MLB Day 76 2012

Full slate of games today, interleague as it has been of late. First up...

The Washington Nationals of the National League host the New York Yankees. Andy Pettitte and Jordan Zimmermann will man the mound. Washington got things started in the second inning as Jesus Flores doubled in both Michael Morse and Tyler Moore. New York got on the board in the fourth inning when Eric Chavez reached on an error, knocking in Nick Swisher. The Yankees took the lead in the sixth inning with Raul Ibanez grounding out to get Robinson Cano home before Chavez doubled to drive in Russell Martin. The Nationals tied it in the eighth inning as Ian Desmond hit a solo home run. New York got the lead again in the fourteenth inning, with a 2-RBI Mark Teixeira double, knocking in Jayson Nix and Derek Jeter. This made it 5-3, a final, with the win going to Freddy Garcia, the save to Rafael Soriano, and the loss ended up with Brad Lidge.

Up north in Canada and the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Philadelphia Phillies. Cliff Lee and Ricky Romero are the staff aces pitching. For a more detailed analysis of this game, please check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the Game of the Day. Philadelphia quickly got on the board in the first inning with a Hunter Pence ground rule double forcing in Placido Polanco. Toronto tied it in the second inning as Yunel Escobar hit a solo home run. The Phillies got the lead back in the third inning on a three-run home run by John Mayberry, also scoring Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton. The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the third as Colby Rasmus singled in Rajai Davis. Philadelphia padded the lead in the eighth inning with a ground rule double by Jimmy Rollins, knocking in Brian Schneider. Toronto pulled back in the bottom of the eighth as Edwin Encarnacion singled, which combined with an error to allow both Jose Bautista and Encarnacion himself to come home, followed by a J.P. Arencibia double providing Kelly Johnson time to get home. The Blue Jays won it in the tenth inning as Davis hit a ground rule double to bring in Escobar for a 6-5 final. Francisco Cordero picked up the win while Joe Savery was pinned with the loss.

Back in the states. we stay in the AL as the Minnesota Twins host the Milwaukee Brewers. Michael Fiers and Liam Hendriks are the relatively unknown starters. Milwaukee got going in the second inning with a 2-RBI Norichika Aoki single plating both Rickie Weeks and Taylor Green. The Brewers added on in the third inning with back-to-back solo home runs from Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez. Minnesota got on the board in the bottom of the third as Ben Revere singled to score Darin Mastroianni. Milwaukee answered in the fifth inning with another Braun solo shot. The Brewers got another in the sixth inning as Cody Ransom hit a solo home run. The Twins got one back in the eighth inning on a Josh Willingham single that knocked in Denard Span.

Southward to Missouri, as the St. Louis Cardinals of the NL host their cross-state rivals, the Kansas City Royals. Bruce Chen and Joe Kelly will take their turns in the rotation. Kansas City was first to score with a first inning Mike Moustakas single to bring home Chris Getz. St. Louis charged ahead with two two-run home runs, as Matt Holliday homered in Carlos Beltran before Yadier Molina went yard and brought David Freese with him. The Cardinals added on in the second inning as Beltran singled to knock in Tyler Greene before coming home on a double by Holliday. The Royals got one back in the fourth inning with Moustakas hitting a solo home run. Kansas City got another one in the fifth inning on a Moustakas groundout to get Getz home again. The Royals pulled closer with a sixth inning Alex Gordon single to get Jarrod Dyson safely home. Kansas City took the lead in the seventh inning with Moustakas singling Eric Hosmer home, followed by a 2-RBI Alcides Escobar single that plated both Jeff Francoeur and Moustakas. St. Louis shot back in the bottom of the seventh with Holliday singling Daniel Descalso across the dish to tie the game before Molnia hit a 2-RBI single to drive in Rafael Furcal and Holliday. The Cardinals got another in the eighth inning as Holliday doubled to score Adron Chambers. This was good for a 10-7 win, earned by Mitchell Boggs, while Jason Motte turned the save and Tim Collins was stuck holding the loss.

Up in Detroit, we switch to the AL with the Tigers hosting the Colorado Rockies. Christian Friedrich and Doug Fister will be pitching this afternoon. Detroit struck first with a Miguel Cabrera solo home run in the first inning. The Tigers added on in the fourth inning when Austin Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Jhonny Peralta. Detroit got another in the fifth inning as Cabrera reached on an error, and then proceeded to come all the way home as the Colorado defense bumbled behind him. The Tigers struck again in the seventh inning as Prince Fielder hit a sacrifice fly to get Jackson home safely. Colorado got on the board in the ninth inning on a Michael Cuddyer groundout to bring in Carlos Gonzalez for a 4-1 loss. Fister got the win while Friedrich was given the loss.

Down into Ohio, we stay in the AL as the Cleveland Indians host the Pittsburgh Pirates. A.J. Burnett and Ubaldo Jimenez are the once-great pitchers. Cleveland opened with a first inning Asdrubal Cabrera solo home run. Pittsburgh tied it in the second inning on a Pedro Alvarez solo shot. The Pirates took the lead in the third inning as Garrett Jones singled to drive in Neil Walker. The Indians tied it again in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Casey Kotchman. Pittsburgh retook the lead on a sixth inning two-run home run by Casey McGehee, sweeping in Jones. The Pirates extended the lead with a seventh inning Alex Presley solo shot. Pittsburgh added on in the ninth as McGehee hit a 2-RBI single, scoring both Neil Walker and Matt Hague before coming home on a two-run home run by Alvarez. This made the final 9-2, with Burnett earning the win and Jimenez holding the loss.

Out to California, where the Oakland Athletics hold us in the AL by hosting the San Diego Padres. Ross Ohlendorf and a similarly-named Tyson Ross will be assigned to pitch. Oakland got things going in the fourth inning with a Seth Smith solo home run and a Collin Cowgill single giving Brandon Moss time to get home. The Athletics added on in the fifth inning with a Jemile Weeks double to drive in Cliff Pennington. San Diego got going in the sixth inning with a two-run Carlos Quentin home run, also scoring Chase Headley. The Padres took the lead in the seventh inning as Will Venable doubled home both Yonder Alonso and John Baker. Oakland took the lead back in the bottom of the seventh when Pennington scored on a wild pitch and Jonny Gomes hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Josh Reddick. This made it 6-4, which would be the final, setting up a win for Sean Doolittle, while Ryan Cook cleaned up for the save and Joe Thatcher was responsible for the loss.

East again to New York, where the Mets and the Cincinnati Reds play the NL-only game. Homer Bailey and Jonathon Niese are the average starters. Cincinnati staked out an early lead with a three-run home run by Jay Bruce in the first inning, sweeping in Zack Cozart and Wilson Valdez. New York got one back in the bottom of the first, as David Wright doubled to score Daniel Murphy. The Reds answered in the fourth inning as Ryan Ludwick singled in Bruce. This was all for the scoring, leaving the final at 4-1, with Bailey pitching well for a win, Aroldis Chapman shutting the door for a save, and Niese suffered the loss.

Down the Atlantic coast, the Atlanta Braves of the NL host the Baltimore Orioles. Jason Hammel and Brandon Beachy are the talented young arms pitching. Baltimore led off in the fourth inning as Mark Reynolds hit a 2-RBI single to knock in both Chris Davis and Adam Jones. The Orioles added on in the fifth inning as Brian Roberts singled to drive in Steve Pearce. Baltimore struck again in the seventh inning as Roberts singled both Wilson Betemit and Pearce across the plate. This made it 5-0, an eventual final, where Hammel tossed a dominant complete game shutout, allowing just one hit and two walks, while conversely, Beachy had no support.

Westward and back in the AL, the battle of Texas goes on in Arlington as the Texas Rangers host the Houston Astros. Lucas Harrell and Justin Grimm are the unknown starters. Houston began with a first inning Jed Lowrie solo home run. The Astros added on as Justin Maxwell doubled in the fifth inning, bringing home Brian Bogusevic, before he scored on a single by Jordan Schafer. Texas got some back in the sixth inning as Adrian Beltre singled to score Craig Gentry and Ian Kinsler, before taking the lead on a three-run home run by Nelson Cruz, sweeping in Michael Young and Beltre. The Rangers added on in the seventh inning when Kinsler singled home Gentry, followed by Kinsler coming home on a Young sacrifice fly. Texas extended the lead in the eighth inning with a Mitch Moreland double plating David Murphy. This made it 8-3, which was the final, with Grimm grabbing the win and Harrell taking the loss.

Back to the east and still in the AL, the battle of Florida goes down in Tampa Bay with the Rays hosting the Miami Marlins. Anibal Sanchez and James Shields pace the game. Miami struck first with Giancarlo Stanton reaching on an error in the first inning, allowing Jose Reyes to come home. The Marlins added on in the second inning as Reyes singled home both Gaby Sanchez and Scott Cousins. Tampa Bay got on the board in the third inning as Jose Molina singled to bring in Elliot Johnson. The Rays got another one in the fifth inning on a Molina solo home run. Tampa Bay tied the game in the seventh inning on a Sean Rodriguez triple to force in Carlos Pena. Miami finally broke the tie in the fifteenth inning on a Cousins triple to bring home Justin Ruggiano, and it stood for a long-fought 4-3 win. The win went to Ryan Webb, while Heath Bell turned the save, and Brandon Gomes was dealt the loss.

Up north, we switch over to the NL as the Chicago Cubs host the Boston Red Sox. Jon Lester opposes Jeff Samardzija on the hill. Boston finally opened the scoring in the fourth inning on a two-run Jarrod Saltalamacchia home run, also scoring David Ortiz. The Red Sox got another in the sixth inning as Will Middlebrooks singled home Ortiz. Boston kept going in the seventh inning as Scott Podsednik singled to drive in Mike Aviles. Chicago got some back in the bottom of the seventh on a three-run home run from Luis Valbuena, sweeping in Jeff Baker and Welington Castillo. They couldn't tie it up, falling 4-3, allowing Lester to get the win, Alfredo Aceves turned the save, and Samardzija was not freed from the loss.

Westward and back in the AL, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana are given the green light to start. Los Angeles opened in the first inning as Mark Trumbo hit a two-run home run, also scoring Torii Hunter. This was the only scoring in the game, giving the Angels a 2-0 victory. Santana went the distance for a complete game shutout, allowing only a hit and a walk, while Saunders got no help in the loss.

Into Los Angeles and the NL, we have the Dodgers hosting the Chicago White Sox. Philip Humber and Chad Billingsley will be handed the ball. Chicago began in the second inning as Alexei Ramirez singled both Paul Konerko and Alex Rios home, before he came on a single by the pitcher Humber. The White Sox got another in the third inning when Rios tripled to force in Adam Dunn. Los Angeles got on the board in the bottom of the third as Jerry Hairston, Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Billingsley, followed by Bobby Abreu singling home Dee Gordon, A.J. Ellis doing the same for Andre Ethier, and James Loney following suit to bring in Abreu, tying the game. Chicago got the lead back in the fourth inning on an Alejandro De Aza fielder's choice, allowing Ramirez to dash home safely. The scoring stopped here, with the White Sox ahead 5-4, and the win went to Humber, the save to Addison Reed, and the loss to Billingsley.

Finally, back in the AL, we have the Seattle Mariners hosting the San Francisco Giants. Tim Lincecum opposes Kevin Millwood for pitching purposes. Seattle was first to score in the first inning as Casper Wells and Jesus Montero hit solo home runs. San Francisco got on the board in the third inning with a Ryan Theriot single providing time for Brandon Crawford to get home, followed by Buster Posey singling to drive in Gregor Blanco to tie the game. The Giants got the lead in the fourth inning as Theriot singled to score Brandon Belt, followed by a Melky Cabrera single plating Crawford. The Mariners got one back as Ichiro singled in the fifth inning, providing time for Dustin Ackley to dash home, followed by John Jaso scoring on a wild pitch to tie it up. Seattle got the lead in the sixth inning on a Franklin Gutierrez single bringing in Montero before Brendan Ryan did the same for both Michael Saunders and Ackley. This made it 7-4, which was preserved as a final, with the win going to Hisashi Iwakuma, the save was converted by Tom Wilhelmsen, and Lincecum was dealt the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip and check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the trip of a lifetime that went through Toronto, Ontario today.