MLB Notebook: Benches clear in Red Sox-Rockies game after former Blue Jay mocked for parking lot masturbation arrest
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Photo credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Brett Holden
Jul 25, 2024, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Jul 25, 2024, 17:41 EDT
Benches cleared in Colorado this week after Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill decided to give former Blue Jay Reese McGuire a subtle reminder of a previous legal issue.
After getting him to fly out into center field to end the top of the fourth inning, Quantrill approached McGuire up the first baseline screaming.
I can’t imagine why Reese McGuire would’ve been upset by that!
Back in 2020, McGuire, who was with the Blue Jays organization at the time, was taken into custody after being spotted masturbating in the parking lot of a mall in Dunedin, Florida. McGuire was in the middle of Blue Jays Spring Training when the incident occurred and decided to plead no contest to the disorderly conduct charge. He would be fined $500 USD.
Quantrill’s celebration of McGuire’s popup did not sit well with the 29-year-old catcher, who shot words at Quantrill first. After the Canadian righty delivered the quote, Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings stepped in as the potential peacemaker in the melee, but peace did not ensue.
Red Sox starter and fellow Canadian Nick Pivetta stepped in to grab McGuire as he gave the business to both Quantrill and Rockies manager Bud Black.
Cooler heads would prevail as McGuire would finish the game 0-4 with a strikeout The Red Sox would lose 20-7. The 20 runs put up by the Rockies are tied for the most runs scored in a single game in franchise history.

Dylan Cease tosses second no-hitter in Padres history

San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease has thrown the second no-hitter in franchise history and the second of the 2024 season.
Cease struck out nine Nationals on 114 pitches while issuing three walks, officially sealing the no-no on a CJ Abrams flyout to right field. But, there were some close calls for Cease and the Pads’ defence.
Xander Bogaerts probably made Dylan Cease’s heart skip a couple of beats throughout the game bobbling one groundball from former Dodger Keibert Ruiz, but recovered in time to throw out the catcher in the bottom of the eighth. Before that, Bogaerts had to chase down a shallow flyball floated by Juan Yepez in the fifth inning. As he tried to brace for the plunging ball, it popped back into the air off his glove and settled into Jackson Merrill’s leather.  
The righty joins his teammate, Joe Musgrove as the only other pitcher to throw a no-hitter for the Padres organization. In his second start as a Padre, Musgrove threw the first-ever no-no in club history in 2021. The San Diego native was acquired by the Friars that winter in a massive three-team deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.
Similar to Musgrove, Cease is in the middle of his first season in America’s Finest City, and Cease was also acquired in a massive deal just before the season started.
But, this isn’t the first time Cease has flirted with history.
In September 2022, Cease was an out away from his first career no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins. Unfortunately, Cease would give up a two-out single to none other than his current teammate, Luis Arráez. Cease would strike out Kyle Garlick in the next at-bat to finish the one-hitter.
Now, this no-no almost seemed inevitable looking at his last three starts; over his last 22.0 innings, Cease has allowed two hits while striking out 30 and hasn’t allowed a run in 65 at-bats and earned a win in all three starts. With his 10th win on Thursday, Cease jumps into third in the National League in wins, first in strikeouts with 168, and third in batting average with .191.
The win puts the Padres a half-game up on the St. Louis Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot in the NL and 7.0 back of the NL West-leading Dodgers.

Quick Notes:

  • Christian Yelich will not require season-ending back surgery. Yelich was placed on the IL earlier this week with lower back inflammation and once thought he may require surgery to correct an ailing back issue. Yelich will avoid the operation, for now, and will rest and rehab for the rest of the year. There still is a chance for surgery in the offseason.
  • Kevin Kiermaier says he will retire at the end of the season. The 12-year veteran is widely regarded as one of the best center fielders of this generation. Kiermaier spent 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays before heading north to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023.
  • Dodgers Designate Canadian James Paxton for assignment.  Paxton made 18 starts for the Dodgers this season and was the only pitcher to not touch the IL for L.A. this season. The move was followed by the activation of Clayton Kershaw from the injured list and also saw the promotion of the organization’s No. 4 prospect, River Ryan.