Yesterday’s MLB scores: April 17, 2014
Apr 17, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field. (Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
Here’s a recap of yesterday’s MLB scores…
American League
Twins 7, Blue Jays 0 (Game 1)
Heading into the day, Minnesota was third in MLB in runs per game with 5.38. They only added to that on this day.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the bats were wide awake as Minnesota . Kyle Gibson (3-0, pictured above) spun a gem in which he stymied the Toronto Blue Jays on only four hits over eight innings. One thing that may have aided his cause was a game time temperature of 31 degrees. Gibson made the Jays bats appear even colder.
Twins 9, Blue Jays 5 (Game 2)
In the nightcap, the Twins were trailing 5-3 heading into the home half of the eighth. The Jays bullpen handed – or shall I say, walked – the game to Minnesota. All-Star Steve Delabar (2), Sergio Santos (3), and J.A. Happ (3) aided in the Twins victory in issuing eight free passes in the frame. It didn’t help that Santos also threw a trio of wild pitches, leading to three Twins runs.
Tigers 7, Indians 5
The Tigers used six pitchers for the win, including a five-inning outing from starter Justin Verlander (2-1). Ian Kinsler went 2-for-5, scored a run, and drove in four in the win.
Michael Brantley drove in four runs as well, including a two-run homer in the Indians half of the seventh. At the time, the knock pulled Cleveland within a run at 6-5, but an eighth-inning Rajai Davis single put Detroit’s lead back up a pair. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
Rangers 8, Mariners 6
Seattle scored all of their runs in the top of third and forced a 6-6 tie. In the inning, Robinson Cano launched his first home run of the season and first as a Mariner. But the Rangers offense answered back and reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth. A J.P. Arencibia ground out score Mitch Moreland to put the Rangers up by one. That was followed by a Joe Beimel wild pitch which allowed Donnie Murphy to score and closed out the scoring for the game.
Shin-Soo Choo cracked his first home run as a member of the Rangers.
Yankees 10, Rays 2
New York turned a triple play (they turned one last season as well) en route to a win over the Rays. CC Sabathia was the benefactor as he went seven innings (two runs on seven hits) for the win. Six Yankee starters had multi-hit games as New York collected 16 hits for the game.
Red Sox 3, White Sox 1
Boston’s Jon Lester and Chicago’s Chris Sale both were nearly flawless. Lester was perfect through five innings and Sale was spinning a no-no of his own through five. Both lost their bids in the sixth. Sale surrendered a home run to Xander Bogaerts in tha sixth. An Adam Eaton ground out in the same frame netted the Pale Hose their only run.
David Ross pushed across the game’s winning run when he doubled off loser Ronald Belisario (1-2). After an intentional walk and a pitching change, Jonathan Herrera drove in the game’s final run on a bunt single with the bases loaded. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth to earn his third save.
Royals 5, Astros 1
James Shields (1-2) picked up his first win of the season, working eight impressive innings and allowing only one run. He also fanned a dozen Astros on the evening. Nori Aoki and Alex Gordon were both 2-for-4 and each scored twice.
National League
Phillies 1, Braves 0
A.J. Burnett tossed seven shutout innings and allowed only three hits. For his effort, he received a no-decision as Antonio Bastardo (2-1) benefited from Ben Revere driving in the game’s only run with an eighth-inning single. Revere was also 3-for-4 from the plate.
Apr 17, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu (99) throws to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their baseball game at AT&T Park. (Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports)
Dodgers 2, Giants 1
Hyun-jin Ryu (3-1) put up all few zeroes on the Giants side of the ledger over his seven innings of work. For his second straight outing, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struggled, allowing a run and needed 30 pitches in order to dispatch of the rival Giants. The series finale was the only game the Dodgers took in the three-game set, thus avoiding a sweep and moving into a first-place tie with San Francisco.
Rockies 3, Padres 1
Entering the top of the seventh, Colorado was trailing 1-0. Five consecutive hits off Ian Kennedy (1-3) led to three Rockies runs and their bullpen took care of the Padres bats over the game’s final three innings. Franklin Morales (1-1) picked up his first win of the season, tossing six innings and allowing only one run on four hits. The only run San Diego scored was on a Xavier Nady home run.
Pirates 11, Brewers 2
A few days ago, the Pirates were treated rather rudely on their visit to Milwaukee. Last evening, that favor partially returned as Pittsburgh cracked four home runs (including Andrew McCutchen‘s first of the season) in the win. In their final at-bat, the Pirates scored six runs to turn a 5-2 lead into a laugher.
Cardinals 8, Nationals 0
Adam Wainwright (3-1) not only did it on the mound (CG, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 SO), but at the plate as well (2-for-3, RBI and run scored). The Cards jumped on Nats starter Taylor Jordan (0-2) for three runs in the first inning and never looked back.