|
2021 Season Notes
Spring training was unkind to Andrew Parker for the second year in a row, Chicago’s new signing fractured his wrist forcing him to the DL for the first month of the season.
May 2nd - on a historic day in Austin the Kings played their first ever game at the Lonestar Dome hosting division rivals Houston, in front of a packed house (the official attendance was 38,901 but many who were there put the actual number as well over 40,000) the Kings led from start to finish in a comfortable 6-1 victory.
May 6th - New York CF Gabriel Robertson mashed 3 solo homeruns helping the Senators see off Chicago 5-4.
May 6th – Boston’s Brady Avery had a game to remember against Atlanta, going 5-6 with four doubles and 7 RBI’s including the game winning walk off RBI double in the 12th handing Boston a thrilling 12-11 victory.
May 8th - Washington slugger Tony Diaz suffered a side strain in a game against Boston sidelining him for 2 weeks
May 9th - Byron Martin hit for the cycle, collecting 5 hits helping LA dispose of Houston 8-4 also on the same day Andres Gutierrez of San Jose smashed 6 hits against Kansas City.
May 27th - Kansas City 2B Marcus Witt collected six hits of his own including a grand slam leading the Tornadoes to victory over divisional rivals Denver.
June 28th - Minneapolis star Jonathan Russell was held hitless by Los Angeles ending his 28-game hitting streak, the joint second longest such streak in NABL history.
July 3rd - Kansas City’s Dixon Bodean was held hitless by Las Vegas ending his hitting streak at 25 games.
July 12th - Tony Diaz suffered his second injury of the season, this time a strained hamstring forcing him to the DL for 3 weeks.
July 19th - after a dismal run of starts culminating in a six run, 1.1 inning effort, Minneapolis removed Lou Murphy from the starting rotation sending him to the bullpen. In 22 starts he had posted a 7-12 record with a 5.22 ERA (his career record was an impressive 102-68 in 223 starts with a 3.21 ERA) it was the first time Murphy had pitched out of the bullpen in his career.
July 21st - Cleveland parted ways with veteran Catcher Culley Clare, trading him to Sanfrancisco for 1B Alex Booth and RF prospect Adrian Munoz.
July 23rd - Sanfrancisco pulled off another trade, this time with New York, sending pitcher Steffen Kirk to the Senators for catcher Carl Lopez and former BNN No1 prospect Kane McKenzie. The Gold hoped a change of scenery would re-invigorate McKenzie, who’s career had stalled in New York’s minor league system (never having risen above A ball)
August 8th - on a historic night in New Orleans closer Edgar Arroyo collected save number 300, beating Minneapolis closer Jesse Jones (298) and the Racers Richard Bridgewater (293) to the milestone becoming the first player in NABL history to save 300 games.
August 12th - Tony Diaz suffered a third injury of the season, this time a partially torn Labrum, forcing Washington to place him on the 60-day DL ending his season.
August 13th - Dixon Bodean had his second 20 game hitting streak of the season stopped, this time at 21 games when he was held hitless by San Diego. Also on this day, Tampa Bay 3B Roberto Gonzalez had a big hand (3-4, 2B, Grand Slam and 8 RBI’s) in helping the Hurricanes thrash Atlanta 16-3.
August 17th - Kansas City’s Jesus DeLeon hit for the cycle, going 4-6 and collecting 5 RBI’s helping the Tornadoes to victory over Las Vegas
August 20th - Minneapolis closer Jesse Jones collected his 300th save becoming the second player in NABL history to reach the milestone.
August 23rd - Las Vegas LF Gary Wilson clubbed three homeruns and was responsible for driving in all the Gamblers runs in a 5-3 victory over Austin.
August 27th - When San Diego 2B Dustin Polk struck out in the third inning he became Denver starter Anthony Barrett’s 2000th strikeout victim. The first player to reach the milestone, Barrett got there in only 226 games.
September 17th - Andrew Parker’s frustrating injury plagued season ended with a torn hamstring, which in all likelihood would end his time in Chicago too.
September 18th - Richard Bridgewater became the third member of the 300 save club.
September 21st - Dallas rookie 2B Gregg Hopper showed his skills to the nation, going 3-4 with a double and two homeruns, driving in eight in a 12-5 Dallas victory over Seattle.
September 24th - Boston RF Brady Avery suffered a concussion when he collided with the outfield wall making a defensive play. The next day after consulting with Avery’s doctors, Boston placed him onto the DL ending his season.
September 26th - Jonathan Russell collected his 57th steal setting a new NABL record for steals in a season breaking his own mark set in 2018.
|