MLB Day 101 2012

Full slate once again, as normal on a Sunday. We begin in...

The Bronx, where the New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jered Weaver and Ivan Nova are sent out for the starts. Los Angeles started with a pair of solo home runs by Erick Aybar and Albert Pujols in the first inning. New York answered in the bottom of the first as Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run, also scoring Curtis Granderson. The Yankees took the lead in the second inning as Derek Jeter singled home Eric Chavez. The Angels replied in the sixth inning with Alberto Callaspo hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Kendrys Morales before Maicer Izturis hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Mark Trumbo. New York got one back in their half of the inning when Granderson hit a solo shot. Los Angeles added on in the seventh inning as Pujols grounded into a double play to get Mike Trout safely home. The Yankees pulled back in the bottom of the seventh as Chavez hit a solo home run. The Angels re-extended their lead in the eighth inning when Bobby Wilson singled to knock in Izturis, followed by Trout doubling to drive in Peter Bourjos, and Aybar sacrificing to finish Wilson's trip around. Los Angeles got another in the ninth inning on a Trumbo solo shot. New York replied in the bottom of the ninth on a Mark Teixeira two-run home run, sweeping in Robinson Cano, followed by Granderson drawing a bases-loaded walk that forced in Nick Swisher, but it wasn't enough to avoid a 10-8 loss. Weaver was able to keep the win, Kevin Jepsen got a spot save as the bullpen melted down before him, and Nova was not freed from the loss.

Up to Toronto, as the Blue Jays host the Cleveland Indians. Derek Lowe and Carlos Villanueva will pitch. Toronto rallied to a lead in the third inning as J.P. Arencibia singled in Kelly Johnson, followed by Colby Rasmus singling to finish Arencibia's trip around, and Adam Lind drawing a bases-loaded walk to force Rasmus home. This was all they needed for a 3-0 win, earned by Villanueva, while Darren Oliver picked up a spot save, and Lowe had no support in the loss.

Back stateside, the Miami Marlins host the Washington Nationals. Stephen Strasburg and Ricky Nolasco are the high-expectation pitchers. Washington got things going in the fifth inning on a Strasburg single to knock in Danny Espinosa and a Steve Lombardozzi single doing the same for Jhonatan Solano. The Nationals added on in the sixth inning as Michael Morse singled home Ryan Zimmerman and Espinosa hit a sacrifice fly to get Adam LaRoche across the dish. This gave them a 4-0 lead, which was a final, setting Strasburg up for the win while Nolasco was handed the loss.

To the north again, where the Baltimore Orioles host the Detroit Tigers. Justin Verlander faces a lesser foe in Miguel Gonzalez. Detroit led off with a first inning Austin Jackson solo home run. The Tigers added on in the second inning when Jhonny Peralta singled to score Brennan Boesch. Detroit struck again in the sixth inning as Alex Avila singled to plate Prince Fielder. The Tigers got another in the ninth inning on a solo shot by Miguel Cabrera. This was good for a 4-0 win, where Verlander was his usual dominant self for a win while Gonzalez had no support in the loss.

South to Atlanta, as the Braves host the New York Mets. Johan Santana and Ben Sheets are the veteran pitchers. Atlanta rallied to a large lead in the fifth inning as Michael Bourn doubled in Matt Diaz, followed by Martin Prado hitting a sacrifice fly to drive in Paul Janish, Jason Heyward singling to finish Bourn's trip, and Freddie Freeman hitting a three-run home run, sweeping in Heyward and Chipper Jones. New York got on the board in the seventh inning as Andres Torres singled to knock in Scott Hairston. This was all they could muster, falling 6-1. Sheets notched the win and Santana was given the loss.

Into Florida again, as the Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox. Josh Beckett and James Shields are the highly overrated pitchers. Boston was first to score in the first inning as Adrian Gonzalez singled home Daniel Nava. Tampa Bay answered in the bottom of the first with Ben Zobrist singling in Will Rhymes, followed by a 2-RBI Desmond Jennings single plating both Carlos Pena and Zobrist. The Red Sox tied it in the second inning when Mike Aviles hit a two-run home run, also scoring Will Middlebrooks. Boston took the lead in the fifth inning on a Nava solo home run and a Middlebrooks single that knocked in both Gonzalez and Cody Ross. The Red Sox got another in the sixth inning as Ross hit a sacrifice fly to allow Jacoby Ellsbury to dash home. This was good for a 7-3 win, where Beckett was the winning pitcher and Shields was the losing pitcher.

Into the Midwest, as the Kansas City Royals host the Chicago White Sox. Chris Sale and Luis Mendoza will be handed the ball. Chicago began with a first inning solo home run by Adam Dunn. The White Sox added on in the second inning as Alexei Ramirez grounded into a double play that got Alex Rios home. Kansas City got on the board in the fifth inning as Chris Getz singled home Mike Moustakas. They couldn't find an equalizer, losing 2-1, with Sale pitching erratically effective for a win, Addison Reed shutting the door for a save, and Mendoza was dealt the loss.

Up into Milwaukee, where the Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates. A.J. Burnett and Yovani Gallardo are the reliable starters. Pittsburgh got on the board in the fourth inning on an Andrew McCutchen solo home run. Milwaukee rallied ahead in the sixth inning as Ryan Braun singled, which combined with an error to plate Nyjer Morgan, followed by Aramis Ramirez singling to finish Braun's trip around, Rickie Weeks reaching on an error that got Ramirez home, and Martin Maldonado doubling to knock in Weeks.This rally gave them a 4-1 lead, which held to be a final. Gallardo got the win in a strong outing, while John Axford tossed the save, and Burnett was stuck with the loss.

West to Minnesota, as the Twins host the Oakland Athletics. Jarrod Parker and Brian Duensing will have the green light to pitch. Oakland quickly took a first inning lead with Yoenis Cespedes singling in Jemile Weeks, followed by Derek Norris drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Jonny Gomes. Minnesota got one back in the bottom of the first as Josh Willingham reached on an error that allowed Darin Mastroianni to come home. The Athletics shot back in the second inning as Gomes hit a two-run home run, also scoring Weeks, followed by solo home runs from Cespedes and Chris Carter. The Twins got another back in their half of the second as Alexi Casilla hit a sacrifice fly that scored Ryan Doumit. Oakland extended their lead in the sixth inning as Seth Smith hit a solo shot, followed by Cespedes singling Weeks across the dish and Gomes scoring on a wild pitch. Minnesota got a couple back in their half of the inning when Doumit doubled Justin Morneau home and Brian Dozier grounded out to knock in Trevor Plouffe. This produced the 9-4 final, with the win going to Parker and the loss to Duensing.

Down into Chicago, where the Cubs host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trevor Cahill and Matt Garza take the mound. Chicago led off in the first inning on an Anthony Rizzo single to knock in David DeJesus. The Cubs padded the lead in the second inning as Darwin Barney hit a two-run home run, also scoring Bryan LaHair. Arizona got on the board in the eighth inning on an Aaron Hill solo home run. This wasn't enough to avoid a 3-1 loss, with the win going to Garza, the save to Carlos Marmol as his tenth of the season, and Cahill was on the hook for the loss.

Out in Colorado, the Rockies host the Philadelphia Phillies. Cole Hamels and Drew Pomeranz will receive the starting nods. Philadelhpia got going in the first inning as Carlos Ruiz singled home Shane Victorino. The Phillies added on in the fourth inning when Placido Polanco hit a sacrifice fly to get Ruiz home. Philadelphia padded the lead in the fifth inning as Hunter Pence hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Jimmy Rollins and Victorino. Colorado got on the board in the sixth inning when Carlos Gonzalez tripled to force in Marco Scutaro. They got no more runs, falling 5-1. Hamels pitched well for the win, while Pomeranz was stuck holding the loss.

Westward to San Francisco, as the Giants host the Houston Astros. Bud Norris is mismatched with Matt Cain. San Francisco wasted little time in establishing a first inning lead, as Buster Posey singled in Gregor Blanco and Brandon Belt drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Emmanuel Burriss. Houston got one back in the third inning when Jordan Schafer reached on an error to get Marwin Gonzalez home. The Astros tied it in the fourth inning on a Chris Johnson double to plate Brian Bogusevic. The Giants took the lead in the fifth inning as Posey singled home Pablo Sandoval. This was it for the scoring, with final being 3-2, allowing Cain the win, Santiago Casilla the save, and Norris was responsible for the loss.

Down in Los Angeles, the Dodgers welcome the San Diego Padres. Jason Marquis and Chris Capuano are the mid-rotation starters. Los Angeles opened in the first inning on an Andre Ethier single to knock in Tony Gwynn, Jr. San Diego tied it in the fourth inning as Carlos Quentin grounded into a fielder's choice that combined with an error to allow Logan Forsythe to come home. The Dodgers took the lead back in the sixth inning on a Jerry Hairston, Jr. single to drive in James Loney. The Padres responded in the seventh inning when Yasmani Grandal reached on an error that allowed both Cameron Maybin and Everth Cabrera to score, followed by Alexi Amarista singling to plate John Baker. San Diego padded their lead in the eighth inning when Chase Headley hit a solo home run. The Padres got some insurance runs in the ninth inning as Quentin hit a sacrifice fly to plate Mark Kotsay and Yonder Alonso singled Amarista across the dish. This made it 7-2, a final, where Marquis got the win and Capuano was given the loss.

Northward to Seattle, as the Mariners host the Texas Rangers. Matt Harrison and Hisashi Iwakuma are the relatively unknown starters. Texas began in the first inning as Josh Hamilton grounded out, giving Ian Kinsler to score. The Rangers added on in the third inning with an Adrian Beltre single scoring both Craig Gentry and Elvis Andrus. Texas struck again in the fifth inning with a Kinsler solo home run. This was all they needed to win 4-0, with Harrison going the distance for a complete game shutout while Iwakuma had no help in the loss.

Finally, out in Cincinnati, the Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals. Jake Westbrook and Homer Bailey pace the game. St. Louis led off in the second inning on a Yadier Molina double to knock in Lance Berkman. Cincinnati responded in the third inning as Joey Votto doubled home Chris Heisey before scoring on a Brandon Phillips single. The Cardinals tied it in the sixth inning on a Molina solo home run. The Reds took the lead back in the eighth inning on a 2-RBI single from Scott Rolen, scoring both Votto and Phillips. This set them up for a 4-2 win, picked up by Bailey, while Aroldis Chapman turned the save, and Westbrook was stuck with the loss.

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