The Upper Deck

Welcome to The Upper Deck, Baseball America’s daily look at the biggest stories around the game and some lighter fare.

IMMACULATE INNING

Two rain delays that lasted four hours and 37 minutes didn’t bother Dellin Betances much. The 6-foot-8 Yankees reliever entered the game against the Tigers in the eighth inning after the second rain delay and struck out the side, including Miguel Cabrera, on nine pitches. The so-called Immaculate Inning is just the sixth in Yankees’ history and the first since Brandon McCarthy in 2014. The Yanks still lost, 2-0.

STANTON CATCH

Giancarlo Stanton is known for his prodigious power, but don’t sleep on his defense. The Marlins right fielder ended Wednesday night’s game by taking a homer away from the Nationals’ Brian Goodwin.

TAKE A DIVE

Making the extraordinary look ordinary! @tatis_jr does it again with a diving catch! #SCtop10 #PadresOnDeck pic.twitter.com/yMEJZMRi6Z

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) August 3, 2017

Fernando Tatis Jr. is another player who has done damage with the bat but whose defense should not be overlooked. Tatis, playing for the Padres’ low Class A affiliate in Fort Wayne, made that terrific grab above, using his impressive range to make the play.

SAD DAY

38 years ago today, the baseball world lost one of the good ones far too soon. Rest in peace, Thurman Munson. pic.twitter.com/YCw84GeBfv

— MLBPAA (@MLBPAA) August 2, 2017

Hard to believe it’s been 38 years, but Wednesday marked that sad anniversary for Yankees fans of a certain age. On Aug. 2, 1979 Yankees catcher and captain Thurman Munson died practicing takeoffs and landings in his Cessna jet at Akron-Canton airport. The 1976 AL MVP was just 32.

HERO ON THE CAPE

Congrats Griffin Conine of the @CotuitKettleers for winning the CCBL McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award as voted on by the MLB Scouts! pic.twitter.com/FzCPOJmSMG

— Cape League (@Official_CCBL) August 3, 2017

Griffin Conine, son of longtime big league Jeff Conine, was honored by scouts as top pro prospect in the Cape Cod League. Check out Shawn McFarland’s story on Conine here.

ROSE CELEBRATION CANCELED

The Phillies canceled two events honoring Pete Rose following a statutory rape allegation that came to light against baseball’s all-time hit leader. Rose was expected to be part of the Phillies’ alumni weekend on Aug. 10-13, with a bobblehead giveaway planned as well. In a statement, Rose said he didn’t want to be a distraction and agreed with the decision.

Rose was accused of having a sexual relationship with a woman in the 1970s before she turned 16, according to court documents obtained by ESPN.com. Rose, 76, said he had a sexual relationship with the woman, but believed she was 16. Rose was 34 at the time.