Nationals 9 Braves 3
WP: John Lannan (8-7) LP: Derek Lowe (6-10)
HR: Rick Ankiel (6), Michael Morse (18), Ian Desmond (4)
SB: Jayson Werth (4)
Two games into their post-deadline buzz, The Braves are now 0-2 and both losses are at the hands of the Nats. Much like last night, the Nats, spotlighted the problem with Atlanta to be on the bump. This time it was Lowe (4 IP, 10, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) who was less than commanding for the Braves, as Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman, Morse, Werth and Desmond all had two hits tonight.
Jonny Gomes went 1-3 with a run scored and 3-10 since joining the Nationals
Michael Bourn was 2-5 (RBI) tonight and is (3-9) at the plate in a Braves jersey.
Cubs 11 Pirates 6
WP: Randy Wells (3-4) LP: Kevin Correia (12-9)
HR: Aramis Ramirez (20), Marlon Byrd (6), Alfonso Soriano 2 (19), Tyler Colvin (3), Garrett Jones 2 (12), Brandon Wood (6)
SB: Starlin Castro (12)
After not cashing in on Derek Lee's two homerun day against his former club, the Pirates had that feeling of slipping and sliding. Desperate for a solid win against a dismal team, they sent one of their most dependable pitchers to the mound. But after Correia's (2 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 2 K) performance, perhaps this is a sign of things to come for the Pirates in the second half. Though Wells (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K) wasn't exactly Cy Young material, mix in a Cubs lineup that had eight hitters with two or more hits, including three players (Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney and Colvin) with three hits and this was a recipe for disaster. Perhaps Pittsburgh should have re-acquired Ramirez, as he went 2-4 with four RBI's today.
Marlins 4 Mets 3
WP: Steve Cishek (2-1) LP: Jason Isringhausen (2-2) S: Leo Nunez (31)
HR: Jose Reyes (5), Omar Infante 2 (3)
SB: Angel Pagan (20), Emilio Bonifacio (25)
For the second evening in a row, Citifield fans go home with their heads hanging low, and for the second consecutive evening, Isringhausen (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, BB, K) and his inability to keep the Marlins off the scoreboard is the reason. Infante has a big night for the fish, going 3-5 with two runs scored and two runs-batted-in. Neither starter Brad Hand (5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K) or Chris Capuano (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) were involved in the decision.
Reds 5 Astros 1
WP: Homer Bailey (6-5) LP: Wandy Rodriguez (7-8)
HR: Edgar Renteria (2)
SB: Chris Heisey (5)
Outside of Johnny Cueto, Cincinatti has been looking for a second starting pitcher to step up all season. Sure, it was the hapless Astros, but similar to bad P.R., confidence is confidence, and Bailey (8 IP, 5 H, ER, 3 BB, 4) earned himself a whole bunch of it tonight. Edgar Renteria (1-4, R, 4 RBI, 2 K) and Chris Heisey went 2-4 (run scored) in the victory.
-Possible waiver-wire candidate Rodriguez (5 IP, 3 BB, 3 K) allows five earned-runs on four hits
Cardinals 8 Brewers 7
WP: Kyle McClellan (8-6) LP: Marco Estrada (0-2) S: Octavio Dotel (1)
HR: Matt Holliday (16), Jaime Garcia (1), Yuniesky Betancourt (8)
SB: Holliday (1)
In a very important division series, already down one game, the Cardinals found a way to match the brew crew flinch for flinch. Even after the Brewers managed to basically mirror each offensive output, the Cardinals found a way to win and even earn Dotel his first national save since 2010 with the Pirates. Neither Garcia (5 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 6 K) nor Shawn Marcum (6 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, BB, 2 K) were their usually effective selves tonight. Daniel Descalso went 3-4, with a run, RBI and a walk tonight.
-Betancourt (2-6, K, R, 3 RBI), Casey McGehee (3-6, K), Prince Fielder (2-4, K, R, 2 RBI) and Corey Hart (2-5, K, R, RBI) each had solid nights spoiled.
- Yadier Molina, Lance Berkman and Holliday each had two hits tonight, while newcomer Rafael Furcal went 1-6 with a run scored in the leadoff spot.
Phillies 5 Rockies 0
WP: Kyle Kendrick (6-5) LP: Aaron Cook (2-6)
HR: Ryan Howard 2 (23)
SB: Eric Young Jr (7)
The big story going in was regardless of how Kendrick (8 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K) pitched tonight, Roy Oswalt (back) was coming back this weekend and Kendrick was headed to the pen. The subplot was how would Cook (4 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K) handle Chase Utley (0-4), who has torched him his entire career. Neither went as expected, but the stronger team still prevailed as Ryan Howard (2-4, K, 2 R) hit two homeruns and the Phils locked in yet another series win. Hunter Pence went 2-3, with an RBI and a walk.
Tigers 6 Rangers 5
WP: Joaquin Benoit (3-3) LP: Mike Adams (0-1) S: Jose Valverde (29)
HR: Alex Avila (11), Brennan Boesch (16), Nelson Cruz (24), Mike Napoli (16)
SB: Boesch (5)
In a game that saw Colby Lewis (4 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) struggle with keeping men off base, thanks to the aforementioned Cruz (2-5, R, 2 RBI) and Napoli (2-4, R, 2 RBI) HR's, the Rangers had managed to tie the game headed to the bottom of the 8th inning. But it was newly acquired Mike Adams (IP, 2 H, ER, BB, K), who yielded the game-winning shot Brennan Boesch (3-4, 2 R, RBI) as Texas went on to lose the series opener of what could be an LCS playoff matchup. Max Scherzer, who gets the no-decision, goes six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits. In addition to Boesch, five other Tigers had two hits tonight, including Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta, Alex Avila and Wilson Betemit.
Red Sox 3 Indians 2
WP: Jonathan Papelbon (3-0) LP: Vinnie Pestano (0-1)
HR: Jason Kipnis (3), Lonnie Chisenhall (3), Kevin Youkilis (16)
SB: Carlos Santana (4), Dustin Pedroia (22)
Things were looking good for visiting Indians, David Huff (5 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB 6 K) was in control, and they even managed a few runs on Josh Beckett (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 7 K). Then the bottom of the sixth inning and Kevin Youkilis happened, homering off Rafael Perez to deep left tying the game. Then in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox stung the Indians bullpen again as Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the walk-off win. Dustin Pedroia had a 2-4 night.
Blue Jays 3 Rays 1
WP: Ricky Romero (9-9) LP: David Price (9-10) S: Jon Rauch (10)
HR: Yunel Escobar (10, Jose Bautista (32), Desmond Jennings (2)
SB: Travis Snider (9), Rajai Davis 2 (33)
It wasn't the blast off Blue Jays that John Farrell likes to see, but with his ace Romero on the mound, who cares? Romero's (8 IP, H, ER, 4 BB, 7 K) only mistake came well after the Jays had taken the lead for good on Escobar's (1-3, R, BB, 2 K) homerun. Bautista's (1-3, R, BB, K) homerun was his first since the ninth of July. Toronto's Rajai Davis not only stole two bases, but went 2-4, with an RBI and a walk.
Orioles 8 Royals 2
WP: Alfredo Simon (3-4) LP: Bruce Chen (5-5)
HR: Mark Reynolds (24), Chris Davis (4)
It was bound to happen sooner or later for Simon and the Orioles. Despite having lost three of his last four starts, Simon has been fairly solid on a very shaky staff. Lucky for him, Baltimore headed to Kansas City tonight. Simon scattered four Royals hits over seven innings, allowing one run on one walk while striking out three. On the other end of the bench, apparently the 'K-Corner' boys got a little tired of the quips about their K per AB rates. Neither newly acquired first-baseman, Chris Davis (2-5 R, 2 RBI) or third baseman Mark Reynolds (3-5, 2 R, 5 RBI) struckout at all tonight. Melky Cabrera and Eric Hosmer each had a two-hit night in the loss.
Yankees 6 White Sox 0
WP: Phil Hughes (2-3) LP: John Danks (4-9)
Not only Hughes, but the Yanks also needed a big start. A little Chicago rain helped to ensure a nice linescore for Hughes (6 IP, 3 H, 4 K) as the Yanks went on to a seven inning decisive win over the Chisox. John Danks (6IP, 9 H, 4 ER, BB, 5K), who has been lights out for the last month just did not have his best stuff tonight.
Angels 5 Twins 1
WP: Ervin Santana (7-8) LP: Brian Duensing (8-9)
HR: Tori Hunter (14), Mark Trumbo (20)
SB: Denard Span (5)
Another five days, and another fantastic start by Santana. After the Twins managed to tie up the game in the top of 4th, and the Angels came back with three runs of their own, Santana (CG, 8 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K) proceeded in shutting down the Twins over the next five innings. Duensing (6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) wasn't all that bad tonight, just not Santana. At the plate, Trumbo (1-4, R, 3 RBI), Vernon Wells (2-3), and Peter Bourjos (2-3, R) were the most productive for the Angels tonight.
-Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel each went 2-4 at the dish tonight in the losing cause.
Mariners 4 Athletics 2
WP: Felix Hernandez (10-9) LP: Rich Harden (2-2) S: Brandon League (25)
HR: Casper Wells (5), Scott Sizemore (5)
SB: Adam Kennedy (7)
Looking at the homerun totals, you'd think the Tigers were in town. While a match-up between the M's and A's offers little to MLB pennant races, they still managed to entertain. Although Harden (5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB 7 K) was more overwhelmed than Hernandez (6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9), neither pitcher was over-powering or dominant.
-Hideki Matsui extended his hitting streak to 11-games. Matsui is 24-44 over that span
Dodgers 1 Padres 0
SB: Dee Gordon (10), Blake Tekotte 2 (2)
WP: Hiroki Kuroda (7-13) LP: Mat Latos (5-11)
Every game has a loser, unfortunately for Latos and every MLB team general manager prior to the trading deadline, Kuroda proved he is not one of them. In his first start after the deadline hubbub calmed, Kuroda proved he is still considered a building block, rather than an asset for an organization that needs all the blocks they can get. At least the Dodgers can boast about beating up their more southern Californian competition thus far, leading 8-3 in the season series with tonight's win. Matt Kemp (2-4) knocked in Dee Gordon (2-4, R) for the game's only run tonight in the top of the fourth inning.
-Former 3rd-rounder (2008), CF, Blake Tekotte (3-19 going into tonight) doubled his major-league hits total, going 3-4 tonight.
Diamondbacks 6 Giants 1
WP: Daniel Hudson (11-7) LP: Tim Lincecum (9-9)
HR: Justin Upton (22), Paul Goldschmidt
Lots of firsts tonight, as Daniel Hudson (8 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 5 K) and the "Babybacks" walked into San Francisco and man-handled the Lincecum (7 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8K) and his world champion Giants for the second day in a row. The most notable first, is Goldschmidt (1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K), who hit his first major-league homerun and now has a hit in each of his first two games, helping to ensure a series win against their N.L. West Division rivals. Pablo Sandoval went 3-4, RBI in the loss.