Notables:
- Ubaldo Jimenez gave up 2 earned runs over 8 innings, on 7 hits and 1 walk, in a win over the Nationals. He's 7-1, with a 1.12 ERA and is now averaging a little over 112 pitchers per start. His 7 wins is now tied for the NL lead.
- Tim Lincecum aka Big Time Timmy Jim won his 5th game of the season, after allowing 1 earned run over 8 innings against a feeble Astros offense.
- Roy Oswalt struck out 7 and walked none, while allowing 2 earned runs over 7 innings in a loss to the Giants. He's now 2-5 with a 2.62 ERA. With the run support he's gotten, Oswalt is quickly becoming the Zack Greinke of the NL.
- Ricky Romero struck out 12 and walked only 1, in a complete game shutout of the Rangers. Too soon to start calling him Slick Rick? I say no.
- Andy Pettitte turned back the clock by throwing 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball against the Twins. He improved to 5-0 and now has a cool 1.79 ERA.
- James Shields struck out 10 and walked none, over 8 innings, but was left with a no decision after the Rays were only able to muster 2 runs against the Mariners Jason Vargas.
- Jake Peavy gave up 3 runs in the first inning against the Royals, but was able to settle down after that, giving up 1 run over the next 7 1/3 innings for the win.
- Clayton Kershaw allowed 1 earned run over 7 innings on 3 hits and 2 walks, for the win. He's now gone 15 innings in his last 2 combined starts, something he's never done before.
- Mike Leake got his 4th win of the season, after going 6 innings and allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks.
- Brian Matusz threw 7 innings of shutout ball, with 6 strikeouts, but lost the win when Alfredo Simon blew the save in spectacular fashion.
- Livan Hernandez finally came back down to Earth, giving up 3 earned runs over 6 innings on 7 hits and 1 walk. His 4-2 record and 1.46 ERA is the work of David Blaine, energy crystals, and voodoo.
- Ty Wigginton hit his 11th and 12th homers of the season. Both were solo shots off Indians starter Mitch Talbot. He's now 1 off Paul Konerko's AL leading 13 home runs.
- Kendry Morales went 2-5, but made those 2 count and they were his 8th and 9th home runs of the season. He tallied 5 RBI on the night.
- Brennan Boesch got 4 hits to raise his average to .388 on the season... all this kid does is hit.
- Jorge Posada went 3-4 with a 2-run homer, his 6th of season.
- Jose Bautista hit his 8th and 9th dongers of the season. He went 3-4 overall and had 5 RBI on the day.
- Brad Hawpe hit 3 doubles off Livan Hernandez, in a 3-3 day. Unfortunately, none of his teammates were really able to on base in front of him or Hawpe would have collected some RBI too.
- Michael Bourn stole his 12th, 13th, and 14th bases of the season. He went 1-3, but walked twice and is proving to be one of the few bright spots in a decrepit Astros lineup.
- Shane Victorino went 3-6 with 4 RBI and hit his 8th homer of the season. His 4 RBI now give him 32 on the season.
- Stephen Drew went 3-5 with 3 RBI, 2 runs, and 1 stolen base in an 11-1 curb stomping of the Braves.
- Alberto Callaspo went 1-4 with 3 RBI for the Royals. You'd think at some point they'd move him up in the lineup, from the 6th spot, so he's not batting behind Jose Guillen, right?
Chicks Dig the Long Ball:
- Ty Wigginton (11 & 12), Kelly Johnson (11), Kendry Morales (8 & 9), Adam Dunn (8 & 9), Jose Bautista (8 & 9), David Wright (8), Shane Victorino (8), Miguel Olivo (8), Mark Teixeira (7), Colby Rasmus (7), Prince Fielder (6), Justin Upton (6), Jorge Posada (6), Magglio Ordonez (5), Seth Smith (5), Billy Butler (4), Carlos Gonzalez (4), James Loney (4), Jonny Gomes (4), Willy Aybar (4), Juan Uribe (4), Corey Hart (4), Jeff Clement (4), Eric Patterson (4), Stephen Drew (3), Austin Kearns (3), Bill Hall (3), Alcides Escobar (2), Jason Giambi (1), and Trevor Crowe (1).
Stolen Bases:
- Juan Pierre (18), Brett Gardner (17), Michael Bourn (12, 13, & 14), Alex Rios (12), BJ Upton (9), Bobby Abreu (7), James Loney (5), Franklin Gutierrez (4), Jason Bay (4), Ian Stewart (3), Howie Kendrick (3), Stephen Drew (2), Alexei Ramirez (2), and Connor Jackson (2).
Caught Stealing:
- Nyjer Morgan (8), Adam Jones (3), Mark Teahen (3), Cesar Izturis (3), Jay Bruce (1), Nelson Cruz (1), Chase Headley (1), Roger Bernadina (1), and Trevor Crowe (1).
Save Chances:
- Francisco Cordero, converted (12). Boy was Coco close to blowing this one. He came in with a 2 run lead and gave up 1 run on 3 hits. Joe Mather hit a double with 2 outs and Skip Schumaker tried to score from first to tie it up, but he got called out on a tag at home to end the game.
- Brian Wilson, converted (8). With a 1 run lead, he loaded the bases, but was able to get the better of Kaz Matsui (of all people) after a 15 pitch at-bat, to finish the game off.
- Leo Nunez, converted (8). Nunez came in with a 3 run lead and gave up 1 earned run on 3 hits.
- Octavio Dotel, converted (7). He came in with a 2 run lead, but made things interesting when he walked Starlin Castro and then gave up a triple to Kosuke Fukudome. He struck out the final two batters. Dotel now has a 7.04 ERA on the season.
- Jonathan Broxton, converted (6). 1-2-3 9th inning.
- Manny Corpas, converted (1). 1-2-3 9th inning for his first save on the season. He also pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning in the first game of the double-header.
- Jose Contreras, converted (1). Came in with a 4-run lead, but the tying run on deck. He walked the first batter he faced, to load the bases, but then struck out the next two for the save. He's sporting a 0.68 ERA.
- Matt Thornton, converted (1). Got the last 2 outs of a 1 run game, against a switch hitting Alberto Callaspo and lefty Mitch Maier, while Bobby Jenks was throwing in the 'pen. At one point during the Maier at-bat, Ozzie came out to the mound, as Thornton grabbed at his elbow. Ozzie said something to him and he got back on the mound and threw a few practice pitches, before getting Maier to pop-out to 1st.
- Alfredo Simon, blown (1). What a disaster... Simon was only able to get 1 out, while giving up 4 earned runs on 1 walk and 3 hits, one of which was a 3 run homer to Austin Kearns.
Other Closer Outings:
- Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless 9th inning and received a win, when Willy Aybar hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning against the Mariners.
- Jose Valverde pitched a 1-2-3 12th inning on the way to his first win. The Boston bullpen loaded up the bases and eventually walked in the winning run in the bottom of the inning.
- Jonathan Papelbon threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out 2 and gave up 1 hit. He's overcome his early control problems with 1 walk over his last 9 innings.
Non-Closer Outings:
- Koji Uehara got 2 outs in the 8th, giving up 1 walk and striking out 1, before Alfredo Simon and Cla Meredith came in with their gas cans. Uehara is someone to watch, as he has closing experience from his days in Japan.
- Joel Zumaya threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out 2, walked 1 and gave up 2 hits. He's now worked more than 1 inning in 11 of his last 13 appearances.
- Carlos Marmol gave up a solo home run to Jeff Clement, in an otherwise quiet 1 inning of work.
- Jason Motte threw a clean 8th inning with 2 strikeouts.
- Clay Hensley gave up 1 hit and struck out another over 1 1/3 innings.
- Edward Mujica struck out 5 over 2 2/3 clean innings.
Tough Days:
- Dontrelle Willis only lasted 3 1/3 innings before being pulled. He gave up 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 7 walks.
- Josh Hamilton wore the golden sombrero after an 0-4 game, with 4 strikeouts.
Lineup-ology:
- Grady Sizemore got the day off. Trevor Crowe started in his spot. Sizemore has been in a rut all season long.
- Carlos Quentin was not in the lineup for the White Sox. He's thought to have some sort of illness.
- Johnny Damon sat in favor of Casper Wells, who was just called up. Damon did however, play in the extra innings portion of the game.
- Pablo Sandoval sat with a sore foot.
- Travis Snider was not in the lineup for the Blue Jays with a sore right wrist.
- Alcides Escobar did not start for the Brewers, but came off the bench to hit a pinch hit home run.
- Will Venable sat in favor of Oscar Salazar for the Padres. Venable has been in a slump lately.
Comings/Goings:
- Max Scherzer and Scott Sizemore were optioned to triple-A by the Tigers. Armando Galarraga and Danny Worth will take their spots. The plan is to have Carlos Guillen play second when he comes off the DL.
- Pat Burrell was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays. Hank Blalock took his place on the roster.
- Edwar Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Oakland A's. Justin Duchscherer was activated from the DL, in a corresponding move.
- Willy Taveras was designated for assignment by the Nationals. Mike Morse (DL) is expected to take his place.
Injuries:
- Brad Lidge was placed on the 15-Day DL with inflammation in his elbow. Antonio Bastardo will take his spot for the Phillies.
- Andre Either has a fracture in the tip of his pinkie finger. It's unknown how much time Either will miss. Either is the triple crown leader in the NL.
- Huston Street suffered some sort of setback in his rehab on Saturday. It's unknown how much extra time Street will need, but his return date will most likely be pushed back as a result.
- Justin Duchscherer was unable to make his scheduled start, after the injury to his hip flared up again.
- John Baker was put on the 15-Day DL retroactive to Thursday. The Marlins are calling it a right flexor muscle strain. Bryan Petersen took his spot on the roster.
- Andy Marte was put on the 15-Day DL with a "non baseball medical issue." Your guess is as good as mine there. Trevor Crowe was activated to take his place.
- Eric Young Jr. was put on the 15-Day DL with a stress fracture in his right leg. Jason Hammel was activated from the DL, in a corresponding move.
- Matt Diaz was put on the 15-Day DL with a infected right thumb... gross. Yunel Escobar took his roster spot, as he was activated from the DL.
- Nick Johnson (DL) got a cortisone shot, if it takes he could be back sooner, rather than later. If not, surgery may be an option.
Star Prospect News:
- Mike Stanton fixed the oil spill problem in the Gulf by filling the leak with baseballs that he hit from the Florida coast. Why can't this be true?