Very busy day in baseball, as we got a couple of morning games to hold us over before the teams involved hit the road to the next venue. As a prelude, I would like to thank Russia for their 1000th view on the blog. It means a lot to me. As for the baseball, we begin in...
Atlanta, as the Braves host the New York Mets. R.A. Dickey and Jair Jurrjens got the starts. New York began with a second inning Ike Davis solo home run. Atlanta answered in the bottom of the second as Juan Francisco hit a two-run homer, also scoring Freddie Freeman. The Mets answered in the third with David Wright doubling in Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Daniel Murphy. The Braves retook the lead in the bottom of the third on a Martin Prado double that brought in both Jurrjens and Michael Bourn, before he came all the way home as Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer. New York tied it up as Wright hit a single that gave Nieuwenhuis time to get home safely in the fifth inning. Atlanta responded as Freeman hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Uggla. The Mets replied in the sixth with Nieuwenhuis singling in Josh Thole. The Braves shot back with a Chipper Jones double driving in Tyler Pastornicky in their half of the sixth, followed by Jones crossing the plate when Bourn singled. Atlanta padded the lead in the seventh as Matt Diaz and Bourn each hit singles that brought in David Ross and Pastornicky. New York tried to get one back in the eighth inning as Murphy singled to score Nieuwenhuis. This proved futile in the bottom of the eighth as the Braves made it a 14-6 game when Freeman hit a sacrifice fly to get Jason Heyward home, followed by Ross doubling to knock in Francisco. The win went to Christhian Martinez, while Dickey suffered the brutal loss.
Westward to Arizona, where the Diamondbacks welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates. James McDonald and Daniel Hudson were set to pitch. Arizona led off with a first inning Jason Kubel single to bring around Willie Bloomquist. Pittsburgh answered in the seventh inning on a solo shot by Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning as Neil Walker ripped a single to get Clint Barmes home safely. This was all there was for scoring, with the win going to Brad Lincoln, the save to Juan Cruz, and the loss to Daniel Hudson.
At the normal times, the New York Yankees hosted the Minnesota Twins. Jason Marquis and Hiroki Kuroda took to the pitching. Minnesota started off with a Jamey Carroll double giving time for Denard Span to score, followed by a Joe Mauer ground rule double, forcing in Carroll, and he came all the way home as Justin Morneau launched a two-run home run. New York got most of them back in the bottom of the first as Robinson Cano doubled in Derek Jeter before crossing the plate alongside Curtis Granderson on a Nick Swisher single. The Twins replied in the third with a Sean Burroughs single to score Morneau. The Yankees replied with a solo home run by Cano. Minnesota answered in the fifth with Morneau hitting a solo shot. New York almost rallied in the ninth as Jeter launched a ninth inning solo home run, but they couldn't tie it, losing 6-5. Marquis was in line for the win, Matt Capps converted a rocky save, and Kuroda was stuck with the loss.
Onward to Washington, as the Nationals bring in the Houston Astros. Lucas Harrell and Jordan Zimmermann were given the ball. Houston opened the scoring with a fourth inning groundout by Travis Buck to give time for Jordan Schafer to score. Washington tied it in the seventh inning when Roger Bernadina hit a double to knock in Rick Ankiel. The Astros gained the lead again in the eighth inning as Schafer singled in Jason Castro. The Nationals took the lead themselves in the bottom of the eighth as Jayson Werth drew a bases loaded walk that forced in Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos hit a sacrifice fly to score Adam LaRoche. They held on for a 3-2 win, which was credited to Ryan Mattheus, while Henry Rodriguez picked up the save, and Fernando Rodriguez was stuck holding the loss.
North of the border, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays. David Price opposes fellow ace Brandon Morrow from the mound. Tampa Bay was first to score with a first inning Ben Zobrist two-run homer, also scoring Desmond Jennings. Toronto answered with a Jose Bautista single in the bottom of the first that knocked in Yunel Escobar. The Rays answered in the second inning on a Sean Rodriguez sacrifice fly, allowing Matt Joyce to score. Jeff Mathis shot back for the Blue Jays with a solo shot in the bottom of the second. Tampa Bay padded the lead in the fourth as Jose Molina singled Joyce home. The Rays extended the lead with a pair of solo home runs in the sixth inning, as both Joyce and Rodriguez went yard. Tampa Bay pumped their lead in the ninth as Carlos Pena drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Rodriguez, followed by an Evan Longoria single driving in Jennings before Luke Scott blasted a grand slam, scoring Zobrist, Pena, and Longoria as well as himself for a 12-2 final. Price coasted for a win, while Morrow was stuck with the loss.
Back stateside, the Boston Red Sox host the Texas Rangers. Derek Holland and Josh Beckett take the hill. Boston began with a second inning two-run homer by Kevin Youkilis, also scoring David Ortiz. Texas got one back in the third when Josh Hamilton singled in Ian Kinsler. The Rangers took the lead with a two-run home run by Mike Napoli in the fourth inning, sweeping in David Murphy. Texas padded their lead in the eighth inning when Craig Gentry was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in Hamilton, and then Napoli doubled to score both Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz. The Red Sox got one back in the ninth as Ryan Sweeney singled in Cody Ross for a 6-3 final. Holland picked up the win while Beckett took another loss.
Down in Florida, the Miami Marlins hosted the Chicago Cubs. Matt Garza and Mark Buehrle earned the starts. Miami dented the scoreboard first with a Donnie Murphy two-run home run, also scoring John Buck in the third inning. The Marlins padded the lead in the fifth with another two-run homer, this time off the bat of Hanley Ramirez, sweeping in Emilio Bonifacio. Miami added on in the sixth as Gaby Sanchez doubled in Giancarlo Stanton before coming all the way home on a Buehrle single, followed by a Jose Reyes sacrifice fly giving Murphy time for safe passage home. Chicago got on the board in the seventh inning when Ian Stewart grounded out to give time for Jeff Baker to come home. The Marlins answered in the bottom of the seventh on a Murphy sacrifice fly, allowing safe passage for Chris Coghlan. Miami made it 9-1 in the eighth inning, an eventual final, as Coghlan grounded into a fielder's choice to give time for Reyes to cross the plate. Buehrle was in line for the win while Garza suffered a tough loss.
Speaking of Chicago, we head northwest as the White Sox host the Baltimore Orioles. Tommy Hunter and Jake Peavy will be playing from the mound. Baltimore started off with an Endy Chavez double to score Adam Jones in the second inning. Chicago answered in the bottom of the second as A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Paul Konerko. The White Sox added on with a third inning Alex Rios sacrifice fly, allowing time for Adam Dunn to dart home. Chicago extended the lead in the fourth inning as Alejandro De Aza hit a solo shot. The White Sox struck again with Gordon Beckham knocking Rios in with a single in the sixth inning, followed by Dunn's 3-RBI double, forcing in Alexei Ramirez, Beckham, and De Aza. This made it 8-1, with Peavy earning the win and Hunter taking a brutal loss.
North of there, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chris Capuano and Zack Greinke get the manager's approval to start. Los Angeles led off with a first inning Matt Kemp single, driving in Mark Ellis. Mat Gamel answered for Milwaukee with a single of his own in the second inning, pushing in Corey Hart. The Dodgers got the lead back when A.J. Ellis grounded into a fielder's choice in the fifth inning, giving time for Jerry Hairston, Jr. to score. Milwaukee won it with a Ryan Braun sacrifice fly in the tenth inning, driving in Nyjer Morgan for a 3-2 victory. Kameron Loe was in line for the win while Matt Guerrier was stuck with the loss.
Back to the south, as the Kansas City Royals host the Detroit Tigers. Max Scherzer and Jonathan Sanchez are the much-maligned starting pitchers. Detroit began with a second inning Jhonny Peralta single, scoring Ryan Raburn. Kansas City took the lead in the third inning as Alcides Escobar hit a two-run homer, also scoring Mitch Maier. The Royals padded the lead with a Humberto Quintero double, knocking in Billy Butler. The Tigers replied in the fifth inning on a Prince Fielder double, giving Miguel Cabrera plenty of time to come home. Detroit gained the lead in the seventh inning as Gerald Laird scored on a wild pitch and Fielder then singled Cabrera across the plate again. They held on from here to win 4-3, with the win going to Scherzer, Jose Valverde converted the save, and Jose Mijares was responsible for the loss.
Across the state, the St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Cincinnati Reds. Mat Latos and Jaime Garcia will be the dueling pitchers. St. Louis struck early with a Lance Berkman single to score Rafael Furcal in the first inning, before he came home alongside Carlos Beltran as David Freese doubled. The Cardinals extended the lead in the second inning when Beltran hit a two-run home run, also scoring Tyler Greene. Cincinnati got on the board with a fifth inning Devin Mesoraco single allowing Chris Heisey to score. St. Louis fired back as the pitcher Garcia tripled (you read that correctly, tripled) Freese and Jon Jay home before coming home himself on a Furcal single. The Cardinals scored some more for good measure in the eighth as Greene lifted a two-run homer, bringing Yadier Molina too, followed by Furcal singling to drive in Shane Robinson. This made it 11-1, with Garcia earning the win and Latos being pinned with the loss.
Out to Colorado, where the Rockies host the San Diego Padres. Clayton Richard and Juan Nicasio were sent out to pitch. San Diego struck first with a Chase Headley solo home run in the first inning. Colorado answered in the second inning on a Chris Nelson double that brought in both Todd Helton and Willin Roasio, followed by Jonathan Herrera hitting a two-run home run that completed Nelson's trip around the bases and a Dexter Fowler double that allowed Marco Scutaro to score. The Rockies padded the lead in the fifth inning on a Michael Cuddyer two-run homer, also scoring Carlos Gonzalez. The Padres got some back as Headley went yard again in the sixth inning, this time sweeping in Will Venable as well. Colorado shot back with a Nicasio single in the bottom of the sixth, giving time for Nelson to cross home. This was all for scoring, giving the Rockies an 8-4 win, with Nicasio getting the W and Richard being dealt the loss.
Westward farther to Anaheim, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Oakland Athletics. Bartolo Colon and Ervin Santana earned the starts. Oakland busted things opened with a first inning three-run homer by Yoenis Cespedes, forcing in Cliff Pennington and Josh Reddick. The Athletics added on with a sixth inning solo home run by Jonny Gomes. Oakland extended the lead in the ninth with a Jemile Weeks double, knocking in Eric Sogard, before coming home as Gomes drew a bases loaded walk. This made it 6-0, a final, with Colon getting the win and Santana being a victim of a lack of run support in the loss.
North to Seattle, with the Mariners hosting the Cleveland Indians. Derek Lowe and Jason Vargas are the under-appreciated pitchers. Seattle started off with a pair of solo home runs, as both Chone Figgins and Ichiro went yard. The Mariners padded the lead in the second inning when Jesus Montero drew a bases-loaded walk, forcing in Brendan Ryan. Jason Kipnis got Cleveland got on the board in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to bring home Aaron Cunningham. Seattle answered with a fourth inning Dustin Ackley single, knocking in Ryan. This made it 4-1, a score that held through the rest of the game, with Vargas getting the win, Brandon League cleanly converting the save, and Lowe taking a hard-luck loss.
Finally, we end the day in San Francisco, as the Giants host the Philadelphia Phillies. Cliff Lee and Matt Cain are the pair of aces on the mound. San Francisco got the game's only run in the eleventh inning as Melky Cabrera singled in Brandon Belt. Clay Hensley was in line for the win, while Antonio Bastardo was stuck with the loss. Major props to starters Lee (10 scoreless innings, 7 hits, and 7 strikeouts) and Cain (9 scoreless innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts) for the stunning pitcher's duel. Great game here.
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