THT Daily: AL 11, NL 2

Major League News for June 25

Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
Game of the Day
Top Minor League Performances
Player News
Stats

Yesterday’s Results

Interleague
BAL     3  WAS     2    (Recap and Boxscore) O’Connor: 6 IP, 2 R; Loewen: 5 IP, 2 R
BOS     5  PHI     3    (Recap and Boxscore) 10 innings; Ortiz: GWHR
CHA     6  HOU     5    (Recap and Boxscore) 10 innings; Crede: GS HR
CLE     4  CIN     0    (Recap and Boxscore) Byrd: 8 IP, 0 R
DET     7  STL     6    (Recap and Boxscore) DET scores 2 in 9th, 1 in 10th to win
KC      6  MIL     5    (Recap and Boxscore)
LAA     6  ARI     4    (Recap and Boxscore) 13 innings; Quinlan: GW HR
SF      8  OAK     7    (Recap and Boxscore) Bonds: 2-2, HR #710; see below
MIN     3  CHN     0    (Recap and Boxscore) Bonser: 6.1 IP, 0 R; Prior: 5.2 IP, 3 R
SEA     9  SD      5    (Recap and Boxscore) Johjima: 4-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI; Moyer: 7 IP, 2 R
TB      3  ATL     2    (Recap and Boxscore) Corcoran: 5 IP, 1 R
TOR     7  NYN     4    (Recap and Boxscore) Wells: 2 HR; 4 RBI
COL    11  TEX     6    (Recap and Boxscore)
FLA vs. NYY: POSTPONED TO SUNDAY DUE TO RAIN

National League
LAN     7  PIT     0    (Recap and Boxscore) Sele: 6 IP, 0 R: Ethier: 4 RBI; Kemp: 2 2B

Today’s Games

Visitors                        Home                              Time
NYM - Trachsel S. (5-4, 4.67)   TOR - Towers J. (1-8, 8.76)      12:07
CIN - Ramirez E. (2-6, 3.69)    CLE - Sowers J.* (0-0, -)         1:05
STL - Ponson S. (4-2, 5.30)     DET - Bonderman J. (7-4, 3.82)    1:05
FLA - Willis D.* (4-6, 4.19)    NYY - Mussina M. (8-3, 3.42)      1:05
ATL - James C.* (0-0, 2.38)     TB - Hendrickson M.* (4-7, 3.75)  1:15
WAS - Hernandez L. (5-8, 5.64)  BAL - Cabrera D. (4-4, 4.64)      1:35
PHI - Lidle C. (4-6, 5.00)      BOS - Wakefield T. (5-8, 3.82)    2:05
CHC - Marshall S.* (4-5, 4.97)  MIN - Radke B. (5-7, 5.84)        2:10
MIL - Helling R. (0-1, 11.81)   KC - Redman M.* (4-4, 5.95)       2:10
TEX - Padilla V. (6-4, 4.78)    COL - Kim B. (4-4, 4.84)          3:05
SEA - Pineiro J. (6-7, 5.34)    SD - Thompson M. (3-2, 4.62)      4:05
OAK - Loaiza E. (2-4, 6.94)     SF - Cain M. (6-5, 4.79)          4:05
PIT - Wells K. (0-1, 16.20)     LAD - Penny B. (7-2, 2.83)        4:10
LAA - Escobar K. (5-8, 3.54)    ARI - Batista M. (6-5, 5.02)      4:40
HOU - Oswalt R. (6-3, 3.32)     CWS - Vazquez J. (8-4, 4.43)      8:05
FLA - Sanchez A. (0-0, -)       NYY - Chacon S. (4-1, 5.89)       8:05

Standings

The graphics next to each team are called “sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each “up” bar is a victory and a “down” bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and gray bars represent games decided by two runs or less. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.

American League East
BOS     44  28 .611  0.0    
NYA     41  30 .577  2.5    
TOR     41  33 .554  4.0    
BAL     35  41 .461 11.0    
TB      33  42 .440 12.5    
American League Central
DET     50  25 .667  0.0    
CHA     49  25 .662  0.5    
MIN     38  35 .521 11.0    
CLE     33  40 .452 16.0    
KC      23  50 .315 26.0    
American League West
OAK     40  34 .541  0.0    
TEX     40  35 .533  0.5    
SEA     37  39 .487  4.0    
LAA     34  40 .459  6.0    

National League East
NYN     46  28 .622  0.0    
PHI     35  39 .473 11.0    
FLA     31  39 .443 13.0    
WAS     32  44 .421 15.0    
ATL     31  44 .413 15.5    
National League Central
STL     42  31 .575  0.0    
CIN     40  35 .533  3.0    
MIL     37  38 .493  6.0    
HOU     37  38 .493  6.0    
CHN     28  45 .384 14.0    
PIT     26  50 .342 17.5    
National League West
SD      39  35 .527  0.0    
LAN     39  35 .527  0.0    
SF      37  37 .500  2.0    
COL     37  37 .500  2.0    
ARI     36  39 .480  3.5    

Game of the Day

The Athletics and Giants provided our Game of the Day for the second day in a row. This time, the Giants beat the A’s, 8-7, when Ray Durham hit a three-run home run off A’s closer Huston Street in the bottom of the 9th. On Friday, it was Giants’ closer Armando Benitez who gave up the game-winning hit.

According to Elias, Oakland’s bullpen has allowed 31 earned runs in 31 1/3 innings pitched in games started by Dan Haren, for an ERA of 8.90 — the worst bullpen support for any major league pitcher who has started at least five games this season. For the Giants, Barry Bonds went 2 for 2, reached base five times and hit his 719th career home run.

OAKLAND (7) VS SAN FRANCISCO (8) - FINAL

OAKLAND                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
M Kotsay cf             5  1  2  2   0  0   1  .268
N Swisher lf-1b         4  1  1  0   1  1   2  .289
E Chavez 3b             4  1  0  0   1  2   2  .255
B Crosby ss             4  1  2  1   1  0   2  .247
B Kielty rf             3  0  0  1   2  1   2  .288
D Johnson 1b            3  1  1  2   1  0   0  .250
 K Calero p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 D Clark lf             1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .000
J Kendall c             4  1  2  0   0  0   2  .266
M Scutaro 2b            4  1  1  1   0  0   1  .225
D Haren p               3  0  0  0   0  0   2  .000
 C Gaudin p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 S Sauerbeck p          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 J Payton lf            1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .267
 H Street p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000

Totals                 36  7  9  7   6  4  16

BATTING: 2B - M Kotsay (12, J Wright); D Johnson (11, J Wright); M Scutaro (6, 
J Wright). RBI - B Crosby (30), B Kielty (14), D Johnson 2 (23), M Scutaro 
(13), M Kotsay 2 (27). 2-out RBI - B Crosby, B Kielty, D Johnson 2. Runners 
left in scoring position, 2 out - B Kielty 1, J Kendall 2, B Crosby 1. GIDP - M 
Scutaro. Team LOB - 8. 
 
BASERUNNING: SB - B Crosby (4, 2nd base off J Wright/T Greene). CS - M Kotsay 
(3, 3rd base by J Wright). 
 
FIELDING: DP: 1 (D Johnson-B Crosby-D Johnson). 

SAN FRANCISCO          ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
R Winn rf               4  0  2  0   1  0   0  .263
O Vizquel ss            5  1  2  0   0  1   3  .307
M Sweeney 1b            4  2  1  0   1  1   3  .257
B Bonds lf              2  2  2  3   3  0   0  .252
R Durham 2b             5  1  1  3   0  1   6  .246
S Finley cf             3  1  1  0   1  1   1  .252
P Feliz 3b              4  1  1  0   0  0   1  .273
T Greene c              4  0  1  2   0  2   1  .347
J Wright p              2  0  0  0   0  0   1  .206
 J Sanchez p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 a-J Vizcaino ph        1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .236
 K Correia p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 S Kline p              0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 b-J Ellison ph         1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .216
 T Worrell p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000

Totals                 35  8 12  8   6  6  17

a-grounded to shortstop for J Sanchez in the 6th;  b-hit a ground rule double 
to third for S Kline in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - P Feliz (18, D Haren); B Bonds (9, S Sauerbeck); J Ellison (3, K 
Calero). HR - B Bonds (11, 1st inning off D Haren 1 on, 2 Out), R Durham (7, 
9th inning off H Street 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - B Bonds 3 (34), T Greene 2 (6), R 
Durham 3 (30). 2-out RBI - B Bonds 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - 
R Durham 3, O Vizquel 1, S Finley 1. GIDP - J Vizcaino. Team LOB - 9. 
 
FIELDING: E - O Vizquel (2, catch); P Feliz (7, ground ball). DP: 1 (R 
Durham-O Vizquel-M Sweeney). 

----------------------------------------------------
    OAKLAND         - 103 003 000   --   7
    SAN FRANCISCO   - 200 002 103   --   8

No outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
D Haren                       5       6   4   4   5   1   1   3.56
C Gaudin (H, 4)               1       1   1   1   0   0   0   4.67
S Sauerbeck (H, 3)              1/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   5.93
K Calero (H, 14)              1 1/3   2   0   0   0   3   0   3.48
H Street (L, 1-3; B, 5)         1/3   2   3   3   1   1   1   3.74

SAN FRANCISCO                ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
J Wright                      5 1/3   8   7   6   4   4   0   4.85
J Sanchez                       2/3   1   0   0   1   0   0   0.00
K Correia                     1 1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   3.12
S Kline                         2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   2.59
T Worrell (W, 3-2)            1       0   0   0   1   0   0   7.32

D Haren pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.
C Gaudin pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
H Street pitched to 3 batters in the 9th.

WP - D Haren. IBB - B Bonds 2 (by D Haren). Pitches-strikes: D Haren 109-60; 
C Gaudin 14-10; S Sauerbeck 6-5; K Calero 26-19; H Street 17-8; J Wright 
100-58; J Sanchez 15-8; K Correia 17-11; S Kline 4-3; T Worrell 19-11. Ground 
balls-fly balls: D Haren 4-10; C Gaudin 3-0; S Sauerbeck 0-0; K Calero 0-1; H 
Street 0-0; J Wright 9-3; J Sanchez 1-1; K Correia 0-4; S Kline 0-2; T Worrell 
1-2. Batters faced: D Haren 26; C Gaudin 3; S Sauerbeck 2; K Calero 6; H Street 
4; J Wright 27; J Sanchez 4; K Correia 5; S Kline 2; T Worrell 4. 
 
UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mike Winters. 3B--Brian 
Runge. 

T--3:16. Att--42,866. 
Weather: 66 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.

Top Minor League Games

The following list, provided by First Inning, includes the top minor league batting (based on Runs Created) and pitching (based on Game Score) performances from yesterday.

ORG LVL PLAYER            POS AB  H 2B 3B HR BB SO  Notes
ATL AAA Jamal Strong       CF  6  5  2  0  0  1  0   
BAL A                       C  4  4  1  0  0  0  0   
CHW AAA Chris Stewart       C  3  2  0  0  2  0  0   
CHW A+  David Cook         LF  2  2  0  0  2  1  0  3 runs scored
CIN AA  Anderson Machado   SS  3  3  1  0  1  0  0   
CLE A   John Drennen       CF  2  2  0  0  1  1  0   
FLA A   Gary Roche         3B  4  3  2  0  1  0  0  3 runs scored
FLA AAA Mark Little        LF  3  3  2  0  0  0  0   
KC  AA  Chris Lubanski     LF  3  3  2  0  0  1  0   
LAA AA  Aaron Peel         LF  5  4  2  0  0  0  0  .52 OBP during past week
 
ORG LVL PLAYER             IP   H  R ER SO BB HR  Notes
ARI A   Cody Evans         8.0  3  0  0  4  0  0   
ATL A   Jake Stevens       7.2  6  0  0  6  1  0   
CHW A   Daniel Cortes      7.0  2  0  0  3  2  0   
COL A-  Shane Lindsay      5.0  1  0  0 12  3  0   
HOU AAA Jason Hirsh        8.0  3  1  0 12  4  0  19 K over last 15 IP
LA  AA  T.J. Nall          7.0  1  0  0 10  2  0  0.88 ERA over past month
LAA A   Andrew Hill        8.0  3  1  1  4  1  0   
LAA AA  Jesse Smith        8.0  4  0  0  5  6  0   
PHI A   Joshua Outman      7.0  2  0  0  4  3  0   
SEA A   Paul Fagan         9.0  6  1  1  4  1  0 

Player News

Player news items are provided by CBS SportsLine.com.

Derrek Lee will be back with the Chicago Cubs for Sunday’s game at Minnesota after just one minor league rehab appearance. The move to activate Lee from the disabled list will come one day sooner than expected, as injuries to Tony Womack and Freddy Bynum during Saturday night’s 3-0 loss to Minnesota forced Chicago’s hand.

Mets setup man Duaner Sanchez has a pinched nerve in his neck and is day-to-day, the team announced. Sanchez, a key part of New York’s stellar bullpen, left after throwing just two pitches in the eighth inning of Friday’s 6-1 victory over Toronto. The right-hander returned to New York on Saturday so he could be evaluated by team doctors. An MRI on his right shoulder was negative. He’s expected to return to Toronto on Sunday.

Oakland’s Mark Mulder will be shelved at least through the All-Star break and probably longer after an MRI on Friday found that he has been pitching with a shoulder impingement, inflammation of the rotator cuff and slight fraying of the labrum.

The Baltimore Orioles have emerged as the frontrunners to sign released pitcher Russ Ortiz.

According to Dodger Thoughts, the nerve pain in Dodger reliever Eric Gagne’s throwing arm has diminished over the past four days thanks to the use of neurontin, a drug designed to work on the nervous system, according to Dodger head athletic trainer Stan Johnston. Johnston suggested that Gagne could begin an exercise program as soon as Monday if the pain is gone. The Dodgers say that Gagne’s arm is structurally sound, and the nerve issue is the only thing preventing Gagne from returning to the mound.

Jake Peavy underwent an MRI, two days before the Padres originally reported the exam would take place. “We’re very pleased,” manager Bruce Bochy told the team’s official website. “It looks like Jake is getting over the tendinitis and he’s been throwing very well for us the last few starts.”

Toronto’s official website reports Gustavo Chacin (elbow) is not expected to return until at least early August. “We don’t anticipate him coming back until the beginning of August,” general maneger J.P. Ricciardi said. “We’re not in any hurry. We’re just going to ease him back.”

Mark Prior (0-2) looked sharp early in his second game this season after missing the first 2 1/2 months with shoulder problems, but he faded in his final 1 2/3 innings and got little help from his offense. “I felt more comfortable out there,” Prior said. “I just didn’t put guys away in certain situations. Overall, it was better than my first start.”

Bartolo Colon allowed four earned runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in Saturday’s start at Arizona in his second start off of the 15-day disabled list. He did not figure into the decision, but still did not look like he was 100 percent.

Mike MacDougal (shoulder) allowed three runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a rehab game with Triple-A Omaha.

After Saturday’s game, the Braves designated reliever Mike Remlinger for assignment. The move was made to open a roster spot for left-hander Chuck James, who was recalled from Triple-A Richmond and will start Sunday’s game.

Chicago Cubs rookie Freddie Bynum was taken to the hospital on Saturday night after experiencing swelling in his right arm during a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Bynum started in left field for the Cubs and went 1-for-3. Matt Murton pinch hit for him in the ninth inning, and Bynum said afterward that he was headed to the hospital to see what was causing the swelling. “I’d like to find out what’s going on,” Bynum said.

Tampa Bay’s Tim Corcoran threw five solid innings in his first start of the season. Corcoran (1-0) gave up one run and four hits for his first major league-win, coming in his second career start. He was inserted into the rotation after the Devil Rays optioned Seth McClung to Triple-A Durham Tuesday, a move designed to convert the right-hander from a starter to a closer.

John Smoltz (strained right groin) is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound on Sunday. The session could determine if Smoltz will make his next scheduled start Wednesday.

Brian Jordan will be out at least four to six weeks with a non-displaced fracture of his right clavicle. Jordan, who went on the DL last Friday, aggravated the injury throwing before the game.

Giants closer Armando Benitez wasn’t available Saturday after blowing his fourth save of the season Friday night, giving up two runs in the ninth. Felipe Alou said Benitez had tenderness in his right elbow, and could be headed to the disabled list — but the manager planned to wait before making a decision on Benitez, who has been booed at home despite fairly solid statistics.

The Los Angeles Angels placed Dallas McPherson on the 15-day disabled list due to back spasms Saturday, retroactive to June 22. Los Angeles recalled infielder Erick Aybar to replace McPherson.

Josh Johnson will not pitch in either game of Sunday’s double header against at the N.Y. Yankees despite not throwing a single pitch before Saturday’s game was rained out.Florida doesn’t want to start Johnson on Sunday because he went through a full warmup Saturday. “He was hot,” Girardi said. “He will start Monday.”

The Texas Rangers recalled right-hander Robinson Tejeda from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday and designated lefty Fabio Castro for assignment.

Orlando Hernandez was forced to leave his start early Saturday vs. Toronto in the second inning after the Mets were charged with two trips to the mound. Pitching coach Rick Peterson went out to the mound in the inning and manager Willie Randolph made a trip after Hernandez almost ignited a bench-clearing brawl by throwing a pitch high and tight to Troy Glaus — after Wells hit his three-run homer a pitch before. Randolph went out to the mound to calm Hernandez. After the umpires huddled, Hernandez was forced to leave. Hernandez allowed six runs and four hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

Tony Womack suffered an apparent back injury in the third inning of Saturday’s game at Minnesota. He pulled up lame running the bases and appeared to be clutching his back before laying flat on the ground before the trainer and manager Dusty Baker arrived.

Toronto ace Roy Halladay (9-2) has won eight of his last nine decisions after defeating the Mets Saturday. The 2003 AL Cy Young award winner allowed four runs and 10 hits, while striking out four and walking none in 7 1/3 innings.

Los Angeles C Mike Napoli had reached base in 11 straight plate appearances, one shy of the Angels’ club record, before striking out in the first inning.

The Atlanta Braves placed pitcher Phil Stockman on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and called up right-hander Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond. To make room for Barry on the 40-man roster, Atlanta recalled pitcher Blaine Boyer from Richmond and placed him on the 60-day disabled list. Boyer had shoulder surgery in April.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched 2 1/3 innings of clutch relief to get the Red Sox win.

Curt Schilling started Saturday’s game against Philadelphia by allowing hits to the first three batters before giving up only three more through the sixth inning. Schilling’s 10 strikeouts matched the team’s season high. Schilling also fanned six in a row.

Mike Lowell matched his output for all last season with his eighth homer.

Brett Myers started and went five innings for Philadelphia, one day after being arrested and charged with hitting his wife in the face on a street near Fenway Park just after midnight. He was freed after his wife posted $200 bail and faces a court date of Aug. 4. Myers allowed three runs on seven hits and four walks, but he did not factor into the decision.

The Angels’ Juan Rivera was hit in the shoulder by Claudio Vargas’ pitch, the ball ricocheting off the left side of his face. He left the field under his own power, glaring at Vargas as he headed back to the dugout. Rivera said after the game he’ll be available on Sunday.

The Mets’ Cliff Floyd (sprained ankle) was originally supposed to be the DH in a rehab game at Class-A St. Lucie on Thursday, but was too sore. Randolph said Floyd will continue to do light exercises.

The Cleveland Indians placed outfielder Jason Michaels on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle and purchased the contract of left-hander Jeremy Sowers from Triple-A Buffalo and added him to the major league roster.

Victor Martinez replaced Ben Broussard as the starter at first base on Friday. “It’s not just a one-day thing,” manager Eric Wedge said. “Ben is a good first baseman, but is capable of doing a lot better. He has to get back on track. You can hit all day long, but if you don’t pitch and play defense you are not going to win ballgames.”

Oziie Guillen, the White Sox manager, tried to clear up his latest flap of a tumultuous week, saying he indeed will attend sensitivity training mandated by commissioner Bud Selig.

THT’s Stats

Run Created stats, such as Base Runs, Linear Weights and Runs Created itself, are the ultimate measures of a batter’s performance, the best way to judge a hitter’s worth. So far this year, Cleveland’s Travis Hafner is tied with Albert Pujols for the major league lead in Runs Created. Here are the top twenty:

Last          First      Team       RC
Hafner        Travis     CLE        69
Pujols        Albert     STL        69
Wright        David A    NYN        67
Thome         Jim        CHA        67
Berkman       Lance      HOU        64
Soriano       Alfonso    WAS        62
Abreu         Bobby      PHI        61
Suzuki        Ichiro     SEA        61
Granderson    Curtis     DET        61
Cabrera       Miguel     FLA        60
Beltran       Carlos     NYN        60
Reyes         Jose       NYN        60
Wells         Vernon     TOR        60
Giambi        Jason      NYA        60
Konerko       Paul       CHA        59
Giles         Brian      SD         58
Ibanez        Raul       SEA        58
Sizemore      Grady      CLE        58
Crawford      Carl       TB         58
Johnson       Nick       WAS        58

Access all of THT’s stats here…