Three Strikes: J.J. Watt's bat flip, the best Mother's Day gift ever, Abreu's wild trip
We get it: you had a busy weekend. You were (hopefully) spending at least some of your time remembering that Sunday was Mother's Day. You almost certainly remembered that it was Derek Jeter Night. So because you had so much going on we thought we would offer this helpful recap of all the important things in baseball that you missed.
1. J.J. Watt is an All-Pro bat-flipper
The Houston Texans' defensive end is a four-time Pro Bowler but he played just three games last year because of back injuries. Fortunately it doesn't seem to have affected his baseball swing. On Saturday at Minute Maid Park, Watt hosted his eponymous Charity Classic softball game with his teammates. During the game he hit a home run, which should come as no surprise considering he won the Home Run Derby before the game, which he punctuated with a bat flip that should make major leaguers everywhere envious:
2. Francisco Pena is a better gift-giver than you are
What did you get your mom for Mother's Day? Flowers and a card, right? Maybe you sprang for dinner? Francisco Pena, the Orioles' backup catcher and the son of longtime major league player and coach Tony Pena, promised his mother that he'd hit a home run for her on Saturday. Instead he hit two. Both came off Kansas City righty Nate Karns, one in the third inning and another in the fifth, and were just the second and third home runs of his major league career. The Orioles lost 4-3.
3. Jose Abreu's wild ride
White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has not stolen a base since his rookie season in 2014. So when he reached first base with one out in the fourth inning Saturday night in Chicago against the Padres it didn't seem like San Diego pitcher Trevor Cahill would have to pay much attention to him. But with Avisail Garcia at the plate and a 1-1 count, Cahill uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Abreu to get to second. On the next pitch Cahill threw another one that got away, allowing Abreu to reach third. Finally with a 3-2 count, he bounced another pitch and Abreu scored standing up. He became the first player since the Yankees' Rob Refsnyder last year to score on three wild pitches and the first White Sox player to do so since 1961.
Oh and the reason he was on first base to begin with? He reached on an error.
WATCH: Abreu takes an unusual trip around the bases
