Giants take 2 from Reds

sept 16:  Giants 9 Reds 5

Aubrey Huff went 4 for 5, 2 doubles, triple and home run to lead Giants to easy win for Matt Cain. In the 8th needing only a single to hit for the cycle, Huff was over excited and ran to 2nd for his double instead of stopping at first. When asked after the game why he did not stop at first to get the cycle, Huff simply answered that he was more interested in extra base hits rather than getting the cycle. Andres Torres hit single, triple and homer while Buster Posey and Pat Burrell also homered. Jay Bruce homered for the Reds.

sept 17:  Reds 7 Giants 4 

Reds exploded for 4 runs in the 6th to overtake the Giants. Navarro's pinch hit 2 run single was the big hit. Brandon Phillips had 4 hits for the Reds (2 singles and 2 doubles) while Jay Bruce hit a 2 run homer for the Reds first 2 runs. Giants got solo homers from Torres, Pablo Sandoval, and Juan Uribe.  Leake went 6 innings for the win. Baumgarner went the first 5 innings and left with a 1 run lead but the Giants bullpen imploded allowing 5 run over the next 3 innings.

sept 18:  Giants 5 Reds 0

Barry Zito threw 7 shutout innings, scattering 6 hits and striking out 7 while walking but 2.  Zito even drove in Giants first run when he singled with 2 outs in the 2nd after Uribe had been walked intentionally. Uribe later drove in 2 insurance runs with a double in the Giants 3 run 8th.  Freddy Sanchez had a pair of rbi singles as well as a double. Phillips continued his hot hitting for the Reds with a pair of singles.

Dodgers win 2 from Reds

sept 13: Dodgers 11 Reds 1

Dodgers won this first game rather easily as they scored 7 runs in the 7th inning as Juan Uribe hit a grand slam homer and 2 batters later Van Slyke hit a 2 run homer. Earlier in the game, both Ludwick and Ethier had hit solo homers.  Nolasco pitched 7 innings allowing 1 run and only 4 hits.

sept 14:  Reds 2 Dodgers 0

Cueto and Kershaw engaged in scoreless pitching duel that was not resolved until the 9th inning. Stubbs lead off the 9th and was safe on Michael Young's error. Todd Frazier follwed with a long homerun. Cueto pitched 7 innings allowing 4 hits. Sean Marshall pitched 1-2-3 8th and A. Chapman continued his streak of successful saves striking out 2 in the 9th.

sept 15:  Dodgers 7 Reds 5 (16 innings)

Juan Uribe hit a 2 run homer in the 16th to finally end this marathon event. With the score tied at 3 after 8, Michael Young singled with 2 outs off A Chapman to give the Dodgers the lead. The Reds had had 2 pitchers warming but when the Reds manager walked out to the mound to confer with Chapman he saw that his bullpen was bare and Chapman had to continue pitching. In the bottom of the 9th all chance of relieving Grienke was lost when Dodger pitchers also disappeared and Heisey singled in tying run. Dodgers took lead in the 15th on Crawford's rbi single. Reds tied the game in their half of the inning as Phillips singled with 2outs and kept running around the bases to score the tying run. Withrow got the save as both teams staggered off the field - dazed and confused.

Braves Whallup Padres

Game 1, Petco Park,

Atlanta crushed 4 homeruns as they battered Padre pitchers. Mat Latos was the starter but coughed up six runs in 5.2 innings.  The Big Cat Galarraga drove in 4 runs, a couple coming on his 4th dinger of the year.  Chipper Jones, Andrew Jones, and Brian Jordan also went deep in support of John Burkett's first win of the season.  Braves 9....Padres 3.

Game 2,

Greg Maddux was the story in game two as he went the distance to shut out the Padres in the second game of the series.  Maddux moves to 3-5 with a masterful performance.  Maddux surrendered a measly 4 hits and struck out 8 Padre swingers.  Javy Lopez hit a homerun and drove in three Braves to lead the offense.  The loss was hung on Kevin Correia (1-3).   Braves 5...Padres 0.

Game 3, Turner Field,

Kevin Millwood was overpowering as he struck out 11 batters through eight innings. Millwood improves his record to 4-3 with his strong performance.  Wade Leblanc gave up 3 runs and was lifted after only two innings pitched. Tim Stauffer came into the game in relief and was awesome as he tossed five innings of no run ball.  Adrian Gonzalez was another bright spot for the Padres with 2 RBI on a double and homerun. However, that was not enough to overcome Millwood's brilliant pitching performance.  Former Padres' Quilvero Veras and Reggie Sanders hit homeruns in the win. Braves 3....Padres 2.

Mariners Dunk White Sox Twice

Sept. 9 at Chicago – John Olerud banged out 3 hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in 3 runs to lead the Mariners to an easy 9-2 win. Randy Winn and Jose Guillen also had 3 hits apiece to help Jamie Moyer (5-0) remain undefeated.

Sept.  10 at Chicago – Paul Konerko’s single in the B9 plated Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee to give Chicago a 5-4 walk-off win. Konerko (1) also hit a solo shot in the 2^nd inning. Chicago had to battle back from a 3-run deficit after Edgar Martinez (5) bombed one with 2 aboard in the 1^st.

Sept. 11 at Seattle – Mike Cameron doubled with two outs in the B9 to score Bret Boone for a 2-1 Mariners walk-off win. Ichiro Suzuki (1) had homered in the 4^th. Rafael Soriano (2-0) was the winner in relief. Keith Foulke (0-2) took the loss. 

Mets take 2 from Reds

Mets scored 31 runs but still won only 2 games.

Sept 9:  Reds 5 Mets 3 

Johnny Cueto gave up 2 runs early and then settled in to pitch 6 innings to earn the win. Ryan Ludwick hit a 2 run homer to tie the game in the 4th and 2 innings later Todd Frazier hit 2 run homer to give Reds the lead. Joey Votto doubled in an insurance run in the 7th and the Reds bullpen held the Mets scoreless. Aroldis Chapman earned save although he walked the first 2 batters and gave up sacrifice bunt to advance them. bearing down, he got Reyes to popout to the catcher and then Carlos Beltran hit line drive out to end the game.

Sept 10:  Mets 13 Reds 0

It was all Mets who scored at least 1 run in the first 4 innings and built up a 8-0 lead. Mets only had 12 hits but received 8 walks from wild Reds pitchers and also had 1 batter plunked. David Wright had single, double and rbi while Jose Valentin had a 3 run double and Beltran hit solo homer. John Maine pitched 6 scoreless innings allowing only 1 single and Brian Bannister finished the game allowing just 2 more singles.

Sept 11: Mets 18 Reds 0

Another rout as Mets again had 8-0 lead after 4 and Tom Glavine on cruise control for an easy win. David Wright hit single, triple, 2 home runs driving in 6 runs and Endy Chavez and Shawn Green also homered. For good measure, Mets scored 8 runs in the 9th inning hitting 5 doubles and a triple as the Reds manager closed his eyes and let pitcher Pedro Villarreal take the punishment.

Fighting Phils drop two to San Diego

Game 1,
Petco Park,

Catcher Nick Hundley connected for his third homerun of the year to help lead the Friars over the Phillies in the first game of a double header.  Mat Latos was very strong on the hill as he pitched 7 solid innings to notch the victory. Latos evens his record at 2-2. Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his fourth save.  Padres 2....Phillies 1.

Game 2, (second game of DH)
Petco Park,

Tim Stauffer got the spot start and looked marvelous for San Diego today. Stauffer's seven innings of one run ball was enough to even his record at 2-0.  Chase Headley crushed a homerun in the win and drove in 3 runs. Adrian Gonzalez banged out 3 hits. Heath Bell got another save to give him two in one day. The loss was tagged to Cole Hammels 0-2. Padres 4...Phillies 2.

Game 3,
Citizens Bank Park,

The final game was salavaged by the Phillies to avoid the sweep. The contest was another close, tight, pitcher's duel but the Phillies pulled it out in the bottom of ninth with a game winning hit from Raul Ibanez to plate Chase Utley. Reliever Ryan Webb got hung with the loss as the win went to Ryan Madsen. Phillies 2..Padres 1.

A's Bats Go to Sleep; ChiSox win 2 of 3

Sept. 6 (Game 1) at Oakland – Miguel Tejada homered as one of his 3 hits and drove in 7 runs to power Oakland to a 10-6 win in the lid-lifter of the season’s lone double header. Every hitter in the A’s lineup had at least 1 hit except Carlos Pena. David Justice also had 3 knocks including a triple and home run. Barry Zito (3-2) tossed 7 2/3 for the W.  Kip Wells (0-1) started and lost for the White Sox. ChiSox mound men surrendered 9 free passes for the game.

Sept.  6 (Game 2) at Oakland – Pitching was as stingy in the nigthcap as it was liberal in the opener. Tony Graffanino’s 2-run single in the T4 gave the Pale Hose the only runs they needed, erasing the Athletics 1-0 lead after a Greg Myer’s solo blast in the 3^rd.  Sox win 2-1. Jon Garland (1-0) started for Chicago and went 5 1/3. A parade of Kelly Wunsch, Aaron Myette, Lorenzo Barcelo and Keith Foulke (9) followed and allowed just two more hits. Tim Hudson (2-3) was solid, but failed to get the bat support.  

Sept. 7 at Chicago – A quick flight to the Windy City for a single game the next day found the White Sox ready to go and the Athletics still a bit jet-lagged. The ChiSox struck with 3 in the 1^st . A walk to Ray Durham and consecutive singles by Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez and Paul Konerko plated a couple of runs. One out later, Graffanino singled in another. Meanwhile Cal Eldred (2-2) extended the A’s scoreless string to 12 innings with 1-hit, shutout ball in 6 IP. The home club put another crooked number on the board in the 5^th. Konerko and Craig Wilson (3 hits) each had 2-run singles to extend the lead to 7-0. All Sox hits were 1-baggers in this one. Oakland put up single runs in each of the final 3 innings, including Pena’s solo blast.  

I Film Myself Catching Andrew McCutchen's 16th Career Home Run

Pittsburgh vs LA - 

Game 1: A close game goes in to the 10th inning
where Andrew McCutcheon blasts a Paco Rodriguez pitch 408 feet to right
and leading the Pirates to a 5-2 win in 10.

Game 2:
Chris Capuano gave up 3 runs in the top of the first and looked like the
Pirates were going to run away with it. However, with 1 in the first, 2
in the second, and another in 4th, the Dodgers bounced back to take a
4-3 lead. Slugger Michael McKenry of the .217 batting average went 403
feet to left center, pushing the Pirates ahead 5-4. The Dodgers could
only manage 3 hits in the final four innings, and the Pirates won 6-4.

Game
3: Clayton Kershaw is great. Perfect through 6 1/3, Kershaw only gave
up 2 hits and the Dodgers cruised to a 2-0 victory as they put together 4
hits in the second inning.

Dodgers are now 12-12 and next play Houston.

The Pirates soar to a 19-5 start and next face the Giants.

--submitted by Keith MacDonald-- 

Nats take 1st series since week 2 by taking 2 of 3 from Dbacks

9/6 - Game 1 (DH)
Bank on Ballpark
Strasburg (0-4) vs Batista (2-2)
Dbacks 10, Nats 3

Washington continued it's losing ways as phenom Stephen Strasburg dropped his 4th decision by giving up 7 runs (6 earned) on 10 hits in 6 innings.  Bad, I mean Brad Lidge poured more kerosene on the fire in relief allowing 3 runs in his one forgettable inning of work.  Arizona got a huge 4 for 4 performance from Craig Counsell, who knocked in 3.  Ryan Zimmerman had 3 hits, including his 7th homer of the season.

9/6 - Game 2 (DH)
Detwiler vs Witt
Nats 3, Dbacks 0

Ross Detwiler threw 2 hit / shutout ball for 7 1/3 innings before giving way to the pen.  Stammen got the final two outs in the 8th and Tyler Clippard earned his 5th save with a scoreless 9th to preserve the group shutout.  Both teams combined for a measly 9 hits with none being bigger than the 2 run shot that Ian Desmond hit in the top of the 7th.

9/7 - Nationals Park
Reynoso vs E.Jackson
Nats 6, Dbacks 3 


 Jason Werth (3-4) and Ryan Zimmerman (2-3) combined to score 4 of the 6 runs that the Nats would post on the board today.  Zim and rookie phenom Bryce Harper each knocked in 3.  Harper did his with one swing of the bat, while Zim hit a pair of long balls (he had 3 in the series).  Washington had to mix and match 5 relievers over the final 4 innings culminating in a 6 pitch strikeout by Tyler Clippard to get the save with the tying run at the plate.

Reds Scalp Braves

Sept 6 (1st game):  Reds 7 Braves 0

Homer Bailey was terrific pitching 7 shutout innings, allowing but 3 singles, striking out 3 and walking 2. reds broke a scoreless tie in the 4th, scoring 3 runs. Brandon Phillips doubled in the first run and after a single and walk loaded the bases, Hanigan singled in a run and Bailey drove in another on sacrifice fly. Reds scored 4 insurance runs in the 7th as Phillips hit a 2 run homer and Jay Bruce followed with a long homer to right. After Chris Heisey tripled, Scott Rolen completed the scoring with rbi single. Simon finished the game with 2 scoreless innings.

Sept 6 (2nd game):  Reds 2 Braves 1

Devin Mesoraco's rbi double in the bottom of the 6th inning proved to be the deciding run. It was Devin's 3rd hit of the game. Mike Leake, starting with only 3 days rest, managed to pitch 5 scoreless innings and left in the 6th after giving up leadoff double to Chipper Jones (he had 3 hits.) Andruw Jones then followed with rbi single to tie the game at 1.  After that single, Lecure retired the next 6 batters. Sean Marshall pitched the 8th avoiding trouble as he gave up a single and hit a batter. Aroldi Chapman came on in the 9th to retire all 3 hitters he faced.  Todd Frazier's single in the first inning had given the Reds the early lead. Tom Glavine was the hard luck loser for the Braves.

Sept 7:  Reds 7 Braves 0

The game started as the first 5 batters who faced Braves pitcher John Burkett reached base and all scored. Joey Votto had rbi double and Brandon Phillips hit rbi single. When Mulholland replaced Burkett, Dioner Navarro greeted him with a 2 run double and starter Bronson Arroyo knocked in the 6th run of the inning with ground out. When Brandon Phillips hit solo homer in the 2nd inning, the scoring in the game was over. Arroyo pitched 7 scoreless innings allowing 5 hits. JJ Hoover finished the game retiring all 6 batters he faced. For the series, the Braves were held to a single run.

Friars upset reeling 'Stros

Game 1,

Houston,

Padres catcher Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer in the 9th to break a 4-4 tie.  Houston added a run the bottom of the 9th but Heath Bell held on to earn his 3rd save.  Padres 6...Astros 5.

Game 2,

Houston,

San Diego hit three homeruns to power past the Astros.  Adrian Gonzalez #6, Everth Cabrera #2, and Ryan Ludwick #2 all went deep in the Padre victory.  Jon Garland was mediocre today but improved to 3-2.  The loss went to Shane Reynolds, who falls to 0-4. Padres 10...Astros 4.

Game 3,

San Diego,

Houston salvaged the last game of the series as they got to Padre starter Clayton Richard early and touched him up for six runs in only 3 innings. Richard sinks to 2-3 as the win went to Wade Miller (3-1) as he pitched six innings scattering 8 hits and only one run. Hitting star for Houston was Richard Hidalgo as he had 2 hits good enough for 3 RBI. Astros 9...Padres 2.

--submitted by Joey Scigliano--

Reds Get First Series Win

Sept 2:  Reds 4 Nationals 2

Reds took opening game 4-2 behind the pitching of Bronson Arroyo and the hitting of Drew Stubbs. Stubbs singled in the Reds first run in the 3rd and doubled in the next 2 runs in the Reds 3 run 5th inning. Cozart doubled in Stubbs for the Reds final run. Arroyo pitched 7 innings allowing a run in the first inning on Bryce Harper's sac fly and another run in the 7th on Adam LaRoche's double. Marshall came on to pitch a scoreless 8th and Aroldi Chapman struck out 2 in the 9th for the save.

Sept 3:  Reds 7 Nationals 4 

Johnny Cueto survived a shaky first inning and even though he walked 5 and hit 1, he was able to complete 6 innings and had off a 7-4 lead to his bullpen.  The first 4 batters Cueto faced in the first inning reached base but then a double play and pop out stopped the Nats cold. The Reds scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning on 4 singles, 2 doubles and an error by National right fielder Mike Morse. In the 5th Morse made another error as the Reds scored 3 more times. Brandon Phillips lead the Reds 13 hit attack with 3 hits while Zack Cozart, Tood Frazier and Ryan Hanigan each had 2.  Jonathan Broxton pitched 2 perfect innings for his first save of the year. Bryce Harper hit 2 run homer for the Nationals.

Sept 4:  Nationals 9 Reds 1

National bats beat frustration away hitting 4 home runs as Nationals routed the Reds to salvage the final game. The Nationals started quickly with the first 4 batters producing 4 runs as Werth doubled in 2 followed by Adam LaRoche's 2 run homer. Werth also had a later rbi single. Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and Mike Morse all hit solo homers later in the game. Mike Gonzalez went the distance allowing only 1 run on 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking only 2. mat Latos had another disappointing start and Brandon Phillips was the only offensive spark with a single and a rbi double.

Pale Hose Sweep Tribe with Near Whitewash

Aug. 29 at Cleveland – Jim Parque (3-0) remained perfect on the season with a 3-hit shutout over 8 innings. Keith Foulke (7) fanned 2 in a perfect 9^th for the save. Chicago blanked the Tribe 3-0, tallying all runs in the 6^th inning. Ray Durham hit a 1-out double of the wall. Carlos Lee plated him with a base hit. Frank Thomas doubled in Lee. A Magglio Ordonez groundout sent The Big Hurt to 3^rd, where Paul Konerko singled him in. Jhonny Peralta had 2 of the 3 Indians knocks.

Aug. 30 at Cleveland – ChiSox pitching was again the story as Mike Sirotka (3-2), Bobby Howry and Kelly Wunsch whitewashed Cleveland for 8 more innings. Meanwhile the Sox built a 3-0 margin with Ordonez (7) swatting a solo homer in the 4^th and Konerko and Jose Valentin driving in a pair of runs in the 7^th. Aaron Boone (3) finally ended the Tribe’s 17-inning scoring drought with a 2-run blast with 2 outs in the 9^th. Foulke (8) gave up the tater, but recorded the 27^th out for the save. White Sox win 3-2.

Aug. 31 at Cleveland – Neither club could find home plate in this one until the 11^th inning. Finally, Pale Hose catcher Charles Johnson broke through with a lead-off solo shot against Cleveland’s Jason Davis (0-1). Lee had a run-scoring single later in the frame and the White Sox garnered the sweep with a 2-0 victory. CC Sabathia started for the Tribe and was magnificent through 8 innings. Bob Wickman was equally strong in the 9^th and 10^th. Chicago meanwhile pieced together 7 hurlers in a tired pen. Cal Eldred (6.2 IP, 0 R, 4 H) started. Mark Buerhrle (1-0), the sixth pitcher, was awarded the W. Lorenzo Barcelo (1) fanned Victor Martinez for the final out.