THT Daily: Hitting Milestones
Major League News for September 17
Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
Game of the Day
Yesterday’s Home Runs
Player News
Stats
Yesterday’s Results
American League BOS 5 NYA 2 (Recap and Boxscore) NYA 7 BOS 5 (Recap and Boxscore) TOR 6 TB 1 (Recap and Boxscore) MIN 4 CLE 1 (Recap and Boxscore) DET 2 BAL 0 (Recap and Boxscore) KC 7 SEA 4 (Recap and Boxscore) OAK 7 CHA 4 (Recap and Boxscore) TEX 12 LAA 6 (Recap and Boxscore) National League ATL 2 FLA 1 (Recap and Boxscore) WAS 8 MIL 5 (Recap and Boxscore) CHN 4 CIN 0 (Recap and Boxscore) PHI 7 HOU 2 (Recap and Boxscore) PIT 3 NYN 2 (Recap and Boxscore) STL 6 SF 1 (Recap and Boxscore) ARI 7 COL 6 (Recap and Boxscore) SD 11 LAN 2 (Recap and Boxscore)
Today’s Games
Visitors Home Starts MIN - Baker S. (4-8, 6.72) CLE - Byrd P. (9-7, 4.83) 1:05 MIL - Davis D.* (10-10, 4.95) WAS - Traber B.* (3-3, 7.75) 1:05 FLA - Nolasco R. (11-9, 4.71) ATL - Hudson T. (12-11, 4.95) 1:05 BAL - Cabrera D. (7-10, 4.84) DET - Ledezma W.* (2-3, 3.13) 1:05 BOS - Snyder K. (4-4, 6.54) NYY - Wright J. (10-7, 4.60) 1:05 TB - Stokes B. (0-0, 9.45) TOR - Chacin G.* (8-3, 4.94) 1:07 NYM - Trachsel S. (14-7, 5.17) PIT - Duke Z.* (9-13, 4.68) 1:35 LAA - Santana E. (14-7, 4.50) TEX - Padilla V. (13-9, 4.44) 2:05 PHI - Wolf R.* (3-0, 5.56) HOU - Rodriguez W.* (9-9, 5.43) 2:05 SEA - Meche G. (10-8, 4.28) KC - Hernandez R. (6-9, 6.34) 2:10 SF - Sanchez J.* (3-0, 2.40) STL - Weaver J. (3-4, 5.48) 2:15 CIN - Milton E.* (8-7, 4.84) CHC - Zambrano C. (14-6, 3.50) 2:20 CWS - Contreras J. (13-7, 3.97) OAK - Blanton J. (15-11, 4.78) 4:05 SD - Young C. (10-5, 3.77) LAD - Lowe D. (14-8, 3.77) 4:10 COL - Francis J.* (11-11, 4.01) ARI - Batista M. (10-6, 4.49) 4:40 BOS - Jarvis K. (0-1, 5.40) NYY - Mussina M. (14-6, 3.59) 8:05
Standings
The graphics next to each team are called “sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each “up” bar is a victory and a “down” bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and red bars represent games decided by two runs or less. “PWins” is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.
American League East Pwins Diff NYA 90 57 .612 0.0 88 2BOS 79 69 .534 11.5 74 5
TOR 78 70 .527 12.5 78 0
BAL 63 85 .426 27.5 63 0
TB 57 91 .385 33.5 59 -2
American League Central DET 89 59 .601 0.0 88 1
MIN 87 61 .588 2.0 84 3
CHA 84 64 .568 5.0 84 0
CLE 69 78 .469 19.5 80 -11
KC 58 91 .389 31.5 58 0
American League West OAK 85 62 .578 0.0 78 7
LAA 80 69 .537 6.0 76 4
TEX 75 74 .503 11.0 79 -4
SEA 70 78 .473 15.5 70 0
National League East Pwins Diff NYN 90 57 .612 0.0 85 5
PHI 76 72 .514 14.5 77 -1
FLA 74 74 .500 16.5 75 -1
ATL 71 77 .480 19.5 76 -5
WAS 64 84 .432 26.5 63 1
National League Central STL 79 68 .537 0.0 76 3
CIN 73 75 .493 6.5 71 2
HOU 71 76 .483 8.0 73 -2
MIL 67 81 .453 12.5 65 2
PIT 62 87 .416 18.0 64 -2
CHN 60 89 .403 20.0 61 -1
National League West LAN 78 70 .527 0.0 79 -1
SD 77 70 .524 0.5 77 0
SF 74 74 .500 4.0 73 1
ARI 71 77 .480 7.0 73 -2
COL 68 80 .459 10.0 73 -5
Wildcard Standings American League MIN 87 61 .588 0.0 CHA 84 64 .568 3.0 LAA 80 69 .537 7.5 BOS 79 69 .534 8.0 TOR 78 70 .527 9.0 National League SD 77 70 .524 0.0 PHI 76 72 .514 1.5 FLA 74 74 .500 3.5 SF 74 74 .500 3.5 CIN 73 75 .493 4.5
Game of the Day
In only the eighth game this season to go at least 16 innings, the Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 7-6, on Chris Snyder’s sacrifice fly. The Diamondbacks scored six runs in the first four innings, but were then held scoreless for 11 straight innings by the Rockie’s bullpen until the fated 16th.
The Rockies scored two in the top of the ninth to tie the game, on a triple by Jeff Baker and a subsequent wild pitch by Jose Valverde. The Diamondbacks used a team-record 25 players and 10 pitchers.
COLORADO (6) VS ARIZONA (7) - FINAL IN 16 INNINGS
COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 6 1 2 3 0 2 4 .256
J Salazar cf 7 0 0 0 0 2 3 .250
J Affeldt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Atkins 3b-1b 5 0 1 0 1 1 0 .321
C Freeman pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Mesa p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-C Sullivan ph-cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .273
M Holliday lf 6 1 0 0 1 2 1 .329
T Helton 1b 5 0 2 1 0 0 1 .299
N Field p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-V Castilla ph-1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .229
B Hawpe rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .285
M Corpas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Venafro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Carroll 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
T Tulowitzki ss 5 3 2 0 2 0 0 .245
C Iannetta c 6 0 2 0 1 1 2 .250
J Fogg p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .087
T Martin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-R Spilborghs ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .271
R Ramirez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
R King p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Baker rf 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .250
Totals 56 6 10 5 5 12 21
a-grounded to shortstop for T Martin in the 6th; b-flied out to center for N
Field in the 12th; c-grounded to second for J Mesa in the 14th.
BATTING: 2B - T Helton (36, C Vargas); C Iannetta (2, C Vargas). 3B - J Baker
(1, J Valverde). HR - K Matsui (2, 1st inning off C Vargas 0 on, 0 Out). S - J
Fogg. SF - K Matsui. RBI - K Matsui 3 (18), T Helton (73), J Baker (5). 2-out
RBI - T Helton, K Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Hawpe 2,
V Castilla 1, K Matsui 1, J Salazar 1. GIDP - R Spilborghs. Team LOB - 9.
BASERUNNING: SB - G Atkins (3, 2nd base off C Vargas/J Estrada). Picked Off -
T Tulowitzki (1st base, T Pena).
FIELDING: E - J Carroll (5, ground ball). DP: 3 (K Matsui-T Helton, T
Tulowitzki-K Matsui-G Atkins, J Affeldt-C Iannetta-V Castilla).
ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Counsell ss 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 .262
B Lyon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-M Montero ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000
J Cruz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Green 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .185
E Byrnes cf-lf 8 1 2 1 0 2 8 .270
L Gonzalez lf 4 1 2 0 1 0 2 .277
C Young pr-cf 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 .280
C Tracy 3b-1b 6 1 2 3 1 3 2 .276
J Estrada c 6 0 2 0 2 0 5 .302
C Jackson 1b 6 0 0 0 0 1 4 .281
T Pena p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
d-D Easley ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
J Julio p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
e-C Snyder ph 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .302
C Quentin rf 7 1 2 0 0 2 1 .260
A Callaspo 2b-ss 6 1 2 1 1 0 0 .286
C Vargas p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087
Ed Gonzalez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
a-S Drew ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
R Choate p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Medders p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Vizcaino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Valverde p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-O Hudson ph-2b 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .292
Totals 57 7 15 6 9 9 28
a-flied out to right for E Gonzalez in the 6th; b-grounded to second for J
Valverde in the 9th; c-flied out to left for B Lyon in the 11th; d-flied out
to left for T Pena in the 15th; e-hit sacrifice fly to right for J Julio in
the 16th.
BATTING: 3B - C Quentin (3, J Fogg). HR - C Tracy (18, 3rd inning off J Fogg 2
on, 2 Out). S - C Vargas , C Tracy. SF - C Snyder. RBI - C Tracy 3 (75), A
Callaspo (2), E Byrnes (69), C Snyder (29). 2-out RBI - C Tracy 3, E Byrnes.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Estrada 1, L Gonzalez 1, E Byrnes
4. GIDP - C Quentin, C Jackson, J Estrada. Team LOB - 15.
BASERUNNING: SB - C Young (2, 3rd base off J Affeldt/C Iannetta).
FIELDING: E - C Counsell (9, ground ball); C Tracy (25, line drive). DP: 1 (A
Callaspo-C Counsell-C Jackson).
----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 210 100 002 000 000 0 -- 6
ARIZONA - 003 300 000 000 000 1 -- 7
Two outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Fogg 3 2/3 7 6 6 2 3 1 5.68
T Martin 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.29
R Ramirez 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.36
R King 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.79
M Corpas 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.22
M Venafro 1/3 0 0 0 2 1 0 9.00
N Field 1 2/3 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.70
J Mesa 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.33
J Affeldt (L, 3-1) 2 2/3 4 1 1 3 0 0 7.97
ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Vargas 5 7 4 3 1 3 1 4.96
Ed Gonzalez (H, 1) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.26
R Choate (H, 4) 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.86
B Medders (H, 10) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.80
L Vizcaino (H, 22) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.25
J Valverde (B, 4) 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 6.45
B Lyon 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.88
J Cruz 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.27
T Pena 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.60
J Julio (W, 2-4) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.48
WP - T Martin, J Valverde, M Corpas. IBB - O Hudson (by J Affeldt), J Estrada
(by J Affeldt). Pitches-strikes: J Fogg 67-37; T Martin 12-8; R Ramirez 5-3; R
King 15-10; M Corpas 18-13; M Venafro 14-5; N Field 31-15; J Mesa 18-12; J
Affeldt 57-29; C Vargas 88-58; Ed Gonzalez 14-7; R Choate 9-7; B Medders 4-3; L
Vizcaino 10-7; J Valverde 19-12; B Lyon 24-19; J Cruz 20-10; T Pena 44-31; J
Julio 17-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J Fogg 3-5; T Martin 0-4; R Ramirez 0-3; R
King 1-1; M Corpas 4-2; M Venafro 0-0; N Field 2-1; J Mesa 2-2; J Affeldt 5-3;
C Vargas 5-7; Ed Gonzalez 2-1; R Choate 0-0; B Medders 0-0; L Vizcaino 3-0; J
Valverde 1-1; B Lyon 1-3; J Cruz 1-1; T Pena 5-2; J Julio 0-2. Batters faced: J
Fogg 20; T Martin 4; R Ramirez 3; R King 4; M Corpas 7; M Venafro 3; N Field 6;
J Mesa 7; J Affeldt 15; C Vargas 24; Ed Gonzalez 3; R Choate 2; B Medders 1; L
Vizcaino 3; J Valverde 5; B Lyon 8; J Cruz 4; T Pena 10; J Julio 3.
UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Brian Runge. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.
EJECTIONS: ARIZONA's Melvin by Emmel (2nd).
T--5:07. Att--27,822.
Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.
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 were to land uninterrupted at field level) and its “standard” distance, which is corrected for weather conditions. You can read their daily updates at the Hit Tracker Blog.
Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder launched a 448 foot blast into the upper deck in right field at RFK Stadium off Pedro Astacio in the 1st inning of an 8-5 Nationals win over the visiting Brewers. This long homer came off Fielder’s bat at 116.0 mph, and was the 4th longest of his 26 home runs in 2006. It was also the 4th longest at RFK this season (the longest being Lance Berkman’s 467 foot shot on May 22).
The visiting broadcasters were rightly impressed with Fielder’s homer, but while they can be excused for thinking otherwise, home runs into the upper deck at RFK are not at all uncommon. In fact, in 71 games at RFK so far this season, there have been 21 home runs hit into the upper deck, or one every 3.4 games. There have been a total of 147 homers at RFK, which means that 14% of all homers at RFK reach the upper deck.
Hitter Pitcher True Dist. Std. Dist. HR # Fielder, Prince MIL Astacio, Pedro WAS 448 438 26 Dellucci, David PHI Hirsh, Jason HOU 435 433 13 Cano, Robinson NYY Beckett, Josh BOS 418 413 11 Gonzalez, Adrian SD Hamulack, Tim LAD 419 402 22 Jones, Jacque CHC Bray, Bill CIN 394 400 25 Furcal, Rafael LAD Williams, Woody SD 413 397 13 Tracy, Chad ARI Fogg, Josh COL 412 397 18 Dye, Jermaine CWS Zito, Barry OAK 389 390 42 Thomas, Frank OAK Vazquez, Javier CWS 383 384 37 Cameron, Mike SD Stults, Eric LAD 396 376 20 Encarnacion, Juan STL Morris, Matt SF 403 374 19 Figgins, Chone LAA Eaton, Adam TEX 373 362 7 Hunter, Torii MIN Sabathia, C.C. CLE 385 359 26 Bay, Jason PIT Hernandez, Orlando NYM 370 357 34 Matsui, Kazuo COL Vargas, Claudio ARI 365 352 2 Gathright, Joey KC Pineiro, Joel SEA 399 347 1 Walker, Todd SD Hamulack, Tim LAD 342 330 8
Player News
Player news items are provided by CBS SportsLine.com.
There’s a new member of the 40-40 club: Alfonso Soriano. Soriano became the fourth player in major league history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season when he swiped second Saturday night for Washington in the first inning against Milwaukee. That gave Soriano 40 steals to go along with 45 home runs. Jose Canseco (Oakland 1988), Barry Bonds (San Francisco 1996) and Alex Rodriguez (Seattle 1998) are the only other players who have topped 40 in each of those categories in a single season.
Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki stole his AL single-season record 33rd consecutive base in the third inning of Seattle’s game against Kansas City on Saturday night. Suzuki also singled in his first two at-bats to extend his own major league record for consecutive 200-hit seasons to begin a career to six. He led off the game with a single up the middle, and then followed with a single to left in the third. The major league record for consecutive 200-hit seasons is eight by Willie Keeler between 1894-1901. Wade Boggs (1983-89) holds the American League record with seven straight. Suzuki advanced to second on pitcher Mark Redman’s throwing error in the third inning then stole third as part of a double steal.
Derek Jeter had hits in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Boston to extend his hitting streak to 25 games, the longest for the Yankees since Joe Gordon’s 29-game string in 1942. Jeter went 2-for-10 and his average dropped to .343, one point below AL leader Joe Mauer of Minnesota. “We’ve got two weeks left. I’m not even thinking about that,” Jeter said.
Michael Young set off a fireworks display by reaching 200 hits for the fourth straight season to help the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 12-6 Saturday night. Since 1940, only four players have had at least four straight seasons of 200 or more hits: Wade Boggs (seven), Ichiro Suzuki (six), Young and Kirby Puckett (four). Young reached the 200 plateau with an RBI single in the seventh. The Rangers recognized the feat on the scoreboard after a brief fireworks display.
Frank Thomas hit his 37th home run, passed the 100-RBI mark and helped Oakland beat his former team, leading the Athletics over the Chicago White Sox 7-4 Saturday. Thomas drove in four runs for the AL West-leading A’s, who won their third in a row. This is the 11th season in which Thomas has driven in at least 100 runs. Only five players have had more 100 RBI seasons than Thomas since the statistic became official in 1920: Jimmie Foxx (13), Lou Gehrig (13), Barry Bonds (12), Babe Ruth (12) and Al Simmons (12). (Source: Elias)
Chone Figgins hit for the cycle to help the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 12-6 Saturday night. Figgins hit a run-scoring triple in the ninth inning to complete the sixth cycle in Angels history and first since Jeff DaVanon did it on Aug. 25, 2004, against Kansas City. Figgins also singled in a run in the second, homered in the fifth and doubled in the seventh.
Joey Gathright hit his first major league home run in his 592nd at-bat in the Royals’ win over the Mariners. The only active major league position player who had more at-bats without a homer is Jason Tyner (1,023 and counting).
Twins SP Carlos Silva put Minnesota’s playoff pursuit back in gear, pitching seven strong innings to outduel C.C. Sabathia in the Twins’ 4-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. Silva (10-13) allowed a run in the first inning before shutting out Cleveland on three hits over the next six. The right-hander, who began the season 2-8, gave up five singles, struck out two and walked one. Through Sept. 1, Silva had the worst ERA of any major league qualifier (6.56), but since then he’s allowed just two earned runs in 20 innings (0.90 ERA).
Twins OF Torii Hunter hit 26th home run of the year on Saturday as the Twinkies rolled to a 4-1 win over the Indians. It his third home run in his last seven games.
Nate Robertson pitched eight strong innings, outdueling Kris Benson and giving the Detroit Tigers a 2-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night. Robertson (13-12) had his fourth impressive start in a row, allowing six hits and walking one.
Cole Hamels helped the Phillies stay mathematically alive in the NL East race by pitching 6 2/3 no-hit innings en route to a 7-2 win over the Astros. Hamels was the fifth rookie to take a no-hitter at least six innings this year, joining Matt Cain, Anthony Reyes, Ricky Nolasco, and of course Anibal Sanchez. According to Elias, the last season in which that many rookies carried a no-no into the seventh was 1983. The pitchers that year were Craig McMurtry, Charles Hudson, Jeff Russell, Jose DeLeon (three times) and Mike Warren (who completed the no-hitter).
Chad Billingsley, who hadn’t pitched since Aug. 27 because of a strained oblique muscle, lasted just one inning in a loss on Saturday against the Padres.
Adam Lind hit a scary line drive that struck Tampa Bay reliever Edwin Jackson and forced him to leave the game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Devil Rays 6-1 Saturday. Lind’s eighth-inning liner hit Jackson high — it was not clear whether the ball glanced off his head or neck. The ball caromed into foul territory by third base and Lind got a double. Jackson grabbed at the back of his head and quickly left the mound. Worried teammates rushed to his side, but Jackson walked to the dugout and didn’t look woozy.
Mark Teixeira went 4-for-4 with four RBI for Texas on Saturday against the Angels.
Pittsburgh OF Chris Duffy has a career-high 10-game hitting streak and stole his 20th base on Saturday against the Mets.
Pittsburgh’s Tom Gorzelanny made his first start since Aug. 15 and went four innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks in a no-decision on Saturday against the Mets.
Royals SP Mark Redman (10-9) was bidding for his third complete game of the season before Seattle’s Mike Morse and Ichiro Suzuki each doubled in a run in the ninth to cut the Royals to 7-4 and running Redman from the game. The Royals hung on for the win and Redman earned his 10th win of the season. He pitched 8 2/3 innings, gave up 10 hits, four earned runs, walked two and struck out four.
Jason Bay hit his 34th home run on Saturday for the Pirates, who have won four of five.
The Mets’ Orlando Hernandez threw seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk, striking out seven in a no-decision on Saturday at Pittsburgh.
Braves SP John Smoltz won for the first time in four starts to help the Atlanta Braves beat the Florida Marlins 2-1 on Saturday night. Smotlz went eight innings, struck out eight, walked three, yielded nine hits and one earned run.
Braves 1B Adam LaRoche went 2-for-4 on Saturday as the Braves beat the Marlins 2-1. Braves 2B Marcus Giles went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Braves’ 2-1 win on Saturday. This coming a day after Giles went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
Barry Zito (16-9) struggled all day and walked a career-high seven on Saturday against the White Sox. He gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings, and won for the fourth time in five decisions despite the poor game.
A day after hitting two home runs and driving in seven RBI, Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen went 2-for-4 with two RBI as the Cardinals won 6-1 over the Gaints.
Cardinals SP Chris Carpenter carried a shutout into the eighth for his 100th career win, outpitching Matt Morris in his return in St. Louis and leading the Cardinals over the San Francisco Giants 6-1 Saturday. Carpenter struck out nine, gave up five hits, one earned run and walked two. He is now 15-6. Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols was up to his old tricks on Saturday, going 4-for-4 with three runs and an RBI in the Cards 6-1 win.
S.F. Giants SP Matt Morris lost his third straight start Saturday as the Gaints lost to the Cardinals 6-1. Morris gave up five runs on seven hits, two walks and struck out three.
Cubs SP Rich Hill pitched a two-hitter for his first major league shutout leading the Chicago Cubs over the fading Cincinnati Reds 4-0 Saturday. Hill (6-6) struck out 10, fanning Edwin Encarnacion to end the Cubs’ first complete game of the season. He walked only one and lowered his ERA to 4.12. The Cubs were the last team to throw a complete game this season. Hill became the first rookie to toss a shutout for a team managed by Dusty Baker. Cubs OF Jacque Jones hit his 25th home run of the season.
A day after learning that Red Sox RP Jonathan Papelbon would not pitch again in 2006, RP Mike Timlin filled in nicely as the Boston closer Saturday picking up his sixth save in the 5-2 win over the Yankees. Timlin pitched one inning, striking out two and only giving up one hit.
Red Sox batters knocked Yankees SP Chien-Ming Wang around for nine hits and three earned runs Saturday as Boston beat the Yankees 5-2. Wang, who’s scheduled start Thursday vs. Tampa Bay was skipped by manager Joe Torre, struck out three and walked one in the loss. He is now 17-6 on the season.
Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen likely will miss the rest of the season because of a bad left hip, St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan said Saturday. “I don’t expect that Izzy’s going to pitch anymore,” Duncan said after a 6-1 victory over San Francisco.
According to the Kansas City Star, Zack Greinke is heading back to Kansas City where he’ll work as a reliever for the final two weeks of the season.
Oakland righty Rich Harden is scheduled to pitch for the first time in more than three months with a start Thursday against the Cleveland Indians. “The strategy is to get Rich Harden on the mound healthy,” A’s pitching coach Curt Young before Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. “That’s the No. 1 thing. Now he’ll do a side like he’s going to start a game. If he feels good about it, then it will be a go.”
Since making his first major league start on June 25, LHP Chuck James is 10-3 with a 3.45 ERA. Only two other pitchers in the majors have as many wins in that span – Jon Garland (11) and Johan Santana (10). “It all boils down to location,” James said. “I’ve gotten better at keeping my fastball down.”
3B Chipper Jones said the decision to place him on the 15-day disabled list Thursday came after team doctors determined he would not be able to play before Tuesday – the day he can be activated. The Braves can receive an undisclosed portion of Jones’ $13.6 million salary when he is on the DL.
The Devil Rays acquired RHP Dale Thayer from San Diego as the player to be named in the Russell Branyan trade.
3B Andy Marte has shown enough pop and promise since joining the Indians that he’s clearly the front-runner to be the club’s starting third baseman next season – and maybe for several seasons to come. The Indians, though, aren’t quite ready to declare him the winner. “There is going to be a competition at spring training (at third),” manager Eric Wedge said. “I just don’t know who or where it’s going to be with. Andy Marte has done good things but he’s still going to have to compete – with whom, I don’t know.”
THT Stats
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