Here are the top Feats of Strength accomplished in Major League Baseball on Thursday, June 14:
Kirk Nieuwenhuis: Mets rookie outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered twice and drove in three as the Mets completed an impressive sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays had entered the series ten games over .500, the Mets three games over. But the Mets surprising start just keeps on going. Johan Santana was good enough over five innings to get the win, but it was the Mets sturdy bullpen that really got the job done, as it has all year long.
If the starting trio of Santana (4-3, 3.23 ERA), R.A. Dickey (10-1, 2.20) and John Niese (4-2, 3.69) can keep it up, the Mets are getting contributions from so many young guys like Nieuwenhuis and David Murphy that they may just go ahead and keep contending deep into the summer.
Matt Wieters: Like the Mets in the NL East, the Orioles were supposed to be the AL East doormat this season, but Baltimore has thus far refused to play the part. Both Matt Wieters and AAAA player Steve Pearce drove in five runs for the O's, as Baltimore swept away the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had themselves just come off a three game sweep of the Royals. With the sweep, the upstart Orioles improve to 37-26, just a half game back of the first place Yankees.
Like the Mets, the Orioles have relied on a shut down bullpen and young hitters. Closer Jim Johnson (19 saves, 1.26 ERA, 0.69 WHIP) has been perhaps the best reliever in the AL, and Luis Ayala, Darren O'Day and Pedro Strop have all been money in the bank. But if the O's are to continue their success, they'll need another starter or two to step up. Young starters Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter haven't shown enough consistency yet, and eventually they might over-tax the bullpen.
Brandon Phillips: In yet another interleague sweep, Brandon Phillips had four hits and three RBIs, and Joey Votto hit a three-run home run as the Reds swept the Indians in the battle of Ohio. With the Pirates on the losing end of a mid-week sweep and the Cardinals struggling to find consistency, the Reds are threatening to surge out to a healthy lead in the NL Central. Cincinnati (35-27) currently leads Pittsburgh and St. Louis by three games apiece.
When the Reds inked Joey Votto to a YUGE contact extension this winter, some baseball people snickered - but clearly those were American League people who didn't yet realize how elite a player Votto is. He's hitting .362 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs this season, and he's been walked a MLB-leading 52 times. The Reds have a solid starting rotation that is a good bet to pitch even better as the season continues, and the bullpen has been a killer, even though Aroldis Chapman's scoreless streak has finally ended. The Reds are dangerous this year.
--
Follow on Ology: Bison Messink | MLB
Follow on Twitter: @BisonMessink | @OlogySports
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment!