Monday, June 18, 2012

MLB Day 78 2012

Travel day gives us a few less games today, but we still have some. We begin in...

Cleveland, as the Indians of the American League host the Cincinnati Reds in the battle of Ohio. Mat Latos and Derek Lowe are set to start. Cincinnati struck first with a first inning Joey Votto solo home run. Cleveland tied it on a Shin-Soo Choo solo shot in the bottom of the first. The Reds got the lead back in the second inning with a Scott Rolen single to bring in Jay Bruce and a Ryan Hanigan single plating Ryan Ludwick. The Indians rallied to take a lead in their half of the second as Johnny Damon grounded out to bring in Michael Brantley before Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run home run, also scoring Carlos Santana. Cincinnati reclaimed the lead in the third inning when Ludwick doubled in Brandon Phillips, followed by Rolen singling to drive in Bruce. Cleveland took the lead once again in the fourth inning on a two-run Casey Kotchman home run, sweeping in Brantley, followed by Choo doubling home Chisenhall. The Reds retied the game in the fifth inning as Phillips doubled Votto home and scored on the same play thanks to an error by Damon. The Indians stormed back ahead in the sixth inning when Kotchman grounded out to get Santana home and Chisenhall singled Damon across the dish. Cincinnati got one back in the seventh inning on a Bruce solo home run. Cleveland shot back on a Brantley sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, allowing Asdrubal Cabrera safe passage home. The Reds tried a rally in the ninth inning as Bruce singled to knock in Phillips, but they didn't get the equalizer, falling 10-9. Joe Smith was in line for the win while Chris Perez turned a shaky save and Sam LeCure was handed the loss.

Eastward and still in the AL, the New York Yankees host the Atlanta Braves. Mike Minor is mismatched with CC Sabathia. Atlanta was first to score with a first inning Martin Prado groundout giving Michael Bourn time to get home. The Braves added on in the fifth inning as Bourn singled in Jason Heyward. New York got the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Russell Martin hit a ground rule double, knocking in Alex Rodriguez, before he came home alongside Robinson Cano on a Derek Jeter single. The Yankees got another in the sixth inning as Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run. New York extended the lead in the seventh inning when Jeter singled home Chris Stewart. The Yankees kept going in the eighth inning on a Cano solo shot. This made it 6-2, a final, with Sabathia going the distance for the win while Minor was dealt the loss.

Staying in New York, we have the Mets of the National League hosting the Baltimore Orioles. Jake Arrieta and R.A. Dickey are tabbed to start. New York busted things open in the sixth inning on an Ike Davis grand slam, sweeping in Dickey, Jordany Valdespin, and Lucas Duda. The Mets got another in the eighth inning on a David Wright single to bring home Valdespin. This was all they needed for a 5-0 win, with Dickey throwing another one-hit complete game shutout, also allowing two walks while fanning thirteen, and Arrieta had no help in the loss.

Southwest to Houston, as the Astros host the Kansas City Royals under NL rules. Jonathan Sanchez and J.A. Happ try to turn their seasons around pitching. Kansas City quickly got a first inning lead on a Jeff Francoeur single to bring home Yuniesky Betancourt. Houston tied it on a Brian Bixler solo home run in the bottom of the first, and took the lead as Justin Maxwell scored on an error. The Astros struck again in the fourth inning on a Chris Snyder single to bring in Chris Johnson, followed by Maxwell drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Snyder. The Royals got one back in the sixth inning as Billy Butler grounded out to bring in Alex Gordon. Houston extended the lead in the eighth inning as Brian Bogusevic hit a solo shot, followed by Bixler doubling home both Snyder and Jose Altuve before finishing his trip on a two-run home run from Maxwell. Kansas City tried a rally in the ninth inning as Jarrod Dyson singled to score Mike Moustakas, Mitch Maier hit a sacrifice fly to plate Alcides Escobar, Betancourt singed home both Humberto Quintero and Dyson, and Butler singled to knock in Gordon, but this only made it 9-7 in the end. Happ earned the win, Xavier Cedeno got a spot save, and Sanchez was tagged for the loss.

Northward and into the AL, as the Chicago White Sox host their same-city neighbors, the Chicago Cubs. Matt Garza opposes a lesser foe in Zach Stewart. For a more detailed recap of this game, please check ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the featured Game of the Day. The Cubs began with a third inning Bryan LaHair two-run home run, also scoring Starlin Castro. The Cubs added on in the fifth inning with a Castro two-run homer, sweeping in Tony Campana, followed by an Alfonso Soriano solo home run. The White Sox got one back in the bottom of the fifth as A.J. Pierzynski hit a solo shot. The Cubs got it back in the sixth inning on a Soto solo home run. The White Sox chipped back in the bottom of the sixth as Paul Konerko hit a two-run home run, sweeping home Gordon Beckham. The Cubs shot back in the seventh inning as Soriano singled to plate David DeJesus before Steve Clevenger did the same for Castro, and Darwin Barney followed suit to bring in Soriano, and then Luis Valbuena hit a three-run home run to bring home both Clevenger and Barney. This was all for the scoring, leaving the final at 12-3, with Garza notching the win and Stewart was given the loss.

North again, still in the NL, as the Milwaukee Brewers host the Toronto Blue Jays. Henderson Alvarez and Randy Wolf are the uninspiring pitchers. Toronto wasted no time in taking a first inning lead, as Brett Lawrie hit a solo home run to lead the game off. Milwaukee took the lead in the bottom of the first inning on a 2-RBI Rickie Weeks single to knock in both Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Braun. The Brewers added on in the second inning when Norichika Aoki hit a bunt single, giving Edwin Maysonet time to score, followed by a Braun fielder's choice to plate the pitcher Wolf, and then both Morgan and Braun scored on an Aramis Ramirez double. The Blue Jays got one back in the third inning as Edwin Encarnacion grounded into a double play to score Lawrie. The Blue Jays got another in the sixth inning as Encarnacion hit a solo shot. The Blue Jays tied it in the seventh inning as Jose Bautista went yard on a three-run home run, sweeping home Lawrie and Colby Rasmus. Milwaukee took the lead back in the bottom of the seventh as Ramirez hit a solo home run. This stood up for a 7-6 victory, with Kameron Loe in line for the win, John Axford pitched a clean ninth for the save, and Robert Coello was on the hook for the loss.

Staying in the NL, we head to Arizona, with the Diamondbacks hosting the Seattle Mariners. Hector Noesi and Wade Miley are the relatively unknown starters. Arizona rallied to a lead in the first inning with Justin Upton singling Willie Bloomquist in, followed by Jason Kubel and Paul Goldschmidt hitting a sacrifice fly each, plating Aaron Hill and Upton. The Diamondbacks added on in the third inning as Upton hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Hill. Seattle found the scoreboard in the sixth inning as Casper Wells singled to score Kyle Seager. Arizona surged back in the bottom of the sixth as Miguel Montero hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kubel, and Josh Bell singled Goldschmidt home. The Diamondbacks got another in the seventh inning as Hill completed his cycle with a solo shot. His single came in the first inning, his triple in the third, and his double in the fifth. This completed a 7-1 victory for the Diamondbacks, with Miley taking the win and Noesi getting served with the loss.

Westward to Anaheim, where we switch to the AL with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hosting the San Francisco Giants of greater northern California. Mr. Perfect, Matt Cain takes the mound against Jerome Williams. Los Angeles quickly ended Cain's repeat bid with an Albert Pujols sacrifice fly to drive in Mike Trout. San Francisco got the lead back in the second inning as Brandon Crawford tripled to force in both Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt. The Angels retied it in the bottom of the second on a Mark Trumbo solo home run. The Giants retook the lead in the third inning on an Angel Pagan single to bring home Melky Cabrera. San Francisco got another in the fourth inning when Ryan Theriot singled to score Joaquin Arias. Los Angeles got one back in the bottom of the fourth on a Bobby Wilson sacrifice fly to bring in Alberto Callaspo. The Giants answered in the sixth inning as Theriot hit a single that allowed Arias to dash home. This was it for the scoring in a 5-3 game, with Cain picking up a less-than-perfect win while Santiago Casilla grabbed the save and Williams left the game with breathing troubles and was unable to breathe easier taking the loss.

Finally, we're back in the NL as the San Diego Padres host the Texas Rangers to close out the day. Matt Harrison and Jason Marquis will be atop the hill. Texas struck first in the first inning with a 2-RBI David Murphy single, scoring both Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre. San Diego answered in their half of the first as Chase Headley doubled to score Chris Denorfia. This was it for the scoring, as the Rangers held on for a 2-1win. Harrison picked up the win, Joe Nathan got the save, and Marquis was handed the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip and check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the trip of a lifetime, passing through Chicago today.

No comments :

Post a Comment