Welcome to interleague play for the weekend. We begin in a National League ballpark...
As the Chicago Cubs host their south Chicago neighbors, the White Sox. Philip Humber and Jeff Samardzija were given the starts. The White Sox started in the first inning as Paul Konerko hit a two-run home run, also scoring Gordon Beckham. The Cubs pulled back in their half of the inning when Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly, allowing David DeJesus to get home. The Cubs tied it in the seventh inning on a single by the pitcher Samardzija, scoring Ian Stewart. The White Sox got the lead back in the eighth inning when Beckham hit a solo shot. This made it 3-2, a final, giving Humber a win, while Addison Reed turned the save and Samardzija took a tough loss.
Over in Philadelphia, the Phillies host the Boston Red Sox. Daniel Bard opposes Cole Hamels on the mound. Philadelphia rallied to a first inning lead as Carlos Ruiz singled in both Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, followed by a Ty Wigginton sacrifice fly to bring in Hunter Pence and a John Mayberry doubling finishing Ruiz's trip. Boston got on the board in the third inning with a solo home run by Mike Aviles. The Red Sox got another back in the fourth inning with a Daniel Nava sacrifice fly allowing Cody Ross to dart home. The Phillies answered in the fifth inning with a Pence solo home run. Boston struck again in the sixth inning as Ross hit a solo shot. The Red Sox pulled closer with an eighth inning Adrian Gonzalez solo home run. Philadelphia shot back in the bottom of the eighth when Freddy Galvis hit a solo shot. This made it 6-4, allowing Hamels getting the win, Jonathan Papelbon throwing the save against his old team, and Bard stuck with the loss.
Down in New York, the Yankees host the Cincinnati Reds. Bronson Arroyo and Andy Pettitte play from the mound. New York was first to score as Alex Rodriguez grounded out in the fourth inning, giving time to get Curtis Granderson home safely. The Yankees added on in the eighth inning as Robinson Cano hit a solo home run, followed by a two-run long ball by Raul Ibanez, also scoring Rodriguez. This made it 4-0, with the win going to Pettitte and the loss to Arroyo.
Back west, the Cleveland Indians host the Miami Marlins. Carlos Zambrano and Justin Masterson receive the starting nods. Cleveland opened in the second inning as Casey Kotchman doubled in Johnny Damon and Shin-Soo Choo singled to finish Kotchman's trip around. Miami got one back in the third inning as Omar Infante grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing safe passage home for Bryan Petersen. The Marlins tied it in the sixth inning as Greg Dobbs hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in Infante. Miami took the lead in the eighth inning on Hanley Ramirez's sacrifice fly, scoring Petersen. This stood as a 3-2 lead, going to the end to give Zambrano the win, Heath Bell the save, and Tony Sipp took the loss.
Up in Detroit, the Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Charlie Morton has the unenviable task of pitching against Justin Verlander. Detroit quickly gained a lead in the first inning when Miguel Cabrera doubled in Andy Dirks before finishing his trip on a Prince Fielder double. The Tigers added on in the fourth inning as Delmon Young hit a solo home run, followed by Don Kelly singling to score Alex Avila. Detroit extended the lead in the seventh inning as Young doubled, driving in both Kelly and Fielder. This was all they needed to win 6-0, with Verlander allowing just one hit and two walks while going the distance for a complete game shutout, and Morton doing not nearly as well in the loss.
Into another geographic rivalry, as the Washington Nationals host their American League neighbors, the Baltimore Orioles. Jake Arrieta and Edwin Jackson are tabbed to start. Baltimore began with a first inning Adam Jones single, scoring Xavier Avery. Washington tied it in the sixth inning as Ian Desmond hit a solo home run. The Orioles took the lead in the eleventh inning on a Nick Markakis solo shot, and this stood for a 2-1 final. Kevin Gregg was in line for the win, Pedro Strop converted the save, and Ryan Mattheus got stuck holding the loss.
Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays welcome the New York Mets. Jonathon Niese and Ricky Romero are handed the ball. Toronto established an early lead with a three-run home run in the first inning off the bat of J.P. Arencibia, sweeping in Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar. New York got one back in the second inning as Rob Johnson grounded out, bringing home Daniel Murphy. The Blue Jays shot back in the bottom of the second with a solo home run by Yan Gomes, followed by a Jose Bautista single to score Johnson. Toronto added on again in the fourth inning as Arencibia hit a solo shot and Rajai Davis hit a two-run home run, also scoring Eric Thames. The Blue Jays padded the lead in the fifth inning with another two-run homer by Davis, forcing in Gomes. Toronto kept going in the sixth inning with a 2-RBI single by Arencibia, scoring both Escobar and Bautista, followed by Thames singling in Edwin Encarnacion and Gomes hitting a sacrifice fly, finishing off Arencibia's trip around. The Mets pulled back in the eighth inning as Murphy grounded out to get Andres Torres home before Scott Hairston hit a three-run home run, clearing the bases of Justin Turner and Lucas Duda. The final stood at 14-5 Blue Jays, giving Romero the win, while Niese had an ugly loss.
Back stateside, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Atlanta Braves. Staff aces Tommy Hanson and James Shields make the starts. Atlanta began in the first inning when Freddie Freeman singled home Martin Prado. The Braves added on in the second inning as Chipper Jones scored on a wild pitch. Tampa Bay got it back in the bottom of the second as Elliot Johnson laid down a successful bunt single, allowing Luke Scott to get home. The Rays tied it in the third inning when Scott's sacrifice fly brought in B.J. Upton. Atlanta retook the lead in the fifth inning as Freeman doubled, knocking in Prado followed by Brian McCann singling to finish Freeman's trip around. The Braves got another in the seventh inning as Prado hit a solo home run. Tampa Bay pulled closer in the eighth inning as Scott singled to score Sean Rodriguez. Atlanta held on for a 5-3 win, earned by Hanson, while Craig Kimbrel got the save and Shields suffered the loss.
Westward to the Battle of Texas, as the Houston Astros host the Texas Rangers. Neftali Feliz and Wandy Rodriguez are the reliable starters. Texas busted things open in the third inning on an Adrian Beltre sacrifice fly that scored Ian Kinsler, followed by Nelson Cruz singling to score Josh Hamilton. Houston got on the board in bottom of the third as Jed Lowrie singled in Jose Altuve. The Rangers answered in the fifth inning when Michael Young doubled Beltre across the plate. Texas added on in the seventh inning with a Beltre solo shot. This made it 4-1, a final, with Robbie Ross picking up the win after Feliz had a short outing, Joe Nathan tossed the ninth inning for a save, and Rodriguez was dealt the loss.
North to Kansas City, as the Royals host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joe Saunders and Luis Mendoza will pitch. Arizona wasted little time in scoring first with a first inning Miguel Montero double knocking in Justin Upton. Kansas City got the lead in the second inning when Humberto Quintero doubled home both Johnny Giavotella and Mitch Maier. The Royals struck again with a third inning solo home run by Billy Butler. The Diamondbacks pulled closer in the sixth inning with Upton singling Gerardo Parra home safely, before taking the lead on a 2-RBI Chris Young double, scoring both Willie Bloomquist and Upton. Kansas City retied it in the seventh inning as Alex Gordon singled, driving in Irving Falu. Arizona answered to take a lead in the eighth inning with a 2-RBI double from Montero, pushing Bloomquist and Upton home. This made it 6-4, a final, with the win belonging to Brad Ziegler, the save being thrown by J.J. Putz, and the loss pinned on Kelvin Herrera.
Further north, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Minnesota Twins. Scott Diamond and Marco Estrada are the relatively unknown pitchers. Minnesota led off with a two-run home run by Josh Willingham, also scoring Denard Span. Milwaukee got one back in their half of the inning with a Ryan Braun fielder's choice, allowing safe passage home for Corey Hart. The Brewers tied it in the third inning as Norichika Aoki doubled to bring Hart home. The Twins retook the lead with a fifth inning Joe Mauer double scoring both Diamond and Span. Minnesota extended the lead in the sixth inning as Span singled in both Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla. Milwaukee shot back in the bottom of the sixth with Braun hitting a solo home run. The Twins answered with a seventh inning Morneau sacrifice fly allowing Mauer to dash home. Minnesota made the lead comfortable in the eighth inning as Span singled to drive in Ben Revere, Mauer doubled to finish Span's trip around, and Morneau hit a 2-RBI single that scored both Brian Dozier and Mauer. This made it an 11-3 final, with the win going to Diamond, while Estrada was on the hook for the loss.
Southwest to Colorado, as the Rockies host the Seattle Mariners. Kevin Millwood and Alex White are the struggling pitchers. Seattle got things going in the first inning as Kyle Seager singled in Michael Saunders. The Mariners added on with a second inning Mike Carp solo home run. Seattle struck again in the sixth inning as Seager hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Ichiro to dash home. This made it 4-0, which held up for a win, earned by Millwood, who allowed only two hits and a walk in the complete game shutout, while White took the loss.
Out in California, the San Diego Padres host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jered Weaver goes against a lesser foe in Jeff Suppan on the hill. Los Angeles got on the board as Bobby Wilson grounded into a double play, allowing Vernon Wells to dart home in the second inning. The Angels added on in the fifth inning as Mike Trout tripled home the pitcher Weaver, before coming the final 90 feet on a Mark Trumbo double, and then Wells grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in Albert Pujols. San Diego got on the board with a sixth inning Will Venable solo home run. The Padres chipped away in the seventh inning on a fielder's choice by Alexi Amarista that gave time for Jesus Guzman to get home. Los Angeles iced it in the ninth inning as Howie Kendrick singled Maicer Izturis in before coming home alongside Pujols on an Erick Aybar double for a 7-2 final. Weaver notched the win while Suppan had the loss.
Just a bit to the north, the Los Angeles Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals for the only National League series this weekend. Lance Lynn and Ted Lilly pace the game. Los Angeles was first to score as James Loney doubled in Adam Kennedy, before he came home on an A.J. Ellis single, and A.J. Ellis was forced in when Tony Gwynn, Jr. tripled. St. Louis got on the board in the third inning with Rafael Furcal hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Tyler Greene, followed by Matt Carpenter singling to drive in Shane Robinson before coming home a two-run home run by Matt Holliday. The Dodgers retied it in the bottom of the third as Kennedy singled Mark Ellis across the dish. Los Angeles struck again in the seventh inning when Loney singled in Andre Ethier. The Cardinals tied it in the ninth inning as Lance Berkman hit a solo home run. The Dodgers got the last laugh, winning in the bottom of the ninth on an A.J. Ellis walkoff walk, forcing in Elian Herrera for the 6-5 victory. Kenley Jansen was in line for the win after blowing the save, and Fernando Salas' lack of control led to the loss.
Finally, in Northern California, the San Francisco Giants host their cross-bay rivals, the Oakland Athletics. Jarrod Parker and Barry Zito take their turns in the rotation. San Francisco drew first blood in the second inning as Brandon Belt singled Angel Pagan home before crossing the plate after a Joaquin Arias sacrifice fly. Oakland got one back in the third inning as Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run. The Giants answered in their half of the inning on a Brandon Crawford double to knock in Gregor Blanco, followed by being Crawford forced in when Belt drew a bases-loaded walk, Hector Sanchez hitting a sacrifice fly to plate Melky Cabrera, and Zito walking with the bases loaded, requiring Pagan to cross home. San Francisco padded the lead in the fourth inning as Belt lifted a sacrifice fly to get Cabrera home and Sanchez doubled to knock in Pagan. The Athletics got one back in the fifth inning when Donaldson doubled Daric Barton in. Oakland chipped away in the sixth inning as Cliff Pennington singled to drive in Jemile Weeks, before Donaldson cleared the bases with a double, sweeping in all of Pennington, Kurt Suzuki, and Barton. They never tied it, losing 8-6, with Zito getting the win, Santiago converting his tenth save of the season, and Parker took an ugly loss.
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