THT Daily for May 22
Following is a recap of all the baseball results and news we think fits to print. If you have any feedback or ideas for a daily news article, please drop us an email.
Major League News for May 21
Scoreboard
Standings
Game of the Day
Yesterday’s Home Runs
Player News
Stats
Scoreboard
CLE 3 PIT 2 (Recap and Boxscore) DET 1 CIN 0 (Recap and Boxscore) SEA 10 SD 8 (Recap and Boxscore) TB 3 FLA 0 (Recap and Boxscore) ATL 2 ARI 1 (Recap and Boxscore) CHN 7 CHA 4 (Recap and Boxscore) COL 5 TOR 3 (Recap and Boxscore) HOU 5 TEX 0 (Recap and Boxscore) LAN 7 LAA 0 (Recap and Boxscore) MIL 5 MIN 3 (Recap and Boxscore) NYN 4 NYA 3 (Recap and Boxscore) PHI 10 BOS 5 (Recap and Boxscore) SF 6 OAK 0 (Recap and Boxscore) STL 10 KC 3 (Recap and Boxscore) WAS 3 BAL 1 (Recap and Boxscore)
Standings
The graphics next to each team are called “sparklines.” Each “up” bar is a victory and a “down” bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and gray bars represent games decided by two runs or less. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.
American League East BOS 25 16 .610 0.0NYA 24 18 .571 1.5
TOR 23 20 .535 3.0
BAL 20 24 .455 6.5
TB 20 24 .455 6.5
American League Central DET 29 14 .674 0.0
CHA 28 15 .651 1.0
CLE 22 22 .500 7.5
MIN 19 25 .432 10.5
KC 10 31 .244 18.0
American League West TEX 22 21 .512 0.0
OAK 22 21 .512 0.0
SEA 20 25 .444 3.0
LAA 17 27 .386 5.5
National League East NYN 26 17 .605 0.0
PHI 23 20 .535 3.0
ATL 22 22 .500 4.5
WAS 16 28 .364 10.5
FLA 11 31 .262 14.5
National League Central STL 29 15 .659 0.0
CIN 25 19 .568 4.0
HOU 24 20 .545 5.0
MIL 23 21 .523 6.0
CHN 18 25 .419 10.5
PIT 14 30 .318 15.0
National League West COL 25 19 .568 0.0
ARI 24 19 .558 0.5
LAN 24 20 .545 1.0
SF 23 21 .523 2.0
SD 23 21 .523 2.0
Game of the Day
In a matchup of two Central surprise teams, Detroit beats Cincinnati in a pitching duel. The Tigers remain in first place, but the Reds are falling behind the surging Cardinals.
CINCINNATI (0) VS DETROIT (1) - FINAL
CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Freel cf 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 .242
F Lopez ss 2 0 0 0 2 2 1 .304
K Griffey Jr dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .243
R Aurilia 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .267
A Kearns rf 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .285
A Dunn lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 .229
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
J LaRue c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .233
a-J Valentin ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .239
B Phillips 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .288
Totals 28 0 3 0 5 7 16
a-flied out to center for J Larue in the 9th.
BATTING: 2B - K Griffey Jr (4, N Robertson); E Encarnacion (13, N Robertson). S
- A Dunn. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Dunn 2, J Valentin 1, R
Freel 2, A Kearns 1. Team LOB - 8.
BASERUNNING: SB - B Phillips (9, 2nd base off N Robertson/V Wilson). CS - F
Lopez (3, 2nd base by F Rodney/V Wilson).
FIELDING: E - A Harang (2, throw). DP: 1 (J LaRue-E Encarnacion).
DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .256
R Santiago 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .212
a-P Polanco ph-2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .303
C Guillen ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .315
M Ordonez rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .316
D Young dh 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .169
C Shelton 1b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .322
C Monroe lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222
B Inge 3b 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .223
V Wilson c 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .294
Totals 27 1 5 1 1 9 10
a-singled to right for R Santiago in the 8th.
BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (7, A Harang). S - R Santiago , V Wilson. RBI - P
Polanco (13). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Monroe 1, M Ordonez
1, B Inge 1. Team LOB - 5.
BASERUNNING: CS - V Wilson (1, 3rd base by A Harang/J LaRue).
----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI - 000 000 000 -- 0
DETROIT - 000 000 01x -- 1
----------------------------------------------------
CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang (L, 5-3) 8 5 1 1 1 9 0 3.82
DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 7 1/3 3 0 0 5 7 0 3.02
F Rodney (W, 3-1) 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.37
T Jones (S, 13) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.77
HBP - A Kearns (by T Jones). Pitches-strikes: A Harang 112-78; N Robertson
117-65; F Rodney 7-4; T Jones 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: A Harang 8-7; N
Robertson 7-8; F Rodney 1-0; T Jones 2-1. Batters faced: A Harang 30; N
Robertson 30; F Rodney 1; T Jones 4.
UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Ed Montague. 2B--Jerry Layne. 3B--Mark
Wegner.
T--2:18. Att--31,515.
Weather: 53 degrees, sunny. Wind: 19 mph, out to left.
The following graph tracks the game’s Win Probability, courtesy of Fan Graphs.
Yesterday’s Home Runs
The following stats are provided by Hit Tracker, which logs the projected distance of each home run (if it flew uninterrupted back to field level) and its “standard” distance, which is corrected for weather conditions.
Stnd. Batter Team Pitcher Team Distance Distance Wright David NYM Small Aaron NYY 447 442 Everett Carl SEA Park Chan Ho SD 426 428 Guiel Aaron KC Suppan Jeff STL 419 447 Duncan Chris STL Elarton Scott KC 417 429 Abreu Bobby PHI Alvarez Abe BOS 416 411 Ibanez Raul SEA Park Chan Ho SD 411 415 Howard Ryan PHI Alvarez Abe BOS 407 413 Rios Alex TOR Fogg Josh COL 406 362 Pierzynski A.J. CWS Zambrano Carlos CHC 405 411 Batista Tony MIN Capuano Chris MIL 403 401 Youkilis Kevin BOS Lidle Corey PHI 400 391 Bard Josh SD Soriano Rafael SEA 399 395 Lowell Mike BOS Lidle Corey PHI 395 400 Ethier Andre LAD Santana Ervin LAA 393 385 Pujols Albert STL Elarton Scott KC 388 405 Lane Jason HOU Wilson C.J. TEX 377 376 Luna Hector STL Elarton Scott KC 376 363 Ensberg Morgan HOU Koronka John TEX 375 374 Delgado Carlos NYM Small Aaron NYY 372 393 Roberts Dave SD Hernandez Felix SEA 371 371 Ramirez Aramis CHC Contreras Jose CWS 356 374 Konerko Paul CWS Zambrano Carlos CHC 352 371 Jones Jacque CHC Cotts Neal CWS 352 369 Ramirez Aramis CHC Contreras Jose CWS 351 375 Konerko Paul CWS Zambrano Carlos CHC 344 327
Player News
Bernie on base five times
Bernie Williams (buttocks) was back in the lineup for Sunday’s game at N.Y. Mets. He started in left field and reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two walks and a run scored.
Billy Wags bounces back Sunday
Manager Willie Randolph was not hesitant about going right back to closer Billy Wagner for the save in Sunday’s game against the Yankees after his implosion on Saturday. At first, he might have second-thought himself after the closer got into some early trouble. He finished with a scoreless inning of work, allowing two hits, but also getting two strikeouts for his ninth save.
Tom Glavine improves to 7-2
Glavine allowed two earned runs, seven hits and four walks in seven innings against the Yankees on Sunday, as he wiggled out of trouble all evening long. He also posted four strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 2.48. “You know the importance of winning the intercity series. There’s nothing like it,” Glavine said. “It’s hard not to get amped-up for the Yankees. They’re a measuring stick.”
Ervin Santana pounded by Dodgers
Santana allowed five earned runs, five hits and a walk in four innings in Sunday’s game at L.A. Dodgers, as he fell to 4-2. He allowed the five runs in the first inning and then looked fairly sharp in the final three before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fifth. He also struck out just two batters.
Nomar torches the Angels
Nomar was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI in Sunday’s game against the Angels, as he torched the Angels during the team’s three-game sweep. He finished 7-for-13 (.538) with four doubles and four RBI.
D-Lowe works over Angels
Derek Lowe worked seven scoreless innings in Sunday’s start against the Angels, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out seven to pick up the win. “This goes to Rick Honeycutt,” Lowe said. “He studied a lot of videotape of these guys. He said, ‘I think this is a game where you’ve got to change the way you pitch.’ I’ve never thrown more four-seamers in a game. I give him a lot of credit.”
Ichiro extends streak to 15
Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 15 games in Sunday’s game against San Diego. He finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI.
King Felix shaky in a win
Felix Hernandez was credited with a win in Sunday’s game against the Padres, but that was mostly due to his team’s offensive support rather than his pitching. He allowed seven earned runs and seven hits in just six innings. The bullpen held on to keep the lead, after he blew an 8-3 lead by giving up four runs in the top of the sixth. He also walked three batters and struck out just four. “On a whole, he scuffled,” manager Mike Hargrove said. “He and we were fortunate we had an eight-run second inning. I’ve seen him better, and obviously I’ve seen him worse.”
Sheets to have MRI on shoulder
Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets will have an MRI on his right shoulder to evaluate whether he is making progress from the tendinitis that has plagued him. Sheets, who was put on the disabled list May 10, retroactive to May 3, did not fly to Cincinnati with the rest of the Milwaukee Brewers after Sunday’s 5-3 win over Minnesota at Miller Park. He has played catch three times since being placed on the DL, but has not thrown from a mound. “I’ve noticed a little improvement in the last couple of days,” Sheets said Sunday. “Normally, with this, when I’ve had it in the past, there’s going to be a day when there’s a big jump.” Manager Ned Yost said Sheets likely would join the team at some point during their 10-game road trip. “He’s making progress, but the doctors wanted to have an MRI to see where he’s at,” Yost said. “It’s nothing out of the ordinary.” Sheets is 1-3 with a 6.64 ERA in four starts this year.
Juan Cruz Ks seven Braves
Juan Cruz allowed two runs and two hits on Sunday vs. Atlanta. He walked three and struck out seven. He needed 41 pitches to complete the first four innings but 46 to record his final six outs. “The velocity was there right away,” Melvin said. “A lot of times you give up two hits you’re not going to lose the game.”
Hudson helps Braves avoid sweep
Another start at Arizona, another string of scoreless innings and a win for Atlanta right-hander Tim Hudson. Hudson pitched eight shutout innings to lower his career ERA in Phoenix to 1.16 and the Braves beat the Diamondbacks 2-1 Sunday. “It’s a park where you have to concentrate and keep the ball down and keep them hitting the ball on the ground,” said Hudson, who has allowed four earned runs in 31 1/3 innings over four starts in Arizona. “A sinkerball pitcher can have success here.” Hudson (4-3) gave up six hits and three walks. He struck out five as Atlanta avoided being swept in three-game series.
K. Wood already having issues
Although RHP Kerry Wood said he’s fine, manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Larry Rothschild were concerned he was still sore from his first start of the season on Thursday. The right-hander allowed four runs and three homers in five innings and took the loss against Washington after missing nearly seven weeks while recuperating from shoulder surgery. He is scheduled to pitch Tuesday at Florida. “I’m assuming he’s going to start until I hear differently,” Rothschild said. Sunday’s bullpen session was canceled, but Wood is expected to throw on Monday. “This is not an unusual process,” Rothschild said. “I don’t want to make more of it than it is. It’s just something we’re going to watch and see how he reacts the next day and then make a decision.
Francona not sure about Wells
Manager Terry Francona isn’t sure when left-hander David Wells will be activated from the disabled list, though it could come this week. Wells, sidelined by a knee injury, pitched five innings in a rehab start for Pawtucket, allowed four hits, two earned runs, walked one and struck out three. “I know we don’t want him to be pitching a lot of games for Pawtucket,” Francona said.
Todd Jones passes Henneman
Todd Jones’ save on Sunday in the Tigers’ 1-0 win over Cincinnati makes him Detroit’s all-time career saves leader with 155. He had been tied at 154 with Mike Henneman. Jones pumped his fist after the final out. “I was concerned about protecting the 1-0 lead and, secondarily, I was excited about passing Mike,” Jones said. He and Henneman were teammates briefly with Houston in 1995. Jones has 13 saves in 14 opportunities this season.
Shawn Green on fire
Shawn Green was 1-for-4 Sunday vs. Atlanta and has hit safely in 21 of his last 24, batting .404 over that span.
Giants’ Cain tosses one-hitter
Matt Cain pitched a one-hitter in the Giants’ anticlimactic 6-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Cain, a rookie who had his turn skipped last Monday night at Houston to work out some of his problems, struck out five and walked three in an impressive 120-pitch performance. Jay Payton managed the only hit against him with a third-inning double.
Bonds goes 2-for-3 Sunday
Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols: The aging slugger against his heir apparent. How about that for adding to the intrigue of Bonds’ pursuit to pass the Babe? Bonds’ quest to move past Babe Ruth and into sole possession of second place on the career home run list is headed for San Francisco, where the Giants open a three-game series Monday night against Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals. Bonds went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles in the Giants’ anticlimactic 6-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Bonds remained at 714 home runs a day after connecting for a solo shot to tie Ruth for second behind home run king Hank Aaron’s 755. “I’m just glad it’s over with and you guys can watch Albert Pujols now, because he’s doing some wonderful things,” Bonds said of his Cardinals counterpart, who hit his major league-leading 22nd homer Sunday with a solo shot in a 10-3 win at Kansas City.
Paul Maholm Ks seven Indians
Paul Maholm struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings on Sunday at Cleveland. The left-hander allowed one run and four hits — all doubles — walked three and hit two batters with pitches in a no-decision.
Sizemore singles home winning run
Grady Sizemore didn’t feel very good until his final swing. Sizemore singled home the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning to give Bob Wickman his first win in nearly four years, leading the Cleveland Indians over the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 Sunday. “Until then, it was a pretty bad day,” said Sizemore, who was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts before the base hit. “Nobody wants to strike out, but I had to try and put all that behind me.” Sizemore came to the plate with a .191 (13-for-68) average against lefties, but lined a 3-2 pitch over the head of right fielder Jeromy Burnitz to win it.
Boof makes major-league debut
The Brewers comeback victory off Jesse Crain spoiled the major-league debut of Twins’ right-hander Boof Bonser, a former first-round draft choice who pitched six solid innings. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Bonser gave up only one run and five hits. He walked three and struck out eight. He held the Brewers to 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and allowed only one run after allowing Milwaukee to load the bases with no outs in the first. “The first inning was crazy,” Bonser said. “I’m shocked I couldn’t see my heart beating through my jersey. But I got out of it and settled down and I’m pretty much happy with what I did,” he said.
Capuano: 10 straight quality starts
Chris Capuano (5-3) won for the first time in four starts on Sunday vs. the Twins. The left-hander pitched seven innings, giving up three runs, eight hits and two walks while striking out four. He has pitched quality starts in all 10 of his outings this season, and has a 2.78 ERA.
Fogg ends six-game winless streak
Josh Fogg snapped a six-game winless streak and the Colorado Rockies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. Fogg (3-2), who hadn’t won since beating Arizona on April 13, allowed three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He had given up 20 earned runs in 34 2/3 innings over his previous six starts. Fogg scattered three hits through four innings before allowing singles to Gregg Zaun and Eric Hinske to open the fifth. One out later he got ahead of Alex Rios 1-2, before Rios turned on a slider and hit the pitch into the seats in left for a three-run homer to make it 5-3. Fogg left after giving up a two-out double to Zaun in the sixth.
Buchholz five-hits Rangers
After his last start, Taylor Buchholz noticed something in his delivery that needed to be adjusted. It must have made a big difference because Buchholz pitched a five-hitter for his first career shutout as the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-0 on Sunday. Buchholz (3-3) had lost his last two starts, allowing eight earned runs in each game. “I watched some video with Jim (Hickey, Astros pitching coach) after my last start,” said Buchholz, who walked none and struck out a career-high six in his first career complete game. “I noticed I was flying open a hair on my delivery. I was trying to make my pitches too nasty and I knew if I could stop doing it, it would make a difference. “I had more command on my fastball than anything else. I knew I had good stuff today.” Manager Phil Garner was impressed. “I think that was about as good as you can pitch,” Garner said. “And it came against some very good hitters over there. It was a marvelous pitching performance. He just did a masterful job.”
Pujols homers in third straight
Albert Pujols homered in his third game in a row and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Kansas City 10-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep and send the Royals to their ninth consecutive loss. Pujols, who leads the majors with 22 home runs in St. Louis’ 44 games, reached the homer mark in the second-fewest games in baseball history. Barry Bonds did it in 43 games in 2001. Pujols is also first with 56 runs scored and 118 total bases. He already had a four-game homer streak this season between April 15-18. The slugging first baseman, who went to Fort Osage High School and Maple Woods Junior College in Kansas City, hit a solo homer into the Royals’ bullpen beyond the right-field fence on a 1-2 pitch from Scott Elarton with two out in the fourth. Elarton had retired 10 in a row before Pujols’ shot.
Bobby Abreu has big afternoon
Bobby Abreu’s on-base percentage makes him an ideal candidate to bat leadoff. His slugging percentage keeps him in the middle of the lineup. Abreu drove in five runs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Red Sox 10-5 Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak. Abreu singled, tripled and homered for the Phillies, who won 13 of 14 before their losing skid began in Milwaukee. “I’m starting to feel better at the plate,” Abreu said. “I’m seeing the ball better and hitting it the other way.” Abreu made it 8-3 in the sixth inning with a three-run drive to straightaway center off Abe Alvarez. Before he connected, Abreu had just 10 homers in 115 games since his record-setting performance in the Home Run Derby during All-Star week last season. He hit 41 homers in the contest, including 24 in the first round, but lost his long-ball stroke in the process.
Jose Contreras nice in return
Jose Contreras looked strong early in his first start since May 4 after coming off the disabled list, but got into some trouble in the eighth inning. He finished with four runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings in a no-decision on Sunday vs. the Cubs.
Angry Zambrano gets win
Carlos Zambrano (3-2), who had to be restrained by his teammates after A.J. Pierzynski homered Sunday in the fourth inning and pointed to the sky — as Zambrano does when he comes off the mound — got the win, allowing four hits in seven innings, including two homers to Paul Konerko.
Livan baffles O’s for seven
Pitching in and out of trouble, exhorting his teammates in the field and on the basepaths, Livan Hernandez snapped a seven-start winless streak Sunday, leading the Washington Nationals over the Baltimore Orioles 3-1. Hernandez (2-5) limited Baltimore to one run in seven innings, despite giving up four walks and six hits, though all were singles. He hadn’t earned a victory since April 8 at Houston, his second start of the season; Hernandez’s last drought that long came in 1999. The burly right-hander helped himself by driving in a run with a sacrifice bunt in the fourth, when Washington scored twice off Orioles starter Bruce Chen (0-5). After three consecutive singles pushed across one run, Hernandez reached up to connect with a high pitch, and as he ran to first, he extended his left arm and wagged his hand toward the runner on third, Marlon Byrd, to encourage him to reach home.
Harang gets hard-luck loss
Reds starter Aaron Harang (5-3) pitched eight innings for the third complete game of his career on Sunday at Detroit. He allowed five hits and the lone run, striking out eight and walking one in the hard-luck loss.
Nate Robertson Ks seven Reds
Nate Robertson tossed 7 1/3 innings to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 Sunday. Robertson struck out seven, walked five and allowed three hits.
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