MLB Day 124 2012

Full slate of evening games, with yours truly bringing them all to you while working like a madman to do it. We begin in...

Philadelphia, as the Phillies host the Atlanta Braves. Mike Minor and Cole Hamels receive the starting nods. Philadelphia started in the first inning with Domonic Brown doubling in Jimmy Rollins, followed by a two-run home run by Ryan Howard to finish Brown's trip around. The scoring was silent for the next eight innings, leaving the final at 3-0, with Hamels tossing a five-hit complete game shutout for the win while Minor had little help in the loss.

Over in Baltimore, the Orioles host the Seattle Mariners. Blake Beaven and Zach Britton are the struggling starters. Seattle got a first inning lead with a three-run Kyle Seager home run, sweeping in Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero. The Mariners struck again in the second inning on a Miguel Olivo solo home run, followed by Trayvon Robinson singling in Munenori Kawasaki. Baltimore got on the board in the bottom of the second as Matt Wieters hit a solo shot and Nick Markakis singled home Nate McLouth. Seattle shot back in the sixth inning as Mike Carp singled to drive in Casper Wells, followed by Ackley singling Carp the rest of the way home. The Orioles answered in their half of the inning on another Wieters solo shot. Baltimore pulled closer in the seventh inning on an Omar Quintanilla double to knock in Mark Reynolds, before tying the game with a three-run home run by J.J. Hardy that also scored Quintanilla and Markakis. The Orioles won in the fourteenth inning as Adam Jones singled Quintanilla across the dish for an 8-7 final. Darren O'Day picked up the win and Shawn Kelley was handed the loss.

Westward to Cleveland, as the Indians host the Minnesota Twins. Samuel Deduno and Corey Kluber are the young pitchers. Minnesota was first on the board with a first inning Justin Morneau single to get Ben Revere home. Cleveland tied it in their half of the inning on a Shin-Soo Choo fielder's choice, allowing Jason Kipnis to get home. The Indians struck again in the second inning as Shelley Duncan hit a two-run home run, also scoring Michael Brantley, followed by an Asdrubal Cabrera single to knock in Jack Hannahan. Cleveland padded the lead in the sixth inning on a Carlos Santana double to drive in Kipnis. The Twins shot back in the seventh inning as Revere grounded out to plate Brian Dozier, followed by Morneau reaching on an error that scored both Jamey Carroll and Joe Mauer. Minnesota tied it again in the ninth inning as Morneau reached on an error that provided time for Darin Mastroianni to safely cross home, before taking the lead with Tsuyoshi Nishioka hitting a sacrifice fly to get Morneau home and Dozier singled Ryan Doumit in. This rally led them to win 7-5, with the win going to Tyler Robertson, the save tossed cleanly by Glen Perkins, and the loss pinned on Chris Perez.

Back in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Patrick Corbin and Jeff Karstens are the average starters. Arizona opened with a first inning Paul Goldschmidt single to knock in Stephen Drew. Pittsburgh tied it in the bottom of the first when Andrew McCutchen grounded into a fielder's choice that got Starling Marte home. The Diamondbacks got the lead back in the third inning as Drew hit a solo home run. The Pirates shot back in their half of the inning as McCutchen singled to drive in Travis Snider. Arizona retook the lead in the fourth inning as Drew singled to plate Gerardo Parra. Pittsburgh got another equalizer in the seventh inning on a Marte solo shot, before taking the lead as Neil Walker hit a sacrifice fly that got Snider in. The Diamondbacks tied it in the eighth inning as Miguel Montero singled Goldschmidt across the dish, before scoring alongside Justin Upton on a three-run, go-ahead home run from Chris Johnson. Arizona added on in the ninth inning as Montero hit a ground rule double to force in Upton before being swept in on a two-run Johnson home run. They would coast from here to a 10-4 win, picked up by Brad Ziegler, while Jason Grilli was dealt the loss for his implosion.

Northwest to Detroit, as the Tigers host the New York Yankees. Phil Hughes and Rick Porcello are the veteran pitchers. New York led off with a fourth inning two-run home run from Eric Chavez, also scoring Mark Teixeira. Detroit took one back in the bottom of the fourth on a Miguel Cabrera solo home run, before tying it as Jhonny Peralta doubled home Brennan Boesch. The Tigers took the lead in the fifth inning as Cabrera doubled both Andy Dirks and Austin Jackson across the dish. Detroit added on with a sixth inning Dirks double that plated Alex Avila. The Yankees took one back in the seventh inning as Ichiro Suzuki doubled in Nick Swisher. The Tigers replied in the eighth inning as Dirks singled to get Delmon Young safely home. New York tried a ninth inning rally as Suzuki singled Chavez safely home, followed by Russell Martin doubling to score Raul Ibanez, but they fell short at 6-5. Porcello was credited with the win, while Jose Valverde turned a messy save, and Hughes was not off the hook for the loss.

Well to the south, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays. J.A. Happ and James Shields have the green light to pitch. Tampa Bay got things going in the second inning with a Sean Rodriguez single to drive in Ryan Roberts. The Rays added on in the third inning with Evan Longoria and Jeff Keppinger hitting sacrifice flies to get Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton home. Toronto got on the board in the fourth inning with a Colby Rasmus solo home run. Tampa Bay answered in the fifth inning as Ben Zobrist doubled Jennings in. This paced them to a 4-1 win, with Shields throwing a dominant victory, Fernando Rodney shutting the door for a save, and Happ was stuck with the loss.

Back north, the New York Mets host the Miami Marlins. Wade LeBlanc and Jonathon Niese are tabbed to start. Miami began with a fourth inning Carlos Lee single to score Justin Ruggiano, followed by Giancarlo Stanton hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Jose Reyes, and John Buck doubling in both Lee and Austin Kearns. New York got on the board with a fifth inning Daniel Murphy solo home run, followed by Andres Torres singling Jason Bay in. They got no closer, falling 4-2, with Carlos Zambrano working from the bullpen for a win, Steve Cishek finishing for a save, and Niese was pinned with the loss.

To Boston, as the Red Sox host the Texas Rangers. Ryan Dempster and Jon Lester are on the mound. Texas finally busted things open in the sixth inning with an Ian Kinsler single to drive in David Murphy before scoring on a single by Josh Hamilton. The Rangers got another in the seventh inning as Murphy's sacrifice fly allowed Michael Young to dash home, and a Kinsler single to plate Geovany Soto. Boston got some back in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run home run by Will Middlebrooks, sweeping in Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Kalish. Texas replied in the eighth inning as Nelson Cruz singled home Hamilton. The Rangers added on in the ninth inning as Elvis Andrus singled Craig Gentry across the dish. This gave them a 6-3 lead, which turned into a win that belonged to Dempster, while Joe Nathan closed out efficiently for the save, and Lester was given the loss.

South again into Houston, as the Astros welcome the Washington Nationals. Ross Detwiler and Jordan Lyles will have the green light to pitch. Houston opened in the first inning as Ben Francisco hit a two-run home run, also scoring Jose Altuve. Washington tied it in the second inning on a two-run home run by Danny Espinosa, sweeping in Roger Bernadina. The Nationals took the lead again in the twelfth inning as Espinosa singled in Cesar Izturis. They held on for a 3-2 win, with Drew Storen in line for the win, Tyler Clippard converting a rocky save, and Mickey Storey was on the hook for the loss.

Back north, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds. Johnny Cueto and Mike Fiers are atop the hill. Milwaukee struck first in the first inning as Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run home run, also scoring Ryan Braun. Cincinnati got on the board in the seventh inning on a Brandon Phillips sacrifice fly to allow Zack Cozart to come home. The Brewers took it back in the bottom of the seventh as Jean Segura grounded out to bring in Rickie Weeks. This was all they needed for a 3-1 win, picked up by a dominant Fiers, while Jim Henderson turned a spot save, and Cueto had almost no help in the loss.

Down in Chicago, the White Sox host the Kansas City Royals. Bruce Chen is mismatched with Jake Peavy. Chicago was first on the board with a first inning Gordon Beckham solo home run. Kansas City tied it in the sixth inning with a Mike Moustakas sacrifice fly, allowing Alex Gordon to dash home. The White Sox took the lead back in their half of the inning on an Adam Dunn single to score Beckham. The Royals tied it again in the seventh inning as Tony Abreu singled Jeff Francoeur in, before taking the lead as Gordon singled to finish Abreu's trip around. Kansas City extended the lead on a two-run eighth inning Billy Butler home run, also scoring Moustakas. This made it 5-2, a final, with the win belonging to Chen, the save turned by Greg Holland, and the loss was stuck on Peavy.

Further south, the St. Louis Cardinals host the San Francisco Giants. Barry Zito and Lance Lynn are the surprisingly effective pitchers. San Francisco rallied to a first inning lead when Buster Posey hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera. St. Louis got on the board in the third inning as Allen Craig hit a solo home run. The Cardinals got another in the fifth inning on another Craig solo shot. The Giants padded the lead in the sixth inning as Joaquin Arias doubled in Brandon Belt. This ended the scoring at 4-2, with Zito earning the win, Jeremy Affeldt turning the save, and Lynn was responsible for the loss.

Out in San Diego, the Padres host the Chicago Cubs. Brooks Raley and Ross Ohlendorf are the completely unknown pitchers. San Diego led off with a third inning Chase Headley single, scoring both Ohlendorf and Chris Denorfia, followed by Everth Cabrera hitting a 2-RBI single to drive in Logan Forsythe and Headley. The Padres added on in the fourth inning with a three-run home run by Carlos Quentin, sweeping in Forsythe and Headley. Chicago got on the board in the fifth inning as Darwin Barney doubled home Luis Valbuena. The Cubs got another in the seventh inning on a Steve Clevenger single to knock in Bryan LaHair, followed by Josh Vitters doubling Clevenger and Barney across the dish. This ended the scoring at 7-4, with Ohlendorf picking up the win, Huston Street converting his twentieth save of the season, and Raley was stuck with the loss.

Up to Oakland, as the Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. C.J. Wilson and Bartolo Colon are the staff aces pitching. Oakland opened with a first inning Jonny Gomes solo home run. The Athletics extended the lead in the third inning as Derek Norris reached on an error that allowed both Yoenis Cespedes and Chris Carter to dash home, followed by Adam Rosales hitting a sacrifice fly to get Brandon Inge home, and Jemile Weeks tripling to force in Norris. Oakland padded the lead in the fifth inning as Gomes singled to drive in Coco Crisp. The Athletics struck again in the sixth inning as Norris hit a two-run home run, also scoring Inge, followed by a Rosales solo shot. Los Angeles got on the board on a Maicer Izturis single to knock in Kendrys Morales in the seventh inning. Oakland shot back in the bottom of the seventh with a Josh Reddick solo home run. The Angels responded in the eighth inning as Mike Trout hit a solo shot. Los Angeles tried a ninth inning rally as Erick Aybar hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Alberto Callaspo, but this only made it a 10-4 final. Colon was credited with the win, while Wilson was handed the loss.

Finally, we end in Los Angeles, with the Dodgers hosting the Colorado Rockies. Alex White and Aaron Harang will pace the game. Colorado started in the fifth inning as Josh Rutledge doubled in Eric Young. The Rockies struck again in the seventh inning on a 2-RBI Rutledge double, scoring both Chris Nelson and Young. Los Angeles got on the board in the eighth inning as Mark Ellis singled to score Hanley Ramirez. This was as close as it got, with the final sitting at 3-1. Josh Roenicke picked up the win, Rafael Betancourt finished off for the save, and Harang was on the hook for the loss.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.