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Strasburg hits first homer, beats O’s, Chen

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:17:02 +0000

SportsLine.com wire reports
May 20, 2012

If Strasburgs first major league homer came as a surprise, his performance on the mound did not. With Strasburg leading the way, the Washington Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 Sunday to avert a three-game sweep.

In addition to his 2-for-2 performance at the plate, Strasburg (4-1) struck out eight in five innings before being lifted by manager Davey Johnson, who said the pitcher mentioned tightness in his biceps.

“I dont care who it was, if I find out they have tightness, theyre out,” Johnson said. “I talked to him later in the game. He said it relaxed a bit and was a lot better. Im not as concerned when its in the biceps.”

Strasburg attributed the soreness in part to working too hard in the days following his previous start.

“The biceps is fine,” he said. “Its just throwing a lot of pitches early, then we put up a lot of runs and stuff. I just got a little tired, got a little tight, but thats nothing different than any other outing.”

Strasburg sent an 0-2 pitch from Wei-Yin Chen into the Baltimore bullpen in the fourth inning to put the Nationals ahead 5-3. After dusting off his home run trot and returning to the dugout, he responded to a curtain call by waving to the crowd of 41,918.

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“Shocking, thats for sure,” Strasburg said of his clout. “I feel like in (batting practice) I have to swing a lot harder to hit it out. I just somehow ran into one.”

He was almost embarrassed about his trip around the bases and subsequent climb up the dugout steps.

“Im not big for going out there and showboating,” Strasburg said. “It was great, but I know my place. Im not a real hitter out there so Im not going to go out there and act like I do it all the time.”

The hard-throwing Strasburg had five hits in 40 big league at-bats before Sunday. He singled and scored in the third inning, then followed a shot by Jesus Flores with one of his own in the fourth.

“I didnt expect Stras to hit a breaking ball,” Johnson said. “He doesnt usually see breaking balls. (Third base coach) Bo Porter came in after and said we found a left fielder.”

Known more for his pitching than his hitting, Strasburg excelled at both. The right-hander allowed three runs, one earned, four hits and a walk in his first career appearance against Baltimore. He retired the last 10 batters he faced.

Since returning from elbow ligament replacement surgery last September, Strasburg is 5-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 14 starts.

Danny Espinosa also homered, and Bryce Harper drove in two runs and scored three for the Nationals.

Chen (4-1) yielded six runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings and absorbed his first major league loss. The Taiwan native was vying to become the first Baltimore starter to begin his Orioles career with five straight wins since Jimmy Key in 1997.

“This is baseball. Sometimes you have a good day, sometimes you have a bad day,” Chen said through a translator. “Definitely, I had a terrible start today.”

The loss ended Baltimores five-game winning streak and nine-game road run. The Orioles scored the games first three r both in the ninth.

“If you came in today thinking youd get their starting pitcher out of the game after five innings, youd like your chances,” manager Buck Showalter said

Baltimore went up 1-0 in the first when Xavier Avery walked, advanced on a fly ball and scored on a single by Nick Markakis.

The Orioles added a pair of unearned runs in the second after Harper drifted from center to left field to chase down a wind-blown fly ball, then dropped it. Robert Andino drove in a run with a groundout and Avery added an RBI single before Strasburg struck out J.J. Hardy with two outs and runners on second and third.

Harper made amends in a three-run third. Strasburg singled, Espinosa doubled and Harper hit a liner to right that a diving Markakis gloved but lost when he hit the ground. The triple scored two runs, and Harper scored on a groundout by Ian Desmond.

Flores gave Washington a 4-3 lead with his first homer since Aug. 18, and that only served as a prelude to Strasburgs drive.

Desmond chased Chen with an RBI single in the fifth, and Espinosa homered with a runner on during a three-run eighth.

Notes Orioles C Matt Wieters, who had the day off after a night game, will have to wait until Monday to try to snap an 0-fror-18 slump. Tommy Hunter (2-2) takes the mound for Baltimore on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against visiting Boston. Gio Gonzalez vies for his sixth win when the Nationals open a nine-game road trip Monday in Philadelphia. Avery got his first major league stolen base.

Scherzer whiffs 15 as Tigers rally to top Pirates

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:17:01 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 20, 2012

After 15 strikeouts in seven innings, Scherzers day was done, and the only question was whether the Detroit right-handers fine effort would go to waste.

“Were in this business to win,” Scherzer said.

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And win the Tigers did. Alex Avilas tiebreaking, two-run single highlighted a three-run seventh that sent Detroit to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Scherzers 15 strikeouts were the most by a Tigers pitcher in 40 years, and his teammates wiped out a 2-1 deficit to get him the victory.

Mickey Lolich had 15 strikeouts for the Tigers against Boston on Oct. 2, 1972, and set the club record of 16 in 1969, doing it twice in less than three weeks.

Scherzers 15 strikeouts were the most by a major league pitcher this year. Miamis Anibal Sanchez had 14 against Arizona on April 28.

“Weve wasted a few good performances this year already,” Avila said. “Hopefully, that will kind of get us on a roll a little bit.”

Detroit trails first-place Cleveland by three games in the AL Central.

Scherzer (3-3) threw 115 pitches. He allowed four hits, including two solo homers, and a walk.

Avilas hit made it 4-2. Pittsburgh scored a run in the ninth off Joaquin Benoit, but he held on for his first save this season. Detroit closer Jose Valverde has a strained back.

Kevin Correia (1-5) allowed three runs and four hits in six-plus innings.

Scherzer gave up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings in his first start of the season, and although hes been better since then, he entered Sundays game with a 6.26 ERA. He was locked in from the start, throwing his first 10 pitches for strikes before finally missing the zone against Pedro Alvarez, the first hitter of the second. Scherzer got Alvarez anyway for his third strikeout of the day.

“Even when Ive struggled, Ive always believed the next time I go out there that Im going to have a great start, no matter what,” Scherzer said. “Thats always been my belief ever since Ive been in the big leagues, and today was no different.”

All 15 of Scherzers strikeouts were swinging. The only o in a game was Houstons Mike Scott, who fanned 15 Cincinnati Reds on June 8, 1990, according to STATS LLC.

“My changeup was really working well today. I was able to throw it to both lefties and righties, and I was able to generate swing-and-misses out of it,” Scherzer said. “I was able to throw it for a strike and throw it just underneath the zone to help generate some swing-and-miss strikeouts when Rod Barajas homered with one out in the fifth to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Jhonny Peralta answered with a solo shot in the bottom half.

Neil Walker hit a 407-foot homer in the sixth, and Scherzers pitch count began creeping up, precluding a run at the big league record of 20 strikeouts for a nine-inning game. Scherzer was actually on the hook for a loss when Leyland offered his handshake after the top of the seventh, the signal that a reliever would be entering in the eighth.

But Prince Fielder led off the bottom of the seventh with a blooper to left that dropped between shortstop Clint Barmes and left fielder Nate McLouth. Barmes had a long way to run because the infield was shifted around to the right, and when the ball hit the ground, it bounced weirdly up off him into foul territory, enabling Fielder to reach second with a double.

Delmon Young followed with a tying single, and Tony Watson relieved Correia. Peralta drew a walk one out later, and a passed ball by Barajas allowed the runners to move up to second and third. The Pirates brought the infield in, but Avilas base hit up the middle foiled that strategy and made it 4-2.

Detroit was without center fielder Austin Jackson (abdominal strain) and Valverde, but the Tigers ended up taking two of three from Pittsburgh. Scherzer and Justin Verlander bookended the series with brilliant pitching performances. Verlander threw a one-hit shutout Friday night, striking out 12 and giving up only a ninth-inning single to Josh Harrison.

The Pirates struck out 17 times Sunday and 41 times in the series.

Notes

Detroits Brennan Boesch had his 12-game hitting streak snapped. Pittsburgh dropped to 19-9 when scoring at least two runs. The Tigers are off Monday. The Pirates return home and will send LHP Erik Bedard (2-5) to the mound against Johan Santana (1-2) of the New York Mets.

Vargas, Mariners top slumping Rockies

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:17:02 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 19, 2012

Seattles savvy lefty threw seven strong innings, Kyle Seager homered and drove in three runs, and the Mariners beat the free-falling Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Saturday.

Vargas (5-3) said he picked up some tips watching and listening to Millwood, who threw a two-hitter at Coors Field on Friday night for his first shutout in nine years.

“You see him go out there and pound the zone with fastballs and making them commit early and you can go to your secondary pitches when you need it,” Vargas said. “… So, I was just going to go out and try to pound the zone like Millwood did last night.”

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Before the Mariners got to Denver for this interleague series, Vargas also sought advice from injured catcher Miguel Olivo, who played in Colorado in 2010 and gave him similar words of wisdom.

“I dont have a put-away breaking ball, so for me to try to go to that offspeed stuff here is going to be a little bit more different than in other parks,” said Vargas, who had been 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA at Denvers downtown ballpark.

This time, he allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings in sending the Rockies to their 12th loss in 15 games.

“I think he obviously caught us at a good time,” said Michael Cuddyer, who is mired in an 0-for-13 slump. “Hes a good pitcher, dont get me wrong, but were not swinging the bats very well.”

Indeed, the Rockies are 7 for 59 for an abysmal batting average of .119 in the first two games of this three-game series.

Vargas took a two-hitter into the seventh, when he allowed three runs, two on Wilin Rosarios sixth homer.

“Its one of those things where you got to just come in here and forget about where youre at, just go and pound the strike zone,” Vargas said. “Dont let them wait for you to make mistakes.”

Thats what Rockies rookie left-hander Christian Friedrich tried to do, too. But he wasnt nearly as precise with his low fastball, so he couldnt go to his above-average breaking pitches as often as he wanted.

Marco Scutaro, who ended Millwoods no-hitter in the sixth inning Friday night, dropped a single just out of Casper Wells reach in left field with two outs in the third for Colorados first hit off Vargas, who extended Seattles string of shutout innings against the Rockies to 15 before Jordan Pachecos RBI single in the seventh.

And on a cold and damp day where the vendors shouts of “Hot chocolate here!” drowned out the usual “Ice cold beer” screams, Friedrich (1-1) fizzled in his first start at Coors Field.

After allowing just two earned runs over 13 innings in his two starts on the Rockies recent West Coast swing, Friedrich was tagged for eight earned runs on nine hits and four walks in five-plus innings.

“Just not establishing the fastball down, thats the biggest part of my game, it allows me to use all my other pitches,” said Friedrich, whose ERA jumped from 1.38 to 5.00.

This being Friedrichs third major league start, the Mariners had little data on the lefty.

“He has a pretty good fastball. He has some sharp breaking pitches,” Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. “We wanted to make sure, in particular with the breaking balls, if he was out of the zone, that we were able to lay off it, make him come in. We wanted to make him throw the ball over the plate.”

Friedrich left trailing 5-0 with the bases full and nobody out in the sixth. Esmil Rogers came in and promptly surrendered a two-run double to Dustin Ackley and a two-run single to Wells.

one of them just before Seager sent a 91 mph fastball into the right-field bullpen that put the Mariners up 2-0.

The Mariners pushed across two more runs in the third when Wells walked, Ichiro Suzuki reached on an infield single, Jesus Montero sent a hard groundball up the middle for an RBI single and Seager hit a groundball to right field for another run-scoring single, all with two outs.

Vargas helped himself out in the fourth when his single scored Brendan Ryan, who had tripled, making it 5-0.

Shawn Kelly pitched a perfect eighth for Seattle and Steve Delabar finished it in the ninth.

Notes

Olivo (strained right groin) will catch five innings for Triple-A Tacoma at Iowa on Monday and serve as Tacomas DH on Tuesday. Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Olivo will need to catch at least once more and just when depends on what happens Monday and Tuesday. The series wraps up Sunday with Colorado RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-1) facing RHP Blake Beavan (1-4). Rosario leads NL rookies with six homers and a .569 slugging percentage.

Reds nip Yankees behind Votto’s three-run homer

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:17:02 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 19, 2012

Jose Arredondo worked out of a ninth-inning jam for his first major league save, Joey Votto hit a three-run homer and Cincinnati held on for a 6-5 victory Saturday.

New York scored twice off Sean Marshall in the ninth, but Baker pulled his regular closer in favor of Arredondo and he got the job done.

“I could have done without the drama, but we did win the game,” Baker said.

Arredondo entered with two on and one out, and Derek Jeter grounded his first pitch to third. Cincinnati nearly turned a game-ending double play, but Jeter just beat the relay. Even Votto thought the Reds had it won – he clenched his fist when he caught the ball at first base, hoping the game was over.

Curtis Granderson then fouled off a 3-0 pitch before topping a slow roller to Votto for the final out.

More on Reds-Yankees Related links Yanks sit Teixeira with nagging cough Hanigans nephew makes nice catch in stands Reds return Hill to Cubs for cash Yanks underachieving, but Hal wont admit concern Team pages: Reds | Yankees More MLB coverage Some American League pitchers can actually hit Interleague Play: A look at possible NL DHs Interleague play proves AL better than NL Power Rankings: Hows the ride? Player Rankings: Best rookies Knobler | Heyman | Miller | Eye on Baseball

“It wasnt fun the way it ended,” Votto said. “Well, I take that back. It was fun the way it ended. Just a little bit nerve-racking at the end, but thats part of wins and losses and it was nice for Jose to come in and pick us up.”

Brandon Phillips got Cincinnati started with a run-scoring single and the Reds overcame Ivan Novas career-high 12 strikeouts to improve to 2-2 during their five-game visit to both New York ballparks this week.

Homer Bailey (2-3) pitched effectively into the seventh inning for the second consecutive outing. Cincinnati then turned it over to its normally lights-out bullpen and held on to hand New York its fourth loss in five games.

“We just didnt get the last hit that we needed,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “Its good that were able to come back, but its frustrating that you get so close and lose.”

Logan Ondrusek retired Jeter on a shallow fly with two on to end the seventh. Cuban flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman, hitting 99 mph on the stadium scoreboard, whiffed Granderson and Robinson Cano in a perfect eighth.

Raul Ibanez doubled to start the ninth and scored on Nick Swishers single, snapping New Yorks 0-for-22 skid with runners in scoring position. Marshall threw a called third strike past Russell Martin, but Andruw Jones singled to put runners at the corners and Jayson Nix singled to make it 6-5.

Thats when Baker went to Arredondo.

“I didnt really like the matchup there at the end with all those righties coming up there against Marshall,” said Baker, who hinted that he might consider moving Chapman into the closer role soon.

Martin and Nix homered for the Yankees on a beautiful, 74-degree day when three balls barely cleared the short porch in right field.

Bailey, drafted seventh overall in 2004, was 0-1 in his previous four starts since beating the Cubs on April 20 for the franchises 10,000th victory. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out seven and walked one in his first outing at Yankee Stadium.

“Overall, pitched a good game,” he said. “Id be lying if I said the anticipation wasnt there. The first couple pitches it looked like the plate was about 100 feet away.”

With the score tied 2-all, No. 9 batter Wilson Valdez singled leading off the Cincinnati fifth and Chris Heisey followed with a bunt single. One out later, Votto got just enough of an inner-half slider from Nova (4-2) to drive it over the auxiliary scoreboard in right-center.

Five of Vottos seven homers this season have come in the last seven games, including a three-homer performance Sunday against Washington that he capped with a game-ending grand slam.

“Im starting to make progress,” the 2010 NL MVP said.

Nix homered in the bottom half to cut it to 5-3. An eighth-inning throwing error by Yankees reliever David Phelps led to Mike Costanzos sacrifice fly.

Nova had no problem with the bruised and sprained right foot that knocked him out of Monday nights start at Baltimore in the sixth inning. Flashing a sharp curve, he struck out eight in the first three innings and had 11 strikeouts after five, surpassing his previous career high of 10.

The right-hander got himself in trouble with consecutive walks in the first and Phillips put the Reds ahead with an RBI single. Devin Mesoraco and Heisey both doubled in the second to make it 2-0.

It was an early breakthrough for the Reds, silenced by 39-year-old Andy Pettitte in their first shutout loss of the season Friday night.

Martin homered on the first pitch of the third and New York tied it on Ibanezs two-out RBI double in the fourth. Nova allowed seven hits and two walks over six innings in his second loss since a 15-game winning streak.

“I dont care about strikeouts,” Nova said. “I dont like the way Im pitching right now. Im making a lot of mistakes.”

Notes

The series finale Sunday features an excellent pitching matchup. Reds RHP Johnny Cueto (4-1, 1.89 ERA) faces Yankees ace CC Sabathia (5-1, 3.77). Cuetos 2.20 ERA over the past two seasons is the best in the majors. Cincinnati rookie SS Zack Cozart, with one hit in his last 26 at-bats, was not in the lineup. Valdez started in his place and moved to third when Cozart entered for defense in the eighth. Costanzo got his first major-league start (at DH) and singled in the sixth for his first career hit.

White Sox edge Cubs in contentious battle

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:17:08 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 18, 2012

Gordon Beckham hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the White Sox beat the Cubs 3-2 Friday, their 16th win in the last 22 interleague games against their crosstown rivals.

“I think that was more than the typical game. It seemed like there was a lot of stuff going on,” Beckham said.

Beckhams solo shot and a two-run drive by Konerko in the first were the only runs allowed by Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (4-2).

Konerko sustained a laceration above his left eye and swelling when he was hit by Samardzijas pitch in the third inning and had to leave the game. He was to have more tests to determine the extent of the injury and his status for the remainder of the series.

“You never want that for anybody that youre playing with or anybody on their team. You never want to see anybody hit in the head. It was pretty scary. He walked off, so we figured he was OK,” Beckham said.

White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said he went to the clubhouse to check on Konerko.

“I saw him before he left,” Pierzynski said. “His eye was pretty swelled up, but he was pretty cognizant, didnt say he was dizzy or anything. Ive seen him get hit before and go to first. I was a little scared when he didnt get right up, but he seemed fine and well see how he feels tomorrow.”

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Samardzija, who came to the plate to check on Konerko, said he wasnt trying to hit the White Sox star.

“Its unfortunate. Therere a lot of superstars that put up big numbers, get paid a lot of money and Paulies one of those guys who is a superstar and does it the right way. Theres not too many of those guys out there. Hes not about show or about himself,” Samardzija said.

“Paulies a good guy and that ball got away and unfortunately hit him up high. If I could take it back, I would. The only thing that makes me OK about it is hes a tough guy. I hope hell be all right.”

White Sox starter Phil Humber threw high behind Cubs cleanup hitter Bryan LaHair in the fourth, prompting a warning from plate umpire Tim Timmons.

Sveum, ejected in the fifth for arguing a call at second base, reiterated the Cubs werent trying to hit Konerko, especially since it was a splitter from Samardzija. And he said if Humbers pitch was indeed retaliation, he would have appreciated it being thrown much lower.

“That one just got away from me and just one of those things that happens during a game,” Humber said.

Wood, who began his major league career with the Cubs in 1998 and struck out 20 Houston Astros batters in his fifth major league start, took the mound to rousing cheers after word got out that he intended to retire after the game. he was taken out as teammates congratulated him on the mound and Dunn doffed his batting helmet and clapped from first base.

The 34-year-old Wood, hampered by injuries this season and throughout his career, left to a standing ovation and was hugged by his son as he reached the dugout. Moments later, Wood emerged for a curtain call, waving his cap to fans as James Russell threw warmup pitches.

Wood played slightly more than 13 seasons in the big leagues, most of them with the Cubs.

“Its time,” he said afterward.

Konerkos 19th career homer in 66 games against the Cubs came one out after a first-inning single by Beckham and made it 2-0.

But the Cubs responded in the bottom half. David DeJesus led off with a fly-ball double into the ivy in left field and Tony Campana had a bunt single when Humber slipped down trying to field it. Campana then stole second before Starlin Castros long sacrifice fly made it 2-1 and sent Campana to third. Humber then struck out LaHair and got Alfonso Soriano to fly out.

The Cubs tied it in the seventh when Ian Stewart led off with a single and one out later Darwin Barney doubled to finish Humber after just 66 pitches. Matt Thornton (2-3) came in and Samardzija bounced his first pitch through the left side for an RBI single to tie the game and put runners at first and third. DeJesus popped out and so did Campana on a bunt attempt, ending the inning.

Samardzija allowed six hits and three runs in 7 1-3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Humber gave up five hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings. He is 0-2 with three no-decisions since pitching a perfect game against Seattle on April 21.

Addison Reed got his fourth save in four chances with a scoreless ninth that included a double by Barney when White Sox right fielder Alex Rios lost his two-out fly in the sun.

Notes

White Sox 3B Brent Morel was a late scratch with a sore back that has bothered him off and on this season. He was replaced by Eduardo Escobar. Cubs C Geovany Soto will have surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss three to four weeks. The Cubs called up catcher Blake Lalli from Triple-A Iowa and optioned struggling right-hander Chris Volstad (0-6) to their top farm club.

Pettitte dominates as Yankees shut out Reds

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:17:06 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 18, 2012

Making his second major league start since ending his one-year retirement, the 39-year-old left-hander (1-1) limited the young, free-swinging Reds to four hits – all singles. With a fastball that reached 90 mph, an excellent cutter and a sharp curve, he struck out nine and walked one, throwing 78 of 115 pitches for strikes.

Given a 1-0 lead on Alex Rodriguezs RBI grounder in the fourth, Pettitte pitched well enough to make it stand up. Robinson Cano hit a solo homer off Bronson Arroyo (2-2) in the eighth and Raul Ibanez hit a two-run drive, his eighth homer of the season.

Pettitte had been 0-2 in five starts since winning at Seattle on July 8, 2010 – five days before he pitched in the All-Star game. After missing much of the second half because of a groin strain, he beat Minnesota in Game 2 of the AL division series.

In his first start, at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Pettitte allowed four runs over 6 1-3 innings in a 6-2 loss to Seattle.

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Boone Logan pitched a perfect ninth, completing the four-hitter as New York stopped a three-game losing streak.

Arroyo allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 2-3 innings.

New York went ahead when Rodriguez slapped a grounder to shortstop off Arroyo – not the pitchers glove, as he infamously did near first base in Game 6 of the AL championship series against Boston. Cano doubled the lead with his fourth homer of the season, a drive into the right-field bleachers.

New York again struggled with runners in scoring position. The Yankees were 0 for 7 and are 3 for their last 48 (.063) with RISP.

New York loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth on singles by Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson followed by Canos walk. Rodriguez grounded to third, where Todd Frazier bobbled the ball before throwing home for the forceout – replays were unclear when catcher Ryan Hanigan was touching the plate.

Ibanez grounded to first, with Joey Votto throwing home for another forceout, and Nick Swisher popped to center.

Cincinnati, the first team since interleague play started in 1997 to play at the Mets and Yankees on consecutive days, got an early baserunner when Zack Cozart struck out leading off but the ball kicked off the glove of catcher Chris Stewart, who was catching Pettitte for the first time. Cozart wound up at second on the passed ball and a throwing error by Stewart, who wildly flung the ball well over first baseman Nick Swisher.

Cozart took third on Drew Stubbs sacrifice but was stranded when Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips struck out. After allowing Hanigans leadoff single in the third, Pettitte struck out the side.

Notes

A day after Donna Summers death, her rendition of “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch. … New York 1B Mark Teixeira, bothered by a cough since early April, was given the night off. … New York RHP Ivan Nova (4-1) remains scheduled to start Saturday. If his bruised and sprained right foot gives Nova trouble while warming up, the Yankees would turn to Freddy Garcia. Homer Bailey (1-3) starts for the Reds.

O’s top Royals, make it 7 straight wins on road

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:17:08 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 17, 2012

It was the two walks that he issued before Hardy stepped to the plate.

They loaded the bases for the Orioles shortstop, whose single snapped a tie and allowed Baltimore to squeak out a 5-3 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.

“I just didnt get the job done. Putting those two guys on gave them an extra run,” Crow said. “In that situation, I need to go out and attack those guys, and if they beat you, so be it. I just cant give guys free bases and it ended up hurting me today.”

It certainly hurt the Royals, whose bullpen squandered a two-run cushion in the ninth inning the previous night, and then gave up a homer to Adam Jones in the 15th inning for a 4-3 loss.

Jones added a two-run homer in the fourth on Thursday to jumpstart the Orioles comeback.

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It was his third straight game going deep. Baltimore is 12-1 when Jones hits a home run, and his 13 homers on the year matches what he had by June 25 last season.

“Hes hot right now. Hes really hot,” Hardy said. “Hes been swinging the bat impressively.”

Brian Matusz (3-4) won for the third time in four starts after enduring a career-worst 12-decision losing streak. He allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings.

Relievers Luis Ayala and Pedro Strop made it through two innings unscathed, and Jim Johnson worked the ninth for his 14th save. Hes converted 22 straight since Aug. 14, 2011.

Luke Hochevar (3-4) pitched well for six innings. His only real miscue was the two-run homer by Jones in the fourth. But the right-hander ran into trouble in the seventh, allowing back-to-back singles by Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis, the start of a three-run inning for the Orioles.

Hochevar was pulled after Davis base hit, which center fielder Jarrod Dyson grossly misplayed. The ball bounced in front of him and went to the wall, allowing Betemit to score.

“I want him to be aggressive, but I dont want the ball getting by him in that situation,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He had a shot at it and realized the ball had some topspin on it, and stopped and it skipped right by him. In that situation you do not want the ball to get by you. That opened up a whole different can of worms for us.”

Crow came into the game and got two quick outs, but then walked No. 9 hitter Luis Exposito and leadoff hitter Xavier Avery. Hardy followed with a two-run single that broke the tie and sent the Orioles to their seventh straight road win, their best stretch since 1999.

Kansas City had ample opportunities to pick up a couple wins against Baltimore, but instead wound up with a pair of frustrating losses in the two-game, midweek series.

Jonathan Broxton blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning of the opener Wednesday night, and the Royals eventually lost their third straight extra-inning game. They jumped out to a three-run lead after three innings Thursday before the Orioles mounted their comeback.

Humberto Quinteros two-run double and Johnny Giavotellas RBI single to right brought in the runs for Kansas City, but thats all that Matusz allowed in an otherwise strong outing.

Hochevar was just as good most of the afternoon.

After watching his ERA balloon to a run per inning, the former No. 1 overall draft pick put together seven innings of three-hit ball in his last start against the White Sox. Hochevar ran his scoreless innings streak to 10 before making a mistake on a 3-2 pitch to Jones.

“My focus has not changed from the beginning of the year to now,” he said. “Still going out with the mindset of executing quality pitches and fight like crazy to get this team a win.”

Notes

There was a three-man umpire crew after Ed Rapuano left prior to the game for family reasons. The fire department was called to Kauffman Stadium when smoke was seen atop the scoreboard, where fireworks are shot off. Firefighters climbed up and extinguished the residue causing the smoke. Royals RHP Luis Mendoza will start Friday nights opener against Arizona. Orioles RHP Jake Arrieta will take the mound Friday night at Washington.

Braves’ Beachy stops Marlins, earns first shutout

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:17:05 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 17, 2012

Beachy (5-1) threw a five-hit shutout, the first of his career, in the first complete game of his career.

He has won five consecutive decisions since losing his first start. Beachy had no walks and six strikeouts and lowered his ERA from 1.60 to 1.33.

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The right-hander had two strikeouts in the ninth to cap Atlantas first shutout of the season.

Freddie Freeman homered and Chipper Jones, Michael Bourn, Martin Prado and Tyler Pastornicky each had two hits as the Braves outhit the Marlins 12-5 and split the two-game series.

The Braves improved to 18-5 with Jones in the starting lineup. They are 6-10 in games he did not start.

Ricky Nolasco (4-2) gave up four runs on seven hits in four innings as he was denied his bid for sole possession of the Marlins record for career wins. Nolasco, who is tied with Dontrelle Willis at 68 wins, has lasted less than five innings in two straight losses.

Bourn led off the first with a single and scored on Prados triple just beyond the reach of centerfielder Emilio Bonifacio.

The Braves added two runs with two outs in the third. Freeman launched a high homer, his seventh, to right field. Dan Uggla walked and scored on Brian McCanns double past a diving Logan Morrison in left field. The ball skipped past Morrison and bounced to the wall, allowing Uggla to score easily.

Jason Heyward was caught stealing after he was hit by a pitch to open the fourth. The Braves still had a productive inning as Pastornicky singled, moved to second on Beachys sacrifice and scored on Bourns single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.

With dark clouds hovering and lightning flashing over Turner Field, the Marlins stranded runners on second and third in the fifth. After singles by Gaby Sanchez and pinch-hitter Austin Kearns, Jose Reyes lined out to right field to end the inning.

The Braves added three runs in the fifth off Chad Gaudin, who walked freeman and Uggla to start the inning. Jones, Heyward and Beachy had run-scoring singles.

The Marlins had another scoring opportunity when Giancarlo Stanton led off the seventh with a double. Stanton was left standing on second as Beachy struck out Brett Hayes to end the inning.

Notes

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, watched the game from a seat near the Braves dugout. … Beachys previous longest start was 7 1/3 innings in two games, most recently on April 20 at Arizona. … Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he may use Jones and McCann as the designated hitters in the teams first interleague series at Tampa Bay, beginning Friday night. Gonzalez said it will be a good way to give two of his top hitters a break while keeping their bats in the lineup. … Morrison is the possible DH for the Marlins three-game series at Cleveland. Manager Ozzie Guillen said Kearns may be the DH if the Marlins face a left-hander. … RHP Tommy Hanson will start for Atlanta against Tampa Bays James Shields on Friday night. Marlins RHP Anibal Sanchez will face Indians RHP Jeanmar Gomez.

Blue Jays rough up Kuroda, rout Yankees

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:17:09 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 16, 2012

Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson added solo home runs as the Blue Jays tagged Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda for seven runs, matching a career-high.

Blue Jays right-hander Kyle Drabek (3-4) snapped a four-start losing streak, scattering three hits over seven innings to win for the first time since April 15 against Baltimore. He walked four and struck out five.

Luis Perez worked the eighth and Francisco Cordero finished in the ninth for Toronto.

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Arencibia had three hits and scored twice, helping Toronto snap a three-game losing streak and giving the Blue Jays their seventh win in their past 11 home games against the Yankees.

Kuroda (3-5) allowed eight hits and a season-high three homers in five-plus innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Arencibia got the Blue Jays started with a two-out drive to left in the second inning, his fourth. Encarnacion made it 5-0 with a two-out shot to center in the third, his 13th of the season and second in as many days.

Arencibia doubled and scored on a two-out single by Johnson in the fourth and Bautista drilled a leadoff shot into the second deck in left in the sixth, his ninth.

New York broke up Drabeks shutout bid in the sixth when Mark Teixeira singled home Robinson Cano, who had doubled. Teixeiras hit was the 1,500th of his career.

Johnson restored Torontos seven-run lead with a milestone hit in the seventh, smacking a leadoff drive to right off Clay Rapada, his 100th career home run and eighth this season.

The Yankees dropped to 1-13 when scoring three runs or fewer, and 0-8 when failing to hit a home run. New York is the only team in the majors this season to not win a game in which they did not homer.

Notes

New York SS Derek Jeter got the day off and was replaced by Jayson Nix, with Curtis Granderson moving up to the leadoff spot. It was Jeters first day off this season. … Yankees RHP Ivan Nova (right ankle) did not throw his scheduled bullpen session Wednesday but is expected to throw a side session Thursday. Manager Joe Girardi said he still expects Nova to make his next scheduled start, Saturday against Cincinnati. … Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount for Tuesday nights altercation with umpire Bill Miller. Lawrie is appealing and can play until there is a hearing, which could be held next week via video conference. … The Blue Jays were unsuccessful in detaining the fan who hit Miller on the shoulder with a cup of beer as the umpires walked off the field Tuesday. Umpires and stadium security pointed at the fan, but he managed to evade security as he exited the building. … OF Vladimir Guerrero, who signed a minor league contract with Toronto last week, has started taking batting practice at extended spring training in Florida and could see his first game action next week.

Gonzalez takes NL strikeout lead, Nats top Bucs

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:17:05 +0000

MLB news-ts.com wire reports
May 16, 2012

Hitting cleanup while Michael Morse is on the disabled list, LaRoche leads the Nationals with seven homers and 29 RBI. Talk about a turnaround: LaRoche hit .172 with three homers in 43 games in 2011 before having left shoulder surgery.

Gonzalez (5-1) allowed three runs, four hits and two walks. His 60 strikeouts are four more than Strasburgs total.

LaRoche and Xavier Nady hit consecutive homers off Erik Bedard (2-5) in the sixth.

Facing reliever Evan Meek with the bases loaded and two outs in a 4-3 game in the seventh, LaRoche lined the first pitch down the right field line. The scoreboard noted his milestone hit, and the announced crowd of 25,942 gave LaRoche a standing ovation. He doffed his cap.

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Meek, called up before the game from Triple-A Indianapolis, pitched one inning. He walked two batters and hit another, then served up LaRoches big hit.

Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard let in one run in the eighth, and struggling fill-in closer Henry Rodriguez overcame an error for his ninth save in 12 chances. He ended the game by getting Josh Harrison to ground into a double play.

In Bedards six innings, the left-hander gave all solo shots. He struck out seven and walked one. In his previous outing, a week earlier at home against Washington, Bedard lasted all of eight pitches before departing because of back spasms.

This time, the second batter Bedard faced, 19-year-old Bryce Harper, barely missed connecting for a homer in the third consecutive game, sending a shot high off the out-of-town scoreboard on the wall in right field and ending up with his first major league triple. Ryan Zimmermans groundout drove home Harper to make it 1-0.

Ian Desmond put the hosts ahead 2-0 by leading off the third with his fifth homer of the season, and LaRoche and Nady made it 4-0 in a three-pitch span three innings later.

How good was Gonzalez at mixing 95 m thought hed struck out even though he hadnt.

After the third pitch of Bedards first at-bat was called a strike, he began walking to the dugout, thinking that was strike 3. Except that pitch only made the count 1-2, because the first pitch of the at-bat was called a ball. So Bedard trudged back to the batters box, and Gonzalez smiled broadly at the scene – then really did finish off the strikeout with a looping 77 mph curveball.

That gave Gonzalez five Ks in a six-batter span.

He retired 10 Pirates in a row until walking Yamaico Navarro to start the fifth inning, and that brought trouble. Rod Barajas followed with a single to right, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. After a strikeout, Harrison pulled Pittsburgh within 2-1 with an RBI liner that center fielder Harper got a late read on.

In the seventh, Gonzalez walked Barajas then gave up Harrisons first homer of the season, a two-run shot to left that made it 4-3. That ended Gonzalezs streak of 58 innings without allowing a homer.

Still, the Pirates offensive woes continued: Theyve gone a dozen games without scoring more than five runs in any.

Notes

On Military Appreciation Night, a four-helicopter flyover preceded the game, and the Nationals wore their blue jerseys with a red-white-and-blue, stars-and-stripes curly W on the chest. … Meek, an NL All-Star in 2010, was sent to the minors on May 1 with a 5.59 ERA. To bring him back, Pittsburgh optioned OF Alex Presley to Indianapolis. Presley was 3 for 42 over his past 15 games. … Nationals RHP Chien-Ming Wang says he is willing to pitch in relief. Wang has yet to pitch for Washington this season after hurting his left hamstring during a spring training appearance March 15. Hes slated to make one more start at Triple-A Syracuse as part of his rehab work but was in Washington on Wednesday to throw a bullpen session. … Nationals C Wilson Ramos confirmed what was expected: He will miss the rest of this season after tearing his right knees ACL Saturday night. … Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (2-3) faces Pirates RHP James McDonald (2-2) on Thursday to close the two-game series.