MLB Day 138 2012

Full slate again, and this will be a late post since I am going to watch the follow up to King Felix's perfecto. Today's games begin in...

Philadelphia, as the Phillies host the Cincinnati Reds. Homer Bailey and Cliff Lee are the unlucky pitchers. Philadelphia began in the first inning as Ryan Howard singled in Jimmy Rollins. Cincinnati took the lead in the seventh inning on a Ryan Hanigan single to get Scott Rolen in, followed by a Zack Cozart sacrifice fly to allow Todd Frazier to score, and a Drew Stubbs single to finish Hanigan's trip around. The Phillies tied it again in the bottom of the seventh as Rollins doubled both Kevin Frandsen and Erik Kratz across the dish. The Reds took the lead back in the eighth inning on a Frazier solo home run. Philadelphia pulled even in their half of the inning as Frandsen tripled to force in Domonic Brown. Cincinnati gained the lead in the ninth inning as Cozart hit a solo shot, and they held onto the 5-4 win. Jonathan Broxton was in line for the win, Aroldis Chapman tossed his thirtieth save of the season, and Jonathan Papelbon was stuck with the loss.

Into DC, as the Washington Nationals host the Atlanta Braves. Paul Maholm and Stephen Strasburg take the hill. Washington started with a second inning Ian Desmond solo home run. The Nationals extended the lead in the fifth inning as Jesus Flores hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Adam LaRoche and Desmond. Atlanta got on the board in the sixth inning with a Freddie Freeman sacrifice fly to bring around Martin Prado. This was it for the scoring, with the final standing at 4-1 with Strasburg notching the win, Tyler Clippard converting the save, and Maholm was given the loss.

West to Detroit, with the Tigers hosting the Toronto Blue Jays. Ricky Romero and Max Scherzer are the under-performing pitchers. Detroit was first on the board in the first inning as Delmon Young drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Austin Jackson. The Tigers added on in the second inning as Omar Infante walked with the bases loaded to push in Andy Dirks, followed by Miguel Cabrera grounding into a double play, allowing Gerald Laird to get home. Toronto got on the board in the sixth inning as Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo home run. Detroit extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Infante singled Dirks across the dish, and Cabrera's sacrifice fly brought in Laird. The Blue Jays pulled closer in the eighth inning as David Cooper doubled to plate Encarnacion before scoring on a Yunel Escobar single. They got no closer, losing 5-3, with the win going to Scherzer, the save to Jose Valverde, and the loss to Romero.

Back east, the Boston Red Sox host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ervin Santana and Aaron Cook try to right the ship on their stats. Los Angeles got things going in the third inning with an Albert Pujols single to plate Mike Trout. The Angels padded the lead in the fourth inning on an Erick Aybar single to drive in Howie Kendrick and a Chris Iannetta single scoring Alberto Callaspo. Los Angeles struck again in the fifth inning as Mark Trumbo hit a two-run home run, also scoring Kendrys Morales. Boston got on the board in the sixth inning on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia two-run homer, sweeping in Cody Ross. The Red Sox got another in the seventh inning when Scott Podsednik scored on a wild pitch. They couldn't even the score, falling 5-3, with Santana being credited with the win, Ernesto Frieri converting his fifteenth save of the season, and Cook took the loss.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Rays host the Kansas City Royals. Luke Hochevar is mismatched with David Price. Kansas City was first on the board with a tenth inning Eric Hosmer single, scoring Jeff Francoeur, and it made it a 1-0 final. Kelvin Herrera was in line for the win, Greg Holland shut the door for a save, and Joel Peralta was responsible for the loss.

Back north, the New York Mets host the Colorado Rockies. Jhoulys Chacin and Chris Young are the little-known pitchers. New York led off with a fourth inning Daniel Murphy sacrifice fly to score Ruben Tejada. Colorado rallied ahead in the sixth inning as Chacin reached on an error, allowing DJ LeMahieu to dash home, followed by Charlie Blackmon singling Jonathan Herrera in, Dexter Fowler doing the same to finish Chacin's trip around, and Ramon Hernandez hitting a sacrifice fly to give Blackmon time to get home. The Mets got one back in the seventh inning as Andres Torres hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Jordany Valdespin. The Rockies shot back in the eighth inning as Fowler singled Blackmon across the dish. Colorado got another in the ninth inning when Herrera reached on a fielder's choice that gave time to get Andrew Brown home. This produced the 6-2 final, with Chacin earning the win while Young was handed the loss.

Southwest to Texas, as the Rangers host the Baltimore Orioles. Chris Tillman and Scott Feldman are the back-of-the-rotation starters. Baltimore opened in the first inning as Nate McLouth scored on a wild pitch. Texas answered in the third inning with an Ian Kinsler solo home run. The Orioles took the lead back in the fifth inning as Manny Machado tripled to force in Omar Quintanilla before score on a double by J.J. Hardy, and then McLouth hit a two-run home run to finish Hardy's trip around. The Rangers pulled back in the seventh inning as Geovany Soto hit a two-run home run, also scoring David Murphy. This wasn't enough to avoid the 5-3 loss, with the win going to Tillman, the save to Jim Johnson, and the loss to Feldman.

Up to Chicago, as the White Sox host the New York Yankees. Ivan Nova and Francisco Liriano are the overrated pitchers. New York started in the first inning with a Derek Jeter solo home run and a Curtis Granderson fielder's choice that got Nick Swisher in. Chicago answered in the second inning as A.J. Pierzynski hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Alex Rios. The White Sox tied it in the fourth inning as Paul Konerko hit a solo shot. Chicago took the lead with a fifth inning Kevin Youkilis grand slam, sweeping in Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, and Dewayne Wise. The Yankees got one back in the seventh inning as Russell Martin hit a solo home run. The White Sox shot back in the eighth inning on a Beckham single to plate Pierzynski. This was all they needed for a 7-3 win, picked up by Liriano, while Nova was dealt the loss.

Further north, the Milwaukee Brewers host the Chicago Cubs. Chris Rusin and Marco Estrada are the unknown pitchers. Milwauke began in the fourth inning as Corey Hart singled in Norichika Aoki. The Brewers added on in the sixth inning with Rickie Weeks scoring on a wild pitch and Jonathan Lucroy doubling in both Aramis Ramirez and Hart. Milwaukee got another in the eighth inning on a Carlos Gomez single to plate Ramirez. Chicago tried a ninth inning rally with Alfonso Soriano singling to knock in Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro grounding out to give Anthony Rizzo time to get home, but they still lost 5-2. Estrada earned the win, John Axford cleaned up a mess for a save, and Rusin was not freed from the loss.

Back south to St. Louis, with the Cardinals hosting the Houston Astros. Lucas Harrell and Adam Wainwright will be on the mound. St. Louis quickly scored in the first inning as Jon Jay scored on a balk, followed by Yadier Molina singling to knock in Matt Holliday and Skip Schumaker singled to drive in both Allen Craig and David Freese. The Cardinals added on in the third inning with Molina singling home Craig and Rafael Furcal hitting a sacrifice fly to get Freese home. St. Louis extended the lead in the sixth inning as Jay singled to plate Furcal. This was it for the scoring, with the final resting at 7-0, giving Wainwright a complete game shutout in which he allowed just five hits and a walk and Harrell a rough loss.

Down into Arizona, with the Diamondbacks hosting the Miami Marlins. Ricky Nolasco opposes Trevor Cahill on the hill. Speaking of hills, it was Aaron Hill who got Arizona started in the first inning by doubling home Chris Young, followed by Justin Upton singling both Hill and Jason Kubel in, Miguel Montero doing the same for Paul Goldschmidt, and Ryan Wheeler hitting a sacrifice fly to finish Upton's trip around. Miami got going in the second inning as Donovan Solano singled to knock in Carlos Lee, followed by a Nolasco ground rule double forcing in Greg Dobbs. The Marlins rallied to tied it in the sixth inning on a Solano single plating Giancarlo Stanton, followed by Gorkys Hernandez singling to finish Solano's trip around, and Bryan Petersen singling home Austin Kearns. Miami completed the comeback in the tenth inning on a Stanton single to get Hernandez home, and this was the decisive run, with the final being 6-5. Chad Gaudin picked up the win, Steve Cishek tossed his tenth save of the season, and Sam Demel was pinned with the loss.

Further west, the San Diego Padres hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates. A.J. Burnett and Jason Marquis are serviceable pitchers. San Diego started in the first inning on a Carlos Quentin double driving in both Will Venable and Chase Headley. Pittsburgh shot back in the third inning on an Andrew McCutchen fielder's choice that combined with an error to get Jose Tabata home. The Pirates gained the lead in the sixth inning on a Garrett Jones solo home run and a Rod Barajas double to knock in Pedro Alvarez. The Padres replied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth as Venable reached on an error to get Cameron Maybin safely home. San Diego gained the lead in the seventh inning on a Chris Denorfia sacrifice fly allowing Yonder Alonso to score. The Padres got another in the eighth inning when Quentin hit a sacrifice fly to score Venable. Pittsburgh retied it in the ninth inning on a two-run home run by Jones, also scoring Neil Walker. San Diego got the last laugh, walking off in the tenth inning as Headley hit a two-run home run to sweep in Venable and secure a 7-5 win. Miles Mikolas was given the win while Daniel McCutchen was stuck with the loss.

Up to Oakland, where the Athletics welcomed the Minnesota Twins. Cole De Vries welcomes back opposing pitcher Brett Anderson from the disabled list. Minnesota was first to score in the first inning as Ben Revere scored on a wild pitch. Oakland answered in the second inning when Josh Donaldson double to knock in Seth Smith. The Athletics gained the lead in the sixth inning on a Derek Norris single to plate Smith. Oakland extended the lead in the seventh inning on a Josh Reddick single, scoring Coco Crisp, before finishing his trip around on a Chris Carter double. This proved to be enough for a 4-1 win, with Anderson earning the win, Grant Balfour tossing the save, and De Vries was handed the loss.

Further north, the Seattle Mariners host the Cleveland Indians. Roberto Hernandez faces a much better Hernandez, the King Felix, and his Supreme Court, 40,000 members strong. Seattle led off in the fifth inning with an Eric Thames solo home run. Cleveland tied it in the seventh inning as Casey Kotchman singled to plate Carlos Santana. The Mariners answered in their half of the inning on a John Jaso ground rule double to force in Michael Saunders before Jesus Montero hit a three-run home run to sweep in Kyle Seager and Jaso. This was it for the scoring, leaving the final at 5-1, giving Felix Hernandez the win in a less-than-perfect but more-than-enough fashion, while Lucas Luetge turned a four-out spot save, and Roberto Hernandez was stuck with the loss. Just as a side note, for anyone who watched on TV or listened on the radio, you truly missed out on the absolute electric atmosphere in Safeco Field. I haven't seen that place so into the game in years, if at all.

Finally, we end down in Los Angeles, as the Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants. Tim Lincecum and Joe Blanton will pace the game. San Francisco started with a first inning Buster Posey single, driving in Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro. The Giants padded the lead in the fourth inning as Brandon Crawford singled in Gregor Blanco before scoring on a Pagan double. Los Angeles got on the board in the sixth inning as Matt Kemp hit a sacrifice fly to give Juan Rivera time to get home. They still fell short, losing 4-1. Lincecum got the win, Javier Lopez picked up the save, and Blanton took the loss.

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