MLB Game Recaps: Bruce’s Ninth Bomb Keys Reds to Victory in Milwaukee

The Reds moved further above .500 with a 6-1 victory to reach 15-13 as they looked to continue to bounce back from a dismal start. Bronson Arroyo gave up a first-inning run, but would hold the Brewers to that as he finished with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The Reds would get all but one of their runs in the five-run fourth on a Zack Cozart leadoff home run, a Joey Votto double, and a three-run blast from Bruce that continued his power breakout to tie him for second in baseball behind the simply unbelievable Matt Kemp.

National League

Miami Marlins – 4

Houston Astros – 0

The Marlins extended their win streak to seven on the back of a three-hit complete game shutout from Carlos Zambrano. The Fish picked up their runs on a two-run homer from Giancarlo Stanton and a solo shot each from John Buck and Hanley Ramirez. Miami’s win puts them above .500 for just the second time season after getting off to an 8-14 start.

Chicago Cubs – 5

Atlanta Braves – 1

Chicago won its third in four games behind seven excellent innings of one-run ball from former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija. Home runs from Ian Stewart, Bryan LaHair, and Geovany Soto provided most of the support. Atlanta led early on a Jason Heyward solo shot in the second, and solo shots from Lahair and Stewart gave Chicago the lead in the fourth. It wasn’t until Braves starter Tommy Hanson left that the Cubs picked up their third, fourth, and fifth runs in the seventh and eighth innings, so this game was a lot closer for most of the contest than the final scoreline would suggest.

New York Mets – 5

Philadelphia Phillies – 2

Rookie Jordany Valdespin lifted the Mets to victory with a three-run, two-out, ninth-inning bomb off Jonathan Papelbon to break the 2-2 tie and complete the comeback victory for the Mets, incredibly first big league hit. Jon Niese gave up two early runs but recovered to finish five innings, before David Wright’s two-out double tied the game up in the sixth to rob Roy Halladay of his shutout and lead. The good Doctor allowed five hits in seven innings, and struck out seven in an impressive no decision.

St. Louis Cardinals – 9

Arizona Diamondbacks – 6

St. Louis outslugged the Snakes thanks to five solo shots, chasing Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders after scoring seven in 3.1 innings. Lance Lynn put up five scoreless frames, giving up three hits and four walks while striking out seven, then deferred to J.C. Romero. Romero made the game much closer than it should have been by giving up five runs without getting an out in the sixth to close the gap to 7-6, but the Cardinals’ second back-to-back homers of the game gave the Redbirds their final margin of victory.

Los Angeles Dodgers – 9

San Francisco Giants – 1

Los Angeles improved to an NL-best 19-10 record in their first home game under their new ownership group. The team’s future will be much brighter if it can maintain its current 11-2 home record. Matt Kemp went 3 for 3 with a walk, while Ted Lilly stifled San Francisco’s anemic Panda-less offense with six innings of one-run ball. Barry Zito pitched six innings and allowed three runs, and continued his impressive start despite picking up the loss. Zito will never regain his Cy Young form, but at this point the Giants will accept any return they can get on his albatross of a contract. Los Angeles broke the game open with eight runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, six of which were attributed to San Francisco youngsters Steve Edlefsen and Travis Blackley.

San Diego Padres – 3

Colorado Rockies – 2

San Diego made three early runs stand up at Petco Park, with Edinson Volquez pitching 5.1 innings and giving up two runs to earn the win. Colorado starter Drew Pomeranz pitched only three innings, but did help his own cause with a solo home run before leaving with knee stiffness after being hit with a comebacker. Yonder Alonso led the Padres offense with a two-for-three, two RBI day, while Carlos Gonzalez drove home Colorado’s second run on a sixth-inning single.

American League

Los Angeles Angels – 8

Minnesota Twins – 3

Jered Weaver produced another strong outing against the Twins en route to his fifth win, although this one didn’t result in a no-hitter.  Francisco Liriano falls to 0-5, and the Twins drop to an MLB-worst 7-21. Alberto Callaspo led the Angels’ offense with a home run, and finished with a 2-4 line with 3 RBI’s and a walk.

Boston Red Sox – 11

Kansas City Royals – 5

Rookie Will Middlebrooks continued to make a strong positive impression with a two-homer, five-RBI game. A solo shot from David Ortiz and a two-run homer from Dustin Pedroia also provided support for Felix Doubront, who picked up his second win despite allowing five runs in 6 1/3. Jonathan Sanchez gave up six runs in three innings to take the loss, dropping the promising Royals to 9-19.

Cleveland Indians – 8

Chicago White Sox – 6

Doubleheader, Game 1

Phil Humber continued his struggles in the wake of his perfect game, picking up his second loss after giving up eight runs in just over two innings. Humber gave up three doubles and a homer to Travis Hafner. The White Sox clawed back with four unanswered runs, but fell short as Nick Hagadone picked up his first career save.

Cleveland Indians – 3

Chicago White Sox – 2

Doubleheader, Game 2

Cleveland swept the doubleheader as Josh Tomlin outdueled Eric Stults. After a White Sox run in the top half of the inning, Cleveland took a fifth-inning lead by plating two on back-to-back singles from Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis. The 2-1 line held until an Alex Rios tied the game in the top of the eighth, but a Shelley Duncan double in the bottom half of that inning scored Asdrubal Cabrera to give the Indians a lead they would hold. Cabrera reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 3 for 3 with a walk.

Texas Rangers – 14

Baltimore Orioles – 3

Brian Matusz dropped to 1-4, going five innings and allowing seven runs. Orioles reliever Jason Berken gave up the other half of Texas’ scores, although only two of his five were earned thanks to a ninth-inning throwing error by Mark Reynolds. Matt Harrison was excellent on the bump for Texas, as he pitched seven strong innings and allowed three runs on a pair of homers from Robert “The Curse Of The” Andino and Wilson Betemit. Michael Young paced Texas with a 2 for 4 day in which he picked up three RBI’s, including a two-run shot off Berken in the ninth.

Seattle Mariners – 0

Detroit Tigers – 2

Doug Fister dazzled his old club in his first start back after suffering a strain of his side that landed him on the DL after his April 7 start. Fister scattered four hits over seven innings and was in line for the win when he left, while Mariners starter Blake Beavan left the game in the third with an elbow contusion after being struck by a comebacker off the bat of Miguel Cabrera, starting an inning-ending double play that got Beavan out of a one-out jam with runners on the corners in the third but ending Beavan’s night. Octavio Dotel entered the game in the ninth, giving Jose Valverde the night off after Papa Grande pitched on three consecutive nights. Dotel promptly gave up the lead on a pair of walks and a Jesus Montero double, and left the game with the winning run on second and no outs in the inning. From there, it was simply a matter of a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to give the Mariners the walkoff victory.

Twitter Question of the Day: Which hitter currently on nine homers will finish the season with the most; Bruce, Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn, Curtis Granderson, or Edwin Encarnacion?

Questions or comments are welcome in 140 characters or less @saberbythebay.

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