MLB Day 94 2012

A busy day of baseball likely to span over fourteen hours on the 4th of July. The first game likely started before I was even awake, as the...

Washington Nationals get going early with the San Francisco Giants in the District of Columbia. Madison Bumgarner and Edwin Jackson are the studly pitchers. San Francisco wasted little time in opening the scoring in the first inning as Buster Posey grounded out to get Gregor Blanco home before Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run home run, also scoring Melky Cabrera. Washington pulled back in the third inning on a Ryan Zimmerman double to score Danny Espinosa before he came home alongside Bryce Harper on an Ian Desmond single. The Nationals took the lead in the fourth inning on a Jhonatan Solano solo home run. Washington kept the fireworks going in the fifth inning with a two-run Zimmerman home run, sweeping in Harper before Michael Morse blasted a solo shot. The Giants got one back in the sixth inning on a Sandoval double to knock in Emmanuel Burriss. The Nationals padded the lead in the eighth inning on a two-run home run by Rick Ankiel, sending in Roger Bernadina. This made it a 9-4 final, with the win going to Jackson and the loss to Bumgarner.

Into New York, as the Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies. Cliff Lee and Chris Young get the starting nods. New York started in the fourth inning with a Scott Hairston solo home run. The Mets added on in the fifth inning with a David Wright single to knock in Ruben Tejada. Philadelphia got going in the seventh inning as Chase Utley hit a two-run home run, also scoring Juan Pierre, followed by a Carlos Ruiz solo shot. The Phillies added on in the eighth inning with a Jimmy Rollins ground rule double to force in John Mayberry, before he scored on a Ruiz single, and then Hunter Pence singled Ty Wigginton across the dish. Philadelphia padded the lead in the ninth inning with a Rollins fielder's choice that gave Mayberry time to score, before Wigginton hit a two-run home run that also scored Rollins. This made it 9-2 for a final, with Lee getting his first win of the season and Young taking the loss.

Back west a bit, the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Houston Astros. Dallas Keuchel and Kevin Correia will be handed the ball. Houston got things going in the second inning on a Jason Castro sacrifice fly to bring in Carlos Lee and a Brian Bogusevic single that scored Scott Moore. Pittsburgh rallied back in their half of the inning as Michael McKenry hit a sacrifice fly giving Casey McGehee time to dash home before Clint Barmes singled in both Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates added on in the fourth inning as McKenry doubled Jones in. The Astros got one back in the fifth inning on a Jose Altuve groundout to plate Bogusevic. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the eighth inning with a 2-RBI Alvarez single that saw both Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen score. Houston tried a ninth inning rally as J.D. Martinez hit a solo home run, but they still fell 6-4. Correia notched the win, Joel Hanrahan picked up the save, and Keuchel was given the loss.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Rays host the New York Yankees. Davids Phelps and Price will pitch. Tampa Bay started in the fourth inning as Sean Rodriguez singled in Ben Zobrist. New York answered in the seventh inning on a Mark Teixeira solo home run. The Rays took the lead back in their half of the inning when Carlos Pena hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Elliot Johnson. The Yankees rallied in the eighth inning as Alex Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Eric Chavez before Robinson Cano hit a 2-RBI single to drive in both Curtis Granderson and Teixeira. This held up as a 4-3 final, with Boone Logan getting the win, Rafael Soriano converting the save, and Kyle Farnsworth was dinged for the loss.

North again to Cleveland, as the Indians welcome the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ervin Santana and Derek Lowe are the veteran starters. Cleveland quickly got the lead in the first inning on a three-run Michael Brantley home run, also scoring Jason Kipnis and Travis Hafner. Los Angeles got on the board in the second inning when Maicer Izturis grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in Kendrys Morales. The Indians rallied to extend the lead in the bottom of the second as Shin-Soo Choo doubled in Johnny Damon, Asdrubal Cabrera grounded out to allow Lou Marson to score, Choo came home on a Kipnis single, and Casey Kotchman cleared the bases with a three-run home run that swept in Kipnis and Brantley. Cleveland struck again in the fifth inning as Marson singled Kotchman across the dish, Choo grounded into a double play to bring home Jack Hannahan, and Cabrera doubled to drive in Damon. The Angels got some back in the sixth inning on an Alberto Callaspo sacrifice fly to plate Morales and an Izturis single to knock in Mark Trumbo. This ended the scoring, setting Lowe up for the win while Santana was shelled in the loss.

Way west to Oakland, with the Athletics hosting the Boston Red Sox. Aaron Cook and A.J. Griffin are the unknown starters. Oakland began in the second inning on a Brandon Moss solo home run. Boston answered in the fourth inning as David Ortiz hit a solo shot. The Red Sox took the lead in the sixth inning as Adrian Gonzalez singled home Ortiz. The Athletics tied it in the bottom of the sixth when Brandon Inge doubled Moss across the dish. Oakland took a seventh inning 3-2 lead on a Jemile Weeks single to plate Coco Crisp. This held up for the win, earned by Grant Balfour, while Ryan Cook converted the save and Aaron Cook was responsible for the loss.

North into Seattle, with the Mariners hosting the Baltimore Orioles. Chris Tillman and Hector Noesi will be given the green light to start. Baltimore opened in the second inning with an Adam Jones solo home run. The Orioles added on in the third inning as J.J. Hardy grounded out to score Mark Reynolds and Chris Davis singled in Robert Andino. Baltimore kept going in the fifth inning as Andino singled Reynolds safely home. Seattle tried a ninth inning rally when Kyle Seager grounded out to plate Michael Saunders and Justin Smoak singled to knock in John Jaso, but they still lost by a 4-2 margin. Tillman notched the win while Jim Johnson converted his majors-leading twenty-fifth save of the year, and Noesi had no support in the loss.

Back to the east, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Miami Marlins. Josh Johnson opposes Randy Wolf in pitching. Miami led off in the second inning as Brett Hayes singled Omar Infante in. Milwaukee rallied ahead in their half of the inning with George Kotteras drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Aramis Ramirez, Cesar Izturis singled to knock in Corey Hart, Wolf grounded into a fielder's choice that got Rickie Weeks home, Norichika Aoki singled to finish Kotteras' trip around and Ryan Braun grounded out to plate the pitcher Wolf. The Marlins rallied in the seventh inning to tie on a Justin Ruggiano solo home run followed by a three-run home run from Logan Morrison, sweeping in Austin Kearns and Gaby Sanchez. The Brewers retook the lead in their half of the seventh on a Ramirez single to drive in Aoki. Miami tied the game again in the ninth inning as Sanchez hit a solo shot. The Marlins won in the tenth inning on a Hanley Ramirez single plating Donovan Solano for a 7-6 final. Wade LeBlanc picked up the win, Heath Bell tossed the save, and Manny Parra was pinned with the loss.

East a little more to Detroit, as the Tigers host the Minnesota Twins and more raindrops. Brian Duensing is mismatched with Justin Verlander. Detroit got going in the first inning as Prince Fielder doubled in Ryan Raburn and Miguel Cabrera. Minnesota got on the board in the fifth inning on a Chris Parmelee solo home run. The Tigers shot back with a Cabrera solo shot in the sixth inning. Detroit padded the lead in the seventh inning as Cabrera went yard again, a two-run home run, also scoring Austin Jackson. This made the eventual final 5-1, with Verlander going the distance for the win, and Duensing suffering the loss.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Kansas City Royals. Luis Mendoza and Carlos Villanueva are the uninspiring starters. Toronto was first to score with a second inning Kelly Johnson sacrifice fly to knock in Rajai Davis. The Blue Jays added on in the third inning with Yunel Escobar and Davis each hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind, respectively. Kansas City found the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Jeff Francoeur tripled to force in Mike Moustakas. Toronto got it back in the bottom of the seventh on an Escobar single plating Colby Rasmus. This made it 4-1, a final, with the win going to Villanueva, the save to Casey Janssen, and the loss to Mendoza.

Back stateside, the Chicago White Sox host the Texas Rangers. Scott Feldman and Dylan Axelrod are the unimpressive pitchers. Texas quickly got on the board in the first inning with a Michael Young double scoring both Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre before he came home on a Nelson Cruz single. Chicago rallied ahead in the second inning when Dayan Viciedo singled Alex Rios home, Alexei Ramirez singled and A.J. Pierzynski scored on the throw, and Gordon Beckham doubled both Viciedo and Ramirez safely home. The Rangers tied it in the third inning on a Hamilton solo home run. The White Sox won in walkoff fashion in the tenth inning as Kevin Youkilis singled Alejandro De Aza across the plate for a 5-4 win. Addison Reed was given the win while Mike Adams was pinned with the loss.

South to Atlanta, where the Braves host the Chicago Cubs. Paul Maholm and Randall Delgado will take the mound. Chicago opened in the first inning as Starlin Castro scored when Anthony Rizzo was caught stealing second. Atlanta got on the board in the third inning with a Martin Prado single to drive in Michael Bourn. The Cubs shot back in the fourth inning on a Bryan LaHair solo home run. Chicago extended the lead in the seventh inning as Darwin Barney scored on a wild pitch and Jeff Baker hit a solo shot. The Cubs got another in the eighth inning as Rizzo hit a solo home run to produce the 5-1 final. Maholm was in line for the win while Delgado took the loss.

Northwest to St. Louis, where the Cardinals host the Colorado Rockies. Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Wainwright are the well-known pitchers. St. Louis wasted no time in scoring first with a first inning Matt Holliday double to drive in Jon Jay. The Cardinals added on in the second inning as Jay was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded, forcing in Skip Schumaker. Colorado found the scoreboard in the fifth inning as Guthrie singled in Jonathan Herrera. St. Louis extended their lead again in the eighth inning on a 2-RBI DAvid Freese single to plate both Holliday and Carlos Beltran. This stood as a 4-1 win, earned by Wainwright, while Jason Motte turned the save and Guthrie had little support in the loss.

Out in Los Angeles, the Dodgers host the Cincinnati Reds. Mike Leake and Aaron Harang play atop the hill. Los Angeles established a first inning lead as Luis Cruz singled in Dee Gordon before scoring on a James Loney single, and then Adam Kennedy grounded into a fielder's choice that combined with an error to knock in Bobby Abreu. Cincinnati got one back in the fifth inning as Devin Mesoraco hit a solo home run. The Dodgers extended the lead in the eighth inning on a Kennedy sacrifice fly to bring in Cruz. This ended the scoring at 4-1, with Harang picking up the win, Kenley Jansen throwing the save, and Leake was on the hook for the loss.

Finally, we end in Arizona, with the Diamondbacks hosting the San Diego Padres. Jason Marquis and Ian Kennedy pace the game. San Diego quickly took a first inning lead with Chase Headley tripling to force in Chris Denorfia. Arizona took the lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run Jason Kubel home run, sweeping in Willie Bloomquist and Aaron Hill. The Padres got one back in the third inning on a Yonder Alonso double to drive in Alexi Amarista. San Diego tied it in the fourth inning with the pitcher Marquis doubling Everth Cabrera safely home. The Padres got the lead in the seventh inning on an Amarista single to plate Denorfia. The Diamondbacks tied it in their half of the seventh on a Bloomquist single to get Gerardo Parra home safe. San Diego retook the lead in the eighth inning as Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run home to sweep in Logan Forsythe. The Padres padded their lead in the ninth inning as Amarista sacrificed, which combined with an error to get Denorfia home, and then Amarista crossed home on an Alonso double. Arizona tried to rally back in the bottom of the ninth with Stephen Drew doubling Ryan Roberts across the plate and Aaron Hill grounding out to finish Drew's trip, but it was only to produce an 8-6 loss. Luke Gregerson was in line for the win, Huston Street closed up for a save, and David Hernandez was stuck with the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip and check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the adventure of the lifetime, gearing up for a long stretch to the west to close up the task.