Milestones, Rare Feats, and One-Run Nightmares
Sports by the Number MLB Stat of the Week
350 Greg Maddux became only the ninth player in major league history to win (350) games when he beat the Rockies on Saturday. It took him five starts to get the milestone, and after winning he admitted, 'It was kind of cool." It was probably unbelievable for his backstop - catcher Luke Carlin was making his big league debut. He caught Maddux and Trevor Hoffman - the guy with more wins than any active player in the game, and the guy with more saves than any player in baseball history.
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Honorable Mentions
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4 Jon Lieber gave up (4) homeruns against the Reds on Wednesday - in the second inning. He became only the second player in Chicago Cubs history to give up four homeruns in one inning, which is a bit surprising considering the club plays half their games at Wrigley Field. Phil Norton gave up four homeruns in one inning to the Dodgers in only the second start of his big league career back in 2000 (Lieber and Norton were briefly teammates back then)--but Lieber and Norton both got lit up on the road, as no Cubs pitcher has ever given up four homeruns in one inning at Wrigley Field.
8 The number of players (8) to hit for the cycle with the Twins: Rod Carew, Cesar Tovar, Larry Hisle, Lyman Bostock, Mike Cubbage, Gary Ward, Kirby Puckett, and Carlos Gomez, who did it this past Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. He led the game off with a homerun, hit a triple in the fifth, a double in the sixth, and a single in the ninth. Gomez, who plays centerfield, as did Kirby Puckett, said later, "It's amazing - something that Kirby Puckett did. I can't explain it to you, it's unbelievable."
23 The number of players (23) to hit three homeruns in one game for the Cincinnati Reds. Joey Votto did it on Wednesday, becoming the first since Aaron Boone on May 8, 2003. Votto had a chance to hit four, and when asked about it he replied, "I'm not going to lie - it was in the back of my head. I thought if I got a good swing, on a good pitch . . ." He grounded out to short in the eighth.
105 The number of pitches (105) for White Sox starter Gavin Floyd against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. He held the Twins hitless through 104 pitches, and was only two outs from pitching immortality before Joe Mauer connected for a double in the ninth inning to break up the no-hit bid. Floyd lost a no-hitter against the Tigers in the eighth inning of a game back on April 12.
727 Atlanta is 8-3 for a (.727) winning percentage during games that are a blowout this season - having outscored their opponents 82-44 during those 11 games. The Braves are only 1-10 during one-run games, however, and the club lost their first nine games of the season that were decided by only one run. Atlanta was the last team in the majors to win a one-run game when they did it this past Thursday against the Padres for their season high sixth straight win, but they came right back on Friday night and lost a one-run game to the Pirates.
4 Jon Lieber gave up (4) homeruns against the Reds on Wednesday - in the second inning. He became only the second player in Chicago Cubs history to give up four homeruns in one inning, which is a bit surprising considering the club plays half their games at Wrigley Field. Phil Norton gave up four homeruns in one inning to the Dodgers in only the second start of his big league career back in 2000 (Lieber and Norton were briefly teammates back then)--but Lieber and Norton both got lit up on the road, as no Cubs pitcher has ever given up four homeruns in one inning at Wrigley Field.
8 The number of players (8) to hit for the cycle with the Twins: Rod Carew, Cesar Tovar, Larry Hisle, Lyman Bostock, Mike Cubbage, Gary Ward, Kirby Puckett, and Carlos Gomez, who did it this past Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. He led the game off with a homerun, hit a triple in the fifth, a double in the sixth, and a single in the ninth. Gomez, who plays centerfield, as did Kirby Puckett, said later, "It's amazing - something that Kirby Puckett did. I can't explain it to you, it's unbelievable." 
23 The number of players (23) to hit three homeruns in one game for the Cincinnati Reds. Joey Votto did it on Wednesday, becoming the first since Aaron Boone on May 8, 2003. Votto had a chance to hit four, and when asked about it he replied, "I'm not going to lie - it was in the back of my head. I thought if I got a good swing, on a good pitch . . ." He grounded out to short in the eighth. 
105 The number of pitches (105) for White Sox starter Gavin Floyd against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. He held the Twins hitless through 104 pitches, and was only two outs from pitching immortality before Joe Mauer connected for a double in the ninth inning to break up the no-hit bid. Floyd lost a no-hitter against the Tigers in the eighth inning of a game back on April 12. 727 Atlanta is 8-3 for a (.727) winning percentage during games that are a blowout this season - having outscored their opponents 82-44 during those 11 games. The Braves are only 1-10 during one-run games, however, and the club lost their first nine games of the season that were decided by only one run. Atlanta was the last team in the majors to win a one-run game when they did it this past Thursday against the Padres for their season high sixth straight win, but they came right back on Friday night and lost a one-run game to the Pirates.
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