Settling the Score: Friday’s results

When we have talked about the Marlins this season, it usually hasn’t been about anything good. And understandably so. But after he surprisingly made the Opening Day roster, 20-year-old Jose Fernandez has been a pretty consistent bright spot.

Fernandez struck out a career-high 10 batters while allowing three runs — two earned — in seven innings last night in a 5-4 win over the Cardinals. In doing so, he became the first pitcher under the age of 21 to reach double-digit strikeouts in a game since the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez did it in 2007.

With the victory, Fernandez is now 4-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 77/27 K/BB ratio in 72 1/3 innings over his first 13 starts in the majors. He’s a pretty solid lock to represent the Marlins in next month’s All-Star Game.

Your Friday box scores:

Dodgers 0, Pirates 3

Nationals 1, Indians 2

Red Sox 0, Orioles 2

Royals 7, Rays 2

Brewers 3, Reds 4 (10 innings)

Blue Jays 8, Rangers 0

Cubs 6, Mets 3

White Sox 1, Astros 2

Giants 6, Braves 0

Tigers 4, Twins 0

Phillies 8, Rockies 7

Yankees 2, Angels 5

Diamondbacks 1, Padres 2

Mariners 3, Athletics 2

In between one inning during every home game at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillie Phanatic will drive around the edge of the playing field shooting hot dogs into the stands from a pneumatic gun — a hot dog cannon, if you will — mounted on an ATV. Until Monday night, a fan had never been injured during this event.

Sarah Bloomquist of 6 ABC reports that, unfortunately, a Phillies fan was injured on Monday night when the Phillies opened a three-game home series with the Cardinals. Kathy McVay of Plymouth Meeting, PA was hit in the face. McVay said, “I have a small hematoma in my eye. And mostly, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. It’s going to go down the side of my face.” She also suffered cuts and bruises and had to be taken to the hospital to be tested for a concussion.

McVay doesn’t plan to take legal action against the Phillies and seems to be taking the injury with a good sense of humor. She said, “It gives people a good laugh, and if that makes somebody chuckle, then that’s fine.” McVay also advised fellow fans, “Just to be aware, because you never know. I understand a baseball, but not a hot dog.”

The Phillies reached out to apologize to McVay on Tuesday and offered her tickets to another game once she heals, assuming she would like to return to Citizens Bank Park.

One wonders if Monday’s incident might motivate the Phillies to do away with the hot dog cannon stunt. There’s really nothing gained by doing it, and there are plenty of other ways for the Phanatic to have fun with the fans around the ballpark.

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