@Giants 2, Dodgers 1: LA is 13-15, but games like this make it seem like they’re 10 games under. A typical effort by Clayton Kershaw (1 run in 7 IP) went for nought as the bats failed time and time and time again to get the timely hit. They parlayed 18 baserunners (11 hits, 7 walks) into a single run, scored by Kershaw himself after he opened the 5th with a double, their only extra-base hit.
(Didn’t have much time for this set, alas.)
Padres 4, @Cubs 2: If it wasn’t for the two pitching changes, you could say the Pads’ 2-out, 4-run rally in the 8th happened quickly: With 2 on already, it went RBI single, pitching change, first-pitch tying passed ball, walk, pitching change, RBI single, steal, RBI single, and at last, the always-defensible frustration plunking of Carlos Quentin.
Nationals 2, @Braves 0: On the heels of his 1-hit, 1-0 shutout of the Reds, Jordan Zimmermann stiffed Atlanta for 8 innings on 2 hits, a single by Justin Upton in the 1st and a double in the 3rd by Paul Maholm. Continue reading
For all you squeaky wheels….
Giants 2, @D-backs 1: “It seems like every time I leave one of those up it’s getting crushed right now,” said J.J. Putz. Well, there’s “up,” and there’s “thigh-high roller in the geographic center of the QuesTec zone.” Good luck getting that pitch past those thighs. Panda’s 15 for 29 with RISP so far.
In Oakland Sunday afternoon, the Orioles screwed up two bunt plays in the 10th and lost, the run scoring on an overthrow at third base. They probably would have lost even if A’s third-base coach Mike Gallego had not been allowed to get so close to his runner, while alerting him to the overthrow, that he stepped on the foul line (which is fair territory) just afterwards, while the play was still on.
Did Gallego violate the rules?
@D-backs 3, Rockies 2 (10): Patience at the plate usually pays off, but don’t tell that to the Rockies right now. They drew 7 walks from Arizona starter Wade Miley in his 4.1 innings, including 4 in the opening frame, but didn’t score off him.
A start with 7+ walks in 13 outs or less, but no runs, hadn’t happened in more than 50 years. But we’ll get to that.
Sanchez, Sanchez everywhere, but that’s not where we start….
@Nationals 1, Reds 0: Jordan Zimmermann used just 91 pitches in his first career shutout, allowing a single in the 3rd and a walk in the 8th, neither man advancing. It’s the first 1-hitter in Washington Nationals history.
@Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 2: Jorge De La Rosa tries to bury a 1-2 cutter under the hands, but Goldy locks onto the signal and catches it just right. Watch the side-view replay from the 0:47 mark — then forget about beating him inside with hard stuff. That’s your NL first-base leader in OPS+ & runs created. Continue reading
@Padres 2, Brewers 1: A tricornered streak-buster, as the Pads had skidded through 5 straight overall and 7 straight home games, winning only their opener. In perhaps his most efficient outing ever, Edinson Volquez blanked the Brewers for 7 innings on 94 pitches, a personal low for that distance. Until 2 outs in the 9th, Milwaukee had gotten just one man to 2nd base, and that chance died when Carlos Gomez attacked a 3-0 pitch and grounded out.
Enjoying the April roller-coaster? Already, five streaks of 7+ wins by five different teams, while 10 teams have lost 5 in a row. The Brewers are dead! No, they’ve won 8 straight! (Is it 9?) The Braves can’t be stopped! Wait, they lost 4 in a row? But now they’re flying again! The Rox streaked for 8, they’re perfect at home! Whoops, is that 3 home losses in 2 days?
Braves 4, @Rockies 3 (game 1): You can’t contain him. El Oso Blanco expanded his range to the mountains. He’ll soon be in your back yard, turning over your trash cans….