MLB Day 81 2012

Travel day is upon us once again as we approach the final interleague series of the season. Closing out a series today, the...

Detroit Tigers host the St. Louis Cardinals. Kyle Lohse and Jacob Turner are given the starting nods. Detroit got things started in the fourth inning on a Prince Fielder solo home run. St. Louis tied it in the fifth inning as Matt Holliday hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Rafael Furcal. The Tigers won it in the tenth inning with a walkoff Quintin Berry single to plate Ramon Santiago. This made it 2-1, with Joaquin Benoit grabbing the win and Victor Marte was on the hook for the loss.

Out west, the Oakland Athletics host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw and Travis Blackley are on the mound. Oakland was first to score in the second inning on a Brandon Inge sacrifice fly to bring home Jonny Gomes. Los Angeles tied it in the fourth inning as Juan Rivera singled to score Elian Herrera. The Athletics won it in the ninth inning on a walkoff three-run home run from Yoenis Cespedes, sweeping in Coco Crisp and Jemile Weeks for a 4-1 victory. The win went to Ryan Cook, while Josh Lindblom was dealt the loss.

Back to the east, the Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies. Jeff Francis and Vance Worley are handed the ball. Philadelphia began in the first inning with a Jimmy Rollins solo home run. Colorado took the lead in the seventh inning as Chris Nelson hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Tyler Colvin. The Rockies padded the lead in the ninth inning with a two-run home run from Willin Rosario, also scoring Todd Helton for a 4-1 final. Josh Roenicke was in line for the win, Rafael Betancourt shut the door for a save, and Worley was on the hook for the loss.

Across the state of Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Minnesota Twins. Liam Hendriks is mismatched with James McDonald. Pittsburgh opened in the first inning as Garrett Jones singled to score Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates added on in the second inning with a 3-RBI double from McCutchen, sweeping in McDonald, Alex Presley, and Neil Walker. Minnesota got on the board in the fourth inning as Ryan Doumit singled to bring in Trevor Plouffe. Pittsburgh shot back in the sixth inning as Rod Barajas hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates padded the lead in the seventh inning with a two-run blast from Jones, also scoring McCutchen, before Alvarez hit a solo home run. This made it 9-1, a final. McDonald went the distance for the win, while Hendriks was dinged for the loss.

Into the capital, as the Washington Nationals host the Tampa Bay Rays. Matt Moore and Gio Gonzalez show alliteration in the pitching match, something I've been missing lately. Tampa Bay started in the second inning as Desmond Jennings singled in Hideki Matsui. Washington took the lead in the third inning with Michael Morse hitting a sacrifice fly to plate Danny Espinosa and Ian Desmond singling to drive in Bryce Harper. The Rays tied it in the sixth inning on a Sean Rodriguez single that allowed Ben Zobrist to get home. The Nationals charged back ahead in their half of the sixth on a 2-RBI single from Espinosa, knocked in both Jesus Flores and Adam LaRoche. Washington extended the lead in the seventh inning on a Roger Bernadina double that brought in Ryan Zimmerman. This made it 5-2, a final, with Gonzalez grabbing the win, Tyler Clippard tossing the save, and Moore suffered the loss.

Finally, we pull a rare stunt by boiling ending in Boston, as the Red Sox host the Miami Marlins. Carlos Zambrano and Daisuke Matsuzaka pace the game, although for how long remains to be seen. For a more detailed analysis of this game, go to ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the Game of the Day.  Miami established an early lead in the first inning as Greg Dobbs singled in both Jose Reyes and Giancarlo Stanton before coming home on a single from Omar Infante. Boston got some back in the fourth inning with Will Middlebrooks singling to score Cody Ross before Mike Aviles hit a sacrifice fly to plate Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The Red Sox tied it in the fifth inning when Middlebrooks singled Adrian Gonzalez across the dish. The Marlins took the lead again in the sixth inning on a Stanton solo home run and an Infante double that scored Dobbs. Boston answered in the eighth inning with a two-run tying home run from Middlebrooks, also scoring Saltalamacchia, and a go ahead Daniel Nava single that allowed Ryan Kalish safe passage home. This made it 6-5, which held up as a final, with the win going to Scott Atchison, the save to Alfredo Aceves, and the loss to Edward Mujica.

Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip and check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the game of the day, going back in time as we visit Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.