Elias Says...
Special to ESPN.com
MLB
VOTTO EXTENDS EXTRA-BASE HIT STREAK AT MINUTE MAID PARK
From Elias: Joey Votto's double in the third inning on Monday night gave him an extra-base hit in each of his last 11 games at Minute Maid Park. In modern major-league history (that is, since 1900), only two other visiting players produced an extra-base hit in at least 11 consecutive games at a particular park: Jimmie Foxx in 12 straight games at Sportsman's Park, over 1939 and 1940, and Jeff Bagwell at Candlestick (3Com) Park, from 1993 to 1995.
Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros
STANTON IS YOUNGEST SINCE BENCH WITH EXTRA-INNING SLAM
From Elias: Mike Stanton's 10th-inning grand-slam home run gave the Marlins a 7-3 victory over the Mets. Stanton, who won't turn 22 until November, is the youngest major-league player in more than 40 years to connect for a grand slam in extra innings. On Aug. 13, 1969, while thousands of others his age were making plans to get to Yasgur's Farm near the town of Woodstock, 21-year-old Johnny Bench hit a bases-loaded home run in the 11th inning at Montreal, when he was 17 days younger than was Stanton on Monday.
Florida Marlins, New York Mets
ANOTHER LATE GAME-TYING HOME RUN FOR METS
From Elias: The Mets hit game-tying home runs with two outs in the ninth inning on Sunday against the Nationals (Scott Hairston) and again on Monday against the Marlins (Lucas Duda). The only other major-league team in the last 50 years to do that in back-to-back games was the 2004 Devil Rays (Jose Cruz, Jr. and Aubrey Huff). And like the Mets, Tampa Bay lost both of those games.
New York Mets, Florida Marlins
LEE BELTS TWO HOMERS IN PIRATES DEBUT
From Elias: Derrek Lee hit two home runs in his Pirates debut on Monday night, but that was the extent of Pittsburgh's scoring in a 5-3 loss to the Cubs. Lee became only the second player in Pirates history to belt two home runs in his first game with the team. The other was Shawon Dunston in September 1997, after he was traded, coincidentally, by the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates
CABRERA POWERS INDIANS AT FENWAY
From Elias: Asdrubal Cabrera became the first Indians shortstop in 60 years to hit two home runs in one game at Fenway Park. That had last been done in July 1951 by Ray Boone, whose grandson, Aaron, was part of ESPN's broadcasting crew for Monday night's game.
MORGAN CLEARS THE BASES
From Elias: Nyjer Morgan's three-run double was the key hit in the Brewers' 6-2 victory over the Cardinals. It was Morgan's first extra-base hit in 32 career at-bats with the bases loaded. That now leaves only two active major-league players without a double, triple or home run in at least 30 career at-bats with the bases full: Livan Hernandez (34 ABs) and Cliff Pennington (33).
Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals
DIAMONDBACKS WIN WITH ONE BIG INNING
From Elias: The Diamondbacks scored all of their runs in the sixth inning of Monday night's 5-2 win at San Francisco. The only other team to score at least five runs in one inning at AT&T Park this season was the Twins, who scored eight times in the first inning on June 21. The Giants have not scored five or more runs in an inning at home this season, although they've done so eight times on the road.
Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants
ACKLEY LEAVES ATHLETICS IN DUST
From Elias: Dustin Ackley's three-run triple in the second inning gave the Mariners a 5-0 lead and they cruised from there to an 8-4 win over the Athletics. Seattle now has two bases-loaded triples and two bases-loaded home runs this season, but it's the only major-league team that still doesn't have a little old bases-loaded double! The most recent team to go an entire season without a two-bagger with the bases full was the 1994 Athletics; the last in a full (non-strike) season was the Rangers in 1986.
Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
ROCKIES CAN'T SECURE FINAL OUT
From Elias: The Phillies trailed 3-1 with two outs and nobody on base in the top of the ninth inning at Coors Field, but rallied to win in extra innings, 4-3. It was only the second time in Rockies history that they lost a game in which they held a lead of at least two runs while their opponent was batting with two outs and nobody on base in the ninth inning. Their other loss under that scenario came in 1999, a 14-inning defeat against the Braves in Denver.
Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies
FAMILIAR SCRIPT FOR REDS FANS
From Elias: The Reds' extra-inning loss in Houston was their 11th walk-off defeat of the season, the highest total in the major leagues and the most for Cincinnati since 1993, when they suffered 14 setbacks of that kind.
Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros
NATIONALS WIN WITH UNLIKELY POWER FROM LEADOFF SPOT
From Elias: Rick Ankiel hit two home runs against the Braves on Monday night, becoming the first Nationals leadoff hitter in almost exactly five years with two homers in one game. Prior to Ankiel, the last Washington player to do that from the first position in the batting order was Alfonso Soriano on Aug. 2, 2006 at San Francisco.
The Nationals entered play on Monday night with a .192 batting average and a .292 slugging average from the top slot in their lineup - each the lowest in the major leagues this season from that position. The Nationals have used seven different leadoff hitters this season, tied for third-most in the majors.
Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals
CC SHRINKS WHITE SOX IN CHICAGO
From Elias: CC Sabathia allowed 10 hits, but did not walk a batter, in his win at Chicago. The only other Yankees pitcher in the last four seasons to win a game in which he permitted at least 10 hits but did not issue a walk was Sabathia himself, also at U.S. Cellular Field, on Aug. 2, 2009.
Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees