Jewish Baseball News

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — A summary of the latest info on Jewish baseball players:

• Opening-day pitcher Scott Feldman helped guide the Texas Rangers to a 5-4 comeback win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. It wasn’t easy: Feldman gave up two early home runs, and Toronto no-hit the Rangers through 6-and-1/3 innings. But Feldman calmed down, yielding three runs, five hits and no walks over seven innings, and Rangers C Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a bases-loaded single to win the game.
• ESPN.com columnist Jim Reeves is a Scott Feldman admirer. “Feldman is the essence of what the Rangers are all about. He’s a gutty overachiever who doesn’t awe opposing teams until they realize he’s just beaten them.” (ESPN.com)
• Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in a 5-3 opening-day loss to the Colorado Rockies.
• 1B Kevin Youkilis is the Boston Red Sox’ “most productive” hitter, averaging 2.36 hits, walks and/or RBIs per game in a simulation. (Accuscore.com)

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — A summary of the latest scuttlebutt on Jewish baseball players.

• LF Sam Fuld, who plays for the Iowa Cubs (AAA), is the best defensive outfielder in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, according to Baseball America. (Bleacherreport.com)
• 1B Kevin Youkilis, who hit two doubles and a triple in the Boston Red Sox’ 9-7 win over the New York Yankees last night, is the first Red Sox player to hit three extra-base hits in a season opener since Carlton Fisk did it in 1976. (Boston.com)
• Texas Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler is starting the season in an unfortunate way: on the 15-day disabled list. Kinsler sprained his right ankle on March 12. (USAToday.com)
• Kinsler, by the way, is the Rangers’ “most productive” hitter, averaging 2.05 hits, walks and/or RBIs per game in a simulation. (Accuscore.com)
• RHP Scott Feldman will be the Texas Rangers’ starting pitcher in today’s Opening Day game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Feldman recently signed a two-year, $13.3-million contract extension that will keep him with the Rangers through at least 2012. (Reuters.com)

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS –The Boston Red Sox rallied from a 5-1 deficit in Sunday night’s AL season opener to defeat the New York Yankees 9-7.

Both of the Red Sox’ Jewish players were instrumental to the victory. New York had already scored three runs in the 5th inning when LHP Scott Schoeneweis was brought in to relieve starter Josh Beckett with two on and two out. Schoeneweis struck out Curtis Granderson to end the inning and retired both batters he faced in the 6th before being replaced.

1B Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and a triple. His offensive effort was arguably eclipsed by 2B Dustin Pedroia’s clutch two-run home run, which tied the game at 7-7 in the 7th inning.

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