June 10: Lankford Drives In 6, Bell Goes Deep Twice, and Valdez Locks Down Colorado
Ray Lankford set the tone in Kansas City’s 18–5 rout of the White Sox, going 3-for-4 with 6 RBIs, including a home run. Add a grand slam from Rick Wilkins, and it was a full-blown demolition. The Royals are rolling, and Chicago’s now lost four straight and 47 games overall—tied for the worst record in the DBL.
Derek Bell was the difference in Chicago’s other team’s loss, as the Cubs beat Texas 4–1 behind Bell’s two-homer, three-RBI day.
Ismael Valdez went the distance in San Diego’s 5–1 win over Colorado, allowing just four hits and no walks in a sharp complete-game outing.
Also:
- Frank Thomas continued his tear, homering again in Minnesota’s 8–6 win over St. Louis, and Jeff Stone delivered a clutch pinch-hit go-ahead RBI in the 9th.
June 11: Kruk and Tino Carry the Offense, Gilkey Slugs, and the Red Sox Keep Sinking
John Kruk turned in one of the most complete offensive performances of the year: 5-for-5, 5 RBIs, a homer, and three runs scored in a 13–11 win over the Cubs. The Rangers’ lineup erupted, and Kruk was the spark.
Tino Martinez has only been a Red for a few days, but he’s already mashing. After a midseason trade from the Mets, he went 3-for-5 with 2 homers and 4 RBIs in a 7–5 win over the Red Sox. Since arriving in Cincinnati? A .556 average and a 2.222 OPS. That’s not a typo.
Bernard Gilkey helped the Spiders stomp the Yankees 12–4, going 3-for-5 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs.
Also:
- John Valentin walked off the Twins with a two-run double in the bottom of the 10th as the Cardinals won 6–5.
- Brian Hunter’s two-run single in the 12th lifted Baltimore past Detroit, 3–1.
- Boston’s losing streak is now seven straight.
June 12: Mitchell and Grissom Shine, Gomez Walks It Off, and Elway Goes Deep
Jon Lieber dealt for the Expos, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings in a 6–1 win over the Senators. Montreal keeps proving why they’re the class of the United League East.
Kevin Mitchell and Marquis Grissom did everything they could for the Spiders—Mitchell went 2-for-3 with a homer and three walks, and Grissom had a four-hit, two-RBI game—but the Sun Rays walked it off in a wild 11–10 finish. Chris Gomez’s single in the ninth sent the fans home happy and extended Orlando’s win streak to four.
John Elway might be better known for his work on the gridiron, but today? He walked off the White Sox with a grand slam. The Rangers won 9–5, and Chicago has now lost six straight.
Also:
- Wade Boggs went 3-for-5 with a homer in the same game, and Texas is quietly creeping back into the race.
Quick Hits:
- The Twins and Reds combined for 34 runs over two days—and Frank Thomas was at the center of it all.
- The White Sox are a league-worst 22-48, losers of 6 straight and 10 of their last 11.
- The Royals are surging, having won 7 of their last 8 and looking like the deepest lineup in the Federal League.