April 18, 2021. Great American Ball Park, CINCINNATI — Cleveland Indians white-hot, right-handed starter, Shane “Not Justin” Bieber, became the first pitcher since 1893 to strike out at least 10 batters in each of his first 4 starts in a season, striking out 13 Cincinnati Reds in 8.0 IP in his 4th start of the 2021 season.
The historic moment – 10th SO in 4th start (April 18)
Opening Day (April 1) at Detroit Tigers – 12 SO in 6.0 IP (5 H, 3 R/ER, 3 BB) – Loss
April 7 vs. Kansas City Royals – 12 SO in 6⅓ IP (3 H, 2 R/ER, 4 BB) – No Decision
April 13 at Chicago White Sox – Scoreless 9.0 IP with 11 SO in Extra-Innings Win (3 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP)
April 18 at Cincinnati Reds – 13 SO in 8.0 IP (6 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB) – Win
Dallas Keuchel starts due to Carlos Rodón upset stomach. After a solid 5-inning performance in which he retired 12 in a row after giving up a 2-run HR, Dallas Keuchel loads the bases with the first three batters in the 6th, before being relieved by Evan Marshall. Codi Heuer 4 SO in 2 ⅓ IP to win. Adam Eaton 3-run HR. Tied at 3 in the bottom of the 9th, White Sox score on what should have been a routine double play (E3 – Yu Chang).Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
Giolito
Bieber
1-0, 4.22, 18 | 0-1, 3.65, 24
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Indians / Shane Bieber, RHP
Epic pitching duel. Shane Bieber pitches a beautiful 9 innings for the Tribe with 11 SO, 1 BB, and 3 hits. Lucas Giolito went 7.0+ innings for the White Sox with 8 SO, 2 BB, and 3 hits. Scoreless at the end of Regulation. In the top of the 10th, Roberto Pérez bats in the first run of the game with a ground ball single perfectly placed between 5 and 6.Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
Rodón
Plesac
1-0, 0.00, 9 | 1-1, 1.38, 10
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Carlos Rodón, LHP vs. Indians / Zach Plesac, RHP
W, 8-0, 6-6 (.500), W1 | WP: Carlos Rodón (2-0) | Game 12
Carlos Rodón serves up the 20th no-hitter in White Sox history, missing a perfecto by just two outs. Carlos Rodón’s drive toward a perfect game ended with a toe ball that hit Roberto Pérez. Yermín Mercedes 3-run homer.Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
Dylan Cease to Injured List
MLB Advanced Media, LP
April 14—Dylan Cease placed on 10-day injured list with symptoms of COVID-19.
Lynn
Civale
1-0, 0.00, 17 | 2-0, 2.45, 12
Thursday, April, 15 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field – Jackie Robinson Day Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Indians / Aaron Civale, RHP
Despite his solid performance over 6.0 IP (10 SO, 0 BB, 2 H) giving up just 2 runs, Lance Lynn endures a tough loss. José Abreu makes dual fielding and throwing errors on a single play in the 8th allowing the Indians’ third run to score. In the 1st, Adam Eaton beats the play to 2B, then Indians second baseman Andrés Giménez dislodges him from the bag with his leg. Eaton is called out, clearing both benches and bullpens without incident.Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
April 15—Tim Anderson activated from IL
Four-Game Series at Boston Red Sox
Split series 2-2
Cease
Pivetta
0-0, 3.86, 9 | 2-0, 3.27, 11
Friday, April 16, 2021 at 6:10 pm CDT Fenway Park Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Red Sox / Nick Pivetta, RHP
MLB Advanced Media, LP Fenway Park – Apr 16, 2021
Postponed due to winter-like conditions. Rescheduled for Sunday at 4:10 pm CDT as the second game of a split doubleheader.
April 16—Dylan Cease activated from IL
Cease
Pivetta
0-0, 3.86, 9 | 2-0, 3.27, 11
Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 3:05 pm CDT Fenway Park Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Red Sox / Nick Pivetta, RHP
No decision for Dylan Cease with 6 SO, 3 BB, 6 hits, and 2 runs on 4 ⅔ IP. White Sox took an early 2-0 lead in the 1st but did not score again until the 7th when a Yoán Moncada sac fly tied the game at 3. But Boston broke it open in the 8th scoring 4 runs.Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
Billie Weiss, Boston Red Sox, Nike Red Sox City Connect Series Alternates
The Red Sox debuted their City Connect series alternates—bright yellow and sky blue jerseys with white pants—in honor of Patriots’ Day weekend and the Boston Marathon.
Keuchel
Houck
0-0, 6.43, 9 | 0-1, 3.00, 10
Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 12:10 pm CDT Fenway Park – 7-inning game Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Red Sox / Tanner Houck, RHP
Dallas Keuchel allows just 1 R on 6 H in the first 5 innings, then gives up a HR to the first batter (Enrique Hernández) in the 6th, before being relived by Aaron Bummer (1 SO, 0 BB, 6 H, 2 R). Tim Anderson scores his ninth career leadoff HR off Tanner Houck’s first pitch of the game—a 97-MPH four-seamer. Yasmani Grandal double in the 4th brings in Abreu. Yoán Mancada single in the 5th brings in Jake Lamb.Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
Kopech
Pérez
1-0, 1.17, 13| 0-0, 4.50, 8
Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 4:10 pm CDT Fenway Park – Makeup of April 16 (7-innings) Michael Kopech, RHP vs. Red Sox / Martín Pérez, LHP
W, 5-1, 8-8 (.500), W2 | WP: Matt Foster (1-1) | Game 16
Nice start for Michael Kopech with 4 SO, 1 BB, 1 H and 1 R on 3.0+ IP. Evan Marshall retires 3 of 4 in the 6th on his 31st birthday. Liam Hendricks shuts down 3 on 8 pitches to close. Yermín Mercedes leads off with a HR in the 4th, followed by runs scored on a Danny Mendick single and a Nick Madrigal double. Sox load the bases with no outs in the 6th, on a Leury García single, an Andrew Vaughn double, and a Zack Collins walk. A Nick Madrigal sac fly brings in García. First Good Sox doubleheader sweep versus Bad Sox since 2010. Watch game highlights from mlb.com.
Lance Lynn to Injured List
MLB Advanced Media, LP
April 18—Lance Lynn placed on 10-day injured list with a strained right trapezius, retroactive to Saturday, April 17.
W, 6-0, 2-3 (.400), W1 | WP: Carlos Rodón (1-0) | Game 5
Carlos Rodón throws 9 SO on 5.0 IP. Yasmani Grandal150th career HR off Justus Sheffield. Yermín Mercedes goes 3-for-4 – 11-17 on the season. Andrew Vaughn logs first career RBI on a HBP. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Tuesday, April 6 at 9:10 pm CDT T-Mobile Park, Seattle Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Mariners / James Paxton, LHP
W, 10-4, 3-3 (.500), W2 | WP: Lucas Giolito (1-0) | Game 6
Lucas Giolito throws 10 SO on 5 ⅓ IP. José Abreu 2nd Grand Slam of season – 200th career HR off Keynan Middleton. Zack Collins 3-run HR. Luis Robert 2-run HR. Andrew Vaughn doubles for first career hit. James Paxton relieved after 24 pitches due to elbow discomfort. White Sox are W17 vs. lefty starters – second-longest streak in the modern era (since 1901). The 2004-05 Atlanta Braves hold the record at 18. Last loss was 09/28/2019 vs. Detroit / Tyler Alexander.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Wednesday, April 7 at 3:10 pm CDT T-Mobile Park, Seattle Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Mariners / Justin Dunn, RHP
L, 8-4, 3-4 (.429), L1 | LP: Matt Foster (0-1) | Game 7
Mariners, down 4-1, take the lead with a 7-run 6th inning. Dallas Keuchel relieved by Matt Foster in the 6th with runners on the corners and no outs.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Tim Anderson to Injured List
MLB Advanced Media, LP
April 7—Shortstop Tim Anderson will not play in Thursday’s home opener, due to a strained left hamstring. Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 5.
Lance Lynn pitches first complete-game shutout in a White Sox home opener since Wilbur Wright in 1976, striking out 11. Yoán Moncada 2-run HR. Yermín Mercedes homer hit 485 feet – second-longest White Sox hit since 2006. Luis Robert sac fly scores a run. Adam Eaton 2-run single.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Dillon Cease throws 6 SO in a 4 ⅔ inning start (3 BB, 4 H, 1 R). Adam Eaton 2-run HR. White Sox squander chance to tie record for most consecutive wins against lefty starters (18).Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Billy Hamilton to Injured List
MLB Advanced Media, LP
April 8—Outfielder Billy Hamilton has been placed on the 10-day injured list, due to a strained left hamstring sustained in yesterday’s loss against the Mariners.
September 2, 2017— On August 28th, Gary Pressy (age 59) graced the keys of the Lowrey organ at Wrigley Field, enhancing a great evening of baseball for the 38,453 fans who came to watch the Cubs defeat the Pirates 6-1. The game marked his 2,500th consecutive performance. Pressy has played the organ at every Cubs home game since he became the sole organist at Wrigley field in 1987. Gary celebrated the occasion by singing “Take Me Out to The Ballgame” (while playing the organ) during the seventh-inning stretch—for only the second time in his thirty-one seasons as organist. His first vocal performance was just over a year ago, at his 2,400th game. Follow Gary on Twitter at @GaryPressy.
The first-ever night game at Wrigley Field was scheduled for 8-8-88 (August 8, 1988, at 6:05 PM) against the Phillies. Prior to July 1988, when installation of the lights was completed, Wrigley Field had for years been the only Major League ballpark that lacked the lighting necessary for night games.1 The Wrigleyville neighbors had long resisted the installation of lights, believing that the noise from night baseball would diminish the quality of life in the neighborhood. Eventually, after years of debate, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance authorizing eighteen night games per year at Wrigley Field.
Things got off to a rocky start in the fist inning when Cubs pitcher, Rick Sutcliffe, gave up a home run to Phil Bradley, the first batter he faced. (In fairness, Sutcliffe’s vision may have been effected by the thousands of camera flashes that were fired as he delivered the first pitch.) Sutcliffe got out of the inning with no further damage, and Ryne Sandburg hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, putting the Cubs up 2-1. This happened immediately after a thwarted attempt by “Morganna the Kissing Bandit” to accost Sandburg.
Long story short, at 8:14 PM, in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Cubs up 3-1, it started to rain. Hard. (Officially, 1.19 inches of rain fell between 8:14 PM and shortly after midnight.) At 10:25 PM, following some impromptu body surfing on the waterlogged, tarp-covered mound by Greg Maddux and others, the game was called—just six outs shy of an official game. The Cubs Organization’s well-crafted plan to hold the first night game on 8-8-88 was not to be realized.
The first official game under the lights happened the next evening—on August 9th—when the Cubs defeated the Mets 6-4.
Endnote
1 The first club to install lighting for night games was the Cincinnati Reds, who played their first game under the lights at Crosby Field on May 24, 1935.
