Jul II Sim Done -- Trading Deadline

Game Date:  Jul 30, 2030

Standings:
Adams: Brick up by six over Brooklyn
Zotti:  Seattle's lead holds at twenty over Appalachian
Signorino:  Philadelphia is seven up over Maui
Wild Card: Maui is two games ahead of Appalachian

Awards & Accomplishments:
Maui 3B Antonio Venet named Player of the Week (7/22)
Maui CF Ernesto Salcido named Player of the Week (7/29, 3rd career award)

Significant Injuries:
Maui SP Shawn Henry, torn flexor tendon, 8 months.
Houston RP Todd Davis, fractured elbow, done for the year.
Atlanta RP Ramiro Martinez, torn triceps, 2 months.
Maui CF Jimmy Estes, strained back, 3 weeks
Houston 2B Enrique Gonzalez, broken hand, 2 months
Houston 3B Esteban Ordonez, fractured finger, 6-7 weeks
Appalachian SS Martin Costa, setback from previous injury, another 4 weeks
Atlanta CF Cheung Ying, shoulder inflammation, 5 weeks.

Batting Line of the Sim:
Antelope Valley's Lloyd Rideout went 5-5, with a home run, 2 RBI and 4 runs scored vs. Highland, 7/19

Pitching Line of the Sim:
Antelope Valley's Dave Klien pitched a 4-hit shutout with 6 K and no walks on vs. Highland on 7/19 (the same day that Rideout had his big game!)

Answer to Last Week's Trivia Question:
Under what circumstances could a pitcher be credited with a shutout but not receive credit for a complete game?  And who was the last pitcher to accomplish this feat?
In most cases, a pitcher has to pitch the complete game in order to get credit for a shutout.  However, there is a loophole written into the rule (9.18):

A shutout is a statistic credited to a pitcher who allows no runs in a game. No pitcher shall be credited with pitching a shutout unless he pitches the complete game, or unless he enters the game with none out before the opposing team has scored in the first inning, puts out the side without a run scoring and pitches the rest of the game without allowing a run. When two or more pitchers combine to pitch a shutout, the league statistician shall make a notation to that effect in the league’s official pitching records.

There is a famous case of this happening, involving a very famous Hall of Famer.  On June 23, 1917, the Red Sox sent their star pitcher, Babe Ruth, to the mound to start the first game of a double header against the Washington Senators.  After walking the first batter on a questionable call, the Babe argued with umpire Brick Owens, which earned him an ejection.  The Babe must have decided "In for a penny..." because he then decided to punch Owens, which got him a suspension and a fine.

The Red Sox brought in Ernie Shore to take the mound.  The runner on first was then caught stealing and Shore retired the next 26 batters in a row to finish the game.  For a long time Shore was credited with a perfect game, but that was taken away when the rules were standardized.  However, he still has credit for a shutout.

However, Ernie Shore is not the right answer as to the last pitcher to do it.  If you remember, I told you that I saw the game.  While I am fairly old, I am not old enough to have seen the Babe pitch in 1917.

The last person to accomplish the feat was Yankees relief pitcher Neil Allen.  On May 31, 1988 the Yankees sent rookie left hander Al Leiter up to the hill to face the Oakland A's.  Oakland leadoff hitter Carney Lansford hit Leiter's first pitch right back to him, where it hit him on the arm.  Injured, Leiter was taken out of the game and Allen came in from the bullpen.  Pitching the game of his life, Allen proceeded to shut down the A's, going the distance while allowing only three hits and walking none.  As a result, he was credited with a shutout, but not a complete game.

This Week's Trivia Question:
As many of you know, it's possible for a pitcher to have more than three strikeouts in an inning.  If a catcher fails to catch a third strike and the batter-runner makes it to first, the pitcher is still credited with a strikeout, even though no actual out was recorded.

Four strikeouts in an inning has been accomplished a good number of times... including three times this season (2017) so far.  In fact, four is the record for the number of strikeouts in an inning.  No pitcher has managed to record more than four strikeouts in an inning in an official game.

However, there was a well-known pitcher who managed five strikeouts in a single inning during a spring training game.  Who was that hurler?

Next sim:  Wednesday night.  The trading deadline is upon us.   Get those last minute trades in.