(Saturday, July 7th)
Final Score: Cleveland 9, Toronto 4
Toronto, ON - Casey Blake belted a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-4, in the second of three weekend meetings at Rogers Centre. Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore and Trot Nixon also hit homers for the Indians, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Martinez left the game in the bottom of the fifth with a bruised left knee and is listed as day-to-day. The catcher, who is on a 12- game hitting streak, was replaced by Kelly Shoppach. Clevland starter Fausto Carmona (10-4) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out five. Frank Thomas went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Alex Rios tripled for the Blue Jays, who had won three of their previous four. Toronto starter Shaun Marcum (4-3) allowed eight runs and nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 3 1/3 frames in the loss.
Final Score: Chicago 3, Minnesota 1
Chicago, IL - Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer and Mark Buehrle threw eight scoreless frames as the Chicago White Sox edged the Minnesota Twins, 3-1, in the third of a four-game set U.S. Cellular Field. Buehrle, (6-4) who has been the subject of trade speculation, yielded just six hits. Bobby Jenks allowed a run in the ninth but was able to pick up his 23rd save in 26 chances. Jerry Owens had two hits and Konerko’s homer was his 17th of the season for the White Sox, whose win comes one day after a day- night doubleheader in which they were hammered 20-14 and 12-0 by the Twins. It was the most runs they’d given up in back-to-back games since 1930. Torii Hunter drove in a run and Luis Castillo had two hits for the Twins, who have lost five of eight. Minnesota starter Boof Bonser (5-6) allowed three runs on four hits in seven frames.
Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 2, NY Yankees 1 (13 innings)
Bronx, NY - Howie Kendrick scored the game-winning run in the 13th inning to help the Angels to a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees in the second of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Jeff Mathis drove in the other run while Garret Anderson scored the other run for the Angels, who had lost three of four coming into the contest. John Lackey was impressive in the start as he gave up only one run on five hits with and tied a career- high with 11 strikeouts in eight innings of action. Rodriguez (2-2) got the win for pitching two scoreless innings. Bobby Abreu drove in the lone run and Hideki Matsui scored the run for the Yankees, who had won four of five coming into the game. Melky Cabrera struck out in all five of his at- bats. Roger Clemens started on the mound and gave up just one run on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in eight innings of work. Luis Vizcaino (4-2) got the loss for giving up the unearned run.
Final Score: Seattle 4, Oakland 0
Oakland, CA - Felix Hernandez baffled A’s hitters for eight innings and Adrian Beltre connected on his third home run in the last two games as Seattle blanked Oakland, 4-0. Hernandez (5-4) allowed two hits, walked two and fanned a pair in his second impressive outing on the hill this week. The right-hander was also tremendous on Monday, allowing two runs over eight innings against Kansas City. Hernandez, who threw 116 pitches - 78 for strikes - also tossed a shutout against Oakland on Opening Day and has extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings against the squad. He also improved to 3-2 in six career starts versus the Athletics. Beltre, meanwhile, connected on his 13th homer of the season for Seattle, which has won three of its last four games. The three-run shot in the second inning was his third homer in the last two games after he went 5-for-5 with two homers, two doubles and a single in Friday’s 7-1 victory. Rich Harden (1-2) lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his first start since April 15th, allowing four runs and five hits with three walks and a strikeout. The right-hander was out of commission earlier this season with a shoulder injury, but had pitched well in three relief appearances before moving back to the rotation.
Final Score: Detroit 3, Boston 2 (13 innings)
Detroit, MI - Ivan Rodriguez’s RBI hit with two outs in the 13th inning sent Detroit past Boston, 3-2, in the middle contest of a three-game series at Comerica Park. With Jonathan Papelbon (0-2) on the hill for the home half of the 13th, Gary Sheffield took first when he was plunked by a pitch. Magglio Ordonez flew out, then with Carlos Guillen at the plate, Sheffield stole second. Guillen struck out, but Rodriguez drilled a ball just beyond the outstretched arm of Boston center-fielder Coco Crisp to bring Sheffield home with the winning run. Craig Monroe knocked in two with a double for the AL Central-leading Tigers, who have won four in a row and five of six. Jason Grilli (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win. Starter Jeremy Bonderman gave up seven hits and two runs over eight full innings, with nine strikeouts and three walks. David Ortiz hit a two-run homer for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who have lost two in a row following a four-game win streak. Starter Kason Gabbard pitched well for Boston, allowing only three hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings. Final Score: Kansas City 8, Tampa Bay 7
Kansas City, MO - Mark Grudzielanek hit a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Kansas City an 8-7 win over Tampa Bay in the second contest of a three-game set. After Brendan Harris’ RBI single in the top of the ninth tied the game at 7-7, Tony Pena start the home half of the inning with a single off Shawn Camp (0-3). Pena went to second on David DeJesus’ sacrifice bunt and then to third on Esteban German’s groundout. Camp intentionally walked Mark Teahen, who then took second base on defensive indifference. Grudzielanek slapped a 1-0 pitch into right field, easily scoring Pena with the game-winning run. Billy Butler homered and knocked in two runs while German scored twice for the Royals. Octavio Dotel (2-1) picked up the win despite blowing his third save of the season, while starter Gil Meche gave up six runs on five hits through six innings for Kansas City, which ended a brief two-game skid. Carlos Pena hit a two-run home run and Jonny Gomes homered and finished with two RBI for the Devil Rays, who have lost 12 of 13.
Final Score: Baltimore 3, Texas 0
Arlington, TX - Erik Bedard struck out a franchise-record tying 15 batters in a two-hit shutout, as the Baltimore Orioles blanked the Texas Rangers, 3-0. Bedard (7-4) did not walk a batter either, and joined Mike Mussina, who struck out 15 three times, in the Orioles record book. The left-hander retired 19 straight batters between a pair of Texas singles, both of which led to double plays, as Bedard faced the minimum 27 batters. Jay Gibbons homered for the Orioles, who ended a two-game skid. Jay Payton went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the win. Desi Relaford and Sammy Sosa had the lone hits for the Rangers, who have gone 11-6 since June 20. Brandon McCarthy (4-6) allowed two runs - one earned - on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings for Texas. Final Score: Cleveland 9, Toronto 4
Toronto, ON - Casey Blake belted a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-4, in the second of three weekend meetings at Rogers Centre. Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore and Trot Nixon also hit homers for the Indians, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Martinez left the game in the bottom of the fifth with a bruised left knee and is listed as day-to-day. The catcher, who is on a 12- game hitting streak, was replaced by Kelly Shoppach. Clevland starter Fausto Carmona (10-4) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out five. Frank Thomas went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Alex Rios tripled for the Blue Jays, who had won three of their previous four. Toronto starter Shaun Marcum (4-3) allowed eight runs and nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 3 1/3 frames in the loss.
Final Score: Chicago 3, Minnesota 1
Chicago, IL - Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer and Mark Buehrle threw eight scoreless frames as the Chicago White Sox edged the Minnesota Twins, 3-1, in the third of a four-game set U.S. Cellular Field. Buehrle, (6-4) who has been the subject of trade speculation, yielded just six hits. Bobby Jenks allowed a run in the ninth but was able to pick up his 23rd save in 26 chances. Jerry Owens had two hits and Konerko’s homer was his 17th of the season for the White Sox, whose win comes one day after a day- night doubleheader in which they were hammered 20-14 and 12-0 by the Twins. It was the most runs they’d given up in back-to-back games since 1930. Torii Hunter drove in a run and Luis Castillo had two hits for the Twins, who have lost five of eight. Minnesota starter Boof Bonser (5-6) allowed three runs on four hits in seven frames. Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 2, NY Yankees 1 (13 innings)
Bronx, NY - Howie Kendrick scored the game-winning run in the 13th inning to help the Angels to a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees in the second of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Jeff Mathis drove in the other run while Garret Anderson scored the other run for the Angels, who had lost three of four coming into the contest. John Lackey was impressive in the start as he gave up only one run on five hits with and tied a career- high with 11 strikeouts in eight innings of action. Rodriguez (2-2) got the win for pitching two scoreless innings. Bobby Abreu drove in the lone run and Hideki Matsui scored the run for the Yankees, who had won four of five coming into the game. Melky Cabrera struck out in all five of his at- bats. Roger Clemens started on the mound and gave up just one run on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in eight innings of work. Luis Vizcaino (4-2) got the loss for giving up the unearned run. Final Score: Seattle 4, Oakland 0
Oakland, CA - Felix Hernandez baffled A’s hitters for eight innings and Adrian Beltre connected on his third home run in the last two games as Seattle blanked Oakland, 4-0. Hernandez (5-4) allowed two hits, walked two and fanned a pair in his second impressive outing on the hill this week. The right-hander was also tremendous on Monday, allowing two runs over eight innings against Kansas City. Hernandez, who threw 116 pitches - 78 for strikes - also tossed a shutout against Oakland on Opening Day and has extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings against the squad. He also improved to 3-2 in six career starts versus the Athletics. Beltre, meanwhile, connected on his 13th homer of the season for Seattle, which has won three of its last four games. The three-run shot in the second inning was his third homer in the last two games after he went 5-for-5 with two homers, two doubles and a single in Friday’s 7-1 victory. Rich Harden (1-2) lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his first start since April 15th, allowing four runs and five hits with three walks and a strikeout. The right-hander was out of commission earlier this season with a shoulder injury, but had pitched well in three relief appearances before moving back to the rotation.
Final Score: Detroit 3, Boston 2 (13 innings)
Detroit, MI - Ivan Rodriguez’s RBI hit with two outs in the 13th inning sent Detroit past Boston, 3-2, in the middle contest of a three-game series at Comerica Park. With Jonathan Papelbon (0-2) on the hill for the home half of the 13th, Gary Sheffield took first when he was plunked by a pitch. Magglio Ordonez flew out, then with Carlos Guillen at the plate, Sheffield stole second. Guillen struck out, but Rodriguez drilled a ball just beyond the outstretched arm of Boston center-fielder Coco Crisp to bring Sheffield home with the winning run. Craig Monroe knocked in two with a double for the AL Central-leading Tigers, who have won four in a row and five of six. Jason Grilli (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win. Starter Jeremy Bonderman gave up seven hits and two runs over eight full innings, with nine strikeouts and three walks. David Ortiz hit a two-run homer for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who have lost two in a row following a four-game win streak. Starter Kason Gabbard pitched well for Boston, allowing only three hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings.
Final Score: Kansas City 8, Tampa Bay 7
Kansas City, MO - Mark Grudzielanek hit a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Kansas City an 8-7 win over Tampa Bay in the second contest of a three-game set. After Brendan Harris’ RBI single in the top of the ninth tied the game at 7-7, Tony Pena start the home half of the inning with a single off Shawn Camp (0-3). Pena went to second on David DeJesus’ sacrifice bunt and then to third on Esteban German’s groundout. Camp intentionally walked Mark Teahen, who then took second base on defensive indifference. Grudzielanek slapped a 1-0 pitch into right field, easily scoring Pena with the game-winning run. Billy Butler homered and knocked in two runs while German scored twice for the Royals. Octavio Dotel (2-1) picked up the win despite blowing his third save of the season, while starter Gil Meche gave up six runs on five hits through six innings for Kansas City, which ended a brief two-game skid. Carlos Pena hit a two-run home run and Jonny Gomes homered and finished with two RBI for the Devil Rays, who have lost 12 of 13. Final Score: Baltimore 3, Texas 0
Arlington, TX - Erik Bedard struck out a franchise-record tying 15 batters in a two-hit shutout, as the Baltimore Orioles blanked the Texas Rangers, 3-0. Bedard (7-4) did not walk a batter either, and joined Mike Mussina, who struck out 15 three times, in the Orioles record book. The left-hander retired 19 straight batters between a pair of Texas singles, both of which led to double plays, as Bedard faced the minimum 27 batters. Jay Gibbons homered for the Orioles, who ended a two-game skid. Jay Payton went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the win. Desi Relaford and Sammy Sosa had the lone hits for the Rangers, who have gone 11-6 since June 20. Brandon McCarthy (4-6) allowed two runs - one earned - on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings for Texas.
