If you were looking for drama, power, and a touch of the absurd this weekend, the DBL didn’t disappoint. From walk-offs and 15-inning marathons to pitchers going deep into extra frames and stars showing up in full force, here’s what went down from April 26–28.
April 26 – Giles, Lopez Power Comebacks and Blowouts
Brian Giles had himself a night at Wrigley North, going 2-for-4 with two homers, five RBIs, and three runs scored in the Cardinals’ 12–5 thumping of the Cubs. St. Louis moves to 18–11, while the defending champion Cubs now sit at 12–15, watching .500 drift further away. The good news? There’s time. The bad news? That clock’s ticking.
Over in Ohio, Javy Lopez bailed out the Reds with a clutch performance. His 3-for-4, two-homer, four-RBI day helped Cincinnati erase a 7–3 ninth-inning deficit with a five-run bottom of the ninth. Reds walk off 8–7, and the Spiders probably still haven’t caught their breath.
Meanwhile, Todd Hundley reminded everyone that the Expos mean business. The Montreal catcher went 4-for-5 with a triple, 2 RBIs, and three runs in a 16–2 romp over the Blue Jays. The Expos are now 20–8, comfortably leading their division. As for Toronto, sitting at 14–13 and still reacclimating to the city after a stint as the Marlins, the playoff path won’t be easy—especially with both Montreal and Washington looking legitimate.
The Royals and Rangers gave us the longest game of the night, stretching into the 15th inning before Texas finally walked it off, 6–5, after tying it up in the ninth. The bullpen usage report for that one reads like a novel.
Oakland vs. Colorado gave us another late-inning thrill. The A’s tied it up in the ninth, but the Rockies answered right back in the bottom half, walking it off in front of a rowdy Denver crowd.
April 27 – A Classic Duel and a Royal Beatdown
Let’s talk about the pitchers’ duel of the weekend: Dwight Gooden (Orioles) and Takehiro Ishii (Mets) put on an old-school clinic. Gooden went 11.1 innings, allowing just one hit, no earned runs, 12 strikeouts—and still took the loss. Why? Because it wasn’t until the 14th inning that Gary Sheffield ended the standoff with a sacrifice fly. Mets win 1–0, and somewhere the baseball gods chuckled.
Jim Thome turned Texas into his personal batting practice field, torching Rangers pitching for two home runs, six RBIs, and a walk in a 15–1 Royals rout. That kind of day might warrant a curtain call in April.
In the Bronx, Pittsburgh squeaked past the Yankees 2–1, thanks to a go-ahead run in the ninth. Sometimes all you need is one timely swing.
April 28 – Biggio Slugs, Boggs Rakes, Rockies Roll
Despite Craig Biggio’s monster game (3-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBIs) for Orlando, the Sun Rays fell 10–9 to Minnesota in yet another ninth-inning heartbreak. Orlando erased a five-run deficit in the 7th and 8th, only to see the Twins grab the final say in the top of the ninth.
Jack McDowell gave the Rockies exactly what they needed—9 innings, 2 hits, 1 ER, no walks, and five strikeouts. That’s how you give your bullpen a day off.
And Wade Boggs? The man looked ten years younger. He went 5-for-6 with a homer and 2 RBIs, leading Texas to a 14–4 win over Pittsburgh. Maybe next time the Pirates shouldn’t pitch to him