MLB Recaps: The Grandy Man Can
By Matt Musico
When looking back at the Twins-Yankees match-up from last night, no one will remember Minnesota jumping out to a 4-0 lead on starter Phil Hughes. That’s because Curtis Granderson absolutely went off. He hit three home runs in the first four innings of the game, and then topped it off with two more singles to finish the game 5-5, with three runs scored, and four RBI.
After Hughes struggled in the first, he was able to last 5.1 innings, giving up six runs (two earned), six hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. The 7-6 win gave the Yankees a split of the four-game set with the Twins, yielding a 7-6 record so far in 2012. Granderson’s three-homer effort was the first to happen at the new Yankee Stadium, and Derek Jeter is now tied with Dave Winfield for 18th all-time with 3,110 career hits. Teixeira also joined in on the home run barrage with two of his own.
American League
Baltimore Orioles- 5
Chicago White Sox- 3
Adam Jones was the man responsible for the bulk of the Baltimore offense today, driving in three runs on two hits, while Jason Hammel remained undefeated this year with his second win. He tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts in his six innings of work for the first place Orioles (um…what?). Baltimore is finishing up a 10-game road trip against the Angels this weekend, looking to improve upon their 5-2 record that they have amassed thus far before they return to Camden Yards.
Texas Rangers- 10
Detroit Tigers- 3
The Rangers are just absurdly hot right now. They assembled a 10-run, 19-hit attack against Adam Wilk and the Tigers. Texas put up two early runs in the first two frames in support of Yu Darvish, who went 6.1 innings. Darvish only gave up one run and two hits, but walked five Tiger hitters. It was an even attack from the Rangers, who won their seventh game in a row, improving their record to 11-2. Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz, and Yorvit Torrealba all drove in two runs each.
Tampa Bay Rays- 9
Toronto Blue Jays- 4
Tampa and Toronto met for a rubber game up north; Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings powered the Rays to a series victory with their home runs. The Blue Jay offense was held at bay by 2011 AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson, who threw 5.2 innings and striking out four. Longoria was the offensive star of the evening, going 3-4 with two runs scored and four RBI.
Cleveland Indians- 2
Seattle Mariners- 1
King Felix was on the mound tonight, and he certainly disappoint, to the tune of eight innings, five hits, no runs, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. Josh Tomlin was just as good for the Indians, only allowing one run over his eight innings. Brandon League came in to close out the ninth, but it wasn’t meant to be as Jack Hannahan singled to score Carlos Santana and Aaron Cunningham, helping the Indians steal their sixth win of the year.
Oakland Athletics- 4
Los Angeles Angels- 2
Tommy Milone and the Oakland A’s continued the disappointing start for Albert Pujols and the Angels. Pujols’ bat came to life with three hits, but he didn’t drive in any runs in support of C.J. Wilson. He threw six innings of two-hit ball with eight strikeouts, but gave up four runs (three earned).
National League
Miami Marlins- 5
Chicacgo Cubs- 3
Everything is going well in Miami as they closed their home stand with a four game-win streak, which included a sweep of the struggling Cubs. Miami jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st with a single by Logan Morrison and ground out by Giancarlo Stanton. The Cubs answered the next inning with a three-run triple by Darwin Barney, but the big hit came from Greg Dobbs, who doubled in two runs in the bottom of the 3rd, putting them ahead for good behind a 5.1 inning effort from Ricky Nolasco.
Los Angeles Dodgers- 4
Milwaukee Brewers- 3
After losing the first two games of this series in walk-off fashion, the Dodgers used Matt Kemp’s league leading 7th home run of the year and RBI hits from Juan Rivera and Andre Ethier to take the finale from Randy Wolf and the Brewers. Kemp is hitting .451 on the year, and it doesn’t seem like he’s every going to slump again. Aaron Harang put together another solid outing for LA, throwing six innings, giving up three runs, and striking out four.
Cincinnati Reds- 6
St. Louis Cardinals- 3
Adam Wainwright allowed four runs to the Reds, earning his third loss of the year, as he continues to look for his first win after losing all of last year to injury. Matt Holliday powered the Cardinal offense today with a 3-run homer, but that all he would allow in his eight innings of work. For the Reds, they avoided the sweep from their division rivals with home runs by Brandon Phillips, Drew Stubbs, and Ryan Ludwick.
Houston Astros- 11
Washington Nationals- 4
The Astros jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning with a franchise record three triples in the first inning. Washington clawed back into the game by scoring in the second and the third, but after Edwin Jackson exited in the 6th inning, Houston put together one more five-run inning, ensuring that they would at least take one game out of this series.
Atlanta Braves- 10
Arizona Diamondbacks- 2
The Braves scored two runs in the top of the first, but the Diamondbacks scratched out two runs by the bottom of the fifth. However, that’s when the Atlanta offense took off, scoring seven runs in the next three innings, which was highlighted by the performance of young first baseman, Freddie Freeman. While Mike Minor was throwing a career high eight innings in the win, Freeman went 3-5 with two home runs, and a career high five RBI.
Philadelphia Phillies- 2
San Diego Padres- 0
Well, the Phillies continue to show that their offense is anemic in the absence of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, but their pitching picked them up against the Padres, one of the few teams with a less productive offense than them. Vance Worley got his first win of the year, going seven strong innings, giving up four hits, no runs, three walks, and 11 strikeouts. Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly back in the first inning, and that was all the offense Philadelphia needed to get their sixth win of the year.
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