Sometimes, it’s not a game but a performance that sticks in the mind. Four words – “The Nick Kurtz Game” – will be understood by baseball fans for a very long time without any additional context. Like “The Mark Whiten Game” or “The Kerry Wood Game.”
I was watching a different game that night but after Kurtz hit his third homer I changed games. I’m still sad to see No. 4 leave the yard. The moment was produced by a 22-year-old player in the 66th game of his career, which made it even more spectacular. That’s why we see. — Bradford Doolittle
tariq skubalstarts against Texas Rangers The highlight of his work in recent years was this: no walks and 11 strikeouts in 6⅔ innings, allowing only one run. But what stood out about that Sunday night game was how much fun he had laughing at his inability to get out corey seegerWhich is 8 out of 12 wickets against him.
Seager hit a double and single and then lined out, and at one point, Skubal raised his arms as if asking: What do I need to do to get this guy out? He too has had similar moments in his career. salvador perez, aaron judge And other great players. I can’t think of another example of a star pitcher who consistently mixes total dominance and constant self-deprecation into the same in-game soup. — Buster Olney
Leagues across the board have struggled to keep their All-Star games relevant over the past few years, as players have declined to participate and the level of effort has been questioned. MLB is arguably the best of the major leagues, but it struck gold this summer in Atlanta with a phenomenal swing-off that generated drama that is rarely seen in these exhibitions anymore.
Kyle Schwarber’s performance – three home runs on three swings capped off by a blast in which he got down on one knee to give the National League the win – will be remembered as one of the great moments in All-Star Game history.
The fans loved the theater. The players liked the competition. It made for great entertainment, and that’s the point. , george castillo
Last pitch, 94 runs by Tarik Skubalth In a complete-game shutout against the Guardians on May 25, that was all you needed to see. It covered 60 feet, 6 inches at 102.6 mph, which was the fastest strikeout pitch recorded by a starter since we started recording such things in 2008. it was his 13thth Strikeout of the game, known as Maddux’s most strikeout ever: a complete-game shutout with less than 100 pitches.
When it was over, Skubal stood up, smiling and clenching his fists in his gloves. At that moment, he had the same expression on his face that every one of us had seen: surprise. –Tim Keown
chicago cubs center fielder Pete Crowe-Armstrong Was already making a name for himself by hitting 12 home runs while swiping 14 bases in the first 50 games of the season. But on May 23, he established himself as “PCA” across the country, a nickname that would follow him throughout his All-Star, breakout season.
That day, Crowe-Armstrong crushed two home runs against cincinnati redsThat included a seventh-inning grand slam in a tremendous 13-6 comeback win. turned out to be their first starter Hunter green With a man down in the fourth inning, the 4–0 deficit was cut in half. But this was his last blast, a relief Tony SantillanThat gave Chicago the first lead and sent Cubs fans into a frenzy. From 6-4 down to 8-6, thanks to PCA. The Cubs never looked back – as Crowe-Armstrong went 3 for 5 with six RBI and cemented his star status in the game. –Jesse Rogers
