MLB Recaps: Denorfia homer stuns D’Backs, boosts Padres
Heading into yesterday’s series finale the Arizona Diamondbacks were the last team in Major League Baseball without a loss (the Detroit Tigers had lost earlier in the day). The D’backs were cruising behind seven innings of shutout ball courtesy of Joe Saunders. Enter David Hernandez in the eighth inning and poof there goes the lead and the undefeated record at the hands of San Diego Padres outfielder Chris Denorfia.
Saunders was fantastic in his first start of the season. He didn’t allow an extra base hit among the four rapped out by the Padres and walked only two batters. Saunders did not allow a Padres hitter past second base.
Denorfia, who had 17 home runs in just under 900 plate appearances heading into the game, made Hernandez pay for the walk handed out to Cameron Maybin just prior to the lead changing homer.
Padres starter Cory Luebke tossed 5.1 innings allowing one run on four hits, but he also walked four. The Padres bullpen was excellent. They collectively threw 3.2 innings or scoreless ball, allowing only one hit and struck out five. Huston Street picked up his first save of the season in the 2-1 victory.
American League
Chicago White Sox – 10
Cleveland Indians – 6
The White Sox jumped all over Indians’ starter Justin Masterson, tallying four runs in the first inning. There were only two hits in the inning, but the Indians made an error and Masterson threw a wild pitch to keep the inning alive. Danks was a little erratic throughout the game and attributed it to the cold weather. But, he did enough to win. He finished with 5.2 innings of four-run ball. A.J. Pierzynski went 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI. Aleandro De Aza also belted a home run for the Sox. The Indians were led by Travis Hafner and Shelley Duncan, who both homered.
Boston Red Sox – 1
Toronto Blue Jays – 3
Ricky Romero entered the game with poor numbers against the Red Sox. He put them aside yesterday afternoon throwing 8.1 innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 victory at Rogers Centre. He allowed only 3 hits on the day and retired 17 batters in a row at one point. Rajai Davis scored two runs for the Jays and closer Sergio Santos notched his first save of the season and as a Blue Jay.
Tampa Bay Rays – 4
Detroit Tigers – 2
Justin Verlander was cruising which is no surprise. But he ran into trouble in the ninth inning against a Rays team that does not know the meaning of quit. Verlander was tossing a shutout after eight and then the wheels came unhinged. He walked a couple batters, then uncorked a wild pitch scoring a run. He was lifted after an Evan Longoria single. Jose Valverde eventually entered the game and allowed the go-ahead runs on a single by Ben Zobrist. Fernando Rodney pitched a clean ninth for the Rays earning his third save.
Kansas City Royals – 4
Oakland A’s – 5
The A’s outlasted the Royals in twelve innings yesterday. Billy Butler doubled in Eric Hosmer in the top of the twelfth, but Jonathan Broxton could not hold the lead. He was wild to say the least. He loaded the bases after an error and two walks. Coco Crisp grounded into a force out to score the tying run. Broxton then proceeded to plunk Yoenis Cespedes and then Jonny Gomes to score Jemile Weeks with the winning run.
New York Yankees – 6
Baltimore Orioles – 4
The Yankees took down the Orioles in extra innings again last night. Nick Swisher hit a home run off Kevin Gregg after a Mark Teixeira double to give the Yanks the lead. Mariano Rivera closed out the game for this second save of the season. Curtis Granderson went 2-for-5 with a homer and 3 RBI for the Yankees. C.C. Sabathia had another less than stellar outing, grinding out sixth innings (112 pitches) allowing four runs. Orioles starter Jake Arrieta couldn’t reproduce his efforts from Opening Day, allowing four runs in 5.2 innings.
Seattle Mariners – 4
Texas Rangers – 3
The Seattle Mariners were having trouble scoring until the eighth inning of last night’s game against the Rangers. They tallied one in that inning and then busted out with three against Rangers’ closer Joe Nathan. The rally did in the solid starting job by Colby Lewis (6 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K). The Rangers got back-to-back homers from Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus to make it 3-0 after seven innings. Nathan allowed four hits in blowing his second save of the season. John Jaso drove in the winning run with a two-out single.
Los Angeles Angels – 5
Minnesota Twins – 6
The Twins won their first game of the season as Chris Parmelee ripped a two-run triple and then scored on a Jamey Carroll single in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Angels had taken the lead in the fifth on a three-run inside the park homer by Peter Bourjos. Jered Weaver went six and allowed five earned runs. Twins’ starter Carl Pavano had much of the same result allowed five runs in 6.2 innings. Matt Capps earned his first save of the season for the Twins.
National League
St. Louis Cardinals – 3
Cincinnati Reds – 4
Reds’ pinch-hitter Chris Heisey hit a walk-off single to avoid a sweep against their division rival. The Cardinals got another home run in the game, this time to Jon Jay, which gave the Redbirds a 3-0 lead. Cards’ starter Jaime Garcia was unable to hold the lead, allowing 11 hits in only 4.2 innings. Johnny Cueto was not much better, allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings. Joey Votto, who scored the winning run, paced the Reds offense with four hits in five at-bats including two doubles.
Washington Nationals – 4
New York Mets – 0
The Nationals won their second series to open the season behind Stephen Strasburg. The young right-hander threw six innings allowing only two hits and three walks. He struck out nine batters. Johan Santana was the sore luck loser in this one. He lasted only five innings (99 pitches), but held the Nationals to one run. Ian Desmond and Xavier Nady each had two hits and a run scored for the Nats.
Milwaukee Brewers – 2
Chicago Cubs – 1
Yovani Gallardo came back from an awful Opening Day start and stifled the Cubs’ bats after allowing a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Starlin Castro. Ryan Dempster was equally effective through six innings, but in the seventh allowed a two-run homer to catcher George Kottaras. Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford each struck out the side in the eighth and ninth inning respectively.
Miami Marlins – 1
Philadelphia Phillies – 7
In what was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel between Marlins’ starter Josh Johnson and Phillies’ ace Roy Halladay turned into a one man effort from Halladay. He went seven allowing only one run on five hits. His counterpart Johnson, was knocked around for six runs in 3.2 innings, highlighted by a five-run third inning. Johnson’s ERA stands at 8.38 after two games. Hunter Pence had three hits for the Phils and Carlos Ruiz hit his first home run of the season.
Atlanta Braves – 6
Houston Astros – 3
The Astros played a very sloppy game, making four errors and provided little support for starter Wandy Rodriguez. Jason Heyward had three hits including a solo homer and scored on a sacrifice bunt. J.D. Martinez hit a home run for the ‘Stros. Randall Delgado pitched six innings and gave up two runs. Johnny Venters and Craig Kimbrel tossed scoreless frames to seal the victory.
San Francisco Giants – 8
Colorado Rockies – 17
Usually scoring 8 runs for Giants’ starter Tim Lincecum is more than enough. That was not the case last night as the Rockies went ballistic on Lincecum and virtually every other Giants pitcher. The Rockies clobbered 22 hits in all. They knocked Lincecum out in the third. Rockies’ starter Jeremy Guthrie only lasted 3.1 innings when the Giants stormed back from 6 runs down to take the lead 7-6. It was all Rockies from there. Carlos Gonzalez had two triples among his three hits. He scored four runs and drove in four. Nate Schierholtz homered for the visitors.
Pittsburgh Pirates – 1
Los Angeles Dodgers – 4
The Dodgers have jumped out to a 5-1 record and first place in the NL West, after Chad Billingsley won his second start. Billingsley allowed the one run and five hits in six innings of work. Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera each have three hits , with Rivera driving in two runs. Pirates starter Erik Bedard lasted only five innings, scattering eight hits and two runs. Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes homered for the Bucs sole run.
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