May 17: Haselman Heats Up, Offerman Nearly Cycles, and Erickson Outduels Henry
Bill Haselman had himself a day, going 3-for-3 with a homer and 4 RBIs to lead the Red Sox to an 8–0 shutout of the Royals. It was the first time this season that Kansas City failed to plate a run—credit Haselman for sparking the offense and Boston’s staff for keeping the Royals silent.
Jose Offerman came one hit shy of the cycle (missing only the single), going 3-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBIs in a 6–4 Reds win over the Twins. More importantly, Cincinnati keeps pace in the division, chasing down the red-hot Pirates and Cardinals.
Scott Erickson was nails for the Cardinals, throwing 7.1 shutout innings with 9 Ks in a 2–0 win over Pittsburgh. The win briefly pushed St. Louis into first place, while Butch Henry—once a marquee offseason pickup—continued to underwhelm in a Pirates uniform.
Around the League:
- Rangers walked off the Sun Rays in the 12th, climbing back to a .500 record (23–23). Orlando, meanwhile, continues a tailspin at 17–29.
- White Sox edged the Spiders 5–3, with two runs in the 9th. Neither team’s going anywhere fast, but they’re still giving us entertaining finishes.
May 18: Bichette Bombs in a Loss, Reynolds Rebounds, and Dion James Delivers
Dante Bichette put up a monster line—3-for-4 with 2 homers and 2 RBIs—but it wasn’t enough as the Mets beat the Pilots 5–4 in a late-game seesaw. New York needed every bit of that win to stay ahead of Toronto and Washington in a jam-packed wild card chase.
Shane Reynolds went the distance for the White Sox, striking out 10 and allowing just two runs over nine as Chicago topped Cleveland 3–2. Wins have been hard to come by for the Sox, but Reynolds made it look easy.
Dion James played hero for the Cubs, going 4-for-5 with a homer and 3 runs in a 5–4 win over the Yankees. Chicago is quietly climbing, now just 2.5 games back in a crowded Central race.
Other Notes:
- Orlando Sun Rays won in walk-off fashion over the Rangers, thanks to a run in the bottom of the 9th. Both teams continue to flirt with mediocrity in very different ways.
May 19: Lankford Lights Up, Seattle Snaps Skid, and Giants-Expos Steal the Show
Ray Lankford exploded for 3 hits, 2 homers, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs scored in a 12–2 Royals romp over the Sun Rays. Kansas City flexed its muscle to stay even with St. Louis atop the division. Both clubs are now in a dead heat, with the Cubs lurking.
Wally Whitehurst shut the door on the Orioles, tossing a 3-hit shutout to help Seattle stop a four-game slide. A 4–0 win might not fix everything, but it’s a start for a club still clawing for relevance.
Miguel Batista reminded the league why he’s one of the Cardinals’ most reliable arms, hurling a complete-game gem—9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 8 Ks—as St. Louis cruised past Cleveland 9–1.
But the game of the day—and maybe of the month—was Game 1 of Giants vs. Expos, a battle between the top two teams in the league. The lead changed hands six times. In the end, the Giants held on 8–7, with Randy Myers locking down the save in the 9th. Every inning had a storyline, and if this is a playoff preview, we’re in for a classic.