- For one recap only I'm going to do a different format for Thursday. Here's what happened for the day's seven-game slate:
- HRs: Andruw Jones 2 (6), Asdrubal Cabrera (15), Carlos Santana (14), Marlon Byrd (4), Ryan Spilborghs (1), Trevor Plouffe (4), Josh Hamilton (12), Nelson Cruz (21), Mike Napoli (13), Corey Hart (11), Aubrey Huff (9)
- SBs: Orlando Cabrera (6), Travis Snider (6), Alex Gordon (7), Ryan Spilborghs (2), Yuniesky Betancourt (3), Mike Napoli (2), Chris Gentry (11), Miguel Olivo (3), Andre Torres (10), Emmanuel Burriss (6), Jesus Guzman (1)
- CS: Elvis Andrus (4)
Games:
Cleveland 8 – Baltimore 4
W: Justin Masterson (8-6) L: Jeremy Guthrie (3-13)
- Masterson won yet again, despite giving up four runs over six innings. He struck out eight and walked only one bringing his July ratio to 20:5 over 25 innings.
- While a 4.45 ERA isn't great it seems Jeremy Guthrie should have a record better than 3-13.
Toronto 16 – New York 7
W: Jo-Jo Reyes (5-7) L: Bartolo Colon: (6-5)
- Bartolo Colon was chased after recording two outs, giving up eight runs (three earned) over .2 innings.
- The total for the H + R + E for this game ended up being 60 while the All-Star Game had a total of 23 (yes it's apples and oranges but interesting). I'd also guess the Jays 16 runs scored without a home run has to be something near a record.
- Jose Bautista left the game with what's being termed a twisted ankle. He's day-to-day for now and tweeted it was "just a sprain."
Minnesota 8 – Kansas City 4
W: Francisco Liriano (6-7) L: Bruce Chen (5-3)
- Bruce Chen was rolling by tossing four straight scoreless innings until imploding in the fifth to the tune of five runs.
- Francisco Liriano has now given up two earned runs or less in seven of his last 11 starts.
- I strongly urge anyone in need of SS/MI help to check out Trevor Plouffe. He would be much more inconspicuous had he not homered Thursday which gives him 19 home runs in 256 at-bats between Triple-A and Minnesota this season. He qualifies at SS and his .196 BABIP for the Twins heading into the game (and a 12:8 K:BB ratio over 60 early season at-bats) suggests that although it's a small sample size, he's ready to make an impact.
Florida 6 – Chicago 3
W: Edward Mujica (7-2) L: Carlos Marmol (2-3)
- The wildness that is Carlos Marmol led to the defeat for the Cubbies here as he didn't record an out and allowed five base runners (his ERA rose from 2.57 to 3.64 for the outing.)
- Lost in the fiasco was that Matt Garza threw seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and three walks.
- There are numerous reports that Leo Nunez is likely headed out of town for the Fins so if you're desperate for saves at the very least throw Mike Dunn on your bench.
Colorado 12 – Milwaukee 3
W: Ubaldo Jimenez (5-8) L: Yovani Gallardo (10-6)
- Six of the Rockies starters had at least two hits and even with only one home run – a solo shot - they managed 12 runs in the game.
- Ubaldo Jimenez hasn't given up more than three runs in his last nine starts with four of those coming at Coors Field. It's safe to say he's righted the ship after a rocky first six weeks.
Texas 5 – Seattle 0
W: Derek Holland (8-4) L: Jason Vargas (6-7)
- Holland was masterful with a complete game shutout. While this was his second complete game shutout it should be noted both were against Oakland and Seattle. But again, he's had three complete game shutouts now in his last eight starts. It's also noteworthy that the five hits Derek Holland gave up were all singles.
San Francisco 6 – San Diego 2
W: Santiago Casilla (2-1) L: Luke Gregerson (2-3) S: Brian Wilson (27)
- Heath Bell had gone 99 games since giving up his last home run and two days since an awesome slide before giving up a game-tying shot to Aubrey Huff in the top of the ninth.
- Luke Gregerson gave up five runs in 0.2 innings to take the loss. Luckily all those runs were unearned due to an error on…Luke Gregerson.