Saturday baseball, interleague play, what more can we ask for? We begin in an American League ballpark this time as...
The New York Yankees host the Cincinnati Reds. Homer Bailey and Ivan Nova are the underrated starters. Cincinnati quickly took a lead in the first inning as Brandon Phillips singled in Drew Stubbs. The Reds added on in the second inning as Chris Heisey doubled to score Devin Mesoraco. New York got on the board in the third inning with a Russell Martin solo home run. The Yankees tied it in the fourth inning as Raul Ibanez doubled, driving in Robinson Cano. Cincinnati took the lead back in the fifth inning when Joey Votto launched a three-run home run, also scoring Wilson Valdez and Stubbs. New York answered in their half of the inning with a solo shot by Jayson Nix. The Reds shot back in the eighth inning as mike Costanzo hit a sacrifice fly to knock in Phillips. The Yankees attempted a ninth inning rally as Nick Swisher singled, scoring Ibanez, before he finishing his trip on a Nix single, but they couldn't obtain an equalizer, falling 6-5. Bailey got the win, Jose Arredondo turned the save, and Nova was strong but inefficient in taking the loss.
North of the border, the Toronto Blue Jays host the other New York team, the Mets. Miguel Batista and Brandon Morrow take their turns in the rotation. Toronto got going in the fifth inning as Kelly Johnson doubled in Jeff Mathis, followed by Yunel Escobar singling to finish Johnson's trip around. This stood throughout as a 2-0 win, with Morrow going the distance and only allowing 3 hits and a walk for a complete game shutout, while Jeremy Hefner was stuck with the loss after spelling Batista's abbreviated start.
Back stateside, the Detroit Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates. A.J. Burnett and Drew Smyly will be sent out to pitch. Pittsburgh started quickly with a two-run home run by Andrew McCutchen in the first inning, also scoring Josh Harrison. Detroit tied it in the third inning as Prince Fielder hit a two-run home run of his own, sweeping in Andy Dirks. The Pirates got the lead back as McCutchen hit another two run homer in the fifth inning, scoring Harrison again. The Tigers took one back in the seventh inning as Miguel Cabrera scored on a passed ball. This was it for the scoring, leaving Burnett with the win while Joel Hanrahan turned the save and Smyly was on the hook for the loss.
Down in Ohio, the Cleveland Indians host the Miami Marlins. Anibal Sanchez and Jeanmar Gomez get the starting nods. Cleveland opened with a fourth inning solo home run by Asdrubal Cabrera. The Indians added on as Jason Kipnis hit a fifth inning sacrifice fly to knock in Shelley Duncan. The final stood from here at 2-0, with Gomez getting the win, Chris Perez converting the save, and Sanchez getting no run support in the loss.
Out west, the San Francisco Giants host the Oakland Athletics. Tyson Ross and Ryan Vogelsong will be throwing. San Francisco finally opened the scoring in the seventh inning on a Melky Cabrera sacrifice fly that allowed Emmanuel Burriss to dart home, followed by a Buster Posey ground rule double that got Vogelsong across the plate, and then an Angel Pagan 2-RBI single scoring both Gregor Blanco and Posey. The final stood at 4-0 for the Giants, with Vogelsong dominant over seven innings allowing just one hit and 1 walk, while Ross got no help in the loss.
Eastward again to Colorado, as the Rockies welcome the Seattle Mariners. Jason Vargas and Christian Friedrich are the relatively unknown starters. Seattle led off with a second inning Kyle Seager two-run home run, also scoring Jesus Montero. The Mariners extended the lead in the third inning as Montero singled to drive in Casper Wells, followed by Seager singling in Ichiro. Seattle added on in the fourth inning as the pitcher Vargas singled to score Brendan Ryan. The Mariners kept going in the sixth inning when Dustin Ackley doubled in both Michael Saunders and Ryan, followed by Wells singling home Vargas and Ackley. Colorado got on the board in the seventh inning with a Jordan Pacheco single knocking in Jason Giambi, before he came home on a Willin Rosario two-run home run. Ichiro answered for Seattle in the eighth inning by scoring on a passed ball. This made the score 10-3, with the Mariners holding on to win. Vargas picked up the win while Friedrich took the loss.
Way to the southeast, the Tampa Bay Rays bring in the Atlanta Braves. Randall Delgado and Alex Cobb and the young pitchers. Atlanta was first on the board with a second inning Juan Francisco single to drive in Brian McCann, followed by Eric Hinske's sacrifice fly allowing Jason Heyward to score. Matt Joyce gave Tampa Bay a lead in the third inning with a grand slam, sweeping in Elliot Johnson, Chris Gimenez, and B.J. Upton. Sean Rodriguez added on for the Rays with a solo home run by Sean Rodriguez in the sixth inning. This made it 5-2, a final, with the win going to Cobb, Fernando Rodney converted the save, and Delgado suffered the loss.
Northwest to Milwaukee, with the Brewers hosting the Minnesota Twins. Carl Pavano and Yovani Gallardo are as close as it gets to rhyming in the pitching match. Minnesota struck first with a fourth inning Brian Dozier sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, scoring Ben Revere. Milwaukee tied it in the bottom of the fourth as Jonathan Lucroy singled to drive in Nyjer Morgan. The Twins retook the lead in the sixth inning on another Dozier sacrifice fly, allowing safe passage home for Denard Span. The Brewers tied it again on a Ryan Braun single that gave time for Morgan to dash home. Minnesota got the lead back in the seventh inning as Revere was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in Drew Butera. The Twins added on in the eighth inning as Jamey Carroll hit a single to bring home Alexi Casilla. Milwaukee tied it in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run by Aramis Ramirez, also scoring Morgan. Minnesota won it with an eleventh inning solo shot by Trevor Plouffe, making it 5-4 and giving the win to Jeff Gray, while Matt Capps picked up the save and Manny Parra had the loss.
Down in Kansas City, the Royals host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ian Kennedy and Bruce Chen have the green light to start. Kansas City began in the second inning as Chris Getz singled in Mike Moustakas. The Royals padded the lead in the third inning with a two-run Billy Butler home run, also scoring Alcides Escobar. Kansas City struck again in the fourth inning as Moustakas hit a solo home run. The Royals kept going in the fifth inning when Eric Hosmer singled, allowing Escobar safe passage home before Butler hit a sacrifice fly to bring around Jarrod Dyson. Kansas City stayed at it in the sixth inning as Dyson's sacrifice fly gave Moustakas time to dash home. Arizona got on the board in the seventh inning with Ryan Roberts doubling to drive in Paul Goldschmidt, before coming the rest of the way home as Willie Bloomquist singled. The Diamondbacks chipped away in the eighth inning with a Jason Kubel sacrifice fly to score Justin Upton. The final would stand from here at 7-3, with the win going to Chen and the loss was dealt to Kennedy.
Northeast to Philadelphia, with the Phillies hosting the Boston Red Sox. Jon Lester and Joe Blanton will play from the mound. Boston wasted little time in scoring first in the first inning with a Mike Aviles solo home run. The Red Sox added on in the second inning when Daniel Nava reached on an error to allow Jarrod Saltalamacchia to get home before Lester grounded into a double play to bring in Ryan Sweeney. Philadelphia got on the board in the third inning as Shane Victorino doubled to score John Mayberry. Boston shot back in the fourth inning with solo home runs by both Will Middlebrooks and Saltalamacchia. The Phillies got them back and then some in the bottom of the fourth as Hector Luna singled in Carlos Ruiz before finishing his trip around on a two-run home run by Freddy Galvis. The Red Sox extended the lead in the fifth as David Ortiz hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Dustin Pedroia. Philadelphia got one back in the eighth inning with Jimmy Rollins singling in Ty Wigginton. They couldn't manage to tie it, falling 7-5, with Lester collecting the win, Alfredo Aceves turning the save, and Blanton taking the loss.
Over to the battle of Chicago, with the Cubs hosting the White Sox. John Danks and Ryan Dempster pace the game. The White Sox were first on the board with a Dayan Viciedo single in the first inning, scoring Alejandro De Aza. The White Sox added on in the third inning with Viciedo hitting a two-run home run, also scoring Adam Dunn, followed by a solo shot from A.J. Pierzynski. The White Sox got another in the eighth inning as Dunn hit a solo home run, followed by Alexei Ramirez singling in Pierzynski, De Aza drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Alex Rios. The Cubs got on the board in the ninth inning as Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run home run, knocking in Darwin Barney, followed by another two-run blast from Joe Mather to sweep in Jeff Baker, making the final sit at 7-4, with the win going to Danks while Dempster took the loss.
Another regional battle rages in Texas, with the Houston Astros hosting the Texas Rangers. Derek Holland and Lucas Harrell have the pitching duties. Texas opened things up in the third inning as Adrian Beltre singled in Elvis Andrus before David Murphy hit an inside the park three-run home run, sweeping in Beltre and Michael Young. Houston answered in the bottom of the third with a Chris Snyder solo home run. The Astros pulled closer in the fourth inning with a two-run home run by Carlos Lee, also scoring Justin Maxwell. Houston took the lead as Maxwell hit a two-run long ball in the fifth inning, knocking in Jose Altuve. The Astros added on in the sixth inning on a Travis Buck double, bringing in J.D. Martinez. The Rangers got one back in the seventh inning as John Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to allow safe passage home for Andrus. They never tied it, falling 6-5 to Harrell, who had the win, while Brett Myers tossed the save as his tenth of the season, and Holland was stuck holding the loss.
Into the nation's capital, as the Washington Nationals host their close American League neighbors, the Baltimore Orioles. Jason Hammel and Ross Detwiler will be pitching. Baltimore started in the second inning as Robert Andino singled, scoring both Wilson Betemit and Xavier Avery. The Orioles added on in the third inning with a two-run home run by Adam Jones, also scoring Nick Markakis. Baltimore padded the lead in the fifth inning as Markakis went yard with a two-run homer, sweeping in Andino. Washington got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Steve Lombardozzi singled, scoring Roger Bernadina. The Nationals chipped away in the sixth inning as Rick Ankiel doubled in Ryan Zimmerman, followed by a Carlos Maldonado groundout that allowed Adam LaRoche to cross the plate, and then Bernadina singled to finish Ankiel's trip around. The final came here, at 6-4, with Hammel earning the win, Jim Johnson recording his fifteenth save of the season, and Detwiler getting pinned with the loss.
Out in California, the San Diego Padres host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Dan Haren opposes a lesser foe in Eric Stults for pitching. Los Angeles was first on the board as Erick Aybar tripled in the second inning, forcing in Howie Kendrick. San Diego got on the board in the third inning with a Cameron Maybin sacrifice fly providing time for Alexi Amarista to dash home. The Angels got the lead back in the fifth inning as Mike Trout grounded out to give Aybar time to cross the plate. The Padres retied it in their half of the fifth, as Maybin singled, driving in Amarista. San Diego took the lead in the seventh inning on an Amarista double knocking in Nick Hundley. This made it 3-2, which stood as a final, with Luke Gregerson in line for the win, Dale Thayer picking up the save, and Haren taking the loss.
Up to our finale today, as the only National League game features the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the St. Louis Cardinals. Jake Westbrook and Clayton Kershaw are the talented young arms. Los Angeles led off in the fourth inning when Adam Kennedy reached on an error to bring in both Bobby Abreu and Andre Ethier. The Dodgers extended the lead in the seventh inning on a Justin Sellers solo home run followed by Tony Gwynn, Jr. singling in the pitcher Kershaw, before he finished his trip on a wild pitch, and then Ethier singled home Abreu. The final was 6-0, with Kershaw allowing only six hits for a complete game shutout, while Westbrook had little help in the loss.
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