Orioles 6, Mets 4: Matt Wieters hits the first of what the
prophecies have foretold will be a thousand career home runs, each more
majestic than the last. The real story was the middle of the O’s order
— Markakis, Huff and Mora — who combined to go 8 for 11 with four
RBI.
Blue Jays 7, Phillies 1: I sat back on the couch and watched
this game, hoping to relax after a long day. But then Sutcliffe and Co.
start talking about the Jerod Morris/Raul Ibanez affair. Look, I don’t
come into your house and talk about your work when you’re off, so what
makes you think you can do it to me?
Nationals 3, Yankees 2: Wang pitched, but he was way less
responsible for the Yankees losing than was John Lannan (8.1 IP, 4 H, 2
ER). Five run game, three of them scored on homers.
Angels 4, Giants 3: Six straight wins for the Angels, who hung
around long enough to finally get to Tim Lincecum. It’s nice when you
can pinch hit Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter late in the game.
White Sox 4, Cubs 1: Piniella after the game: “Danks pitched a
good game, they executed a good squeeze bunt, and we didn’t do much
offensively. That’s about it. That’s the ballgame in a nutshell.” Hey
Lou, I do the recaps around here, got it?
Reds 4, Braves 3: Micah Owings’ three run homer was the big blow
of the game. If he played for the Braves, he’d be the team’s second
best outfielder in terms of OBP. Javier Vazquez has pitched better than
anyone could have hoped entering this year, but the dude is still only
4-6 because, I dunno, the universe hates him or something.
Red Sox 6, Marlins 1: The Brad Penny trade deadline audition
continues, with the commodity in question giving up 0 ER on three hits
in five innings, though he had to make 100 pitches and gave up four
walks in the process. David Ortiz walked twice, got a hit and scored
all three times on base. Pedroia had a big game too. The team made a
big deal out if it being the 500th straight sellout, including the fans
in all kinds of fun. The game story doesn’t say whether or not anyone
dangling their free tape measures or gawking at the giant “500” mowed
into the outfield realized that the sellout streak is why they had t
sell a kidney in order to buy their tickets on StubHub.
Cardinals 4, Tigers 3: A couple of Curtis Granderson homers aren’t enough for Detroit, as the Cardinals and Tigers trade little jabs all night.
Pirates 8, Twins 2: Andrew McCutchen over his first 13 games:
.339/.381/.492. That’s better than Nate McLouth is doing, both on the
season and since the trade. Are Pirates fans still supposed to be mad
about this?
Rockies 5, Rays 3: David Price has to pitch in Coors Field.
That’s bad. But he lasts a bit longer into a game than he has been
lately. That’s good! He still gives up ten hits and five runs and loses
the game. That’s Bad. But he gets more economical with his pitches,
walking no one. That’s good! The postgame spread contains sodium
benzoate . . . That’s bad. Can I go now?
Rangers 5, Astros 4: The battle for Texas rages on! So far,
Houston is down 2-0. If they don’t turn things around soon, they’re
going to be stuck with Texas.
Diamondbacks 12, Royals 5: Greinke’s return to Earth continues, as the Dbacks rough him up for six runs over six and two-thirds (four earned).
Brewers 9, Indians 8: Trevor Hoffman blew his first save of the
season, but the Brewers pull it out in extras. And really, it’s the
Indians’ bullpen that should be ashamed of itself, having given up 21
hits, 14 walks and 18 runs in 14 innings against Milwaukee.
A’s 5, Dodgers 4: Trevor Cahill started wild, but settled down
and then somehow managed to survive three errors by his mates which led
to three unearned runs. The A’s will take it.
Mariners 4, Padres 3: Rob continues to claim
that the American League is “playing a different game” and “a better
game.” And he may be right. But how much of that difference is
attributable to the Padres alone? I mean, jeez, they’ve lost 13
straight games to the AL, and that sort of skews things a bit, doesn’t
it?
