MLB Day 162 2012

We start the full slate for today in...

Chicago, as the Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates. James McDonald and Chris Rusin will be set to start. Chicago started in the third inning as Starlin Castro singled home Luis Valbuena. The Cubs added on in the fourth inning as Anthony Rizzo doubled both Darwin Barney and David DeJesus in, followed by Alfonso Soriano singling Valbuena safely home. Pittsburgh got on the board in the fifth inning with Pedro Alvarez singling to provide time for Gaby Sanchez to get home. The Pirates pulled closer in the sixth inning as Sanchez singled to score Starling Marte, followed by Alvarez grounding out to allow Garrett Jones to dash home. Chicago extended the lead in their half of the inning as Castro hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Valbuena and Soriano. Pittsburgh got one back with a seventh inning Andrew McCutchen solo home run. This was as close as it got, leaving the final at 7-4. Rusin picked up the win, Carlos Marmol converted his twentieth save of the year, and McDonald was dinged for the loss.

Over in Cleveland, the Indians host the Detroit Tigers. Justin Verlander faces a lesser foe in Corey Kluber. Detroit began in the first inning as Delmon Young singled to knock in Miguel Cabrera, followed by Brennan Boesch doing the same for Prince Fielder. The Tigers added on in the second inning as Austin Jackson doubled home Alex Avila before scoring on a Cabrera single. This was good for a 4-0 final, with Verlander earning the win and Kluber suffered the loss.

Further east, the New York Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays. David Price and CC Sabathia pace the game. New York led off with a second inning Steve Pearce single, plating Russell Martin. Tampa Bay tied it with a fifth inning Elliot Johnson single, scoring Chris Gimenez, followed by Desmond Jennings doing the same for Carlos Pena to take the lead, and Evan Longoria grounded into a double play that gave time for Johnson to finish his trip around. The Yankees took one back in the bottom of the fifth on a Curtis Granderson solo home run. The Rays shot back in the seventh inning as Ben Zobrist singled Johnson around. Tampa Bay added on in the eighth inning as B.J. Upton hit a solo shot. New York replied in their half of the inning as Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run, also scoring Derek Jeter. The Rays extended their lead in the ninth inning when Longoria reached on an error that allowed Jennings to dart home. This made it 6-4, a final, with Price credited with the win, Fernando Rodney shutting the door on a save, and Sabathia was dealt the loss.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Aaron Laffey are the struggling starters. Toronto started in the third inning as Moises Sierra and Anthony Gose scored on separate wild pitches, followed by Adam Lind grounding out to get Colby Rasmus home. Boston tied it in the fourth inning as Ryan Lavarnway hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Cody Ross and Mauro Gomez. The Red Sox took the lead in the fifth inning as Daniel Nava singled both Mike Aviles and Gomez home. The Blue Jays got one back in the sixth inning on a Yunel Escobar single, scoring Lind. Toronto tied it in the eighth inning as Brett Lawrie doubled Rasmus safely home. Boston took the lead back in the ninth inning as Gomez tripled to force in Jacoby Ellsbury and Ross, before coming the final 90 feet on a Lavarnway sacrifice fly. This was good for an 8-5 win, giving Chris Carpenter the win, Andrew Bailey the save, and Darren Oliver was stuck with the loss.

Way south to Miami, as the Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds. Bronson Arroyo and Jacob Turner receive the starting nods. Miami got going in the third inning with a Justin Ruggiano double to drive in Rob Brantly. The Marlins got another in the fourth inning on a Greg Dobbs solo home run. Miami added on in the fifth inning as Carlos Lee singled to plate Ruggiano, and Jose Reyes also scored on the throw. This made it 4-0, which stood as a final, with the win going to Turner while Arroyo was handed the loss.

A touch north, the Atlanta Braves host the Washington Nationals. Ross Detwiler and Kris Medlen are on the hill. Atlanta opened with a fourth inning Andrelton Simmons sacrifice fly to knock in Freddie Freeman. Washington tied it in the sixth inning on a Bryce Harper solo home run. The Braves won 2-1 in the ninth inning as Tyler Pastornicky reached on an error to bring in Simmons. Craig Kimbrel got the win and Sean Burnett was given the loss despite his defense's transgressions.

West to Texas, with the Rangers hosting the Seattle Mariners. Hisashi Iwakuma and Yu Darvish are the Japanese starters. Texas began in the first inning with an Ian Kinsler solo home run. The Rangers added on in the third inning as Josh Hamilton hit a solo shot. Seattle got on the board in the fourth inning when Jesus Montero hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Michael Saunders. Texas struck again in the eighth inning on an eighth inning as Hamilton doubled home Elvis Andrus, followed by David Murphy reaching on an error that allowed Hamilton to complete his trip, a 2-RBI Geovany Soto double, scoring both Adrian Beltre and Michael Young, and an Andrus triple to force in all of Murphy, Soto, and Mitch Moreland. The Mariners got one back in the ninth inning as Saunders hit a solo home run, followed by Montero singling Kyle Seager across the dish, but this only made it 9-3. Darvish notched the win and Iwakuma was stuck holding the loss.

Across the state, the Houston Astros host the Philadelphia Phillies. Cole Hamels and Edgar Gonzalez have the green light to pitch. Philadelphia wasted no time in scoring with a first inning Jimmy Rollins solo home run, followed by Chase Utley singling in Juan Pierre before scoring on a Ryan Howard ground rule double, and then Howard came home on a John Mayberry single. Houston got on the board in their half of the inning as Justin Maxwell grounded into a fielder's choice that combined with an error to allow Jose Altuve to dash home. The Phillies replied in the fourth inning as Kevin Frandsen singled home Mayberry. The Astros pulled closer in the bottom of the fourth as Matt Downs hit a two-run home run, also scoring Matt Dominguez. Philadelphia extended the lead in the fifth inning on a 2-RBI Mayberry single, plating both Utley and Carlos Ruiz. Houston chipped back in their half of the fifth as Maxwell hit a solo shot. The Phillies added on in the seventh inning as Domonic Brown hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Ruiz. Philadelphia kept going in the eighth inning as Utley doubled Rollins across the dish, and Howard then singled both Pierre and Utley home. The Astros replied again in the bottom of the eighth as Maxwell scored on a wild pitch. Houston got another in the ninth inning when Brandon Barnes reached on an error that saw Altuve score, making the final 12-6. Hamels picked up the win and Gonzalez was pinned with the loss.

North to Minnesota, as the Twins host the Chicago White Sox. Chris Sale and Esmerling Vasquez are penciled it to pitch. Chicago was first to score as Dayan Viciedo grounded out to get Alex Rios in the second inning. The White Sox struck again in the fourth inning as Viciedo drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Paul Konerko. Chicago added on in the sixth inning when Alexei Ramirez singled to drive in A.J. Pierzynski. The White Sox extended the lead in the seventh inning on a Kevin Youkilis solo home run, followed by a Rios single to plate Dewayne Wise. Chicago padded the lead in the ninth inning with Wise hitting a sacrifice fly that allowed Gordon Beckham to dash home. This was all they needed to win 6-0, with the win belonging to Sale, while Vasquez was roughed up in the loss.

Back south, the Kansas City Royals host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. C.J. Wilson and Bruce Chen are the inconsistent pitchers. Kansas City opened with second inning Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas solo home runs. The Royals added on in the third inning on a Jason Bourgeois single to knock in Johnny Giavotella. Los Angeles got on the board in the fourth inning on a 2-RBI Howie Kendrick double, scoring both Erick Aybar and Torii Hunter, before scoring alongside Vernon Wells on an Alberto Callaspo single. Kansas City added on in the sixth inning as Moustakas hit a sacrifice fly to allow Alex Gordon to dash home and Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer, also scoring Butler. The Angels shot back in the seventh inning as Aybar doubled to get Chris Iannetta across the dish. The Royals replied in their half of the inning on an Alcides Escobar single that plated Bourgeois. Los Angeles pulled even in the eighth inning when Kendrys Morales hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Mark Trumbo, followed by Hunter walking with the bases loaded to force in Mike Trout. The Angels got another in the ninth inning as Kole Calhoun grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Wells score. This paced them to a 9-7 win, with Jordan Walden picking up the win, Ernesto Frieri turning the save, and Tim Collins was dinged for the loss.

North again as the Milwaukee Brewers host the New York Mets. Jonathon Niese and Mike Fiers are the surprisingly good starters. New York led off in the first inning with Ike Davis grounding out to get Daniel Murphy home, followed by a ground rule double from Lucas Duda to force in David Wright. The Mets added on in the second inning when Murphy hit a two-run home run, also scoring Niese. Milwaukee answered in their half of the inning as Travis Ishikawa doubled in both Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez. New York extended the lead in the sixth inning as Duda hit a solo home run, followed by Josh Thole doubling to drive in Andres Torres before scoring on a Ruben Tejada fielder's choice that combined with an error. Milwaukee tried to rally back in the ninth inning as Nyjer Morgan tripled to push in Jean Segura. This wasn't enough to avoid the 7-3 loss, with the win going to Niese and the loss pinned on Fiers.

South to Arizona, as the Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants. Matt Cain and Tyler Skaggs will take their turns in the rotation. San Francisco established a lead in the third inning as Buster Posey reached on a fielder's choice to get Cain home, followed by a Hunter Pence grand slam, sweeping in Marco Scutaro, Pablo Sandoval, and Posey. Arizona got on the board in the sixth inning as Ryan Wheeler singled in Miguel Montero. The Giants answered in the eighth inning with Santiago Casilla singling Posey across the dish. The Diamondbacks tried a ninth inning rally when Chris Johnson singled to plate Paul Goldschmidt, but they got no closer and fell 6-2. Cain picked up the win and Skaggs was handed the loss.

Up in Oakland, the Athletics host the Baltimore Orioles. Joe Saunders and Tommy Milone are the solid starters. Baltimore began in the third inning as J.J. Hardy reached on an error, allowing Manny Machado to dash home. Oakland gained the lead in the fourth inning on a two-run Yoenis Cespedes home run, also scoring Jonny Gomes. The Orioles retied it in the fifth inning as Chris Davis hit a solo home run. The Athletics took the lead back in their half of the inning with Gomes singling to plate Adam Rosales. This was good for a 3-2 win, earned by Milone, while Grant Balfour converted the save, and Saunders was stuck holding the loss.

Way south to San Diego, as the Padres host the Colorado Rockies. Tyler Chatwood and Andrew Cashner are the uninspiring pitchers. Colorado opened in the first inning as Wilin Rosario doubled home Dexter Fowler and Josh Rutledge, followed by Jordan Pacheco doing the same for both Carlos Gonzalez and Rosario, and Chris Nelson singling to finish Pacheco's trip around. San Diego got some back in their half of the inning as Yonder Alonso hit a grand slam, sweeping in Will Venable, Chase Headley, and Yasmani Grandal. The
Rockies added on in the third inning as Nelson hit a solo home run. Colorado extended the lead in the eighth inning on a Charlie Blackmon solo shot. This made it 7-4, with Guillermo Moscoso in line for the win, Rafael Betancourt closing out for the save, and Casher was dinged for the loss.

Finally, we end in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals. Joe Kelly and Chris Capuano take the mound. St. Louis got going in the second inning with solo home runs by Yadier Molina and Matt Carpenter. Los Angeles got on the board in their half of the inning as Luis Cruz grounded out to get Adrian Gonzalez home. The Cardinals padded the lead in the third inning on a two-run home run by Matt Holliday, also scoring Carlos Beltran. The Dodgers answered in the fourth inning as Andre Ethier hit a two-run home run, driving in Shane Victorino. Los Angeles gained the lead in the sixth inning as Cruz hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Ethier and Hanley Ramirez. The Dodgers extended the lead in the seventh inning as Gonzalez doubled to score both Elian Herrera and Victorino. St. Louis tried a ninth inning rally as Skip Schumaker grounded out to provide Molina time to score, but they still fell short by an 8-5 margin. Shawn Tolleson was given the win and Trevor Rosenthal was on the hook for the loss.

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