MLB Game Recaps: Chicago Cubs lose 11th straight

Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Chicago Cubs 2

The Chicago Cubs lost their 11th game straight to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the winning run came off of an HBP. Rafael Dolis blew the game by hitting Matt Hague with a pitch, who was called up after Nate McLouth was DFA’d, to score Jose Tabata.

Paul Maholm took the start for the Cubs against his former team and was outpitched by Kevin Correia. Alfonso Soriano hit the game’s lone homer, and no Pirates hitter had an extra base hit.

Mets 9, Padres 0

The New York Mets absolutely dominated the San Diego Padres, behind a four-hit shutout from Johan Santana. Scott Hairston homered and drove in three, and catcher Mike Nikeas hit his first homer of the year for a Grand Slam.

Tigers 6, Twins 3

The Detroit Tigers won this AL Central duel, as Jose Valverde notched the save and Max Scherzer got the win against Carl Pavano. Ben Revere had three hits, and Denard Span had two including his first homer of the year. For Detroit, Prince Fielder went 4-4 and Andy Dirks doubled twice.

Rangers 8, Blue Jays 7

The Texas Rangers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays in 13 innings after Josh Hamilton hit a walk-off, two-run shot in this dramatic game. The 13th was filled with action, as the Blue Jays scored two runs to give them a 7-5 lead. The Rangers, however, answered back in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double from Andrus and later Hamilton’s game-winning shot.

Royals 4, Orioles 3

J.J. Hardy had three hits and his tenth dinger of the year, and Chris Davis also had a multi-hit game with a homer, but the O’s fell short and could not defeat Jonathan Broxton and the Kansas City Royals. Eric Hosmer had a big 3-4 game and drove in two runs, and Billy Butler also hit his tenth homer of the year.

Yankees 9, Athletics 2

The New York Yankees are now 25-21 after demolishing the Oakland Athletics, as Mark Teixeira was immense and went 4-5 with five RBIs and two runs. He knocked two out of the park, and Robinson Cano homered and had a double to go with that. The A’s received a good three-hit game from No. 9 hitter Colin Cowgill, who was the outfielder they received in the Trevor Cahill deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. C.C. Sabathia got the win after outpitching Bartolo Colon, who revitalized his career last year with the Yankees but currently has a 4.52 ERA on his new squad.

Nationals 8, Braves 4

The Washington Nationals got a good win over the Atlanta Braves on the road, as Danny Espinosa had two hits, scored twice, and drove in three runs at the top of the Nats order. He has brought his OBP back up over .300 recently, and the talented 2B has regained his confidence. Espinosa doubled and homered in this game, while the Braves were led by a three-hit ballgame from third baseman Juan Francisco. Both young starters Mike Minor and Stephen Strasburg have bright futures ahead of them, but Minor has struggled this season while Strasburg has been great. Neither of them pitched well today, but Strasburg was better (six strikeouts) and also got the win.

White Sox 14, Indians 7

In a high-scoring affair between two AL Central teams, the leaders were blown out by a Chicago White Sox team that is gaining steam with their offense. That offense is usually supplied by first baseman Paul Konerko, who was excellent in this game and went 4-4 with three runs and two ribbies. He doubled three times to help beat the Indians, and Alex Rios homered and doubled in a great 3-5 game with three runs and three RBIs. LF Dayan Viciedo went 3-5 with five steaks and two runs, and he also homered.

Marlins 5, Giants 3

Giancarlo Stanton doubled twice to lead Miami to victory, and the San Francisco Giants dropped another game and are nearing .500. Lead-off hitter Gregor Blanco notched three hits, but that was the story for the Giants. They got eight hits off of Mark Buehrle in 7.1 innings, but he only allowed two runs and is now 5-4 on the year with the win.

Red Sox 3, Rays 2

The rivalry between these two AL East clubs continues to rise, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the hero on this night with a walk-off two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth to score Daniel Nava as well. Before that, the Sox were down 2-1. David Price and Josh Beckett were both dealing, but Beckett was better despite allowing one more run, because he allowed three less walks and four less hits. The Rays never notched an extra base hit in this game, and Fernando Rodney blew his first save of the game thanks to Salty’s homer. Rodney has 15 saves this year and has been a great, cheap free agent catch for the Rays, which is something these guys do every year; they bring in a good closer on the cheap.

Angels 5, Mariners 3

Mark Trumbo got the nod in right field and went 3-4, and Albert Callaspo had a grand slam in the sixth inning. However, Albert Pujols was the most valuable player as he homered and doubled. The superstar continues his resurgence after the firing of the Angels much-maligned hitting coach, and the team is just two wins away from 25 wins and getting to .500.

Reds 10, Rockies 3

Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips had big days, as Heisey homered and drove in three and Phillips doubled and had three hits in total. Devin Mesoraco also homered for the Reds, who blew out Jeremy Guthrie and the Colorado Rockies in Cincinnati. The Rockies got a great performance out of 3B Jordan Pacheco, who had three hits and a double.

Phillies 4, Cardinals 0

If you didn’t know who was pitching for the Phillies in this game, and I asked you who threw a complete game shutout, would you guess Kyle Kendrick? But that’s exactly who threw this masterful performance against the best offense in the NL. The Cardinals were stymied as Kendrick allowed no runs or walks in this complete game shutout, but the Cards weren’t helpless as they did get seven hits off of him. Still, those never burned him, and he pretty much scattered those hits.

Dodgers 6, Astros 3

Kenley Jansen almost blew the game and a decent start from Chad Billingsley, but the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to break the 3-3 ice in the bottom of the ninth. In the top of the inning, catcher Jason Castro doubled to drive in Brian Bogusevic and tie the game up at 3. But in the bottom of the inning, catcher A.J. Ellis continued his hot and key start to the season by blasting a clutch three-run shot off of Wilton Lopez to win the game.

Diamondbacks 8, Brewers 5

Gerardo Parra went 4-4 with two runs at the top of the order, and John McDonald drove in three runs with a homer in a great offensive performance for him and the D’Backs. Zack Greinke pitched in just 2.1 innings and allowed ten hits and seven runs in a performance that is as bad as it gets. His Game Score was a paltry 9, which is astoundingly bad.