Notables:

- Javier Vazquez got his first win in a home start this year (his other win at home came in a one-out relief appearance), holding the Orioles to one run on four hits over seven innings. Meanwhile, Brian Matusz broke his string of bad outings but still got another tough luck loss, giving up two unearned runs thanks to a Miguel Tejada throwing error (one that might have been caught by a more skilled defensive first baseman than Ty Wigginton).
- Jake Westbrook was at his typical best on Tuesday, inducing 13 ground ball outs against the Tigers. Because of those grounders, he was able to hold them to one run despite striking out just one.
- Chris Coghlan had three extra-base hits in his five at-bats.
- Cole Hamels only pitched two-thirds of an inning due to a rain delay in the first inning, but still managed to allowed a Troy Glaus homer.
- Victor Martinez went 5-for-5 with four doubles against the A's. The two teams combined for 27 hits in the game. John Lackey got the win despite giving up 12 hits and two walks over six innings. Gio Gonzalez gave up seven hits and four walks in his five innings of work, but allowed just three runs in getting a no-decision. Tyson Ross walked the only two hitters he faced, and both came around to score.
- Joey Votto returned after missing six games with a sore neck and went 4-for-5 with a homer, triple and two singles. Scott Rolen homered twice against his former team.
- Brett Myers had a 10 strikeouts and gave up just one earned run in seven innings, but got a no-decision when the Astros' bullpen fell apart.
- Lance Berkman had a big error, but also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with 5 RBI.
- The Rangers pounded out 19 hits against Mark Buehrle (who allowed 12 of those hits over 5.1 innings) and the White Sox bullpen. Rich Harden got the win, but he wasn't much better, lasting just five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out only one.
- Mike Pelfrey won't always get you strikeouts, but he did on Tuesday, K'ing eight while allowing just one run eight innings.
- Jason Vargas lowered his ERA to 2.92 by limiting the Twins to one run over seven innings.

Save Chances:

- Mariano Rivera, converted (11). One hit allowed, no K's or BB's.
- Kerry Wood, converted (3). Wood gave up an unearned run after getting the first two batters out. Carlos Guillen reached on an error before Wood gave up a walk and a run-scoring single, before he finally retired the third batter.
- Octavio Dotel, converted (12). Two strikeouts in a perfect ninth. Five of Dotel's 12 saves have come against the Cubs.
- Rafael Soriano, converted (15). Soriano gave up an unearned run on a Vernon Wells double that was |STAR|this|STAR| close to being a home run, then got out of it on a Jose Bautista line out to left.
- Kevin Gregg, blown (badly) (3). Gregg allowed four runs on a whopping five walks and a bases-clearing double by Sean Rodriguez. Gregg also threw a wild pitch, and got ejected when complaining about the strike zone after he had already been removed from the game.
- Leo Nunez, converted (11). One strikeout and one hit allowed.
- Billy Wagner, converted (8). This was a one-out save with a four-run lead, because the Phillies had the tying run on-deck.
- Matt Lindstrom, blown (2). Lindstrom retired only one batter, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks.
- Matt Capps, blown (2). A rare error by Ryan Zimmerman started the inning, but Capps also gave up two hits, including the game-winner by Lance Berkman.
- Joakim soria, converted (13). Scoreless inning, two strikeouts.
- Neftali Feliz, converted (14). Feliz loaded the bases with a hit and two walks allowed, but worked his way out of it, striking out one in the process.
- Francisco Cordero, converted (16). Cordero gave up a leadoff single to David Freese but then induced a double play off the bat of John Jay.
- Francisco Rodriguez, converted (10). After giving up three hits and a run, K-Rod struck out the last two hitters to end the game.
- Manuel Corpas, converted (5). He should be able to hold off Franklin Morales until Huston Street returns from the DL.

Other Closer Outings:

- Carlos Marmol got the last out of the eighth with a strikeout.
- Jose Contreras got the final two outs in the eighth inning, with the Phillies' bullpen getting stretched thin. Brad Lidge could be closing soon.

Non-Closer Outings

- For at least one night, Joba Chamberlain righted the ship, turning in a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth.
- Pitching in a tie game in the seventh inning, Trevor Hoffman gave up three runs on three hits and two walks. John Axford's unstated role as the closer just got more secure.
- Blake Wood picked up his fourth hold for the Royals after getting a midseason callup. The 0.84 ERA looks attractive and he's pitching in an important role, but he also has just two strikeouts in 10.2 innings so far.
- Juan Gutierrez just can't get out of the way of hurting the Diamondbacks, giving up Matt Kemp's walk-off homer in the 10th inning.

Lineup-o-logy:

- Xavier Nady picked up a spot start in place of Derrek Lee at first base and went 4-for-4 while batting third. That wasn't the only change in the lineup on Tuesday. Tyler Colvin was in for Marlon Byrd, Mike Fontenot was in for Ryan Theriot (again), Jeff Baker was in for Aramis Ramirez (though his absence was due to injury) and Koyie Hill was in for Geovany Soto. These other replacements went a combined 1-for-13.
- With Jason Bartlett still out, B.J. Upton moved up to the leadoff spot. Gabe Kapler got a start in RF with the Rays facing lefty Brian Tallet.
- Jim Edmonds came off the DL and started in center field, batting seventh. Manager Ken Macha batted catcher George Kottaras (.411 OBP this year) in the No. 2 spot in the order.
- Both Julio Borbon and Justin Smoak were out of the lineup with the Rangers facing lefty Mark Buehrle. Smoak later pinch-hit and ended up homering in the ninth to give the Rangers an insurance run.

Injuries:

- Mark Teixeira left after fouling a ball off his foot, but said after the game that he should be able to play on Wednesday. Juan Miranda replaced him after the injury.
- Placido Polanco was kept out of the lineup after receiving a pain-killing injection for his elbow.
- Mike Cameron was scratched due to ab soreness. He's going to see a specialist on Wednesday after having an MRI on Tuesday. Right now a trip back to the DL isn't planned.
- Felipe Lopez left with a bruised thumb and was replaced by Brendan Ryan.

Stolen Bases

- Andrew McCutchen (13); Lastings Milledge (4); B.J. Upton (16); Hanley Ramirez (7); Cameron Maybin (5); Jason Heyward (4); Rajai Davis (23); Bobby Abreu (9); Omar Vizquel (1); David Wright (10); James Loney (7); Delmon Young (3); Chone Figgins (11).

Caught Stealing:

- Jose Reyes (2); Jeff Francoeur (1) - after throwing out only 20|PERCENT| of opposing baserunners last year, the Padres' Nick Hundley has nailed 45|PERCENT| (10 of 22) this year; Nick Hundley (4) - unfortunately, he needs to start running a little less often as well; Miguel Olivo (2).

Home Runs:

- Corey Patterson (3); Curtis Granderson (3); Shin-Soo Choo (8); Russell Branyan (7); Neil Walker (1); Garrett Jones (7); Xavier Nady (3); Fred Lewis (4); John Buck (9); Prince Fielder (8); Corey Hart (14); Chris Coghlan (3); Ryan Howard (9); Troy Glaus (9); Daric Barton (4); Adrian Beltre (6); Hunter Pence (9); Maicer Izturis (2); Jose Guillen (12); Justin Smoak (5); Carlos Quentin (6); Joey Votto (11); Scott Rolen 2 (12,13); Colby Rasmus (8); John Jay (1); Ike Davis (6); David Wright (9); Matt Kemp (11); Justin Morneau (12); Jose Lopez (3); Andres Torres (3).

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures:

- I know that the Diamondbacks are finding new and creative ways of losing, but Dontrelle Willis? Billy Buckner is no great loss, but I'd still rather have him than Willis, straight up.