1 day ago
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 29: Jonny Venters #39 of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 29, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves won the game 11-5. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
Legendary closer Craig Kimbrel's latest chapter in Major League Baseball has taken to yet another franchise, making it an even dozen across a 17-year career, but the former Atlanta Braves All-Star remains closely connected to the franchise where he became one of the most dominant relievers of his generation.
Kimbrel recently signed with the Kansas City Royals as he tries to continue a remarkable career, despite an increasingly winding path in and out of the majors.
"The Royals have finalized a Major League deal with veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, and he was activated and available in their bullpen for Monday night's series opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles," MLB.com's Ann Rogers and Jack Janes reported earlier this month. "One of the best closers in history, Kimbrel's 440 career saves ranks fifth on the all-time saves list, and he has a 2.67 ERA with 1,314 strikeouts in 884 appearances across his 17 seasons."
The best of Kimbrel's career resume was accumulated across a few different teams, but he was never better than he was with the Braves, where he emerged as a generational reliever.
#atlanta #across #kimbrel
Legendary closer Craig Kimbrel's latest chapter in Major League Baseball has taken to yet another franchise, making it an even dozen across a 17-year career, but the former Atlanta Braves All-Star remains closely connected to the franchise where he became one of the most dominant relievers of his generation.
Kimbrel recently signed with the Kansas City Royals as he tries to continue a remarkable career, despite an increasingly winding path in and out of the majors.
"The Royals have finalized a Major League deal with veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, and he was activated and available in their bullpen for Monday night's series opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles," MLB.com's Ann Rogers and Jack Janes reported earlier this month. "One of the best closers in history, Kimbrel's 440 career saves ranks fifth on the all-time saves list, and he has a 2.67 ERA with 1,314 strikeouts in 884 appearances across his 17 seasons."
The best of Kimbrel's career resume was accumulated across a few different teams, but he was never better than he was with the Braves, where he emerged as a generational reliever.
#atlanta #across #kimbrel
8 days ago
Michael Massey and Jac Caglianone powered the lineup last night. They did it again tonight, with the only two hits KC had – both singles – in a 1-0 loss to the Angels.
When your team falls by a score of 1-0, it would be easy to place the blame on the offense. But this was really Reid Detmers flashing some of that brilliance I wrote about before the game. When he's on, there's not a whole heck of a lot you can do, and baby, he was on tonight. Detmers struck out 11 over 8 scoreless innings and required only 92 pitches to do it. He didn't walk anyone, and he allowed those two singles mentioned at the top. That's it. The Angels asked closer Ben Joyce to finish it off and, wielding a fastball that easily tops 104 MPH, he did just that with a pair of strikeouts.
Randy Dobnak, known more for his sweeper, threw the Angels a healthy dose of changeups in his 5.2 innings tonight. He figured out early that the sweeper wasn't working and the Angels could do nothing to the changeup, so he threw it more than any of his other pitches. Ultimately, he struck out six while allowing 4 hits and 2 walks in 5.2 scoreless innings. He had some good defense behind him, but Dobnak Time continues unabated as we inch ever closer to the end of the season.
Craig Kimbrel was tasked with escaping the sixth inning with two runners on and managed to do so when a deep flyball from Josh Lowe died just in front of the track, landing in Starling Marte's glove. Kimbrel relied again on the marine layer as well as a fantastic play from Tyler Tolbert in the seventh.
Nate Pearson got the eighth and, unfortunately, his control issues from most of his career popped up again when he allowed a leadoff walk to Wade Meckler. Jose Siri pinch-ran for him and promptly stole second. Pearson got Mike Trout to pop out, but a groundball at 102.6 off the bat of Nolan Schanuel managed to deflect off of Caglianone's glove into right, and that was all she wrote. Pearson recovered to get a strikeout and a groundout, but the winning run was already in.
#tonight #detmers
When your team falls by a score of 1-0, it would be easy to place the blame on the offense. But this was really Reid Detmers flashing some of that brilliance I wrote about before the game. When he's on, there's not a whole heck of a lot you can do, and baby, he was on tonight. Detmers struck out 11 over 8 scoreless innings and required only 92 pitches to do it. He didn't walk anyone, and he allowed those two singles mentioned at the top. That's it. The Angels asked closer Ben Joyce to finish it off and, wielding a fastball that easily tops 104 MPH, he did just that with a pair of strikeouts.
Randy Dobnak, known more for his sweeper, threw the Angels a healthy dose of changeups in his 5.2 innings tonight. He figured out early that the sweeper wasn't working and the Angels could do nothing to the changeup, so he threw it more than any of his other pitches. Ultimately, he struck out six while allowing 4 hits and 2 walks in 5.2 scoreless innings. He had some good defense behind him, but Dobnak Time continues unabated as we inch ever closer to the end of the season.
Craig Kimbrel was tasked with escaping the sixth inning with two runners on and managed to do so when a deep flyball from Josh Lowe died just in front of the track, landing in Starling Marte's glove. Kimbrel relied again on the marine layer as well as a fantastic play from Tyler Tolbert in the seventh.
Nate Pearson got the eighth and, unfortunately, his control issues from most of his career popped up again when he allowed a leadoff walk to Wade Meckler. Jose Siri pinch-ran for him and promptly stole second. Pearson got Mike Trout to pop out, but a groundball at 102.6 off the bat of Nolan Schanuel managed to deflect off of Caglianone's glove into right, and that was all she wrote. Pearson recovered to get a strikeout and a groundout, but the winning run was already in.
#tonight #detmers
2 months ago
HOUSTON — Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes hit solo home runs, and four pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout, and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Sunday.
Walker led off the fourth inning with his 20th home run of the season, giving him five consecutive 20-homer seasons. Paredes hit his 12th homer to leadoff the sixth.
Peter Lambert (7-5) struck out six while he allowed three hits and walked one over 5 2/3 innings. He was removed with a runner on second base, but Steven Okert got pinch-hitter Ryan Vilade to fly out to end the threat.
Okert pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and Bryan King worked around a leadoff single in the eighth before Josh Hader overcame a leadoff walk in the ninth for his ninth save. Hader has allowed one run and two hits over 15 innings this season.
Mason Englert (0-2) allowed the two runs and five hits with a career-high nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings after being recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game. Cam Booser and Craig Kimbrel followed and combined to hold the Astros scoreless for 2 1/3 innings.
Walker led off the fourth inning with his 20th home run of the season, giving him five consecutive 20-homer seasons. Paredes hit his 12th homer to leadoff the sixth.
Peter Lambert (7-5) struck out six while he allowed three hits and walked one over 5 2/3 innings. He was removed with a runner on second base, but Steven Okert got pinch-hitter Ryan Vilade to fly out to end the threat.
Okert pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and Bryan King worked around a leadoff single in the eighth before Josh Hader overcame a leadoff walk in the ninth for his ninth save. Hader has allowed one run and two hits over 15 innings this season.
Mason Englert (0-2) allowed the two runs and five hits with a career-high nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings after being recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game. Cam Booser and Craig Kimbrel followed and combined to hold the Astros scoreless for 2 1/3 innings.
2 months ago
A low scoring, back and forth affair took a turn in the top of the eighth inning during which the Rays broke a 3-3 tie with a five-run inning punctuated by a pair of blasts from Caminero and Mesa Jr. The Rays left Anaheim with a series loss, but were able to salvage the last of three games against the Halos, avoiding the sweep.
Across nine innings, the Rays used six different pitchers in what was a scheduled bullpen day. The staff did their job and kept this game close long enough for the offense to break out. Legumina opened ahead of Seymour, tossing 1.2 innings. He surrendered the first run of the game in the bottom of the second and struck out one.
Seymour followed and provided 3.1 innings of two run baseball. He walked and struck out three. Kelly, Kimbrel, Cleavinger, and Baker combined to toss the final four innings. They allowed no runs and punched out seven.
Prior the eighth the Rays managed to score three runs. In the third, the Chandler Simpson singled home Mesa Jr. and Aranda to give the rays an early 2-1 lead. The following inning, Williamson hit his first homer of the season and extended the Rays lead to 3-1.
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Across nine innings, the Rays used six different pitchers in what was a scheduled bullpen day. The staff did their job and kept this game close long enough for the offense to break out. Legumina opened ahead of Seymour, tossing 1.2 innings. He surrendered the first run of the game in the bottom of the second and struck out one.
Seymour followed and provided 3.1 innings of two run baseball. He walked and struck out three. Kelly, Kimbrel, Cleavinger, and Baker combined to toss the final four innings. They allowed no runs and punched out seven.
Prior the eighth the Rays managed to score three runs. In the third, the Chandler Simpson singled home Mesa Jr. and Aranda to give the rays an early 2-1 lead. The following inning, Williamson hit his first homer of the season and extended the Rays lead to 3-1.
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