Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Offbasepercentage's daily trip around the ballparks that doesn't occur daily.

Today's honorary bat boy is Tom Nieto.

[Nieto autographed 1983 Fleer. Estimated value: 17 popcorn kernels]


Yankees 5, Nationals 3 (14). MTD already covered Bryce Harper's big day at the plate, but how about the New York bullpen? After Corey Wade surrendered Ian Desmond's tying, solo home run in the eighth, the Yankees sent five relievers to the mound and they combined for 6 1/3 innings of three-hit ball. Freddy Garcia, who last pitched in an inter-squad game in Spring Training, 2004, got the win with two scoreless innings, and Mark Teixeira's two-run double was the difference in the 14th as the Yankees won their eighth straight.

Brewers 6, Twins 2. Chris Parmelee: DNP.

Athletics 6, Padres 4. Oakland won its fifth consecutive game despite the fact that it continues to A). open the clubhouse door when Coco Crisp knocks, and B). bat him lead off.

Crisp did draw a walk, his 13th of the season, which leads all Cocos. The A's got Jonny Gomes' pinch-hit, two-run home run (snapping Gomes' 0-for-34 as a pinch-hitter) in the seventh to help hold off the Pads, who were eliminated from the 2013 playoff race with the loss.

Gomes: "We're starting to get a little character in here. It's a nice situation." 

The 2012 Oakland Athletics: with character since Tuesday.

Mariners 7, Giants 4. This isn't about how much Tim Lincecum still stinks (5 IP, 5 ER), it's more about THIS pitching quartet for Seattle-Kevin Millwood, Hisashi Iwakuma, Charlie Furbush and Tom Wilhelmsen-and some facts you might not know:

1. Millwood: 53-years old; pitched for the 1972 Baltimore Orioles.
2. Iwakuma: Once ate an ash tray to win a bar bet.
3. Furbush: Impersonated Offbase editor MTD in the made-for-TV movie Hey, Get Back Here With My Front Lawn!
4. Wilhelmsen: During a drunken evening in May, 2006, married a parking meter.

Tigers 4, Rockies 1. Wilin Rosario Watch: 1-for-3.

Reds 4, Mets 1. Good news for Cincinnati as Scott Rolen (.174/.238/.304) began a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville Saturday night.



Other games, but down here....

Pirates 9, Indians 2
Redsox 4, Cubs 3
Bluejays 6, Phillies 5 (10)
Cardinals 10, Royals 7
Rangers 8, Astros 3
Orioles 5, Braves 0
Whitesox 5, Dodgers 4
Angels 2, Diamondbacks 1
Marlins 4, Devilrays 3 (15)

Shot Of The Night

Shot Of The Night is Off Base Percentage's toast to a player who had an exceptionally good or bad night. There's always a reason to drink.

Tonight's shot of the night is a Big Red: 1/2 oz Irish cream, 1/2 oz Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps. And it's in honor of Scott Rolen.

There were plenty of people who crushed the Rolen trade, myself included. All Rolen has done this year is post his second highest OPS at .937 while cranking out home runs left and right. Nice to be back in the NL, eh? Rolen blasted his 17th homer of the season to lead the Reds to a 43-34 record, good for a half of a game lead in the NL Central. I was kind of hoping The Big Red would be 1/3 Everclear, 1/3 Big Red Gum, 1/3 Joe Morgan nonsense.

Honorable Mention: Johnny Cueto
I realize I'm double dipping here but it's really hard to find multiple players to fit the same shot. Cueto improved his record to 8-2 while pitching 8 innings and only giving up 1 run. He also walked 2 and struck out none. I thought he was a strikeout pitcher but what do I know? I bet the over on 135 strikeouts for Strasburg's first 5 starts.

UPDATE: MLB.com just shot me an email to remind me that Scott Rolen's home run was the 300th of his career. MLB.com is my cousin Steve's nickname.