Barry Bonds took yet another step towards topping Hammerin’ Hank’s career home runs record. The slugger hit an off-speed pitch that Rockies lefty Jeff Francis hung over the plate and promptly sent it over the wall for number 743. Later on, the 42 year old Bonds also singled in what turned out to be the winning run.
In Boston, Red Sox starter Josh Beckett became their first starter since Roger Clemens to open the season with a 6-0 record. Beckett has really turned around his game from last year but what I find more amazing about his performance thus far is the fact that he didn’t win AL pitcher of the month for April. Those honours went to Toronto’s Doc Halladay who had a 4-0 record through the month. As it’s standing right now, the AL Cy Young race should be more than a doozy with Johan Santana currently not living up to his overly hyped status.
Seatle announced yesterday that their phenom, King Felix Hernandez, will miss at least one more start and will be skipped over in the Mariner rotation at least one more time. While this is a blow to the Mariners and their fans, there’s a flip side to that coin; Yankee fans can now rejoice that they get to see Jeff Weaver and his spectactular 18.26 ERA toss out batting practice-esque pitches to the Bronx Bombers on Saturday.