Phillies 10 Mets 3
WP: Vance Worley (1-0) Mike Pelfrey (1-3)
HR: Jason Pridie (2), Ike Davis (5), Ryan Howard 2 (6)
Ryan Howard (2-4, 6 RBI's), continued his dominance over Pelfrey (4 1/3, 4 ER) and is now 15 for 36 lifetime with three home runs. Placido Polanco (39 hits in April, Phillies club record) and Ben Francisco each two RBI's off two hits. Rookie-righty, Worley (6 IP, 2 H) who replaced Joe Blanton (right elbow), looked fairly sharp (4 BB, 5 K's) against the lackluster Queens squad. The Mets lone stud of consistency remains Ike Davis (.352) and is currently on a a career-best 11-game hitting streak.
Brad Lidge (rotator cuff strain) has reportedly been clear to begin throwing
Jose Contreras (right elbow) may begin throwing again on May 5th.
-FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week (regionally applicable)
-ESPN Sunday Night Baseball
Nationals 3 Giants 0
WP: Jason Marquis (3-0) LP: Tim Lincecum (2-3)
HR: Laynce Nix (3)
It turned into quite the marquee matchup, for Jason Marquis anyway. Marquis, who singled in Ian Desmond (3 H, five hits in last seven at bats), threw a shutout, complete game, five-hitter. Over shadowed was Tim Lincecum ( 7 IP, 3 ER, 7 K's), who bounced back from his ugly start against Atlanta. For the most part, his only mistake was to Nix (2-4). Can't miss blue-chipper Wilson Ramos, makes N.C. for a second Friday in a row, going 1-3 (1 R), now has seven hits in last 15 at bats. Aaron Rowand went 2-4, and has six hits over the last four games Utility man, Mark DeRosa went to the DL (wrist surgery), while Emmanuel Burriss 2B was called up from the minors. Burriss has 15 SB?s and is hitting .344 this for AAA Fresno.
Indians 9 Tigers 5
WP: Chris Perez (1-1) LP: Joaquin Benoit (0-1)
HR: Miguel Cabrera (6), Asdrubal Cabrera (5), Carlos Santana (4), Matt LaPorta (4)
Most, including myself, were expecting a shutout from Max Scherzer who has been quite good this season. I'm sure even Scherzer (6 H, 5 ER, 7 K's, 5 BB) is feeling quite lucky he walked away with a no-decision. The big problem for Detroit has been Benoit, who has been atrocious, allowing six runs (5 ER, 5 H) over his last two outings, registering only two outs. Jeanmar Gomez replaced Carlos Carrasco (right elbow) again, only he took the ball in the first inning this time. Gomez struck out four, walked none and scattered 10 hits over 5 and 2/3 of inning. Will Rhyme killed the Tigers tonight, leaving five runners on base. Asdrubal Cabrera hit the game-tying home-run tonight in the seventh.
Shelly Duncan went 2-4, with two RBIs
Grady Sizemore (2 R) has 12 hits during his current seven-game hitting streak.
Although he hit the walk-off slam heard round Friday night, Carlos Santana still managed to leave three-on-base.
Travis Hafner (ankle) who has hit safely in 18 of his 21 games this season sat out for the second-straight night.
Blue Jays 5 at Yankees 3
WP: Ricky Romero (2-3) LP: Freddy Garcia (1-1) S Jon Rauch (5)
HR: Jose Bautista (9), J.P. Arencibia (4), Robinson Cano 2 (8)
It's a game of inches, and Romero (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K) was only able to handle the Yanks tonight after he barely escaped a line drive by Mark Teixiera. Garcia (3 ER), allowed his first three runs this season, went only five innings, walking five batters and striking out six. Yunel Escobar was back in the lineup on Friday, extending his hitting streak to five games.Centerfielder Rajai Davis had a big hit in the sixth, in his first game back. Yankees catcher, Francisco Cervelli was called back up to the big club while the Blue Jays, Travis Snider LF and Chris Woodward DH were sent to the minors.
-MLB on TBS (Sunday afternoon game)
Marlins 7 Reds 6
WP: Javier Vazquez (2-2) LP: Travis Wood (1-3) S: Leo Nunez (8)
HR: John Buck (2), Jay Bruce (4), Jeremy Hermida (1)
Despite a five run spot in the first by the Marlins, Wood who pitched less than four innings, did manage to hang around. Though he didn't good stuff and allowed 8 H, 7 ER, you have to respect the moxy tonight. I suppose more attention should go to Javier Vasquez (1 RBI) who managed two hits at the plate, made his early five-run 1st inning lead stick. On the rubber, Vasquez allowed four earned runs, walking (3) as many as he struck out over six innings. Go back to the winter meetings of 2010. If I told you one of the most productive closers in the first month of baseball would be Leo Nunez, you would have scoffed at me. Well, the scoffers, perhaps took a point Friday night as Nunez (1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER), squeaked out, striking out Jay Bruce for his eighth save of the month. The Marlins (16-8) are off to their best start in franchise history.
Hanley Ramirez 2-5, had two RBIs
Gaby Sanchez went 2-3
Mike Stanton went 0-4 and left four runners-on-base
Emilio Bonifacio had a double and a triple tonight
Mariners 5 Red Sox 4
WP: Jason Vargas (1-2) LP: Bobby Jenks (1-2) S: Brandon League (6)
HR: Mike Cameron 2 (2)
It wasn't a quality start, and even Vargas himself would like to forget about two of Mike Cameron's four at bats tonight, but Jason Vargas showed his quality side tonight, scattering eight Red Sox hits, and striking out four. Daisuke Matsuzaka (4 IP, 1 ER, 4 K, 4 BB) left in the fifth with a tight elbow. According to Terry Francona, relax. ?I think we think he?s going to be OK for his next start?. Different color sox, time zone and Bobby Jenks (1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER) is still a declining (8.64 ERA) relief pitcher. Milton Bradley went 0-5 and left four runners on base, but the Mariners still managed to steal one from the streaky sawx.
Justin Smoak, 1-4 (2 RBI's), had his three-game homerun streak come to an end.
Chone Figgins went 2-4, raising his average over the Mendoza line
Angels 8 Rays 5
WP: Ervin Santana (1-3) LP: David Price (3-3) S: Jordan Walden (4)
HR: Mark Trumbo (4), B.J. Upton (3), Matt Joyce (1)
Everyone knew Ben Zobrist would be in the lineup after doubleheader, 10 RBI day. Zobrist went a mere 1-3 with a walk and a stolen base in the Rays loss on Friday. Question is, how would David Price do against an Angels team who has lost five of their last seven games. It didn't come out well for Price (12 H -career-high-, 5 ER) and the Rays, as Anaheim rocked Tampa for 17 hits in total. On the otherside, Ervin Santana had his way, allowing only one earned run (4 R) on four hits. Angels SP, Scott Kazmir will pitch next in extended spring training next week. Bobby Abreu went 3-4 and Mark Trumbo went 2-4 with 4 RBI's Joel Pineiro will make his first start of the season tomorrow
FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week (regionally applicable)
Cardinals 5 Braves 3
WP: Eduardo Sanchez (1-0) LP: Cory Gearrin (0-1) S: Trever Miller (1)
HR: Jason Heyward (1), Nate McLouth (1)
Forget about the ten hits Carpenter gave up tonight, forget about his 0-2 record, even forget about Jason Heyward's first inning bomb and Atlanta's two-run first-inning. Carpenter (7 IP, 3 ER) was happy to see Hudson and the Braves. Why? Cause it forced him (career 6.36 ERA against St. Louis) to dig down deep, scattering 10 hits and keeping the Cards in the game. More importantly (especially to yours truly), Craig Kimbrel (2 H, 1 ER) blew a second save in his last four opportunities. Nate McLouth (.255) had his second straight two hit start and has 13 hits in his last 11 games. Cardinals utility infielder Daniel Descalso has five RBIs in his last three games.
Dealing with enough, Mcdowell/Lowe
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-bravescoach-fan
FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week (regionally applicable)
Brewers 5 Astros 0
WP: Shaun Marcum (3-1) LP: Brett Myers (1-1)
HR: Ryan Braun (10), Prince Fielder (5), Yuniesky Betancourt (1)
Let's be honest, Brewers fans have more been paying more attention to their AAA-affiliate, Nashville. Takashi Saito (hamstring) was pulled after 2/3 of an inning last night, Manager Don Money said ?he felt a twinge?. Nyjer Morgan is also rehabbing a deep thigh bruise with the Sounds. But arguably most important, is former A.L. Cy Young award winner, Zack Greinke (2 ER, 7 H, K, 5 IP) This was Greinke's final tuneup before his first Major League start with the Brewers next Wednesday against the Braves. O' yeah, there was major league baseball to play and Shawn Marcum (7 IP, 3 H) played it beautifully. Both Braun and Fielder had two (of the team total six) hits a piece. Forget about Brett Wallace surviving the collision with Prince Fielder at first-base, he has 20 hits in his last nine games played.
Royals 4 Twins 3
WP: Blake Wood (1-0) LP: Alex Burnett S: Joakim Soria (6)
HR: Luke Hughes (1)
Twins starter Baker allowed only two runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. Royals starter Chen (3 ER) allowed just as many hits in exactly one inning less. It was former third-rounder Blake Wood, with his third straight scoreless outing, punching out two batters and walking none who got the win. Royals catcher Brayan Pena may be warming up, has four hits in his last five games. Alex Gordon got off the schnide (hitless over his last two games), registering two base knocks. Kila Ka'aihue also had two hits.
Orioles 10 White Sox 4
Jake Arrieta (3-1) John Danks (0-4)
HR: Luke Scott (4), Matt Wieters (4), A.J. Pierzynski (1), Brent Lillibridge (2)
Seeing as Ozzie Guillen's first game of his suspension was tonight, I wonder if MLB would have frowned upon him tweeting about Jake Arrieta's (5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) and the Orioles performance in his free time. Truth is, it was Danks' (6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER), Jessie Crain (3 BB) and his starting lineup's (6 hits) performance that should be bothering Guillen, rather than the umpires. At least Matt Thornton struck out two of three batters he faced tonight, huh Ozzie?Luke Scott not only gained a homerun, but robbed one in left-field as well. Despite the Orioles blasting (10 runs on 10 hits) of the White Sox, 14 men left on base has to be bothering Buck Showalter. Paul Konerko went 0-4 and left four on-base. Kansas City (13-13) has eight come-back wins this season.
Matt Wieters, went 2-5 with 4 RBI's and is 9-10 with RISP.
Pirates 3 Rockies 0
WP: Kevin Correia (4-2) Jhoulys Chacin (3-2) S: Joel Hanrahan (8)
HR: Andrew McCutchen (4), Garrett Jones (5)
Kevin Correia is turning into the Will Ferrell of major league pitching. Every other appearance has been a gem. Not to mention the Pirates (12-14) now have eight wins on the road. After a forgettable (11 H, 5 ER) loss to the Nationals last weekend, Correia (6 2/3 IP, 3 H) went out and dazzled the Rockies (Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez combined for 1-9), and made them look punchless. That's not to say opposing Rockies starter was a scrub, at Chacin threw seven strong allowing only three earned runs on six hits and eight strikeouts. But the visiting Pirates were just diligent enough, getting homers from Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones. Another closer full of suprise production in April is Pirates Joel Hanrahan (1.93), closing out a perfect 8-for-8 thusfar.
Cubs 4 Diamondbacks 2
WP: Carlos Zambrano (3-1) LP: Armando Galarraga (3-2) Carlos Marmol (6)
HR: Alfonso Soriano 2 (9), Geovany Soto (2), Justin Upton (5)
Three swings of the way, made up for three homeruns and Chicago had the W, they absolutely needed. The epitome of every other night winners, if the Cubs are to make anything of 2011, they must start to string together a winning-streak, and the baby-backs are as good as any team to begin it against. With two-homeruns tonight, you're only seeing the scratch surface of what should be an amazing season for Fonzi, should he stay healthy. The real sparklers were the starters Zambrano ( 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) and Galarraga (7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER) both registering quality starts.
Stephen Drew went 0-3, after a career-high five RBI night on Thursday.
Melvin Mora has four hits in his last eight at bats.
Athletics 3 Rangers 1
WP: Trevor Cahill (4-0) LP: C.J. Wilson (3-1) S: Brian Fuentes (7)
When a manager talks to a team before the game, surely the main concern is get on base, get some hits and let the pitching do the work. Especially when it's that manager's birthday. When Trevor Cahill (7 IP, 4 BB, 4 K) is on the mound, the pep talk has got to be different. Even thought the Rangers managed seven hits (11 total), they could only muster one run against Cahill and company. C.J. Wilson (7 IP, 8 H, 1 ER) was a hard-luck loser tonight, and his boys in blue owe him one. Additionally Josh Willingham(notes) returned from tightness in his back, which has caused him to miss the past two games and got two timely hits puttings the A's in the driver's seat for good. Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp (left quad tightness) is not expected to go on the disabled list. Kurt Suzuki went 1-4 (1 RBI) after the birth of his first child. Ron Washington is now 0-4 on his birthday. Texas is 6-10 since starting the season 9-1.
Dodgers 3 Padres 2
WP: Ted Lilly (2-2) LP: Clayton Richard (1-2) S: Jonathan Broxton (6)
HR: Matt Kemp (6), Juan Uribe (3)
The story-line is simple, Andre Ethier extends his major-league-leading, 25-game hitting streak. Aside from that, the ninth-inning was pretty damned entertaining as well. Former Padres OF, Tony Gwyn Jr., made an outstanding catch to save the game for Dodgers and Broxton.