MLB Day 88 2012

Travel day for a handful of teams, with the rest playing as normal. We begin with the...

Battle of Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia Phillies host the Pittsburgh Pirates. A.J. Burnett and Kyle Kendrick get the starting nods. Pittsburgh rallied to an early lead in the first inning as Garrett Jones singled home Drew Sutton, followed by a three-run home run from Casey McGehee that brought in Neil Walker and Jones, and a Pedro Alvarez solo home run. Philadelphia got on the board in the second inning with a two-run home run by Erik Kratz, also scoring Ty Wigginton. The Phillies got another in the sixth inning as Placido Polanco grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in Shane Victorino. Philadelphia pulled closer in the eighth inning on a Hunter Pence solo shot. They couldn't tie the game, falling 5-4. Burnett earned the win, Joel Hanrahan converted his twentieth save of the season, and Kendrick suffered the loss.

Westward to Colorado, where the Rockies host the Washington Nationals. Edwin Jackson faces a lesser foe in Josh Outman. Colorado began with a first inning Carlos Gonzalez single to bring home Dexter Fowler, followed by Chris Nelson doing the same for Scutaro, and a three-run home run by Tyler Colvin, sweeping in Todd Helton and Nelson. The Rockies added on in the second inning as Nelson doubled home Gonzalez and then scored on a Colvin single. Washington pulled back in the third inning on a 2-RBI Ryan Zimmerman single, plating both Tyler Moore and the pitcher Jackson before he came home alongside Danny Espinosa when Michael Morse hit a three-run home run. Colorado shot back in the fourth inning as Gonzalez singled in Scutaro, before being forced in on a Colvin triple. The Nationals got one back in the fifth inning when Bryce Harper singled to knock in Espinosa, followed by an Adam LaRoche sacrifice fly to finish Harper's trip and a two-run home run from Ian Desmond to tie the game as Morse came home. The Rockies responded with Gonzalez grounding into a double play, allowing Josh Roenicke to come home. Washington tied it in the ninth inning as Harper lifted a solo home run. Colorado won it in walkoff fashion in the eleventh inning as Scutaro singled Jonathan Herrera in safely for an 11-10 win. Adam Ottavino got the win while Craig Stammen was handed the loss.

Back to the east, as the Baltimore Orioles host the Cleveland Indians. Zach McAllister and Wei-Yin Chen are the little known starters. Cleveland started with a second inning three-run home run by Johnny Damon, also scoring Jose Lopez and Michael Brantley. The Indians got another in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Shin-Soo Choo. Baltimore got a couple back in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run from J.J. Hardy, knocking in Ryan Flaherty. Cleveland extended their lead in the seventh inning on a three-run Asdrubal Cabrera home run, sweeping in Lou Marson and Choo. This was good for a 7-2 win, with McAllister picking up the win and Chen was dealt the loss.

Over to New York, where the Yankees host the Chicago White Sox. Dylan Axelrod and Ivan Nova are the back-of-the-rotation starters. Chicago was first to score with a fifth inning Alejandro De Aza solo home run. New York took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Alex Rodriguez doubled in Curtis Granderson before scoring on a Robinson Cano double. The Yankees added on in the eighth inning with a Mark Teixeira solo shot. The White Sox took a lead in the ninth inning on a three-run home run by Dayan Viciedo, sweeping in Alex Rios and Eduardo Escobar. This held for a 4-3 win, with Hector Santiago in line for the win, Addison Reed notching the save, and David Robertson responsible for the loss.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Dan Haren and Brett Cecil are set to start. Los Angeles led off with a second inning Alberto Callaspo solo home run. Toronto tied it in their half of the inning when Yunel Escobar grounded out to bring in Edwin Encarnacion. The Blue Jays got the lead in the third inning when Jeff Mathis hit a solo shot. The Angels replied in the fourth inning with a two-run Mark Trumbo home run, also scoring Albert Pujols, followed by a Peter Bourjos sacrifice fly to bring in Howie Kendrick. Toronto shot back on a Rajai Davis sacrifice fly, allowing Encarnacion to score in the bottom of the fourth. Los Angeles struck again in the fifth inning as Kendrick singled Pujols across the dish. The Blue Jays shot back in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run Jose Bautista long ball, sweeping in Mathis and Colby Rasmus. The Angels took the lead back in the sixth inning after Bourjos hit a ground rule double to force in Erick Aybar before finishing his trip on a two-run home run by Mike Trout. Toronto clawed back in the seventh inning as Brett Lawrie singled to give Mathis time to come home. Los Angeles added on again in the ninth inning with a triple by Trumbo to knock Pujols home. This was all for the scoring, with the final being 9-7. Haren picked up the win, Ernesto Frieri turned his tenth save of the season, and Cecil was dinged for the loss.

Back stateside, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Detroit Tigers. Max Scherzer and James Shields are the struggling starters. For a more detailed recap, check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the featured Game of the Day. Detroit got going in the third inning as Delmon Young singled to score Quintin Berry and Alex Avila doubled home Prince Fielder. The Tigers added on in the fourth inning when Berry reached on an error, allowing Brennan Boesch to dash home. Tampa Bay found the scoreboard in the fifth inning as Elliot Johnson singled Brooks Conrad across the dish. Detroit responded in the sixth inning as Miguel Cabrera singled home Austin Jackson. The Rays got one back in the seventh inning on a Conrad double that combined with an error to plate Jeff Keppinger. The Tigers answered in the ninth inning on a solo home run by Cabrera for a 5-2 final. The win went to Scherzer, Jose Valverde turned the save, and Shields was stuck with the loss.

North a little to Atlanta, as the Braves host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trevor Bauer makes his highly-anticipated MLB debut against Jair Jurrjens on the mound. Atlanta opened with a third inning Brian McCann double to drive in Martin Prado. The Braves got another in the fourth inning when Michael Bourn hit a sacrifice fly that allowed safe passage home for Andrelton Simmons. Arizona tied it up in the sixth inning on a 2-RBI Jason Kubel double that plated both Willie Bloomquist and Justin Upton. The Diamondbacks took a ninth inning lead on a Chris Young solo home run. This made it 3-2, the final, with the win going to David Hernandez, the save to J.J. Putz, and the loss to Craig Kimbrel.

Westward to Houston, as the Astros host the San Diego Padres. Andrew Cashner and Dallas Keuchel are the completely unknown pitchers. San Diego started with a third inning solo home run by Chase Headley. Houston got on the board in the seventh inning as Brian Bogusevic hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Carlos Lee. The Astros got another in the eighth inning when J.D. Martinez scored on a wild pitch. The Padres stormed ahead in the ninth inning when Logan Forsythe reached on an error to knock in John Baker, Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in Cameron Maybin, and Alexi Amarista hit a grand slam to sweep home all of Forsythe, Headley, and Quentin. This made it 7-3 in the end, with the win going to Nick Vincent and the loss to Brett Myers.

Across to Arlington, where the Texas Rangers welcome the Oakland Athletics. Tyson Ross and Scott Feldman receive the starting nods. Oakland quickly got a lead with a first inning Josh Reddick solo home run. Texas tied it in the bottom of the first as Josh Hamilton grounded out to bring in Ian Kinsler. The Athletics rallied to another lead in the third inning with back-to-back solo shots by Derek Norris and Cliff Pennington before a Yoenis Cespedes single to score Coco Crisp. The Rangers got one back in their half of the third on a Hamilton single that knocked in Kinsler. Texas got another back in the fifth inning on a Elvis Andrus single to drive in Leonys Martin, followed by Adrian Beltre drawing a bases loaded walk to force in Kinsler and David Murphy singling both Andrus and Hamilton home. The Rangers got another in the sixth inning as Beltre's sacrifice fly allowed Andrus to score. Oakland got some back in the seventh inning as Cespedes singled home Crisp and Seth Smith hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Reddick. The Rangers held on for a 7-6 win, earned by Feldman, while Joe Nathan turned a rocky save and Ross was handed the loss.

West to Los Angeles, as the Dodgers host the New York Mets. Chris Young opposes a former Mets in Chris Capuano in pitching. New York began early in the first inning when David Wright doubled to score Ruben Tejada. The Mets added on in the fourth inning with a Wright solo home run. Los Angeles answered in the bottom of the fourth, tying it as Elian Herrera tripled to force in Dee Gordon before crossing home on a Juan Rivera single. New York took the lead back in the fifth inning as Andres Torres doubled to plate Mike Nickeas. This held up for a 3-2 win, with Young getting the win, Bobby Parnell turning the save, and Capuano was given the loss.

North to Seattle, where the Mariners host the Boston Red Sox. Franklin Morales and Felix Hernandez pace the game. Seattle won the game 1-0 in walkoff fashion with a ninth inning John Jaso single to drive in Casper Wells. Hernandez went the distance for a five-hit and one-walk complete game shutout, while Morales had no support from the offense, pitching seven strong innings but taking the loss.

Back south a bit to San Francisco, as the Giants host the Cincinnati Reds. Johnny Cueto and Madison Bumgarner are the pair of aces on the hill. San Francisco established an early lead in the first inning as Angel Pagan singled in Melky Cabrera and also Buster Posey on an error. The Giants struck again in the sixth inning when Pablo Sandoval doubled in Pagan. San Francisco added on in the seventh inning with Gregor Blanco tripling to force in Bumgarner before coming the final 90 feet on a Ryan Theriot single. This made it 5-0, the final, with Bumgarner tossing a one-hit and two-walk complete game shutout for the win, while Cueto suffered the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip and check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the trip of a lifetime, passing through Tampa Bay on our way north.