MLB Notebook: Hechavarria racks up the RBIs

On July 8, 2006, the Marlins were in New York to take on the Mets in a doubleheader at Shea Stadium. After a taut 3-2 victory for the visitors in Game 1, the tables were turned -- demonstratively -- in Game 2. Thanks in great part to Jose Valentin's career-best seven RBIs, the Mets ran away from Florida, defeating the Marlins, 17-3.

The second baseman's special RBI day came from just two swings, with a grand slam in the first and a bases-clearing triple in the very next inning. It would be another seven seasons before the Majors saw another player hit a bases-clearing triple and a grand slam in the same game, and as it turns out, the next occurrence would also involve the Marlins.

Hechavarria rolls seven
Batting eighth and playing shortstop on Sunday, Miami's Adeiny Hechavarria drove in seven runs, with a bases-clearing triple and a grand slam, in the Marlins' 14-2 win over the Phillies.

• Hechavarria is the 12th National League No. 8 hitter since 1916 to have at least seven RBIs in a game. He is the first since Cubs catcher Geovany Soto in 2008. The only other shortstops among this group are the Astros' Rafael Ramirez (1989) and the Cardinals' Leo Durocher (1935). Hechavarria is the only Marlins No. 8 hitter to do this.

• Hechavarria is the also the first Marlins shortstop to ever drive in seven runs. Since 1916, 12 NL shortstops have had at least seven RBIs in a game, with the most recent before Sunday being Troy Tulowitzki in 2010. Tulowitzki was actually responsible for the past two occurrences.

Slowey does it for Marlins
Kevin Slowey (seven innings, two hits and zero runs) earned his first win of 2013 in the Marlins' 12-run victory. Slowey, who owns a 1.81 ERA in his seven starts this season, is one of 48 pitchers in Marlins history to have at least seven starts through the club's first 32 games. Of these 48, his ERA in his collection of starts is the third lowest. In 2005, Dontrelle Willis owned a 1.08 ERA in his seven starts, while in 2011, Josh Johnson posted a 1.68 ERA in his seven starts.

Doc looking for a cure
• The Marlins jumped on Roy Halladay for nine earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. With his previous start seeing the right-hander allow eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, Halladay is the 13th pitcher since 1916 to have back-to-back outings of less than four innings and at least eight earned runs allowed. Halladay is the first pitcher to suffer through two straight appearances like this since Ricky Nolasco in May 2009, and the first Phillies pitcher to do it since Gavin Floyd in 2005.

Marte gets Bucs going
• Pirates leadoff hitter Starling Marte went 1-for-4, and he got things started for Pittsburgh with a home run in the bottom of the first in the Bucs' 6-2 loss to the Nationals. Marte has reached safely in 28 of the Pirates' first 31 games -- the most for any Pittsburgh leadoff hitter since Lloyd Waner reached in 29 of the team's first 31 games in 1931.

Mauer doubles his fun to 1,300
• Joe Mauer doubled in the seventh inning of the Twins' 4-2 win over the Indians, giving him 1,300 hits in his career. Mauer is the eighth catcher in history to reach the plateau through his age-30 season.

Garcia strong for Cards
Jaime Garcia allowed one run in eight innings -- improving to 4-1 with the Cardinals' 10-1 rout of the Brewers. St. Louis pitchers have 15 outings this season in which the starter has finished with at least six innings and no more than one run allowed, with those 15 the most in the Majors. The Mariners have the second most, 12.

Darvish on a strikeout kick
In the Rangers' 31st game of the year, right-hander Yu Darvish struck out 14 Red Sox -- the second time this season he's reached 14 K's and the fourth time in 2013 that he's punched out at least 10.

• Darvish is the fourth pitcher since 1916 to have at least 14 K's in a pair of games so early into the season (by team games). Sam McDowell had two in 1968, Jose Rijo matched that feat in '86, and Curt Schilling became the third to do it in 2002.

• Darvish is one of 25 pitchers since 1916 to have at least four double-digit strikeout games so early into the season. The most for any one pitcher through 31 team games -- since 1916 -- is six, by Bob Feller in 1946 and Randy Johnson in both 2000 and '01.

• Darvish now has 12 career double-digit strikeout games in 36 appearances. That total at this point ties him with Hideo Nomo for the second most since 1916, with Dwight Gooden having 16.

Young stars hitting 'em out

• In the Orioles' 8-4 win over the Angels, Manny Machado homered for the third time in his past five games, and Mike Trout homered for the third time in his past five contests. Machado has 12 career home runs, the second most for any player through his age-20 season in Brewers/Browns/Orioles franchise history. Machado is three behind Boog Powell for the most.

Trout's homer was the 40th of his career, making him one of 23 players in history to have that many through his age-21 season. Trout is currently tied with Powell and Hank Aaron on this list.

Verlander stingy with hits
Tigers ace Justin Verlander allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings and picked up his fourth win of the season, as Detroit blanked Houston, 9-0.

• This game is the 14th that has seen Verlander finish a start with at least seven innings and no more than two hits allowed. Those 14 since his rookie season in 2006 are the most in the Majors, with Jon Lester and Matt Cain tying for the second most, with 12 apiece.

• Verlander's win gave him 128 victories in 239 career games. That total at this point ties Verlander with Dazzy Vance for the sixth most for any pitcher since 1916. Juan Marichal had 138 wins, putting him ahead of Roger Clemens (134), Gooden (132), Feller (130) and Tom Seaver (129).

Here and there
• David Ortiz homered and drove in two runs (giving him 12 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs for the year) in Boston's 4-3 loss to Texas. Ortiz has hit safely in all 13 games he's played in this season. Since 1916, the hitting streak to open his year is the 11th longest for a Red Sox player. Those whose streaks ran to 14 games and then ended: George Burns (1923), Birdie Tebbetts ('50), Eddie Bressoud ('62), Lee Tinsley ('95) and Kevin Millar (2003).

• Rays first baseman James Loney continued his hot hitting, collecting three hits and three runs scored with one RBI in Tampa Bay's 8-3 win in Colorado. Loney owns a .528/.554/.717 slash line in his past 17 games, after sitting at .167/.265/.233 through his first 13 contests.