Cubs 11 Giants 4
WP: Ryan Dempster LP: Madison Bumgarner
HR: Cody Ross (2)
Bumgarner (6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) again, pitched well, but his offense (9 LOB) let him down. Of course, Dempster (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 K) didn't exactly help out San Fran's young lefty, fanning 11 Giants hitters. In fact remove Giants lead off hitter Andres Torres (3-4, 2 R, 1 SB) and Dempster virtually breezed through a very quiet defending World Series Champion lineup.
Each and every starting Giants hitter struck out at least once -four twice- today. 'Bout the only bad news for the Cubbies was status quo, Carlos Pena (0-4, 3 K's).
Giant Silence
Aubrey Huff 2-4, 2 RBI
Buster Posey 2-4 2 RBI
Cubs Growth
Starlin Castro 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI's nine hits in his last 16 trips to the plate
Darwin Barney, who has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games, went 3-5 (2 R, 3 RBI)
Reed Johnson had a terrific catch against the ivy, and o yeah, went 3-4 with 4 RBI
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Indians 5 Mariners 4
WP: Tony Sipp (2-0) LP: Brandon League (0-4)
HR: Justin Smoak (6), Carlos Peguero (1), Michael Brantley (3), Shin-Soo Choo(5), Travis Hafner (5)
Like a butterfly's wings touched, closer's are a very delicate aspect of Baseball. After a fantastic starting pitcher's duel, had it not been for slumping closer League (0.2, 3 H, 3 ER), the Mariners would be going back to the hotel as winners. Instead, Doug Fister (8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) goes home very disappointed after arguably one of the best starts of his career. Headed into the ninth, Fister afforded League, who has blown a save in three straight appearances, a two run lead and League blew it. Over-shadowed was Fausto Carmona's (7.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER) persistence. The Indians win in their last at bat for the ninth time this season already.
Seattle Pen Options
Aaron Laffey (1.35 ERA) is a former Indian and according to Yahoo! Sports, depth charts, next in line for Seattle
Chris Ray has an enormous ERA (11.88), but blown up mostly by one bad outing
Journeyman Jamey Wright has a respectable ERA and could earn himself one last shot at MLB stardom
Tigers 3 Royals 1
WP: Justin Verlander (4-3) LP:Luke Hochevar (3-4) S: Jose Valverde (9)
HR: Austin Jackson (3), Jhonny Peralta (5)
Two pitchers at 3-3, going in similar directions met up today. No, Verlander (8 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) would NOT match Johnny Vander Meer's record of no-hitters in two consecutive starts, but the way he pitched, he may as well have. Verlander's no-hit streak ended when Melky Cabrera reached with a triple, that's 51 straight batters without a hit. Jose Valverde punched out best of the 2017 free agent class, 2011 buzzboy, Eric Hosmer (0-4) to end things.
Magglio Ordonez (ankle) went to the DL
Marlins 6 Nationals 5
Edward Mujica (4-1) LP: Brian Broderick (0-1) S: Leo Nunez (13)
HR: Gaby Sanchez (7), John Buck (5), Logan Morrison (5), Mike Stanton (5), Laynce Nix (5)
Outside of the throw to home, just shy of Omar Infante's creative slide to eventually win the game, Roger Bernadina had a fantastic night, going 3-5, with a SB, BB and 2 RBI's.
Capital Loss
Laynce Nix 3-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Red Sox 5 Yankees 4
WP: Clay Buchholz (4-3) LP: Bartolo Colon (2-2) S: Jonathan Papelbon (6)
HR: Adrian Gonzalez (8), Kevin Youkilis (6), Russell Martin (7)
Once bitten, twice shy was the story at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox, streaky as they may be, managed to creep a game closer to .500 ball and tied for second in the A.L. East with the Yanks. Despite a definitive effort by Colon ( 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER) the Red Sox still managed to squeek out a win. Buchholz (7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K), who was solid tonight, allowed Jorge Posada to hit something other than homer, and Russell Martin's 2-run homer tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth. The drama thickened and it came down to a JPap save, which of course was full of drama.
Red Sox Clicking
Clay Buchholz is 3-0 in the month of May
Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-5 with an SB
Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis each had 2 RBI
Yankee Let Down
Mark Teixeira 0-5, 3 LOB
Nick Swisher 1-3, 3 LOB
Jorge Posada 1-4, 4 LOB
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ESPN Sunday night Baseball
Reds 6 Cardinals 5
WP: Francisco Cordero (3-1) LP: Jason Motte (1-1)
In the end, it was the big money players that resolved the first of three games that will create momentum in the NL Central. After Cordero calmed things down, with two on in the ninth, it was reigning, MVP, Joey Votto (2-5, RBI, R) who singled to right and ended the first game of a very important interdivision rivalry.
Cardinal Code
Albert Pujols went 2-4, R
Kyle Lohse scattered seven hits over six innings, striking-out four allowing two earned runs
Matt Holliday 3-5, R, 2 RBI
Daniel Descalso had another fine Friday, going 2-4
Ripe 'n Red
Scott Rolen (shoulder) was 3-5, RBI, 3 LOB in his first game since April 20th
Bronson Arroyo pitched six solid innings, allowed six hits and three earned runs
Brandon Phillips 2-4, R, RBI, 5 LOB
Edgar Renteria 1-4, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Fred Lewis went 2-3
Rays 3 Orioles 0
WP: Jeremy Hellickson LP: Jeremy Guthrie (1-6)
HR: Johnny Damon (6), Matt Jyce (5)
Unfortunately for Buck Showalter and his O's, the battle of Jeremy's went very well. Hellickson pitched phenomenally, going the entire nine innings, walking only one, striking out three. Guthrie, though the loser, pitched nearly as well, striking out five, walking two batters and allowing seven hits and three earned runs over eight innings. It was the two home-run balls that did in Guthrie and the Orioles. Evan Longoria went 2-4 with a run scored.
Phillies 5 Braves 4
WP: Antonio Bastardo (2-0) LP: Eric O'Flaherty (1-2) S: Ryan Madson (6)
HR: Ryan Howard (9)
Neither Cole Hamels ( 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) or Brandon Beachy (2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER), who left with an injury, had that impressive of a start. Once Beachy exited, the game became a match-up of bullpens and they didn't disappoint. Unfortunately for the Padres, the Phils bullpen turned in a better night, allowing only two hits in three innings. The biggest factor in this game, may just have been the 21 runners left-on-base by Braves hitters.
Phightin Phils
Ryan Howard went 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino (extended his hitting streak to 14) also went 2-4 with an RBI
Slow Tomahawk
Not only has, Cristhian Martinez, in the last two games (WAS, PHI) pitched seven innings of no-hit ball, but he also accounted for two of the Braves three accredited RBI's tonight
Martin Prado 3-5, 2 LOB
Alex Gonzalez 304, 2 R
Catcher D.L. Rotation
Carlos Ruiz went 0-3 in his first night back off the D.L. (lower back), while Brian Schneider (hamstring) is headed to the D.L.
Chase Utley, currently on a rehab stint, hit a home run.
Rangers 4 Angels 1
WP: Alexi Ogando (4-0) LP: Jered Weaver (6-3) S: Neftali Feliz (7)
HR: Elvis Andrus (2), Erick Aybar (1), Adrian Beltre (9)
At first it was a battle of edging pitchers (Weaver,(6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER,6 K) and Ogando (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K), then it became a match-up of top A.L. Shortstops, Andrus and Aybar. Texas grabbed an imperative win against Anaheim's ace, and have put themselves in position to tie for the division lead tomorrow. The Angels achilles was LOB (12)
Glowing Angels
Maicer Izturis, extended his hitting-streak to nine games.
Alberto Callaspo was the only Angels hitter with multiple hits (2-4)
Erick Aybar went 1-4, knocking in the only Angels run
Rangers Right
Elvis Andrus (2-4) eeked a homer, knocking in 2 RBI
Michael Young, leading the American League in hits, went 2-4 with an RBI
Rehab Rangers
Josh Hamilton took batting practice today
Brandon Webb threw four innings in an extended spring training start Thursday, and is reporting no pain in his shoulder. Look for another session coming this Tuesday. If all continues to go well, you may want to consider dropping a slumping player and add him to your D.L. You may see Webb hit the minors for rehab in June and possibly the majors by end of June, barring any setbacks.
Mets 6 Astros 4
WP: Pat Misch (1-0) LP: Jeff Fulchino (0-1) S: Francisco Rodriguez (11)
HR: David Wright (6), Jason Bay (2), Fernando Martinez (1)
Bud Norris (7.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 8 K) certainly set the tone, but the Mets managed to eek out a win against the hosting 'Stros. Mostly due to the fact that Norris' lineup left 15 men on base.
Bark But No 'Stros Bite
Michael Bourn 2-4, 1 SB
Carlos Lee 2-4, 1 R
Southern Style Mets
2B Justin Turner (2-4), 2 R, was the only Mets hitter with two or more hits tonight.
David Wright went 1-3, with 2 RBI
After hitting three home runs in one game, Carlos Beltran went 1-4, with 2 K and 1 LOB
Brewers 5 Pirates 2
WP: Yovani Gallardo (4-2) LP: James McDonald (2-3) S: John Axford (8)
HR: Ronny Cedeno (1), Jonathan Lecroy (2)
The Brewers are playing at a .648 clip on Friday the 13th, that is of course after taking their Friday match-up with Pittsburgh. With Gallardo (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER) on the hill and at the plate (one of two Milwaukee hitters with two hits), it seemed this game was never in question for the Brew Crew. A run-down, turned smack talk, nearly caused a bench-clearing fight, but after cooler heads prevailed, everyone returned to their respected spots. Despite leaving 20 men on base, it was a Ryan Braun (1-3, 3 RBI, 2 SB) single to center that put this game away.
Blue Jays 2 Twins 0
WP: Ricky Romero (3-4) LP: Alex Burnett (0-2) S: Frank Francisco (3)
HR: Jose Bautista (12)
Before the game, Harmon Killebrew, who has been fighting cancer, had decided to succumb to hospice care. There truly was no story to lighten the hearts of die-hard Twins fans. With that aside, there is no story to dissolve that of Romero, who was one out shy of a complete game shutout. Romero, who threw 8.2 IP, allowed only four hits and three walks, while striking out eight lackluster Twins hitters. On the other side of the bump,Carl Pavano (5.1 IP 7 H) was on tonight as well. Despite winning the game, the Blue Jays left 25 men on base, including J.P. Arencibia, who left six men on, while going hitless in four at bats.
Twin Ghosts
Jason Kubel ( 0-4, 3 LOB) and the rest of the Twins left 12 men on-base.
Delmon Young went 1-4 as he was just activated today, while Rene Tosoni was optioned back to AAA Rochester.
Flying The Twin Cities
Jose Bautista went 3-4, HR, R, BB, RB
Juan Rivera knocked in a run, stole a base and notched two hits on the night
Rockies 12 Padres 7
WP:Jorge De La Rosa (5-1) LP: Dustin Moseley (1-5)
HR:Cameron Maybin 2 (5), Troy Tulowitzki (10)
Two teams not terribly known for the offensive prowess got together in the mountains, and with this preface, how do you suppose it went? Former Marlins prospect, Cameron Maybin (4-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI), just about had the game of his life, and yet it still wasn't enough as the hometown Rockies, sent the Pads back to their hotel rooms shaking heads
Other Padres
Ryan Ludwick 2-4, R, RBI
Rockin' Rockies
Troy Tulowitzki went 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 SB and still managed to leave 4 on.
Ryan Spilborghs went 3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI
Activated Ty Wiggington, Ian Stewart sent to AAA
White Sox 4 Athletics 3
WP: Phil Humber (3-3) LP: Brandon McCarthy (1-4) S: Sergio Santos (4)
Up until the sixth inning, Humber (6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER) had this game under control. After a three-run volt by the A's, it was the unsuccessful attempted steal of home by Coco Crisp that killed the A's rally and just about took the wind out of Oakland's sails. From there, the Chisox bullpen pitched three innings of no-hit ball, and the A's came up shy. For the A's, David Dejesus went 2-3 with an RBI, while Chicago's bottom three hitters Alex Rios (0-3, FC), Beckham (0-2, 2 BB) and Omar Vizquel (2-3), who continues his defiance of age, notched the three runs batted in for the visiting White Sox.
Dodgers 4 Diamondbacks 3
WP: Clayton Kershaw (5-3) LP: Joe Saunders (0-5) S: Kenley Jansen (1)
HR: Rod Barajas (7)
It was a signature win for the Dodgers of now. Starting pitching made the visitors look foolish and then the bullpen took over. After Kershaw (7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 11 K), who retired 14 straight batters, was removed from the game, the Dbacks, managed to fight back a bit. Unfortunately it was too little, too late, as the exciting arm of Kenley Jansen came in and cleaned up for Vincent Padilla ( 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER) for his first save of the season. Matt Kemp went 2-4 and knocked in a run. Bottom line, it was Arizona's middle three who left them out to dry.
Snakes Left In The Grass
Stephen Drew, seemingly fighting injuries all season, went 0-4 and left six men on base.
Melvin Mora 0-5, 2 K, 5 LOB
Justin Upton 0-3, 1 BB, 5 LOB
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