Sanchez pitches Giants past Phils

McCann hits the winning shot

The Braves needed to at least salvage one game in this series to stay in reach of the wild card and the small possibility of the division.  By the eighth inning they were up 3-1 and looked on their way to that salvaged game.  It seems at that point was when the Braves skipper must have realized he left Vazquez in too long.  Vazquez went 7.1 innings but was charged with three runs in a no decision as he got a no decision.  Lucky for him, Brian McCann hit a three run home run in the 10th inning and that proved to be the difference as the Braves won the game 6-3.  Peter Moylan(3-2) worked the bottom of the ninth inning giving up a single hit to qualify for the win and Rafael Soriano struck out the side in the tenth for his 15th save of the year.  The Braves Baseball Blog has all the Braves info you need.

The Marlins were trying to make have another come from behind win, as they did late in Tuesday’s game but that didn’t happen.  Rick VandenHurk went six innings and only allowing two runs in his third start since being recalled.  After the game went to extra innings, former National and Met, Luis Ayala(0-1) gave up the home run mentioned above to McCann and took the loss.  Ronnie Paulino and Jorge Cantu had RBI’s for the Marlins and Cody Ross had a solo home run as well.  Check out FishGuts for more information on the Marlins.

Santana dominates

Game 1

In the matinee of the doubleheader the Mets and Rockies played today, Johan Santana was on his game.  Santana(12-8) worked seven mainly pain free innings while only allowing four hits, a walk and striking out eight.  The Mets offense supported him with a five run second inning with a two run double by Angel Berroa of all people.  David Wright added two RBI for the Mets who won their fifth straight game in this one.

The Rockies on the other hand have virtually nothing to write about from this game.  Starter Jason Hammel(5-6) lasted only 1.1 innings and was charged with five runs on seven hits and taxed the Rockies bullpen early in the day.  No one in the Rockies lineup had more than one hit against Santana as well.

Barmes with the big blow

Game 2

In the nightcap, Colorado came in looking to avoid a four game sweep and dropping farther out of the wild card race.  Jorge De La Rosa(9-7) was up to the task, giving up only two runs while pitching into the seventh inning.  He even helped himself in the game as he led off the top of the seventh with a double.  He would score on a Clint Barmes home run later in the inning that proved to be the difference.  Ryan Spillborghs had an RBI single in the sixth which was the first run the Rockies had scored since the series opener on Monday.  Tulowitzki added an RBI triple in the eighth for insurance.

The New York Mets sent rookie Jonathon Niese to the hill for his second start since being recalled and he did pitch well.  Going into the sixth inning he was  pitching a shut out, but it unraveled from there.  Niese(1-1) went 6.1 innings giving up four runs and six hits in taking the Mets first loss since he began their winning streak on Saturday.  Jeff Francouer got a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scoring David Wright and Fernando Tatis had a solo home run in the seventh for all their runs.  The Real Dirty Mets Blog will have all the Mets info on both games today.

Riggleman's first ejection as Nats Mgr!

The Brewers were trying during the Thursday finale of their series with the Nats to salvage a split.  They luckily sent ace, Yovani Gallardo to the hill to try to get that done, and he did just that.  Gallardo(10-7) went seven innings giving up three runs and eleven strike outs.  At one point, it looked bad for the Brewers after a three run homer, but playing small ball worked out for the team from Milwaukee.  Besides Craig Counsell and Prince Fielder home runs, the other four runs from small ball, sacrifice flies, baserunning and RBI ground outs.

The Nationals had one player produce offensively for them today, Ryan Zimmerman.  Zimmerman hit a three run home run in the fourth scoring Nyjer Morgan and Nick Johnson to provide all of the offense.  Rookie J.D. Martin(0-2) went six innings but gave up five runs on seven hits, including the two home runs as the Nats have now lost two in a row after three wins straight.  CenterfieldGate will have more on the Nats for you.

Rollins with a grand slam

The Phillies played a game on Saturday that entailed 29 hits and 20 runs, lucky for them, they had 14 of those 20 runs, winning 14-6.  Jimmy Rollins saved starter Rodrigo Lopez by hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning.  The Phillies took an early 3-0 lead, but squandered it by the top of the sixth inning.  Lopez (3-0) worked six innings giving up three earned runs and four total in staying undefeated on the season.  Jimmy Rollins finished the day with a career high five RBI and Shane Victorino went 4-4 with three runs scored, three RBI and even added in a walk.  Check out Phillies Phandom for more Phillies info from this game and all others.

Cardinals pitching could almost have not been worse today.  Three pitchers combined to give up the fourteen runs, starter Kyle Lohse was let off the hook of a bad start by giving up three runs in only four innings of work as he left for a pinch hitter with a high pitch count.  Jason Motte(3-4) left after getting one out and giving up back to back home runs, one of them being the grand slam to Rollins.  New Cardinals Julio Lugo and Matt Holliday had good games again, going 6-9 with two runs scored and two RBI combined.

Blake gets the game winning RBI

In Los Angeles, Casey Blake saved the Dodgers from another possible loss to the Marlins.  With two out in the ninth inning, Casey Blake stepped to the plate and singled to drive home Rafael Furcal to win the game 4-3.  Blake had also scoredt he tying run in the sixth inning as the Dodgers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win this game.  Jonathan Broxton(7-0) got the win as he worked the top of the ninth for the Dodgers in this game and Andre Ethier and Orlando Hudson each had three hits for the Dodgers.

The Marlins as mentioned took a 3-1 lead in by the sixth with RBI singles from Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida and an RBI double in the first by Jorge Cantu.  Besides that though, their bats couldn’t break Dodger pitching.  VandenHurk had a second straight solid start going five innings of one run ball and left in position for his second straight win, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it.  Renyel Pinto was charged with two runs in one third of an inning in the sixth and then Dan Meyer(2-1) took the loss in the ninth as he had put the baserunners on, even though Luis Ayala let up the final hit.  Check out FishGuts for more info on the Marlins.

Gallardo does it again pitching and hitting

The Brewers were able to rebound from a late loss to the Braves and their bats on Friday night, and sent their ace to the mound.  Yovani Gallardo(9-7) pitched 7.1 innings only giving up four hits and four runs and striking out six as the Brewers went on to win 4-0.  Gallardo helped himself with an RBI single in the fifth for the games first run.  Craig Counsell had an RBI groundout in the same inning and pinch hitter Casey McGehee had a two RBI single in the eighth for insurance.

The Braves sent previously undefeated Tommy Hanson to the hill on Saturday.  Hanson(5-1) took the loss even though he went seven innings and only gave up two runs because the Braves bats were silent.  Check out The Braves Baseball Blog for more on the Braves.

Niese pitches a gem

There have not been many days where I have been able to write about multiple story lines for the Mets.  Tonight you can take your pick, as the Mets won 10-3 against the Astros with a great performance from a rookie, a superb game from a newcomer and a home run from a player who hadn’t hit one all month.  Jonathon Niese(1-0) went seven innings giving up a single run on four hits and two walks to get his first win since last September on a day the Mets needed it.  Jeff Francouer also went 2-4 with a run scored and four RBI, three of them coming on a home run fifth inning, it was his second as a Met and seventh overall.  David Wright hit his sixth home run in the ninth inning and it was impressive because he hadn’t hit one this month.  The Real Dirty Mets Blog has more info on the Mets.

Russ Ortiz(3-5) started for the Astros and only lasted 4.1 innings while giving up six runs on five hits and four walks.  The Astros managed a run early on a Pudge Rodriguez RBI single and then nothing until the bottom of the ninth when they had a nine run deficit.  Hunter Pence hit a two run homer in the ninth off Francisco Rodriguez, but that was all they would get.

Adam Dunn hits a granny

The Padres and Nationals waited out an over three hour rain delay in the second inning of the game Saturday in Washington, it could have been local time for the San Diego fans.  The Nationals got two runs in the first on a Zimmerman homerun and never looked back after the rain delay in the second.  Off a new pitcher, the Nationals scored five more after the delay, on a Adam Dunn grand slam.  Zimmerman ended this game with three RBI and Dunn had five RBI as the Nationals won 13-1.  Tyler Clippard(2-0) worked four innings after the rain delay to qualify for the win in this game as J.D. Martin had to leave after two innings because of the delay.  Check out CenterfieldGate for more info on the Nationals.

Padres starter Tim Stauffer(0-2) didn’t come back after the rain delay and went one inning giving up three hits and two runs to take the loss.  Five more Padre relievers combined to give up eleven more runs to make this game way out of reach.  The two finish their series on Sunday afternoon in D.C.

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The Nationals yesterday optioned RHP Ross Detwiler to the minors after losing to the Astros.  He was 0-5 with an ERA over six this year.

The corresponding move was to bring back reliever Garret Mock as a starter.  While starting in the minors, Mock was 5-1 with a 2.65 ERA, his first start will be Sunday.

The Marlins called up Luis Ayala who was signed after being designated for Assignment by the Minnesota Twins this year.  To make room, they sent Sean West after a disappointing start on Saturday night.

Finally, the Braves have activated Utility man,  Greg Norton while sending OF Gregor Blanco to AAA.  The move came as a slight surprise to Norton who thought he may be cut by the team.

The Marlins and Braves moves were made prior to yesterday’s games.

Sure, another NL East team, why not?

The Marlins have signed RHP Luis Ayala Thursday after he cleared waivers from the Twins.  Ayala had pitched in 28 games for the twins while going 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA.  Most National League East fans will remember him pitching for the Mets at the end of the season and the Nationals before that.  He had a rough time as he was expected to help a bullpen that was really struggling.  His agent says that he will report to AAA New Orleans as he has not pitched in a few weeks, hoping to join the club after that and the Marlins will only pay him the prorated major league minimum, around $200,000.   Check back to NLEC for more information about the Marlins and the National League East.