In the world of baseball.
On April 15th, the Colorado Rookies were 15.5 games behind the L.A. Dodgers in the N.L. West. After last night, the Rookies are now only 2 games behind the Dodgers with two more to play in this mid week three game series. The Rookies needed a bases loaded RBI single to defeat the Dodgers 5-4 in 10 innings. After not giving up a homerun in his last 15 games, Clay Kershaw game up a homerun, allowing the Rookies to come back from a 2-0 deficit to take the lead 4-2 heading into the ninth inning. With the score 4-3, Manny Ramirez came up to the plate, with the trying run on third. With the count 0-2 with two outs. Manny hit an RBI singleto tie the game. The Rookies haven’t had back to back walk off vicotries since June 2002. The Rookies are now 18 games above .500 for the first time in franchise history.
The Rangers, looking to gain some ground on wild card leader Red Sox, headed into New York to take on Joba Chamberlain and the Yankees. This one wasn’t close to start, with Joba giving up 7 earned runs, all with two outs, in only 4 innings of work. With the score 10-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees looked to give this game one last go. With the bases loaded, the Yankees tallied three straight hits to cut the lead to 10-9 with no outs. After a bunt attempt by Nick Swisher was caught, the Yankees grounded into a game ending double play. The Ranger beat the Rays and Yankees in back to back games for the first time all year.
With the Rangers winning, the Red Sox had to do the same in order to keep their 1.5 games lead in the wild card race. The White Sox got a solid effort from Freddy Garcia. In only his second game of the season, Garcia pitched 6.1 innings giving up 5 hits and 3 earned runs. Boston’s ace out up similar numbers, giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs in 6.2 innings. This was a pitchers duel that looked like it would be decided late. In the bottom of the 7th, Victor Martinez hit a game tying RBI single to make the score 3-3. Jason Bay game the Red Sox the lead for good with a solo shot in the bottom of the 8th. Boston would tack on two more, giving them the 6-3 lead over the White Sox. Chicago, losers of three straight, is 4.5 games behind the Tigers and are now tied with the Minnesota Twins for second place in the A.L. Central.
The Rays got 2 monster homeruns from Carlos Pena, to go along with four RBI’s, and Tampa Bay defeat the Blue Jays 7-3. Pena hit his league leading 36th and 37th homeruns, giving him 2 more homeruns then he has singles on the year. The blue Jays havent looked like a team wanting to finish the season, losing 8 of their last 10, including 2 in a row. With wins from the Red Sox and the Rangers, the Rays stayed 3 games behind Boston and 1.5 games behind the Rangers for the last playoff spot in the A.L.
The Giants looked to rebound after a disappointing road trip to Colorado, but had to do so against D’backs ace Dan Harden. Harden went 7 strong inngins, giving up 6 hits and 2 earned runs, while striking out 6. Hardens counterpart, Matt Cain, went 7 innings as well, only giving up 4 hits and one earned run while striking out 4. With the score 2-2 in the 8th, Ishikawa sent a 3 run shot into the stands to give the Giants a 5-2 lead heading into the 9th. Arizona tried to fight back, adding 2 in the 9th, but couldn’t get the tying run across the plate. The Giants got the victory 5-4 and remain 4 games behind the Rookies for the wild card lead.
The Padres took on the Braves in a game with very little playoff implications. Adrian Gonzales hit his 34th homerun only to see dependable closer Heath Bell blow his third save of the year, allowing the Braves to tie the game in the ninth. With the bases loaded in the 10th inning, Garrett Anderson struck out, leaving everyone stranded. David Eckstein doubled in the go ahead run and the Padres defeated the Braves 2-1. The Braves are now 5.5 games behind the Rookies for the wild card lead.
The phillies got 2 homeruns from Jimmy Rollins and scored 2 runs in the top of the ninth, but even that wasn’t enough for Brad Lidge. Lidge, who was perect last year, saving 41 games in 41 tries, blew his 8th save of the year and the Phillies fell to the Pirates 6-4. McCutchen drove a two run shot over the fences. With the Dodgers loss, the Phillies remain a half a game behind them for best record in the N.L.
The Brewers scored five runs in the ninth, only to watch J. Votto and L Nix blast solo homeruns in the 13th inning to give the Reds an 8-6 victory. L. Nix got his first 2 homerun game of his career.
The Nationals roughed up the hapless Cubs 15-6. Chicago, already out of playoff contention, allowed 2+ runs in 4 different innings, including 6 runs in the 5th. Zambrano (7-5) homered for the fourth time this year.
The Twins remined in the A.L. hunt with a walk off victory over the Baltimore Orioles 7-6. D. Young hit an RBI single in the ninth to seal the deal.
Zach Greinke struck out 15 Indians, both a career high and a franchise record, and Kansas City took care of the Indians 6-2 in K.C. Greinke (12-8) pitched 8 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 earned runs.
A pitching duel was decided in the first inning, by who other than Prince Albert. Pujols hit an RBI double in the first inning as Wainwright and Rodriguez each gave up three hits, with the one run being the only difference.
Jarrod Washburn beat familiar foe John Lackey and the Anaheim Angels 5-3 on Tuesday. Washburn (9-7) pitched 6 innings, giving up 8 hits and 3 earned runs. Miguel Cabrera homered for the second straight game. Curtis Granderson added a solo shot in the fifth. Lackey (7-6) gave up 11 hits and five earned runs. Howie Kendricks hit his 8th homerun of the year, a 3-run shot in the 2nd.
The Mariners needed a 2-run homerun from R. Langerhans to put away the Athletics in extra innings. An Error by Adam Kennedy tied the game in the 8th, eventaully sending this game into extra innings.
M.L.B. Gamessssssssss of the day (yesterdays record 8-6)
Indians over the Roaysl
Tigers over the Angels
Phillies over the Pirates
Yankees over the Rangers
Rays over the Blue Jays
Braves over the Padres
Red Sox over the White Sox
Marlins over the Mets
Giants over the D’backs
Mariners over the Athletics
Dodgers over the Rookies
Cardinals over the Astros
Twins over Baltimore
Brewers over the Reds
Cubs over the Nationals
In the world of basketball..
Amare could be leaving sooner then we think. In an interview yesterday, the media reports that Amare Stoudamire was hinting that he could be leaving the Suns this off season.
The Atlanta Hawks added Joe Smith to beef up their small front count.
In the world of futbol
Arsenal, Stuttgart and Florentina are all in action today as the UEFA Champions league (play-off round) continues.
Yesterdays Carling cup winners included Burnley, Portsmouth, West Ham United and Blackburn. The surprise lost of the day came from middlesbrough.
In other news…….
The Dallas Cowboys said they will not try to move their 180 foot jumbo screen that sits at the top of Cowboys Stadium. The screen, which cost 40 million dollars to build, goes from 20 yard line to 20 yard line, would cost an estimated 2 million dollars to move a couple feet. The screen is not in violatino of any codes, so Jerry Jones will be reluctant to move it.
The New York Mets season seems to get worse and worse as the days go by. On Tuesday, the Mets shout down Johan Santana for the year, telling the media he will need elbow surgery. This is the fifth met from their opening day roster the has been lost for the season.
Michael Vick’s return to the field is only one day away as the Eagles take on the Jaguars. The first team is expected to play the whole first half and some of the second. Once the starters start hitting the bench, Vick will make his long awaited debut in an Eagles uniform.
The New York Jets have reportedly names Mark Sanchez the starting quarterback for opening day. Mark, the fifth overall pick, has been both impressive and shakey at times, but Rex Ryan saw enough to make him the face of the New York Jets.
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