Winning out
Third baseman Eric Chavez homered on April 14 but his team, the Oakland A’s, still lost to the Anaheim Angels 4-1. That loss ended a string of 23 consecutive games in which Chavez had homered and the A’s had won. He’s the seventh major-leaguer to post a streak of 23 games or more. The streak dated back to July 13. The A’s are now 56-15 in games in which Chavez homers. Brooklyn Dodger Carl Furillo enjoyed the longest string–29 from 1951-53.
Errors of his ways
New York Mets shortstop Rey Ordonez became the first player this season to make three errors in a game, which he did April 13 against the Montreal Expos. Through Saturday he had recorded eight errors, making two apiece in two games and one in another in addition to his three-error contest. The Cuban-born shortstop is the third Mets fielder to commit three or more errors in a game since 2000.
Three’s a crowd
Seattle first baseman Ron Wright had a less than perfect debut in the majors on April 14nday against the Texas Rangers. Wright earned the dubious distinction of becoming just the second major-leaguer since 1950 to hit into a triple play in his debut. Atlanta’s Leo Foster was the first in 1971. Wright’s fourth-inning grounder back to Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers started the 504th triple play since 1901. Wright also hit into a double play and struck out in the game and was sent back to the minors on Tuesday.
Around the horn
Edgardo Alfonzo of the Mets joins Ed Kranepool, Cleon Jones, Mookie Wilson, Darryl Strawberry and Bud Harrelson as the only Mets to compile 1,000 hits while playing for the team. . . . Twins starter Rick Reed has the lowest walks per nine innings ratio (1.70) of any active pitcher with 1,000 or more innings pitched. . . . Jason Isringhausen of St. Louis became the 23rd NL pitcher to record a nine-pitch, three-strikeout inning when he accomplished the feat April 13 against Houston . . . . Craig Wilson of the Pirates needs one more pinch hit homer to tie Willie Stargell’s team mark of eight. Wilson hit seven in just one season last year while it took Stargell 21 seasons to set his record.
The over-the-hill gang
Rickey Henderson of the Boston Red Sox became the 11th major-leaguer to steal a base at the age of 43 or older when he swiped second on April 13 against the New York Yankees. Henderson turned 43 on Dec. 25. The oldest player to steal a base in a big-league game was Arlie Latham, who was 49 when he had one for the 1909 New York Giants. Henderson, the career stolen base leader, needs 12 more steals to pass Pete Rose for most post-43 thefts. Rose stole 12 from 1984-86. The 11 aged thieves who stole at least one base after the age of 43 are:
PLAYER YEARS SBs
Pete Rose 1984-86 12
Honus Wagner 1917 5
Sam Rice 1933-34 5
Carlton Fisk 1991-93 4
Luke Appling 1950 2
Arlie Latham 1909 1
Bobby Wallace 1917-18 1
Jimmy Austin 1923, 1925 1
-26, 1929
Enos Slaughter 1959 1
Dave Winfield 1995 1
Rickey Henderson 2002 1
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