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Leading Off
What's happening in the world of Major League Baseball.
May 2007
Thursday May 31, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:18AM EST on May 31, 2007
Five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson dominated Philadelphia on their home field last night, striking out six and allowing just one hit through six innings. After 61 pitches though, his back stiffened and Arizona turned to its bullpen. Johnson faced Jamie Moyer, the duo combining to make history as the oldest lefty pairing (88 years) ever in baseball. However, D'Backs relievers almost gave the game away in the bottom of the 9th. Brandon Lyon hit a batter, then suffered a two-run triple by Jimmy Rollins. But Jose Valverde nailed down the 4-3 win by getting Ryan Howard to line into a game-ending double-play. ... (more)
Wednesday May 30, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:07AM EST on May 30, 2007
New York lost to Toronto last night with Andy Pettitte on the mound, their fifth straight, 3-2. Pettitte pitched well enough to win scattering six hits over 7.1 innings, but the Yankees' offense is stuck in neutral. The team stranded 19 runners and batted 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays carved out a 2-1 lead in the 7th when Aaron Hill stole home. The Yanks tied it in the 8th when Jorge Posada singled in Derek Jeter, but Alex Rios' sac fly in the bottom of the inning plated Adam Lind and sealed the final score.
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Tuesday May 29, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:22AM EST on May 29, 2007
Colorado won again over struggling St. Louis, beating the world champs 6-2 in front of a cheering Coors Field crowd on Memorial Day. The team's six-game streak is even more remarkable since the first five games were won on the road, and it's the Rockies' longest trail of victories since '02. Starter Jeff Francis allowed just five hits in 7 2-3 innings to lead the team. Francis is 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA in May. Joining in the fun, Rockies' Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday both homered and Willy Taveras went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. ... (more)
Monday May 28, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:03PM EST on May 28, 2007
Tampa Bay's offense came to life in Chicago backing ace lefty Scott Kazmir with a 15-hit 11-run showing. Carl Crawford led the come from behind charge with a 7th inning triple to drive in the go-ahead run. The Devil Rays picked up insurance runs in the 8th when Mike MacDougal gave up Delmon Young's two-run single and Nick Masset allowed an RBI single by B.J. Upton. Upton (.325) had four hits on the day and Crawford (.317), a definite All-Star candidate, had three.
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Saturday May 26, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:14AM EST on May 26, 2007
Both starting pitchers left early with sore backs, but the real story was how the Mariners' bats ruled the Royals Friday night. Seattle hitters ripped Gil Meche for 11 hits and seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings. He left with a tight lower back. Star Mariners hurler Felix Hernandez did the same in the sixth. By that time the final score was set and Seattle cruised to the win. Ichiro led off the game with a homer as Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt paced the 18-hit attack with three each.
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Friday May 25, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:49AM EST on May 25, 2007
Magglio Ordonez had four hits and three RBIs (to lead the majors) and Gary Sheffield homered as eight of Detroits 13 hits went for extra bases. The result? A 12-0 pounding of the LA Angels who lost the road series one game to two. Jeremy Bonderman pitched eight innings, giving up just four hits in the shutout. The Halos'  Ervin Santana's road woes continued as he lasted less than four innings against the Tigers onslaught. Detroit has won six of its last seven series and is 5-1 on its current homestand.
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Thursday May 24, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:15AM EST on May 24, 2007
The Phillies look to edge the Marlins tonight and take an important NL East series from Florida. Last night, leading 7-3, Philadelphia had a defensive meltdown in the bottom of the ninth, allowing Florida to tie the game off closer Brett Myers. Myers left the game with a sore shoulder, but the Phils' Abraham Nunez singled home the winning run in the top of the 10th and Clay Condrey nailed down the victory in the bottom half of the inning. Starter Freddy Garcia had a respectable outing, keeping Philadelphia in the game, tossing a five-hitter over six innings.
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Wednesday May 23, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:06PM EST on May 23, 2007
After getting roughed up by Boston's offense in series game two, New York turns to Andy Pettitte tonight to win game three. Last night the Red Sox touched Mike Mussina for 10 hits and seven earned runs in 6.2 innings. The result? A relatively easy 7-3 win at Yankee Stadium. Tonight Sox vet Curt Schilling will face Pettitte as the Yanks play to win their first series of '07 from Boston.
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Tuesday May 22, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:14AM EST on May 22, 2007
They're celebrating in Anaheim as the LA Angels took the third game in a row from the LA Dodgers, 4-1. At home, the Angels have won the last 14 of 17 against the Dodgers, outscoring them over the weekend by 19-4. Kelvim Escobar led the way Sunday, pitching eight scoreless innings on a three-hitter. The Angels extended their win streak to a season-high five games, having won 10 of their last 12 to lead second-place Oakland by four games in the AL West. Nursing a 1-0 lead into the fifth, Anaheim made it 4-0 on Vladimir Guerrero's two-out infield hit with the bases loaded, a throwing error by Rafael Furcal on the play, and an RBI single by Gary Matthews. ... (more)
Friday May 18, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:55AM EST on May 18, 2007
Tampa Bay polished off a sweep of Texas last night in Disney World, making Orlando fans happy with an extra-inning 8-6 victory. Rookie Delmon Young starred with two home runs including the game-winner. Devil Rays' ace Scott Kazmir struck out nine, including Sammy Sosa, now just three shy of joining the 600-homer club. Lefty Kazmir allowed one earned run before leaving after just four innings hurled (109 pitches and six walks). Close to 30,000 fans watched the three-game series played at the Disney World complex.
... (more)
Thursday May 17, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:13AM EST on May 17, 2007
Two of the AL's better teams face off today at Fenway Park in a rare day-night double header. For both the Sox and Tigers, yesterday's rainout and injuries to starting pitchers force makeshift matchups. Boston will start Julian Tavarez in the opener (1-4, 6.60 ERA) and Curt Schilling (4-1, 3.63) in the nightcap. Detroit counters with Mike Maroth (3-0, 4.69) and Chad Durbin (3-1, 5.08). The afternoon game could see a lot of offense based on the starting pitchers' records. Of course, the same could be true in the night game as Schilling struggled in his last outing, and Durbin has a career 9.39 ERA versus Boston.
... (more)
Wednesday May 16, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 9:31AM EST on May 16, 2007
Seattle pounded Anaheim 11-3 at home with King Felix on the hill and Ichiro Suzuki slapping five hits all over the field. Hernandez, out for nearly a month with a forearm strain, lacked control in his return and lasted less than four innings. But he and manager Mike Hargrove were happy with the pain-free results, and the preset 80 pitch-count was adhered to. Hernandez' counterpart, Kelvim Escobar, had a rocky start, allowing six earned runs in 2.1 innings. Joining in the hit parade were M's Adrian Beltre, Kenji Johjima, Raul Ibanez, and Jose Lopez to pace a 14-hit attack.
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Tuesday May 15, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:03AM EST on May 15, 2007
The Red Sox beat the Tigers 7-1 last night and roared to the best mid-May record in baseball. Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched his first complete major league game, tossing a cool six-hitter with zero walks and five K's. He dominated Detroit's lineup with a full arsenal of dazzling pitches, generating 16 ground ball outs. The only flaw was a solo homer by the Tigers' Curtis Granderson in the 7th inning. No other Detroit player passed second base all night. The 4-game series pitting two of the AL's strongest teams continues tonight in Boston.
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Monday May 14, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:49AM EST on May 14, 2007
Torii Hunter may want to hit with a pink bat every day. He and Minnesota jumped on makeshift Detroit pitching Sunday, unleashing a 22-hit attack with pink bats in celebration of Mother's Day and the fight against breast cancer. Hunter led the team with two homers and seven RBI, a  career-high. Following his example were five Twins with three hits apiece. The Tigers' emergency starter, Virgil Vasquez, was chased after just 2.2 innings. Minnesota's offensive outpour may be due to the frustration of a four-game losing streak during a tough stretch in May. The win salvaged one game in the three-game set against Detroit.
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Saturday May 12, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 5:17PM EST on May 12, 2007
Milwaukee batters jumped on Mets' pitching early and often Saturday to grab a lopsided win, 12-3. Led by ace Ben Sheets on the hill, the Brewers' offense mounted a 16-hit attack highlighted by a grand slam and five RBIs from shortstop J.J. Hardy. Tony Gwynn, Jr. and Bill Hall each had three hits. New York starter Mike Pelfrey was touched for eight hits and four earned runs in five innings...then things got worse. In the final four innings, the Mets' pen allowed eight more runs The series' rubber match at Shea will take place Sunday afternoon.
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Friday May 11, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 6:06PM EST on May 11, 2007
The Chicago Cubs have clawed to .500 at 16-16, and the Philadelphia Phillies have won five of their last six home games. The teams clash tonight at Citizens Bank Park and two highly regarded young hurlers take the mound. Rich Hill (4-1, 1.73 ERA) gets the call for Chicago as the Cubs' apparent ace. Likewise, the Phils' Cole Hamels (4-1, 3.59), starts for the home team. Philadelphia is counting on slow-starting Ryan Howard to ramp up his recent momentum. Chicago counters with leadoff batter Alfonso Soriano, a slugger who has reached base in 26 straight games.
... (more)
Thursday May 10, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:30AM EST on May 10, 2007
Carlos Delgado gave a long-ball impression of San Francisco hero Barry Bonds, splashing a solo shot into McCovey Cove yesterday. But it was his eighth inning score-tying double that led the Mets to a 5-3 final at AT&T Park. The Giants' Armando Benitez allowed New York to load the bases in the ninth, then David Wright doubled in the go-ahead runs. The Giants' bullpen sacrificed a fine outing by starter Matt Morris, who left after seven innings with just two earned runs to his credit. Jose Reyes and Paul Lo Duca joined Delgado with two hits apiece.
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Wednesday May 9, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 9:48PM EST on May 9, 2007
Justin Morneau homered twice, including a three-run shot for the game winner as limping Minnesota downed struggling Chicago. Morneau's decisive extra-inning hit capped a Twins' rally that began in the eighth. Held to four hits and trailing 4-1, the Twins pounced on the White Sox bullpen for six runs in three innings. Chicago starter Javier Vazquez had held the team to four hits and one run over seven. "A game like that we have to win," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. The White Sox get another chance tonight as the three-game series continues in Minneapolis.
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Tuesday May 8, 2007
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:43PM EST on May 8, 2007
Brad Penny paced Los Angeles to a dominating road win in Miami last night, striking out 14 over seven innings while walking none. Penny now sports a 4-0 record with a 1.39 ERA. Dodger batters complemented his five-hit effort with a 10-hit attack against the Marlins, including two-hit games by Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal and Russell Martin. Kent hit his third homer of the year, and Brad Penny helped himself with a two-run single in the fourth.
... (more)
Monday May 7, 2007