Rangers 4 Mariners 0
WP: Colby Lewis (9-7) LP: Doug Fister (3-11) S: Neftali Feliz (19)
I think any athlete is capable of swimming upstream, as long their mindset is proper. Imagine you're Colby Lewis (8.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K) heading into tonight, having pitched well on the road and taking the mound in Seattle. It's carefully selected in Arlington, but a field like Safeco is where a pitcher can relax and let the wood have it's shot. Unfortunately for the M's bad-luck, season loser, Fister (7.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, K), that wood was quiet tonight. Ian Kinsler (2-4, 2 R) was a true table-setter for the Rangers tonight. Texas' 3-5 hitters (Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre and Michael Young) were responsible for three of the four runs-batted-in tonight.This was the 12th SHO of the year for the Rangers, who are the hottest team (nine-game winning streak) in the majors.
Phillies 7 Mets 2
WP: Vance Worley (5-1) LP: R.A. Dickey (4-8)
HR: Carlos Beltran (14), Raul Ibanez (13)
Dickey ( 7 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) wasn't terrific, but the lack of offensive assistance did him in
Worley (5.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, 4 K) was solid through five and a third innings pitched.
John Mayberry (5 RBI) Carlos Ruiz (2 R) and Raul Ibanez (2 R, RBI) each grabbed a pair of hits
Carlos Beltran also walked twice, and scored two runs
Daniel Murphy went 2-4
Reds 6 Cardinals 5
WP: Logan Ondrusek LP: Fernando Salas (5-3)
HR: Albert Pujols (19), Chris Heisey 2 (12), Brandon Phillips (9)
Sure, Heisey had a great night, but his name is no where near one of the oddest names in baseball. The importance of Ondrusek to the Reds bullpen is similar to that of The Price is Right to CBS programming. Cheesey, but it gets the job done. Ondrusek (0.2 IP, BB, K), who's ERA dropped again to 1.65, closed things out on the Cardinals. Once Westbrook (5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 K) and Cueto (7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) left, it became a bullpen chess match between La Russa and Baker. Seven of the 11 relievers used in this game had Red Bird jerseys. Actually, the deciding energy came from within Brandon Phillips (1-4, R,2 RBI,BB,K) and his two-run homer to knock off the bigger brother division rivals. Zack Cozart ( 3-5, R, RBI avg.381), who has hit safely in each of his first five MLB games, had his first three hit big league night.
Joey Votto (RBI), Scott Rolen and Chris Heisey (3 R) each had two hit nights
Pujols (2-5, 2 R) has seven hits in last 13 appearances at the plate
Blue Jays 7 Yankees 1
WP: Brendan Morrow (6-4) LP: Freddy Garcia (7-7)
SB: Aaron Hill 2 (13), Edwin Encarnacion (2)
The Yankees "Staff depth" is looking more suspect as we go post-break. All was fine for Garcia, until the fourth and fifth inning collapse. Tied at one, Garcia (5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) gave up two big innings, and all but one Yankees hitter left at least one man on base. Morrow (2 BB, 6 K) on the other hand, was in full command in front of the home crowd, yielding just one run on four hits.
Nick Swisher (2-4) and Eduardo Nunez (2-4, RBI) had four of the Yankees seven hits.
Yunel Escobar went 3-5, scoring one run and knocking in two more
Eric Thames (2-3, 2 R) has 11 hits in last 22 at bats
Rays 9 Red Sox 6
WP: D. Price (9-7) LP: A. Miller (3-1) S: K. Farnsworth (18)
HR: Jacoby Ellsbury (12), Dustin Pedroia (12), Darnell Mcdonald (3), Marco Scutaro (5), Ben Zobrist (11), Casey Kotchman (4)
You knew the Andrew Miller (2.2 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 5 BB) express was going to run out of gas sooner or later. For all you early believers in deep leagues, the interesting part will be his next start. Can you stardom or bust? Price (6 UP, 5 H, 3 ER) of course has always had control of his own future, and today was no different as he fanned seven, walking only one. The Sox made a nice effort, scoring at least once in three of the last four innings, but they never recovered from the Zobrist (1-3, 2 BB, R, 5 RBI). Grandslam.
B.J. Upton (R, RBI), Kotchman (2 R, 2 RBI) and Kelly Shoppach (R) each notched two hits tonight
Pedroia extended his hit streak to 13 games, The Red Sox second basemen has been held hitless only three times since June 1st
Braves 11 Nationals 1
WP: Tim Hudson (9-6) LP: Livan Hernandez (5-9)
HR: Martin Prado (9)
Yea, it's the time for separating the men from the boys. Sure the Nats have one of the most dependable bullpens in 2011. Unfortunately, the Nats defense (five errors) didn't leave much choice to the bullpen or even Livan for that matter. The 35-year-old Hernandez (8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, BB, K) was chased after four innings, allowing the Braves offense (13 hits) to set the tone for the rest of the night. Hudson (7 IP, 7 H ER) on the other hand, threw 108 pitches, walking one batter and striking out seven.
Every Braves hitter in the starting lineup had at least one hit, including two hit nights from Hudson (R, RBI) Freddie Freeman (R, 3 RBI), Nate McLouth (RBI) and Prado (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI), who returned from the disabled list tonight.
Pirates 4 Astros 0
WP: Jeff Karstens (8-4) LP : Brett Myers (3-10)
SB: Hunter Pence (6), Alex Presley (3), Chase d'Arnaud (6), Josh Harrison (2)
The Pirates managed to stick three runs at Myers in the first three innings, and the Astros offense managed, well nothing at all. Though, the Astros managed just one less hit than the Pirates, they couldn't cash in when it mattered. The Pirates however, add yet another buzz game to their current post-break status. Except this time, their pitching was undeniably the most imperative factor as Jeff Karstens went the distance in just his second career CG, SHO. Having not gone less than 6.2 innings pitched since late May, Karstens has won five of his last six starts for the FIRST PLACE PIRATES? WOW, awesome for Baseball!
D'Arnaud went 2-5 and scored a run
Despite a three-strikeout night, Andrew McCutchen (1-4, 3B) had two RBI
Royals 2 Twins 1
WP: Todd Collins (4-4) LP: Matt Capps (2-5) S: Joakim Soria (16)
HR: Eric Hosmer (9)
SB: Melky Cabrera (13), Ben Revere (12)
Both Luke Hochevar and Nick Blackburn were up to the challenge. After an uneventful eighth inning by Joe Nathan (K), Capps was handed the ball. Capps (1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB) gave up a walk and two-run homer to blue-chipper Hosmer (1-4) for his seventh blown save of the year. Soria tried to make things nervous in the ninth, but scattered two hits and closed out the second game of the A.L. Central cellar battle.
Cubs 2 Marlins 1
WP: Ryan Dempster (7-6) LP: Ricky Nolasco (6-6) S: Sean Marshall (2)
What's this? Another shake-up in a N.L. Bullpen? At least for the next few days according to Rotowire, yes you're seeing that right, Marshall had to come in and clean things up for Carlos Marmol (0.2 IP, ER, BB). Mike Stanton (0-4, 2 K's), ended up being Marshall's only batter, and was sent down swinging to end the Marlins ninth inning. It was a fourth inning error by Omar Infante (0-3, BB, R) that cost the Marlins.
White Sox 8 Tigers 2
WP: Gavin Floyd (7-9) LP: Justin Verlander (12-5)
Miguel Cabrera (19)
Sending Verlander ( 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) to the mound up five games on their Central division suitor Chicago, Jim Leyland must've been confident tonight. Problem was, the Carlos Quentin (3-5, R, 3 RBI) of yonder year stepped into his uniform tonight. Despite another sorry night by Miggy (2-3, BB, R, 2 RBI) and Victor Martinez (2-4), Verlander's pitching was not the wild card tonight. It was the 18 men left on the Tigers' base-paths. Floyd (7.2 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 5 K) the visitor, turned in a solid performance as well.
Juan Pierre (1-5, RBI) and Paul Konerko (1-2, 3 BB, K) each scored a pair of times
Adam Dunn (1-4, BB, R) and Gordon Beckham (2-4, R, 2 K) each knocked in a pair of runs
Indians 6 Orioles 5
WP: Josh Tomlin (11-4) LP: Jim Johnson (5-3) S: Chris Perez (22)
HR: Asdrubal Cabrera (16), Grady Sizemore (10), Adam Jones (9), Nolan Reimold (5)
A matchup of two young pitchers on the rise this season. Though neither Tomlin (5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, BB, 3 K) or Arrieta (5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) were impressive or even in control, this game ended as though they were. Outside of Johnson's (2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 2 K) game-breaking run allowed, both bullpen's staved away run production. Of the two, Cleveland's bullpen, was more impressive. After each team scored in three of the first five innings, it was Lonnie Chisenhall's sixth inning shallow single to center, that knocked in the game deciding run.
After tying the game in the bottom of the fifth, Adam Jones (2-4, R, 3 RBI, K), had his night spoiled
Michael Brantley went 3-5, while scoring a run
Cabrera (2-5, R, 2 RBI, K), Sizemore (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K), Matt LaPorta (2-4, R, RBI and Chisenhall each had two hits on the night
Nick Markakis became the 14th player to get 1,000 hits in an Orioles jersey
Dempster (8 IP, 4 H, 9 K) was phenomenal
Nolasco (7 IP, 2 R, BB, 7 K) wasn't too shabby himself for seven innings, not giving up an earned run
Rockies 4 Brewers 0
WP: Juan Nicasio (4-2) LP: Chris Narveson (6-6)
SB: Dexter Fowler (3)
As last week's Friday Night Cap fill in (Anthony Piacente) might say, the Rockies either get killed or barely a mediocre team lately. On this night, Nicasio (7 IP, 4 H, 4 K) left the Rockies offense no choice. Narveson (5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) wasn't too shabby, lasting six and walking three batters. Anthony would also say "How bout that Ellis?!" Though Ellis (2-4, 2 2B, 2 R) has been hot and cold since joining the Rockies, has been an integral part of their four wins in the last five games
Nyjer Morgan (2-4, five-game hitting streak) and Prince Fielder (2-4) made up for all four of Milwaukee's total of four hits. Troy Tulowitzki (RBI) and Todd Helton (2 RBI) each grabbed two hits as well
Dodgers 6 Diamondbacks 4
WP: Clayton Kershaw (10-4) LP: Joe Saunders (6-8) S: Javy Guerra (5)
HR: Matt Kemp (23), Juan Rivera (1), Xavier Nady (3)
Fantasy wise, even when Kershaw is bad, he's good. After going seven strong innings, all Kershaw owners are saved by a Dodger error that leaves the Clayton (7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) line respectable. Had the Dbacks bullpen kept things quiet after Saunders (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 4 K) left, that aforementioned error may have made this a different story. Alas, they didn't, as Aaron Heilman (1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB) n would be the actual loser of this game.
Not all bad for the Diamondbacks, Xavier Nady went 2-4 (R, 3 RBI)
In his first National League at bat since 2004 with the Expos, Rivera had a 2-4, two run night
Matt Kemp (2-4, R, 4 RBI) is by the biggest of big leaguers left-over in Arizona
Athletics 5 Angels 3
WP: Brandon McCarthy (2-5) LP: Dan Haren (10-6) S: Andrew Bailey (9)
HR: Josh Willingham (12)
SB: Erick Aybar (19), Jemile Weeks (8)
What's this? An A's team with swagger? Between the rejuvenating Weeks (2-4, R) and the every now and then ever-present Willingham (3-4, R, 2 RBI), the A's have their moments. Haren ( 6.1 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 2 K) hangs on to at least endure some of the early runs. McCarthy (5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K) was no Cy Young, but he pitched well enough to grab his second win of the season.
Erick Aybar went 2-5, with an RBI and 2 K's
Giants 6 Padres 1
WP: Tim Lincecum (8-7) LP: Dustin Moseley (2-9)
HR: Cody Ross (7)
SB: Andres Torres (11), Cameron Maybin (13)
Timmay [Linceum] (6 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 7 K) was timmay, and the Giants actually produced on a Friday Night Cap...Moseley (6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) pitched well enough to maintain his importance to the Padres staff, but not good enough for anyone to care, at least fantasy wise. Andres Torres was Bochy's man tonight, going 3-5, with a walk, strikeout and three runs scored.