MLB Day 25 2012

Only eight games on today as it is a heavy day of travel for the ball clubs. We begin in...

Cleveland, with the Indians hosting the Kansas City Royals. Luis Mendoza and Josh Tomlin will play from the mound. Kansas City began with Eric Hosmer grounding into a double play in the first inning, providing time for Yuniesky Betancourt to dash home. Cleveland answered in the third inning as Aaron Cunningham singled home Jose Lopez. The Royals got the lead back in the fifth inning as Jeff Francoeur singled in Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas did the same for Billy Butler, and Francoeur finished his trip around as Brayan Pena singled. The Indians got one back in the sixth inning as Travis Hafner hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Michael Brantley. The scoring ended here, as Kansas City won 4-2 behind Mendoza's effort, and Jonathan Broxton got a save while Tomlin took the loss.

Staying in Ohio, the Cincinnati Reds hosted the San Francisco Giants. Ryan Vogelsong and Homer Bailey were sent out to pitch. Cincinnati drew first blood as Devin Mesoraco hit a sacrifice fly to knock in Brandon Phillips and Bailey singled, scoring Jay Bruce. San Francisco tied it in the fourth inning as Brandon Belt singled in Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Theriot's sacrifice fly gave time for Buster Posey to dash home. The Reds got the lead back as Bruce hit a two-run home run, also scoring Phillips in the sixth inning. The Giants responded in the seventh inning on a Gregor Blanco sacrifice fly, giving time for Joaquin Arias to score. Cincinnati padded their lead in the bottom of the seventh with a Scott Rolen solo shot. San Francisco was able to gain the lead with a three-run home run in the ninth inning, as Angel Pagan went yard and brought Arias and Theriot home with him. This made it 6-5, a final, with Javier Lopez in line for the win, Santiago Casilla converting the save, and Sean Marshall taking the loss.

Up in Detroit, the Tigers host the Seattle Mariners. Hector Noesi and Rick Porcello are called on for the starts. Seattle started off with a first inning Justin Smoak three-run home run, also scoring Chone Figgins and Ichiro. The Mariners added on in the fourth inning as Miguel Olivo hit a solo home run. Detroit got going with a fifth inning Ryan Raburn single, driving in Don Kelly. The Tigers tied it as Brennan Boesch singled in Andy Dirks in the sixth inning, before being swept in by a two-run Miguel Cabrera homer. Seattle got lead back wit ha seventh inning Figgins double, pushing in Brendan Ryan. This held for a 5-4 win, earned by Charlie Furbush, while Brandon League converted the save, and Porcello was on the hook for the loss.

East to New York, as the Mets host the Miami Marlins. Ricky Nolasco and Jonathon Niese received the starting nods. New York was first on the board with a Ruben Tejada sacrifice fly providing Kirk Nieuwenhuis time to score in the first inning. Miami tied it in the third inning when Gaby Sanchez lifted a solo home run. Sanchez helped the Marlins take the lead in the fifth inning by grounding into a double play, giving time for Omar Infante to dash home. The Mets grabbed the lead again in the ninth inning, and also the win as Justin Turner drew a bases-loaded walk, forcing in David Wright to tie the game, and then Nieuwenhuis singled in Josh Thole for a 3-2 win. Ramon Ramirez was on the mound for the win, while Heath Bell blew the save and suffered the loss.

Down south in Tampa Bay, the Rays host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jerome Williams and Matt Moore pace the game. Tampa Bay got an early first inning lead with a Ben Zobrist double knocking in Desmond Jennings. Los Angeles tied it in the fifth inning as Mark Trumbo hit a solo home run. The Angels gained the lead in the sixth inning when Trumbo doubled in Torii Hunter, before finishing his trip around on a Vernon Wells single. The Rays got one back in the bottom of the sixth, on a Matt Joyce triple that swept in Luke Scott. Tampa Bay stole the game in the ninth inning as Brandon Allen had a two-run pinch hit home run, also scoring B.J. Upton for a 4-3 win. Brandon Gomes got the win while Jordan Walden checked into the heartbreak hotel with his loss and blown save duo.

Up the coastline, the Baltimore Orioles hosted the Toronto Blue Jays. Drew Hutchison and Brian Matusz were on the hill. Baltimore was first on the board with a fifth inning Ryan Flaherty sacrifice fly, giving Chris Davis time to score. Toronto answered with a sixth inning Eric Thames triple, forcing in both Yunel Escobar and Jose Bautista. The Orioles retied it in their half of the sixth as Adam Jones singled, and Escobar erred, aiding Nick Markakis' trip home. Baltimore took the lead again in the eighth with a solo shot by Jones, and they extended their lead as Davis hit a two-run home run, bringing around Matt Wieters. This made it 5-2, an eventual final, with Darren O'Day getting the win, Luis Ayala earning the save, and Casey Janssen suffered the loss.

Westward to Chicago, with the White Sox hosting the Boston Red Sox. Felix Doubront will have the daunting task of pitching against Mr. Perfect, Philip Humber. Boston quickly spoiled the repeat bid with a first inning Adrian Gonzalez double, scoring Mike Aviles, followed by a David Ortiz single driving in Dustin Pedroia. Chicago got one back in the bottom of the first as Paul Konerko singled in Adam Dunn. The Red Sox extended their lead with third inning home runs, a Kevin Youkilis grand slam, sweeping in Ryan Sweeney, Ortiz, and Gonzalez, and a Jarrod Saltalamacchia solo home run. The White Sox got one back in their half of the third as A.J. Pierzynski singled to drive in Alexei Ramirez. Chicago chipped away again in the fourth inning wih a solo shot by Dayan Viciedo. Boston shot back in the fifth inning as Saltalamacchia went yard again, this time with a two-run homer, forcing in Youkilis. The Red Sox got an insurance run in the ninth inning as Sweeney singled home Aviles. The final was 10-3, with Doubront getting the win, Junichi Tazawa pitching three relief innings for the save, and Humber being pinned with the war.

We end the short slate in San Diego, with the Padres welcoming the Washington Nationals. Edwin Jackson and Edinson Volquez take their turns in the rotation. Washington led off with a seventh inning Jayson Werth solo home run. San Diego gained the lead with a 2-RBI double in the eighth inning off the bat of Mark Kotsay, scoring Orlando Hudson and Cameron Maybin. This held for a 2-1 win, which went to Andrew Cashner, while Huston Street converted the save and Tyler Clippard took the loss.

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