Elias Says...
Special to ESPN.com
NBA
ZACH ATTACKS CLIPPERS
From Elias: Zach Randolph scored 18 points and hauled in 16 rebounds as the Grizzlies forced a Game 7 with a 90-88 win over the Clippers. Randolph is averaging 20.8 points and 11.6 rebounds in eight career games in which his team faced playoff elimination. Only four other active players are averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in potential elimination games (minimum: 2 such games played): Caron Butler (21.9 points per game/10.0 rebounds per game), Tim Duncan (22.4/11.9), Dwight Howard (20.3/14.3) and Dirk Nowitzki (28.9/11.4).
Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies
MLB
INGE IS THE NEW "IRON HORSE"
From Elias: Brandon Inge knocked in four runs in the A's win over the Tigers. Inge has knocked in four runs in four of his last five games. The only other major-league player with four games with at least four runs batted in over a five game span was Lou Gehrig in 1931. Gehrig knocked in an American League record 184 runs that season.
Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers
HAMILTON MATCHES HOWARD
From Elias: Josh Hamilton banged out two more homers in the Rangers' win Friday night giving him eight dingers over the last five games. That matches the most home runs any player has hit over a five-game span in Rangers franchise history. Frank Howard also hit eight home runs over a five-game span in May 1968 while the team was located in Washington. The last major-league player to hit at least eight homers over a five-game span was Shawn Green, who set the major-league record when he hit nine home runs over five games for the Dodgers in May 2002.
Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels
YU DA MAN
From Elias: Yu Darvish struck out seven batters in the Rangers' win over the Angels, increasing his season total to 51 in seven starts. Only two active pitchers struck out more batters in their first seven career major-league starts than Darvish: Kerry Wood (66) and Stephen Strasburg (61).
Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers
BELTRAN CONJURES UP MEMORIES OF MIZE
From Elias: Carlos Beltran belted two home runs, a double and a triple in the Cardinals extra-inning loss Friday night. Only one other Cardinals player since 1900 had a game like that: Johnny Mize did it on July 3, 1939 at Wrigley Field.
St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves
CANO IS STARTING TO GO, DON'T YA KNOW
From Elias: Robinson Cano went 4-for-4 including an RBI-single in the Yankees' win over the Mariners Friday night after going 3-for-4 against the Rays Thursday night. The seven hits match the most Cano has ever had over any two-game span in his major-league career. Cano went 7-for-10 over a two-game span in September 2006, 7-for-11 in July 2007 and 7-for-8 in June 2009.
New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners
RUIZ RUINS PADRES
From Elias: Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-3 with a home run with three runs batted in Friday night. It was the second time this season that Ruiz had at least three hits with a homer and three or more RBI in a game. Ruiz also did it on May 2 at Atlanta (3 hits, HR, 7 RBI). All other catchers have combined for only five such games this season and none of them have more than one.
Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres
BALTIMORE BATTERS TAMPA
From Elias: Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Nick Johnson all hit home runs in the Orioles' win over the Rays. Baltimore batters have combined for 53 home runs in 33 games this season, the most this franchise has ever had in its first 33 games of a season and 19 more than it had at this time last season. The previous high was 50 home runs in the first 33 games in 1987. The 1987 O's featured Larry Sheets (31 home runs), Eddie Murray (30), Cal Ripken (27) and Fred Lynn (23).
Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays
GIDP IS THE DIFFERENCE
From Elias: The Astros beat the Pirates 1-0 Friday night with the only run scoring on when Justin Maxwell grounded into a double play in the second inning. This was only the fifth 1-0 game since 1991 in which the only run scored on a GIDP. Amazingly, the Astros were the winning team in three of those five games. The Astros beat the Rangers on June 27, 2004 with the only run scoring on a Morgan Ensberg GIDP and they beat the Brewers on September 19, 2004 with the only run scoring on a Roger Clemens GIDP.
Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates
ASTROS PIECE TOGETHER A GEM
From Elias: Four Astros pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout while striking out 11 batters and not issuing a walk. It was only the fifth game since 1900 in which a team used at least four pitchers in a game in which it allowed no runs on four or fewer hits with at least 11 strikeouts and no walks. All five of those games have occurred since 1998.
Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates
GIO IS HOMER FREE
From Elias: Gio Gonzalez has not allowed a home run in seven starts this season covering 41 2/3 innings pitched. Gonzalez is the fifth pitcher in the history of the Nationals/Expos to not allow a home run over his first seven career starts with the team. The other to do it were Dennis Blair in 1974 (no HR allowed in his first eight career starts with the Expos), Gil Heredia in 1992-1993 (seven), Kirk Rueter in 1993 (seven) and Mike Wegner in 1969 (seven).
Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds
FLOYD BEATS ROYALS
From Elias: Gavin Floyd threw 7? scoreless innings and earned the win in the White Sox victory over the Royals. Floyd entered the game with a career mark of 3-8 with a 4.59 earned-run average in 14 career games against the Royals since he joined the Chisox in 2007. The eight losses against the Royals are the most for any pitcher over that span.
Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals
DBACKS NINE STRAIGHT WINS AGAINST THE GIANTS
From Elias: The Diamondbacks beat the Giants Friday night, their ninth consecutive win against them. That matches the second-longest winning streak any team has against another. Detroit has won 10 straight against Cleveland, Oakland has won nine in a row against Pittsburgh and Washington has won nine in a row against Seattle.
Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants