MLB Day 46 2012

Full slate on the last day of regular games for awhile. Over half of the day's games came in the morning or afternoon. We begin with...

The Cleveland Indians hosting the Seattle Mariners. Hector Noesi and Zach McAllister are the relatively unknown pitchers. Seattle started in the third inning as Michael Saunders grounded out to score Brendan Ryan. The Mariners added on in the fifth inning as John Jaso darted safely home on a passed ball. Seattle padded the lead in the sixth inning with Jaso doubling to score Kyle Seager before coming home on a Ryan single. Cleveland got on the board in the seventh inning as Asdrubal Cabrera singled home Casey Kotchman. The Indians tied it in the eighth inning as Jose Lopez hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Carlos Santana and Kotchman. The Mariners retook the lead in the eleventh inning on a Saunders double to knock in Dustin Ackley. Cleveland rallied to 6-5 win in the bottom of the eleventh as Cabrera singled home Lopez to tie the game and Santana singled to drive in Jason Kipnis for the win. Joe Smith was in line for the win while Brandon League blew up in the loss.

Up in Detroit, the Tigers host the Minnesota Twins. P.J. Walters and Doug Fister wake up early to start. Minnesota drew first blood with a third inning Justin Morneau two-run home run, also scoring Josh Willingham, followed by a solo home run by Trevor Plouffe. The Twins added on in the fifth inning as Morneau grounded out, providing Willingham time to get home. Detroit got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a Brennan Boesch solo home run. The Tigers pulled closer in the sixth with both Andy Dirks and Prince Fielder hitting solo shots. They never tied it up, falling 4-3, with Walters earning the win, Matt Capps turning the save, and Fister suffering the loss.

East into New York, where the Mets host the Cincinnati Reds. Mat Latos and R.A. Dickey are the reliable starters. Cincinati got started with a fourth inning Joey Votto solo home run. The Reds rallied to extend the lead in the fifth inning when Ryan Hanigan doubled in Ryan Ludwick, Latos hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Todd Frazier, and Hanigan completed his trip by scoring on a passed ball. New York got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with Lucas Duda doubling to score both Andres Torres and David Wright. The Mets pulled closer in the sixth inning when Mike Baxter hit a sacrifice fly, allowing safe passage home for Ike Davis. New York tied it in the seventh inning on a Justin Turner sacrifice fly to bring around Wright. The Mets rallied in the eighth inning to a large lead as Wright doubled, knocking in Rob Johnson, Turner singling to finish Wright's trip around the bases, and Ronny Cedeno lifting a three-run home run, also scoring Daniel Murphy and Turner. This made it 9-4, a final, with Bobby Parnell earning the win and Logan Ondrusek taking the loss.

Down in Texas, the Rangers host the Oakland Athletics. Brandon McCarthy and Matt Harrison are the young arms taking the mound. Oakland quickly opened in the first inning when Jonny Gomes doubled to score Cliff Pennington before coming home alongside Josh Reddick on a Kurt Suzuki double. Texas got some back in the fourth inning with a two-run home run by Mitch Moreland, also scoring Mike Napoli. The Rangers took the lead in the sixth inning with a Moreland solo home run followed by Elvis Andrus reaching on a fielder's choice, allowing Craig Gentry to dart home. The Athletics tied it in the seventh inning as Reddick hit a solo shot. Oakland won 5-4 in the tenth inning on a Kile Ka'aihue single, driving in Gomes. Ryan Cook was in line for the win, Brian Fuentes converted the save, and Mike Adams was stuck with the loss.

Up to Kansas City, with the Royals hosting the Baltimore Orioles. Struggling pitchers Brian Matusz and Luke Hochevar will be given another turn. Kansas City scored first in the third inning as Humberto Quintero doubled in both Alcides Escobar and Irving Falu before coming home on a Johnny Giavotella single. Baltimore pulled back in the fourth inning as Adam Jones hit a two-run home run, also scoring Nick Markakis. The Orioles gained the lead in the seventh inning on a Chris Davis single, which combined with an error brought in Wilson Betemit, before Davis came home alongside Luis Exposito on a J.J. Hardy single. This held up for a 5-3 win, with Matusz picking up the victory, Jim Johnson turning the save, and Hochevar getting pinned with the loss.

Westward to Colorado, as the Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trevor Cahill and Juan Nicasio will take the hill. Colorado began in the first inning when Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run home run, also scoring Marco Scutaro. The Rockies added on with a second inning triple by Dexter Fowler, forcing in Tyler Colvin. Arizona got on the board in the fifth inning when Willie Bloomquist singled Aaron Hill across the plate. Colorado answered in their half of the inning as Jordan Pacheco hit a solo home run. The Diamondbacks got some back in the sixth inning when Lyle Overbay singled in Paul Goldschmidt. Arizona chipped away in the seventh inning as Ryan Roberts singled to drive in Jason Kubel. The Diamondbacks gained the lead in the eighth inning when Bloomquist, Kubel, Goldschmidt, and Roberts all singled, scoring in the following order: Gerardo Parra, Bloomquist, Justin Upton, and Kubel. The Rockies tied it in their half of the eighth inning as Fowler drew a bases-loaded walk, squeezing in Carlos Gonzalez, Michael Cuddyer reached on an error to bring around Todd Helton, and Scutaro also walked with the bases loaded to force in Eric Young. Arizona got the last laugh, taking a 9-7 lead in the ninth inning with Upton's two run long ball, also scoring Parra. This held up for a victory, with the win going to Brad Ziegler, the save converted by J.J. Putz, and the loss handed to Rafael Betancourt.

Into California, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Chicago White Sox. Chris Sale and C.J. Wilson were handed the ball. Chicago got going in the third inning as A.J. Pierzynski singled in Paul Konerko. The White Sox extended the lead in the fourth inning on an Adam Dun single, knocking in both Dayan Viciedo and Brent Morel, followed by Konerko singling to score Alejandro De Aza. Los Angeles got on the board with a sixth inning solo home run by Albert Pujols. Chicago answered in the eighth inning as Viciedo hit a solo shot. The White Sox made it 6-1, an eventual final, in the ninth inning as Pierzynski singled home Eduardo Escobar. Sale earned the win while Wilson suffered the loss.

Up in San Francisco, the Giants host the St. Louis Cardinals. Adam Wainwright and Matt Cain are the pair of aces pitching. St. Louis began with a pair of first inning sacrifice flies, as Matt Holliday and David Freese popped up to allow Skip Schumaker and Matt Carpenter to get home. San Francisco shot back in the bottom of the first as Buster Posey singled in Brandon Crawford. The Giants grabbed the lead in the second inning on a Crawford single, scoring both Emmanuel Burriss and Gregor Blanco. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead in the third inning on a two-run home run by Holliday, also scoring Carpenter. San Francisco answered back in the sixth inning when Burriss hit a sacrifice fly, providing time for Angel Pagan to come home, followed by Aubrey Huff reaching on an error, which got Brandon Belt home. The Giants padded the lead with a seventh inning Belt double, scoring Posey, followed by Charlie Culberson grounding into a fielder's choice to score Pagan. St. Louis got one back with an eighth inning Yadier Molina solo home run, but it wasn't enough to save them from a 7-5 defeat. Cain was in line for the win, Santiago Casilla picked up the save, and Wainwright took the loss.

Back to the east coast, as the Washington Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates. James McDonald and Jordan Zimmermann were tabbed to start. Pittsburgh quickly opened the scoring with a first inning Andrew McCutchen solo home run. The Pirates added on in the fourth inning with a two-run home run by Rod Barajas, also scoring Casey McGehee. Pittsburgh padded the lead as McCutchen hit another solo shot in the sixth inning. Washington got on the board in bottom of the sixth as Ryan Zimmerman singled in both Jesus Flores and Steve Lombardozzi, before coming home on an Adam LaRoche triple. The Pirates replied in the seventh inning as Neil Walker hit a fielder's choice providing Josh Harrison time to dash home. The final here stood at 5-3, with McDonald picking up the win, Joel Hanrahan converting the save, and Zimmermann suffering the loss.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays host the New York Yankees. Phil Hughes and Drew Hutchison take their turns in the rotation. New York was first on the board in the first inning as Robinson Cano doubled in Curtis Granderson. Toronto answered and took the lead in the third inning with a two-run Jose Bautista home run, sweeping in Yunel Escobar. The Blue Jays extended the lead in the seventh inning as J.P. Arencibia hit a two-run home run, also scoring Bautista. This made it 4-1, a final, where Hutchison picked up the win, Casey Janssen earned the save, and Hughes had little support in the loss.

South to Atlanta, where the Braves host the Miami Marlins. Ricky Nolasco and Brandon Beachy pace the game. Atlanta got going early in the first inning as Martin Prado tripled to force in Michael Bourn. The Braves extended the lead in the third inning on a Freddie Freeman solo home run followed by a Brian McCann double, knocking in Dan Uggla. Atlanta padded the lead in the fourth inning as Bourn singled to score Tyler Pastornicky. The Braves rallied to add on again in the fifth inning with three singles by Chipper Jones, Jason Heyward, and the pitcher Beachy to bring home Freeman, Uggla, and Jones, respectively. This made it 7-0, which was a final score. Beachy went the distance, throwing a 5-hit complete game shutout, while Nolasco was far less fortunate in the loss.

Down to Florida, where the Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox. Felix Doubront and Matt Moore are the young pitchers. Boston opened with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Cody Ross, forcing in Mike Aviles in the first inning. The Red Sox added on in the second inning with a Marlon Byrd solo home run. Ross extended the Boston lead with a solo shot of his own in the third inning. Tampa Bay got on the board in the bottom of the third as Jeff Keppinger singled B.J. Upton across the plate. The Rays pulled closer in the fourth inning as Rich Thompson singled to score Sean Rodriguez. The Red Sox answered in the eighth inning when Ross singled home both Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz. Tampa Bay shot back in their half of the inning as Upton singled, knocking in Matt Joyce. The final stood at 5-3 Boston, with Doubront getting the win, Alfredo Aceves turning the save, and Moore taking another loss.

Westward to Houston, where the Astros host the Milwaukee Brewers. Shaun Marcum and J.A. Happ are the veteran pitchers. Houston busted things open in the fourth inning with a two-run home run by Jed Lowrie, also scoring Carlos Lee, followed by Chris Snyder singling in Brian Bogusevic and Jordan Schafer hitting a single to finish Snyder's trip around. This little outburst proved to be the only scoring in the game, lifting the Astros to a 4-0 win, earned by Happ, while Marcum had no run support in the loss.

Up in Chicago, the Cubs host the Philadelphia Phillies. Roy Halladay opposes a lesser foe in Chris Volstad. Philadelphia wasted little time in scoring in the first inning as Carlos Ruiz singled in Jimmy Rollins. Chicago answered in their half of the inning as Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly to bring home David DeJesus. The Phillies got the lead back in the second inning on a Shane Victorino groundout that allowed safe passage home for Halladay, followed by a 2-RBI single by Hunter Pence, finishing the trips of Rollins and Juan Pierre. Philadelphia struck again in the fifth inning as Ruiz singled to drive in Pence. The Cubs got one back in the seventh inning on a Castro solo home run. The Phillies padded the lead in the eighth inning as both Halladay and Rollins scored while Pence reached first base on an error. Chicago chipped away in the bottom of the eighth as Welington Castillo hit a solo shot. The Cubs attempted a ninth inning rally as Castillo doubled in all of Tony Campana, Jeff Baker, and Ian Stewart, before he came home on a Darwin Barney single, but Jonathan Papelbon closed the door there and preserved an 8-7 win, while Halladay got the win and Volstad suffered the loss.

Finally, we end in Southern California, with the San Diego Padres welcoming the Los Angeles Dodgers. Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez will take the mound. Los Angeles led off in the first inning with a Bobby Abreu triple forcing in Dee Gordon before he came home the final 90 feet on an Andre Ethier single. The Dodgers added on in the second inning with Gordon hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in A.J. Ellis. Los Angeles kept going in the fifth inning when Ethier reached on an error, allowing Abreu to dash home and then James Loney doubled to finish Ethier's trip around. The Dodgers padded the lead in the seventh inning as Ellis singled Ethier across the plate followed by the pitcher Harang singling in Adam Kennedy. Los Angeles struck once more in the ninth inning as Ellis singled to score Kennedy. San Diego avoided the shutout in the bottom of the ninth with a Chris Denorfia single bringing home Chase Headley for an 8-1 final. Harang picked up the win while Volquez was stuck with the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.