Sunday's Slate
By Brian Edwards
Bettors have a stacked slate to investigate in MLB on Sunday. Let’s touch on a few trends and topics before breaking down ESPN’s prime-time affair.
--Angels’ LHP Joe Saunders is 5-0 with a 4.15 career ERA against Sunday’s opponent, the Orioles. Baltimore has a 13-14 record against southpaws. The O’s will also go with a lefty in Rich Hill. The Angels are 13-10 versus lefties.
--Cleveland LHP Cliff Lee owns a 4-1 record and 2.39 ERA against the A’s, who are a dreadful 10-19 versus southpaws.
--The White Sox will be happy to see Kansas City RHP Brian Bannister on the mound Sunday. Bannister has a 2-4 record and bloated 8.15 lifetime ERA against Chicago.
--Minnesota RHP Nick Blackburn has not fared well against division-rival Detroit. Blackburn, who only lasted 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Tigers earlier this year, is 1-3 with a 5.76 career ERA versus Detroit.
--Washington LHP Scott Olsen will toe the rubber Sunday against Atlanta. Olsen is 2-5 with a 6.91 lifetime ERA against the Braves, who are 17-12 versus left-handers.
--Mets’ LHP Johan Santana is 4-0 with a 2.95 career ERA against the Phillies, who host New York on Sunday in a pick ‘em affair. Charlie Manuel will counter Santana with Joe Blanton, who is 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three lifetime starts against the Mets.
--Is there a hotter pitcher in baseball than Florida’s Ricky Nolasco? The right-hander, who struggled earlier this year and went to the DL before a brief stint in the minors, is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA his last three times out. All six of his starts since returning to the team have been “quality” (meaning at least six innings with three earned runs or less).
**Rays at Rangers**
--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Tampa Bay as a minus-118 road favorite with a total of 10 flat (minus-110 either way). As of early Saturday night, most spots had the Rays as minus-125 ‘chalk’ with a total of 9 ½ ‘over’ (minus-115).
--Joe Maddon’s squad had won nine of 10 games before dropping its last two contests (prior to Saturday). Nevertheless, the Rays are clearly back into the picture in the American League East, trailing the division-leading Red Sox by 4 ½ games.
--Texas went into Saturday’s action tied with the Angels for the AL West lead. The Rangers are 26-17 at home, while the Rays are 18-24 on the road.
--Tampa Bay RHP Matt Garza (6-5, 3.45 ERA) will get the starting nod in this spot. Garza owns a 3-1 record and 1.98 ERA in four career starts against Texas.
--Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09) will take the bump for the Rangers. He has a 1-1 record and 3.00 ERA in 12 lifetime innings versus Tampa Bay.
--Ian Kinsler is 4-for-13 (.308) in his career against Garza, while Michael Young is 1-for-11 (.091) against the right-hander.
--The ‘under’ is an MLB-best 46-29 overall for the Rangers, 25-15 in their home games.
--The ‘under’ is 40-37 overall for the Rays, 23-17 in their road contests. The ‘under’ had cashed in six consecutive Tampa Bay games prior to Saturday night’s showdown.
--ESPN will provide television coverage at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
--Atlanta appeared to be on the “up and up” with a 3-0 lead at Washington in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday. Tommy Hanson was cruising and seemed to be on the cusp of improving to 5-0 since being called up from the minors. A win would’ve momentarily pulled the Braves to within 1 ½ games of the NL-East lead and also would’ve brought them back to the .500 mark with a 40-40 record. But then the bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth and the Nats emerged with a 5-3 triumph. Although bettors backing the ‘under’ had some anxious moments, especially when the Braves had runners on first and second and just one out in the ninth against Washington’s anemic ‘pen, the eight runs stayed ‘under’ the 8 ½-run tally.
--Before Adam Dunn belted a solo homer in the seventh, Hanson had worked 20 consecutive scoreless innings.
--The ‘under’ was on a 10-0-1 run in Kansas City games until it won a 6-4 decision over the White Sox on Saturday. The 10 combined runs shot ‘over’ the 8 ½-run tally.
vegasinsider.com
Sunday's streaking and slumping starters
By Covers.com
Streaking
Roy Oswalt (Houston Astros)
If Oswalt continues to pitch the same way he has the past several starts, there is no way Houston will part with its ace as the trade deadline nears.
Oswalt (4-4, 4.02 ERA) has allowed no more than a single run in three of his past four starts, lasting at least six innings each time. In his most recent outing, a 3-1 win over San Diego, he allowed the single run on only two hits in tossing a complete game gem.
For the right-handed, fly-ball pitcher, his success relies on his ability to pound inside on hitters and then get them to watch strikes fly by on the outside corner.
"I feel better than I did at the beginning of the season," Oswalt told the Associated Press. "It seems like I'm throwing the ball better, the balls have a little more carry and hopefully I can carry on the rest of the year."
Nick Blackburn (Minnesota Twins)
The right-hander won’t win any beauty pageants with his starts, but all he does is give his team a great chance to win every time he takes the mound.
Blackburn (6-4, 3.10 ERA) has turned in a quality start in seven of his past eight outings. Even, better, he doesn’t walk batters. He issued a meager seven base-on-balls over 38 innings last month. The 27 year old, however, does have a weakness: he lets opponents get hits – lots of them.
In those same 38 innings last month, he yielded 39 hits, including a combined 21 in his last two starts. Blackburn still managed to lower his ERA during the month and has been very adept at working out of jams.
Slumping
Bronson Arroyo (Cincinnati Reds)
So what does $10.1 million dollars buy you these days? How about a 5.69 ERA.
Arroyo (8-7, 5.69 ERA) continues to be anything but consistent for the Reds. The former Red Sox starter was shelled in his past two outings, allowing 13 runs over nine innings. Even more troubling are the 43 hits and 17 walks he yielded last month in just 33 innings.
Even more disconcerting, is Arroyo thinks he’s pitching well. In his most recent loss, a 6-2 defeat to Arizona, he allowed 14 base runners and six runs in just 5 1-3 innings.
"I had good stuff today," Arroyo said. "I felt pretty good. I'm just having a hard time getting into the groove."
Gio Gonzalez (Oakland Athletics)
You can’t be too hard on a 23-year-old rookie. But you also want to keep your wagers away from one that is struggling as much as Gonzalez.
Demoted after a suspect May that saw him yield seven earned runs in jus 8 2-3 innings, Gonzalez was recalled last may to take a spot in the team’s rotation. The results have been poor, to say the least.
In two starts, he has combined to allow seven earned runs in 8 2-3 innings – just like in May. But this time, he has allowed a staggering 17 hits, including a pair of home runs. Gonzalez better get it together, or else get a bus ticket back to Triple-A Sacramento.
Sunday Night Baseball: Rays at Rangers
By Marc Lawrence
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers
Two teams, each hoping to re-establish themselves during the second half of the MLB season, battle one another at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Tampa Bay concludes its three games series with Texas under the ESPN Sunday night lights.
In a battle of big right-handers, Texas sends Scott Feldman (6-2 4.09) to the mound against Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza (6-5 3.45).
Coming and going
Sunday’s game marks the end of a week-long, six-game road trip for the Rays, who will return home for a pair of three-game series with Toronto and Oakland before the All Star break.
The Rangers conclude 10-day, nine-game home stand before heading out on a week-long, seven-game road trip beginning Monday in Los Angeles.
Entering this weekend, Tampa had emerged victorious in 11 of the previous 16 games in this series.
Century village
Despite their woes, the Rays reside in an exclusive neighborhood. They became the fastest team in MLB history to reach 100 homers and 100 steals by the All-Star break.
It took Tampa only 77 games to accomplish the feat. The previous fastest were Cincinnati (1977) and Cleveland (1994), who both did it in 84 games.
The only other two teams to reach that mark by the All-Star break since 1954 were the Marlins (2003) and the Blue Jays (1998).
Ranger light
Texas’ big bats have been mired in a hitting slump. The loss of All-Star CF Josh Hamilton to the DL and the recent back injury to RF Nelson Cruz (.264 BA, 19 HR, 47 RBI) have contributed to the Rangers’ lack of run production.
As a result, Texas has learned to rely on their arms and gloves rather than their bats.
"We wanted to get off the field as fast as we could," second baseman Ian Kinsler admitted to reporters. "Now, we're getting off the field as fast as we can."
The loss of starting pitchers Matt Harrison and Brandon McCarthy to shoulder injuries has further added to the Rangers’ miseries.
Good news is Hamilton has been rehabbing with Triple-A Oklahoma City and was hoping to rejoin the Rangers this weekend. He has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a slight abdominal tear. Cruz returned to the lineup Friday.
Pitch out
Garza (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) has been moved up by manager Joe Maddon and will take Jeff Niemann’s spot in the rotation. He pitched seven strong innings in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto Tuesday. He has dropped five of his last six road team starts but is 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA in his career team starts against the Rangers.
Feldman (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) enters Sunday’s game 1-4 with a 4.45 ERA in his career team starts on Sundays. He is 0-2 with a 12.19 ERA at home in his July career team starts. The Rangers left the park five times in support of Feldman’s 9-5 win over the Angels Tuesday. After throwing 57 pitches the first two innings, the right-hander finally settled down when he retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.
Karnac says
Garza is a hurler with a bright future while Feldman is merely a serviceable starter.
By the time the Rangers are able to re-kindle their bats, the arms will likely begin wearing out. Unlike Texas, a second-half surge by the Rays would not surprise.
Tampa has won each of its last three games on Sundays while Texas has lost its last three.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.Y. Mets (39-41) at Philadelphia (41-37)
The freefalling Mets send ace Johan Santana (9-6, 3.34 ERA) to the mound as they try to avoid getting swept in a three-game series against the rival Phillies, who will counter with Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.08) at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia followed up Friday’s 7-2 series-opening victory with Saturday’s 4-1 triumph. Despite the results the last two days, the Phillies are just 5-15 in their last 20 contests, dropping eight of 11 at home during this slump. On the bright side, the defending champs are on runs of 23-11 against southpaw starters and 66-31 on Sunday.
New York has now dropped seven of its last nine and is 11-20 since the start of June, including 6-12 on the road. The Mets are on further slides of 3-11 on Sunday, 1-7 against winning teams and 1-5 versus right-handed starters.
New York won four of the first five series matchups against Philadelphia this season, but the Phillies have now taken the last four in a row.
After two straight strong outings (three earned runs allowed in 14 1/3 innings), Santana got rocked in his most recent start at Milwaukee on Tuesday, surrendering six runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks in six innings, losing 6-3. The veteran southpaw has a 9.74 ERA in his last five starts. Still, New York is 19-8 in Santana’s last 27 trips to the mound, including 9-4 in his last 13 versus divisional foes.
Santana is 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in seven games on the road this season and 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in eight career starts against the Phillies, including 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in two contests this year. In fact, the Mets are unbeaten in Santana’s last four starts against Philadelphia.
Philly is winless in Blanton’s last five starts, including Tuesday’s 5-4 loss at Atlanta in which the portly right-hander gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings. Despite the recent slump behind Blanton, the Phillies are still on runs of 9-4 at home, 10-4 against the N.L. East and 5-0 on Sunday when the veteran pitches. Also, Blanton has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven outings.
Blanton is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA in seven starts at Citizens Bank this year, but 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three career starts against New York.
The under is on runs of 7-2 for the Mets in N.L. East contests, 5-2 for the Mets against right-handed starters, 5-1-2 for Philadelphia overall and 11-5-1 for Philadelphia against lefty starters. However, the over is 4-1 in Santana’s last five starts against the Phillies and 4-2-1 in the last seven head-to-head clashes at Citizens Bank.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. METS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay (44-38) at Texas (44-35)
Matt Garza (6-5, 3.45) goes after his third consecutive victory when he leads the Rays against Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09) and the Rangers in the nationally televised finale of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark.
Texas is looking for the series sweep tonight after topping Tampa Bay 3-1 on Friday and 12-4 on Saturday. The Rangers have won four in a row – all at home – and the run comes on the heels of a 3-8 slump. The Rangers are 19-7 in their last 26 home games against opponents with a losing road mark, but they’ve dropped four of their last five on Sunday.
The Rays have followed up a seven-game winning streak by losing three in a row. Still, Tampa Bay has won six of seven against right-handed starters and six of nine against winning teams. However, it is now 9-20 in its last 29 games against Texas in Rangers Ballpark.
Garza has given up a single run in each of his last two starts, scattering 10 hits and six walks over 15 combined innings, beating the Phillies 7-1 at home and the Blue Jays 4-1 on the road. Prior to this recent run, the right-hander had completed seven innings just once in his seven previous starts, and the Rays were 1-4 in his previous five outings.
Garza is 2-3 with a 3.80 ERA in seven road starts this season, but 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers.
Feldman has gotten 18 runs of support in his last two starts, with Texas winning both games by scores of 9-8 at Arizona and 9-5 against the Angels at home Tuesday. Feldman surrendered three runs in six innings in each of those contests, and the right-hander has yielded three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 12 starts this season.
Texas is 8-3 in Feldman’s last 11 starts overall, but they’re 5-12 in his last 17 home outings and 1-4 in his last five Sunday contests. This season, Feldman is 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in seven starts at Rangers Ballpark, and he’s 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five career appearances (one start) against Tampa Bay.
With Feldman on the hill, the “under” is on streaks of 27-11 overall, 7-1 at home, 4-1 on Sunday and 9-1 against the A.L. East. Also, the under is 11-4-1 in Garza’s 16 starts this season, including 7-0 in his last seven trips to the hill. Additionally, all seven of Garza’s road starts in 2009 have stayed low, and his three starts against Texas last year played to the under.
As a team, Tampa Bay is on “under” runs of 6-1 overall (4-1 on the road), 5-1 against winning teams, 16-5-1 against right-handed starters and 4-1 on Sunday. Similarly, the Rangers carry “under” trends of 37-15-1 overall, 20-7-1 at home, 7-1 against the A.L. East, 22-8-1 against right-handed starters, 13-3-1 against righties at home and 14-3-1 on Sunday. Lastly, the under is 5-2 in the last seven Rays-Rangers battles, all in Texas.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
GAMETIMEPICKS.COM
Houston at San Francisco Preview
The San Francisco Giants pounding Astros 13-0 on Friday followed by a 9-0 thrashing Saturday go for the series sweep Sunday. Giants a strong 26-12 at AT&T Park on the season including 13-4 (+$882) the past seventeen in front of the home crowd count on The Big Unit (8-5, 4.70 ERA, 10-6 TSR +$543) in the closer. The lanky southpaw ridding a 4-0 team start record into the contest has had great success against the team he once played for ('98). Johnson owns a 4-1 record vs Stros in seven life-time appearance with his team (ARZ) 6-1 over the span. Giants are 6-2 (+$401) at home with Johnson defeating foes 5.1 to 3.8. Stros 19-20 (+$259) on the highway counter with Roy Oswalt (4-4, 4.02 ERA, 7-9 TSR -$422). Oswalt coming off his best start of the season, a two-hitter at San Diego on Monday is 4-5 (5-7 TSR) in twelve career starts against Giants, 2-5 (3-5 TSR) in eight trips to the bump at AT&T Park. Houston is 4-4 away this season with Oswalt and it is well to note Stros are 1-4 last three years closing a series on the highway with the veteran hurler.
Rays, Rangers headline ESPN
Tampa Bay Rays (44-37) At Texas Rangers (43-35)
Date: Sunday July 5th
Time: 8:05 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Rays -140 / Rangers +130
Total: 10 Under -120 / Over +100
Rays Road Record: 18-24
Rangers Home Record: 26-17
Rays Last 10: 7-3
Rangers Last 10: 6-4
Pitchers:
Matt Garza (TB) 6-5 / 3.45 ERA / 88 K’s
Scott Feldman (TX) 6-2 / 4.09 ERA / 43 K’s
Halfway through the season, the Tampa Bay Rays aren't in the same position they were in last year, but are still in the hunt in their division. The surprising Texas Rangers, meanwhile, are on top of theirs, tied with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Both teams are starting to turn it on as they make a run at the post season. It should be a hot night in Arlington, with ESPN showcasing the defending AL champion Rays against the surprising Rangers.
The two contenders will continue their three-game series at Rangers Ballpark on Saturday night as Texas looks for a fourth straight win.
Texas won the opener Friday Night 3-1 behind Hank Blaylock, who hit a home run for the second game in a row.
The Rangers' offense, though, has been impressive in the last two games. After averaging 3.6 runs and batting .207 during a 3-8 slump from June 18-29, Texas scored nine runs apiece in back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Angels in a series between the AL West's top teams.
Tampa Bay (44-37) is five games behind its mark at the midpoint of last season; when it held a slim lead atop the powerful AL East and went on to win its first division title and pennant. The Rays are in third place this year, five games behind Boston and three behind the New York Yankees.
While Tampa Bay figured to contend following its first World Series appearance, Texas (43-35) has exceeded expectations to this point. The Rangers, who won 79 games last season, have moved back into a tie for first place with the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West after winning 3-1 on Friday
The Rays' strengths are speed and power. Tampa Bay leads the majors with 443 runs. 72 games is how long it took the Rays to total at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases, the quickest of the five teams in major-league history to do so before the All-Star break. The Rays speed comes from Carl Crawford, Upton and Jason Bartlett. The power is provided by Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist. Zobrist has been the bust out player in the A.L. this year, hitting .292 with 16 Hrs and 46 RBI with a .412 OBP. He was penciled in as the fourth outfielder when camp broke, but has found a home at SS, RF and 2nd base due to multiple injuries on the squad.
B.J. Upton batted .324 with five home runs, 20 runs scored 22 RBIs and an AL-best 10 doubles. The 24-year-old leadoff hitter also posted a .562 slugging percentage, a .395 on-base percentage and led the Majors with 14 stolen bases for the month. Entering today's game at Texas, Upton ranks third in the Majors with 29 stolen bases, behind teammate Carl Crawford (40) and Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury (33). Upton was named A.L. Player of the month for June.
The Rangers have shown surprising grit in staying atop the A.L. West while Josh Hamilton has been on the DL. The Rangers still rely on the long ball with Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz both sitting at 19 Hrs. Both have struggled of late and Marlon Byrd has been up and down all season. Chris Davis has 15 Hrs and 113 strike outs. Michael Young is hitting .312 with 10HRs and 30 RBI.
Matt Garza who has won his last two starts, will move up and start in place of Jeff Niemann on Sunday, the Tampa Tribune reports. Garza pitched 7 innings against Toronto on June 30 giving up only 1 earned run in the 4-1 Rays Victory. Garza took care of the Phillies on June 24th throwing 8 innings, giving up 1 earned run and 3 hits, while striking out 7 in 8 innings.
Scott Feldman allowed three earned runs over six innings against the Angels on Tuesday. He needed 116 pitches but battled through some trouble late in his outing. In his career at home, Feldman has pitched in 59 games -- 19 starts -- and has a 4.02 ERA over 174 2/3 innings pitched and is 4-5. In five games -- just one start -- he is 1-1 over 12 innings with a 3.00 ERA. Feldman has a 3.91 ERA over 46 innings pitched at home this season.
Betting Trends:
The Rays are 7-3 in their last 10 games
The Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 games against a right handed starter
The UNDER is 6-0 in the Rays last 6 games
The Rangers are 8-3 in Scott Feldman’s last 11 starts
The UNDER is 19-6 in the Rangers last 15 home games
The UNDER is 5-1 in the last 6 games between the two squads
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Sunday, July 5
Detroit at Minnesota (2:10 p.m. EDT). A matchup of AL Central rivals, with the first-place Tigers throwing rookie Rick Porcello (8-5) against the Twins' Nick Blackburn (6-4).
STARS
Saturday
-Justin Morneau, Twins, had four hits, including a homer and the tying single in the seventh inning, and Minnesota came back to beat the Tigers 4-3.
-Tim Lincecum, Giants, ran his career-best scoreless innings streak to 23 in winning his third straight start and also scored the first run in San Francisco's 9-0 victory over Houston.
-Rookie Casey McGehee, Brewers, had a career high four hits and five RBIs to help the Milwaukee Brewers pound the Cubs 11-2.
-Chris Young, Diamondbacks, hit a tiebreaking, pinch-hit three-run double in a six-run eighth inning to help Arizona rally for an 11-7 win over the Rockies.
-Andruw Jones, Rangers, homered and drove in four runs and Texas won its fourth in a row, beating Tampa Bay 12-4.
-Micah Owings, Reds, homered and pitched into the seventh inning to help Cincinnati beat the Cardinals 5-2.
-Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, hit his third home run of the season and had four RBIs, and Los Angeles used a late rally to beat Baltimore 11-4.
-Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins, had four hits and scored twice for Florida in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh.
BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS
Manny Ramirez hit his first home run since returning from a 50-game drug suspension. Ramirez homered in his second game and fifth plate appearance back. It was his seventh homer of the season and 534th of his career, tying Jimmie Foxx for 16th on the all-time list. Up next is Mickey Mantle with 536. The Dodgers lost to the Padres 7-4.
MILESTONE
Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer allowed one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings to win his third straight start and lead the Phillies to a 4-1 victory over the Mets. With the win, the 46-year-old Moyer tied Carl Hubbell for 42nd on the all-time list with his 253rd career win. ... Adam Dunn hit his 300th career homer in the Nationals' 5-3 victory over the Braves. The 29-year-old is the fifth player in major league history to reach that total in less than 4,200 at-bats, succeeding in his 4,145th at-bat. The others are Babe Ruth (3,830), Mark McGwire (3,837), Ralph Kiner (3,883) and Harmon Killebrew (3,928).
SIDELINED
Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang left Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a strained right shoulder, putting his next start in jeopardy. Wang allowed four runs and six hits before he was replaced in the sixth inning. ... The Blue Jays have placed right-hander Scott Richmond on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder. Richmond is 6-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 16 games, 13 starts, this season. He has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts, going 1-1 and allowing just five runs.
SHELLED
The Cubs' Rich Harden allowed seven runs and eight hits over two-plus innings in the shortest start of his career, an 11-2 loss to the Brewers.
SERIES LOSS
The Red Sox had their seven-series winning streak snapped when they dropped their second straight to the Mariners, 3-2 Saturday. It was just Boston's third series loss in their last 12 in Fenway Park.
THROW THE GOOGLY
Two former aspiring cricket players who won a reality show in India have made their professional baseball debuts. Left-hander Rinku Singh and right-hander Dinesh Patel, neither of whom had heard of baseball before appearing on "The Million Dollar Arm,'' each got a strikeout for the Pittsburgh Pirates' Rookie-level minor league team. Singh, who came in first on the show, allowed one run and two hits in one inning of work. Patel, who was second, threw a scoreless inning.
SPEAKING
"It's one thing to me to have the game taken away from you before it should be but when you start talking about taking your life before it should, the way he handled it was incredible.'' - Yankees manager Joe Girardi on the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's luckiest man speech. Major League Baseball honored the anniversary in an effort to raise awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - the disease that forced Gehrig out of baseball in 1939 and took his life two years later.
"That 300th home run would have been hard to talk about. It would have been a useless home run if we hadn't won the game.'' - Washington's Adam Dunn on his milestone homer after the Nationals' rallied for a 5-3 victory. Dunn hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth.