By Ron Kaplan, contributor
Remember when Joc Pederson hit all those home runs in June? Wonder how many he might have had if he played for the LA Dodgers (79-67) every day? Well, he’s back on a pace, homering in his last two games. No. 21 came in the fourth inning against the host Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday to tie the game at 1-1. He also had a double and scored a second run in an 8-1 win.
Alex Bregman hit three milestones in Wednesday’s 5-4 win by the Houston Astros (92-54) over the host Detroit Tigers. He hit his 50th double (to go along with a single), scored a run and drove in three to hit the century mark in both categories. It’s history in the making. Should he be considered a top MVP candidate?
The Boston Red Sox won their 100th game (against 46 losses), beating the visiting Toronto Blue Jays (65-80), 1-0. Rowdy Tellez was 1-for-3 with — you guessed it — another double, but I’m not sure if this record holds, since he appeared in one game as a pinch-hitter. Kevin Pillar struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and remained in the game. Ian Kinsler did not play for the Sox.
By the way, from MLB.com in the article titled Six MLB players who should replace Henry Cavill as Superman:
Though he’s never worn it on Players’ Weekend, Pillar’s nickname is Superman. If he’s already known as Superman by teammates and fans, let’s just make it official. And, really, who’s to say that he can’t leap over a tall building? He’s just a cape away from being Superman already.
Robert Stock struck out the only batter he faced, picking up his second hold as the San Diego Padres edged the host Seattle Mariners, 5-4, to complete their season sweep.
Ryan Braun flied out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth as the Milwaukee Brewers (84-63) beat the host Chicago Cubs, 5-1.
Ryan Lavarnway did not appear for the Pittsburgh Pirates (72-73) in their 4-3 win over the host St. Louis Cardinals.
Max Fried did not appear for the Atlanta Braves (82-64) in their 2-1 win over the host San Francisco Giants.
Gabe Kapler‘s Philadelphia Phillies (74-71) lost to the visiting Washington Nationals, 5-1.
Ron Kaplan (@RonKaplanNJ) hosts Kaplan’s Korner, a blog about Jews and sports. He is the author of three books, including The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games and Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War.
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