(Saturday, August 4th)
Final Score: New York 16, Kansas City 8
Bronx, NY - Alex Rodriguez hit career home run No. 500 as the New York Yankees downed the Kansas City Royals, 16-8, in the second of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez, who turned 32 on July 27, surpassed Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 338 days) as the youngest player to reach 500 career home runs. Rodriguez smacked the first pitch he saw from Kyle Davies over the left field wall for his 36th home run of the season and became the 22nd player in MLB history to reach the 500 home run mark. He had gone 28 at-bats since his last home run, which occurred on July 25 against the Royals. He is the third player to reach 500 home runs in the Yankee pinstripes, joining Hall of Famer’s Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth. Rodriguez finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored and became the first player in MLB history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI in 10 straight seasons. Robinson Cano went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored while Wilson Betemit added three hits and three RBI for the Yankees, who have won five of their last six games. Phil Hughes, who had been out since May 1, made the start and gave up six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Mike Myers (3-0) got the win for recording the final out of the fifth inning. David DeJesus hit a two-run home run and drove in three while Ross Gload went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Royals, who have dropped four of their last five games. Davies got the start but was roughed up for five runs on six hits in justthree innings of work. John Bale (0-1) got the loss for giving up two runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings of work. Final Score: Toronto 9, Texas 5
Toronto, ON - Frank Thomas hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over the Texas Rangers, 9-5, at Rogers Centre. John McDonald added two hits and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays, who have won the first two games of this three-game set. Alex Rios and Vernon Wells also drove in a run each for Toronto, which has won seven straight at home. Thomas, who ended 2-for-4, increased his career total of home runs to 505, passing Eddie Murray to sit alone in 20th place on the all-time list. Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum (8-4) won his third straight start, allowing three runs — two earned — on eight hits, striking out five without a walk, over six innings. The right-hander has won six of eight decisions. Nelson Cruz drove in two runs and Brad Wilkerson homered for the Rangers, who have lost three straight and six of eight on their nine-game road trip. Willie Eyre (3-4) got the spot start for the Rangers and absorbed the loss. He was charged with seven runs on six hits, striking out two and walking two, in 2 1/3 innings.
Final Score: Minnesota 3, Cleveland 2
Minneapolis, MN - Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs and four Minnesota relievers combined to throw five shutout innings as the Twins edged the Cleveland Indians, 3-2, in the second of a four-game set at the Metrodome. Jason Bartlett had two hits and scored a run and Joe Mauer had two hits, an RBI and scored a run for the Twins, who snapped a two game skid and have won five of their last seven games. Minnesota starter Matt Garza went just four innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking two. Ramon Ortiz (4-4) tossed two scoreless innings, Dennys Reyes 2/3 of an inning and Matt Guerrier 1 1/3 innings before Joe Nathan closed it out with a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 27 chances this season. Casey Blake and Victor Martinez knocked in a run apiece, and Trot Nixon and Jhonny Peralta had two hits each for the Indians, who have lost five of seven but remained a half-game ahead of Detroit in the AL Central after the Tigers lost to Chicago. Cleveland starter Aaron Laffey (0-1) lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on six hits with one strikeout and one walk in his major league debut. Final Score: Oakland 2, LA Angels of Anaheim 1
Oakland, CA - Joe Blanton outdueled Kelvim Escobar and pinch-hitter Travis Buck singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, as the Athletics capitalized on the few scoring opportunities they had in a 2-1 victory over the Angels. Oakland had just two hits, but managed to win for the fourth time in five games. Blanton (9-8) scattered eight hits and walked just two across seven innings to halt a personal four-game losing streak. Huston Street came on to pitch a scoreless eighth, and Alan Embree threw a perfect ninth for his 13th save of the season, a single-season record for an Oakland left-hander. Escobar (11-6) gave up just two hits in seven innings, but also walked seven batters to drop his third consecutive start. The AL West-leading Angels lost for the third time in four games and fell to 4-8 against Oakland this season.
Final Score: Chicago 7, Detroit 5
Detroit, MI - A.J. Pierzynski went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored to pace Chicago over Detroit, 7-5, in the middle contest of three between the clubs at Comerica Park. Jermaine Dye finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two knocked in for the White Sox, winners in three straight games. Jim Thome homered and scored three runs, Paul Konerko had two hits and scored, and Scott Podsednik added an RBI. Javier Vazquez (9-6) allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks over seven innings. He has won three of his last four starts. Jeremy Bonderman (10-4) took the loss, charged with six runs and 10 hits over seven innings and losing for the third consecutive start. Placido Polanco was 2-for-4 with a homer and a pair of runs scored for the Tigers, who have lost four in a row and 10 of their last 12, yet remain a half-game behind Cleveland in the AL Central after the Tribe fell to Minnesota, 3-2 earlier Saturday. Sean Casey added two hits and drove in a run in defeat. Final Score: Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 2
St. Petersburg, FL - Carlos Pena belted a two-run homer and Scott Kazmir threw seven strong innings as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays spanked the Baltimore Orioles, 9-2, in the second of three games from Tropicana Field. Kazmir (8-7) yielded just one run on seven hits, while walking two and striking out nine. Delmon Young drove in three runs and Carl Crawford had three hits with two RBI and three runs scored for the Devil Rays, who have won four of six. Baltimore starter Brian Burres (5-5) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings. Aubrey Huff had two hits and scored a run and Corey Patterson and Jay Payton knocked in a run apiece for the Orioles, who have lost three of four.
Final Score: Boston 4, Seattle 3
Seattle, WA - Jason Varitek’s two-run double was the difference as Boston held off a late rally to edge Seattle, 4-3, in the second of three at Safeco Field. Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-8) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, tying a career-high with 10 strikeouts. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis collected two hits each for the Red Sox, who have won three of four and snapped a nine-game losing streak in Seattle. Manny Ramirez drove in a run and scored once. Jarrod Washburn (8-8) took the loss, yielding eight hits and four runs with four strikeouts and two walks over 6 1/3 innings. Adrian Beltre homered for the Mariners, who saw their two-game win streak ended. Kenji Johjima and Yuniesky Betancourt both collected two hits and an RBI each.
Final Score: San Diego 3, San Francisco 2 (12 innings)
San Diego, CA - Barry Bonds tied one of the most coveted records in sports Saturday night, belting his 755th career homer, equaling the all-time mark set by Hank Aaron in the Giants’ 3-2, 12-inning loss to the San Diego Padres. The San Francisco slugger took a 2-1 fastball from Clay Hensley leading off the second inning and drove the ball well over the wall in left- center field, off an advertising sign. The ball then landed in the bleachers below the main scoreboard. Bonds didn’t a chance though for No. 756, as he walked in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings before being removed in favor of Rajai Davis, who pinch-ran and played left field. The Giants then lost in the 12th inning when Khalil Greene singled up the middle with the bases loaded. The Giants lost in extra innings for a second consecutive night, this time with Randy Messenger (1-4) giving up the winning hit. Marcus Giles walked, stole second and moved to third on a bunt from Mike Cameron. Josh Bard and Adrian Gonzalez were intentionally walked ahead of Greene’s liner up the middle. Cla Meredith (4-5) got the victory by throwing one inning.
Final Score: Chicago 6, New York 2
Chicago, IL - Jacque Jones collected three hits and knocked in a run as the Chicago Cubs used a six-run third inning to down the New York Mets, 6-2, in the second contest of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Ted Lilly pitched 7 2/3 strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits for the Cubs, who ended a two-game slide. Lilly (12-5), who has won seven of his last eight starts, also struck out eight while walking one. Mark DeRosa knocked in two runs in the victory for the Cubs, who trail Milwaukee by one game in the NL Central. The Brewers defeated the Phillies on Saturday night. New York starter John Maine, who came into the game with wins in his last two starts, was roughed up for six runs on four hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Maine (12-6) also walked three, hit a batter and struck out one. Moises Alou hit two home runs for the NL East-leading Mets, who had a three- game winning streak end.
Final Score: Florida 6, Houston 5 (12 innings)
Miami, FL - Miguel Cabrera belted the tying homer in the seventh inning and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 12th, as Florida edged Houston, 6-5. Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla also homered for the Marlins, who snapped a two-game skid. Ramirez had three RBI, as Florida beat Houston for just the fourth time in the last 13 meetings. Jason Lane hit a three-run homer for the Astros, losers in four of their last six contests. Cabrera was intentionally walked by Stephen Randolph (0-1) with two outs in the 12th, and went to second on a wild pitch that hit catcher Eric Munson in the throat. Cabrera scored all the way from second on another wild pitch on a ball that bounced into the Florida dugout. Lee Gardner (3-2) threw the top of the 12th to get the victory. Final Score: Cincinnati 9, Pittsburgh 8 (10 innings)
Pittsburgh, PA - Adam Dunn hit his 30th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the top of the 10th inning, to propel the Reds to a 9-8 comeback victory over the Pirates. Dunn’s homer off Pittsburgh closer Matt Capps came after Jeff Keppinger tied the game with a solo homer off Capps in the top of the ninth. The late-inning support made a winner of right- hander Jared Burton (3-1), who pitched a hitless 1 2/3 innings. David Weathers came on in the 10th for his 21st save of the season, despite giving up a one-out homer to pinch-hitter Jack Wilson. Reds starter Bobby Livingston went 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking none. Javier Valentin went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs for Cincinnati. The Reds have now won two straight over the Bucs following a five-game losing streak. Capps (4-5) blew his first save since moving into the closer’s role, and it negated a go-ahead home run by Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino, who had given the Bucs a 7-6 lead heading into the ninth. Pittsburgh has now lost six of eight, and wasted a solid outing from Matt Morris, making his first start since being acquired from San Francisco at the trade deadline. Morris allowed five runs — four earned — in 6 1/3 innings, and helped his own cause with a single and a solo home run. Final Score: Washington 12, St. Louis 1
Washington, DC - Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three RBI as Washington crushed St. Louis, 12-1, in the second installment of a three-game set at RFK Stadium. Joel Hanrahan (1-0) yielded just one run and six hits in five-plus innings, for his first major league win in his second big league start. He also helped his cause with a two-run double. Brian Schneider finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored for the Nationals, who have won five straight and scored the most runs at RFK since moving from Montreal three seasons ago. Nook Logan had three hits, scored twice and drove in a pair while Ronnie Belliard and Tony Batista also knocked in a run each. Joel Piniero (0-1) making his first National League appearance since being released by Boston, was rocked for seven hits and five runs — four earned — with two walks and two strikeouts in five full innings. Adam Kennedy homered for the Cardinals, who have dropped four in a row. Jim Edmonds and Ryan Ludwick had a pair of hits each. Final Score: Atlanta 6, Colorado 4
Atlanta, GA - Tim Hudson pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field. Hudson (12-5), who also knocked in two runs at the plate, scattered five hits and struck out seven and walked a pair to improve to 6-0 over his last eight starts. Willie Harris started in center field for the injured Andruw Jones and went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI for the Braves, who ended a two-game slide. Jones, who didn’t start due to a sore left elbow, came into the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. After hitting home runs in his first three games with Atlanta since being acquired from Texas at the trade deadline, Mark Teixeira went 0-for-4 with a walk. Ubaldo Jimenez started for Colorado and lasted 4 2/3 frames, allowing six runs on six hits en route to his first-career loss. Jimenez (1-1), who was facing Atlanta for the first time, struck out seven while walking five. Garrett Atkins launched a grand slam in the eighth inning for the Rockies, who were looking to win their third straight game.
Final Score: Milwaukee 6, Philadelphia 5
Milwaukee, WI - Prince Fielder’s two-run homer in the eighth inning put the Brewers on top, and Corey Hart robbed Tadahito Iguchi of a potential tying homer in the ninth, as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5, in the second of three games at Miller Park. Fielder finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Ryan Braun also homered for Milwaukee, which has won two straight and remains one game ahead of the surging Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Cubs beat the Mets, 6-2, earlier in the day. Derrick Turnbow (3-4) earned the win with an inning of relief, and Francisco Cordero notched his 34th save in 39 chances by tossing a perfect ninth. Brewers starter Dave Bush allowed five runs and eight hits, walked three and fanned four over five-plus frames. Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard, and Greg Dobbs all homered for Philadelphia, which has dropped four of its last five games and remains five games behind the Mets in the NL East. Cole Hamels allowed four runs and seven hits, fanned five and did not walk a batter over seven innings, but was denied his 13th win of the season. Tom Gordon (1-2) yielded two runs on two hits in the eighth and was also charged with the blown save.
Final Score: Arizona 8, Los Angeles 7
Los Angeles, CA - Eric Byrnes homered and drove in three runs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks edged Los Angeles, 8-7, in the second of three games at Dodger Stadium. Miguel Montero also homered for the surging Diamondbacks, who nearly lost a seven-run lead, but held on. They’ve won four of their last five games and 12 of 14 overall. Livan Hernandez (7-7) allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits in six innings while striking out four. It was the first time in his last 13 starts that he did not allow a home run, and he also picked up his first road win since May 17. Nomar Garciaparra and Andre Ethier homered for the Dodgers, who have lost three straight games and 11 of 15. Derek Lowe (8-10) allowed six runs — four earned — and four hits over five innings. The right-hander, who allowed a walk and struck out four, was making his first start in 10 days after irritation in his left hip forced him to miss his last scheduled outing for the first time in 211 career starts.
