Tag Archives: Bernie Williams

Minnesota Twins’ José Miranda Ties MLB Record for Consecutive At-Bats

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José Miranda has swung into the MLB history books…

The 26-year-old Minnesota Twins infielder tied Major League Baseball history on Saturday, running his streak of consecutive at-bats with a hit to a record-tying 12 after a fourth-inning single against the Houston Astros.

Jose MirandaMiranda subsequently made his first out in days in the sixth inning, hitting a fly out to left fielder Chas McCormick that ended his bid at sole ownership of the record.

While Miranda’s attempt to become the first Major League Baseball player since at least 1961 to record a hit 11 plate appearances in a row was snapped earlier on Saturday, when he was hit by a pitch from Hunter Brown in the first inning, he did single in his first and second official at-bats.

Miranda set the Twins’ record for most consecutive hits with his 10th in a row on Friday night.

Miranda’s streak will live on in a three-way tie for the MLB record for most consecutive at-bats with a hit, alongside Walt Dropo (1952), Pinky Higgins (1938) and Johnny Kling (1902).

Jose MirandaAdditionally, Miranda is the only player in the Expansion Era to extend his consecutive hits streak to 12 at-bats in a row. Dustin Pedroia (2016) and Bernie Williams (2002) both ran streaks to 11.

Miranda, who served as DH on Friday, went 4-for-4 with a double and a home run.

He had previously recorded a 5-for-5 showing on Thursday, and had notched a hit in his final at-bat on Wednesday. In the process of linking together 10 straight hits, Miranda eclipsed the Twins’ all-time record for consecutive hits, previously established by three players since the team relocated to Minnesota: Tony Oliva in 1967, Mickey Hatcher in 1985, and Todd Walker in 1998.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli pinch-hit for Miranda with Austin Martin later in the game. The Twins were trailing by eight at the time. They would later cut that to one run, with Miranda’s spot due up next when the final out was recorded.

“Those guys, they play virtually every day and they’re doing a good job,” Baldelli explained afterward. “In an eight-run game, they’ve been on their feet for a while. No reason not to get them off.”

Miranda has been one of the most pleasant individual surprises of the season. In 71 games, he’s batted .324/.364/.529 (150 OPS+) with nine home runs and 21 additional extra-base hits. For those wondering, he’s seen his seasonal OPS improve from .822 to .901 over the last three games alone.

Jose Altuve Homers to Tie for Second on MLB’s All-Time Playoff Home Run Leaderboard

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Jose Altuve has batted his way into the Major League Baseball history books…

During Game 2 of the World Series, the 31-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball player and Houston Astros second baseman hit a home run off a first-pitch fastball from Drew Smyly, leading off the bottom of the seventh by sneaking a fly ball just inside the left-field pole for a 7-2 Astros lead.

Jose Altuve

It was Altuve’s 22nd career home run in the postseason, tying him with Bernie Williams for second on the all-time list.

The two trail behind Manny Ramirez‘s 29 postseason homers.

While Williams did it in 121 games, Altuve has required just 75. Altuve had struggled in the ALCS, hitting .125 (although with two home runs), and then went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Game 1.

He then turned around and gave Houston two big swings in Game 2 on Wednesday night — including an historic one.

“To hit 22 homers in the playoffs and tie him — always every time that my name is mentioned, before it was Derek Jeter, now it’s Bernie Williams — it means a lot to me,” Altuve said. “It makes me keep going out there, hitting homers to help my team, to keep accomplishing things like this. As long as we win, everything’s good.”

Overall, the 2017 American League MVP Award winner is Houston’s all-time leader in postseason hits (88), runs (66) and home runs (22), and this year, he became the fastest player in MLB history to hit 20 postseason home runs when he went deep in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Pedrito Martinez to Perform at This Year’s Love Rocks NYC Concert

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Pedrito Martinez will bring some love to the Big Apple…

The fifth annual Love Rocks NYC concert will feature a performance by the 47-year-old Cuban percussionist, drummer, singer, dancer, bandleader, songwriter, composer, and educator.

Pedrito Martinez

Martinez joins a lineup that includes Sara Bareilles, Jon Bon Jovi, Gary Clark Jr., Yola and more, according to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

The benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver, which was founded during the AIDS epidemic in 1985 in efforts to deliver meals to vulnerable people, will stream on Fans.Live from the historic Beacon Theatre on June 3.

Jeff Garlin, Michael Imperioli and Bernie Williams will host the show this year, with special guest Tina Fey.

Love Rocks NYC will not only support and honor the work of the nonprofit, which is celebrating its 36th anniversary this year, but also NYC frontline workers who have been tirelessly aiding the city throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interested parties can sign up to receive a free livestream link here, but a donation to God’s Love We Deliver of $20, which equals two meals, is encouraged.

The star-studded lineup for Love Rocks NYC 2021 will also include Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Emily King, Ledisi, Tash Neal, Fantastic Negrito, Ivan Neville, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff and Jimmy Vivino. More performers will be announced at a later date.

Aguilar to be Honored at the Hispanic Heritage Awards

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Pepe Aguilar is preparing to celebrate an extra special Hispanic Heritage Month…

The 46-year-old Mexican American singer-songwriter is among the Latino luminaries being feted at this year’s Hispanic Heritage Awards on September 18.

Pepe Aguilar

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has announced that Aguilar, among others, will be honored at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., with PBS airing the awards show as a one-hour special on September 29.

Aguilar, a four-time Grammy winner and four-time Latin Grammy winner, will receive the Master of Arts award in recognition of his thriving career in the music industry.

In addition to Aguilar, the 2014 honorees include the Hayden High School Robotics Team (Education), Bernie Williams (Sports), Carlos Vives (Legend), Henry R. Munoz III (Leadership), Zoe Saldana (Vision), Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (Science Technology Engineering Math) and a special recognition for the 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, “The Borinqueneers.”

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is proud to honor yet another inspiring group of Latino leaders,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “The Hispanic community has made significant contributions throughout history, and we are proud to recognize that impact. Beyond celebrating our past success, we are focused on the future. Now more than ever, Latinos will play a vital role in moving America forward.”

The Hispanic Heritage Awards were launched in 1987 by the White House as a way to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S.

The awards receive support from about 40 national institutions who co-host the program.

Correa Becomes the MLB’s First Puerto Rican No. 1 Draft Pick

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He’s only 17-year-old… But Carlos Correa has already made it into annals of baseball…

The Houston Astros selected the Puerto Rican baseball phenom as the No. 1 pick Monday night, making him the first player from Puerto Rico to lead off the Major League Baseball draft.

Carlos Correa

“This means a lot,” said Correa, who was all smiles when he heard his name called, knowing he’d made hometown history at the baseball draft. “We’ve got a lot of good players there.”

Despite producing its share of baseball royalty like Roberto Clemente, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Juan Gonzalez and Bernie Williams, Correa is the first selection from Puerto Rico. Some of those players signed as free agents — catcher Ramon Castro had been the highest-drafted player out of Puerto Rico, going No. 17 to Houston in 1994.

“I feel so excited to be the No. 1 pick,” said Correa, who was congratulated by Delgado on Twitter. “I’ve worked so hard to be here.”

It was the first time Houston had the top pick in the draft since 1992, when the Astros selected Phil Nevin — passing on future star Derek Jeter, who went five spots later to the New York Yankees.

“I have read about that,” said Correa, calling Jeter his idol. “I want to be like him. He’s awesome.”

Carlos Correa

First-year Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Correa “has a chance to be a star” who could hit 20-30 home runs in the pros, whether it’s in his current role as a shortstop or “ultimately maybe third base.”

Correa said he’d like to stay at shortstop and plans to use his signing bonus to help his family.

As he walked to the podium and shook hands with commissioner Bud Selig before a brief hug, Correa pulled out a small Puerto Rican flag and held it up to cheers from the crowd of major league representatives and fans gathered in the stadium-themed studio.

While recent drafts lacked first-pick intrigue, Luhnow said the Astros didn’t settle on Correa until about an hour before they went on the clock. Several mock draft lists predicted the Astros would select Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, but instead Houston made a somewhat surprising selection — although Correa was considered one of the top five players available.

Correa, who has an incredibly strong arm and terrific instincts on defense, may be the highly sought after “big-time bat” for the middle of Astros lineup. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound star from Santa Isabel was a star at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He’s committed to the University of Miami, but will likely head to Houston’s farm system instead.

“Right now, he stays at shortstop and if he was to happen to grow out of it, it’s the power that’s the attraction here and it’s the middle of the order potential impact bat,” Astros scouting director and assistant general manager Bobby Heck said. “So if he has to move, his profile is still very, very strong.”

Meanwhile, Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora was selected sixth by the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m speechless,” said Almora by phone in an interview with MLB.com, about an hour after the 18-year-old was drafted. “I don’t remember much of anything that happened tonight. I know that the Cubs drafted me, and I’m grateful, but I’m still kind of shocked and overwhelmed.”

The first round and the compensation rounds are completed Monday night, with rounds 2 through 40 conducted over the next two days via conference call with the teams.