Some quick hits while leading up to this week's Independent Baseball Insider column where the current plan is to feature the continuing first half exploits of Indy original and current Baltimore closer George Sherrill. He could be on the brink of another magic milestone.
The southpaw, who played in both the Frontier League (Evansville, IN) and the Northern League (Sioux Falls, SD and Winnipeg, CA), did it again Tuesday night when he got the final out in the eighth, then gave up two hits and a walk to start the bottom of the ninth at Wrigley Field. He stunned the Cubs, though, when he struck out Ronny Cedeno, Kosuke Fukudome and Henry Blanco to leave the bases loaded and give the Orioles a 7-5 victory..
His 26th save of the season, which is second best in the majors, ended the Cubs' home winning streak at 14, a mark they have not bested since 1890. This is not a typo, friends. It really is 1890.
STILL ANOTHER FRONTIER LEAGUER DEBUTS IN BIGS
The major league debut of outfielder Justin Christian was one of the few bright spots in the New York Yankees' 12-5 drubbing in Pittsburgh Tuesday. Christian, who follows pitchers Josh Kinney and Joe Thatcher as players who started their pro career at River City (O'Fallon, MO) and made it all the way to the major leagues, played leftfield and had a single, double and drove in two runs.
"He can create some havoc on the base paths, he plays very good defense, he had some important hits in the later innings (in spring training)," praised Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. With the Yankees scheduled to face five lefthanders in six games and regulars Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui hobbled the right-handed-hitting 28-year-old figures to get more at bats over the next few days.
FORT WORTH CATS WIN ANOTHER TITLE
Fort Worth, TX has become the first Independent league team to nail down a first-half championship. Congratulations to the Cats, who already are three-peat winners, having won the last championship in the Central League (2005) and the first two in the American Association. Fort Worth won the Southern Division title this time, with Sioux Falls, SD on the brink of doing the same thing in the North.
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