Giants 3 Reds 2
WP: Brian Wilson (5-1) LP: Jose Arrendondo (0-1)
With a 2-0 series lead in what could be a playoff premiere, the Giants forget about all the injuries, Posey and now Freddy Sanchez in tonight's game? Last night, the Giants found themselves down again, yet walked-off again, on a Nate Schierholtz pinch-hit-single. Andres Torres (0 AB, 2 BB, R) and the Giants were cinderella's again. Both Travis Wood (8 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) and Ryan Vogelsong (6 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 6 K) kept their team in the game, till the late night ghosts took over. Brandon Phillips went 3-5 with a run scored. Each of Cody Ross (2-4, BB), Miguel Tejada (2-3, 2 BB, R, RBI), Aubrey Huff (2-4) and Aaron Roward (2-4, BB) had two hits.
Rangers 9 Twins 3
WP: C.J. Wilson (7-3) Brian Duensing (3-6)
After getting hosed on a few calls last night, the Rangers need to prove once again, they can man-handle the Central in a four-game series. Elvis Andrus (1-5, R), .452 in six games previous, is now 9-13 with men at third and less than two outs. Rangers are 20-8 with Nelson Cruz (0-5, 5 LOB) and Josh Hamilton (1-4, 3 LOB) in the line-up. It appears that the rain brought the Rangers offensive confidence in the top of the 2nd inning. Cruz's seven homers in his last thirteen games may have added juice to batting around. Forty-five Duensing (2 IP, 7 ER) pitches later, the Rangers grabbed a seven-run lead. Not one home run -- all singles, doubles and attentive two-out-base-running-- gave the Rangers a game deciding inning. The clouds dried out after that....Nothing dry about Michael Young's (3-5, 3 RBI, R) night. It was the Rangers 8th five or more runs scored inning this season. Adrian Beltre went 2-4 (R, 2 RBI) This was the first win at Target Field (2010) for the Texas Rangers.
Mets 8 Pirates 1
WP: Dillon Gee (7-0) LP: Charlie Morton (6-3)
HR: Jose Reyes (2)
Two very proud but questionable organizations met tonight with the series tied at two games a piece. It was in the 4th, where the Mets put up a five-spot. Lucas Duda (1-4, R, 2 RBI, K, 2 LOB) up from Triple-A may have earned a spot a tomorrow. Jose Tabata is back to his old ways, went 3-4 with a run scored. For the last week or so, the Mets starting pitching was flat out dependable, as Gee (8 IP, 8 H, ER, 5 K) went eight innings, allowing one earned run, striking five and walking none. Gee also made quite the no-look snag, you may want to peak that out. Tim Byrdak (1 IP, H, K), came in for the non-statistical save, and hasn't let up a Mets run in six appearances. Jose Reyes (3-5, 2 R, RBI) continues his hot streak as other teams shop his performance. Six-game hitting streak by .329 hitter Ruben Tejada (9-18). Mets catcher Josh Thole (.249) had his fifth three-hit game this season and seven hits in his last five games.
Phillies 7 Cubs 5
WP: Roy Halladay (9-3), LP: Carlos Zambrano (5-3), S: Antonio Bastardo (2)
HR: Placido Polanco (4), Domonic Brown (2)
Both teams were salivating going into this series. After the Cubs sneaked out a 4-3 win in the 11th inning last night, they had Crazy Z on the mound. Just five days disconnected from his comments about his teams play ?embarassing play?... have a read at this guy talking to his kids about Zambrano(6.1, 7 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 5 K), who geeked his way out of a one run first. Halladay (7 IP, 6 H, 9 K) seemed on command and dominant, striking out four of his first 6 batters. Exactly like last night, the Phillies jumped to an early three-run lead. Another team to bat-around,the cubbies killed Jose Contreras (2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB)and J.C. Romero. Jeff Samarzdja (1 IP, 2 K) came in and shut things down for the Cubs. Next it was fresh face Antonio Bastardo who came in for the Phils and struck out the last batter for his second save. Starlin Castro (2-5, K, 4 LOB) and Kosuke Fukudome (2-4, BB, K). It was rookie second baseman, Darwin Barney who went 0-4, strike-out twice and left five men on base
Royals 4 Angels 2
WP: Jeff Francis (3-6) LP: Ervin Santana (3-6) S: Joakim Soria (9)
HR: Melky Cabrera (9), Billy Butler (6)
Despite the fact that both teams are under .500 ball, Friday's game between the Angels and Royals was more exciting than it's been since the Royals glory days back in the 80's. For the second time this season, the Royals have tapped their Triple-A Omaha for a spark. Third baseman Mike Moustakas (1-3, BB, R) was called up and K.C. headed to Anaheim with 5-2 series lead. Moustakas is slated to be an everyday player. More impressive is Jeff Francis' performance tonight. Truth be told it was Alcides Escobar (2-4, RBI) and Melky Cabrera (2-4, R, 2 RBI, SB) that meant the most to royal blue. Joakim Soria (1 IP, 2 K) closed out his second save in two nights. The only Angels player in the starting line up NOT to register a hit was Mike Trumbo (0-4, 2 K, 2 LOB).
Mariners 3 Tigers 2
WP: Chris Ray (3-1) Brad Penny (5-5), S: Brandon League (18)
HR: Justin Smoak(11), Carlos Peguero (5), Victor Martinez (6)
Outside of a two-out two-run homer by Martinez, Eric Bedard (5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and Brad Penny (7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER) are both pitchers positively on their way back to SP fantasy stardom. Chris Ray (2 K) went a strong two innings of no-hit ball for the win. Chone Figgins is picking up, going four for his last 11 at-bats. This is not the type of hitter to stay down for an entire season. (Mariners lead 5-3)
Orioles 7 Rays 0
WP: Jake Arrieta (8-3) :LP: Jeremy Hellickson (7-4)
HR: J.J. Hardy (6) Nick Markakis (5)
No, Erik Bedard didn't continue his dominance as of late, but three hits, two earned runs, three walks and six K's got him through five innings tonight. The Rays entered this series, 5-4 against the Orioles, so I went with the percentages and I had the wrong arm in this game. No, I'm not gonna drop Hellickson (5.2, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) for Arrieta, but I knew his skills, residing in Plano, Texas. Bottom line, Hellickson made one large mistake to the hot/cold Markakis (2-5, R). Arrieta (7 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K) on the other hand did nothing wrong. Andy Sonnanstine also pitched an inning of ball, allowing three hits and two runs. Pretty much, the top of the order sped things up, going 6-12, Hardy (2-2, 3 R 2 RBI, 2 BB) and Adam Jones (2-5).
Brewers 8 Cardinals 0
WP: Chris Narveson (3-4) LP: Kyle Lohse (7-3)
HR: Ryan Braun (14) , Corey Hart (6)
Hart (1-4) loves his Friday nights, and Narveson ( 8 IP, 6 H, BB, 6 K) was just plain on tonight. Craig Counsell (3-3, BB 3 RBI), Nyjer Morgan (2-3, 2 RBI) and Richie Weeks (2-5, R, RBI each managed at least two hits, leading the brew crew to a strong home win. Narveson (8 IP, 6 H) was the key, and that douche in my league that traded Cargo for Lohse (5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, K) really sees the reason why I rejected it. Can you believe this trade made it through in my league? Regardless, it was Narveson who walked only one and struck-out six. You want to officially add to your watch list and consider for uphill gap points if all goes right.
Yankees 11 Indians 7
WP: Ivan Nova (5-4) LP: Fausto Carmona (3-8)
HR: Curtis Granderson (19) , Carlos Santana (7), Alex Rodriguez (12)
After getting swept by their long-time rivals and finding out Joba Chamberlin has a torn ligament in his throwing arm, surely the Yankees would fight harder. Nine more hits for Jeter and the 3,000 buzz is over, I think this may unlock his inhibitions. Buy low? The big show tonight, was Joe Girardi and Manny Acta shared some mid-field feist when Mark Teixeira was hit with a Carmona brush back, immediately after Curtis Granderson's 19th HR of the season. Robinson Cano (R), Jorge Posada each had three hits. For good reason, the Yankees have been HBP 32 times this season, second most in the majors.
Red Sox 5 Blue Jays 1
WP: Clay Buchholz (5-3) LP: Jo-Jo Reyes (2-5)
Heading in a different direction than the Yankees, the Red Sox, have a legitimate chance of staying with Toronto. As long as the Buchholz (7 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K) keeps pitching this way, the Red Sox will stay afloat with the new leaders of the east. It's now 4-3 series lead going to the Red Sox. Jo-Jo Reyes (6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) winning streak was stopped at one of course. Jacoby Ellsbury (3 R) and Dustin Pedroia (R, BB, RBI) who just returned to the lineup, each collected three hits. Only Corey Patterson (2-3, R), Jose Bautista (1-4, K) and Adam Lind (1-4, 3 K) managed a Blue Jays hit agains their division rival.
Marlins 6 Diamondbacks 4
WP: Anibal Sanchez (6-1) LP: Joe Saunders (3-6) S: Steve Cishek (1)
HR: Miguel Montero (7), Xavier Nady (2), Logan Morrison (8), Mike Stanton (15), John Buck (7)
Neither pitcher was over dominant, as Sanchez (6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 8 K) and Saunders (6 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, BB, 3 K) but both kept the game close. Although the babybacks scored all four of their runs in the top of the seventh and made this a 5-4 game, the Marlins tacked on an insurance run, not to be bitten again. Mike Stanton went 2-4, 2 RBI, with a run scored. Stephen Drew went 2-4, RBI with a run scored
Braves 11 Astros 4
Tim Hudson (5-5) Aneury Rodriguez (0-4)
HR: Chipper Jones (6), Freddie Freeman (6), Alex Gonzalez (7), Eric Hinske (7), Matt Downs (4)
With a 2-0 series lead for the Braves and more damaging for the Astros, Hunter Pence (1-2), left the game early due to a back strain. The strain, according to Brad Mills, came on during batting practice today, and stiffened during the game. As for the Braces, their 3-5 hitters went 8-15, including Chipper Jones 3-5 (3 R, 2 RBI) and Freddie Freeman (3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI). Matt Young has four hits in has last 11 trips to the plate.
Athletics 7 White Sox 5
WP: Grant Balfour (4-1) LP: Sergio Santos (2-3) S: Andrew Bailey (1)
HR: Paul Konerko (16)
Regardless of how Chicago's been hitting, they've managed -much like the rest of the A.L.- how to beat Oakland. Though you wouldn't know that from the 4-3 series lead. Graham Godfrey?You still have Kevin Kouzmanoff? He was sent to Triple-A today...Scott Sizemore (3-4, BB 3 RBI) just picked up from Detroit recently, notched the game-winning double to center in the top of the ninth inning.
Rockies 6 Dodgers 5
WP: Jhoulys Chacin (7-4) Chad Billingsley (5-5), S: Huston Street (19)
HR: Matt Kemp (19) , Troy Tulowitzki (12)
All inter-division wins are important if the Dodgers are to be a apart of the wild wild west in September. Dee Gordon went 2-4 with 2 K's. Hey, looking for a real standout? Chacin went eight innings, scattering three hits, three walks and striking out nine batters, with Chacin the Rockies had full control. Then their bullpen took over and you see the result of that move. Yikes, trailing 2-5 in this season series, can the Dodgers get anything right? Billingsley (4.2 IP, 13 H, 6 ER) certainly didnt.
Nationals 2 Padres 1
WP: Jason Marquis (7-2) LP: Mat Latos (4-7) S: Drew Storen (13)
HR: Michael Morse (10)
Rookie third baseman and Padres young offensive spark Anthony Rizzo (0-1, 2 BB), made his first error in the field and San Diego is still fighting. Nationals bright spot this year, 4-1 series lead. Regardless of whether this is a low offense, or high defense and pitching series, these should be tight games the rest of the weekend. Mat Latos (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) made one simple mistake, the aforementioned homer above. Unfortunately for Latos, Marquis (6 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 K) was just a little more in command.
On the mend?
Brandon Hicks was called up to replace Martin Prado (staph infection)
Hanley Ramirez went 2-3 with an RBI, run scored at High-A Jupiter
News is Joe Mauer will be back Tuesday
Dustin Moseley is day-to-day
Denard Span put on the newly created, seven day D.L. for a concussion.
Freddy Sanchez played a ball up the middle and appeared to have injured his throwing wrist or hand, he did not return.