Just Baseball Highlight Reel: Dusty Baker Wins 2,000th Game

The biggest news of the day on Tuesday was Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker making history. The Astros 72-year-old skipper joined an exclusive club, as he won the 2,000 game of his managerial career.

Baker’s career in baseball began in 1968, when he made his MLB debut as a 19-year-old for the Atlanta Braves. It took a few years for Baker to really become a mainstay on an MLB roster, but once he did, Baker became a star player. He won a Gold Glove, two Silver Sluggers and was a two-time MLB All-Star.

Seven years after his 19-year playing career ended in 1986, Dusty Baker was hired to be the manager of the San Francisco Giants. Baker won 103 games in his first year and has gone on to win an addition 1,897 over nearly three full decades.

Baker spent 10 years as the Giants skipper, winning 840 games and one NL pennant. He went on to manage the Chicago Cubs for four seasons (322 wins), the Cincinnati Reds for six seasons (509 wins), the Washington Nationals for two seasons (192 wins) and has spent the last three seasons managing the Houston Astros (137 wins).

The only thing Baker has left to do in his career is win that elusive first World Series as a manager, but even if he never gets that ring, his place in Cooperstown is certain.

Let’s take a look at how he won No. 2,000 as well as everything else that happened around the league in today’s Just Baseball highlight reel.

Mariners 0, Astros 4

The Astros had little trouble carving up the Seattle Mariners lineup, as they mustered just four hits and did not score a single run. The Astros on the other hand got out to an early lead, thanks to a Yordan Alvarez home run.

The Astros scored two more runs on a Jeremy Pena single in the bottom of the sixth inning and then Jose Altuve put in the death nail with a solo homer of his own in the seventh. Congratulations again to Dusty Baker for reaching that 2K milestone!

Game 1: Braves 4, Mets 5

The New York Mets got back on track after losing their series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night and ended up sweeping their doubleheader on Tuesday.

New York jumped out to an early lead in that game, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings before tacking on a fifth run on a sac fly in the fourth. The Braves were trailing 5-1 when Ozzie Albies hit a would-be inning-ending double play ball back to Mets starter David Peterson.

Peterson failed to field the grounder, allowing both runners to stay on base safely. About 60 seconds later, Matt Olson made Peterson really regret that mistake.

Olson’s three-run homer got the Braves within one, but that was as close as they would get, as the Mets bullpen pitched four scoreless innings to close out the win.

Game 2: Braves 0, Mets 3

The Mets carried momentum from Game 1 into Game 2, as they once again jumped out to the early lead. Dominic Smith came through to drive in two runs with a two-out double in the first inning. Then Pete Alonso hit a home run to give the Mets a comfortable 3-0 lead.

In reality though, the Mets only needed a single run, because Carlos Carrasco was simply sensational. The 35-year-old pitched around traffic in all but one of his eight innings pitched, but found a way to keep the Braves off the board. Seth Lugo came on for the ninth and completed the shutout.

Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 4

The Arizona Diamondbacks basically ambushed the Marlins in this game. Christian Walker and Pavin Smith each homered in the first two innings and then the Diamondbacks rallied to score three more in the top of the 5th. Marlins starter Trevor Rogers gave up all five runs, as his early season woes continue.

The Marlins did not just lay down though. They battled back into the game, much thanks to their young superstar Jazz Chisolm Jr.

Chisholm first flashed the leather earlier in the game, making this flashy bare-handed play.

Chisolm then impacted the game with his bat in the bottom of the seventh, ripping what was nearly a bases-clearing triple down the right field line.

Originally ruled a foul on the field, replay review awarded Chisolm with an ground-rule double that put the Marlins on the board. Jesus Aguilar’s single cut the D-Backs lead to one at 5-4. That would prove to be the final score though, as the Marlins couldn’t take a lead.

Rangers 6, Phillies 4

A back and forth slugfest in the bandbox known as Citizen’s Bank Park!

We pick up play in the top of the sixth inning, with the game tied at three runs apiece. There had already been two lead changes up to this point and Zach Reks delivered a third one with an RBI double.

Marcus Semien singled home Reks, putting the Rangers up 6-3. JT Realmuto would draw the Phillies closer, but ultimately they could not overcome the three-run deficit.

Yankees 9, Blue Jays 1

The Yankees really decided to take their time on Tuesday. New York failed to score any runs through the first five innings, so Bo Bichette’s RBI single actually gave the Blue Jays a lead heading into the top of the sixth inning.

Unfortunately for Bichette, that run he drove in really only served to wake the Yankees potent bats up. In the next half inning, Aaron Judge tied it.

The Yankees went on to score six runs in the following inning, blowing out their division rival handedly. Here are some of the highlights of the rally.

Already winning 7-1, Giancarlo Stanton put the game on ice with a homer in the ninth.

Angels 0, Red Sox 4

Rafael Devers homered in the fourth, J.D. Martinez homered in the eighth and the Red Sox scored two additional runs in between, as they cruised to the victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Noah Syndergaard gave up three runs, but went seven innings for the Angels. Meanwhile Michael Wacha pitched the first 5 2/3 innings before the bullpen handled to rest to complete the shutout.

White Sox 3, Cubs 1

The White Sox played some small ball to put their first two runs on the board, but Tim Anderson brought out the lumber to give them their third run.

Anderson’s home run gave the White Sox a 3-0 lead and they never looked back. Ian Happ hit an RBI double in the sixth to get the Cubs on the board, but that would represent their only offense of the day.

Reds 3, Brewers 6

The Milwaukee Brewers offense has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season so far. They got going early once again Tuesday, when Willy Adames cashed in three with a longball.

The Reds battled back into the game in the next half inning, scoring two runs on a pair of home runs by Tommy Pham and Mike Moustakas.

That one-run deficit is the closest the Reds would get. Moustakas got another RBI on a double, but only after the Brewers had extended their lead to three again by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Reds are now 3-20 after another loss. Brutal.

Cardinals 1, Royals 7

Bobby Witt Jr. is starting to catch on to this Major League Baseball thing. The top prospect in baseball reached a great milestone in this one, hitting the first home run of his career.

Witt Jr. later hit into a double play that scored a run in the fourth inning, and then picked up an RBI with a single as part of the Royals five-run rally in the seventh inning. That rally won the game for the Royals, who were able to keep the Cardinals to just one run.

Also, top prospect MJ Melendez picked up his first career hit!

Nationals 10, Rockies 2

The Nationals lineup is starting click a little bit. They have scored 10 or more runs in three of their last four games, as players are contributing around Juan Soto. Josh Bell got the scoring going early, blasting his third homer of the season.

Soto homered himself in the fifth inning, with his solo blast putting the Nationals up 5-1. They would cruise to victory from there, piling on five more runs for good measure.

Rays 10, Athletics 7

The Oakland Athletics hit a grand slam and still lost by three. Baseball!

Unfortunately for the A’s, the Rays can hit home runs too. Brett Phillips hit the first one, a two-run shot in the top of the second inning.

I’d show you the home run, but wouldn’t you rather see Phillips make a diving catch instead?

Still, Kevin Smith’s grand slam held up until the top of the ninth inning. When Mike Zunino tied the game with one swing.

Once they got it tied, the Rays offense finally started to fire on all cylinders. They scored five runs in the 10th inning, plating the ghost runner and four more. Oakland scored two runs in the bottom half, but came up three runs short for their 14th loss of the season.

Giants 1, Dodgers 3

Carlos Rodon vs. Julio Urias meant that runs would be at a premium in this matchup, so a Chris Taylor RBI single in the second inning was enough to win the game.

Rodon’s ERA ‘ballooned’ from 1.17 to 1.55 in what was his first loss as a Giant. Urias on the other hand went six scoreless to cut his ERA to 1.88. Pitching is just ridiculous in 2022. Today the Dodgers will look to sweep this rare two-game series against the Giants.