63.42 Kahil's Home Run Hat Trick Powers Blazers Win

[Bob Breum]

Rookie catcher Qaseem Kahil has been a big part of Montreal's success this season. Today was his best game yet and arguably the best game by any Montreal hitter this season, as he hit three home runs in three at-bats and drove in four runs before manager Paul Scholes had Jim Garrick pinch hit for him in the ninth inning with a seven-run lead. He also threw out Richard Vernon attempting to steal second to end the fourth inning.

Qaseem Kahil
Montreal starter Liam Johnston earned the win as he recorded his eighth quality start for the Blazers since being acquired in mid-June, pitching into the seventh without allowing a run. He is 5-6 with a 3.71 ERA (102 ERA+) in 15 starts with Montreal.


Liam Johnston
Kahil is hitting .258/.318/.458 (118 OPS+) with 14 doubles and 17 home runs but against right-handed pitching he's hitting .277/.333/.498 (133 OPS+). He has accrued 6.9 framing runs behind the plate and has contributed 3.7 WAR so far this season, which ranks third among qualified rookies in the Johnson League. He was originally signed as an international amateur free agent out of Bahrain by San Fernando in 2055 with a $395,823 bonus. Montreal acquired him after the 2061 season in a trade that sent right-handed pitcher Manny Gómez to San Fernando.

[BaseClogger]

You'd never pinch hit for a guy with 3 HRs in real life.

[Bob Breum]

You'd never pinch hit for a guy with 3 HRs in real life.

I thought the exact same thing.