Major League Baseball

Adrian Beltre sends Garrett Richards invoice for three broken bats

Published Apr. 25, 2015 9:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Larry Brown

Garrett Richards displayed his Cy Young contender stuff during a win Friday against the Texas Rangers in just his second start of the season. The 26-year-old went seven strong innings allowing just three hits, three walks, and two runs in the Angels’ 3-2 win. One of his highlights was holding Rangers cleanup hitter Adrian Beltre to an 0-for-3 day. But Richards didn’t just get Beltre out Friday; he broke the third baseman’s bat all three times they faced each other.

At least Beltre had a sense of humor about it.

The Rangers All-Star sent Richards an invoice Saturday for the three broken bats. The OC Register’s Pedro Moura says the invoice was official looking — like the kind you would receive from a store — and included the words, “Cash only, no checks,” above Beltre’s signature.

Richards apparently loved it. And why wouldn’t he? That’s a high compliment from one of the better hitters in the league. He responded by sending Beltre back an autographed bat.

Richards was really bringing the heat Friday, too. 11 of his 13 pitches to Beltre were strikes, with 10 of them being 95 mph or faster, including one at 97, according to Moura.

This is easily the best story involving broken bats since what the Twins did with them. More hitters should have this sort of sense of humor about things. Then again, most haven’t had the type of success Beltre has during their career and probably wouldn’t feel as comfortable paying a compliment to an opposing pitcher.

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