MLB Game Recaps: Washington Nationals top Boston Red Sox
Washington Nationals 4, Boston Red Sox 2
Daisuke Matsuzaka made his season debut for the Boston Red Sox and ended up faring out OK. He struck out eight batters in five innings but also allowed four runs on just five hits and a walk. The Nats received a three-hit performance in 6.1 innings from Gio Gonzalez, as well as Adam LaRoche‘s tenth homer and 40th RBI of the year.
Orioles 6, Phillies 4
The Baltimore Orioles topped the Philadelphia Phillies in 12 innings thanks to a walk-off home run from Adam Jones. Hunter Pence was terrific in a 4-5 day for the Phils.
Twins 11, Cubs 3
Joe Mauer went 3-4 with two RBIs in his return, and Trevor Plouffe smashed a home run and a double to help the Minnesota Twins shellack Jeff Samardzija in a start he will want to forget as quickly as possible. Scott Diamond tossed six scoreless innings for the Twins, and only Alfonso Soriano hit a home run for the Cubs.
Braves 5, Blue Jays 2
Braves starter Tommy Hanson was dealing in eight innings of two-run ball with just five hits allowed. The Braves got a homer and three RBIs out of Dan Uggla, as well as three hits and his 16th steal of the year from lead-off man Michael Bourn.
Giants 5, Rangers 2
Despite pitching well and getting seven punchouts, Scott Feldman remains winless and lost his fifth game of the season. Part of that is because Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong was immaculate in 7.2 innings with just three hits and one run allowed. Nate Schierholtz led the way with a double and his fourth triple of the year for San Francisco.
White Sox 10, Astros 1
The Houston Astros were destroyed by the Chicago White Sox, as the offense backed up another fantastic start from Chris Sale. The converted reliever tossed eight scoreless, walk-less innings with seven punchouts and just four hits allowed. Alejandro De Aza had four hits, Adam Dunn homered and drove in five runs, and Gordon Beckham had three hits and three steaks to lead the way for Chicago.
Padres 5, Brewers 2
Chase Headley had three hits and Ross Ohlendorf recorded the win for the 20-40 San Diego Padres who are probably the worst team in baseball.
Tigers 3, Reds 2
Although Bronson Arroyo outdueled Justin Verlander, Sean Marshall gave up a crucial eight inning single to Prince Fielder that would win the game for Detroit.
Angels 11, Rockies 5
Although both pitchers were poor, Dan Haren didn’t have the nightmare outing that Rockies starter Jeff Francis did. He allowed ten hits and eight runs in 3.1 innings, with Torii Hunter and Mike Trout having big days at the top of the L.A. order with three hits and three runs each. Albert Pujols homered and drove in four runs to continue his resurgence. Not only that, but Albert Callaspo had three hits and two walks, and Howie Kendrick also recorded three hits for the victors.
Yankees 4, Mets 2
The New York Yankees got another Subway Series victory over their crosstown rivals, even though Dillon Gee and Phil Hughes were as decent as each other on the mound. The difference was Mark Teixeira, whose two-run shot to score Curtis Granderson in the sixth gave the Yanks a decisive 3-2 lead. Two innings later, Granderson would knock one out of the park himself to seal the deal.
Dodgers 8, Mariners 3
Clayton Kershaw pitched seven scintillating innings for the L.A. Dodgers with 12 strikeouts and just four hits allowed. Jerry Hairston Jr. was a huge force for L.A. with three hits, two runs, five RBIs, a home run, and two doubles.
Pirates 5, Royals 3
Chalk that up as another save for Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan, who now has 17 saves on the year after tossing a scoreless ninth to help the Pirates defeat the Kansas City Royals.
Cardinals 2, Indians 0
Justin Masterson did not deserve to lose his sixth game of the season after pitching seven great innings for the Cleveland Indians, but that’s how baseball works and it’s why wins aren’t a good stat at evaluating pitchers. It always stinks to have your starter at his best and still coming up short and not being able to win the game. That’s how the Indians felt, but it wasn’t how the Cardinals felt after a terrific 7.2 innings performance from starter Kyle Lohse. He allowed just three hits, two walks, and no runs with Michael Brantley getting two of those hits.
Rays 13, Marlins 4
In this Sunshine State battle, the Tampa Bay Rays shelled Carlos Zambrano (lasted just 2.1 innings) and the Miami Marlins while getting six productive innings out of Matt Moore. The Rays offense was led by Ben Zobrist, who had three hits, four runs, and four steaks. Elliot Johnson had four hits and three RBIs hitting behind Zobrist and playing shortstop, and Jose Molina also drove in three. Molina would end up with a double, while Zobrist mashed two dingers.
Diamondbacks 8, Athletics 3
Trevor Cahill and Jarrod Parker were two major pieces traded between both teams in the offseason, and Cahill was the dominant pitcher in this game. Parker was poor, but Cahill tossed 7.1 solid innings with seven Ks and just two runs allowed. The D’Backs received two doubles from infielder Aaron Hill, three hits from offseason signing Jason Kubel, and a monstrous 458-foot grand slam from recently extended star catcher Miguel Montero.