Diaz' 5 Hits, 2 Homers, 5 RBIs Lift Islanders Over Braves; Burnes Fans 11 as Otters Tame Highlander
July 7, 2024
San Diego (UBAN) - Yandy Diaz launched 2 homeruns and had 5 RBI and Jordan Lyles came through with a solid 7 innings as the Hawaii Islanders defeated the San Diego Braves 9 to 1 at PETCO Park.
Diaz was unconscious out there. While San Diego pitching was serving softballs up there for him to hit, the San Diego fans were serving up some hardball barbs when he entered the batter's box. But he just used it as fuel for the fire. He hit a bases-empty home run in the 1st inning, doubled bringing in a run in the 3rd inning, lifted one out of the park for a two run home run in the 5th inning, ripped a base-knock in the 8th inning and smacked a single which plated a run in the 9th inning. Hawaii had 11 hits overall, while San Diego had 2.
Lyles(6-7) went 7 innings allowing no runs for the win. Shane McClanahan(6-6) absorbed the loss. While he was the losing pitcher, he still struck out 10 batters in 7 innings.
'I've spent a lot of time in the cage and made some adjustments and they've paid off,' Diaz said. 'I just take the same approach up there. I don't overanalyze it. I go up there, see the ball and try to put a good swing on it.'
Corbin Burnes reeled off a total of 11 strikeouts at Babe Ruth Park where the Chicago Otters beat the New York Highlanders by the score of 5 to 3.
Burnes(10-3) earned his pay with a solid performance for Chicago. He went 7 and 1/3 innings and surrended up 9 hits and 3 walks. Both teams ended up with 9 hits on the afternoon.
Burnes got relief help from Enyel De Los Santos who gained credit for his 3rd save. Alec Marsh(0-2) was given the loss. He was knocked around pretty good, giving up 5 runs in 4 innings.
'Everything felt great' Burnes said. 'I had a good fastball, I felt I could throw it by everybody today.'