2015 WEEKLY LOG SHORT HOPS
April 25
Hey, Johnson! Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez makes a rather unusual double switch. In the sixth inning, he replaces Chris Johnson with Kelly Johnson at third base, while at the same time sending out Jim Johnson to pitch.
Monday
Jonathan Papelbon takes over sole possession of 14th place on the all-time career saves list with his 330th in the Phillies’ 4-1 win vs. the Cardinals. Of perhaps greater interest, Papelbon — already the Red Sox career leader with 219 — moves within one of tying Jose Mesa (112) for the Phillies franchise record.
Tuesday
Dan Uggla hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning to give the Nationals a 13-12 win against the Atlanta Braves — a game in which the Braves led, 10-2, at one point. The loss is made doubly galling for the Braves by the fact they are still paying Uggla $12 million this season on a five-year contract he signed in 2011. FYI: The $12 million makes Uggla the highest-paid player on the Braves payroll.
• How improbable is Washington’s rally from 10-2 down to beat the Braves? According to ESPN Stats & Info, over the past five seasons, teams with an eight-run lead had been 1,031-5.
• Giants ace Madison Bumgarner gives up a run and five hits in eight innings to outduel the Dodgers and three-time NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, 2-1. Bumgarner is now 3-1 vs. Kershaw. Equally as impressive, he is 8-3 at Dodger Stadium. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only one Giants pitcher has more career wins at Chavez Ravine (Juan Marichal, 14-11).
Wednesday
The Dodgers defeat the Giants, 7-3, behind P Zach Greinke. Incredibly, Greinke improves to 22-1 vs. fellow NL West teams since signing with the Dodgers in December 2012.
Official attendance for the Orioles-White Sox game at Baltimore’s Camden Yards: 0. It is, not surprisingly, a major league record. For inquiring minds, the previous record low was 6, set Sept. 28, 1882, for an NL game played in Worcester, Mass., between Worcester and Troy (N.Y.). According to a story in the Boston Globe, there were three contributing factors: The weather was bad, the teams were bad and the league had just decided to disband the teams.