MLB Day 58 2012

Only fourteen games on today, beginning in...

Chicago, as the Cubs host the San Diego Padres. Eric Stults and Jeff Samardzija are the back-of-the-rotation starters. San Diego got things going in the fifth inning as Carlos Quentin hit a solo home run. Chicago answered in their half of the inning as Darwin Barney doubled in Reed Johnson before coming home on a single by the pitcher Samardzija. The Cubs added on in the sixth inning with a solo shot by Alfonso Soriano. The Padres got one back in the seventh inning as John Baker singled home Quentin. Chicago answered in the bottom of the seventh as Barney scored on a passed ball. San Diego shot back in the eighth inning as Will Venable tripled to force in Andy Parrino. The Cubs got it back in their half of the inning as Jeff Baker singled in Joe Mather. This was it for the scoring, with a 5-3 final in Chicago's favor. Samardzija got the win, James Russell got the save, and Stults took the loss.

Over in Cleveland, the Indians host the Kansas City Royals. Will Smith and Justin Masterson get the starting nods. Kansas City began in the first inning as Mike Moustakas hit a two-run home run, also scoring Johnny Giavotella. Cleveland answered in their half of the inning as Jose Lopez singled in Shin-Soo Choo before Michael Brantley grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home Jason Kipnis. The Royals fired back in the second inning as Humberto Quintero reached on a fielder's choice allowing Eric Hosmer to score, followed by Alex Gordon, Giavotella, and Moustakas singling, plating Alcides Escobar and Quintero on the first two before the first two single hitters came home on the last one (a 5-run rally for those getting confused by my verbatim). Kansas City got another in the sixth inning as Quintero singled home Jarrod Dyson. This made it 8-2, a final, with Smith getting the win and Masterson suffering the loss.

East to Pittsburgh, with the Pirates hosting the Cincinnati Reds and a lot of rain. Homer Bailey and Charlie Morton are the uninspiring pitchers set to duel. Cincinnati was first on the board after the rain with a second inning Jay Bruce double scoring Brandon Phillips, and a Todd Frazier double finishing Bruce's trip around. The Reds added on in the fourth as Frazier tripled to force in Bruce before coming home on an error. Pittsburgh got going in the fifth inning as Casey McGehee singled in Matt Hague. Cincinnati shot back in the sixth inning as Bailey singled to drive in Bruce. The Reds went to work in the seventh inning with singles by Phillips, Bruce, and Ryan Ludwick bringing in Drew Stubbs, Joey Votto, and Phillips. This produced the 8-1 final, which after an extensive rain delay allowed Bailey the win after he went the distance, while Morton took a loss with a relatively short outing.

North to Canada, as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles. Jake Arrieta and Ricky Romero will play from the mound. Baltimore was first to score in the second inning with an Adam Jones solo home run. Toronto answered in the third inning when Rajai Davis reached on a bunt single and then an error occurred to bring in Brett Lawrie, followed by Yunel Escobar grounding out to score David Cooper. The Blue Jays added on in the fourth inning when Lawrie doubled in both Colby Rasmus and J.P. Arencibia, before scoring on Davis single. Toronto rolled along in the fifth inning as Lawrie singled in Jose Bautista, Cooper did the same for Edwin Encarnacion, and Davis brought Lawrie home again on a single. The Orioles got some back in the sixth inning with Mark Reynolds grounding out to score Jones before Chris Davis hit a two-run home run, also scoring Ronny Paulino. Baltimore tried a ninth inning rally as Jones hit a two-run home run, sweeping in J.J. Hardy, but they couldn't pull even and lost 8-6. Romero was credited with the win while Arrieta suffered the loss.

Way south, the Miami Marlins host the Washington Nationals. Edwin Jackson and Anibal Sanchez are the well-known pitchers. Washington struck first in the fifth inning as Corey Brown sacrificed to bring in Ian Desmond. Miami tied it in the sixth inning on a Giancarlo Stanton double to knock in Omar Infante. The Marlins pulled ahead in the seventh inning with a Greg Dobbs sacrifice fly scoring Chris Coghlan. Miami padded the lead with an eighth inning Hanley Ramirez solo home run. This made it 3-1, which held up as a final, with Sanchez getting the win, Heath Bell converting the save, and Jackson taking a hard-luck loss.

Back north, the New York Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies. Joe Blanton opposes a lesser for in Jeremy Hefner. Philadelphia started off in the first inning with Jimmy Rollins scoring on a wild pitch. New York got the lead in their half of the inning as David Wright hit a single to bring in Mike Baxter and Ike Davis singled home Kirk Nieuwenhuis. The Phillies tied it in the second inning on a Brian Schneider solo home run. The Mets got the lead back in the bottom of the second as Baxter doubled, driving in Omar Quintanilla. New York added on in the fourth inning as the pitcher Hefner hit a solo shot. Philadelphia got one back in the sixth inning with a Hunter Pence double and subsequent error allowed Juan Pierre to get home. The Mets extended the lead again in the bottom of the sixth as Scott Hairston hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Quintanilla. This stood for a 6-3 win, as Hefner picked up a win to go with his power display, while Frank Francisco turned the save and Blanton was pinned with the loss.

Over in Boston, the Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers. Justin Verlander and Daniel Bard will take the hill. Boston opened in the second inning as Mike Aviles grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing David Ortiz to dash home. The Red Sox added on with a 3-RBI Daniel Nava double, sweeping in all of Kevin Youkilis, Aviles, and Scott Podsednik in the fourth inning. Detroit got one back in the fifth inning with a Jhonny Peralta solo home run. Boston shot back in the bottom of the fifth as Ortiz doubled home Adrian Gonzalez. The Tigers clawed back with a sixth inning Prince Fielder solo shot. Detroit chipped away in the seventh inning when Fielder singled home Miguel Cabrera. The Red Sox got some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh on an Ortiz solo home run. This held up for a 6-3 win, with Bard picking up the victory, Alfredo Aceves turning the save, and Verlander taking a rare loss.

Back in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago White Sox. Philip Humber (Mr. Perfect) goes up against James Shields (Big Game James) for pitching purposes. Tampa Bay led off in the fourth inning with a two-run Hideki Matsui home run, also scoring Matt Joyce. Chicago got one back in the fifth inning as Alexei Ramirez singled in Dayan Viciedo. The White Sox rallied ahead in the sixth inning as A.J. Pierzynski singled in Adam Dunn, Viciedo hit a single to score Alex Rios, Ramirez doubled to bring in Pierzynski, Orlando Hudson hit a single that knocked in Viciedo, and Alejandro De Aza grounded into a fielder's choice allowing safe passage home for Ramirez. Chicago got another in the eighth inning on a Viciedo solo home run. This made it 7-2, a final, with the win going to Humber and the loss pinned on Shields.

A touch to the north, the Atlanta Braves host the St. Louis Cardinals. Jake Westbrook and Randall Delgado took their turns in the rotation. Atlanta was quick to open the scoring with a first inning Michael Bourn solo home run. The Braves added on in the third inning with a three-run Dan Uggla home run, also scoring Bourn and Martin Prado. St. Louis got going in the fourth inning as Yadier Molina singled in Matt Holliday, followed by Tyler Greene grounding out to knock in Carlos Beltran. Atlanta answered in the fifth inning as Jose Constanza scoring on a wild pitch. The Cardinals shot back with a sixth inning Molina solo shot. St. Louis chipped away in the seventh inning with Molina singling to drive in Holliday. The final stood at 5-4 Braves, which left the win with Delgado, the save with Craig Kimbrel, and Westbrook was stuck holding the loss.

Westward to Texas, with the Rangers hosting the Seattle Mariners. Jason Vargas and Scott Feldman have the green light to pitch. Texas opened with Josh Hamilton grounding out in the first inning, providing time for Elvis Andrus to come home. Seattle got the lead in the second inning with a two-run John Jaso home run, also scoring Justin Smoak. The Mariners added on in the fifth inning as Jesus Montero reached on an error, allowing both Brendan Ryan and Dustin Ackley to come home. The Rangers pulled back with a sixth inning Hamilton two-run homer, also scoring Andrus. Seattle answered in the eighth inning as Jaso singled Kyle Seager across the dish, followed by Ryan reaching on an error to bring in Smoak, Ackley singling to finish Jaso's trip around, Mike Carp singling to score Michael Saunders, Ichiro hitting a sacrifice fly to knock in Ryan, and Ackley scoring on a wild pitch for a 6-run rally. This made it 10-3, a final, with Vargas getting the win while Feldman took the loss.

North to Minnesota, as the Twins host the Oakland Athletics. Jarrod Parker and Cole De Vries are the relatively unknown pitchers. Oakland finally busted things open in the seventh inning as Collin Cowgill singled in Kurt Suzuki. The Athletics got another in the eighth inning as Coco Crisp singled home Seth Smith. Minnesota got the lead in the ninth inning with a walkoff three-run Josh Willingham home run, also scoring Jamey Carroll and Joe Mauer for a 3-2 win. Glen Perkins got the win while Brian Fuentes was on the hook for the collapse.

Southwest to California, with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hosting the New York Yankees. Andy Pettitte and Dan Haren pace the game. Los Angeles got things going in the third inning with Mike Trout tripling to force in Peter Bourjos and Albert Pujols hitting a two-run home run, also scoring Maicer Izturis. New York answered in the fourth inning as Nick Swisher singled in Raul Ibanez. The Angels added on in the sixth inning on a Mark Trumbo solo home run. Los Angeles extended the lead in the eighth inning with Howie Kendrick singling to score Pujols. This was it for the scoring in the 5-1 game, with Haren earning the win and Pettitte having the loss

Into Los Angeles proper, as the Dodgers welcome the Milwaukee Brewers. Michael Fiers and Nathan Eovaldi are the completely unknown starters. Milwaukee struck first with a first inning two-run Ryan Braun home run, also scoring Nyjer Morgan. Los Angeles got on the board in the sixth inning as Andre Ethier doubled in Ivan De Jesus. They were unable to pull even, losing 2-1, with Fiers getting a win, John Axford tossing the save, and Eovaldi being stuck with the loss.

Finally, we end in San Francisco, with the Giants welcoming the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joe Saunders and Ryan Vogelsong are the reliable starters. Arizona began on a Josh Bell single, scoring Chris Young. San Francisco tied it in the sixth inning with a Buster Posey double to score Melky Cabrera. The Giants gained the lead in the eighth inning as Posey hit a sacrifice fly to score Ryan Theriot, followed by Joaquin Arias grounding into a fielder's choice to bring home. This held for a 3-1 win, earned by Clay Hensley, while Santiago Casilla turned the save and Bryan Shaw was stuck with the loss.

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