First Call: Ravens pitch preseason shutout; Cubs’ Javier Baez bats lefty
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Friday’s “First Call” features a first report on the Ravens, Kyler Murray’s debut, another preseason pass-interference review and a little fun for the Reds and Cubs — before and during the game.
Meanwhile in Baltimore
We showed you how the Browns showed up with a 30-10 win in the preseason opener.
Baltimore was pretty good against Jacksonville, too.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was 4 for 6 with a touchdown pass to Willie Snead.
TOUCHDOWN @Willie_Snead4G. pic.twitter.com/dbjeKTJEa9
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 9, 2019
And Kenny Young may have turned in an early nominee for legal hit of the year.
KENNY@KennyYounggg pic.twitter.com/fStHSNEnwy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 9, 2019
One of the few unfortunate results was Penn State product Trace McSorley only going 9 for 22 with an interception. He did have a touchdown to Miles Boykin taken off the board, though.
We know it didn't count…
But this TD throw from @McSorley_IX to @MBoykin814 was prettyyyy. pic.twitter.com/9j0WKCcMHo
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 9, 2019
Baltimore ended up winning easily anyway, 29-0.
Not a bad start
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray got off to a good start as well.
The first pick of the 2019 draft completed 6-of-7 passes to begin the game.
Kyler Murray goes perfect in first NFL action: 6-for-6 for 44 yards @K1 | #LACvsAZ pic.twitter.com/Y67gOVciV9
— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2019
Murray got sacked once. The Cardinals beat the Chargers, 17-13.
Get ready
What are NFL pass-interference reviews going to look like?
A lot like this.
The defender is holding the receiver’s left arm. That’s absolutely PI. https://t.co/mfnOwhQhlx
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) August 9, 2019
I’ll agree with Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News here. That was absolutely pass interference.
But I’ll also agree with the original tweet. This is going to be a nightmare.
In this case, that was a challenge of a non-call from coach Adam Gase of the Jets. So it felt more standard.
The issues will come when the booth sinks its teeth into every single play within the last two minutes.
Let the kids play!
Thursday night, the Cubs were blowing out the Reds, 12-5.
So Kyle Farmer, who also played second base and catcher in the game, ended up pitching. He threw 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball.
Maybe Javy Baez would’ve hit a homer if he decided to take a hack from his usual side of the plate. Instead, he decided to have a little fun himself and bat left-handed in the ninth inning.
Javier Baez is an entertainer.
He just batted left-handed!pic.twitter.com/jEx99INsPy
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) August 9, 2019
Not a bad effort. But he didn’t quite get enough. Baez had two hits earlier in the game batting as a righty.
That’s a twist
When Reds outfielder Derek Dietrich isn’t pimping home runs, he spends some of his free time dating WTA tennis player Monica Puig.
She’s competing in the Western & Southern Open this week. And the Reds had her throw out the first pitch.
Kind of.
.@MonicaAce93 served a perfect strike
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 8, 2019
I think it would’ve been funnier if she showed up in a Chris Archer jersey and served it behind Dietrich.