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Leading Off
What's happening in the world of Major League Baseball.
June 2008
Monday June 30, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:30AM EST on June 30, 2008
Oliver Perez pitched a 3-hit gem to lift the Mets past the Yankees Sunday, 3-1 at a packed Shea Stadium. Perez is at his best against the Bronx Bombers, posting a 5-1 record and a 2.61 ERA in six career starts. The lefty gave the Yanks fits again, retiring the first 10 batters in the game, while notching eight Ks through seven sharp innings. Stuck in a season-long slump, Carlos Delgado added a 445 foot blast to go with the two homers he had Friday at Yankee Stadium. Closer Billy Wagner sealed the deal in the 9th, claiming his 18th save of the season.
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Friday June 27, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:10AM EST on June 27, 2008
The upstart Rays continued their upstart ways Thursday afternoon in Miami, plunking the Marlins 6-1 behind Matt Garza's 1-hit, complete game magic. The only flaw for Garza was Hanley Ramirez’s lead off homer in the 7th. The former Twin baffled Florida batters all day, striking out 10 and facing an 18-batter minimum through six innings. Led by rookie Evan Longoria with three hits including a home run, Tampa Bay's offense scratched out nine hits to provide Garza with a comfortable 5-0 lead after five innings.
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Tuesday June 24, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:55AM EST on June 24, 2008
Kansas City claimed its 8th win out of nine games Monday with a decisive 8-4 victory over Colorado. Pitcher Brian Bannister kept the Rockies hitless through four full innings as the team from Denver stranded seven on base for the night. Royals hitters tapped star lefty Jeff Francis for seven earned runs in just over four innings. For K.C., Mike Aviles and Jose Guillen had a pair of hits apiece, and right fielder Mark Teahen launched a 3-run homer in the 1st inning to get the team rolling.
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Monday June 23, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:19AM EST on June 23, 2008
Minnesota won its sixth straight Sunday to pull within 1.5 games of division leading Chicago. The Twins did it by touching up Cy Young winner Brandon Webb for eight hits and five runs in the 5-3 victory over Arizona. Led by 3rd baseman Brian Buscher with two hits and two RBIs, Minnesota built a 5-run 5th inning aided by Conor Jackson's misplayed fly ball in left field. The ball landed on the turf a few feet away and left runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Reliable starter Livan Hernandez nailed down the win for the Twins, going seven strong while allowing one earned run.
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Friday June 20, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 2:09PM EST on June 20, 2008
Just two games behind Philadelphia in the NL East standings, Florida concludes a tough West Coast road trip against the Oakland A's this weekend. The Marlins have the smallest payroll in the major leagues (at $21+ million, less than half that of their cross state rivals, the Rays). Yet Florida is contending in its division, and also holding its own in interleague play. Evidence is the Marlins taking two of three earlier this week in Seattle.
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Thursday June 19, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:38AM EST on June 19, 2008
Tampa Bay punched out Carlos Zambrano and held on for a 5-4 home win over Chicago last night. Not only are the Rays a factor in the AL East, the team is competing against the Cubs and Red Sox for the best record in baseball. Andy Sonnanstine pitched well enough into the 6th to keep the Rays ahead, then their bullpen closed out the game. Scratching out seven timely hits, Tampa Bay had just enough offense to get the job done at Tropicana Field.
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Tuesday June 17, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:55AM EST on June 17, 2008
Atlanta won its third out of four road games Monday in Denver, putting away  Colorado 7-1 behind another strong game by starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens scattered eight hits and notched seven Ks in 7.2 innings. Back in the lineup, Chipper Jones went 2-for-4 to keep his average (.403) above .400. Jeff Francoeur had two hits and rookie sensation Brandon Jones added a two-out, two-run single in the 9th. Now the Braves head to Texas to take on the Rangers, a series 1st baseman Mark Teixeira is looking forward to.
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Monday June 16, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:28AM EST on June 16, 2008
Nate Robertson tossed six shutout innings and Detroit held on for a 5-4 home win Sunday over Los Angeles. A new dad, Robertson made the most of his Father's Day opportunity after a lengthy rain delay. He got plenty of support from the Tiger lineup as five Detroit hitters had two or more hits, including Edgar Renteria, Placido Polanco, Carlos Guillen, Miguel Cabrera and Brent Clevlen.
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Thursday June 12, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:10AM EST on June 12, 2008
David Murphy belted his first ever grand slam last night to lead the Rangers over the Royals 11-5 in Kansas City. Trailing 5-1 after six innings, Texas rallied big to post a seven run 7th and win going away. Murphy leads AL rookies with 46 RBIs and 77 hits. Rangers leading pitcher Vicente Padilla (8-3) notched the victory though his rocky start allowed four earned runs through six innings. Texas' bullpen (Jamey Wright, Eddie Guardado and Frank Francisco) shut out Kansas City the rest of the way.
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Tuesday June 10, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:57PM EST on June 10, 2008
Tony Clark delivered a dramatic pinch hit 3-run homer off Mets' closer Billy Wagner to complete a 4-game home sweep for San Diego, 8-6 over New York. Suddenly perked up and playing better, the Pads have won five in a row and eight of 11. Pedro Martinez started for the Mets and lasted five innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits. Five Padres pitchers combined to put San Diego in the win column, including a perfect 9th inning save by Trevor Hoffman.
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Friday June 6, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:02PM EST on June 6, 2008
Milwaukee carries a 6-game win streak to Colorado after forging into third place in the NL Central. The Brewers road trip will move on to Houston following the 3-game set in Denver. Leading the team in RBIs (46), home runs (16) and average (.299) is young Ryan Braun, while the pitching staff is led by Brewers veteran starter Ben Sheets (.271 ERA). If Milwaukee can conquer the Rockies in Colorado, the team just might make a run at the Cardinals and Cubs for the division lead. 
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Monday June 2, 2008
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:26PM EST on June 2, 2008
Outfielder Jay Bruce continued his dazzling debut for Cincinnati this weekend, leading the team to 6-2 win over Atlanta on Sunday. In his first six games as a rookie, Bruce is 13-for-22 with six walks, two homers, two steals and six RBIs. Those are historic numbers, by any measure, including a .591 batting average. His heroics helped doom the Braves to yet another road loss--their 20th straight one-run loss on the road since August, 2007. That's a stat almost as staggering as Bruce's numbers.
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