Orioles 4, Red Sox 3: Juan Samuel gets his first win as the O’s manager and the O’s get their first win in ten games. Nick Markakis breaks an 0-14 slump with the game-winning RBI single in the 11th. According to the game story, they were doing the shaving cream pie in the face thing in the clubhouse after the game. Really Baltimore? I’m not saying we always did it right back in the day, but if my Babe Ruth league coach caught us celebrating like that after one win in the middle of a crap stretch we’d be running in the outfield for the next six hours.
Brewers 4, Cardinals 3: Manny Parra strikes out ten Redbirds, including four in one inning. He didn’t get the win, though, Zach Braddock did. Note: “Zach Braddock” is not the secret identity of a teenage super hero, no matter how much it sounds like it is. It’s merely the name of a pitcher on the Milwaukee Brewers. As far as you know. Anyway, the point is, Braddock did not get a pie in the face as a celebration. He got a beer shower, which is a far better way of celebrating baseball accomplishments. Especially in a game between teams from Milwaukee and St. Louis.
Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 2: Ubaldo shut the Dbacks down through seven, but was obviously out of gas to start the eighth giving up a double, a dinger and a walk before being lifted. His scoreless innings streak ended at 33 and his ERA shoots way the hell up to 0.93, so like, I guess he’s some kind of scrub now or something.
Angels 9, Mariners 4: Mike Napoli had four hits including a two-run homer as the Halos sweep the M’s, outscoring them 27-7 in the series. Anaheim’s fifth straight win overall. Ron Roenicke was the acting manager because Mike Scioscia was attending his daughter’s high school graduation. I think that was just a cover story, though. Because as everyone know, Roenicke went 4-0, sweeping these same Seattle Mariners, as a fill-in skipper when Scioscia was suspended for four games back in 2006. So, yeah, Roenicke is a Mariners-killer.
Astros 6, Cubs 3: After dropping five out of six, Chicago now has to fly to Pittsburgh for a makeup game tomorrow and then right on to Milwaukee for a series against the Brewers. There they go, playin’ the star again. There they go, turn the page.
Athletics 5, Twins 4: Oakland avoids the sweep behind Gio Gonzalez’ seven strong innings. Game story: It was Little League day, and “Some 275 Little Leaguers from [Dallas] Braden’s hometown of Stockton attended.” Given that they’re from the 209, I’m guessing they’re the toughest and most tattooed bunch of 12 year-olds west of the Mississippi.
Giants 6, Pirates 5: Brian Wilson blows the save and gets the win, which is a scoring decision that would be utterly impossible if I ruled baseball. Lincecum still struggled with his control, but not as badly as his last couple of starts, walking only two this time out.
Rays 9, Rangers 5: A game that lasted over four hours and, according to Joe Maddon and the Rays who complained about it, the heat was something fierce. Seems like it’s always hot down there, no matter when you come. It’s the kind of heat that holds you like a mama holds her son. Tight when he tries to walk, even tighter if he runs.
Royals 7, Tigers 2: Brian Bannister is great in day games and great against the Tigers, so this one was no surprise. Next up: the 1935 Yankees are going to trade for him and see if they can’t steal that pennant from Detroit. Game aside: I totally need this shirt, don’t I? Yeah, I thought so. See honey! They don’t think $35 is too much for a t-shirt, so you should let me buy it!
Reds 5, Nationals 4: We’ll all remember where we were the first time Stephen Strasburg charted pitches in the Major Leagues. Matt Capps blew his third save in four chances. Note: ever since Capps met my friend Megan at that charity ball last month, his ERA has gone from 0.98 to 3.62. Watch out, boys, she’ll chew you up.
White Sox 8, Indians 7: The Chisox rally from down 6-2 to salvage one against the Tribe. Mark Buehrle continues to struggle, as he needed 95 pitches just to get out of the third inning. He has struggled since the end of last year, really. The lesson here: Armando Galarraga was very lucky not to have thrown that perfect game. It’s the kiss of death, brother.
Yankees 4, Blue Jays 3: All hail Javy Vazquez. The man who was booed gave up one hit and two runs in seven innings against a team that has knocked the cover off the ball this year. That’s two outstanding starts in a row for Javy. Of course the last one was against Baltimore, so weigh that however you’d like.
Mets 7, Marlins 6: The Mets were down 5-0 in the sixth before asploding. Jeffy Francouer’s three-run bomb in the seventh tied it up and Ike Davis hitting into a double play -- but plating a run all the same -- drove in the game-winner. The Marlins now get Mike Stanton, by the way, and he hits ten homers a game so this losing with a mere six runs thing is officially now a thing of the past.
Padres 6, Phillies 5: The Padres took the lead in the 10th. The Phillies tried to rally in the bottom of the inning, with Placido Polanco reaching on a walk. Chase Utley was up next and he singled to center, but Tony Gwynn Jr. nailed Polanco trying to make it to third. Sweet play, as the ball was softly hit and Gwynn never got a chance to plant and throw.
Dodgers 5, Braves 4: The Braves took a 4-1 lead but then squandered both it and many other opportunities to with the game. In more uplifting news, the Dodgers made it Jose Lima tribute day, having his son throw out the first pitch and playing video of Lima singing the National Anthem and “God Bless America.”