Notables:
- Mark Teahen went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
- Clay Buchholz allowed just one run over six innings to defeat the Rays, striking out eight. He has strung together three excellent starts in a row.
- Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz both remained on fire, each homering against the Rays on Monday night.
- The Reds hit into five double plays against the Pirates, preventing them from blowing the Bucs out.
- Aaron Harang has already given up 11 homers this season.
- Orlando Cabrera went 3-for-3 with a walk, run scored, RBI and a stolen base.
- Ronny Cedeno is now 7-for-19 with three of his four homers against the Reds this season.
- Brett Cecil threw a second gem on this road trip, once again pitching without his goggles, which he accidentally left behind before the trip started. He threw 7.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks to beat the Angels.
- Joe Saunders issued five of the eight walks allowed by Angels pitchers on Monday.
Save Chance:
- Francisco Cordero, converted (15). Pitching for the fourth time in five days, Cordero needed just 13 pitches despite giving up a hit and striking out a batter. Nick Masset has now had two days off after pitching four days in a row, so in a pinch he might get used more on Tuesday.
Other Closer Outings:
- Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth while protecting a five-run lead, striking out one and allowing one hit.
Non-Closer Outings
- Sergio Santos/Matt Thornton/J.J. Putz all pitched with John Danks lasting only five innings. Santos pitched the sixth, Thornton the seventh and Putz the eighth. Is the order in which they pitched at all indicative of what might happen if Bobby Jenks gets traded? If so, maybe Putz should be at the top of your closer-in-waiting list.
Lineup-o-logy:
- Omar Vizquel got a chance to soak in the love from the Indians' fan base and started at shortstop, going 2-for-5.
- Jacoby Ellsbury went 0-for-5 in the leadoff spot.
- Carlos Pena was dropped to seventh in the order even with a righty on the mound, and B.J. Upton hit eighth.
- Delwyn Young started in place of Andy LaRoche (back) at third and hit three doubles.
- Brandon Wood was benched again in favor of Kevin Frandsen.
- David Purcey has replaced Dana Eveland on the roster and probably ultimately in the rotation for when the Jays next need a fifth starter.
Tough Days:
- For perhaps the first time this year, we saw all of Justin Masterson's downside without the strikeouts payoff. He gave up nine hits, two walks and three wild pitches to allow five runs over four innings without striking out a single batter. If there's a redeeming note, it's that he still induced a lot of grounders, and only two of his hits allowed were for extra bases.
- Wade Davis couldn't get out of the fourth inning against the Red Sox, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks. He gave up one of the two homers hit by the Red Sox.
- The epic battle for the Pirates' fifth starter job between Brian Burres and Jeffrey Karstens remains unresolved - both stunk on Monday, though Karstens at least didn't walk anyone.
Injuries:
- Victor Martinez left after a foul tip went off his left big toe while catching in the second inning. He was replaced by a pinch-runner in the third.
- Mike Cameron (abdominal strain) will come off the DL on Tuesday.
- Steven Pearce left with an ankle injury. Jeff Clement replaced him at first base.
Stolen Bases
- Alexis Rios (14); Orlando Cabrera (6).
Home Runs:
- Alexis Rios (9); Kevin Youkilis (10); David Ortiz (9); Carlos Pena (8); Ronny Cedeno (4); Drew Stubbs (5).