Baseball Today - April 23
Mon, Apr 23, 2007
By Associated Press
Chicago at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EDT). Mark Buehrle makes his first start since tossing a no-hitter against Texas Wednesday night.
STARS Sunday
-Dan Uggla, Marlins, homered twice and drove in six runs, and Florida beat Washington 12-6.
-Kelly Johnson, Braves, hit two home runs in Atlanta's 9-6 win over the Mets.
-Jason Hirsch, Rockies, struck out seven over seven innings, helping Colorado beat San Diego 4-2.
-Jorge De La Rosa, Royals, pitched a career-high eight innings and retired 16 in a row during one stretch to lead Kansas City to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota.
SOX SOCKING
The Red Sox hit four straight home runs Sunday night against the New York Yankees, tying a major league record. Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek connected in a span of 10 pitches during the third inning against Chase Wright, who was making his second major league start for New York. Boston won 7-6.
740 AND COUNTING
Barry Bonds hit his 740th home run Sunday, connecting for the second consecutive game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and moving within 15 of Hank Aaron's career record. With two outs in the fourth inning, the San Francisco Giants slugger sent the first pitch from Yusmeiro Petit into the seats in the right-field arcade for his sixth homer of the season. Petit, called up from Triple-A Tucson before the game to make his second major league start, became the 438th pitcher to give up a homer to Bonds. San Francisco beat Arizona 2-1 on Sunday.
MAKING MOVES
The Cincinnati Reds recalled infielder Jeff Keppinger from his rehabilitation assignment, reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
EXTRA, EXTRA
Detroit beat Chicago 6-5 in 12 innings on Sunday, after losing their previous three extra-inning games at home this year. The Tigers hadn't won one in Detroit since June 24 against St. Louis.
SLUMPING
Seattle lost its sixth straight, 6-1 at Los Angeles. Jeff Weaver took the loss, his third of the season, after giving up three runs and seven hits in three innings. Weaver, who actually lowered his ERA from 15.75 to 13.91, allowed seven runs in each of his first two starts with the Mariners.
SNAPPED
Roy Oswalt failed in his bid to win his 10th straight decision, a streak that dated to Aug. 23, 2006 after taking the loss in a 4-3 defeat to Milwaukee. ... NL West-leading Los Angeles lost a series finale for the first time this season and had its three-game winning streak end after a 7-5 loss to Pittsburgh.
STREAKING
Kelly Johnson went 3-for-4 in Atlanta's 9-6 win over New York on Sunday, making him 13-for-25 (.520) for the week.
RETURN
Ryan Howard homered and drove in three runs in Philadelphia's 9-3 win over Cincinnati on Sunday. It was the NL MVP's first game back after missing three with a sprained ligament just below his left knee. ... Wes Obermueller earned his first major league win in nearly two years in Florida's 12-6 win over Washington. Obermueller had not pitched in the majors since Sept. 17, 2005, with Milwaukee and his previous win came on May 17, 2005, at Washington. The right-hander spent 2006 with Triple-A Richmond in Atlanta's farm system and Orix of the Japanese League.
SPEAKING
''That's what power can do for you. Nobody can catch those.'' - Detroit manager Jim Leyland after Marcus Thames hit a two out, two-run, game-tying homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Tigers went on to win 6-5 in 12 innings over Chicago on Sunday.
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts missed his second straight game Sunday due to the flu, according to the Associated Press. It's not clear when Roberts will be able to return to action.
Marlins 1B Mike Jacobs (thumb) is questionable.
A's RF Milton Bradley (leg) is questionable
Rangers LF Brad Wilkerson (knee) is questionable.
Indians RF David Dellucci (calf) is questionable
Royals CF David DeJesus (ankle) is doubtful.
Twins 2B Luis Castillo (quadricep) is questionable
Rockies falling fast after promising start
April 23rd, 2007
(Sports Network) - After starting the season with a suprising 3-1 mark, it has been all downhill for Colorado Rockies fans. In fact, the club has lost three of its last four games, and now sits in the cellar of the NL West at 8-11.
After winning back-to-back games against the Giants and Dodgers on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Rockies were trounced, 8-1, by LA on Thursday night. Aaron Cook (0-1) was directly responsible for the Dodgers explosion, as he allowed them to cash in five runs on six hits, while working just six innings.
Things didn't get much better on Friday, as the thin air blew the Padres into town for a weekend series at Coors Field. Josh Fogg (0-1) was on the bump for Colorado in the opener, but wouldn't stay there for long, as he allowed eight runs on 11 hits, while working just three innings in the 11-1 setback.
Jeff Francis (1-2) was in charge of stopping the bleeding on Saturday, but failed to do so, surrendering six runs on 13 hits in just six innings of action. Francis' inconsistency spoiled a solid afternoon from Garrett Atkins, who hit three doubles and drove in two runs in the 7-3 loss.
It was Matt Holliday who was all over the base paths for the Rockies on Sunday, however, as he singled, doubled, and tripled for the club. Holliday sparked the 4-2 victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak for Colorado, while also allowing the Rockies to salvage a game against division- rival San Diego.
HIRSCH DEFEATS MADDUX AGAIN
For the second time in this young season, 25-year-old Rockies' pitcher Jason Hirsh has out pitched a legend. But ironically enough, it has been Padres' pitcher Greg Maddux on the losing end of both occurrences.
Hirsh fed off of the competition on the opposing side, and pitched an absolute gem for the fans at Coors Field on Sunday. The right hander struck out seven batters, while scattering just four hits in seven innings of work.
"I didn't want to be the same pitcher I was when I faced them last time. I think if I give them a fresh look, they're always going to be off balance," said Hirsch who improved his record to 2-1 on the campaign.
HITTING THE ROAD
As Colorado prepares to travel to New York for a three-game set with the Mets this week, one Rockies player has packed his bags for good. Right-hander Brian Lawrence, who pitched well for the Rockies in spring training, has left the team to work out in San Diego.
Lawrence opened the season on the disabled list, and despite being roughed up in three Triple-A starts, expected to be called up on Monday after becoming eligible to join the club.
When Colorado decided that Lawrence would benefit from a few more weeks in Triple-A, however, the veteran pitcher decided to test other options.
"I am going back home to work out and wait and see what happens," Lawrence said.
WHO'S HOT
Todd Helton is the one name that has seemed to go hand in hand with Colorado Rockies baseball in the past few years and what should come as no surprise he is once again starting to hit the cover off of the ball.
The Rockies' first baseman has drove in runs in three of his last four outings, and has boosted his average to a healthy .339 on the season. With Holliday hitting .382 behind him, pitchers will need to face Helton.
WHO'S NOT
After a long and successful career, it seems as if Rockies' outfielder Steve Finley may be coming to the end of the line. The 42-year-old Finley is hitless in his last three games, and has just four hits all season.
Finley is hitting a pitiful .121 in 33 at bats this season and will need to pick up the slack if he anticipates hanging around Colorado.
ON DECK
The Rockies will look to climb out of the NL West cellar this week, when they square off against the Mets in a three-game series beginning Monday.
Taylor Buchholz (1-0, 5.68) will try to set the pace for Colorado, as he takes on John Maine (2-0, 1.93) in the opener. Aaron Cook (0-1, 4.00) and Orlando Hernandez (2-1, 3.24) will then do battle on Tuesday, while Josh Fogg (0-1, 6.61) and Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 5.06) will await their Wednesday night clash at Shea Stadium.
Indians' Marte lands on DL
April 23rd, 2007
Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians placed infielder Andy Marte on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained left hamstring.
Marte was injured running out a ground ball of Sunday's 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 13 games this season, Marte is batting .179 with three doubles, one home run and eight RBI.
Cleveland recalled outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from Triple-A Buffalo to assume Marte's spot. Choo has hit .294 with two doubles, seven RBI and three steals in 12 games for the Bisons.
Rangers place Gagne on DL
April 23rd, 2007
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers announced Monday that pitcher Eric Gagne has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip strain.
Gagne entered the game in the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale with Oakland. He walked off the mound after throwing 11 pitches to two batters. Antinori Otsuka got the final two outs to preserve the Rangers' 4-3 victory.
After appearing in just three spring training games, Gagne began the season on the DL. He has made four appearances with the Rangers since his return to the club April 13, notching one save in 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
The injury is just the latest in a series of setbacks for Gagne, who had played in only 16 games over the last two years because of back and elbow injuries.
The Rangers have recalled right-hander Frank Francisco from Triple-A Oklahoma to fill Gagne's spot on the roster.
Oakland sends Harden to familiar place - DL
April 23rd, 2007
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics placed starting pitcher Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained right shoulder.
Harden, who has been on the DL four times in his career, has spent time on the shelf due to injury in each of the last three seasons.
The move is retroactive to April 16, having left his start the day before in the seventh inning against the Yankees with discomfort. In three starts this season, the right-hander is 1-1 1.42 ERA.
Oakland also placed outfielder Milton Bradley on the 15-day disabled list Monday. Bradley left Sunday's game in the sixth inning yesterday at Texas with a strained left hamstring, the same injury that caused him to miss six games from April 11 to 18.
He is batting .263 with a home run and three RBI in 11 games this year.
The A's also selected outfielder Danny Putnam from Double-A Midland and left- handed pitcher Dallas Braden from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the vacated roster spots. To clear spots on the 40-man roster, the A's transferred Mark Kotsay to the 60-day DL and released right-handed pitcher Scott Dunn.