Astros 6 Giants 0
WP: Wandy Rodriguez (9-9) LP: Ryan Vogelsong (10-3)
HR: Brian Bogusevic (3)
Perhaps its the nearing non-waiver trade deadline or a piss-poor Giants offense, something got into Wandy Rodriguez. Oddly enough, the 'Stros managed to cash in on two Giants errors while Vogelsong (7 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) lost grip in the seventh inning. Rodriguez (5 H, 2 BB, 8 K) pitched eight innings for the first time since May 17th in Atlanta, when he also allowed only five hits.
-Carlos Corporan (3-3, BB, 2 R) snapped a five-game hit-less streak in perfect fashion.
Red Sox 7 Royals 1
WP: Andrew Miller (5-1) LP: Jeff Francis (4-14) S: Alfredo Aceves (2)
HR: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (12)
SB: Mike Aviles (12)
Once again, he's not living up to the big draft-day hype, but Miller is getting the job done in a pinch for Theo Epstein and the Sawx. Miller (2 BB, 3 K) lasted 5.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits. On the backend, Aceves (3.2 IP BB, 3 K) mowed down the Royals, giving up only a hit in shutting down the lackluster home team. Aviles is now 3-9 in his first two games against the his former team.
-Adrian Gonzalez (RBI) and Jed Lowrie (R) each went 3-4 tonight.
-Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-3 tonight, and was pinch-run for a few pitches after being hit by a pitch.
Reds 11 Pirates 8
WP: Travis Wood (6-5) LP: Joel Hanrahan (0-2) S: Francisco Cordero (25)
HR: Brandon Phillips (12), Joey Votto (21), Ryan Hanigan (6)
SB: Paul Janish (3), Jose Tabata (15), Garrett Jones (6)
Not exactly expected to be a pitching matchup, this game wound up pitch for pitch. After both Homer Bailey (5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) and Kevin Correia put up goose eggs in the first three innings, the offensive pendulum began. By the fifth inning the Reds had shelled Correia (6 IP, BB, K) for six runs on eight hits. However, the Reds bullpen did not have this game under control, giving up five runs over three innings, leaving the game tied at 8 headed into the ninth. In the end, it was a Ryan Doumit fielding error that opened the flood gates to a three-run Reds rally. Brandon Phillips had his second straight 3-4 (4 RBI) night at the plate.
-The Reds' seventh and eighth place hitters Janish (2 R) and Hanigan (R, 3 RBI) combined to go 4-9 tonight. Hanigan also showed off his plate-blocking skills.
-Tabata (2-5, 2 R) has hit safely in three-games since coming back from the disabled-list.
-Brandon Wood broke out of a six-game snide, going 2-4, with 3 RBI's and a run scored.
Dodgers 8 Rockies 2
WP: Hiroki Kuroda (9-14) LP: Jason Hammel (7-12)
HR: Tony Gwynn Jr. (2), Rod Barajas (12),
SB: Eric Young (12)
Between Gwynn, Young and Roenicke, you'd probably have a hard time finding the last time second-generation baseball was so well represented. That being said, this game went as expected, Hammel (3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) had little to offer, Kuroda (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) was quality and aside from Cargo (1-3, R, RBI) and Tulo (2-4) the Rockies bats were quiet. Barajas (2-3) led the way for the Dodgers, scoring one run and knocking in four more. Batting out of the second spot in the line up, Dee Gordon's (shoulder) replacement Justin Sellers (2-5, 2 R) had the first multi-hit game of his young career.
Athletics 2 Blue Jays 0
WP: Rich Harden (4-2) LP: Brett Cecil (4-6) S: Andrew Bailey (16)
HR: Josh Willingham (21)
It was one of those kind of nights by the Bay, 59 degrees and overcast. Both Harden (7 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 11 K) and Cecil (7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K) reaped the benefits. The loser of the two made one mistake, that pitch accounts for the entire games run production. It's a fair bet that each Harden (16|PERCENT| owned on Yahoo) and Cecil (19|PERCENT|) could conceivably end the season on high notes. Cecil has pitched seven or more innings in eight of his last 10 starts.
Angels 8 Orioles 3
WP: Dan Haren (13-6) LP: Jo-Jo Reyes (6-10)
HR: Torii Hunter 2 (17), Peter Bourjos (6), Mike Trout (2)
SB: Bourjos (17)
Torii Hunter (2-5) capped off the bottom of the first and eighth innings with homeruns. In between Haren (8 K) pitched his usual seven inning start, scattering nine hits and allowing three runs. Despite the loss, eight of the nine hitters in the Orioles starting lineup had at least one hit.
-Bourjos went 3-5 (2, RBI, 2 K)
-Hunter (2-3, 2 R, 5 RBI) is 27-63 in August
Padres 4 Marlins 3
WP: Wade LeBlanc (2-2) LP: Chris Volstad (5-10) S: Heath Bell (34)
HR: Kyle Blanks (4), Will Venable (23)
-Jason Bartlet (1-4) shallow single to right-field in the bottom of the fifth ends up the game-winner.
- LeBlanc (5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)
- Volstad (5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, BB, 7 K)
- Marlins utility infielder Jose Lopez (3-5, R, RBI) has a four-game hitting streak.
Nationals 8 Phillies 4
WP: Todd Coffey (4-1) LP: Ryan Madson (3-2)
HR: Ryan Zimmerman (9), Wilson Ramos (10)
You look away for half an inning, and suddenly you're in the twilight zone. Even after surviving the last-minute decision to start Kyle Kendrick (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K) instead of Roy Oswalt, the Phils had this game (4-2) under control. As per policy, Manuel went to his closer and began to pack up for the night. Then the nightmare began for the Phillies. Starting with RBI singles by Jonny Gomes (1-4) and Ian Desmond (2-5, R, 2 RBI), Manuel watched as Ryan Zimmerman (2-5, GS) stepped to the plate. With one swing and the bases-loaded, Zimmerman (2-5) completed the nightmare ending for Madson (0.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, BB, K) and company. Maybe it's not time to replace Madson, but if you're looking into it, consider flame-throwing left-hander Antonio Bastardo (1.32 ERA, 8 Saves) for the closer position. Jose Contreras should also begin a rehab assignment soon.
-The continuing education of Wilson Ramos (2-5), has been interesting to watch.
-Livan Hernandez (4 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB) never recovered from the four-run third inning, leaving after just 59 pitches.
-Carlos Ruiz goes 2-4, RBI after an night off.
Cubs 5 Cardinals 4
WP: Sean Marshall (6-5) LP: Octavio Dotel (0-2)
HR: David Freese (8), Yadier Molina (9), Darwin Barney (2)
SB: Starlin Castro (14)
Despite taking an early 4-1 lead over the bewildered and rival Cubs, two of St. Louis' newly acquired arms Jaime Garcia (6.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K) was knocked out in the bottom of sixth, continuing his pedestrian post-break numbers. Arthur Rhodes (0 IP, BB, ER) and Dotel (0.1 IP, 2 H, ER) combined to wash out the lead. Chicago enjoyed a walk-off in the tenth inning when pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin singled to center, driving home game-tying hitter Geovany Soto (1-3, BB, R, RBI) for the winning run. After surviving a three-run second inning, Randy Wells (7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) pitched well.
- The Cubs young middle-infielders – Castro (2-5) and Barney (2-4) – continue to be amongst the most consistent offensive tandem in baseball. Castro and Barney each had a two-hit game and are 27-80 and 20-61 respectively for the month of August.
Tigers 4 Indians 1
WP: Max Scherzer (13-7) LP: Josh Tomlin (12-6) S: Jose Valverde (36)
HR: Austin Jackson (6), Alex Avila (14), Jhonny Peralta (18)
SB: Shin-Soo Choo (12)
Max Scherzer (7 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 6 K) was on target tonight, tossing seven strong innings of five hit ball. The Tigers scored all four runs on the home run ball and while Cleveland couldn't manage anything on Benoit-Valverde. Peralta went 2-3 (R, RBI)
-Tomlin (6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 K) has given up four or more runs in five of his last 8 appearances.
Braves 4 Diamondbacks 2
WP: Derek Lowe (8-11) LP: Daniel Hudson (12-9) S: Craig Kimbrell (38)
HR: Michael Bourn (2), Brian McCann (20), Chipper Jones (12)
SB: Willie Bloomquist (13), Justin Upton (19), Kelly Johnson (13)
Hudson went seven innings but didn't have his usual stuff (7 H, 4 ER, BB, 5 K), while Lowe (99 pitches) stayed alive long enough to notch his eighth win of the season.. The Braves, just like the Tigers, get all four runs by way of the long-ball and send out Venters (IP, K) and Kimbrell (IP, BB, 2 K)
Six of the 9 Atlanta's starting lineup chippen in a base-hit tonight, including two-hit nights by Bourn (2-4) and Jones (2-3, BB).
-Lowe (5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K)
-Kelly Johnson went 3-4 (K) in the loss
Rangers 7 White Sox 4
WP: Yoshinori Tateyama (2-0) LP: Jake Peavy (5-6) S: Neftali Feliz (25)
HR: Mitch Moreland 2 (16), Josh Hamilton (16)
SB: Juan Pierre (21)
Noticing a trend here? After Matt Harrison (4.1, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) was tagged for three runs in the first two innings and a whiffing on Peavy early, it looked like Texas would lose two in a row. But Moreland took a beastly shot to straight-away center over the wall. Six of the Rangers 7 runs came off the home run, and after Manager Ron Washinton handed the game to his bullpen. Tateyama (2.2 IP, BB, K), Adams (IP, 2 K) and Feliz (IP, 2 K) no-hit the White Sox over the final 4.2 innings pitched. In fact, the White Sox failed to reach base on a base from the second inning on.
-Moreland (2-4, 5 RBI) has three homeruns in the last two games and is 9-16 over his last four-games played
Rays 3 Mariners 2
WP: Juan Cruz (5-0) LP: Felix Hernandez S: Kyle Farnsworth (22)
HR: Kyle Seager (1)
SB: Desmond Jennings (10) B.J. Upton 2 (26)
The solid pitching affair expected, both Davis (7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 8 K) and Hernandez (8 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K) squared off for the first six innings. Seattle took a 2-1 lead on Seager's first career homerun in the seventh inning. Seager(2-4, K) was playing for Dustin Ackley (rest), who struck out in pinch-hit at bat. Ichiro also had a two-hit night in the loss. Seemingly, manager Eric Wedge sent Hernandez out one too many times, as King Felix gave up two singles to Longoria (1-4, K) and Zobrist (1-3, BB, K) in the bottom of eighth.
Brewers 6 Mets 1
WP: Shaun Marcum (11-3) LP: Mike Pelfrey (6-10)
SB: Nyjer Morgan (7), Ryan Braun (24)
Thanks to a very dependable Marcum (7 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 3 K) this game was never in question for the Brewers. Though Prince Fielder (2-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI) ends up with the eventual game-winning RBI, Casey McGehee (3-4, BB, 2 RBI) helped put this one away too.
Yankees 8 Twins 1
WP: Phil Hughes (4-4) LP: Kevin Slowey (0-1)
HR: Russell Martin 2 (15), Trevor Plouffe (6)
SB: Curtis Granderson (23)
He's always had it in him, but somewhere between a popped hamstring and now, Phil Hughes has been lost. Many expected Hughes to finally pop back into place tonight and he didn't disappoint. Hughes (7.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB, 2 K), who made only the one aforementioned mistake to Plouffe, and his pen go two-hit the Twins tonight. Slowey on the other hand continued his cloudy days, as the Twins are now 0-7 in games he's appeared. Having not pitched since May 20th, Slowey (BB, 4 K) gave up six runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings-pitched.
Imagine Hughes -contract expiring in January- pitching half his starts in Petco. Provided Phil Hughes can reproduce efforts like this, he could fetch a few nice offers on the FA market. this winter. If you're Phil Hughes can you leave the Yankees?