May 23: Erickson and Smiley Dominate, Bichette Doubles Up, and Counsell Walks It Off
Scott Erickson continues to pitch like a man possessed. The Cardinals’ ace allowed just one hit over 8 innings in a 2–0 win over the Red Sox. That’s now three straight wins for Erickson, who’s 7–3 with a 3.59 ERA on the season.
John Smiley matched him pitch for pitch, tossing 7 innings of one-hit ball while striking out 11 in the Blue Jays’ 4–1 win over Colorado. Smiley would’ve gone the distance if not for the pitch count, but Toronto will take the W as they continue to cement themselves atop the Wild Card standings.
And then there’s Dante Bichette, who’s flat-out raking. He went 4-for-5 with a homer and three doubles, tying the Seattle record for doubles in a game. The Pilots crushed the Expos 8–1, and Bichette is quietly putting together another monster month.
Elsewhere:
- Craig Counsell delivered a pinch of magic, walking it off for the Giants in a 2–1 win over the Tigers. He’s only just been recalled from AAA, but he’s already earning his keep.
May 24: Sierra Slugs, Young Surges, and Giants Stun… Again
Ruben Sierra exploded for the White Sox, going 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs in a 9–4 win over the Orlando Sun Rays. That bumps Chicago up to 20–33—not great, but not dead yet.
Across the diamond, Ken Caminiti had a game of his own (3-for-3, two HRs, three RBIs), but it wasn’t enough to save the floundering Sun Rays, who now sit at 19–34 after a surprise playoff run last year.
Matt Young gave the Dodgers a much-needed lift with a complete-game five-hitter and nine strikeouts in a 5–1 win over Washington. Young, now boasting a 1.80 ERA, has become one of the most intriguing trade chips in the league. The Dodgers are heating up—now second in the West—but the question lingers: do they hold or flip the 36-year-old?
And yes, the Giants did it again. Down 4–1 entering the bottom of the 9th against Detroit, San Francisco scored four runs, capped off by Carmelo Martinez’s walk-off single, to steal a 5–4 win. That’s two straight games ripped from the Tigers’ hands in the final frame.
May 25: Moyer Masters, Neidlinger Loses a Heartbreaker, and Blue Jays Win Late
Jamie Moyer turned back the clock for Oakland, tossing a complete game with 10 Ks in a 6–1 win over Baltimore. The veteran lefty now has 19 innings and just one earned run across his last two starts.
Jim Neidlinger pitched brilliantly for Detroit, going 8 innings and allowing just one unearned run. But stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Giants walked it off in the 9th—again. That’s three straight heartbreakers for the Tigers at the hands of San Francisco. This time, Roberto Alomar Jr. and Carmelo Martinez played the heroes.
Zane Smith might not have gotten the win, but his 7.2 innings of one-run ball kept the Blue Jays in it long enough to score twice in the bottom of the 8th and beat Colorado 2–1. Toronto’s May record is now 15–7, and they sit firmly in the Wild Card lead, 2.5 games ahead of the Mets.