MLB Day 102 2012

Only twelve games today as six teams are in transit for their next series. We begin the day in...

Detroit, as the Tigers host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ervin Santana and Rick Porcello are the struggling pitchers. Detroit got things going in the first inning as Miguel Cabrera grounded out to plate Austin Jackson. Los Angeles got on the board in the third inning as Torii Hunter doubled home John Hester. The Tigers took the lead back in the fourth inning as Brennan Boesch reached on an error allowing Prince Fielder to score. The Angels rallied ahead in the fifth inning when Mike Trout singled in Maicer Izturis, Hunter doubled to plate both Hester and Mike Trout, and Hunter scored on an Albert Pujols double. Detroit responded in the bottom of the fifth as Fielder singled to drive in Quintin Berry and and Delmon Young did the same for Cabrera. The Tigers tied it in the seventh as Young's sacrifice fly gave time for Berry to dash home, before gaining the lead as Boesch went yard on a two-run homer and took Fielder with him. Los Angeles got one back in the eighth inning as Mark Trumbo hit a solo shot. Detroit took it right back in the bottom of the eighth as Berry singled Alex Avila home. This made the final 8-6, where Octavio Dotel was credited with the win, Jose Valverde notched the save, and LaTroy Hawkins was dealt the loss.

Back to the east, the New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays. Henderson Alvarez and Phil Hughes get the starting nods. New York started in the second inning with a solo home run by Russell Martin. The Yankees added on in the third inning as Robinson Cano doubled home Alex Rodriguez. Toronto got one back in the fourth inning on an Adam Lind solo shot. The Blue Jays tied it in the sixth inning when Edwin Encarnacion doubled in Jose Bautista. New York took the lead in the eighth inning as Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam, sweeping in Rodriguez, Cano, and Mark Teixeira. Toronto tried a ninth inning rally on a J.P. Arencibia single that combined with an error to bring in Kelly Johnson, but they lost 6-3. David Robertson took the win, Rafael Soriano picked up a save, and Aaron Loup was on the hook for the loss.

Up in Boston, the Red Sox host the Chicago White Sox. Dylan Axelrod and Aaron Cook are the relatively unknown pitchers. Chicago was first on the board in the first inning as Adam Dunn grounded out, which combined with an error to bring in Kevin Youkilis. Boston tied it in their half of the inning as Adrian Gonzalez singled home Carl Crawford. The Red Sox broke the tie in the eighth inning with Gonzalez hitting a three-run home run, sweeping in Crawford and David Ortiz, followed by Mike Aviles singling Cody Ross home. This made it 5-1, a final, with Vicente Padilla in line for the win and Leyson Septimo charged with the loss.

Westward to Cincinnati, as the Reds host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Wade Miley and Bronson Arroyo are handed the ball. Arizona established a large first inning lead on a 3-RBI Miguel Montero double, sweeping in all of Stephen Drew, Willie Bloomquist, and Aaron Hill, before he scored on a Justin Upton single. Cincinnati got on the board as Brandon Phillips doubled in Todd Frazier in the bottom of the first. The Reds pulled closer in the second inning as Drew Stubbs hit a 2-RBI double, driving in Chris Heisey and Ryan Hanigan. The Diamondbacks added on in the third inning as Montero hit a solo home run. This was all for the scoring, with the final sitting at 5-3. Miley got the win, J.J. Putz turned a rocky save, and Arroyo suffered the loss.

South to Miami, where the Marlins host the Washington Nationals. Edwin Jackson and Carlos Zambrano are the veteran pitchers. Washington led off with a second inning Jesus Flores sacrifice fly to bring in Danny Espinosa. The Nationals added on in the third inning as Ryan Zimmerman hit a solo home run. Miami rallied to a lead in the bottom of the third as Carlos Lee singled home both the pitcher Zambrano and Jose Reyes before coming home on a two-run home run by Hanley Ramirez. Washington pulled back in the sixth inning as Michael Morse singled to plate Zimmerman. The Marlins extended their lead in the seventh inning as Emilio Bonifacio sacrificed to get Justin Ruggiano safely home. This was all they needed to win 5-3. Zambrano got the win, Mike Dunn headed the save committee, and Jackson was stuck with the loss.

North but still in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Cleveland Indians. Zach McAllister and Alex Cobb are the young arms slated to start. Cleveland began as Shin-Soo Choo scored on a passed ball in the first inning. The Indians padded the lead in the third inning as Choo doubled Johnny Damon across the dish before scoring on a Jason Kipnis double. Tampa Bay got on the board in the fourth inning when Jeff Keppinger singled in B.J. Upton. The Rays got another in the seventh inning on a solo home run by Desmond Jennings. They couldn't tie the game, falling 3-2, with the win going to McAllister, the save to Chris Perez, and the loss to Cobb.

Northwest to Kansas City, where the Royals host the Seattle Mariners. Jason Vargas faces a lesser foe in Jonathan Sanchez. Seattle busted things open in the first inning as Casper Wells hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Dustin Ackley and Ichiro, followed by a two-run blast from Justin Smoak, also scoring Jesus Montero. The Mariners added on in the second inning as Wells tripled to force in both Brendan Ryan and Ackley. Kansas City found the scoreboard in the third inning as Salvador Perez hit a solo home run, followed by a two-run Billy Butler home run, knocking in Eric Hosmer. Seattle shot back in the fourth inning as Ichiro tripled to knock in Munenori Kawasaki. The Mariners got another in the sixth inning as Ackley hit a solo shot. The Royals took one back in the seventh inning on a Hosmer single to bring home Alex Gordon. This was as close as it got, with the final sitting at 9-4, allowing Vargas the win while Sanchez was abused in the loss.

North still to Milwaukee, where the Brewers host the St. Louis Cardinals. Lance Lynn and Michael Fiers are the surprisingly good starters. Milwaukee started in the seventh inning on a Corey Hart solo home run. The Brewers added on in the eighth inning as Ryan Braun doubled to knock in Norichika Aoki. St. Louis rallied to tie in the ninth inning on a Matt Holliday single to score both Matt Carpenter and Rafael Furcal, followed by an Allen Craig single scoring Skip Schumaker. This proved enough for a 3-2 win, with the win going to Jason Motte and the loss, paired with a blown save, to John Axford.

Over in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins host the Baltimore Orioles. Chris Tillman and Scott Diamond will take the hill. Minnesota rallied to first inning lead as Joe Mauer singled home Ben Revere, before scoring alongside Justin Morneau when Ryan Doumit reached on an error, followed by Brian Dozier singling in Trevor Plouffe, and Denard Span clearing the bases with a double that saw Doumit, Dozier, and Jamey Carroll all score. Baltimore got on the board in the second inning as Wilson Betemit singled to drive in Mark Reynolds. The Twins added on in the bottom of the second as Mauer hit a solo home run. The Orioles replied in the third inning as Reynolds singled Jones safely home. Minnesota extended their lead in their half of the third as Revere singled both Carroll and Span in. The Twins struck again in the fourth inning when Plouffe grounded into a fielder's choice to get Josh Willingham home. Baltimore took some back in the fifth inning on a three-run Reynolds homer, sweeping in Nick Markakis and Jones. Minnesota shot back in the sixth inning as Morneau doubled Willingham across the dish, before finishing his trip on a Doumit sacrifice fly, followed by Carroll singling Plouffe in. The Twins got yet another in the eighth inning on a Doumit groundout giving Morneau time to dart home, followed by Carroll singling Plouffe home and Span hitting a 2-RBI double to plate Dozier and Carroll before scoring on a Revere single. The Orioles took some back in the ninth inning on a two-run homer by Endy Chavez, also scoring Steve Tolleson. This made it 19-7, with Diamond having plenty of support for a win while Tillman was shelled hard and took the loss despite significant struggles out of the bullpen as well.

Down to Colorado, as the Rockies host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jeffs Karstens and Francis will handle the pitching. Pittsburgh finally opened the scoring in the fifth inning on a single from the pitcher Karstens to drive in Pedro Alvarez. Colorado tied it in the bottom of the fifth on a Josh Rutledge single to knock in Tyler Colvin, followed by Eric Young doubling both Willin Rosario and Rutledge in, before he scored on a Marco Scutaro single. The Pirates tied it in the ninth inning when Alvarez hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Andrew McCutchen and Walker. The Rockies won with a walkoff sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth from Dexter Fowler, allowing Rosario to get home safely for a 5-4 final. Rex Brothers was in line for the win while Jason Grilli took the loss.

Southwest further to San Diego, where the Padres host the Houston Astros. J.A. Happ and Kip Wells will play from the mound. Houston got things going in the first inning as Scott Moore hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Jose Altuve. The Astros added on in the third inning when Moore hit another sacrifice fly, again scoring Altuve. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 2-0. Happ got the win, Brett Myers tossed the save, and Wells was handed the loss.

Finally, up in Los Angeles, the Dodgers host the Philadelphia Phillies. Joe Blanton and Nathan Eovaldi are the back-of-the-rotation starters. Philadelphia struck first in the second inning as Juan Pierre singled in Carlos Ruiz. The Phillies added on in the third inning with a Jimmy Rollins solo home run. Philadelphia got another in the fourth inning as Ryan Howard hit a solo shot. Los Angeles got on the board in the sixth inning as Matt Kemp grounded into a double play that got Jerry Hairston, Jr. home. The Dodgers got closer in the seventh inning when Juan Rivera scored on a wild pitch. They couldn't get the equalizer, falling 3-2, with the win belonging to Blanton, the save converted by Jonathan Papelbon as his twentieth of the season, and the loss dealt the Eovaldi.

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