Last day of games before the All-Star Break. I will recap the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but other than that, it's four days off for me. Also, while the Ultimate Baseball "Fantasy" Trip has come to a close, the post-trip stuff is only beginning. Check out ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for Q&A, reflections, and a big surprise. To the current games, we head to...
Cleveland, where the Indians host the Tampa Bay Rays. James Shields and Zach McAllister receive the starting nods. Cleveland got going in the second inning on a Casey Kotchman single bringing in Travis Hafner. The Indians struck again in the third inning when Johnny Damon scored on an error by Shields and Hafner reached on an error by Jeff Keppinger to get Jason Kipnis home. Cleveland padded the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run by Kotchman. Kotchman helped the Indians more in the fifth inning, singling home Kipnis. Tampa Bay got one the board in the sixth inning with a Luke Scott double scoring both Carlos Pena and Ben Zobrist before finishing his trip on a Desmond Jennings double that also knocked in Keppinger. Cleveland extended the lead in the eighth inning with a solo shot from Shin-Soo Choo. The Rays fired back in the ninth inning with Will Rhymes hitting a solo home run, Pena tripling to force in Elliot Johnson, and Zobrist singling Pena the final 90 feet home to give his team a lead. This proved just good enough for a 7-6 win, with the win going to Joel Peralta, the save turned by Fernando Rodney in a jam as his twenty-fifth of the season, and the ugly loss went to Chris Perez.
North into Detroit, as the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals. Everett Teaford and Max Scherzer were given the ball. Detroit started in the second inning on a Jhonny Peralta two-run home run, also scoring Brennan Boesch. Kansas City answered in the third inning with a Salvador Perez solo home run. The Tigers replied in the fourth inning on a Delmon Young solo shot. Detroit extended the lead in the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Prince Fielder, sweeping in Austin Jackson and Quintin Berry. The Tigers padded the lead in the eighth inning on a Peralta double to knock in Young, producing a 7-1 final score. Scherzer took the win and Teaford was given the loss.
Back east, the New York Mets host the Chicago Cubs. Ryan Dempster returned from the disabled list against Jonathon Niese. Chicago rallied to a lead in the first inning when Alfonos Soriano singled home Reed Johnson, followed by Jeff Baker doubling in Starlin Castro, and Geovany Soto hitting a 2-RBI single to plate both Soriano and Baker. The Cubs added on in the seventh inning as Castro hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Luis Valbuena and Johnson. This made it 7-0, a final, with Dempster picking up the win and Niese suffering the loss.
Over in Philadelphia, the Phillies host the Atlanta Braves. Jair Jurrjens and Vance Worley are the underrated pitchers. Philadelphia was first to score in the second inning on a two-run home run by Jason Pridie, also scoring Carlos Ruiz. Atlanta answered in the fourth inning with a two-run Dan Uggla home run, sweeping in Freddie Freeman. The Phillies took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth as Pridie doubled in Hunter Pence. The Braves shot back to tie in the fifth inning as Freeman singled to score Martin Prado. Atlanta took the lead in the seventh inning on a Brian McCann solo home run. This was it for the scoring, giving the Braves a 4-3 win on the arm of Jurrjens, while Craig Kimbrel converted his twenty-fifth save of the season and Raul Valdes was handed the loss.
Across Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the San Francisco Giants. Tim Lincecum and A.J. Burnett are on the mound. Pittsburgh quickly took a first inning lead on an Andrew McCutchen two-run home run, also scoring Neil Walker. The Pirates got another in the third inning on a Walker solo home run. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the fourth inning as the pitcher Burnett singled in Casey McGehee, followed by Drew Sutton hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Rod Barajas, and Walker singled to plate Clint Barmes. The Pirates continued in the fifth inning when Barmes singled Garrett Jones safely home. Pittsburgh padded the lead in the sixth inning with McGehee's 2-RBI single to knock in Walker and McCutchen, followed by Pedro Alvarez reaching on an error that finished pinch-runner Gorkys Hernandez's trip around. San Francisco found the scoreboard in the seventh inning on a two-run Pablo Sandoval home run, sweeping in Buster Posey. The Pirates shot back in their half of the inning as McCutchen went yard again with another two-run home run, and he took Walker with him. Pittsburgh got one more in the eighth inning as reliever Brad Lincoln singled Alvarez across the dish, producing the 13-2 final. Burnett earned an easy win while Lincecum was shelled in the loss.
Back into Washington, as the Nationals host the Colorado Rockies. Jeremy Guthrie will face Jordan Zimmermann in pitching. Colorado led off with a second inning Wil Nieves sacrifice fly to bring in Tyler Colvin. Washington answered in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Ian Desmond, sweeping in Adam LaRoche. The Nationals extended the lead in the seventh inning as Steve Lombardozzi singled to score Roger Bernadina. The Rockies retied it in the eighth inning with an Eric Young solo home run and Dexter Fowler scoring on a wild pitch. Colorado would take the lead in the ninth inning in a similar fashion, as Jordan Pacheco dashed safely home on a wild pitch for a 4-3 lead, and later, win. Rex Brothers was in line for the win, Rafael Betancourt turned the save, and Tyler Clippard's errant throw was on the hook for the loss.
Down into Houston, where the Astros host the Milwaukee Brewers. Zack Greinke gets another go at it on the mound against Jordan Lyles. Houston rallied to an early first inning lead as Jose Altuve doubled in Jordan Schafer, J.D. Martinez singled to knock in Altuve, and Martinez scored when Chris Snyder drew a bases-loaded walk. Milwaukee got one back in the second inning with a Rickie Weeks solo home run. The Brewers got another in the sixth inning as Aramis Ramirez singled to drive in Ryan Braun. Milwaukee tied it in the eighth inning on a Braun single to plate Norichika Aoki. The Brewers rallied ahead in the tenth inning as Corey Hart singled home Nyjer Morgan and Weeks did the same for Braun. This made it 5-3, a final, with Manny Parra picking up the win, John Axford getting his fifteenth save of the year, and Fernando Rodriguez suffered the loss.
Back north into Chicago, as the White Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays. Brett Cecil and Dylan Axelrod are the struggling starters. Toronto opened with a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning, as Colby Rasmus went yard and took Rajai Davis with him before Edwin Encarnacion did the same for Jose Bautista. Chicago pulled back in their half of the inning on a three-run home run from Alex Rios, sweeping in Alejandro De Aza and Kevin Youkilis. The Blue Jays shot back with a second inning Rasmus double to drive in Omar Vizquel. Toronto added on in the third inning with a two-run homer by Kelly Johnson, also scoring Yunel Escobar. The Blue Jays padded the lead in the fourth inning on a Jeff Mathis solo home run. The White Sox rallied in the fifth inning when Adam Dunn grounded into a fielder's choice to get De Aza home, Rios doubled to finish Dunn's trip, and Alexei Ramirez forced in both Paul Konerko and Rios with a triple. Toronto shot back in the sixth inning as Rasmus walked and Davis scored on a wild pitch, followed by Bautista doubling Rasmus across the dish, and Adam Lind following suit for Bautista. Chicago pulled back in the bottom of the sixth as Youkilis doubled De Aza safely home. The White Sox got another in the seventh inning on a Dayan Viciedo sacrifice fly to give Rios time to dash home. This was as close as they got, losing 11-9. Jesse Chavez was the recipient of the win, while Casey Janssen turned the save and Axelrod was not freed from the loss.
South into St. Louis, where the Cardinals host the Miami Marlins. Anibal Sanchez opposes a lesser foe in Joe Kelly. Miami led off with a first inning Logan Morrison strikeout that combined with an error to score Hanley Ramirez. St. Louis tied it in the second inning on a Skip Schumaker single to knock in Allen Craig. The Cardinals took the lead in the fifth inning when Rafael Furcal singled home Tony Cruz. The Marlins took the lead back in the seventh inning on a three-run home run by Austin Kearns, sweeping in Omar Infante and John Buck. St. Louis tried a ninth inning rally as Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to allow Craig to come home, followed by a 2-RBI Furcal single for a 5-4 win when Matt Carpenter and David Freese crossed the dish. Mitchell Boggs was in line for the win and Heath Bell was stuck with another loss.
Out west, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Baltimore Orioles. Wei-Yin Chen and Brad Mills are the little-known pitchers. Los Angeles began in the second inning with an Erick Aybar solo home run. The Angels added on in the third inning with a solo shot from Mike Trout, followed by Albert Pujols hitting a two-run blast, sweeping in Torii Hunter. Los Angeles padded the lead in the fourth inning when Maicer Izturis singled to score Aybar. The Angels struck again in the fifth inning with a Mark Trumbo solo home run. This was all the scoring we'd see, with Mills earning the win and Chen getting no run support in the loss, a 6-0 final.
Further north, the Oakland Athletics host the Seattle Mariners. Felix Hernandez and Bartolo Colon again face each other on the hill. For a detailed recap, visit ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com for the final Game of the Day. Oakland started in the first inning as Yoenis Cespedes singled home Coco Crisp. Seattle tied it in the sixth inning when Michael Saunders singled to score Dustin Ackley. The Athletics took the game in the thirteenth inning by a 2-1 score on a Josh Reddick double to knock in Jemile Weeks. Jordan Norberto was in line for the win while Oliver Perez was handed the loss.
Down to San Diego, where the Padres welcome the Cincinnati Reds. Johnny Cueto and Jason Marquis will be pitching. Cincinnati opened in the fourth inning on a two-run Jay Bruce home run, also scoring Brandon Phillips, followed by a Ryan Ludwick solo home run. San Diego got one back in the fifth inning on a Chris Denorfia fielder's choice allowing Cameron Maybin to dash home. The Padres pulled closer in the sixth inning when Mark Kotsay drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Yasmani Grandal. The Reds re-extended their lead in the seventh inning on a single from Phillips to drive in Zack Cozart. This was good for a 4-2 win. Cueto earned the win, Aroldis Chapman turned the save, and Marquis was dealt the loss.
Backtracking east a bit to Arizona, where the Diamondbacks host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chris Capuano and Trevor Bauer pace the game. Arizona quickly got going in the first inning as Justin Upton tripled to force in Willie Bloomquist before being knocked in by a Paul Goldschmidt ground rule double. The Diamondbacks added on when Goldschmidt put one over the fence on the fly this time for a three-run home run, sweeping in Upton and Jason Kubel. Arizona padded the lead in the seventh inning on a 2-RBI Miguel Montero single, driving in Aaron Hill and Upton. Los Angeles avoided the shutout in the ninth inning on a Juan Uribe sacrifice fly to bring in Bobby Abreu, making the final 7-1. Bauer was given the win, Patrick Corbin pitched a three-inning save, and Capuano suffered the loss.
Further east, the Texas Rangers host the Minnesota Twins. Cole De Vries and Roy Oswalt will try and fix their seasons by pitching tonight. Minnesota finally opened the scoring in the sixth inning on a Justin Morneau single to plate Joe Mauer. The Twins added on in the ninth inning on a Brian Dozier sacrifice giving Ryan Doumit time to come home, followed by a Denard Span sacrifice fly plating Trevor Plouffe. Texas got on the board in the bottom of the ninth with an Elvis Andrus groundout to bring in Ian Kinsler, before tying it with a 2-RBI Michael Young single to get both Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz across the dish. The Rangers finished the comeback in the thirteenth inning on a Kinsler single to knock in David Murphy for a 4-3 win. Scott Feldman was in line for the win while Alex Burnett was on the hook for the loss.
Northeast to our finishing point of the unofficial first half of baseball, as the Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees. Ivan Nova and Jon Lester are the reliable pitchers. New York started in the first inning on a Mark Teixeira double to plate Derek Jeter and a Nick Swisher fielder's choice that brought in Curtis Granderson. Boston got one back in the bottom of the first with Cody Ross reaching on an error that allowed Pedro Ciriaco to dash home. The Yankees replied in the second inning on a Chris Stewart sacrifice fly to score Jayson Nix. The Red Sox answered again in the third inning when David Ortiz doubled in Ciriaco. New York shot back in the fifth inning on an Alex Rodriguez triple to force in Teixeira, followed by Andruw Jones singling to finish Rodriguez's trip around. The Yankees padded the lead in the seventh inning as Jones hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Swisher. Boston took one back in the eighth inning on a Mike Aviles double to drive in Jarrod Saltalamacchia. This was as close as it got, leaving the final at 7-3, with Nova getting the win and Lester taking the loss.
Follow me on Twitter @UltBaseballTrip (soon reverting back to @KipperScorpion) and check out the ultimatebaseballfantasytrip.blogspot.com page for the end of the adventure of a lifetime, and some post-travel nuggets of information.
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