Dodgers 3 Angels 2
WP: Clayton Kershaw (8-3) LP: Jordan Walden (1-2)
HR: Vernon Wells (9)
SB : Dee Gordon (5)
Live by the arm, die by the arm for Donny [Mattingly] Baseball. After confidently sending Clayton Kershaw (CG, 6 H, 2 ER, 11 K) out to the mound for eight-plus innings, Kershaw gave up a left-field shot to Wells (1-4, 3 K). But, for once the Dodgers got production when Dee Gordon (0-0) came around to score the tying run on a controversial call. Much to the dismay of Jeff Mathis and the Angels, Tony Gwynn Jr. (3-5, 2 RBI) hit the game-winning single and the Dodgers earned a little Los Angeles brag with a walk-off win.
-Walden (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB) was not good, blowing his first save since May 16th and spoiling a solid effort by Jered Weaver (7 IP, ER, BB, 4 K)
Red Sox 4 Pirates 2
WP: Andrew Miller (1-0) LP: Tim Wood (0-2) S: Jonathan Papelbon (14)
SB: Jacoby Ellsbury (25), Dustin Pedroia (15)
- Bad news, the all-of-a-sudden A.L. East favorite Red Sox avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pirates. The good news is Adrian Gonzalez (2-3, 2 BB) continues his hot month of June.
- Miller (2 BB, 4 K) pitched well, lasting six innings, giving up two runs (1 ER) on five hits
- The injuries continue to be a concern for Pittsburgh's stud, is Jose Tabata, who left after legging out single.
-John McDonald's (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) pitching performance is out-shadowed by a loss and former 4th round pick out of Pepperdine, SS Chase d'Arnaud has a hit in his first two major-league games.
Tigers 8 Diamondbacks 3
WP: Al Alburguerque (5-1) LP: Aaron Heilman (4-1)
HR: Jhonny Peralta (12)
SB: Willie Bloomquist (8), Chris Young (9), Miguel Montero (1)
Both pitchers Joe Saunders (7 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 8 K) and Brad Penny (6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER) had a hold of this game, leaving the Diamondbacks up 2-1 as they went to the bottom of the eighth inning. Then Tigers began to growl, scoring seven runs to send Arizona home.
-I swear Peralta, sooner or later, I?ll REMEMBER how to spell his first name. Jhonny went 2-3, with two runs scored and 2 RBI?s
-Miguel Cabrera did his usual thing, scoring a run while going 2-4, 2 RBI (52)
-The other Miguel (Montero) went 3-4, R, RBI
-For those considering jumping on the Willy Mo Pena (0-8, 3 K) express, think again, big Will went 0-4, 2 K?s, left four men on.
Yankees 6 Rockies 4
WP: Boone Logan (2-2) LP: Matt Belisle (5-3) S: Mariano Rivera (20)
HR: Ty Wigginton 2 (12), Chris Ianetta (10), Mark Teixeira (23), Nick Swisher (9), Jorge Posada (8)
Each starter Juan Nicasio (5 IP, 4 H, BB, 2 K) and Ivan Nova (6 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K) gave up four earned runs and it came down to the bullpens. Fortunately for the Yankees, their bullpen was better today.
-Wigginton went 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
-Seven of the Yankees nine starting hitters had a base-hit
Royals 6 Cubs 3
WP: Luke Hochevar (5-8) LP: Randy Wells (1-2) S: Joakim Soria (13)
The Cubs have a way of helping a pitcher who needs confidence. Hochevar (5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K was barely effective got a bit of help. Last people that care at this point are Cubs fans, as they've now fallen claim to the Royals, just like their N.L. Central counterpart, the Cardinals. Wells (2 BB, 2 K) certainly didn't help the situation, giving up all six Royals runs on ten hits.
-Jeff Francouer went 3-4, RBI
-Three other Royals (Eric Hosmer, Melky Cabrera, Alex Gordon) each had two hits and a run scored.
-The Cubs one guaranteed thing Starlin Castro, extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Phillies 3 Athletics 1
WP: Roy Halladay (10-3) LP: Josh Outman (3-2)
SB: Ryan Howard (1)
- Halladay (CG, 8 H, ER, 4 K) was good but Jimmy Rollins was great, going 4-4, 2 R
-Conor Jackson broke out of his mini-slump (1-12), nabbing his second three-hit game of the month.
-The A's pitching wasn't too shabby; Outman (2 BB, 4 K) yielded eight hits, allowing only three earned runs over six innings. Brad Ziegler (BB, K) went 2 innings, gave up two hits and no runs.
Blue Jays 5 Cardinals 0
WP: Ricky Romero (7-7) Kyle McClellan (6-4)
HR: J.P. Arencibia (11)
SB: Juan Rivera (3)
Halladay who? After nearly getting taken out by a hit back to the mound, Romero (CG, SHO, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K) regained his composure and made easy work out of Pujols-less lineup.
-McClellan (3 BB, 4 K) went went five and a third innings, giving up five earned runs on eight hits
-Yunel Escobar went 2-4 with a walk and an RBI
-Juan Rivera also went 2-4
Nationals 2 White Sox 1
WP: Livan Hernandez (5-8) LP: Phil Humber (7-4) S:Drew Storen (19)
HR: Danny Espinoza (14)
The Nationals are 17-7 and all anyone can talk about is their new manager. Odd times for the Nats indeed. Meanwhile, all Ozzie has to say on his Twitter is complaints about traffic. With all sorts of turmoil, being out-hit by the Sox 8-3, the Nationals still managed to steal a win and take two of three of Chicago. Ultimately they go into Monday with a terrific baseball man (Davey Johnson .557) taking the helm.
-Both starters Hernandez (8 H, ER, 2 BB, 9 K) and Humber (3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) were solid and lasted six and two-thirds of an inning
-Neither bullpen gave up a hit, including an impressive 2.1 IP line by Chris Sale (3 K)
-More bad news for White Sox fans, John Danks (oblique) goes to the disabled list.
Padres 4 Braves 1
WP: Mike Adams (3-1) LP: Jonny Venters S: Heath Bell (20)
SB: Jason Bartlett (15), Chris Denorfia (6)
Goose eggs until the eighth when Jordan Schafer (1-4) knocked in husky Eric Hinske from first base. This only awoke the sleeping Padres, as the flood gates opened in bottom of the inning after a Venters error. Both Tim Hudson (6 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 8 K) and Cory Luebke (5 IP, H, 2 BB, 6 K) pitched well, but didn't stick around long enough to factor in the decision. The Braves were two-hit as the Padres pick-up the weekend series.
-It was not a pretty afternoon for Venters (0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB), whose misplayed groundball opened the aforementioned flood gates.
Cameron Maybin (2-3) is 6-14 in his last four games.
Mets 8 Rangers 5
WP: Dillon Gee (8-1) LP: Derek Holland (6-3)
HR: Michael Young (7)
SB: Jose Reyes (28)
-Daniel Murphy (3-4, 2 R, RBI) has nine hits in last 18 plate appearances.
-Gee (6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K) has a solid effort in the Texas heat, while trade chip closer Francisco Rodriguez walked one, gave up two earned runs on two hits in a non-save situation
-Meanwhile, Reyes (4-5, 3 R, 3B, RBI) the Mets other trading chip has continued to increase his value
-Neither team played a sparkling game, defensively. The Mets use a four-run second inning against Derek Holland (6 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 3 ER) and don't look back, stealing a series from the A.L. Champion Rangers.
Rays 14 Astros 10
WP: J.P. Howell (1-1) LP: Wilton Lopez (1-4)
HR:Jeff Keppinger (2), Matt Downs (6), Evan Longoria 2 (9), B.J. Upton (11)
SB: Michael Bourn (33)
It was a tough day to be a pitcher, and even tougher day to be a Tampa Rays fan. Yes, they won, but the Rays and B.J. Upton may be tearing up as they pull away from Houston. The Astros tried to hang in there, but a five-RBI day from Longoria (4-6, 3 R) and four-hit day from [yet-another] Johnny Damon was too much.
-Carlos Lee went 2-4 with 3 RBI
-Dallas Baptist product Ben Zobrist (3-5) scored four times and knocked in one
-Longoria is 8-12 since ditching the batting gloves, who knew?
-Upton went 2-5 (4 RBI, BB) has a homerun in three straight games.
-Keppinger (3-3, 3 R) has a hit in 22 of his 27 games played this season
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-Neither Jeff Niemann (3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 K) nor J.A. Happ (5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 8 K) were very effective.
Orioles 7 Reds 5
WP: Jeremy Guthrie (3-9) LP: Homer Bailey (3-2) S: Kevin Gregg (14)
HR: Brandon Phillips (6), Ramon Hernandez (8), Derrek Lee (6), Luke Scott (9), Mark Reynolds (14)
Two teams with a hack-attack type ball-park and lineup faced off this weekend and kept things at a much more calmed paced than I expected to see in Camden Yards. Regardless of the score. Aroldis Chapman made his return to a major-league mound yesterday, striking out the side. Perhaps in a test of endurance, or maybe just out of plain need, Dusty Baker went to him again today. Chapman (1 IP, H, R, BB, 2 K) was not as effective today as, and though it wasn't the winning run he gave up it certainly didn't help things. Regardless, Chapman has five strikeouts in two innings of work thusfar.
-Again, neither starter was the key to this game. Bailey (9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) went five innings, while Guthrie (4 BB, 5 K) managed to scatter six hits and four runs over five and two thirds.
-Nick Markakis went 3-5 with 2 RBI
-Another former 4th round California University (Cal State Fullerton) product, 2B Blake Davis is making a name for himself this weekend. Davis went 4-10 in the series against Cincy.
-Four Reds hitters (Chris Heisey, Brandon Phillips, Ramon Hernandez, Miguel Cairo) had two hits today's in the loss
Brewers 6 Twins 2
WP: Chris Narveson (5-5) LP: Carl Pavano (5-6)
HR: Ryan Braun (16)
SB: Jason Repko (3), Ryan Braun (17), Yuniesky Betancourt 2 (2)
It's been a tumultuous couple of weeks for the Twins. After winning six straight, the Twins have now lost Justin Morneau (neck) and five games in a row. As for the Brew Crew, can anyone say 40/40, cause that's what Braun (1-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) may do while leading Milwaukee back to the playoffs. Narveson (6.2 IP, 2 BB, 7 K) pitched solidly allowing only two earned runs on five hits
-Pavano (2 BB, 7 K) allowed five earned runs on eight hits in six innings (103 pitches).
-Jonathan Lucroy (2-3, BB, 2 R, RBI) and Betancourt (3-4, R) will also be a huge crank if Milwaukee is to take the N.L. Central
-Tsuyoshi Nishioka went 2-4 in the loss.
Giants 3 Indians 1
WP: Madison Bumgarner (4-9) LP:Fausto Carmona (4-10) S: Jeremy Affeldt (2)
SB: Bill Hall (2)
After an outing like his last, who thought for a second a blue-chipper like Bumgarner (7 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 11 K) would go out and have another like that. Bumgarner was terrific as he took on a sliding Indians squad. Not surprisingly, Carmona (6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) put up a fairly good line against a light-hitting Giants offense.
-Pablo Sandoval (2-3), only a week-or-so separated from the disabled-list, left the game after hustling out a play.
-Chris Stewart (1-3, BB, 2 RBI) ends up with the game-winning RBI
-Each of the Cabrera's (Orlando Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera) had two hits each
Mariners 2 Marlins 1
WP: David Pauley (5-1) LP: Randy Choate (0-1) S:Brandon League (21)
SB:Mike Stanton (1)
Wouldn't ya know it, I switch to Sunday and because of a scheduling conflict, Mariners fans, got a preemptive 83rd game. Of course that means, I end up staying up till 1 a.m.Covering a game should've been over by 5 pm EST. Beneficial however, as my recently picked up can't-miss prospect, Dustin Ackley (3-5, R, K) is what sends me to bed with his third hit and eventually comes around to score the game-winning run.
-Anibal Sanchez (6 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 6 K) pitched very well
-Mike Stanton went 2-4
-Two M's( Ichiro Suzuki, Brendan Ryan) each had two hits as well
-Justin Smoak went 0-5 (2 K)