A Dodger honors Nipsey, Correa reaches milestone, Molina visits museum
By Tab Bamford
Paying Respects
Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo was one of many athletes who paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle, the rapper and songwriter who was killed outside his shop this week.
500 for Correa
Carlos Correa collected his 500th career hit Wednesday. The top pick in the 2012 draft reached the milestone in his 475th career game.
Manny loses one
After an interesting night with the umpires on Tuesday, Manny Machado left little doubt to the result of contact in Wednesday night’s game. Machado hit his first home run as a member of the Padres with a missile to left.
Dominant Freddy
The Brewers were understandably thrilled with the performance of one of their young starting pitchers Wednesday. Freddy Peralta beat Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo as Milwaukee improved to 6-1.
Pro Post of the Day
Cardinals All-Star catcher Yadier Molina posted a photo on Instagram earlier this week of his visit to the Roberto Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh. He was joined by the talented Daddy Yankee, a fellow Boricua admirer of The Great One.
OTD
2013 – After suffering a devastating knee injury that ended his 2012 season, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera returned to the mound to begin his 19th season in the Bronx. He picked up the save in a victory over the Red Sox.
2013 – The Rangers signed Elvis Andrus to an eight-year contract extension that will pay him $120 million through 2022.
2011 – The Rangers beat the Mariners 6-4 behind home runs from two players on the opposite ends of the power spectrum. Outfielder Nelson Cruz ties a mark set by Willie Mays in 1971 and Mark McGwire in 1998 by becoming the third player to homer in his team’s first four games to start the season. Meanwhile, Elvis Andrus ends a 705 at-bat home run drought with a first inning bomb. Andrus’ drought began during the 2009 season.
2005 – For the first time in big league history a team has two players in its lineup with 500 career home runs. On Opening Day the Orioles order includes Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro, who began the season with 574 and 551 home runs, respectively.
2003 – In the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds, Sosa takes a Scott Sullivan offering deep for his 500th career home run to become the first Latino to reach 500 career home runs and the 18th player overall to reach the milestone.
1988 – At Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Blue Jays outfielder George Bell becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day. Bell’s homers, all coming against Royals ace Bret Saberhagen, help the Jays to a 5 – 3 victory.
Happy birthday!
Renato Núñez (b. 1994)
Miguel Almonte (b. 1993)
Martín Pérez (b. 1991)
Odrisamer Despaigne (b. 1987)
Carlos Reyes (b. 1969)
Pete Hernández (b. 1959)
Featured Image: Yadier Molina Instagram