MLB Day 49 2012

The final day of interleague play for awhile, and we begin in...

Cleveland, with the Indians hosting the Miami Marlins. Josh Johnson and Derek Lowe are the staff aces on the mound. Miami began with a groundout by Hanley Ramirez to bring in Jose Reyes in the first inning. The Marlins added on in the third inning when Greg Dobbs doubled Ramirez home safely. Cleveland got one back in the fifth inning as Jose Lopez hit a single, driving in Michael Brantley. Miami got some breathing room in the eighth inning as Logan Morrison doubled Dobbs home and Brett Hayes singled, knocking in Giancarlo Stanton, followed by a Chris Coghlan fielder's choice providing Morrison time to finish his trip around. The Indians attempted a ninth inning comeback as Lopez doubled and Brantley crossed home, followed by Casey Kotchman grounding out to give Johnny Damon time to dash home, but they never tied it and fell 5-3. The win went to Johnson, while Heath Bell sloppily converted the save, and Lowe was stuck holding the loss.

Up to Detroit, as the Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kevin Correia and Max Scherzer are the veteran pitchers. Pittsburgh opened in the fifth inning on a Rod Barajas solo home run. Detroit tied it in the bottom of the fifth as Jhonny Peralta went yard on a solo home run of his own. The Pirates got the lead back in the sixth inning with a Neil Walker solo shot. The Tigers tied it again in the seventh inning as Delmon Young singled home Prince Fielder, and they took the lead on a 2-RBI Alex Avila single, plating both Young and Peralta. Pittsburgh attempted a rally in the ninth inning with a Barajas sacrifice fly allowing safe passage home for Josh Harrison, but they failed to get the equalizer, falling 4-3 at the hands of winning pitcher Scherzer, while Joaquin Benoit converted a rocky save, and Correia was dealt the loss.

East to New York, where the Yankees host the Cincinnati Reds. Johnny Cueto and CC Sabathia pace the game. New York busted things open in the sixth inning as Raul Ibanez hit a two-run home run, also scoring Robinson Cano. Cincinnati tied it in the seventh inning with Ryan Ludwick and Ryan Hanigan hitting solo shots, and they took the lead as Brandon Phillips drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Zack Cozart. The Reds added on in the ninth inning when Ludwick doubled in both Phillips and Jay Bruce. This proved plenty for a 5-2 win, with Cueto picking up the win, Aroldis Chapman converting his first save cleanly, and Sabathia got pinned with the loss.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays host the New York Mets. Dillon Gee and Henderson Alvarez are the relatively unknown starters. New York quickly took a first inning lead when David Wright doubled in both Andres Torres and Mike Baxter, before coming the rest of the way home as Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled. The Mets padded the lead in the second inning with Baxter tripling to force in Ronny Cedeno. Toronto got on the board in the bottom of the second with a Yan Gomes single knocking in Ben Francisco. The Blue Jays got another in the third inning as Jose Bautista hit a solo home run. New York shot back in the fifth inning when Daniel Murphy singled home Baxter, followed by Ike Davis hitting a fielder's choice that allowed Lucas Duda to score. Toronto got one back in the seventh inning on a Bautista single, knocking in Gomes. The Blue Jays chipped away in the eighth inning when Eric Thames doubled to score J.P. Arencibia, before finishing his trip around on a Colby Rasmus single. They couldn't tie the game, falling 6-5, with the win going to Gee, the save turned by Frank Francisco, and the loss was served to Alvarez.

Back stateside, the Philadelphia Phillies host the Boston Red Sox. Josh Beckett and Cliff Lee are on the hill. Boston began with a solo home run in the first inning by Mike Aviles. The Red Sox got another in the second inning with Aviles singling, allowing Marlon Byrd to dash home. Boston extended the lead with a three-run home run by Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the third inning, sweeping in Adrian Gonzalez and Will Middlebrooks. Philadelphia got on the board in the eighth inning as Juan Pierre hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Pete Orr. Boston was able to hold on from there and win 5-1, with Beckett earning the win and Lee getting little help in the loss.

Into the nation's capital, with the Washington Nationals hosting the Baltimore Orioles. Wei-Yin Chen and Stephen Strasburg get the starting nods. Baltimore was first on the board with a first inning Nick Markakis single to drive in Xavier Avery. The Orioles padded the lead in the second inning as Robert Andino grounded out to provide Wilson Betemit time to get home, followed by Avery singling in Chris Davis. Washington tied it in the third inning when Bryce Harper tripled, forcing in both Strasburg and Danny Espinosa, before coming all the way home on an Ian Desmond fielder's choice. The Nationals took the lead in the fourth inning with solo home runs by Jesus Flores and Strasburg. Washington added on in the fifth inning as Desmond singled Harper across the plate. The Nationals padded the lead in the eighth inning as Espinosa hit a two-run home run, also scoring Steve Lombardozzi, followed by an Adam LaRoche sacrifice fly that gave Harper time to cross the dish. This made it 9-3, a final, with the win going to Strasburg and the loss to Chen.

Down in Tampa Bay,the Rays host the Atlanta Braves. Tim Hudson and David Price are the pair of aces on the mound. Atlanta led off with a third inning David Ross solo home run. The Braves added on in the sixth inning as Jason Heyward singled home Freddie Freeman. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, earned by Hudson, while Craig Kimbrel cleanly pitched the ninth inning for a save, and Price had no help in the loss.

Westward to Houston, with the Astros hosting their in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers. Colby Lewis and Jordan Lyles take their turns in the rotation. Texas jumped to an early lead with a first inning rally including Josh Hamilton hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz singling to score Elvis Andrus and Michael Young, and Cruz coming home alongside David Murphy on a single by the pitcher Lewis. The Rangers got another in the fifth inning on a Murphy solo home run. Houston got on the board in the ninth inning with a solo shot by Jed Lowrie, making it a 6-1 loss. Lewis was strong in the win while Lyles was not so much so in the loss.

Well north, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Minnesota Twins. Jason Marquis and Zack Greinke got the starting nods. Minnesota struck first as Josh Willingham singled in Ben Revere. Milwaukee took the lead in the bottom of the first with solo home runs by Corey Hart and Jonathan Lucroy. The Brewers went batty in the second inning, with a rally started by Hart singling in Travis Ishikawa, followed by Ryan Braun doubling in both Greinke and Hart, Lucroy singling to score Nyjer Mogan and Braun, and Ishikawa singling to finish Lucroy's trip around. Milwaukee fired the engines up again in the fourth inning when Braun doubled home Morgan, followed by a Taylor Green sacrifice fly to finish Braun's trip around the bases. The Brewers kept going with a fifth inning Braun single scoring the pitcher Greinke. Milwaukee struck once again in the seventh inning on a Norichika Aoki single to knock in Carlos Gomez, followed by Lucroy clearing the bases on a grand slam, forcing in Hart, Morgan, and Aoki. The Twins got one back in the eighth inning on a Brian Dozier single to score Joe Mauer. Minnesota got as close as 16-4 in the ninth inning when Darin Mastroianni reached on an error to bring in Alexi Casilla and Drew Butera drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Revere, allowing Greinke an easy win in the beatdown, while Marquis was chased early after taking a good portion of the attack for a loss.

South again to Kansas City, where the Royals host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Wade Miley and Nathan Adcock are the back-of-the-rotation starters. Arizona got things going in the fifth inning when John McDonald reached on an error to bring in Paul Goldschmidt. The Diamondbacks added on in the eighth inning when Justin Upton hit a sacrifice fly to score Gerardo Parra. This was good for a 2-0 win, earned by Miley, while J.J. Putz effectively converted the save, and Adcock was stuck holding the loss.

A tad north, the Chicago Cubs host their same-city rivals, the Chicago White Sox. Jake Peavy opposes a lesser foe in Paul Maholm. The White Sox were first on the board with fourth inning Gordon Beckham and Adam Dunn solo home runs. The White Sox got another solo shot in the fifth inning from Tyler Flowers' bat. The White Sox struck again in the seventh inning as Peavy grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Flowers to dash home, before Peavy came home on a Beckham sacrifice fly. The White Sox added on in the ninth inning when Alex Rios doubled home Brent Lillibridge. This made it 6-0, a final, with Peavy pitchingly strongly in the win while Maholm got no help in the loss.

Out west, the Colorado Rockies host the Seattle Mariners. Blake Beaven and Jeremy Guthrie are the struggling starters. Seattle busted things open in the first inning when Dustin Ackley stole home, followed by Justin Smoak singling to score Kyle Seager. Colorado got on the board in their half of the inning with a solo home run by Carlos Gonzalez. The Mariners replied in the third inning with a two-run home run by Jesus Montero, also scoring Ichiro, followed by a Smoak solo shot. The Rockies pulled closer in the fourth inning as Jordan Pacheco singled in Michael Cuddyer. Seattle shot back in the sixth inning as Mike Carp hit a solo home run. Colorado attempted a ninth inning rally beginning on a Dexter Fowler solo shot, followed by Gonzalez singling to drive in Eric Young, but they only got to 6-4 before losing. Beaven picked up the win while Guthrie was pinned with the loss.

On the Pacific coast, the San Francisco Giants host the Oakland Athletics. Bartolo Colon and Tim Lincecum are the staff aces preparing to pitch. San Francisco got on the board in the second inning as Joaquin Arias hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Angel Pagan. The Giants got another in the third inning as Buster Posey hit a sacrifice fly that scored Brandon Crawford. Oakland took the lead in the fourth inning when Kurt Suzuki singled in Seth Smith before Collin Cowgill singled in both Josh Donaldson and Daric Barton, and then Cowgill darted home on a wild pitch. The Athletics padded the lead with a two-run Josh Reddick home run in the seventh inning, also scoring Cliff Pennington. This made it 6-2, which lasted to be a final, earning Colon the win and handing Lincecum the loss.

Down the coast, the San Diego Padres host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ervin Santana and Anthony Bass are the serviceable pitchers. Los Angeles opened with a first inning Mark Trumbo double knocking in Mike Trout. The Angels extended the lead in the fifth inning with a Trout solo home run. San Diego tied it in the bottom of the fifth with a 2-RBI Yonder Alonso double scoring both Will Venable and Cameron Maybin. The Padres completed the comeback with a thirteenth inning Venable single scoring pinch-hitter and usual pitcher, Clayton Richard as a game-winning run. In the 3-2 game, Miles Mikolas was in line for the win while David Pauley was pinned with the loss.

Finally, we end in Los Angeles as the Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League game to close out the weekend of interleague play. Kyle Lohse and Chad Billingsley take the mound tonight. Los Angeles began with a first inning Andre Ethier single scoring Elian Herrera. The Dodgers added on in the fourth inning as James Loney grounded into a double play, allowing Bobby Abreu to get home. St. Louis tied it in the fifth inning as Skip Schumaker tripled, forcing in Daniel Descalso and Rafael Furcal, and they got the lead with Carlos Beltran grounding into a fielder's choice, bringing in Schumaker. The Cardinals extended the lead in the sixth inning when Furcal singled to score both Matt Adams and Descalso. Los Angeles replied in their half of the sixth as Loney singled, driving in Adam Kennedy. The Dodgers got the lead again in the seventh inning with a three-run home run by Scott Van Slyke, sweeping in Herrera and Abreu. This held up for a 6-5 win, picked up by Javy Guerra, while Kenley Jansen pitched a clean ninth inning for the save, and Marc Rzepczynski was on the hook for the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.