Rays 12 - Twins 5
- Wade Davis pitched 5 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in a no-decision. He gave up 9 hits and 3 walks with 1 strikeout. Davis' whole pitch to contact (not miss bats) strategy has his K/BB ratio at 47/38 with a 4.25 ERA in 103.2 innings.
- Francisco Liriano was knocked around for 5 earned runs over 4.1 innings, also in a no-decision. He obviously didn't have his best command as he walked 4 batters and struck out 4 batters. Liriano goes into the break with a 5.06 ERA and 5-7 record.
- Evan Longoria went 3-6 with a homer, 4 RBI, and 2 runs. He singled in the go-ahead run in the 8th and then hit a 3-run homer in the 9th to put the game away for good. The third baseman is batting .243/.329/.472 on the season.
- Michael Cuddyer went 2-4 with a 2-run single and solo homer. He's hitting .294/.366/.480 as he continues to carry the Twins offense.
- Johnny Damon was hit by two pitches and eventually left the game. The x-rays on his left hand, where the 2nd HBP occurred, came back negative. He's considered day-to-day, but aren't we all?
- W: J.P. Howell (2-1), L: Alex Burnett (2-5)
- HR: Evan Longoria (11), Sean Rodriguez (4), Kelly Shoppach (5), Michael Cuddyer (13)
Royals 4 - White Sox 1
- Bruce Chen pitched 6 innings of 1-run ball with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. He had a shutout going through 5 innings, before he walked in a run in the 6th. The win pushes his record to 5-2 and his ERA to 3.26.
- Edwin Jackson gave up 4 runs over 7 innings with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk. He came into this game with a 2.49 home ERA (6.06 road ERA), but didn't pitch to it.
- Eric Hosmer went 2-4 with a solo homer. The rookie is hitting .277/.322/.442 with 8 homers and 33 RBI.
- W: Bruce Chen (5-2), L: Edwin Jackson (5-7), SV: Joakim Soria (15)
- HR: Eric Hosmer (8)
- SB: Chris Getz (15), Juan Pierre (13)
Tigers 5 - Angels 4
- Brad Penny pitched 6.1 innings and allowed 4 earned runs in a win. He staked the Angels to a 3-0 lead in the first, but their bullpen ended up blowing it. Penny has a 4.50 ERA.. what happened to that split-finger that he threw last season?
- Tyler Chatwood allowed 2 runs (unearned) over 5.1 innings with 5 walks and 3 strikeouts. He has now struck out as many batters (52) as he has walked (52) this season. Sounds like a formula for failure.
- Mark Trumbo hit his 14th homer in a 1-4 effort. The youngster is batting .255/.298/.457 this season… not bad for a rookie.
- Austin Jackson walked 4 times and saw a game high 27 pitches. For someone with a 8.6|PERCENT| walk rate, this was a bit unexpected.
- W: Brad Penny (6-6), L: Hisanori Takahashi (2-2), SV: Jose Valverde (21)
- HR: Miguel Cabrera (18), Mark Trumbo (14)
- SB: Howard Kendrick (9)
A's 2 - Mariners 0
- Guilermo Moscoso pitched 7 innings of shutout ball with 2 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts. He now has 27 strikeouts and 18 walks in 50 innings. He entered today with a .200 BABIP, not sure how long that can last.
- Jason Vargas pitched a 2-run complete game with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. It's tough to win games when your team doesn't score. He enters the break with a 6-6 record and 3.49 ERA.
- Scott Sizemore went 2-4 with a RBI single and solo shot. He's hitting .280/.356/.385 on the season.
- W: Guillermo Moscoso (3-4), L: Jason Vargas (6-6), SV: Andrew Bailey (8)
- HR: Scott Sizemore (3)
- SB: Jemile Weeks (7); CS: David DeJesus (2)
Indians 5 - Yankees 3
- Justin Masterson pitched 8 shutout innings on 3 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 6 batters in what was one of his best starts this season. He enters the break with a 2.66 ERA and 7-6 record.
- Phil Hughes made his first start since coming off the DL (shoulder). He pitched 5 innings with 2 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. His fastball sat around 91 mph, but he didn't miss many bats as he only had 2 swinging strikes.
- Lonnie Chisenhall hit his first career homer, a solo shot, in a 1-4 effort. He's hitting .267/.290/.467 in only 30 at-bats.
- Derek Jeter went 1-3 with a double and a walk as he inched a little bit closer to 3,000 hits. He's now only 3 hits away.
- W: Justin Masterson (7-6), L: Phil Hughes (0-2), SV: Chris Perez (21)
- HR: Lonnie Chisenhall (1)
- SB: Michael Brantley (11)
Red Sox 6 - Blue Jays 4
- Tim Wakefield registered a quality start with 3 earned allowed over 7 innings. He walked just 1 batter with 7 strikeouts, a season high. He's now just 2 wins shy of 200 career victories.
- Ricky Romero was torched for 6 earned runs over 4.1 innings on 9 hits and 3 walks. He gave up 2 solo homers, but the real damage was done in a 4-run fourth inning when 10 batters came to the plate. He's added about 1.5 mph to his fast ball this season.
- Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-5 with two doubles, a homer, 3 RBI, a run, and a stolen base. Odds on him finishing with 20 homers?
- Travis Snider went 2-4 with a double. That's four doubles in three games, since coming back up from the minors… must be the 'stache.
- W: Tim Wakefield (5-3), L: Ricky Romero (7-8), SV: Jonathan Papelbon (19)
- HR: Jacoby Ellsbury (10), Kevin Youkilis (12)
- SB: Jacoby Ellsbury (28); CS: Travis Snider (2)
Rangers 13 - Orioles 5
- Alexi Ogando moved to 9-3, after he pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 1 walk. He worked with a 2 run lead most of the way, until the Rangers put things away in the 5th inning. After 104.2 innings as a starter, he has a 2.92 ERA with a 78/23 K/BB ratio.
- Jeremy Guthrie allowed 6 earned runs over 5 innings on 9 hits and 3 walks for his 11th loss. A 4-run first inning was the beginning of the end for his outing. He has a 4.23 ERA, despite his poor record.
- Elvis Andrus went 4-4 with two doubles, a RBI, 3 runs, and a walk. He had one extra base hit in the last month coming into this game. He's batting .278/.330/.347 on the season.
- Michael Young went 3-4 with a double, 3 RBI, and 2 runs. He might not be a good defender, but the guy can still hit (.328/.361/.484 this season).
- W: Alexi Ogando (9-3), L: Jeremy Guthrie (3-11)
- HR: Vladimir Guerrero (7), Derrek Lee (7), Mike Napoli (11)
- SB: Endy Chavez (5); CS: Nelson Cruz (4)
Brewers 3 - Diamondbacks 1
- Yovani Gallardo held the D-Backs to 1 run over 7 innings on 4 hits and 1 walk. The lone run came in the first at-bat of the game against Kelly Jonnson. After that he was lights out as he clung to a 1-run deficit. He enters the break with a 10-5 record and 3.76 ERA.
- Josh Collementer shutout the Brewers for 6 innings with 3 hits and 1 walk. Coming into this game he had given up 19 ER in his last 22.2 innings. He enters the break with 51 strikeouts and 16 walks in 77 innings.
- Stephen Drew went 0-4 with 4 strikeouts for the Golden Sombrero. He's batting .262/.332/.410 this season.
- Casey McGehee hit a pinch-hit 3-run homer to put the Brewers ahead for good in the 7th inning. A season after batting .285/.337/.464 he's hitting .225/.276/.320. Where did all that power go?
- W: Yovani Gallardo (10-5), L: Joe Paterson (0-2), SV: John Axford (22)
- HR: Kelly Johnson (15), Casey McGehee (5)
- CS: Nyjer Morgan (3)
Nationals 5 - Cubs 4
- Tom Gorzelanny pitched 6 innings and allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits and no walks. He struck out 6 batters and gave up two 2-run homers. Coming into this game he had a 2.70 ERA at home with a 4.89 ERA on the road.
- Randy Wells also gave up two 2-run homers, but did it in 4 innings. This is the second game in which he's given up 10 hits in his last three starts. You have to wonder if he's fully over the forearm injury he suffered from earlier this season.
- Danny Espinosa went 1-4 with a 2-run homer, a walk, and a stolen base. At 16/10, what're the odds he makes it to 30/20?
- Aramis Ramirez went 1-4 with a 2-run homer. That's 9 homers and 15 RBI in less than two weeks.
- W: Ryan Mattheus (2-0), L: Kerry Woods (1-4), SV: Drew Storen (22)
- HR: Aramis Ramirez (14), Carlos Pena (18), Danny Espinosa (16), Ryan Zimmerman (4)
- SB: Reed Johnson (2), Roger Bernadina (12), Danny Espinosa (10); CS: Alfonso Soriano (1)
Astros 8 - Pirates 2
- Bud Norris held the Pirates to just 2 runs over 7 innings for his fifth win. He allowed 7 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. The rare good start for Norris as he came into this game with a 5.29 road ERA (2.66 at home).
- Charlie Morton gave up 5 runs (4 earned) over 5.1 innings as he continued his regression. He has now given up 20 ER over his last 22 innings. To his credit he did strikeout 6 batters and walk just 1. To his discredit, this was the Astros.
- Andrew McCutchen went 1-4 with 2 RBI. MLB needs to figure out a way to get him into the All-Star Game.
- Jeff Keppinger went 2-4 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run. He's hitting .323/.338/.421 this season, which is pretty useful in leagues that count batting average.
- W: Bud Norris (5-6), L: Charlie Morton (7-5)
- SB: Hunter Pence (5), Clint Barmes (1), Chase D'Arnaud (5)
Braves 9 - Rockies 1
- Jair Jurrjens joined CC Sabathia as a 12 game winner, after he pitched 6 innings of 1-run ball. He gave up 5 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. The lone he gave up came on a Matt Pagnozzi single that scored Ian Stewart. That's now 3 ER allowed over his last 4 starts (26.1 innings). Any predictions as to what his 2nd half ERA will be? He finishes the first half with a 1.87 ERA.
- Aaron Cook was roasted for 7 earned runs over 5 innings. He gave up 10 hits with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. He came into this game with a near 1:1 ratio in his K:BB. I wonder how much of his performance is eroding skills and how much of it is the shoulder injury he started the season with.
- Jordan Schafer went 4-5 with a triple, RBI, run, and his 11th stolen base. The CF is hitting .243/.303/.329 in 152 at-bats this season.
- Dan Uggla went 2-3 with a meaningless 2-run homer in the 8th inning. He's now homered in back-to-back games. He's still got the power, but at what cost? He's batting .183/.256/.356 on the season.
- W: Jair Jurrjens (12-3), L: Aaron Cook (0-4)
- HR: Chipper Jones (8), Dan Uggla (14)
- SB: Jordan Schafer (11); CS: Ty Wigginton (1)
Marlins 7 - Phillies 6
- Kyle Kendrick pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks. He took a no decision after the bullpen blew things. Never known as a pitcher with dominating stuff, he struck out only 2 batters. He enters the break with a 4-4 record and a 3.64 ERA.
- Anibal Sanchez gave up 5 earned runs over 4 innings, also in a no-decision. He allowed 6 hits with 3 walks, 6 strikeouts and 2 homers. That's now 3 homers over his last 7.2 innings… he's been hanging out with Ricky Nolasco too much.
- Mike Stanton broke up a 6-6 tie in the 10th inning with a walk-off homer. He's slugging .514 this season. Like Kanye West said, "No one man should have all that power."
- Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with a solo homer, walk, and stolen base. He also saw a game high 28 pitches at the plate.
- W: Edward Mujica (6-2), L: Danys Baez (2-4)
- HR: Jimmy Rollins (8), John Mayberry Jr. (4, 5), Logan Morrison (12), Mike Stanton (17)
- SB: Jimmy Rollins (19); CS: Emilio Bonifacio (4)
Reds 9 - Cardinals 8
- Bronson Arroyo pitched 6.1 innings and allowed 5 earned runs. He had a shutout going into the 6th inning, but that was poo-poo'd by a Daniel Descalso RBI double. From there things got wacky as an 8 run lead slipped to a 2-run lead in the 9th inning. Arroyo enters into the break with a 7-7 record and 5.58 ERA. He's given up a staggering 25 homers in 108 innings this season.
- Jake Westbrook gave up 7 earned runs over 4.1 innings in a no-decision. He gave up 5 earned runs in the first inning alone on two homers and a triple. Dave Duncan has his work cut out for him in the second half with Westbrook and his 5.34 ERA.
- Albert Pujols made his first start since coming off the DL with a broken wrist. He went 1-6 with a RBI single.
- Colby Rasmus went 1-5 with a run and 4 strikeouts for the Golden Sombrero. Hey, at least he got a hit in this one.
- Daniel Descalso went 4-6 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 runs. Ryan Theriot, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, and Scott Rolen all collected 2 RBI as well.
- Aroldis Chapman was one of eight relievers to pitch at least 1 inning and register 2 strikeouts. This is what can happen when a game goes 13 innings.
- W: Jose Arrendondo (1-3), L: Raul Valdes (0-1), SV: Aroldis Chapman (1), BSV: Francisco Cordero (3)
- HR: Chris Heisey (10), Jay Bruce (19), Scott Rolen (5), Fred Lewis (2), Matt Holliday (13), Jon Jay (7)
- SB: Brandon Phillips (5); CS: Daniel Descalso (2)
Mets 5 - Dodgers 3
- Jonathon Niese collected his 8th win after he allowed 3 earned runs over 7 innings. He struck out 6 batters with 1 walk and 5 hits given up. He now has a 20/5 K/BB ratio over his last 3 starts (18.2 innings).
- Hiroki Kuroda fell to 6-10 as he pitched 6 innings and gave up 4 earned runs on 8 hits and 1 walk. It was the most earned runs he's allowed since late May. Speaking of May, Kuroda has 1 win since May 17th.
- Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 22nd save and finished his 33rd game. That 55 games finished vesting option is getting closer and closer.
- Carlos Beltran went 2-5 with two doubles and two runs. The OF is now batting .285/.373/.506 on the season.
- W: Jonathon Niese (8-7), L: Hiroki Kuroda (6-10), SV: Francisco Rodriguez (22)
- SB: Angel Pagan (16), Matt Kemp (25)
Giants 6 - Padres 5
- Dustin Moseley struck out a season high 9 batters and walked just 1 as he pitched 7.1 innings and gave up 4 earned runs. For a guy with middling command (at best) this was easily his most dominant start of the season. He enters the break with a 2-8 record and 3.20 ERA.
- Madison Bumgarner pitched to his 5.05 home ERA (2.65 road ERA) with 5 earned runs over 6 innings. He walked just 1 batter with 6 strikeouts and 9 hits allowed. Coming off of his last two starts, which were stellar (20/2 K/BB in 14.1 innings) and facing a weak Padres lineup, this is certainly not what his owners expected.
- Nate Schierholtz hit a double, 2-run homer in the 4th inning and a walk-off solo shot in the 14th inning. There's no telling how long this game could have lasted, had it not been for his walk-off shot. The homers were his first since May 22nd. He's batting .278/.330/.440 this season.
- Pablo Sandoval went 2-5 with a 2-run double in the 8th inning to help tie the game at 5. He has 12 extra base hits and 11 RBI over his last 11 games. Panda's wrist doesn't seem to be affecting him right now.
- The Giants bullpen pitched 8 shutout innings with 13 strikeouts, 2 walks, and just 2 hits allowed.
- W: Javier Lopez (4-1), L: Pat Neshek (1-1)
- HR: Nate Schierholtz (5, 6)
- SB: Jason Bartlett (16, 17), Orlando Hudson (12, 13)