Did You Know...?

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Need some sports tidbits for an awkward elevator ride? Wanna impress a date? Wanna bore a science nerd? Well, you've come to the right place...

Here are some nuggets to chew on:

Rookie Omir Santos hit a two-out, two-run, ninth-inning home run off Jonathan Papelbon overcoming a 2-1 deficit in the Mets' 3-2 victory at Boston on Saturday Night. Is Santos headed for bigger things? Consider that over the last 20 years, only 13 other rookies have turned a deficit into a lead with a two-out homer in the ninth inning or later. And among the players who did it, as rookies, were several who have gone on to enjoy considerable subsequent success, including Jim Thome in 1991, Eric Karros in 1992, Carlos Beltran and Mike Lowell in 1999, Ryan Zimmerman in 2006 and Ryan Braun in 2007.

Those are just some of the other 13 rookies.

Speaking of 13...

Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 13th save in his 13th try against the Nationals on Monday night. He becomes the first Met in history to be perfect through his first 13 saves. In related news, Mets fans everywhere are seeing reduced blood pressure and less emergency trips to the hospital. That's always a good sign.

I wrote on Saturday night in "Around The Majors" how John Mayberry Jr. hit a home run in his second major league at bat (against the Yankees on Saturday in the Bronx)...

Well, like everyone else, we got a laugh when FOX's telecast repeatedly showed a shot of a fan identified as Mayberry's dad, the former first baseman for the Astros, Royals, Blue Jays and Yankees, who hit 255 big-league home runs. Only the fan who was shown was not actually the elder Mayberry, but someone else; FOX found the real Mayberry later on, and had fun with the misidentification. But it would have been nice had the broadcast crew mentioned-had it known, of course-that the senior Mayberry owns a unique distinction at the old Yankee Stadium. He was the only visiting player in the history of the House That Ruth Built to hit a home run there in each of four consecutive games in the same series. Mayberry did that in 1972, his first year with the Royals.

(Click on the Picture to Magnify for Full Funniness)

Finally, we come to the comeback. Monday was the first day in major-league history on which two different teams won games after trailing by at least six runs in the eighth inning or later. Cleveland was down 8-2 in the eighth inning before rallying to beat Tampa Bay and San Diego overcame a 7-1 deficit in the eighth inning and defeated Arizona.

Well, if this doesn't impress or bore - I dunno what will.

Signing out, Eli's Sports Bureau