(Monday, July 2nd)
Final Score: Boston 7, Texas 3
Boston, MA - Eric Hinske blew open a close game with a bases-loaded triple in the fifth inning, as the Boston Red Sox topped the Texas Rangers, 7-3, in the finale of a four-game set at Fenway Park. Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run double in the third inning and rookie Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored for the Red Sox, who split this set with the Rangers and won for just the third time in their last nine games. Another Boston rookie, Kason Gabbard (2-0), picked up the win in his second straight start in place of the injured Curt Schilling. The left-hander pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Brad Wilkerson hit a three- run home run for the Rangers, who saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end. Brandon McCarthy (4-5), who was activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, was tagged with the loss after yielding four runs on six hits through 3 2/3 innings.
Final Score: Cleveland 10, Tampa Bay 2
Cleveland, OH - Grady Sizemore smacked a grand slam to cap a seven-run eighth inning, as the Cleveland Indians downed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 10-2, to complete a four-game sweep at Jacobs Field. Ben Francisco also homered for the Indians, who won their fifth straight. Victor Martinez ended 2-for-4 and scored a run in the rout. Fausto Carmona (9-4) bounced back from the worst start of his career by allowing just two runs - one earned - on four hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts over six-plus innings. The 23-year-old right-hander, who has lost three of his last five starts, made his first-ever start against the Rays. Carlos Pena finished 1-for-2 and scored a run for the Devil Rays, who lost their season-worst eighth straight. Andy Sonnanstine (1-3) allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six frames.
Final Score: New York 5, Minnesota 1
Bronx, NY - Roger Clemens captured the 350th victory of his illustrious career, pitching eight strong innings in New York’s 5-1 victory against Minnesota at Yankee Stadium. The milestone didn’t come easy. The 44- year-old Clemens had battled lofty expectations behind a hefty contract and struggling command in four starts and one relief appearance entering Monday’s game. Coming in with a 1-3 mark and a 5.32 earned run average, Clemens’ splitter had the late break that put a stamp on his Hall of Fame worthy career. Clemens (2-3) retired the last 15 batters he faced, giving up one run on two hits with four strikeouts and one walk. The Twins didn’t have a base runner with Clemens on the mound after Joe Mauer’s leadoff double in the fourth. With the victory, Clemens became the eighth member of the elusive wins club, the first since Warren Spahn on September 29, 1963.
Final Score: Kansas City 3, Seattle 2 (11 innings)
Kansas City, MO - A sacrifice fly from Emil Brown led the Kansas City Royals past Seattle in John McLaren’s first game behind the bench for the Mariners in the opener of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. In the 11th, David DeJesus hit a leadoff double off the wall in center field and Esteban German followed with a walk. Mark Teahen’s sacrifice fly moved DeJesus to third base and Brown’s sac fly out to center scored DeJesus for the win. DeJesus went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and scored all three runs while Esteban German drove in the other run for the Royals, who have won six of their last eight. Octavio Dotel (1-1) got the win for pitching a scoreless 11th inning. Gil Meche started on the mound and was charged with two runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout in 6 1/3 innings of work. Jose Guillen drove in both runs while Ichiro Suzuki had two hits for the Mariners, who had an eight-game winning streak snapped. Brandon Morrow (3-2) got the loss for giving up the run in the 11th.
Final Score: Baltimore 7, Chicago 6
Chicago, IL - Kevin Millar’s RBI single in the ninth inning capped a five-run rally started in the eighth, and lifted the Baltimore Orioles over the Chicago White Sox, 7-6, in the opener of a four-game series at Cellular Field. Trailing 6-2 after seven innings, Baltimore rallied for five runs in the final two for the comeback. In the eighth, Chris Gomez led off with a double, Millar reached on a fielding error by Josh Fields, and Ramon Hernandez doubled home Gomez before Jay Payton’s three-run triple, cutting the O’s deficit to 6-5 heading into the ninth. Bobby Jenks (2-4) started from the mound, but gave up a double to Corey Patterson, who scored the tying run on a Brian Roberts single. Gomez bunted Roberts over to second, and Jenks intentionally walked Nick Markakis. Both baserunners then executed a double steal, and it paid off when Roberts came home on Millar’s single for the eventual game-winner, as Chris Ray struck out three straight swinging in the bottom half for his 14th save of the season.
Final Score: Toronto 11, Oakland 7
Oakland, CA - Vernon Wells homered twice, as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Oakland Athletics, 11-7, in the first of three consecutive games between the teams at McAfee Coliseum. Frank Thomas finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in his first game back at Oakland since signing as a free agent in the offseason with Toronto, which came in having lost four straight contests and was just swept by the red-hot Seattle Mariners in three games over the weekend. Alex Rios went 2-for-5 with an RBI and scored twice in the win. Josh Towers (4-5) allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over five frames for Toronto. Lenny DiNardo (3-5) gave up six runs - four earned - on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts over just 2 1/3 innings for Oakland. Dan Johnson homered for Oakland, which culminated a 10-game road trip in fine fashion Sunday in the Bronx, pounding the reeling New York Yankees by an 11-5 count in the rubber match of a three-game weekend series. Shannon Stewart went 3-for-5 with an RBI in the loss.
Final Score: Chicago 7, Washington 2
Washington, DC - Ted Lilly tossed seven strong innings and Mark DeRosa drove in three runs to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Washington Nationals, 7-2, in the opener of a four-game set at RFK Stadium. Lilly (7-4) allowed just one run on three hits for the Cubs, who have won nine of their last 10 games to move over the .500 mark for the first time since being 3-2 five games into the season. The left-hander struck out five and walked three, winning his third straight decision. Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for Chicago, which began a seven-game road trip same way it ended a six-game homestand on Sunday — with a win. DeRosa went 2- for-5 and Derrek Lee scored a pair of runs for the Cubs, winners of four straight games on the road. Alfonso Soriano appeared in Washington for the first time since leaving the team this off-season to sign a lucrative contract with the Cubs. A 40-40 player with the Nationals last season, Soriano ended 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Ryan Zimmerman went 2- for-4 for the Nationals, who ended with just five hits on their way to their sixth loss in seven outings.
Final Score: Milwaukee 10, Pittsburgh 3
Pittsburgh, PA - Damian Miller had a monster game, going 4- for-5 with a two-run home run, a grand slam and a career-high seven RBI, as the Milwaukee Brewers crushed the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-3, in the opener of a four-game set at PNC Park. Bill Hall went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Prince Fielder scored twice for the Brewers, who have won five of seven. Freddy Sanchez drove in a pair of runs and Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Pirates, who have dropped their last two. Final Score: Houston 7, Philadelphia 5
Houston, TX - Hunter Pence’s torrid rookie campaign continued, slamming a two-run shot off the left field pole and scoring twice, as Houston took the first contest of a three-game set from Philadelphia, 7-5, at Minute Maid Park. Craig Biggio had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Carlos Lee finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. One of Lee’s hits was a solo homer in the eighth that reached the railroad tracks well above the left field fence. The Astros have won three of four overall and seven of their last eight at home. Jamie Moyer (7-6) was saddled with the loss, giving up four runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts over six innings. The Phillies bullpen walked five batters in just two innings. Philadelphia has dropped four of five. Pat Burrell hit a solo homer and three others, including Ryan Howard, had two hits.
Final Score: St. Louis 11, Arizona 3
St. Louis, MO - Scott Rolen drove in four runs as the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11-3, in the first of a four- game set at Busch Stadium. Making his first start since being activated from the 15-day disabled list, Cardinals starter Braden Looper went six frames, allowing three runs on four hits. Russ Springer (4-1) threw a perfect seventh to earn the win. Albert Pujols, Aaron Miles, Scott Shumaker and Rolen all had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who have won three of four. Chris Snyder homered and Chad Tracy knocked in two runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three straight and five of seven.
Final Score: Colorado 6, New York 2
Denver, CO - Matt Holliday’s three-run home run highlighted a six-run third inning and the Colorado Rockies overcame an injury to starting pitcher Jason Hirsh to defeat the New York Mets, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game set at Coors Field. Hirsh (4-7) picked up his first win in nearly a month thanks to six shutout innings of three-hit ball and went 2- for-3 with two RBI, but his good luck lasted only a short time as he left prematurely after suffering a sprained right ankle when running the bases. The right-hander, who walked one and struck out two, won for the first time since June 10 — a span of four starts. Willy Taveras and Jamey Carroll each had two hits and scored a run for the Rockies, who won for the second time in three outings after losing eight in a row. Colorado, which ended a 10-game road trip on Sunday with a 1-9 mark, has now won four straight at home — all against New York teams. Before embarking on the road, Colorado swept a three- game set from the New York Yankees. David Wright and Shawn Green each had two hits for the Mets, who have dropped two straight after winning four in a row and eight of nine.
Final Score: San Diego 3, Florida 1
San Diego, CA - David Wells threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Brian Giles scored twice as the San Diego Padres edged the Florida Marlins, 3-1, in the first of a four-game set at Petco Park. Wells (4-5) didn’t allow a run for the first time this year while limiting the Marlins to five hits and striking out a season-high six for the Padres, who won for the fifth time in six games. Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances. Giles, Marcus Giles and Khalil Greene accounted for the three hits by the Padres, who improved to 4-2 when they have three hits or fewer. Florida starter Sergio Mitre (2-4) went six innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Josh Willingham homered and Miguel Olivo went 3- for-4 for the Marlins, who have lost seven of nine and had a runner in scoring position in four of the first five innings.
Final Score: Los Angeles 8, Atlanta 2
Los Angeles, CA - Matt Kemp’s two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth put the Dodgers in front to stay, as Los Angeles downed Atlanta, 8-2, in the first of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. Derek Lowe was solid in the start for the Dodgers, allowing one run while scattering eight hits with five strikeouts over five-plus frames. With the outing, Lowe lowered his earned run average to 2.98. Russell Martin finished 4-for-5 with two RBI for the Dodgers, who have won two of three. Martin’s RBI single in the seventh gave Los Angeles some insurance and a 4-1 lead. Jeff Kent’s ensuing base hit scored Martin, who stole second earlier in the at-bat. Fresh off another All-Star selection, John Smoltz (8-5) was the hard-luck loser. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed six frames, allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Renteria finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.
