MLB Day 110 2012

Back to the full slate, without as much trade activity today. We start in...

Philadelphia, with the Phillies hosting the Milwaukee Brewers. Zack Greinke and Cliff Lee are the pair of aces pitching. Milwaukee led off with a first inning Corey Hart single to plate Ryan Braun. Philadelphia tied it in their half of the inning on a Ryan Howard single to bring in Shane Victorino. The Brewers took the lead with a sixth inning Braun solo home run. Milwaukee got another in the seventh inning as the pitcher Greinke hit a solo shot. The Brewers added on in the eighth inning with a Carlos Gomez solo home run, followed by a two-run long ball from Aramis Ramirez, also scoring Braun. The Phillies got some back in the bottom of the eighth as Erik Kratz hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Ty Wigginton, before tying the game with a 3-RBI double by Carlos Ruiz to plate all of Victorino, Chase Utley and Mike Fontenot, and they took a lead when Ruiz scored on a Hunter Pence single. The rally was good for a 7-6 win, earned by Michael Schwimer, while Jonathan Papelbon closed out for the save, and Kameron Loe was dealt the loss.

West to Cleveland, as the Indians host the Detroit Tigers. Doug Fister and Ubaldo Jimenez take their turns in the rotation. Cleveland found the scoreboard in the second inning as Johnny Damon singled in Carlos Santana. The Indians added on in the fourth inning with a Santana single to knock in Jason Kipnis. Detroit tied it in the seventh inning as Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run, also scoring Quintin Berry. Cleveland took the lead back in their half of the inning on an Aaron Cunningham sacrifice allowing Lou Marson to dash home. This was all they needed for a narrow 3-2 win, with Joe Smith in line for the win, Chris Perez converting the save, and Fister was stuck with the loss.

Back in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs. Paul Maholm faces his old team, pitching against James McDonald. Chicago quickly got on the board in the first inning with a Starlin Castro solo home run. Pittsburgh tied it in the fourth inning with a Garrett Jones solo shot. The Cubs took the lead back in the fifth inning when David DeJesus doubled both Soto and Luis Valbuena home. Chicago got some more in the sixth inning as Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run home run, also scoring Anthony Rizzo. This made it a 5-1 final, with Maholm notching the win and McDonald taking the loss.

Over in Baltimore, the Orioles host the Tampa Bay Rays. Jeremy Hellickson and Wei-Yin Chen are the young arms pitching. Baltimore was first to score with a fourth inning Adam Jones solo home run. Tampa Bay took the lead in the fifth inning on a two-run Brooks Conrad home run, also scoring Sam Fuld. The Rays added on in the sixth inning as Jeff Keppinger singled home B.J. Upton. This was it for the scoring, leaving the final at 3-1, with Hellickson getting the win, Fernando Rodney turning a sloppy save, and Chen was handed the loss.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Oakland Athletics. Travis Blackley and Brett Cecil are the back-of-the-rotation starters. Oakland began in the second inning as Derek Norris hit a two-run home run, also scoring Brandon Inge. Toronto got one back in the third inning as Travis Snider hit a solo home run. The Athletics added on in the seventh inning when Jemile Weeks tripled to force in Brandon Hicks, before coming home on a Coco Crisp double, and then Yoenis Cespedes provided baseball with the second of these in as many nights: a 3-RBI single to sweep in Crisp, Jonny Gomes, and Josh Reddick. The Blue Jays tried a ninth inning rally as J.P. Arencibia hit a solo shot, but it fell short at 7-2. Blackley picked up the win while Cecil was stuck with the loss.

Back stateside, the New York Mets host the Washington Nationals. Gio Gonzalez and R.A. Dickey pace the game. New York started with a second inning Ronny Cedeno single to bring in Scott Hairston. Washington tied it in the fourth inning as Danny Espinosa doubled, knocking in Ryan Zimmerman. The Nationals took the lead in the sixth inning when Adam LaRoche hit a two-run home run, also scoring Michael Morse, followed Jesus Flores singling Espinosa home and also Roger Bernadina on an error. The Mets got one back in the eighth inning on a solo home run by Jordany Valdespin. It wasn't enough, as they lost 5-2 to Gonzalez, who got the win, while Tyler Clippard turned the save and Dickey was stuck with the loss.

South to Miami, where the Marlins host the Atlanta Braves. Tim Hudson and Mark Buehrle take the hill. Atlanta opened with a first inning Jason Heyward sacrifice fly to bring around Michael Bourn. Miami tied it in their half of the inning with Hanley Ramirez singling to score Greg Dobbs. The Marlins added on in the second inning as Jose Reyes hit a two-run home run, also scoring the pitcher Buehrle. The Braves got one back in the third inning as Freddie Freeman drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the pitcher Hudson. Atlanta tied it in the fourth inning as Martin Prado's sacrifice fly allowed Paul Janish to score. The Braves took the lead in the seventh inning on a Heyward single to drive in Prado. This help up for a 4-3 final, as Hudson notched the win, Craig Kimbrel converted the save, and Wade LeBlanc was on the hook for the loss.

West to Houston, with the Astros hosting the Cincinnati Reds. Mike Leake and Lucas Harrell are the average pitchers. Houston led off in the fourth inning on a two-run Justin Maxwell home run, also scoring Chris Johnson. Cincinnati replied in the sixth inning on an Xavier Paul single to knock in Brandon Phillips. The Reds took the lead in the ninth inning as Drew Stubbs hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Zack Cozart, followed by Paul singling Jay Bruce around. This stood for a 4-2 win, with the win belonging to Leake, the save converted cleanly by Aroldis Chapman, and the loss was pinned on Francisco Cordero.

Staying in the state, we go to Arlington, with the Texas Rangers hosting the Boston Red Sox. Clay Buchholz and Martin Perez draw the starting nods. Boston got things going in the fourth inning with a Kelly Shoppach double to drive in Cody Ross. Texas tied it in the sixth inning when Josh Hamilton grounded out to bring in Elvis Andrus. The Red Sox took the lead in the ninth inning on a Mike Aviles single to knock in Daniel Nava. They made it stand for a 2-1 win, with Vicente Padilla getting the win despite controversy with an errant pitch of his, while Alfredo Aceves tossed the save and Joe Nathan was given the loss.

North to Chicago, as the White Sox host the Minnesota Twins. Cole De Vries and Jose Quintana are the surprisingly good pitchers. Chicago was first to score in the first inning as Alex Rios reached on an error that brought in Adam Dunn. Minnesota tied it in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Josh Willingham. The White Sox took a lead in the fifth inning as Paul Konerko hit a solo shot. The Twins took the lead in the sixth inning as Willingham hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Denard Span and Joe Mauer. Chicago tied it in the seventh inning on a Dunn two-run home run, also scoring Kevin Youkilis, before taking the lead on a Dayan Viciedo single that brought in both Eduardo Escobar and Rios. The White Sox rallied to extend the lead in the eighth inning as Dunn doubled both Alejandro De Aza and Youkilis across the dish, before he scored on a Rios single, and then Alexei Ramirez went yard with a two-run homer, finishing Rios' trip. This made it 11-4, an eventual final, where the win was awarded to Nate Jones while Casey Fien was pinned with the loss.

A touch south again, with the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright take the mound. Los Angeles began in the fourth inning on a ground rule double by Juan Rivera to force in Andre Ethier, followed by Luis Cruz singling in James Loney. St. Louis got on the board in the fifth inning with a double by the pitcher Wainwright to plate Daniel Descalso before tying the game with a Rafael Furcal single allowing Wainwright to finish his trip around. The Cardinals took the lead in the sixth inning as David Freese singled Matt Holiday across the dish, followed by Wainwright walking with the bases loaded to force in Carlos Beltran, Furcal singling Freese the rest of the way home, and Allen Craig hitting a 2-RBI double to finish Wainwright's and Furcal's trips around. This rally made it 8-2, with Wainwright getting the win when the score finalized, while Kershaw's bad inning led to the loss.

Southwest to Arizona, as the Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies. Edwar Cabrera is mismatched with Joe Saunders. Colorado was first on the board with a fourth inning Michael Cuddyer solo home run. Arizona answered in their half of the inning on a Stephen Drew double to drive in Chris Young before he finished his trip on a Willie Bloomquist ground rule double. The Diamondbacks added on in the fifth inning with a two-run Young home run, also scoring Justin Upton. The Rockies got one back in the sixth inning as Cuddyer hit another solo shot. Arizona extended the lead in the seventh inning with a Miguel Montero single scoring both Jason Kubel and Upton. This was good for a 6-2 win, with Saunders getting the win and Cabrera getting a rough loss.

West into California, with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hosting the Kansas City Royals. Will Smith and Garrett Richards are the relatively unknown pitchers. Kansas City led off with a first inning two-run home run by Lorenzo Cain, also scoring Alex Gordon. Los Angeles got one back in the bottom of the first as Mark Trumbo singled to score Torii Hunter. The Royals extended their lead in the second inning as Gordon singled home Eric Hosmer and Alcides Escobar grounded into a fielder's choice to allow Chris Getz to score. The scoring was non-existent from here on, with the final standing at 4-1. Smith earned the win, Jonathan Broxton turned the save, and Richards was handed the loss.

North to Seattle, as the Mariners welcome the New York Yankees. Freddy Garcia faces one of his old teams, who trots out ace Felix Hernandez to pitch. New York got things going in the first inning with a Curtis Granderson solo home run. Seattle tied it in the bottom of the first on a Michael Saunders solo shot. The Mariners took the lead in the third inning with Jesus Montero singling Brendan Ryan home and John Jaso hitting a sacrifice fly to give Saunders time to get home. The Yankees got one back in the eighth inning on a Mark Teixeira sacrifice fly to give Derek Jeter time to score. Seattle replied in the bottom of the eighth as Kyle Seager singled get Dustin Ackley home. This ended the scoring at 4-2, with Hernandez getting the win despite three plunked batters, Tom Wilhelmsen closing out for the save, and Garcia was dealt the loss.

Finally, we end in San Francisco as the Giants host the San Diego Padres. Edinson Volquez and Madison Bumgarner are the reliable and talented starters. San Francisco opened in the first inning with Melky Cabrera grounding out to get Nate Schierholtz home, followed by Pablo Sandoval doubling in Ryan Theriot. San Diego tied it in the second inning with Jesus Guzman doubled in Carlos Quentin before scoring on a single by the pitcher Volquez. The Giants regained the lead and won the game in the ninth inning by a 3-2 score as Brandon Crawford singled to plate Brandon Belt. Santiago Casilla was in line for the win while Joe Thatcher took the loss.

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