Game Recap

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Mets manager Jerry Manuel made some curious decisions concerning the lineup for this game and it came back to hurt the offense. With Jose Reyes still out of the lineup due to back problems, Manuel decided to give Jason Bay a night off, and he also sat Angel Pagan out, although it turned out he was available to start.

Alex Rodriguez's eighth-inning two-run homer off Mariners closer David Aardsma helped the Yankees salvage the finale of a three-game series and avoid a possibly crushing defeat thanks to Jorge Posada.

The catcher, who is one of the worst defensive backstops in the American League, was charged with a passed ball in the top of the eighth when he whiffed on CC Sabathia's 2-1 offering to Russell Branyan.

The blunder allowed Josh Bard to move to third and the speedy Ichiro Suzuki to advance into scoring position as the tying run.

Hitting a home run with the game tied has all of a sudden become commonplace for Alex Rodriguez.

With the scored tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Alex Rodriguez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run to lift New York to a 4-2 win over Seattle Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

It was the second time in less than a week that Rodriguez allotted the Yankees a lead with a home run. His sixth inning blast last Friday in Los Angeles was the difference in the Yankees 2-1 win over the Dodgers.

Earlier today, I mentioned the Twins' struggles in both the run scoring and run prevention departments. If this June slump continues for the rest of the season, Minnesota may struggle to eclipse the 75-win plateau. In order to get back on track, something needs to start working.

Going four-for-four with three triples last night against Detroit, Denard Span apparently got the memo.

Becoming just the third player in the past 30 years to hit three triples in a game, Span may have kicked off the long-awaited improvement that we've been banking on for weeks.

Once again, the New York Yankees fell victim to their own rules.

Last night, the result ended with a Yankees loss of 7-4 to the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have consistently held the last spot in the AL West this season.

The Boston Red Sox have lost Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, and J.D. Drew to injury this season. Drew has been in and out of the lineup throughout his career, so his absence can be taken with a grain of salt. But the injuries that currently hamper the other four stars should leave Boston helpless.

The Atlanta Braves continued their winning ways as veteran right-hander Tim Hudson outdueled rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg.

The Braves threatened in the first two innings but were unable to score against Strasburg. Melky Cabrera was thrown out trying to score in the first, and Blanco grounded into an inning-ending double play in the second with two men on.

(6/28/2010)

Cincinnati, OH -  Former Phillie Scott Rolen played game killer and Reds ace Johnny Cueto went eight strong innings as Cincinnati topped Philadelphia 7-3 in the opening contest of the three-game set at Great American Ballpark.

Rolen went 1-for-2 with three RBI including a towering two-run shot in the fourth to lead the Reds. Joey Votto and Orlando Cabrera both went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the win.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto (8-2) went eight innings, allowing one run on six hits and lowered his ERA to an impressive 3.74.

SAN JUAN, PR-- For the first time as a Met this season, R.A. Dickey couldn't get the job done with his knuckler, getting hit around and only lasting five innings. The humidity didn't help Dickey out, and the Marlins pounced on him early and often, getting the pitcher for five runs on five hits.

The Mets got a leadoff single from Jose Reyes in the first, but couldn't produce a "Reyes run" as he was picked off by Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino.

When Braves phenom Tommy Hanson struggled in his last outing, the Braves hoped it was a fluke.  Lasting just 3.2 innings against a middle-of-the-road White Sox team, the Braves figured to see Hanson bouncing back against the Tigers.  They didn't get their wish.

Hanson, who again lasted just three and two thirds innings and gave up six runs (five of them earned), was chased from his second straight start.  I think Hanson will be thrilled to see interleague play end.