MLB Game Recaps: Los Angeles Angels top Toronto Blue Jays

Los Angeles Angels 6, Toronto Blue Jays 2

With Albert Pujols on the bench for being, well, terrible, the Los Angeles Angels prevailed over the Toronto Blue Jays in a 6-2 ballgame. Mike Trout had two runs, two hits, and two steaks- including a homer from the lead-off spot. Kendrys Morales went 3-5, and Mark Trumbo added two hits and a homer while being tossed around in trade scenarios with the Blue Jays.

Kyle Drabek has had a solid season thus far, but he was poor last night with a 28 Game Score in 99 pitches. He lasted through five innings and allowed eight hits and five runs. Angels starter C.J. Wilson had another great game on the mound and struck out nine hitters while giving up just two runs and six hits in eight innings.

Dodgers 5, Cubs 1

Chris Capuano is making me eat a lot of crow with his early start to the season, and he has improved to 4-0 on the season after shutting down the Cubs. Capuano threw 70 strikes out of his 100 pitches in seven innings and gave up just three hits, no runs, and two walks. He also struck out seven batters and was miles better than opposing starter Chris Volstad (allowed five runs in five innings).

Nationals 7, Phillies 1

The Washington Nationals picked up where they left off after Wilson Ramos‘s game-winning, pinch-hit single in the game before with a 7-1 victory over the Phillies. Gio Gonzalez shut down the offensively challenged Phils through seven innings, and he gave up just four hits, one run, one walk while striking out seven. Hunter Pence doubled and was the only player on the Phillies to have multiple hits. Meanwhile, three players- including temporary first baseman Chad Tracy– had three hits for the Nats.

Orioles 8, Red Sox 2

Will this last for Jason Hammel and the Orioles? The now 4-1 starter has a 2.09 ERA this year and allowed just four hits and two runs in 6.2 innings with a walk allowed and eight strikeouts. Aaron Cook made his first start for the Red Sox, but he was awful and was run out of the game after 2.2 innings. He has the bottom of the order to blame, as the No. 6-8 hitters on Baltimore all had two hits each, with Mark Reynolds contributing three RBIs (homered in the third).

White Sox 3, Tigers 2

Jose Valverde blew his second save of the season in a terrible outing, and it wasted a terrific starting pitching performance from Max Scherzer. The Tigers starter managed to allow just one run, four hits, and no walks while striking out nine in seven innings. Opposing starter Gavin Floyd also pitched well, but it was Adam Dunn who made the difference in the ninth with his two-run, 438-foot monster shot to win the game for Chicago.

Mets 4, Diamondbacks 3

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana won his first game in a long time, as he pitched through a mediocre seven innings and took advantage of a poor starting pitching performance from Arizona. John McDonald led the way for Arizona with three hits and a double, while the extra-base-hit-less Mets were carried by a 4-4 game from 2B Daniel Murphy.

Giants 5, Brewers 2

Giants closer Santiago Casilla closed the door for his fifth save of the season and allowed Madison Bumgarner to come away with his fifth victory of the year. Bumgarner won his duel against Brewers starter Randy Wolf, as he allowed just one run through seven. Bumgarner also hit his first double of the season off of Wolf, and his only blemish of the game was Ryan Braun‘s eighth home run of the season.

Rangers 5, Indians 2

The Texas Rangers took down the pesky Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field in an eleven inning game. Derek Holland provided the initial push, as he allowed just one earned run in 7.1 innings with five hits and three walks against him. Holland struck out six, and Alexi Ogando was credited with the win and Joe Nathan with his seventh save. Indians reliever Joe Smith allowed a three-run shot from Adrian Beltre (423 feet) in the 11th and was charged with the loss. Beltre smoked the ball to win the game for the Rangers and scored Mitch Moreland, who had three hits and doubled.

Astros 8, Cardinals 2

The Houston Astros received a strong start from Bud Norris, but the St. Louis Cardinals cannot say the same about Jaime Garcia‘s off game. Chris Johnson and Jed Lowrie homered for the winning side, and Johnson’s homer was his first career Grand Slam. For St. Louis, no player had an extra base hit or a multi-hit game.

Pirates 3, Reds 2

Man, Mike Leake just can’t buy a win. The Cincinnati Reds starter went seven strong and allowed just four hits and three runs, but Pirates starter James McDonald was better. The waiver-wire pick-up once again brought the Ks, as he notched seven strikeouts and allowed just one run in 6.1 innings. Joel Hanrahan saved his fifth game of the season and has an even 3.00 ERA this year. Neil Walker‘s first homer of the season gave the Pirates a key 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Royals 5, Yankees 1

The Kansas City Royals gave the home crowd something to cheer about in their victory over the Yankees, especially Alex Gordon. The left fielder went 4-5 with a double, and designated hitter Billy Butler had two doubles and three RBIs right behind him in the order. Although Curtis Granderson also doubled twice, the only run in this game for the Yanks was a solo shot from catcher Russell Martin. Felipe Paulino shut down the Yankees through six scoreless innings with just four hits and two walks allowed and six strikeouts.

Athletics 4, Rays 3

Brian Fuentes and the Oakland Athletics bullpen overcame a poor start from Bartolo Colon by pitching seven scoreless innings in the 12-inning game. Grant Balfour got the save against his former team, and Jonny Gomes was the hero against his former team with a solo shot in the 12th to give the A’s the 4-3 victory. Carlos Pena and Josh Reddick both homered for their respective teams and had two hits each.

Braves 13, Rockies 9

It was yet another high-scoring affair between these two teams, as neither Mike Minor nor Jamie Moyer were up to the task of shutting down their respective opponents (both gave up ten hits). Michael Bourn scored three runs and had an outfield assist to get Michael Cuddyer out at second, but it was the man behind him in the order who had the big game.

Chipper Jones just keeps mashing, and he has a triple slash of .318/.370/.576 this season. He had three hits (doubled) and five steaks in the victory, and left fielder Matt Diaz also had three hits for the Braves. Diaz homered to right for a 430-foot blast in the sixth.

Carlos Gonzalez went 4-4 for the Rockies, Michael Cuddyer had four steaks and a homer, and Willin Rosario (of everyone) had two homers and three steaks to lead the way for the losing side.

Marlins 4, Padres 1

After an eventful game, the Marlins and Padres played out another close one in San Diego. It didn’t seem close, because Mark Buehrle was busy shutting down the Padres hitters. He tossed a complete game shutout and allowed just that one run, five hits, and two walks. It took him 116 pitches (77 strikes) and just three strikeouts to achieve the CG and a GSC of 74. Hanley Ramirez went 3-4 with a double to help provide the offense for Miami.

Mariners 7, Twins 0

Speaking of shutting down a lesser opponent, Felix Hernandez absolutely dominated the Minnesota Twins through eight innings. He allowed no runs and just one hit and two walks with nine strikeouts in a truly dominating performance for the King. Only lead-off hitter Denard Span got something off of Hernandez, while Ichiro, Dustin Ackley, and Kyle Seager (four steaks) did damage to the Twins. Seager homered in the seventh to score Ichiro after Ichiro tripled to center to score Michael Saunders and Dustin Ackley.