MLB Day 86 2012

Back to the full schedule and this post will be delayed due to real-life situations requiring my attention this evening. For the first game...

We hit Baltimore, as the Orioles host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. C.J. Wilson opposes a lesser foe in Brian Matusz. Los Angeles opened in the first inning as Torii Hunter singled home Mike Trout. The Angels added on in the fifth inning with a two-run home run from Albert Pujols, also scoring Hunter. Baltimore got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning as Steve Pearce hit a solo home run. Los Angeles fired back in the sixth inning with another two-run blast, this time from Peter Bourjos to score Maicer Izturis. The Angels added on in the seventh inning with a solo shot from Mark Trumbo. Los Angeles continued in the eighth inning as John Hester hit a solo home run. The Orioles kept up the power show in their half of the the eighth with a two-run long ball by Wilson Betemit, sweeping in Matt Wieters. This was it for the scoring, with the Angels winning 7-3. Wilson picked up the win and Matusz was stuck with the loss.

Into Philadelphia, as the Phillies host their cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Erik Bedard and Vance Worley get the starting nods. Philadelphia was first to score in the first inning with a Carlos Ruiz single bringing in Hunter Pence. Pittsburgh got on the board in the second inning as Michael McKenry hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Pedro Alvarez. The Phillies replied in their half of the inning on a Placido Polanco single to drive in Mike Fontenot. Philadelphia added on in the third inning as Ty Wigginton hit a two-run home run, also scoring Carlos Ruiz. The Pirates responded in the sixth inning when Casey McGehee singled in Andrew McCutchen. Pittsburgh got another in the seventh inning when Drew Sutton doubled Clint Barmes across the dish. The Phillies shot back in the eighth inning when Ruiz hit a solo home run. The Pirates pulled back on a ninth inning McKenry solo shot, but they couldn't tie the game, falling 5-4. Worley was credited with the win, while Jonathan Papelbon picked up the save and Bedard took the loss.

To New York, with the Yankees hosting the Cleveland Indians. Justin Masterson and Phil Hughes are the average starters. New York got going in the second inning with Chris Stewart singled Nick Swisher in before coming home alongside Dewayne Wise on a Curtis Granderson single. The Yankees padded the lead in the fifth inning as Mark Teixeira hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Granderson. New York got another in the seventh inning as Alex Rodriguez hit a solo home run. The Yankees extended the lead in the eighth inning when Stewart's sacrifice fly plated Swisher. Cleveland tried to rally in the ninth inning as Johnny Damon singled in Kipnis before coming home on a three-run home run by Jose Lopez that also scored Casey Kotchman, but it wasn't enough to prevent the 6-4 loss. Hughes was handed the win, while Rafael Soriano mopped up the mess for a save and Masterson was not excused from the loss.

Westward to Cincinnati, as the Reds host the Milwaukee Brewers. Marco Estrada and Bronson Arroyo are tabbed for the starts. Cincinnati got things started in the sixth inning on a three-run home run by Jay Bruce, also scoring Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips. Milwaukee rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning as Corey Hart doubled in both George Kotteras and Taylor Green before coming home on a Norichika Aoki single. The Reds grabbed the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Drew Stubbs hit a solo home run. This made it 4-3, which was a final, as Sean Marshall earned the win, Aroldis Chapman tumbled his way to a save, and John Axford was on the hook for the loss.

Down in Miami, the Marlins host the St. Louis Cardinals. Kyle Lohse and Carlos Zambrano are the veteran pitchers. St. Louis started in the first inning with Carlos Beltran singling in Rafael Furcal and Allen Craig reaching on an error to get Matt Holliday home, followed by Yadier Molina hitting a three-run home run, sweeping in Beltran and Craig. Miami got on the board in the bottom of the first with a solo home run from Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins got another in the fourth inning on a Greg Dobbs sacrifice fly that plated Stanton. This was it for the scoring, leaving the Cardinals with a 5-2 win, picked up by Lohse, while Jason Motte turned the save and Zambrano was dealt the loss.

Back north, the Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays. Aaron Laffey and Daisuke Matsuzaka are the underwhelming starters. Toronto opened with a first inning Edwin Encarnacion single to plate Brett Lawrie. Boston tied it in the seventh inning on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia solo home run before taking the lead as Dustin Pedroia hit a 2-RBI single to drive in Ryan Kalish and Daniel Nava. The Red Sox added on in the eighth inning when Adrian Gonzalez doubled in David Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks hit a sacrifice fly to knock in Cody Ross. This was all for the scoring, leaving the final at 5-1 and Andrew Miller picked up the win while Luis Perez was dinged for the loss.

South again to Atlanta, where the Braves host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Daniel Hudson opposes the unrelated Tim Hudson for pitching purposes. Atlanta began on a first inning Michael Bourn solo home run. The Braves rallied to extend the lead in the second inning as Freddie Freeman doubled in Chipper Jones before scoring on an Andrelton Simmons single, and Simmons came home on a Jason Heyward sacrifice fly, followed by Brian McCann singling Bourn across the dish. Arizona found the scoreboard in the third inning on a Jason Kubel solo home run. Atlanta replied in the seventh inning with Freeman reaching on a fielder's choice, allowing Dan Uggla to score and Tim Hudson hitting a sacrifice fly to finish Freeman's trip around. The Braves made it 8-1 in the eighth inning as McCann singled to drive in Heyward, producing the final score. Tim Hudson earned the win while Daniel Hudson left the game early with an injury.

Westward to Houston, as the Astros host the San Diego Padres. Kip Wells and Jordan Lyles are the unknown starters. For a detailed analysis of this game, visit ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the featured Game of the Day. San Diego led off with a third inning Will Venable solo home run. Houston tied it in their half of the third as Jed Lowrie hit a solo shot. The Astros rallied ahead in the fifth inning, beginning as Lowrie scored on a wild pitch, followed by Chris Johnson singling in Brian Bogusevic, and then J.D. Martinez finished Johnson's trip with a two-run home run. The Padres tried a ninth inning rally as Chase Headley singled home both Venable and Cameron Maybin, but they fell short and lost 5-3. Lyles picked up the win while Brett Myers converted the save and Wells was given the loss.

Staying in Texas, the Rangers host the Detroit Tigers. Drew Smyly and Yu Darvish are the talented young pitchers. Detroit led off in the first inning as Prince Fielder doubled in both Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera. Texas got one back in the bottom of the first as Ian Kinsler hit a solo home run. Fielder answered for the Tigers in the fourth inning with a solo shot of his own. The Rangers rallied in their half of the fourth as Michael Young tripled, forcing Adrian Beltre before scoring on a Nelson Cruz single, followed by Yorvit Torrealba singling Cruz in and Brandon Snyder doing the same for Torrealba. Detroit replied in the fifth inning as Quintin Berry singled in Alex Avila. Texas shot back with Elvis Andrus scoring on a passed ball. The Rangers got another in the seventh inning as Josh Hamilton went yard for a solo home run. The Tigers got one back in the eighth on a Fielder groundout to knock in Jackson, but this only made it 7-5, a final. Darvish was strong in the win, while Joe Nathan converted the save and Smyly was stuck holding the loss.

Up in Chicago, the Cubs host the New York Mets. Dillon Gee and Randy Wells receive the starting nods. New York opened in the second inning on a Josh Thole single plating Scott Hairston, followed by Gee doing the same for Daniel Murphy. Chicago replied in the third inning when Alfonso Soriano grounded out to bring in David DeJesus, followed by Luis Valbuena doubling in Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney singling to score Bryan LaHair. The Mets shot back to tie in the fourth inning as David Wright hit a sacrifice fly, giving Thole time to get home. The Cubs got the lead back in the bottom of the fourth on an Anthony Rizzo double, driving in Steve Clevenger. Chicago added on in the eighth inning as Reed Johnson singled, which combined with an error to allow Barney to come home safely. This was it for the scoring, leaving the Cubs with a 5-3 win, picked up by Scott Maine, while Carlos Marmol earned the save and Gee was on the hook for the loss.

Back south a tad as the Kansas City Royals host the Tampa Bay Rays. Chris Archer and Bruce Chen take the mound. Tampa Bay started with a first inning Hideki Matsui fly out that got Carlos Pena home after an error. The Rays added on with a Brooks Conrad solo home run in the second inning. Kansas City woke up in the third inning when Alcides Escobar doubled, which combined with an error to get Jarrod Dyson home, followed by Alex Gordon reaching on an error to push in Escobar, and Yuniesky Betancourt hitting a two-run home run to finish Gordon's trip around. The Royals added on in the eighth inning as Billy Butler singled in Gordon before Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run home run to plate Mike Moustakas and Mitch Maier. This made it 8-2, a final, with Chen getting the win and Archer taking the loss.

North into Minnesota, where the Twins host the Chicago White Sox. Gavin Floyd and Liam Hendriks will handle the pitching duties. Chicago was first to score as Alex Rios hit a two-run home run, also scoring Paul Konerko in the fourth inning. The White Sox got another in the seventh inning when Alexei Ramirez singled Rios home. Minnesota tried a ninth inning rally as Jamey Carroll hit a 2-RBI single, plating both Justin Morneau and Darin Mastroianni, but it fell short as they lost 3-2. Floyd was given the win, Addison Reed converted his tenth save of the season, and Hendriks was handed the loss.

Southwest to Colorado, as the Rockies host the Washington Nationals. Gio Gonzalez and Christian Friedrich will have the green light to pitch. Washington opened with a second inning Adam LaRoche solo home run. The Nationals added on in the third inning as Michael Morse hit a 2-RBI double to knock in Danny Espinosa and Ryan Zimmerman. Colorado replied in their half of the inning with Carlos Gonzalez doubling in Jordan Pacheco and Todd Helton singling to finish Gonzalez's trip and also Michael Cuddyer's after an error. Washington took the lead again in the fourth after the pitcher Gonzalez singled home Jesus Flores. The Nationals continued the attack in the fifth inning when Ian Desmond doubled both Zimmerman and Morse in, followed by a three-run home run from Tyler Moore, sweeping in LaRoche and Desmond. The Rockies got one back in the bottom of the fifth with a Dexter Fowler solo shot. Washington put on a power show in the sixth inning with Zimmerman launching a solo home run and LaRoche going yard again for a two-run home run that also scored Morse. Colorado answered in the bottom of the sixth as Jonathan Herrera hit a solo shot. This was all for the scoring, with the final standing at 12-5, allowing Gonzalez the win and Friedrich the loss.

Northwest into Seattle, where the Mariners welcome the Oakland Athletics. Travis Blackley and Jason Vargas take the hill. Seattle began in the third inning with a Franklin Gutierrez double to drive in Dustin Ackley, followd by a Kyle Seager sacrifice fly to bring home Ichiro. Oakland rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning on a Yoenis Cespedes solo home run and a Jonny Gomes single bringing in Seth Smith. The Mariners took the lead back in the eighth inning as Brendan Ryan singled in Casper Wells. This held up for a 3-2 win, with Charlie Furbush earning the win, Tom Wilhelmsen shutting the door for a save, and Jim Miller suffering the loss.

Finally, in San Francisco, the Giants host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw and Ryan Vogelsong are the reliable pitchers pacing the game. San Francisco got started in the fourth inning as Melky Cabrera hit a solo home run and Pablo Sandoval singled in Angel Pagan. This was the only scoring here, with the final sitting at 2-0 Giants. Vogelsong was very good in the win, while Santiago Casilla turned the save and Kershaw had no run support in the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip and check out ulimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the adventure of a lifetime, heading east from Houston.