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Monday’s scores
Astros 9, Yankees 1 - Houston put the hurt on former teammate Andy Pettitte, knocking him around for seven runs in just over four innings. Carlos Corporan led the charge with a career-best day, notching four hits and four RBI. Trade candidate Lucas Harrell won his third straight.
Tigers 4, Twins 3 - Prince Fielder delivered the go-ahead three-run blast off of right-hander Mike Pelfrey, who has somehow made five starts despite still being less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery. Given his 7.66 ERA, perhaps he's not quite ready?
Marlins 4, Mets 3 (F. 15) - Not the longest game of the day, somehow. Nick Green, who you had no idea was still in the majors until just now, delivered the game-tying and walk-off sac flies. The Fish also lost Giancarlo Stanton to a leg injury in the 10th.
Braves 3, Nats 2 - Atlanta won their fourth in a row over their division rivals, the deciding run coming in the form of a boring sac fly from Andrelton Simmons. Stephen Strasburg pitched well, but was examined for "forearm tightness" after the game. Womp womp.
Cubs 5, Padres 3 - Cody Ransom made his former team pay for putting him on waivers. The Cubs' interim third baseman was on the tail end of back-to-back jacks and also had the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth.
Indians 9, Royals 0 - Ubaldo Jimenez put together his best start in what seems like years, pitching seven three-hit, scoreless innings to top KC. Ryan Raburn went 4-for-4 with four RBI for the Tribe. You have now entered the Twilight Zone.
Brewers 10, Bucs 4 - Milwaukee walloped five home runs on the day -- including Yuniesky Betancourt's fifth(!) of the year -- to send Wandy Rodriguez packing early. Yovani Gallardo tossed seven and blasted his second big fly.
Reds 2, Cardinals 1 - Mat Latos extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings by blanking the Cards for six. Adam Wainwright also pitched well -- fanning six over seven -- but took the tough loss.
Giants 6, D'Backs 4 - Brandon Belt ended the Giants' losing streak at five with a solo shot and a go-ahead two-run single. Matt Cain still didn't look like Matt Cain, as he surrendered three long balls in an inning to the D'Backs and came away with a no-decision.
A's 10, Angels 8 (F. 19) - May as well just give the Halos two losses on this one. Anaheim's bullpen twice blew the lead in what could have been the final frame. Brandon Moss delivered the walk-off blast in the 19th to end the longest game in franchise history. Josh Hamilton went 0-for-8 on the evening and is now hitting .202.
Mariners 6, Orioles 2 - It was Saunders night at Safeco on Monday. Joe Saunders tossed a complete game against his former club while Michael Saunders launched a solo shot in his first at-bat back from the disabled list.
Rockies 12, Dodgers 2 - The Rockies hit three homers on the day, one of which was Nolan Arenado's first in the big leagues. Tyler Chatwood tossed six scoreless for Colorado. Because the Dodgers haven't had enough rotation problems, Ted Lilly was sent for an MRI after the game.
The Big Three
1. The Miami Marlins are already a terrible offensive team, but they just got a whole lot worse. The club lost Giancarlo Stanton to a strained right hamstring in the 10th inning Monday night, and are now left with a gaping hole in the middle of their lineup. It's bad enough when your No. 4 hitter is some amalgam of Greg Dobbs, Placido Polanco, and Joe Mahoney, but now the club has to survive without any legitimate threats in their entire lineup. Just one regular player on the club, Justin Ruggiano, is slugging above .400, which is all sorts of insane. Say what you will about the Astros, at least they have some guys who can hit the ball out of the infield. Without Stanton, the Marlins have fewer combined home runs than Justin Upton has all by himself in April.
2. Stephen Strasburg put together a strong start on Monday night against the Braves, fanning eight over six innings, but struggled with his command at times. After the game, it was revealed that the Nats' ace is dealing with "forearm tightness," which can be code for a whole host of terrible, no-good things, but can also be just forearm tightness. Cross your fingers that it ends up being the latter. Strasburg was rather adamant that the discomfort won't keep him from making his next start, but considering what he means for the club's success and the kid gloves the team handled him with last season, it seems probable that his spot in the rotation will be passed over at least once.
3. The Cardinals got some good news out of their struggling bullpen on Monday. Jason Motte, who has been out with a tear in his elbow since late March, felt no discomfort while throwing over the weekend. Tommy John surgery seemed inevitable for the right-hander just a few weeks ago, but if he's able to keep throwing without pain over the next several weeks, he may be able to avoid the procedure. Even with the best-case scenario, a return to the 'pen is still a long way off, but at least Cards fans can hold out hope that his return this year will salvage their relief corps.
In Other News...
1. Casper Wells' whirlwind of a month closes as a member of the Chicago White Sox. The A's sent the DFA-ed outfielder to the ChiSox on Monday for cash considerations.
2. Freddy Garcia has decided not to exercise the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Orioles even though the team has not called him up. It's probably a smart decision by the veteran, as the club's constant rotation struggles will prompt them to bring him up eventually.
3. The Yankees are planning to sign Hideki Matsui to a one day contract so that he can officially retire as a member of the club. I wish more teams would do this kind of thing. Looking at you, Indians. Jim Thome deserves better.