Mets vs. Marlins

The Mets moved past the Marlins in the standings with a 4-3 win Friday. Florida got on the board in the 2^nd with an RBI single from Cameron Maybin. They added two more runs in the top of the 3^rd after an error by Ike Davis. R.A. Dickey helped himself out at the plate with an RBI single in the bottom of the 3^rd. Jeff Francoeur continued his hitting streak going 2-4. Mets went ahead and took the lead in the bottom of the 6^th on an RBI ground out by Ruben Tejada.

Dickey didn’t get off to a very good start on the mound, but fought back to get the win, throwing 6 1/3 innings while giving up three runs on seven hits. Anibal Sanchez took the loss, throwing 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits. Francisco Rodriguez, who got his 11^th save, made things interesting in the 9^th. After getting the first two outs, Rodriguez gave up a hit and a walk, before getting Hanley Ramirez to ground out to end the game.

Check out The Real Dirty Mets Blog and Fish Guts for more on the Mets and Marlins.

Phillies vs. Padres

The Phillies beat the Padres in the series opener by a score of 3-2. The Padres scored in the 2^nd on an RBI single by Tony Gwynn. Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer in the 3^rd inning, his fifth homerun of the year. The Padres tied it up in the 5^th on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez. The winning run came in the bottom of the 5^th when Jayson Werth walked with the bases loaded.

Roy Halladay got his 8^th win of the season, going seven innings and giving up 2 runs on 10 hits. Mat Latos got the loss, pitching only five innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Brad Lidge pitched a perfect 9^th for his 2^nd save of the season.

For more on the Phillies, go to Phillies Phandom.

Nationals vs. Reds

The Nationals ended a three game losing streak, beating the Reds 4-2. The Reds scored first in the 2^nd on an RBI single by Ramon Hernandez. The Nationals responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by Christian Guzman, and again in the 3^rd with an RBI single by Roger Bernadina. The Reds tied it up in the 5^th when Orlando Cabrera scored on a single by Brandon Phillips. The Nationals scored two more in the 7^th on an RBI single by Ian Desmond and Willie Harris sac fly.

Livan Hernandez started for the Nationals, going six innings and giving up two runs on eight hits. Tyler Clippard, who came on to pitch in the 7^th, got the win. Aaron Harang went only four innings for the Reds, allowing two runs on eight hits. Enerio Del Rosario, who gave up two runs in the 7^th, took the loss. Matt Capps recorded his 18^th save of the season.

For more info, check out Centerfield Gate.

Braves vs. Dodgers

The Dodgers snapped the Braves nine game winning streak with a 5-4 win. The Dodgers got off to a fast start scoring two runs in the 1^st and 2^nd innings. The Braves got on the board in the 3^rd with an RBI single by Yunel Escobar and another run thanks to an error by Dodgers 3^rd baseman Jamey Carroll. The Braves tied it up in the 7th on a double by Escobar. The Dodgers went on to score the go ahead run in the 7th with an RBI single by James Loney.

Kenshin Kawakami took the loss for the Braves, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits. Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers, going 6 2/3 and giving up four runs on five hits. Hong-Chih Kuo got the win. Jonathan Broxton recorded his 14th save of the season for the Dodgers.

For more on the Braves, check out Braves Baseball.

Howard breaks out of a slump

The Phillies did something yesterday they had not done since 1984, sweep the Cubs in Chicago.  In the fourth inning, Ryan Howard broke out of the longest home run drought of his career, depositing a three run homer that would provide all the runs the Phillies needed with Cliff Lee on the mound.  Cliff Lee(3-0) went eight strong innings and only allowed six hits and run run, but did walk three to get his third win in as many tries and he is now undefeated in the NL with a 1.12 ERA.  Pedro Feliz also hit a home run in the fourth inning a few batters after Ryan Howard and drove Howard in for an insurance run in the sixth.  Phillies Phandom has more on the Phillies sweep.

Ryan Desmpter started out well for the Cubs as through the first three innings he looked virtually unhittable.  Dempster(6-6) ended up going six innings and gave up all six runs and eight hits in taking a loss for the Cubs.  Ryan Theriot produced the only run for the Cubs as he drove in Jake Baker in the fifth inning.

Cantu with a blast to start it off

Jorge Cantu hit a two run home run for the Marlins and that was the start of another win, and series win for the Marlins.  They never relinquished that lead and they exploded once starter Mike Hampton left after the fifth against the Astros relief.  Ronnie Paulino contributed a solo home run in that inning and Hanley Ramirez had a two run single as well.  Sean West(4-4) went six innings and allowed only one run and was able to cruise to the victory after the sixth inning outburst.  FishGuts has more information on this win for the Marlins and their march to get closer to the playoffs.

Mike Hampton started yesterdays game with a slightly bum leg.  Hampton(7-10) lasted five decent innings and left with his team having a shot at the game after allowing six hits and three runs, but allowing two home runs.  The Bullpen imploded and only Hampton’s RBI single and Darren Erstad’s single in the ninth put a dent in the scoreboard for the Astros.

Gomes hits three straight bombs

Jonny Gomes had a humongous games yesterday for the Cincinnati Reds as he went 3-4 with three runs scored and five RBI on THREE straight at bats with a home.  The Reds did not need much more offense to win this one but Ryan Hanigan also homered and Brandon Phillips had an RBI double late to lead the Reds to the 7-0 win over the Nats.  Bronson Arroyo(11-11) went the distance while being virtually unhittable giving up only two hits and one walk against the suddenly hapless Nationals.

The Nationals, as CenterfieldGate mentions, have now only scored three runs in their past three games and the offense has completely shut down.  Ryan Zimmerman did extend his hitting streak with a single, but Christian Guzman’s has ended, with the entire lineup looking terrible.  Colin Balester(1-2) did not help much either as he only went five innings and allowed five runs and two walks while giving up three home runs.  CenterfieldGate covers this game and more for all the Nats fans.

Werth(background) hits a homer in 4 straight games

The Phillies kept on truckin’ Thursday night, even after falling behind early.  The Phillies rallied from an early 3-0 deficit in the finale of a four game set against the Reds to take three of four, winning this one 9-6.  Jamie Moyer(8-6) went the minimum required giving up six runs for the win, while Brad Lidge recorded his 17th save of the season.  Jayson Werth hit a solo shot in the sixth inning which gives him a home run in each of his last four games.  The Phillies welcome in the Pirates this weekend, for more go to Phillies Phandom.

Micah Owings(6-9) took the loss while failing to get through five and giving up seven runs and Encarnacion and Phillips homered in the losing effort.

The Marlins with a huge come from behind win

The Florida Marlins did something in the eighth inning in Thursday night which they had never done before, score ten runs in one inning.  They entered the inning trailing 7-4 and looking to be headed to a loss and 3.5 games back of first, they left the inning shockingly up 14-7 with much better fortunes.  Ross Gload actually made the first two outs of that inning, both with fielders choice grounders to earn RBI’s.  Kiko Calero(2-0) was welcomed off the disabled list with a relif win, while former Met Scott Schoeneweis(1-1) took a rough loss for the D’Backs.  We’ll see if the two teams can try not to combine for over 20 runs with Ricky Nolasco and Dan Haren on the mound tomorrow night in AZ.

Atkins comes through in the clutch

The severly struggling Garret Atkins came up to the plate in the eighth inning and got a hit that might just help get his confidence back, a two run double to win it.  Against usually solid Mike Gonzalez of the Braves(3-2), Atkins was able to get the best of this and get the Rockies to their fourth straight win and fifth in seven.  Juan Rincon(1-0) got the win in relief as Huston Street worked a shaky ninth for his 22nd save of the season.  The Braves just couldn’t shut the door on the Rockies, after taking three seperate leads, they allowed the Rox back everytime.  They ‘ll hope for better luck tomorrow.  Check out The Braves Baseball Blog to follow the Braves more.

Ouch, 4IP 8ER

There was a point this year when the Mets had to consider Livan Hernandez their second best pitcher and he was at one point 5-1.  Now he is 5-5 after losing in brutal fashion to the Dodgers on Thursday. Hernandez(5-5) got through four pain staking innings giving up eight runs on eleven hits and four more walks, and led the Mets to an 11-2 loss and series loss.  Every single Dodgers position player that started the game got a hit in this game, and just when you wondered if the Mets could gain some confidence, there it goes.  Randy Wolf(4-3) pitched into the seventh for the cruising victory.  The Mets hope that facing a team with a losing record will be a remedy tomorrow night in Flushing.  The Real Dirty Mets Blog has all the info you want on the Mets.

Lannon shaky in loss

John Lannan has been very solid for most of the year, and was tonight through five innings, then things got bad.  Lannan(6-6) took the loss while working into the sixth inning and giving up five runs as the Nats lost 9-6 to the Astros on Thursday night.  The Nationals mustered offense early, but decided to quit after the fourth inning which didn’t help the pitching.  Alberto Arias(2-0) got the win in relief for the ‘Stros who evened their record for the night with the win.

Earlier in the night, they finished a suspended game from May, that was played in Washington.  The Nationals got the victory with a final score of 12-11.  Odd stat you will likely never see again? Joel Hanrahan(1-3) gets the win in that game since he pitched for the Nats, but has since been traded to the Pirates.  The loss goes to LaTroy Hawkins(1-3).  The two teams continue the rest of their series, in hopefully normal fashion starting tomorrow night in Houston.  Check out CenterfieldGate for more Nats News.

Phillips propels Reds

Brandon Phillips helped the Reds try to put a demoralizing loss on Monday behind them.  Phillips went 2-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and even had a key sacrifice in the ninth inning to lead the Reds to a 4-3 win in Philly.  Ageless David Weathers(1-1) got the win while pitching a scoreless bottom of the eighth only allowing a walk and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 21st save of the year.

The Phillies had an early 3-0 lead in this game on two home runs by Howard and Werth and a double by Chase Utley, but squandered the lead by the sixth inning.  Brad Lidge(0-4) took the loss in the ninth while giving up two hits and a walk after having a great weekend versus the Mets.  The two teams play game three of a four game set tonight in Philly.  Check out Phillies Phandom to get more insight on the defending champs.

Josh Johnson with only his 2nd loss

Josh Johnson fell victim to a classic Barry Zito gem last night in San Francisco, which we haven’t seen much since he signed with the Giants.  Barry Zito(5-8) worked until one out in the ninth inning before being pulled while pitching a shutout and only allowing four hits and a walk to the Marlins in a 3-0 victory.  After Brian Wilson had a tough outing on Monday night, Sergio Romo worked the ninth to receive his first save of the year for the Giants.

Josh Johnson(7-2) worked seven strong innings but three runs, two on a home run by Juan Uribe in the fifth inning sent him to only his second loss of the season.  The Marlins offense sputtered off a San Francisco starter for the second straight game and this was the second straight game without all-star Hanley Ramirez.  The Marlins will look to salvage a game of the series tonight in San Francisco with Chris Volstad taking on Ryan Sadowski.

Vazquz pitches the Braves to a win

Javier Vazquez must have heard the rumors that some teams were looking into trading for him this week.  He responded by proving he wants to be a Brave, or auditioning for other teams, depending on how you want to look at it.  Vazquez(6-7) went seven innings only allowing five hits and a single earned run while the Braves beat the Cubs 2-1 on Tuesday night.  Rafael Soriano worked the ninth for his ninth save while Mike Gonzalez worked the eighth to get his eighth holf of the season.  Brian McCann provided all of the offense for the Braves with a run scoring single in the first and a run scoring double in the third inning.  For more info on the Braves, check out The Braves Baseball Blog.

Carlos Zambrano(4-4) pitched on short rest after a terrible outing and went six strong innings only giving up those two runs, but his offense couldn’t help him out on this night.  Koyie Hill got the only RBI for the Cubs while driving in Michael Hoffpauir in the second inning.

The series finale will be a matinee game in Chicago, starting at 2:20PM EST today.

Pelf can't do it again

In what appears to be a normal occurance these days for the Mets, they did not score any runs.  The Mets were shutout for the second straight game by the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers 8-0.  Mike Pelfrey allowed three in the second and two more in the fourth before being pulled for the game.  The Mets bats managed only four hits against Dodger pitching in the game as well.  Newly demoted to the bullpen Tim Redding even gave up a solo home run in his two innings of bullpen work on this day.  Check out The Real Dirty Mets Blog if you want more Mets information.

Young lefty Clayton Kershaw(6-5) went six strong innings and only allowed three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in getting the win.  Manny Ramirez contributed three RBI in the first four innings, but was thrown out of the game in the fifth after striking out for the second time.

The two teams match back up tonight with Oliver Perez making his first start since May for the Mets.

Tavarez takes the loss...again

The Nationals ruined a golden chance to steal one from the Rockies in Colorado last night with sloppy defense.  The Natioanls made three errors including one in the eighth that led to the winning run scoring on a sacrifice fly for the Rockies, leading them to a 5-4 win.  Julian Tavarez(3-7) got the loss while only allowing two walks in one third of an inning, Joe Beimel relieved him and helped the Rockies with a throwing error.  Rookie Jordan Zimmermann only went four innings in this game while giving up two earned runs and four total, but throwing 94 pitches.  CenterfieldGate has all the Nats info you need.

Clint Barmes got the final two RBI for the Rockies to send them to the win over the Nats last night.  39 year old Alan Embree(2-2) worked one third of an innings for the win and Huston Street got his 21st save of the season and second in a row.  The series finale is at 3:10PM EST today with Detwiler facing De La Rosa.