Marlins 13, Cubs 3



- Carlos Zambrano came off the DL and probably wished he hadn't, getting shelled for eight runs over 4.2 innings, with half the damage coming on two no-doubter opposite field bombs from Mike Stanton. Zambrano did strike out six but also walked four.

- Javier Vazquez continued his resurgence, posting his sixth straight solid start. He basically made only one mistake over seven innings, which resulted in a three-run shot by Aramis Ramirez, and posted a masterful 10:0 K:BB ratio. Over the last month Vazquez has been a completely different pitcher, with a tiny 1.69 ERA and an amazing 29:3 K:BB ratio over 37.1 innings during that stretch. The stuff is matching the results too, as he's touching 94 mph with his fastball again.

- Stanton wasn't the only marlin swinging a hot bat. Hanley Ramirez, who collected his 1000th hit on Friday, went 3-for-4 with three doubles, three runs scored and two RBI, and he's now hitting .383/.482/.660 in July. Emilio Bonifacio also extended his hitting streak to 15 games by going 1-for-4.

- Chris Hatcher wrote his name in the trivia books, becoming the first player in 65 years to make his major league debut at catcher one season, then pitch in a major league game the following season.

- Omar Infante left the game after limping a bit while running the bases. The Marlins may have just been cautious with him given their big lead, but don't be surprised if he's sitting down Sunday.

W: Vazquez (6-8) HR: Stanton 2 (20), Logan Morrison (13), Ramirez (16) SB: Bonifacio (17)





Yankees 4, Blue Jays 1



- C.C. Sabathia gave up his first run since June 25th, but it was the only one he allowed over eight innings as he won his 14th game of the year, striking out eight and walking three.

- Ricky Romero was decidedly un-ace-like, however, getting touched for four runs (three earned) on six hots and three walks over five innings, striking out seven.

- Brett Gardner went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and a steal, while Derek Jeter went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

- Mariano Rivera decided to make things interesting for once, giving up two hits and bringing the tying run to the plate before nailing down the save.

W: Sabathia (14-4) SV: Rivera (23) SB: Gardner (24), Francisco Cervelli (4), Rajai Davis (25)





Angels 4, A's 2 (Game 1)



- in the opener of an honest-to-God double-header (none of this day/night, two admissions nonsense) Jered Weaver topped Trevor Cahill for the win. Neither pitcher had his best stuff. Weaver gave up two runs and seven hits over 6.2 frames with just a 3:2 K:B ratio, while Cahill's control deserted him early and he ended up allowing three runs on five hits and five walks over seven innings while striking out eight.

- Erick Aybar and Bobby Abreu each went 2-for-5 for the Angels, with Aybar launching his seventh homer.

- Jemile Weeks went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base, bumping his batting average up to .308 over his first 33 big league games.

- Hideki Matsui narrowly missed launching his 500th professional home run, counting his numbers on both sides of the Pacific.

W: Weaver (12-4) SV: Jordan Walden (21) HR: Aybar (7) SB: Alberto Callaspo (4), Vernon Wells (3), Weeks (9) CS: Abreu (4)





Red Sox 9, Rays 5



- James Shields was downright awful, getting smoked for six runs on six hits (including two home runs) and three walks over six innings. John Lackey wasn't much better but stuck around long enough to get the W, giving up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk over 5.2 frames, striking out seven.

- Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia each collected two hits including a home run. Josh Reddick also went deep, as he continues to try and give the Sawx a tough decision when Carl Crawford comes off the DL.

- Matt Joyce carried the offensive load for Tampa, going 3-for-5 with two RBI (including a solo shot) and a steal.

- Jose Lobaton, who should be on the radar of anyone in an AL-only league in need of catching depth, had an inauspicious 2011 debut, going 0-for-1 and getting called for catcher interference. Still, it's not like Kelly Shoppach and John Jaso have exactly set the world on fire this year. The opening's there, if Lobaton can seize it.

W: Lackey (7-8) HR: Reddick (3), Ellsbury (13), Pedroia (13), Joyce (13) SB: Joyce (6), B.J. Upton (22), Sam Fuld (17) CS: Reddick (1)





White Sox 5, Tigers 0



- Edwin Jackson started out the second half with a bang, tossing a complete game shutout. He scattered nine hits and two walks while striking out two and used just 101 pitches, a far cry from his usual inefficiency.

- Max Scherzer pitched pretty well but got no help from his offense, giving up two runs on eight hits over eight innings while striking out six without walking anyone.

- Carlos Quentin went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, while Juan Pierre went 4-for-5 with a run, an RBI and two steals.

- Jose Valverde did what closers usually do, which is get hammered in non-save situations. Three runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of inning added half a run to his ERA. Not cool, Jose.

W: Jackson (6-7) HR: Quentin (18) SB: Brent Lillibridge (9), Gordon Beckham (3), Pierre 2 (15)





Mets 11, Phillies 2



- if Cole Hamels thought he was going to have an easy night against a Mets lineup missing Carlos Beltran (flu-like symptoms), he got a rude awakening. A rude, seven runs on eight hits and four walks in 4.1 innings awakening.

- Jonathon Niese put up the kind of line you would've expected from Hamels, striking out six and giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits and a walk over seven strong innings. He's now got a 26:6 K:BB ratio over his last four starts (25.2 innings), which is pretty dang good.

- Scott Hairston, getting the start in place of Beltran, had a career game going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI. Daniel Murphy also went 3-for-5 with a homer and a couple of RBI.

- Ronny Paulino was the only Met hitter who didn't get the memo, going 0-for-5 in the middle of that explosion. Even Niese drew a walk and scored a run.

- not that it really says much about the Mets' closer situation, but Bobby Parnell struck out two in a shutout eighth, walking one, while Manny Acosta worked a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one.

W: Niese (9-7) HR: Murphy (6), Hairston (5) SB: Jason Bay (9)





Orioles 6, Indians 5



- Alfredo Simon improbably outdueled carlos Carrasco, allowing two runs on just three hits and a walk over seven innings, striking out five. Carrasco gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out six. The difference between the two, really, was a Nick Markakis solo shot in the sixth.

- Kevin Gregg was heroic in his efforts to help the Indians stage a comeback, walking the bases loaded in the ninth and then serving up a two-out, bases-loaded double to Orlando Cabrera before getting the hook.

- Markakis went 3-for-4 for the O's, scoring three runs. Michael Brantley went 2-for-4 with two RBI as the only Cleveland hitter to do much aside from Cabrera's one swing.

W: Simon (2-2) SV: Mike Gonzalez (1) HR: Markakis (8)





Astros 6, Pirates 4



- neither starter got out of the sixth inning. Paul Maholm actually pitched better than Bud Norris, although neither had a decision. Maholm gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk over five innings, striking out three, while Norris got tagged for four runs, including three solo blasts, on nine hits over 5.2 innings with a 5:2 K:BB ratio.

- Neil Walker had a big game, going 4-for-5 with one of those solo shots and chipping in a second RBI as well. Michael McKenry also went 3-for-4.

- Jeff Keppinger swung the hot bat for Houston, going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer. Michael Bourn also went 3-for-4.

W: Sergio Escalona (2-1) SV: Mark Melancon (7) HR: Walker (9), Lyle Overbay (7), Brandon Wood (5), Keppinger (3) SB: Hunter Pence (7) CS: Bourn (5)





Twins 4, Royals 3



- Joe Nathan was back in the saddle, working a scoreless ninth and picking up his first save since April. He sat comfortably in the 93-94 mph range with his fastball, which is a great sign, but also threw five curveballs in his 14 pitches against only two sliders. His slider used to be his go-to offspeed pitch, with the curve being little more than a show-me offering, but apparently his elbow woes have convinced him to ease up on the slider usage. His heater is back in '08-'09 form, however, and thaat's the important thing.

- Carl Pavano and Jeff Francis were their usual pitch-to-contact selves, with Francis taking slightly the worst of it. Pavano allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings, while Francis gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 7.1 innings. They struck out only five batters between them.

- Mike Moustakas went 0-for-4, and is now hitting .212/.272/.269 in the majors. Sing it with me now: Said sugar, take it slow, it'll work itself out fine. All we need is just a little patience. ('We' meaning fantasy owners, not Moustakas. His 9:16 K:BB ratio in 28 games isn't too bad.)

W: Glen Perkins (1-1) SV: Nathan (4) HR: Alcides Escobar (2), Drew Butera (2) SB: Eric Hosmer (3), Melky Cabrera (14), Ben Revere (13) CS: Trevor Plouffe (1)





Cardinals 4, Reds 1



- the Cards only had a few guys show up to play for this one, but they were the right few guys. Chris Carpenter got touched for just one run over eight innings, and Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer. Boom. Ballgame.

- Jon Jay also went 3-for-4, just to try and make sure Pujols would have someone to drive in. The rest of the St. Louis lineup went 4-for-26.

- Bronson Arroyo wasn't terrible, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks over 6.2 innings with five K's.

- Drew Stubbs went 3-for-4, and Edgar Renteria went 2-for-5 for the Reds. The rest of the lineup did the Cards one better, going 3-for-26.

W: Carpenter (5-6) SV: Fernando Salas (17) HR: Pujols (20)





Nationals 5, Braves 2



- John Lannan was kinda-sorta a one-man army. He gave up two runs over 5.2 innings, with an uncharacteristic 4:4 K:BB ratio (OK, the walks equalling strikeouts part itself isn't uncharacteristic, but the size of both sides of the ratio are), but also went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in two runs.

- Tommy Hanson was uncharacteristically hittable, as though Lannan going 2-for-3 didn't tell you that already. Hanson gave up five runs on eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.

- Wilson Ramos supplied the rest of the Nats' offense, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

W: Lannan (6-6) SV: Drew Storen (24) HR: Ramos (9), Alex Gonzalez (8)





A's 4, Angels 3 (Game 2, 10 ininngs)



- the clubs decided to give the fans a little bit extra bang for their double-header buck in the nightcap. Scott Sizemore drove home the winning run in the 10th with a single off Rich Thompson.

- the two starters did pretty well. Ervin Santana allowed three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks in 6.1 frames, striking out six. Rich Harden was better, also giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out nine.

- while the A's were playing small-ball (nine singles, two doubles in the game) Mark Trumbo and Vernon Wells accounted for all of Anaheim's scoring with two jacks. Little ball fetishists, rejoice!

- Mike Trout went 1-for-3, and is hitting all of .150/.227/.200 through his first 20 big league at-bats. He hasn't even stolen a base yet. What a bum.

W: Brad Ziegler (3-1) HR: Trumbo (18), Wells (14) SB: Erick Aybar (20), Jemile Weeks (10), Coco Crisp (27)





Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 2



- Ian Kennedy was solid, giving up two runs on five hits over seven innings with a 7:3 K:BB ratio.

- Hiroki Kuroda was just as sharp but a little unluckier, getting charged with three runs on five hits over six innings with a 7:0 K:BB ratio.

- Brandon Allen, who a month ago looked like the forgotten man in the D-backs farm system, celebrated his liberation from Triple-A by launching a three-run home run.

- Matt Kemp popped a solo shot, his second straight game after the break with a bomb. No Home Run Derby slump for this guy.

W: Kennedy (10-3) SV: David Hernandez (8) HR: Kemp (24), Allen (1)





Brewers 8, Rockies 7



- at least Zack Greinke's ERA went down. Greinke gave up three runs, all unearned, on five hits and two walks over six innings with eight K's. How his numbers have resulted in an ERA above 5.00 (5.04 after Saturday's game) is one of the great mysteries of the day.

- Jhoulys Chacin got roughed up for five runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings with a 5:1 K:BB ratio.

- Francisco Rodriguez set up John Axford in this one. Rodriguez turned in a clean sheet, while Axford gave up a run in the ninth on two hits. The 'games finished' clause in Rodriguez's contract is going to keep him in eighth inning duty for most of his likely-brief Brewers career though, no matter how Axford pitches.

- Huston Street made Axford look pretty good though, giving up a two-run home run to Rickie Weeks in the ninth inning of a tie game. Street's now coughed up eight home runs in 43 innings, which would be a bigger problem if he weren't pitching so well otherwise.

- Ian Stewart had his third multi-hit game in his last four starts, going 2-for-4 with a triple. He's 7-for-15 over those four games. Could he finally be breaking out?

W: Rodriguez (3-2) SV: Axford (24) HR: Corey Hart (12), Rickie Weeks (18) SB: Carlos Gonzalez (15)





Padres 11, Giants 3



- how the heck do you give up 11 runs at Petco? Seriously. In fact, the Padres came into the game having gone 70 straight innings without scoring more than a single run in any frame.

- here's how: 14 of Barry Zito's first 18 pitches were balls. He wound up walking four guys in 3.2 innings, en route to getting hammered for eight runs.

- Cory Luebke looked good, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over seven inings, striking out five, but he was pitching in Petco.

- Jesus Guzman, finally getting a shot at semi-regulat at-bats in the majors, went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. He's now hitting .292/.320/.542 through 48 at-bats. If he keeps hitting, expect Anthony Rizzo to head back to Triple-A for more seasoning (and to put off starting his arb clock).

W: Luebke (3-3) HR: Miguel Tejada (4), Guzman (2), Orlando Hudson (2) SB: Cameron Maybin (14), Jason Bartlett 2 (20) CS: Alberto Gonzalez (2)





Rangers 5, Mariners 1



- C.J. Wilson outdueled Felx Hernandez, and then some. Wilson allowed just one little run on five hits and three walks over seven innings, whiffing seven, while King Felix gave up four runs on nine hits and a walk over 7.2 innings, K'ing six.

- Ian Kinsler had Hernandez's number, launching two solo home runs.

- Elvis Andrus and Endy Chavez each went 3-for-4. Andrus was successful on his steal atatempt, while Chavez was not. Chavez is hitting .342 in 36 games though, so I imagine he'll be forgiven.

W: Wilson (10-3) HR: Kinsler 2 (15) SB: Josh Hamilton (5), Andrus (27), Franklin Gutierrez (5) CS: Chavez (1)