Chasing the Hammer – Barry Bonds took another step closer to Hank Aaron on Friday night by hitting career home run number 718 off of King Felix Hernandez.  His first inning bomb – his 10^th of the season – leaves him 37 shy of the all-time mark.  In surrendering the blast, Hernandez became the 424^th pitcher to allow a home run to Bonds.  Bonds was non-committal after the game in response to questions regarding recent speculation that he could end up next year in a Mariners uniform telling reporters, “If they call, we’ll talk.”

 

Rocket Ready For Launch – Roger Clemens made his final test lift-off on Friday night, pitching for Round Rock against New Orleans.  After allowing three first inning runs on three hits and three walks, he settled in nicely and gave up just 2 hits in his final 4 2/3 innings.  At one point, he retired 10 Zephyrs in a row.  He is now on target to make his major league season debut against the Twins in the series finale on Thursday.  Clemens is 23-12 lifetime against Minnesota after beginning his career 8-0 against them.  His next start would likely come against the Tigers in Detroit. 

 

To Omaha and Beyond – Georgia Tech became the first team eliminated from the College World Series when Cal State Fullerton beat them 7-5 on Sunday.  The Titans will next take on Clemson on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to play North Carolina on Wednesday.  The Tar Heels beat Clemson on Sunday and Cal State on Friday.  In the tournament’s other bracket, Georgia and Oregon State will match up in a loser’s bracket, game with the winner of that game set to play the loser of the Rice and Miami match-up on Monday. 

 

Snake Bit – Redux – Former major leaguer David Segui told ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Sunday that he was among the players named in the Jason Grimsley affidavit and that he used, and continues to use, HGH legally with a doctor’s prescription for a hormone deficiency.  Segui said that Grimsley contacted him over the winter to ask him for advice on HGH and how it could help him recover from major arm surgery.  The two were teammates with Baltimore in 2004. 

 

Notable

 

Kris Benson and threw 8 strong innings, allowing just 1 run, and hit a home run off former teammate Pedro Martinez to make a success of his return to New York as the O’s beat the Mets 4-2.

 

The Mets rebounded on Sunday to win the series finale with Baltimore behind Tom Glavine’s 10^th win of the year.  The win was also the 285^th of Glavine’s career, moving him past Tony Mullane and Ferguson Jenkins for 27^th place all-time.  Robin Roberts (286), Bert Blyleven (287) and Tommy John (288) are next up on the list.  When he passes John, Glavine will also become the 5^th winningest left hander in baseball history. 

 

Kenny Rogers won his 10^th of the year on Sunday as the Tigers spoiled Mark Prior’s return from the DL with 8 home runs, including 4 off Prior.  Prior allowed 8 runs in 3.2 innings in his season debut, while Rogers allowed just 2 runs over 8 as Detroit won it 12-3.  The Cubs and Tigers combined to hit 11 home runs in the game.  The win was also the 200^th of Rogers’ career. 

 

Perhaps the weekend’s best game was LA vs. Oakland on Saturday, where the A’s, after 17 innings and 514 pitches, extended their winning streak to 9 games with a walk-off walk.  Jae Seo walked Bobby Crosby with the bases loaded to force home the winning run 5 hours and 2 minutes after the game began.  Seo threw 29 of those pitches, only 13 for strikes, and walked 3 batters while retiring just 2.  Steve Karsay, who won his first game in nearly 4 years in the marathon, announced his retirement after Sunday’s game.

 

Jon Garland had his best outing of the season on Sunday, helping the Sox to a sweep of the Reds in Cincinnati.  Garland tossed 8 strong innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, and he also hit the first home run by a White Sox pitcher since 1971.

 

Bartolo Colon made his return to the Angel’s rotation Sunday, throwing 7 strong innings in the Angels 7-3 loss to the Padres.  Colon allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, while striking out 5 in his first start since April 15. 

 

The Longest Streak Pt I – The Oakland A’s swept the Dodgers at home over the weekend to run their major league-best win streak to 10 straight games.  Joe Blanton raised his record to 7-6 in the win, recording back to back wins for the first time since April, and has allowed just 2 runs in his last 25 innings at home (0.56).  Oakland has won 15 of their last 17 games and will face the Rockies in Colorado on Monday.

 

The Longest Streak Pt II – The Braves losing streak reached 7 games after a weekend sweep at home by the Red Sox.  The loss on Sunday, coupled with the Marlins 8^th straight win, dropped Atlanta into last place in the NL East, 14 games behind the front running Mets.  Toronto, which was swept by Florida, is next up for the Braves on Tuesday.

 

Quick Hits

 

Corey Patterson has 8 hits in his last 34 AB (.235) and is hitting .264 (19 for 72) in June.

 

Seth McClung over his last 6 starts has an ERA of 9.00 (31 IP, 39 H, 31 ER, 18 BB, 10 K).

 

Ichiro has now hit safely in 18 straight games (39 for 81, .481), 21 of 22 (46 for 97, .474) and 39 of his last 41 games (78 for 182, .429).

 

Francisco Cordero, after allowing the tying run in the 8^th inning on Sunday, now has 8 blown saves on the year in just 13 chances.

 

Hanley Ramirez ended an 0 for 39 stretch with a hit on Sunday, but he is hitting just .121 (7 for 58) in June.

 

Keeping Dad in the Game – Like the pink bats used during games on Mother’s Day, baseball players on Sunday wore blue wristbands in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Home Run Challenge.  150 home runs were hit during 60 select games played from June 7-18, helping to raise money to fight prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer in America.  In addition to the wristbands, players, managers, coaches and umpires also wore blue ribbon uniform decals, blue eye glare and blue temporary tattoos and teams also used commemorative bases and home plates which will be auctioned off to raise money.  The challenge, led by Michael Milkin, has become an annual Father’s Day ritual in ballparks the last 10 years as part of baseball’s effort to keep dad in the game. 

 

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!