Phillies vs. Twins

The Phillies beat the Twins by a score of 9-5. The Phillies scored early and often, getting three runs in the 1st and five runs in the 2nd. Philadelphia had back-to-back home runs by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the 2nd to make it 8-0. Howard had two home runs on the night along with a triple. The Twins got on the board in the 6th with an RBI single by Michael Cuddyer, and again in the 7th on a Nick Pinto home run. The Twins fought back to score two more in the 9th on a wild pitch and an RBI ground out by Orlando Hudson.

Joe Blanton got the win for the Phillies, going 6 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits. Nick Blackburn took the loss, lasting only 1.2 innings, allowing eight runs on six hits.

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Nationals vs. White Sox

The Nationals lost to the White Sox in extra innings 2-1. The White Sox jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, but then the game was all pitching. Washington tied it up in the 7th with an RBI double by Adam Dunn. The game remained tied until the 11th when a single by Alex Rios scored Mark  Kotsay for the go ahead run.

Stephen Strasburg, who had a no decision, pitched 7 innings allowing one run on four hits and struck out ten. Drew Storen took the loss for the Nationals. Gavin Floyd also had a no decision, going 8 innings and giving up one run on four hits. J.J. Putz got the win. Bobby Jenks recorded his 14th save for Chicago.

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Marlins vs. Rays

The Marlins snapped a three-game losing streak, beating the Rays 7-4. The Rays jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the 1st on an RBI double by Ben Zobrist. The Marlins responded in the bottom of the inning. After Chris Coghlan scored to make it 2-1, rookie Mike Stanton hit his first Major League home run — a grand slam — to give the Marlins a 5-2 lead. Florida would go on to score two more in the 2nd on singles by Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Tampa Bay scored one run in the 4th on an error by Ramirez, and again in the 7th on a single by B.J. Upton.

Nate Robertson got the win, going 6 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Matt Garza got the loss, throwing only 1.1 innings and giving up seven runs on seven hits. Leo Nunez got his 14th save for the Marlins.

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Braves vs. Royals

The Braves held onto first place in the NL East with their 6-4 win over the Royals. Atlanta struck first, scoring two runs in the 2nd on a sacrifice bunt by Derek Lowe and later in the inning on a wild pitch. Kansas City would tie it up with an RBI single by Jason Kendall in the 3rd and a home run by Billy Butler in the 4th. The Braves scored three more in the 4th with a double by Melky Cabrera and singles by Lowe and Chipper Jones. The Royals scored again in the 7th and 8th on singles by Wilson Betemit and Jose Guillen.

Derek Lowe got the win going 6.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. Brian Bannister took the loss, lasting only 4 innings and giving up five runs on seven hits. Billy Wagner got his 13th save for Atlanta.

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Mets vs. Yankees

The Mets won their eighth straight, beating the Yankees 4-0. The Mets scored in the 1st on an RBI single by Ike Davis. They got two more runs in the eighth when a double by Angel Pagan scored Ruben Tejada and Jose Reyes. Reyes drove in a run in the 9th to make it 4-0. Nick Swisher went 2-5 and Francisco Cervelli went 2-4 for the Yankees.

Hisanori Takahashi pitched 6 strong innings to get the win, giving up no runs on four hits. Javier Vazquez took the loss, throwing 7 innings and allowing one run on three hits. Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 16th save.

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Friday’s match ups:

Mets vs. Yankees

Hisanori Takahashi (5-2) and the Mets head across town to the Bronx to take on Javier Vazquez (6-5) and the Yankees. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Nationals vs. White Sox

Stephen Strasburg (2-0) goes for win number three as he and the Nationals face Gavin Floyd (2-7) and the White Sox. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. in D.C.

Phillies vs. Twins

Joe Blanton (1-5) and the Phillies begin their weekend series with the Twins. Nick Blackburn will take the mound for Minnesota. Game time is 7:05 p.m. in Philadelphia.

Marlins vs. Rays

Nate Robertson (4-5) will start for the Marlins as they take on Matt Garza (7-4) and the Rays. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. in Miami.

Braves vs. Royals

Derek Lowe (8-5) starts for the Braves as they begin a series with the Royals. Brian Bannister (6-4) takes the mound for the Royals. Game time is 7:35 p.m. in Atlanta.

Phillies vs. Red Sox

The Phillies hoped for a better outcome as they took on the Red Sox in game two of their series at Fenway.  Instead, Philadelphia’s starter gave up nine runs for the second game in a row, and the Red Sox cruised to a 10-2 victory.

Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka was scratched just before game time due to a strained forearm, and the Phillies took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second off of emergency starter Scott Atchinson thanks to a Brian Schneider two-run double.   However, the Red Sox jumped on pitcher Joe Blanton in the bottom of the inning.  JD Drew started off the scoring with a solo home run, and Daniel Nava hit a grand slam in his first major league at bat to give Boston a 5-2 lead. 

The Sox added three runs in the third and one more in the fourth off of Blanton (1-5), who gave up 13 hits in addition to nine runs in his four innings of work.  Boston reliever Manny Delcarmen (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings in relief and earned the victory.

 

Mets vs. Orioles

The Mets won back-to-back games on the road for the first time since last July as they defeated the last place Orioles 3-1 Saturday night in Baltimore.

Jose Reyes led off the game with a home run off of Baltimore starter Brian Matusz.  The Orioles tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the first off of Hisanori Takahashi on a Nick Markakis RBI double.   The game remained 1-1 until the top of the sixth, when the Mets took the lead.  The Orioles failed to turn a double play on a David Wright comebacker, allowing the Mets to score the go-ahead run.  Jeff Francoeur added a solo home run in the eighth inning to cap the scoring. 

Takahashi (5-2) gave up just one run and six hits over seven innings to earn the victory, while Matusz (2-7) took the loss.  Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save.

 

Nationals vs. Indians

Cleveland rookie catcher Carlos Santana hit his first career home run, and the Indians jumped on Washington starter JD Martin for four runs in the second inning as they defeated the Nationals 7-1 in Cleveland.

Playing in his second major league game, the highly touted Santana drove in three runs to lead the Indians offense.  Indians starter Fausto Carmona (5-5) went nine strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven.  Ryan Zimmerman‘s eighth inning home run spoiled Carmona’s shutout bid.  Martin (0-2) pitched into the eighth inning, but allowed seven runs and took the loss.

The Nationals hope to avoid a sweep when they send phenom Stephen Strasburg to the mound on Sunday.

 

Braves vs. Twins

For the second straight night, two first place teams played a one run game.  After falling in the series opener, the Braves rebounded to defeat the Twins by a score of 3-2 at Target Field in Minnesota.

Braves starter Derek Lowe and Twins starter Nick Blackburn each allowed only two runs, but neither factored in the decision.  After the Twins took a 1-0 lead in the second, the Braves answered with two in the fifth thanks to a Melky Cabrera solo homer and an RBI double from Brooks Conrad.  A Joe Mauer double tied the game in the sixth, and the score remained even at 2 until the top of the ninth.  With runners on the corners, Conrad successfully executed a squeeze bunt, scoring Gregor Blanco with the go-ahead run. 

Atlanta’s Jonny Venters (2-0) struck out Jason Kubel with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth to earn the victory, while Minnesota’s Matt Guerrier (1-2) took the loss.  Billy Wagner worked around a one out single to nail down his 11th save for the Braves.

 

Marlins vs. Devil Rays

After winning on Friday in Tampa, the Marlins fell 6-5 on Saturday night as the Rays evened the Battle of Florida at one game apiece.

The Rays jumped out to an early 5-1 lead, thanks to home runs by Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Sean Rodrgiuez off of Florida starer Ricky Nolasco (5-5).   However, the Marlins battled back against Tampa starter Matt Garza.  Wes Helms hit a two run homer in the fourth and the Fish scored another in the fifth to cut the lead to 5-4.  After the Rays added a run in the seventh, the Marlins answered back in the eighth with one of their own, but couldn’t bring home the tying run. 

Closer Rafael Soriano pitched a perfect ninth for Tampa to earn save number 16 and preserve the victory for Garza (7-4) and the Rays.

Saturday’s games:

Phillies vs. Red Sox

Joe Blanton (1-4) and the Phillies look to rebound from their loss yesterday as they take on Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-2) and the Red Sox. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. in Boston.

Nationals vs. Indians

J.D. Martin (0-1) goes for win number one as he and the Nats take on Fausto Carmona (4-5) and the Indians. Start time is 7:05 in Cleveland.

Mets vs. Orioles

Hisanori Takahashi (4-2) and the Mets go up against Brian Matusz (2-6) and the Orioles. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. in Baltimore.

Braves vs. Twins

Derek Lowe (8-5) goes for his 9th win of the season, as he and the Braves take on Nick Blackburn (6-3) and the Twins. Game time is 7:10 p.m. in Minnesota.

Marlins vs. Rays

The Marlins look to take game two against the Rays. Ricky Nolasco (5-4) will take the mound for the Marlins, while Matt Garza (6-4) gets the start for the Rays. Game time is 7:10 p.m. in Tampa.