win over Miami.

It Was Whatever-Something Years Ago Today

1901: The AL quickly proves in its first big league year that no lead is safe. In the Detroit Tigers’ first-ever major league contest, they come from nine runs behind in the ninth inning—an Opening Day record—to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 14-13.

1933: Yankees pitcher Russ Van Atta has a sensational debut, shutting down the Senators on five hits, 16-0—while collecting four hits himself, the most ever by a pitcher in his first game.

1962: Cleveland trades veteran catcher Harry Chiti to the Mets for a player to be named later. That player will be…Harry Chiti, who’s apparently not good enough even for the woeful Mets and sent back to the Indians after batting .195 in 15 games. Chiti will never play in another major league game.

1976: In the midst of America’s bicentennial, a Dodgers-Cubs game at Los Angeles is interrupted when a man and his son race onto the outfield with an American flag—with the intention to set fire to it. Before they can strike a match, Cubs center fielder Rick Monday races in from behind and snatches the flag away to safety, as 25,000 Dodgers fans enthusiastically cheer him on. Monday will receive accolades for his patriotic deed from Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and President Gerald Ford, among others—and the Dodgers will reward him by acquiring him in a trade one year later.

You Say It’s Your Birthday

Washington pitcher Trevor Williams is 32; 2000s outfielder Jacque Jones is 49; 1950s pitcher and TGG interview subject Art Schallock is 100 (!). Born on this date is two-time league leader in walks Tony Phillips (1959), Cuban-born pitcher and TGG interview subject Connie Marrero (1911), Hall-of-Fame Negro Leagues infielder John Henry Lloyd (1884) and 100-game winner Russ Ford (1883).

Shameless Link of the Day

We have a new entry in our prestigious Ballparks section! Check out the intriguing background, architecture, history and future of New York’s Citi Field, home of the Mets since 2009.

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