(Thursday, July 5th)
Final Score: Boston 15, Tampa Bay 4
Boston, MA - Josh Beckett got back on the winning track, as the Boston Red Sox scored 13 runs in the first three innings to fuel a 15-4 stomping of the woeful Devil Rays, completing a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay, which has dropped 11 straight games. Coco Crisp hit a grand slam and had five RBI on the night, and Mike Lowell went 5-for-6 with a homer, five RBI, and three runs scored. Beckett (12-2) gave up nine hits and three runs while fanning nine in six innings for the Red Sox, who have won four straight. J.P. Howell (1-3) recorded only two outs in the first before being pulled, after giving up six runs on six hits, with two walks. Delmon Young went 3- for-4 with an RBI and a run for the Devil Rays, who are four losses away from tying the franchise-record 15-game losing skid of 2002.
Final Score: Detroit 12, Cleveland 3
Detroit, MI - Justin Verlander struck out seven batters and allowed just two earned runs, as a starting assignment at next week’s All-Star game may have been on the line, as the Detroit Tigers routed C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians, 12-3, to close a three-game series at Comerica Park and climb within one game of first place in the AL Central. Verlander (10-3), showing no signs of a sophomore slump, is putting up better numbers than his AL Rookie of the Year campaign from a year ago and has a no- hitter this season to boot. He allowed six hits without walking a batter before Bobby Seay and Jose Capellan finished the game on the mound. Gary Sheffield homered in the fourth inning for the Tigers, who won their second straight. Placido Polanco and Carlos Guillen also homered in the win. Sabathia (12-3), arguably the best pitcher in the league this season, gave up seven runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts over just four frames. Victor Martinez homered for the Indians, who lost their second straight. Casey Blake and Ryan Garko both finished 1-for-3 and scored a run.
Final Score: New York 7, Minnesota 6
Bronx, NY - Hideki Matsui ripped a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the short-handed New York Yankees edged Minnesota, 7-6, in the finale of a four-game set at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees were without the services of All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who is struggling with a strained left hamstring and left Yankee Stadium to undergo an MRI before the game. Melky Cabrera was 3-for-5 with a three-run homer for New York, which took three of four in the series. Robinson Cano also homered for the Yankees. Kei Igawa started on the hill for the Yankees but was ineffective again. The much-hyped Japanese left-hander allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings to raise his earned run average to 7.14 on the season. Kyle Farnsworth (1-1) got his first win of the season after pitching a perfect eighth. Jason Bartlett was 1-for-4 with a two-run double for the Twins, who have lost four of five. Joe Mauer finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Kevin Slowey was touched for five runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings but got off the hook thanks to the Minnesota offense. Pat Neshek (3-1) lost it after giving up Matsui’s homer. Final Score: Chicago 11, Baltimore 6
Chicago, IL - Tadahito Iguchi and Jermaine Dye each homered and drove in three runs, as the Chicago White Sox toppled the Baltimore Orioles, 11-6, in the finale of a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field. Juan Uribe also went deep while Jim Thome drove in a pair and scored for the White Sox, who earned a series split. Rookie hurler John Danks (5-6) allowed five runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 frames in victory. Fellow rookie southpaw Brian Burres (4-3) was roughed up for seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings for Baltimore, which has dropped two of three.
Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 5, Texas 2
Arlington, TX - Kelvim Escobar tossed seven strong innings to earn his 10th win of the season, as the Angels avoided a sweep with a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers in the finale of a three-game set. Escobar (10-3), who found out just before the game that he would not be representing the American League at the upcoming All-Star Game, allowed just one run, walked three and fanned eight over seven innings. The right-hander was not one of the 11 pitchers named to the AL squad for the upcoming Midsummer Classic last Sunday, despite putting up some of the best numbers of his career. He was then included on a list of five candidates eligible for the last available spot on the roster, which was determined by fan balloting that ended today. Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima won the AL vote, while San Diego Padres starter Chris Young was chosen for the NL. Maicer Izturis had a two-run triple and also scored a run for the Angels, who had lost six of eight coming in. Vladimir Guerrero, who will make his fifth All-Star start in San Francisco next week, extended his season-best hitting streak to nine games with an RBI single in the first. Robinson Tejeda (5-8) allowed four runs on six hits, with three walks and four strikeouts in the loss. The right-hander lost for the fifth time in his last six decisions and has a 9.14 ERA in that span. Marlon Byrd and Michael Young each knocked in a run for the Rangers, who had a modest two-game winning streak snapped. Final Score: Oakland 3, Seattle 2
Oakland, CA - Chad Gaudin held the Mariners to two runs through 7 2/3 innings, and the Oakland Athletics edged Seattle, 3-2, in the opener of a four-game set. Gaudin (8-3) allowed eight hits while fanning three and walking four. Nick Swisher and Bobby Crosby each hit solo homers in the sixth to put the A’s on top. Shannon Stewart went 2-for-4 with a run to extend his hitting streak to 11 games for the A’s, who have won five of six. The loss spoiled a great outing by Miguel Batista (8-7), who only gave up six hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings, striking out five while walking three. Jose Guillen went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run for Seattle, which had won nine of its last 11 entering the game.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 3
Pittsburgh, PA - Adam LaRoche went 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored to lead Pittsburgh past Milwaukee, 6-3, in the finale of a four-game set at PNC Park. Xavier Nady was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Pirates, who took the final three games in the series and have won four of their last six. Ryan Doumit homered and Jason Bay added a run-scoring single. Tom Gorzelanny (9-4) allowed four hits and three runs over seven innings, fanning five and walking two. Matt Capps earned his ninth save of the season with a scoreless inning to finish the contest. Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets (10-4) was charged with eight hits and five runs in six innings, with six strikeouts and a walk in the loss. Geoff Jenkins hit a two-run homer for the Brewers, who have dropped three in a row and four of five. J.J. Hardy finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single. The Brewers also lost center fielder Bill Hall to a right ankle sprain suffered in the second inning when he tried to pull down Doumit’s solo shot. X-rays were negative, but hewill head back to Milwaukee for an MRI expected to be taken on Friday.
Final Score: Florida 3, San Diego 2
San Diego, CA - Byung-Hyun Kim worked 6 1/3 innings of two- run ball as the Florida Marlins took the finale of a four-game set against San Diego, 3-2, at Petco Park. Kim (4-4) gave up just three hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts for the Marlins, who have won three of their last five games. Matt Treanor went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI while Jeremy Hermida hit a solo home run and scored twice. Marcus Giles and Michael Barrett each drove in a run while Jake Peavy (9-3) was handed the loss for giving up three runs on five hits in seven innings of work for the Padres, who have dropped three of their past five contests.
Final Score: Chicago 4, Washington 2
Washington, DC - Former National Daryle Ward had two hits, knocked in a pair of runs and also scored once as the Chicago Cubs edged Washington, 4-2, in the finale of a four-game set at RFK Stadium. Mike Fotenot went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for Chicago, which took three of four in the series and has won 11 of its last 13 games. Will Ohman (1-4) earned the win, getting the final two outs in the sixth. Starter Sean Marshall went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits, walking four and fanning two. Dmitri Young had two hits - including his first triple since August 8, 2006 against Minnesota - while knocking in a run and scoring once for Washington, which has dropped eight of its last 10 games. Luis Ayala (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in one relief inning. Jason Bergmann yielded two runs on six hits, with two strikeouts and no walks over 5 1/3 innings in the start. Final Score: Cincinnati 6, San Francisco 3
Cincinnati, OH - Ken Griffey Jr. drove in a pair of runs to help the Cincinnati Reds knock off the San Francisco Giants, 6-3, in the conclusion of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park. Josh Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three runs scored for the Reds, who have won two of their last three games. Bronson Arroyo (3-9) got his first win since May 6 as he gave up just three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He also hit the third home run of his career in the game. Rich Aurilia went 3- for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Matt Morris (7-5) was saddled with the loss as he gave up six runs on seven hits in six innings of work for the Giants, who had won three of four coming into the game. Barry Bonds, who belted career home run No. 751 in the first game of the series on Tuesday to move within four of Hank Aaron, finished the game 1-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout. He sat out Wednesday’s contest. Final Score: St. Louis 3, Arizona 2
St. Louis, MO - Juan Encarnacion’s three-run homer was the difference, as St. Louis survived a late rally to top Arizona, 3-2, in the final game of a four-game set from Busch Stadium. Adam Wainwright (7-7) scattered five hits over seven-plus innings, fanning four and walking three. Jason Isringhausen held on in the ninth to record his 17th save. So Taguchi collected a pair of hits for the Cardinals, winners of two straight and four of five to move within four games of .500 (39-43) for the first time since June 6. In addition, St. Louis improved to 20-20 at home. Arizona’s Doug Davis (5-10) allowed seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts and five walks in seven full innings. Davis is just 1-4 in his last six starts. Augie Ojeda drove in a pair for the D-Backs, losers of two straight and five of six. Conor Jackson and Mark Reynolds each had two hits in the loss.
Final Score: New York 6, Houston 2
Houston, TX - John Maine pitched 7 2/3 strong innings as the New York Mets stopped their four-game skid with a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a four-game set. Maine (10-4) held the Astros to six hits and two runs, fanning a career-high nine with two walks. Ramon Castro went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, Carlos Delgado was 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run, and Carlos Beltran homered for the Mets. Jason Jennings (1-4) gave up nine hits and five runs in six innings, with four strikeouts and three walks. Craig Biggio, Carlos Lee, and Mark Loretta each had two hits for the Astros, who dropped their second in a row. Final Score: Atlanta 8, Los Angeles 6
Los Angeles, CA - Chipper Jones eclipsed Dale Murphy on Atlanta’s all-time home run list with a pair of blasts, as the Braves edged the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-6, in the finale of a four-game series at Chavez Ravine. Jones hit home run No. 371 in the sixth to put his team up for good, then belted record-setting homer No. 372 in the eighth, a solo shot to right-center. Jeff Francoeur also went deep and drove in a pair of runs for the Braves, who have won two in a row. Starter Tim Hudson lasted just three-plus innings, allowing six runs — four earned — on 10 hits. Peter Moylan (3-1) got the win after tossing two scoreless frames of relief, and Bob Wickman picked up his 16th save. Brad Penny yielded six runs over four innings, but did manage to tie a career high by knocking in three runs. Penny was 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA over his last nine contests entering the game. Eric Stults (0-1) took the loss. Luis Gonzalez and Nomar Garciaparra both scored twice for LA, which has dropped two straight.
