White Sox (5) – Royals (2)
Adam Dunn’s homer along with those contributed by Alexei Ramirez, Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers helped Jake Peavy cruise to his first win of the season as the Kansas City Royals 5-2. I’m pretty sure that Dunn is anticipating a better batting average this season to go along with all the home runs he hits going 2-3 in the game. In 2012, Dunn hit 41 homers with a .202 BA. The Royals managed runs in the third and sixth against Peavy. Peavy left the game after six innings, allowing just four hits and striking out six. Chicago then ran out five closers to finish off the game. Addison Reed came in for the ninth to lock down his second save of the season. Royals starter Ervin Santana struck out eight over six frames, however three home runs in the second (Dunn), third (Flowers) and fourth (Viciedo). Tyler’s homer was his second this season in as many games.
Texas (4) – Astros (0)
This time there was no perfect game heading into the ninth, but the Texas Rangers got another effective start from their starting rotation as Alexi Ogando took the mound in the final game of this series against the Houston Astros Phil Humber, who was solid through his five innings but ran into trouble against the Rangers line up in the fifth inning. He left the game after allowing a run (Lance Berkman) to score on a double play with the bases loaded. Wesley Wright came in relief of Humber and prevented any further damage. Ogando cruised through six frames, striking out ten batters and allowing four hits. The Rangers offense would get to Hector Ambriz, as Berkman, Nelson Cruz and A.J. Pierzynski contributed RBIs. After winning the first game of the series, the Astros have not scored in 18 innings.
Twins (3) – Tigers (2)
Phil Coke’s short stint as the Detroit Tigers closer probably game to an end after just two games. The Tigers held a slim 2-1 lead over the Minnesota Twins and managed to get just one out in the ninth inning before giving up a two run double to pinch hitter Eduardo Escobar that scored pinch runner Jamey Carroll and Brian Dozier. The Twins offense was terrible, with just three players from the starting lineup registering a hit. The team has a total of five. Anibal Sanchez tossed five solid innings allowing two hits and striking out five. He did issue three walks to the Twins. The Tigers bullpen then fell apart, as Darin Downs, Joaquin Benoit and Coke all gave up runs leading to a 3-2 win for the hometown Twins. The Tigers managed to get seven hits against Kevin Correia but couldn’t solve the Royals bullpen as Jared Burton worked a perfect eighth and Glen Perkins came into earn the save. Pretty sure Jim Leyland was looking over at the other side with a bit of envy after seeing what his bullpen implode.
Indians (3) – Blue Jays (2): 11 Innings
Brandon Morrow had a good start…not a great start, just a good start. Morrow worked through six frames with eight strikeouts and scattering six hits. He working himself out of trouble often by striking out Cleveland batters. The Indian batters had their opportunities against Morrow and the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen but couldn’t execute as they left nine men on base. Cleveland scored first on an RBI single by Michael Brantley in the third inning. The Toronto offense would continue to struggle against Cleveland starters.. Ubaldo Jimenez tossed a solid game going six innings with six strikeouts and allowing just one hit, including a home run by Maicer Izturis in the bottom of the third. Cleveland would take the lead in the eighth when Brantley scored on an errant throw by Izturis to first. Jose Bautista would hit his first homer of Indians closer Chris Perez to send the game into extra innings. The teams would remain knoted at two until Mark Reynolds took a Sergio Santos offering deep to give the Indians a 3-2 win. Joe Smith would earn the save in extra innings.
Nationals (3) – Marlins (0)
Miami Marlins starter Kevin Slowey had a difficult task facing the Washington Nationals lineup. The Nationals tagged Slowey for four hits and took three walks, but only managed to score once on the Marlins starter. Gio Gonzalez made like Clayton Kershaw and homered to give himself a lead. Gonzalez would pitch six brilliant innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five batters. The Nationals added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Rafael Soriano would close out a great outting by the Nationals bullpen to earn his second save of the season. Bryce Harper was 2-4 witha run scored.
Mets (8) – Padres (4)
Last season Matt Harvey impressed many people. His ten game appearence last year seems to have been a teaser for 2013. In 2012, Harvey pitched 59.1 innings and struck out 70 batters. In his first start of 2013 against the San Diago Padres, Harvey struck out ten batters over seven innings. He allowed just one hit and two walks. His counterpart Clayton Richard wasn’t as lucky as the Mets lineup tatooed him for eight runs, seven hits and two walks. They also decided to play long ball with Richard’s offerings. Lucas Duda, John Buck and Ike Davis all crushed home runs off Richards. Buck finished the game 2-3, with three RBIs, a home run and a run scored. Andrew Cashner and Luke Gregerson would come in to settle the Mets bats down in the final innings of the game. San Diago hitters couldn’t touch Harvey, but managed to get to Greg Burke and 40 year old reliever LaTroy Hawkins for four runs to avoid a shutout. It was too little to late for the Padres offense as they lost 8-4.
Pirates (3) – Chicago (0)
The Pittsburg Pirates sent Wandy Rodriguez up to face the Chicago Cubs Edwin Jackson. Both provides solid starts for their respective teams. The Pirates would solve Jackson for two runs in the fourth inning when Andrew McCutchen doubled to score Garrett Jones. McCutchen would later score on a throwing error by Starlin Castro to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead. The Pirates would add an insurance run in the seventh off Cubs reliever Michael Bowden. McCutchen was 1-4, with a walk and stolen base, run and RBI. Jason Grilli would earn the save for the Pirates as they shut out the Cubs offense limiting them to just two hits.
Braves (9) – Phillies (2)
The Atlanta Braves offense exploded on the Philladelphia Phillies who sent Roy Halladay to the mound against a very talented Braves lineup. Halladay lasted just 3.1 innings and was rocked in his first start of the season. He struck out nine batters, but was tagged for six hits, for five earned runs and issued two walks. Justin Upton started the offense with a first inning home run off Hallada that also scored Jason Heyward. Freddy Freeman would also score in the first to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. Halladay seemed to settle down after that striking out five of six batters over the next two innings. He ran into trouble again in the fourth. Evan Gattis would lead off the inning with a solo home run. He would walk Andrelton Simmons. Halladay was relieved by Raul Valdes, who would walk both Heyward and J.Upton. Freeman would double to empty the bases. The Phillies would score two runs in the seventh on a two run double by Chase Utley. Heyward would reclaim those two runs in the ninth inning by hitting a two run home run against Jonathan Papelbon.
Red Sox (7) – Yankees (4)
If the Yankees weren’t concerned before the season started, they might be starting to feel it now. First C.C. Sabathia seems hittable and has lost velocity on his fastball. Now one of their most reliable starters in 2012, Hiroki Kuroda get shelled by the Boston Red Sox, lasting just 1.1 innings. Kuroda hurt his finger early in the first inning and left the game with a contusion to his middle finger. Before he left, Kuroda would allow two runs, on four hits and a walk. Yankees reliever Cody Eppley would inherit an ugly situation, but he would fair no better over his 1.1 innings of work. Eppley was tagged for four earned runs, on four hits. All of the Boston hitters except Will Middlebrooks would register a hit. Five would register multiple hits. With another injury to their roster, the Yankees are not off to a great start in a very competitive American League East.
Reds (5) – Angels (4)
The Cincinnati Reds pulled out a win in the bottom of the ninth after the Los Angeles Angels came back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth inning. Matt Latos was nasty through four innings, until Howie Kendrick homered off him to start the fifth inning. The Reds had taken the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Brendan Phillips hit a three run home run, scoring Chris Heisey and Joey Votto. In the seventh, Alberto Callaspo would hit a two run home run cutting the lead to one. Jonathan Broxton came into the game in the eigth in the setup role. A fielding error would result in allowing the Angels to tie the game when Erik Aybar scored. Aroldis Chapman would come into the game in the ninth to maintain the tie and eventually earn the win. In the bottom of the ninth, Scott Downs would hit Soo Shin Choo. Choo would move to second on a sacrific and score on a single by Votto to give the Reds the victory.
Rays (8) – Orioles (7)
The Baltimore Orioles jumped out to an early lead against Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson got off to a good start with a strikeout and flyout. Singles by Nick Markakis and Adam Jones brought Chris Davis to the plate. Davis would hit a three run home run, which would be the only runs of the game until the sixth inning. Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen was solid. He allowed seven hits over 5.2 innings with the real damage coming from Shelley Duncan’s three run blast in the bottom of the sixth. Baltimore had scored an additional run in the top of the sixth (Manny Machado) and scored another in the seventh (Nate McLouth) to give them a two run lead. Tampa Bay would erase that with a three run seventh. After a bunt single, Matt Joyce would score on a wild pitch by Orioles reliever Pedro Strop after moving to third on a single by Kelly Johnson. James Loney would score Johnson with a double, and later score on a single by Ben Zobrist. Baltimore would respond a run in the eighth after Davis scored on a Matt Wieters single and tie the game at seven in the ninth on a Brian Roberts double against Rays closer Fernando Rodney. Joyce would play the hero for the Rays in the bottom of the ninth when he homered off Tommy Hunter to end the game.
Rockies (7) – Brewers (3)
The Colorado Rockies sent Juan Nicasio to the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers’ Wily Peralta. Peralta was touched up for two runs in the 2nd inning, giving up a two run home run to Wilin Rosario. The Brewers responded in the bottom of the third. Rickie Weeks hit a two out home run to cut the lead to one. Ryan Braun would single and advance to third on a double by Aramis Ramirez. Braun would score on a single by Alex Gonzalez. Ramirez would be called out at home to end the inning in a tie. The Rockie would take the lead for the rest of the game in the fifth inning, with RBIs going to Rob Brignac and Eric Young. Braun would cut the lead to one again in the seventh inning with a RBI double, but a three run ninth via a two run home run from Michael Cuddyer and a solo homer from Dexter Fowler put the game out of reach for the Brewers. Nicasio would register his first win of the season with a six inning effort.
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