MLB Day 57 2012

Happy Memorial Day to all the American people visiting here today. It will be quite the memory for me, because today we passed last month's one-month record again, so I appreciate the approximately 1,500 visits I've had to this blog in the past two months. Much thanks to everyone. As for the baseball, it's on all day, and we begin in...

Miami, where the Marlins host the Washington Nationals. Jordan Zimmermann and Carlos Zambrano are the Z-men on the mound. Washington began in the third inning with a solo home run by the pitcher Zimmermann. Miami tied it in the fourth inning as Logan Morrison hit a solo shot. The Nationals got the lead back in the fifth inning as Ryan Zimmerman doubled in both Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper. The Marlins retied it in the sixth inning with a two-run home run by Giancarlo Stanton, also scoring Hanley Ramirez, and they gained the lead with a sacrifice fly by Chris Coghlan to plate Morrison. Miami added on with a Ramirez sacrifice fly providing Jose Reyes time to get home in the seventh inning. This made it 5-3, a final, with the win going to Zambrano, the save converted by Heath Bell, and the loss pinned on power-hitter Zimmermann.

Up in Atlanta, the Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals. Lance Lynn and Tommy Hanson are the starters. St. Louis rallied to a lead in the third inning with Matt Holliday scoring on a passed ball, followed by Yadier Molina singling in Matt Adams before completing his trip on a two-run homer by Daniel Descalso. The Cardinals got another in the fourth inning with a solo home run by Rafael Furcal, followed by Adams singling to provide Skip Schumaker time to dash home. Atlanta got on the board in their half of the inning as Juan Francisco singled in both Dan Uggla and Jason Heyward. St. Louis extended the lead in the sixth inning on a 2-RBI Adams double scoring both Furcal and Schumaker. This made it 8-2, which was all the scoring in store, allowing Lynn to pick up a win while Hanson had a short outing in the loss.

Farther north, the New York Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies. Cole Hamels and Jonathon Niese get the ball. Philadelphia struck first with a third inning Ty Wigginton double, scoring both Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino. New York tied it on a two-run Vinny Rottino home run, also scoring Lucas Duda in the fifth inning. The Phillies got the lead again in the sixth inning as John Mayberry hit a two-run homer, sweeping in Wigginton. The Mets pulled even again in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run Scott Hairston homer, bringing in Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Philadelphia took the lead in the seventh inning as Wigginton singled Jimmy Rollins across the plate. The Phillies extended the lead in the ninth inning as Wigginton hit a three-run home run to sweep in Placido Polanco and Pence. Hamels got the win in the 8-4 game, while Bobby Parnell was on the hook for the loss.

Continuing to Boston, with the Red Sox hosting the Detroit Tigers. Doug Fister and Felix Doubront take their turns in the rotation. Boston struck first with a first inning David Ortiz double scoring Adrian Gonzalez. Detroit tied it in the second inning with a Delmon Young solo home run. The Red Sox took the lead back in the bottom of the second as Mike Aviles singled in Ryan Sweeney, followed by Daniel Nava doubling in Aviles and then coming all the way home on a Dustin Pedroia single. Boston got another in the third inning on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia solo shot. The Tigers replied in the fifth inning as Gerald Laird hit a solo home run. The Red Sox answered back in the sixth inning on a Will Middlebrooks single to drive in Saltalamacchia. Boston got another in the eighth inning as Aviles doubled in Sweeney. Detroit got a couple back in the ninth inning on a two-run Jhonny Peralta home run, also knocking in Prince Fielder, but they got no more runs and fell 7-4. Doubront got the win while Fister got hit hard in the loss.

Into Pennsylvania, as the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds. Bronson Arroyo and James McDonald are the reliable starters. Pittsburgh led off in the first inning as Pedro Alvarez doubled home Neil Walker and then scored himself on a Garrett Jones single. The Pirates added on in the second inning as Walker doubled in the pitcher McDonald. Pittsburgh rolled along in the third inning when Rod Barajas singled in Alvarez. Cincinnati got on the board in the ninth inning as Chris Heisey hit a single to bring home Joey Votto, for a 4-1 final. McDonald pitched very well in the win, while Joel Hanrahan picked up a save and Arroyo had little help in the loss.

Further west, the Minnesota Twins host the Oakland Athletics. Travis Blackley and Scott Diamond are the relatively unknown pitchers. Josh Reddick put Oakland up early with a solo home run in the first inning. The Athletics got another one in the second inning as Kila Ka'aihue hit a solo shot. Minnesota got on the board in the fifth inning with a Trevor Plouffe solo home run. Oakland got it back in the bottom of the fifth as Brandon Inge's groundout gave Reddick time to dash home. The Twins pulled even in the sixth inning when Josh Willingham doubled to score Darin Mastroianni before Justin Morneau hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Joe Mauer. The Athletics got the lead again in the eighth inning as Kurt Suzuki singled to score Jonny Gomes. Minnesota got the lead back in the bottom of the eighth as Morneau doubled in Mauer, and Ryan Doumit hit a sacrifice fly to allow safe passage home for Willingham. This was all for the scoring in the 5-4 game, with Alex Burnett getting the win, Matt Capps shutting the door for a save, and Ryan Cook unluckily taking the loss.

Down south a bit, the Chicago Cubs host the San Diego Padres. Jeff Suppan and Travis Wood are the back-of-the-rotation pitchers. San Diego struck early with a first inning Carlos Quentin double knocking in Chris Denorfia. Chicago took the lead in the bottom of the first as Starlin Castro singled to score David DeJesus before coming home as Bryan LaHair grounded out. The Cubs got another in the second inning as Darwin Barney hit a solo home run. The Padres pulled back in the third inning on a Will Venable solo shot. San Diego tied it in the fourth inning with a Chase Headley solo home run, before taking the lead on an Everth Cabrera solo long ball. Chicago tied it again in the bottom of the fourth when Alfonso Soriano doubled LaHair in, and then he scored when Ian Stewart hit a two-run home run. The Padres got another equalizer in the fifth inning as Headley hit another home run, this time a two-run bomb that also scored Quentin. San Diego took the lead with a Venable double to drive in Andy Parrino in the sixth inning. The Cubs took the lead once again in the bottom of the sixth as Soriano hit a two-run home run, also driving in LaHair. Chicago extended the lead with a two-run Castro home run, also scoring Reed Johnson, followed by Stewart singling, allowing LaHair to cross the dish. This made it 11-7, an eventual final, allowing Randy Wells the win and Alex Hinshaw was stuck with the loss.

Speaking of Chicago, the White Sox are down in Tampa Bay to visit the Rays. Chris Sale and Matt Moore are the relievers turned starters set to pitch. Tampa finally drew blood in the fourth inning on a Jose Lobaton single to knock in Ben Zobrist. Chicago went ahead in the sixth inning as Adam Dunn hit a two-run home run, also scoring Gordon Beckham. This was all they needed for a 2-1 win, earned by Sale, while Addison Reed turned the save, and Moore pitched strong but still lost.

Now we get a mid-day doubleheader, with the Colorado Rockies hosting the Houston Astros. Wandy Rodriguez and Juan Nicasio are tabbed for starting the first game. Houston got things going with a first inning Jose Altuve groundout scoring Jordan Schafer, followed by a Jed Lowrie solo home run. Colorado got one back in their half of the first as Jordan Pacheco tripled to force in Dexter Fowler, and they tied it when he came the final 90 feet on a wild pitch, followed by Troy Tulowitzki doubling in Carlos Gonzalez to give his team a lead, before he finished his trip on a two-run home run run by Willin Rosario. The Astros pulled back in the third inning as Lowrie grounded out to score Schafer, followed by Carlos Lee singling to allow Altuve to dash home. The Rockies got some breathing room in the bottom of the third inning as DJ LeMahieu doubled in Rosario. Houston tied it in the fifth inning as Chris Johnson singled home Lowrie and then Lee scored on an error for the equalizer. Colorado shot back in their half of the inning with a Tulowitzki solo shot. The Astros retied it in the seventh inning as Altuve singled Schafer home safely. The Rockies took the lead once again in the eighth inning with a 2-RBI Pacheco single, scoring both Jeremy Guthrie and Fowler. This made it 9-7, a final, with Matt Belisle picking up the win, Rafael Betancourt getting the save, and Fernando Rodriguez taking the loss.

In the second game, the pitchers are Jordan Lyles and Alex White. Colorado began on a Dexter Fowler solo home run. Houston got the lead on a third inning two-run home run by Brian Bogusevic, also scoring Lyles. The Rockies retied it in the bottom of the third as Carlos Gonzalez grounded out to score Fowler. The Astros reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning on a Chris Snyder solo shot, followed by Jordan Schafer singling in Marwin Gonzalez. Colorado shot back in the bottom of the fourth as Fowler drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Jordan Pacheco, before Marco Scutaro cleared the bases with a double, knocking in all of Tyler Colvin, Wil Nieves, and Fowler. Houston pulled back in the fifth inning on a Snyder single to bring in Travis Buck. The Astros tied it with a sixth inning Justin Maxwell solo home run. The Rockies won in the tenth inning as Fowler tripled to force in Michael Cuddyer for a 7-6 walkoff win. Josh Roenicke was in line for the win while Brett Myers was on the hook for the loss.

Northeast to Cleveland, as the Indians host the Kansas City Royals. Nate Adcock and Josh Tomlin are handed the ball. Kansas City got on the board in the second inning with a two-run Eric Hosmer home run, also scoring Jeff Francoeur. Cleveland got on the board in the third inning with a Lonnie Chisenhall solo home run, and then they rallied ahead as Jason Kipnis hit a two-RBI single to score Luke Carlin and Shin-Soo Choo, followed by Jose Lopez singling in Michael Brantley and Casey Kotchman lining a single to finish Kipnis' trip around. The Royals got one back in the fifth inning with a Brayan Pena solo shot, followed Jarrod Dyson tripling and then scoring on an error. The Indians answered in the bottom of the fifth as Lopez singled to knock in Kipnis. Kansas City chipped away in the seventh inning as Alcides Escobar singled Dyson across the plate. Cleveland shot back in the bottom of the seventh as Brantley singled, allowing Juan Diaz to come home, followed by Lopez reaching on an error, pushing Brantley all the way home. This made it 8-5, a final, with Tomlin in line for the win, Chris Perez converting the save, and Adcock getting shelled early in the loss.

Out in California, the San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trevor Cahill and Barry Zito are the well-known starters. San Francisco got a sizable lead in the first inning beginning with Gregor Blanco stealing home, Hector Sanchez singling to drive in Angel Pagan, and Brandon Belt ripping a triple to finish Sanchez's trip around. The Giants added on in the second inning as Blanco doubled to score Emmanuel Burriss. Arizona got on the board in the third inning with a Justin Upton ground rule double, forcing in the pitcher Cahill. The Diamondbacks chipped away in the eighth inning on a John McDonald solo home run. This made it 4-2, a final, with Zito grabbing the win, Santiago Casilla converting the save, and Cahill taking the loss.

Well to the northeast, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles. Tommy Hunter and Drew Hutchison take the hill. Toronto was first to score as Colby Rasmus singled in first inning, knocking in Kelly Johnson. The Blue Jays added on in the second inning when Johnson grounded out to bring in David Cooper. Toronto struck again with a third inning two-run home run by Edwin Encarnacion, also scoring Jose Bautista. The Blue Jays padded the lead in the fourth inning as Johnson went yard on a two-run blast, sweeping in Omar Vizquel. Baltimore got on the board in the ninth inning as Wilson Betemit singled home Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds doubled to drive in Matt Wieters for a 6-2 final. Hutchison was in line for the win, while Casey Janssen got the save, and Hunter was dealt the loss. 

Back stateside, the Texas Rangers host the Seattle Mariners. Kevin Millwood and Matt Harrison are on the mound. Seattle quickly opened with a first inning Jesus Montero single knocking in Ichiro. Texas tied it in the second inning on a Nelson Cruz solo home run. The Rangers got the lead in the sixth inning as Mike Napoli lifted a three-run home run, also scoring Adrian Beltre and David Murphy. The Mariners got one back in the eighth inning when Brendan Ryan tripled to force in Michael Saunders. This was all there was, leaving Texas up 4-2 with the win going to Harrison, the save turned by Joe Nathan, and the loss stuck on Steve Delabar.

Out in Los Angeles, the Dodgers host the Milwaukee Brewers. Shaun Marcum and Aaron Harang will be pitching. Los Angeles got things going in the first inning as Andre Ethier doubled home Tony Gwynn, Jr. Milwaukee tied it in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Aramis Ramirez. The Brewers went ahead in the sixth inning on a Ramirez single to score Norichika Aoki and a Rickie Weeks sacrifice fly allowing Ryan Braun to come home. The Dodgers got one back in the eighth inning as Jerry Hairston, Jr. singled home Bobby Abreu. They couldn't tie the game, falling 3-2, with Marcum earning the win, John Axford tossing the save, and Harang got stuck holding the loss.

Finally, in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the New York Yankees. Phil Hughes and Jered Weaver pace the game. New York struck first in the first inning with Alex Rodriguez reaching on an error, driving in Derek Jeter, followed by a Raul Ibanez sacrifice fly allowing Curtis Granderson to get home and Nick Swisher reaching on an error that brought in Rodriguez. Los Angeles gave as good as they got in the bottom of the first with Kendrys Morales singling in Mike Trout, followed by a ground rule double from Mark Trumbo forcing in Albert Pujols and a 2-RBI Howie Kendrick single, scoring both Morales and Trumbo. The Yankees tied it back up in the second inning on a Granderson solo home run. The Angels got the lead again in the third inning as Kendrick hit a sacrifice fly allowing safe passage home for Trumbo. Los Angeles added on in the fourth inning with a Trout solo shot. Mark Teixeira got it back for New York with a solo home run. The Angels extended their lead in the sixth inning on a 2-RBI Morales double, driving in both Peter Bourjos and Maicer Izturis. The Yankees pulled even in the seventh inning as Swisher hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Robinson Cano, and Russell Martin doubled in both Teixeira and Ibanez. Los Angeles won 9-8 in the ninth inning with a walkoff Trumbo solo shot. The win was credited to Jordan Walden, while Cory Wade was responsible for the loss.

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