Cubs 3, Cardinals 0

- Matt Garza continues to roll, tossing seven shutout innings with an 8:2 K:BB ratio. He's now got a 1.80 ERA and 29:7 K:BB ratio over his last four starts (25 IP), as his fantasy numbers are finally catching up to his peripherals.
- Edwin Jackson was solid, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings with six K's.
- Jon Jay and Skip Schumaker had two hits each for the Cards, while the rest of the team went 1-for-23. Aramis Ramirez xranked a two-run shot to give Garza all the offense he needed.
W: Garza (6-9) SV: Carlos Marmol (29) HR: Ramirez (24)

Pirates 5, Reds 3

- the clubs turned back the clock to the 19th century, with the Alleghenys clumping together 10 singles and a double to eke out their runs while the Red Stockings countered with nine singles and a double.
- Charlie Morton, whose stuff probably would have played very well back in the American Association days, gave up two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two.
- Dontrelle Willis barely managed a quality start, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings, striking out five. It's nice to see the D-Train back in the majors, but adequate is about the ceiling for him these days.
- Joey Votto went 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and a steal, while Brandon Phillips went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Neil Walker answered for the Bucs, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.
W: Tony Watson (1-2) SV: Joel Hanrahan (31) SB: Drew Stubbs (30), Votto (7) CS: Fred Lewis (5), Matt Diaz (2)

Brewers 11, Mets 9

- this was a crazy one. Milwaukee got out to a 7-1 lead, only to see the bullpen give up eight runs in the seventh and eighth, only for the Brewers to respond with four in the ninth to win it.
- if we could add a poll to these blog posts, I'd ask for a vote on the worst pitching performance. Was it Chris Capuano, who served up three home runs and seven runs total (only five earned though) in 5.2 innings? Was it Francisco Rodriguez, who coughed up three runs in an inning of 'relief'? Or was it Jason Isringhausen, who failed to record an out and walked three of the four batters he faced while trying to close out the game for the Mets? Randy Wolf's five runs in 6.1 innings looks downright respectable next to those gas cans.
- Prince Fielder was the only Brewer to have a multihit game, going 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. In fact, they scored their 11 runs on only eight hits (and, of course, seven walks).
- Angel Pagan had a big game for the Mets, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBI and a steal.
W: Rodriguez (5-2) SV: John Axford (37) HR: Ryan Braun (24), Fielder (28), Yuniesky Betancourt (10), Pagan (7) SB: Pagan (26)

Rockies 7, Dodgers 6 (13 innings)

- Dexter Fowler got to be the hero in this one, as his only hit of the game in seven plate appearances brought home Mark Ellis from second base in the 13th inning. This after the Dodgers scored two in the top of the 12th, only to see Javy Guerra blow his first save opportunity of the season in the bottom half.
- Ted Lilly got bounced after 4.2 frames, having given up three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five. Esmil Rogers wasn't much better, lasting six innings but getting stung for four runs on 12 hits and a walk while also striking out five.
- Trent Oeltjen was nearly the star for LA, going 2-for-5 with a solo homer in the 12th and a steal.
- Eric Young Jr. was a terror at the top of the Colorado lineup, going 2-for-2 with two walks, a triple, two runs scored and three steals. Todd Helton, on his 38th birthday, went 3-for-6 with a home run.
W: J.C. Romero (1-0) HR: Aaron Miles (2), Oeltjen (2), Helton (14) SB: Oeltjen (3), Young 3 (15) CS: Matt Kemp 2 (7), Young (2)

Tigers 10, Indians 1

- David Huff suddenly remembered he wasn't very good, getting roughed up for five runs on four hits and four walks in just 2.1 innings without striking anyone out.
- Doug Fister was stingy, allowing just one run on six hits over seven innings with a 7:1 K:BB ratio.
- Brandon Inge, in his first game back from Triple-A, went 2-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBI. Shin-Soo Choo was almost a one-man offense for the Tribe, going 3-for-4 with a solo blast. He's now 10-for-30 since getting back into the lineup.
- after going 6-for-17 to begin his Detroit tenure, Delmon Young was the only Tiger starter not to get a hit.
W: Fister (5-13) HR: Choo (6), Inge (2)

Team 0, Team 0

- Roy Oswalt had his fastball back, which was bad news for the Nats. He was still popping 94 mph as late as the sixth inning, as he dominated for eight shutout innings while striking out a season-high nine.
- John Lannan did what he normally does against the Phillies, which is lose. He got tagged for five runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks in five innings, while striking out only one.
- Ryan Zimmerman stayed locked in at the plate, going 3-for-4. He's now 11-for-24 over the last six games with three home runs.
- Ian Desmond committed his 20th error of the season, after 34 E's last year. He's not a bad defensive player by more advanced metrics thanks to his range (his UZR/150 is a non-sucky 2.9, for instance) but between the boots and the OPS hovering around .600 it's hard to see how he factors into Washington's future plans at all.
W: Oswalt (6-7) HR: Hunter Pence (15) CS: John Mayberry Jr. (3)

Astros 7, Giants 5

- the Astros kiddie korps ruled the day in this one. Jose Altuve went 3-for-5 and led off the game with an inside-the-park home run (his first HR in the majors). J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double, an outside-the-park home run and four RBI, while Jimmy Paredes went 2-for-4. Jordan Lyles also got the win, allowing two unearned runs over five innings with a 4:2 K:BB ratio.
- grizzled veteran (relatively speaking) Madison Bumgarner was the victim of those homers, coughing up seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and a walk in 6.2 frames, K'ing five.
- Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with a solo shot of his own for San Fran, while Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
W: Lyles (2-7) SV: Mark Melancon (13) HR: Huff (12), Altuve (1), Martinez (5) CS: Altuve (1)

Braves 8, Diamondbacks 1

- Brandon Beachy cruised through six innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven.
- Wade Miley lasted just four innings in his big league debut, getting slammed for five runs on seven hits with a decent enough 5:2 K:BB ratio.
- Dan Uggla went 2-for-3, with both hits leaving the yard. It's ridiculous to think, given his blistering July and August, that he's still only hitting .231 on the year.
W: Beachy (6-2) HR: Uggla 2 (29), Freddie Freeman (17)

Royals 9, Red Sox 4

- every KC starter but Salvador Perez got a hit in the game, as they exploded for an eight-run sixth inning. Alex Gordon led the charge with a 3-for-5 night that included two doubles and two RBI. Mike Moustakas went 2-for-4 and has finally gotten his batting average over .200 with a 7-for-13 surge over the last four games.
- Felipe Paulino staggered to a win, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in six innings.
- Tim Wakefield missed another chance to get his 200th career win, also giving up four runs on nine hits in just 5.1 innings.
- Ryan Lavarnway got a start at DH, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
W: Paulino (2-9) CS: Jeff Francoeur (8)

Twins 9, Yankees 4

- A.J. Burnett made Yankee fans curse Brian Cashman for not picking up some starting pitching at the trade deadline, lasting just 1.2 innings and getting slammed for seven runs on five hits and three walks, striking out only one.
- Francisco Liriano looked a little like his old self, giving up just one unearned run over seven innings on three hits and three walks while whiffing six.
- Ben Revere went 2-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored and a steal, his fourth multi-hit game in his last six starts. Joe Mauer went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored, while Jason kubel went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
- Eduardo Nunez, in what could be his last game in the starting lineup before Alex Rodriguez reclaims the third base job, went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
W: Liriano (9-9) HR: Danny Valencia (13) SB: Revere (22) CS: Rene Tosoni (2)

Rays 8, Mariners 0

- Jeremy Hellickson fired eight scoreless innings, scattering six hits with a 5:1 K:BB ratio. The control he showed in the minors is beginning to show itself in the bigs. Over his last eight starts, he's got a sharp 38:14 K:BB ratio in 52 innings.
- Charlie Furbush turned in an ugly effort, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk in three innings.
- Desmond Jennings only went 1-for-4 with a HBP, but stole three bases. Evan Longoria went 2-for-5 with a home run (his fourth in his last 10 games) and four RBI. Johnny Damon and Ben Zobrist also had three hits each.
W: Hellickson (11-8) HR: Longoria (20) SB: Jennings 3 (13)

White Sox 3, Rangers 2

- John Danks and Alexi Ogando put up nearly identical lines, both giving up two runs over seven innings with five K's. Ogando allowed six hits and a walk, while Danks allowed seven hits and no walks.
- if Ian Kinsler had slept in, Danks might have had a shutout. Kinsler accounted for all of Texas' offense by going 3-for-4 with two solo shots.
- Adam Dunn got a hit and only struck out once. He's now built up a stunning (well, stunning for him in 2011) four game hitting streak.
- Sergio Santos struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 26th save. His control is still occasionally shaky, but a 12.47 K/9 cures a lot of ills.
W: Jesse Crain (8-3) SV: Santos (26) HR: Kinsler 2 (20) SB: Endy Chavez (7) CS: Nelson Cruz (5)

Padres 14, Marlins 1

- where to start? Nick Hundley was a base short of the cycle, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and two RBI. Orlando Hudson and Kyle Blanks launched back-to-back blasts in the first inning, the first time two consecutive Padres have homered this season. And every San Diego starting hitter got at least one hit and at least two runs or RBI.
- Clay Hensley took the brunt of the damage, lasting just 3.2 innings and getting hung with seven runs on seven hits and two walks. He did strike out six, for what it's worth.
- Aaron Harang wasted a half-decent start, allowing just one run on three hits and five walks over six innings, striking out six.
- Jose Lopez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. He's actaully hitting well since being called back up, going 8-for-19 with four RBI over the last five games. Emilio Bonifacio also continued to play like a real leadoff hitter, going 0-for-3 but walking twice and swiping his 30th base of the year. Marlins fans have to take the positive where they can find it.
W: Harang (12-3) HR: Lopez (4), Hudson (4), Blanks (5), Hundley (5) SB: Bonifacio (30)

A's 5, Blue Jays 1

- the Jays, already missing Jose Bautista due to a stiff neck, lost Adam Lind in the first inning after Gio Gonzalez plunked him on the right wrist. That was pretty much it for their offense on the night.
- Gonzalez breezed through eight innings, giving up just one lonely run on four hits and a walk while striking out nine. After walking at least three batters in each of the last five starts, it's nice to see him find his control again.
- Herderson Alvarez turned in a decent, if futile, effort in his third big league start, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk while three K's over six innings.
- Brandon Allen kept swinging a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. He's 11-for-27 since being called up, although he hasn't homered in that eight game stretch.
W: Gonzalez (10-11) HR: Josh Willingham (22) SB: Eric Thames (1), Jemile Weeks (14)

Angels 9, Orioles 8 (12 innings)

- not a good night for the closers. Jordan Wladen blew his ninth save of the season when he allowed a couple of inherited runners to score, although his own line (two K's in 1.2 shutout innings0 didn't suffer. Kevin Gregg was far worse though, failing to record an out in the 12th inning after the O's had scored twice in the top half of the frame to hand the game to the Halos.
- neither starter was much better. Joel Pineiro returned to the rotation and gave up four runs on nine hits in six innings, with a 2:0 K:BB ratio, while Tommy Hunter got spanked for six runs on 10 hits in 6.1 innings, with nary a K or BB.
- Adam Jones continues to be one of the few bright spots for Baltimore this season, as he went 4-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI.
- Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo each had three hits, with Bourjos adding a solo shot.
W: Fernando Rodney (3-5) HR: Jones (22), Bourjos (7) SB: Robert Andino (7)