A Baseball Chuckle

Some players still enjoy it as the game it is.

ANAHEIM -- Garrett Richards came into the Angels’ clubhouse proudly holding a piece of paper Saturday afternoon. Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre had sent him an invoice for $300 after Richards broke three of his bats Friday night.

It was a real invoice, like Beltre went to an office-supply store and bought a pack of them or something. “Cash only, no checks,” he wrote above his signature.

Richards and teammate Mike Trout laughed about it, and Richards sent back a signed batting-practice bat, inscribing on it he hoped that covered his debt.

Beltre said it was the first time he had ever broken three bats in a game.

The two men squared for off three at-bats Friday; Richards got him out all three times. He threw Beltre 13 pitches, 11 of which were strikes, and Beltre swung nine times.

Ten of Richards’ pitches were 95 mph or faster, including one at 97. The last pitch he threw Beltre was a 95-mph cutter on the outside corner, on which Beltre broke his bat for an inning-ending double play.

“I always love facing him,” Richards said. “We have that good battle every time."