Twins vs Indians was postponed due to rain. The game will likely be made up as part of the series that starts on September 23rd.
Rays vs Yankees was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up on September 21st as part of a doubleheader.
Blue Jays 5 - Angels 4
- Dan Haren pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits and no walks with 5 strikeouts, in a no-decision. He ran into a bit of trouble in the 4th inning when he gave up back-to-back jacks to Eric Thames and Jose Bautista. Haren's 1.28 BB/9 walk rate is the lowest of his career. Those waiting for the wheels to fall off for him in the 2nd half, may have to wait a while.
- Brett Cecil also took a no-decision, this after he allowed 4 earned runs over 7 innings. He gave up 5 hits with no walks and 3 strikeouts. Cecil hasn't performed well at home this season with a 5.48 ERA.
- Jordan Walden blew his 8th save of the season, when he gave up back-to-back doubles to Colby Rasmus and Brett Lawrie that tied the game in the bottom of the 9th. He's not in any danger as he had converted 9 of his last 10 coming into today.
- What the hell is Howie Kendrick doing batting 7th again? Memo to Mike Scioscia, you don't bat what is arguably your best hitter, behind Vernon Wells, much less in the lower 3rd of your lineup.
- Brett Lawrie went 1-4 with a double, RBI, and stolen base. He stole 30 bases last season in Double-A, so this could be a preview of things to come.
- Jose Bautista went 3-4 with a home run and walk. Joey Bats is now batting .311/.448/.636 with 34 homers and 77 RBI.
- W: Jon Rauch (5-3), L: Fernando Rodney (2-5), BSV: Jordan Walden (8)
- HR: Torii Hunter (15), Eric Thames (7), Jose Bautista (34)
- SB: Bobby Abreu (16, 17), Brett Lawrie (1)
Orioles 8 - Tigers 5
- Jo-Jo Reyes held the Tigers to just 1 run over 6 innings for his 6th win of the season. He gave up 4 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. The lone run came on a Ramon Santiago home run. Coming into this game, Reyes had a 6.14 ERA at Camden Yards this season.
- Doug Fister was lit up for 8 runs (6 earned) over 5.2 innings on 12 hits and 1 walk. Is this the Jarrod Washburn trade all over again? Fister has now given up 10 earned runs over his first 14.2 innings as a member of the Tigers.
- Kevin Gregg was blasted for 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. Oh yeah, I failed to mention that he didn't get anyone out, so just tag that on to his season ERA, which now stands at 4.20. He had a 3.28 ERA over 24.2 innings in non-save situations this season, coming into this game.
- Nick Markakis went 3-5 with a homer, 4 RBI, and 2 runs. It's the RF's second homer in his last four games and 11th RBI this month. He's batting .284/.335/.400 this season.
- Nolan Reimold went 3-4 with two doubles, 3 runs, and a walk. He's batting .233/.315/.425 this season over 165 plate appearances.
- Ramon Santiago went 1-3 with a 2-run homer and walk as the 2B for the Tigers. With Carlos Guillen going to the DL with a wrist injury, Santiago and the recently recalled Will Rhymes are expected to fill in.
- W: Jo-Jo Reyes (6-9), L: Doug Fister (4-13), SV: Jim Johnson (2)
- HR: Ramon Santiago (2), Nick Markakis (12)
- SB: Craig Tatum (1)
White Sox 6 - Royals 2
- John Danks pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts. After back-to-back subpar outings (12.1 IP, 8 ER), this was more like it. He had a shutout going into the 6th, before Mitch Maier plated two runners with a single. Danks now has a 3.95 ERA over 125.1 innings this season.
- Jeff Francis was up to Jeff Francis things on Sunday as he gave up 6 earned runs over 3.2 innings on 10 hits and 2 walks. He set the tone early with a 3-run homer to Brent Lillibridge in the first inning. He's now 4-13 with a 4.58 ERA over 151.1 innings this season.
- Johnny Giavotella went 1-4 with a walk and a stolen base. In '10 he stole 13 bases at Double-A, while in '09 he stole 26 bases in High-A. He's now 11-38 with 2 walks since coming up on the 5th of this month.
- Tyler Flowers went 2-4 and is now 6-20 with 3 walks since coming up. Maybe he'll start to see more playing time if the White Sox fall completely out of it. As is, they're 4 out in the division and A.J. Pierzynski is the starting catcher.
- W: John Danks (5-9), L: Jeff Francis (4-13)
- HR: Brent Lillibridge (10)
- SB: Johnny Giavotella (4)
Rangers 7 - A's 6
- Matt Harrison allowed 6 runs (4 earned) over 5.1 innings, in a no-decision. He gave up 6 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. He remains 10-8 with a 3.19 ERA, 95 strikeouts, and 45 walks over 143.2 innings.
- Rich Harden lasted 4 innings as he allowed 4 earned runs on 5 hits and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts. In 6 starts (37 innings) against teams not named the Texas Rangers, he has a 3.41 ERA. Unfortunately, the A's still have 6 more games with them.
- Brandon Allen went 3-4 with a double, RBI, and 2 runs. The hits were his first as a member of the A's.
- Mike Napoli went 1-4 with a double, RBI, run and walk. He's batting .288/.386/.583 and leads the team in slugging percentage, which is saying something.
- W: Mike Adams (4-2), L: Andrew Bailey (0-3), SV: Neftali Feliz (23)
- SB: Nelson Cruz (9)
Mariners 5 - Red Sox 3
- Charlie Furbush held the Red Sox to just 1 run over 7 innings on 4 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. The lone run came via a Jed Lowrie sac-fly in the 4th. In three starts for the Mariners, Furbush has pitched 16 innings with 8 earned runs with 9 strikeouts and 6 walks.
- Tim Wakefield pitched a complete game (8 innings) with 5 runs (4 earned) allowed on 9 hits and 2 walks. He's been stuck on 199 career wins for his last 4 starts now. With a 4.97 ERA over 121.1 innings, it's doubtful he's on many fantasy teams.
- Casper Wells went 1-3 with a homer, 2 runs, a walk, and a stolen base. That's now back-to-back games with homers and 3 total, since joining the Mariners at the trade deadline.
- Wily Mo Pena went 1-4 with a double. It was his first double as a member of the Mariners. I can't wait to see him crush bombs in Safeco.
- Mike Carp went 1-4 with a RBI. That's 9 RBI over his last five games and 24 since coming up nearly a month ago.
- W: Charlie Furbush (3-4), L: Tim Wakefield (6-5), SV: Brandon League (29)
- HR: Kevin Youkilis (17), Casper Wells (7)
- SB: Carl Crawford (15), Casper Wells (3)
Giants 5 - Marlins 2
- Ryan Vogelsong bounced back from a rare loss this season with 7.2 innings of 2-run ball for the win. He gave up just 4 hits with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts. It was his longest outing since early June, when he went 8 innings. With a 2.47 ERA over 127.2 innings, whatever the price was that his owners paid to acquire him, it has certainly been repaid multiple times.
- Chris Volstad took his 9th loss, after he pitched 6 innings and allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts. As has been the case for Volstad this season, he got burnt by the longball. He gave up homers to Cody Ross, Nate Schierholtz, and Brandon Belt. It was his first start since coming back up from the minors.
- Brandon Belt announced his return to the bigs with 2 home runs, both solo shots. Now will Bruce Bochy start giving him some playing time? Probably not considering his man-crush on the baseball player formerly known as Aubrey Huff.
- Bryan Petersen played LF for the Fish and went 0-2 with a run and walk. He's expected to fill-in for Logan Morrison, who got demoted to the minors yesterday. Petersen hit .351/.434/.569 in 286 plate appearances with 11 homers and 6 stolen bases this season at Triple-A.
- W: Ryan Vogelsong (10-2), L: Chris Volstad (5-9), SV: Ramon Ramirez (2)
- HR: Cody Ross (9), Nate Schierholtz (8), Brandon Belt (3, 4), Mike Stanton (26)
- SB: Orlando Cabrera (8), Eli Whiteside (2)
Padres 7 - Reds 3
- Wade LeBlanc received his first win of the season after he gave the Friars a quality start. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on just 2 hits and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts. It was just his 6th start this season and third since being recalled from Triple-A. He's made three stops in the minors and majors this season.
- Dontrelle Willis lasted just 2.2 innings, before being pulled from the game with "soreness in his left forearm." His 3rd inning included two wild pitches, two walked batters, and four hits that all added up to 4 runs. Willis had been somewhat useful, since coming back up to the majors this season, with a 3.41 ERA over 37 innings, prior to today's outing.
- Jay Bruce went yard for the third game in a row, this time with a 3-run shot. That gives him 5 homers over his last 7 games with 15 RBI to show for it.
- James Darnell went 2-3 with 2 RBI and his first career stolen base. He stole a total of 13 bases while in the minors, so don't expect him to be a great source of speed.
- W: Wade LeBlanc (1-2), L: Dontrelle Willis (0-3)
- HR: Jay Bruce (26)
- SB: Cameron Maybin (31), James Darnell (1)
Cubs 6 - Braves 5
- Brandon Beachy pitched 5.1 innings with 2 earned runs in a no-decision. He gave up 6 hits with no walks and 8 strikeouts. Beachy has been down right dominant this season with 113 strikeouts over 102.1 innings. Poor luck is the only way I can figure out how he has 7 decisions over 18 innings with a 3.43 ERA.
- Matt Garza also took a no-decision, after he pitched 5 innings and allowed 2 earned runs. He gave up 6 hits, none of which were to Dan Uggla, and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts. Garza now has 1 win over his last 9 starts, six of which he allowed 2 earned runs or less.
- Arodys Vizcaino struck out 3 batters and got 2 outs. One of the hitters reached base on a dropped third strike. This was all in the 6th inning, but Vizcaino could start working later in games if Fredi Gonzalez ever decides to stop using Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel ever chance he gets. Tough to blame him when the team is fighting for a playoff spot and Venters & Kimbrel combine to strikeout 6 batters over 2 innings, like they did today.
- Dan Uggla's hit streak ended at 33 games as he went 0-3 with a sac-fly. Before the streak started he was batting .173/.241/.327 with 12 homers and 29 RBI. He's now batting .231/.297/.450 with 27 homers and 62 RBI.
- Michael Bourn went 3-4 with 2 RBI, a run, a walk, and 2 stolen bases. He lead the majors with 45 stolen bags this season.
- Brian McCann came off the DL and went 0-4 with a strikeout. He had been dealing with an oblique injury.
- Carlos Pena went 1-4 with a 3-run homer and 2 strikeouts. He's now batting .221/.341/.452.
- W: John Grabow (3-0), L: Eric O'Flaherty (1-4), SV: Carlos Marmol (28)
- HR: Carlos Pena (23)
- SB: Michael Bourn (44, 45), Jason Heyward (6), Jose Constanza (4, 5)
Nationals vs Phillies was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up September 20th as part of a doubleheader.
Brewers 2 - Pirates 1
- Shaun Marcum pitched 7.2 innings of 1-run ball on 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. The lone run came in the first inning, when Andrew McCutchen hit a RBI ground-rule double. Marcum was sharp the rest of the way as he retired 15 of 16 batters at one point. On the season he's 10-3 with a 3.50 ERA over 149.1 innings.
- Charlie Morton held the Brew-Crew to just 1 run over 7.1 innings on 4 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. Nearly an identical line to what Marcum had. Morton left with a shutout intact, but Joel Hanrahan gave up a single to Ryan Braun that plated Jerry Hairston. Morton has now given up just 1 earned run over his last 3 starts (22.1 innings) with 16 strikeouts and 7 walks, yet he has only 1 win to show for it.
- Pedro Alvarez went 0-3, which put him at 0-9 in the weekend series with the Brewers. Sophomore Slump is an apt description of his second tour of the majors.
- Nyjer Morgan got the game winning knock with a sac-fly to right field that scored Geoge Kottaras. The speedy CF is batting .317/.350/.448 this season. More importantly, the Brewers win another game and are now 5.5 games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central.
- W: Takashi Saito (3-1), L: Chris Resop (3-4)
- SB: Xavier Paul (14); CS: Yuniesky Betancourt (4)
Dodgers 7 - Astros 0
- Hiroki Kuroda helped sweep the Astros with 7 shutout innings for his 8th win. He gave up 5 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. Amazingly (or maybe not) the Astros scored 1 run in this 3 game series with the Dodgers. Kuroda has now given up 3 earned runs or less in 12 of his last 13 starts. His 2.72 ERA is tied with Clayton Kershaw for 7th best in the NL.
- Jordan Lyles was knocked around for 7 earned runs over 5.1 innings for his 7th loss. He gave up 7 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. Giving up homers to Dioner Navarro, Matt Kemp, and Justin Sellers did him in, especially the Sellers homer, which was a 3-run jack. Lyles has now given up 13 homers over 84.2 innings (1.38 HR/9). If he can curb that trend, his ERA should start to fall from it's current 5.21 status.
- Matt Kemp went 2-4 with a homer, 2 runs, and a stolen base. He's now up to 28 homers and 34 stolen bases. A 40/40 season isn't likely, but finishing 30/30 isn't so bad.
- Jose Altuve got another hit. He's hitting .333/.351/.398 this season over 98 plate appearances. He's one of the few reasons I still tune in to Astros games.
- W: Hiroki Kuroda (8-14), L: Jordan Lyles (1-7)
- HR: Matt Kemp (28), Dioner Navarro (5), Justin Sellers (1)
- Tony Gwynn Jr. (20), Matt Kemp (34)
Diamondbacks 5 - Mets 3
- Jason Marquis held the Mets to just 1 run over 3.1 innings, before leaving the game with a broken fibula. He's likely done for the season, after only 11.1 innings for the D-Backs. He finishes the season with a 4.43 ERA over 132 innings with 76 strikeouts and 43 walks.
- Chris Capuano took the loss after he allowed 4 earned runs over 6 innings. He gave up 9 hits with no walks and 6 strikeouts. Capuano has just 1 quality start over his last 6 starts.
- Justin Upton went 2-4 with a double and homer. The NL MVP candidate is hitting .306/.379/.564 this season with 25 homers and 75 RBI.
- Paul Goldschmidt went 3-4 with two doubles, a run, and RBI. He's reached base in 11 of the 12 games he's appeared in.
- Angel Pagan went 3-5 with a double, run, and stolen base. The CF is batting .254/.317/.372 this season with 6 homers and 24 stolen bases over 380 plate appearances.
- W: Zach Duke (3-4), L: Chris Capuano (9-11), SV: David Hernandez (11)
- HR: Lucas Duda (4), Justin Upton (25)
- SB: Angel Pagan (24), Willie Bloomquist (12); CS: Jason Pridie (1)
Cardinals 6 - Rockies 2
- Edwin Jackson allowed 2 earned runs, before leaving after 5.1 innings with a hamstring injury. There's no word yet if it was a cramp or something more. The 2 earned runs came via 8 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Over his first four starts (25.1 innings) he has 16 strikeouts and 8 walks with an ugly 4.62 ERA, thanks to a disastrous start against the Brewers (7 IP, 8 ER).
- Esmil Rogers took the loss, after he allowed 4 earned runs over 5 innings on 6 hits and 7 walks. Any time you walk 7 batters, you better believe there's going to be some earned runs coming along for the ride. Since coming back up, Rogers has given up 7 earned runs over three starts (16.2 innings) with 17 strikeouts and 11 walks.
- Albert Pujols went 3-4 with a walk and launched a massive 2-run bomb that went an estimated 465 feet, making it the longest ever at new Busch Stadium.
- Yadier Molina went 3-3 with a double, walk, and 2 RBI. The catcher is hitting .296/.337/.440 this season with 8 homers & 42 RBI over 378 plate appearances.
- Troy Tulowitzki went 2-4 with a RBI. He has 3 homers and 9 RBI in what could be a big August and even bigger finish to the season.
- W: Edwin Jackson (9-8), L: Esmil Rogers (6-2)
- HR: Mark Ellis (4), Albert Pujols (29)
- CS: Lance Berkman (4)