John Clay's Sidelines

Collin Cowgill gets pie in face after Arizona win on Sunday. (AP photo)

From Brent Ingram of UK sports:

Former Kentucky All-America outfielder Collin Cowgill launched his first career MLB home run as part of a career-best 4-for-4 game, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres, in front of 27,564 fans on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field.

A Lexington, Ky., native, and the 2004 Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball out of Henry Clay, Cowgill came into the game riding a 1-for-25 stretch in the big leagues, before busting out in a key win for the Diamondbacks, who are currently leading San Francisco in the National League West.

Continue reading ‘Collin Cowgill’s career MLB day for Diamondbacks’

Austin Kearns

The Cleveland Indians have released former Lafayette star Austin Kearns.

This from Sacramento Bee:

The Cleveland Indians have released outfielder Austin Kearns.

In 57 games for the Indians this season, Kearns was hitting .200 with two homers and seven RBI. He was designated for assignment last week when Shin-Soo Choo was activated off the disabled list.

Kearns spent the first four months of the 2010 season with the Indians before being dealt to the New York Yankees on July 30. He batted .263 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 120 combined games.

Originally drafted seventh overall by Cincinnati in 1998, Kearns is a .254 hitter with 117 home runs and 478 RBI in 1,019 career games with the Reds, Nationals, Indians and Yankees.

Former Lexington Catholic star Ben Revere hit a triple the hard way last night against Kansas City.

Explanation from D.C. Sports Bog.

Harper and Hagerstown are scheduled to visit the Lexington Legends on July 16-18.

(AP photo)

Several media outlets are reporting that the Phillies are shopping ex-UK pitcher Joe Blanton.

With the Cliff Lee signing, the Phillies can afford to trade a starter, and could use Blanton’s salary.

Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse on the Blanton situation:

Now that the Phillies have Cliff Lee coming to town, Joe Blanton is probably heading out of town. But where might he wind up?

There was some talk in the immediate aftermath of the Lee deal that Blanton was headed to Boston, but that’s been shot down as an overstatement. The Brewers would be interested, a source told FanHouse, if the Phillies would pick up some of the remaining $17 million on his deal.

The Phillies ease in moving him will be directly related to how much money they are willing to eat. Blanton isn’t worth $17 million, but he’s got value.

Peter Abraham reports for the Boston Globe that a possible deal for Blanton has not been done.

Lexington’s own Austin Kearns could end up with a world championship ring.

The Cleveland Indians have traded the former Lafayette High School star to the New York Yankees tonight.

Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes has the story.

Indians’ manager Manny Acta told Hoynes: “”I’ve got a soft spot for this guy,” said manager Manny Acta. “He played for me in Washington and he came to camp this spring for the first time without a guaranteed job. He made the club and he carried this club for about a month or so when Grady Sizemore got hurt and some of our other older guys weren’t performing. I’m glad he’s getting a chance to go to a contender at this stage of his career and maybe win a ring.”

Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger has the Yankee angle on the Kearns trade.

SEC links for Monday:

• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate previews tonight’s CWS final round opening game between LSU and Texas.
• Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune writes that LSU and Texas have rich baseball histories.
• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times writes that Arkansas’ loss to LSU in CWS doesn’t dim successful season.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee isn’t big news in pre-season football publications.
• Dave Hooker of the News-Sentinel writes that top quarterback prospect is still considering UT, but is not committed.
• Seth Emerson of The State reports that South Carolina players have found success overseas.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: LSU ready to battle Texas for CWS title’

Photo by Sharon Land.

If you happen to be watching the Hawks-Cavaliers NBA game on ESPN tonight you may have noticed a famous celebrity wearing a familiar baseball cap.

Yes, that’s Bill Murray in the front row, chatting with Spike Lee, and wearing a Lexington Legends baseball cap.

Who knows why the ex-Saturday Night Live and current movie star is wearing the Legends cap, though Murray is a noted sports fan.

Murray is in Atlanta shooting a movie, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Alan Stein should be smiling.

Note: After I posted this, I received an e-mail from an alert reader who sent along the pix. Thanks.

Photo by Sharon Land.

I know, I know, little behind here in our tracking of Brandon Webb's drive toward another Cy Young Award for his mantle.

The ex-UK star notched his 18th win on Friday night as Arizona blasted Houston 12-2.

Notes:

• Webb improved to 18-4 on the year, to keep his Major League lead in victories.
• The right-hander allowed four hits and two earned runs in eight innings.
• Webb walked one and stuck out six on 82 pitches, 59 for strikes.
• He allowed one home run.
• Sixteen of his outs came on groundouts.
• Webb on his sinker: "I don't know if it was my best, but it was pretty good."
• He got help from former Astro Chris Burke, a Louisville native, who hit a three-run homer.
• Since July 8, Webb is 6-0 with a 1.68 ERA.
• His WHIP is now 1.11 for the season.
• He is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in the month of August.
• His last loss was June 22.
• His ERA is 2.95 for the year, lowest since June 16.
• In his last six road starts, Webb has allowed 10 earned runs in 42 innings pitched, an ERA of 2.14.

Brandon Webb didn’t just win his Major League-best 17th game yesterday, mastering Atlanta 6-1, he starred at the plate.

The ex-UK star stroked a two-run double, his second two-bagger of the season. Sweeter still, the hit came after the Braves walked Louisville native Chris Burke to get to Webb.

Brandon now has seven RBI on the year. He’s hitting .157, with eight hits in 51 at-bats. Not exactly Carlos Zambrano, with his three homers for the Cubs, but not awful.

Of course, normally, Webb works his wonders from the mound. He went six innings yesterday, allowing just one run on six hits.

Here’s the lead from Don Ketchum’s game story in the Arizona Republic:

“If there was any doubt about pitcher Brandon Webb's value to the Diamondbacks, it should be erased after his effort Sunday.

The right-hander took the weight of four consecutive losses, a season-ending wrist injury to second baseman Orlando Hudson the night before and the seemingly unyielding pressure from the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers and put it squarely on his shoulders.”

Notes:

• Brandon has allowed three earned runs over 23 innings in his last three starts.
• That’s an ERA of 1.17
• He has recorded wins in his last four starts.
• His ERA is down to 2.88, first time it has been sub-3.00 since June 11.
• Webb needs one more win to match his career high of 18, set last year.
• Webb now has a three-game lead on Colorado's Aaron Cook, second in the NL with 14 wins.
• Cleveland's Cliff Lee leads the AL with 16 victories.