MLB Day 173 2012

Last stretch everyone, with fifteen games coming back up today. We begin with...

The Chicago White Sox hosting the Cleveland Indians. Corey Kluber and Francisco Liriano draw the starts. Cleveland got going in the second inning as Russ Canzler hit a solo home run. The Indians added on in the fourth inning as Thomas Neal grounded into a fielder's choice to get Carlos Santana home, followed by Ezequiel Carrera singling to knock in Canzler, and Shin-Soo Choo doing the same to finish Neal's trip around. Chicago got on the board in the fifth inning with solo shots by A.J. Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo. The White Sox pulled closer in the ninth inning with a Paul Konerko solo home run, but they couldn't avoid the 4-3 loss. Kluber picked up the win, Chris Perez tossed a messy save, and Liriano was not freed from the loss.

Up in Detroit, the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals. Bruce Chen and Anibal Sanchez are the struggling pitchers. Detroit began in the first inning with Prince Fielder singling in Austin Jackson and Delmon Young doing the same for Omar Infante. This was all they needed to win 2-0, with Sanchez throwing a three-hit and one-walk shutout, while Chen had no help in the loss.

Over in Philadelphia, the Phillies host the Washington Nationals. Ross Detwiler and Cole Hamels pace the game. Washington was first to score in the second inning on a Kurt Suzuki single, scoring Danny Espinosa. Philadelphia tied it in the bottom of the second as Darin Ruf hit a solo home run. The Phillies added on in the third inning with Ryan Howard singling home John Mayberry, followed by a three-run Carlos Ruiz home run, sweeping in Chase Utley and Howard. The Nationals replied in the fifth inning on a Bryce Harper single to get Suzuki home, followed by Ryan Zimmerman singling to finish Harper's trip around. Philadelphia answered in the sixth inning on a Domonic Brown solo shot. This ended the scoring at 6-3, with the win going to Hamels, the save turned by Jonathan Papelbon, and the loss stuck on Detwiler.

Staying close by, the Baltimore Orioles welcome the Toronto Blue Jays. Aaron Laffey and Joe Saunders will make the starts. Toronto started in the first inning as Yan Gomes singled Brett Lawrie in. The Blue Jays added on in the fourth inning as Adeiny Hechavarria doubled to knock in Rajai Davis. Toronto struck again in the seventh inning when Colby Rasmus singled home J.P. Arencibia, followed by Edwin Encarnacion doing the same for Anthony Gose. This made it 4-0, a final, with Laffey picking up the win and Saunders taking the loss.

South to Atlanta, with the Braves hosting the Miami Marlins. Nathan Eovaldi and Kris Medlen are the young pitchers. Miami opened in the second inning with a Donovan Solano solo home run. Atlanta tied it in the bottom of the second as Dan Uggla singled to knock in Chipper Jones. The Braves took the lead in the sixth inning on a Jones sacrifice fly that allowed Jason Heyward to score. The Marlins took the lead in the seventh inning with Solano hitting a two-run home run, also scoring Greg Dobbs. The Braves walked off in the ninth inning as Freddie Freeman hit a two-run home run, sweeping in Jones for a 4-3 final. Craig Kimbrel was in line for the win and Mike Dunn got the loss.

Back north, the Boston Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays. David Price and Clay Buchholz are on the hill. Tampa Bay established a lead in the second inning on a three-run home run by Jeff Keppinger, sweeping in Evan Longoria and Luke Scott. Boston got on the board in the bottom of the second as Danny Valencia singled to plate Cody Ross. The Red Sox answered in the third inning as Daniel Nava scored on a balk. The Rays extended the lead in the sixth inning as Jose Molina singled to knock in Keppinger and also Carlos Pena after an error. This was good for a 5-2 win, with Price going the distance for the win and Buchholz was on the hook for the loss.

Moving along to New York, with the Mets hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wandy Rodriguez faces a lesser foe in Collin McHugh. Pittsburgh led off in the first inning as Gaby Sanchez grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in Josh Harrison, followed by a three-run home run by Pedro Alvarez, sweeping in Andrew McCutchen and Sanchez. New York replied in their half of the inning as Justin Turner hit a two-run home run, also scoring Ruben Tejada, followed by David Wright hitting a solo home run. The Pirates replied in the second inning with Harrison tripling to force in Rodriguez and Alex Presley, before scoring as Garrett Jones reached on an error. Pittsburgh struck again in the fifth inning as Alvarez walked with the bases loaded to force in McCutchen. The Mets shot back in the seventh inning on a Jordany Valdespin single combining with an error to get Andres Torres home, followed by Wright singling to score both Valdespin and Tejada. The Pirates padded the lead as Jones hit a two-run home run, also scoring Presley. This made it 10-6, a final, with Rodriguez getting the win and McHugh was pinned with the loss.

Out west, the Cincinnati Reds host the Milwaukee Brewers. Mike Fiers and Johnny Cueto are penciled in to pitch. Cincinnati got going in the second inning as Dioner Navarro singled both Jay Bruce and Chris Heisey in. Milwaukee got on the board in the fifth inning with Jean Segura singling Carlos Gomez around. The Reds shot back in the bottom of the fifth as Joey Votto doubled to knock in Zack Cozart before scoring on a double by Bruce. The Brewers replied in the seventh inning with Aramis Ramirez hitting a solo home run. They got no closer, losing 4-2, with the win belonging to Cueto, the save finished off by Aroldis Chapman, and the loss was stuck on Fiers.

Down in Texas, the Rangers host the Oakland Athletics. Tommy Milone and Scott Feldman received the starting nods. Texas was first to score as Josh Hamilton singled, which combined with an error to get both Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus home in the first inning. Oakland got on the board in the second inning as Daric Barton doubled in Brandon Moss. The Athletics tied it on a fourth inning Chris Carter solo home run. Oakland took the lead in the tenth inning as George Kotteras hit a solo shot. This was good for a 3-2 win, picked up by Evan Scribner, while Grant Balfour converted the save, and Mark Lowe was responsible for the loss.

Staying in the state, the Houston Astros welcome the St. Louis Cardinals. Jaime Garcia and Lucas Harrell are the underrated pitchers. St. Louis began as Yadier Molina hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Jon Jay in the first inning. The Cardinals added on in the second inning with Jay singling Garcia around. St. Louis struck again in the eighth inning when Pete Kozma doubled to drive in Daniel Descalso, before scoring as Jay grounded into a fielder's choice. The final stood from here at 4-0, with Garcia pitching well for the win and Harrell was dealt the loss.

North to Minnesota, as the Twins host the New York Yankees. Phil Hughes faces a lesser foe in Esmerling Vasquez. New York finally opened the scoring in the fourth inning with Nick Swisher hitting a two-run home run, also scoring Robinson Cano. Minnesota got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with Chris Parmelee doubling Joe Mauer safely home. The Yankees replied in the seventh inning on a Russell Martin solo home run. The Twins took the lead in their half of the inning with Ryan Doumit scoring on a wild pitch, followed by Denard Span doubling both Parmelee and Jamey Carroll across the dish, and Mauer singling Span the rest of the way home. This gave them a 5-3 lead they would hold to the end, with the win assigned to Casey Fien, while Glen Perkins notched his fifteenth save of the year, and Hughes was stuck holding the loss.

Southwest to Colorado, as the Rockies host the Chicago Cubs. Chris Rusin and Jorge De La Rosa are the little-known pitchers. Chicago quickly scored in the first inning on a Dave Sappelt solo home run, followed by Starlin Castro reaching on an error that allowed Alfonso Soriano to dash home, and then Welington Castillo doubled Castro home. Colorado got on the board in the second inning when Wilin Rosario hit a solo shot. The Cubs answered in the third inning when Castro hit a solo home run. The Rockies pulled back with Tyler Colvin tripling in the bottom of the third to force in DJ LeMahieu and Josh Rutledge. Chicago responded in the fourth inning as Darwin Barney singled to knock in Joe Mather. Colorado replied in their half of the inning as LeMahieu doubled to drive in Chris Nelson, followed by a 2-RBI Rutledge double to plate both Andrew Brown and LeMahieu. The Rockies padded the lead in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by Matt McBride, sweeping in Rosario and Nelson. Colorado kept going in the sixth inning when Nelson singled Colvin across the dish. The game was called on account of rain in the seventh inning, with the Rockies winning 10-5. Carlos Torres was in line for the win and Rusin was dealt the loss.

Into California, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Seattle Mariners. Erasmo Ramirez and Zack Greinke are called on for the starts. Los Angeles began in the first inning as Albert Pujols singled in Mike Trout and Alberto Callaspo hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Torii Hunter. Seattle got on the board in the fourth inning as Justin Smoak hit a solo home run. The Angels shot back in the fifth inning as Hunter hit a two-run home run, also scoring Trout. Los Angeles got another in the sixth inning as Erick Aybar hit a solo shot. The Mariners replied in the seventh inning with Franklin Gutierrez doubling to knock in Dustin Ackley, before scoring on a two-run home run by Smoak. They couldn't get the equalizer, falling 5-4, with the win going to Greinke, the save finished off by Ernesto Frieri, and the loss stuck on Ramirez. 

Down in San Diego, the Padres host the Los Angeles Dodgers. Josh Beckett and Edinson Volquez are the solid starters. San Diego began in the fourth inning as Yasmani Grandal grounded out to bring in Logan Forsythe. The Padres added on in the fifth inning with Everth Cabrera reaching on a bunt single that combined with an error to score Will Venable. Los Angeles tried a ninth inning rally with A.J. Ellis doubling to knock in Luis Cruz, but they failed to tie the game and lost 2-1. Volquez earned the win, Huston Street turned a messy save, and Beckett was not freed from the loss.

Finally, the San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Josh Collmenter and Tim Lincecum will be handed the ball. Arizona led off in the first inning with Paul Goldschmidt hitting a sacrifice fly to get Adam Eaton home and Aaron Hill scoring on a wild pitch. The Diamondbacks padded the lead in the third inning as Goldschmidt hit a three-run home run, sweeping in Hill and Miguel Montero. San Francisco got on the board in the fourth inning as Buster Posey doubled in Marco Scutaro. Arizona shot back in the fifth inning as Goldschmidt hit a sacrifice fly that provided time for Hill to score and Justin Upton then scored on a wild pitch. The Giants got one back in the eighth inning as Ryan Theriot doubled to plate Xavier Nady. This only made it 7-2, the final, with Collmenter getting the win and Lincecum taking the loss.

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