THT Daily: Labor Day Results

Major League News for September 5

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

Yesterday’s Results

American League
BOS     3  CHA     2    (Recap and Boxscore)
MIN     2  TB      1    (Recap and Boxscore)
TOR     4  CLE     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
DET     6  SEA     2    (Recap and Boxscore)
NYA    12  KC      5    (Recap and Boxscore)
LAA     1  BAL     0    (Recap and Boxscore)
TEX     8  OAK     1    (Recap and Boxscore)

National League
FLA     8  ARI     5    (Recap and Boxscore)
ATL     5  NYN     0    (Recap and Boxscore)
PHI     3  HOU     2    (Recap and Boxscore)
WAS     4  STL     1    (Recap and Boxscore)
PIT     5  CHN     4    (Recap and Boxscore)
SF      5  CIN     4    (Recap and Boxscore)
MIL     6  LAN     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
SD      7  COL     5    (Recap and Boxscore)

Today’s Games

Visitors                           Home                          Starts (EDT)
HOU - Pettitte A.* (13-13, 4.44)   PHI - Wolf R.* (3-0, 5.30)         7:05 pm
ARI - Vargas C. (10-9, 5.15)       FLA - Willis D.* (9-10, 3.91)      7:05 pm
STL - Suppan J. (10-7, 4.61)       WAS - Astacio P. (3-4, 6.12)       7:05 pm
CWS - Vazquez J. (11-8, 4.98)      BOS - Gabbard K.* (0-3, 6.35)      7:05 pm
SEA - Woods J.* (4-2, 3.84)        DET - Bonderman J. (11-7, 4.01)    7:05 pm
CLE - Sowers J.* (6-3, 3.42)       TOR - Halladay R. (16-5, 3.29)     7:07 pm
 SF - Morris M. (10-11, 4.57)      CIN - Arroyo B. (11-9, 3.48)       7:10 pm
ATL - Smoltz J. (12-7, 3.60)       NYM - Williams D.* (4-3, 6.10)     7:10 pm
MIN - Santana J.* (16-5, 2.95)      TB - Seo J. (1-5, 4.40)           7:15 pm
PIT - Santos V. (5-9, 5.54)        CHC - Mateo J. (1-2, 4.15)        08:05 pm
LAD - Hendrickson M.* (1-6, 4.99)  MIL - Davis D.* (9-9, 5.18)       08:05 pm
NYY - Mussina M. (13-5, 3.61)       KC - De La Rosa J.* (1-2, 6.75)  08:10 pm
BAL - Benson K. (10-10, 4.78)      LAA - Lackey J. (11-9, 3.63)      10:05 pm
TEX - Eaton A. (4-4, 4.71)         OAK - Saarloos K. (7-6, 4.47)     10:05 pm
COL - Francis J.* (11-10, 3.64)     SD - Young C. (10-5, 3.66)       10:05 pm

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 red bars represent games decided by two runs or less. “PWins” is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.

American League East        Pwins  Diff
NYA     82  54 .603    0.0   81     1    
BOS     74  64 .536    9.0   70     4    
TOR     72  66 .522   11.0   72     0    
BAL     61  76 .445   21.5   60     1    
TB      55  83 .399   28.0   56    -1    
American League Central     
DET     85  53 .616    0.0   84     1    
MIN     79  57 .581    5.0   75     4    
CHA     79  58 .577    5.5   78     1    
CLE     65  71 .478   19.0   74    -9    
KC      51  88 .367   34.5   52    -1    
American League West        
OAK     79  58 .577    0.0   73     6    
LAA     73  65 .529    6.5   71     2    
TEX     71  68 .511    9.0   74    -3    
SEA     64  73 .467   15.0   66    -2    


National League East        Pwins  Diff
NYN     84  52 .618    0.0   79     5    
PHI     70  68 .507   15.0   71    -1    
FLA     69  68 .504   15.5   69     0    
ATL     66  71 .482   18.5   71    -5    
WAS     60  77 .438   24.5   59     1    
National League Central     
STL     73  63 .537    0.0   69     4    
CIN     68  70 .493    6.0   66     2    
HOU     67  71 .486    7.0   69    -2    
MIL     63  75 .457   11.0   60     3    
CHN     55  82 .401   18.5   56    -1    
PIT     55  83 .399   19.0   59    -4    
National League West        
LAN     73  64 .533    0.0   74    -1    
SD      71  66 .518    2.0   70     1    
SF      69  69 .500    4.5   70    -1    
ARI     64  73 .467    9.0   66    -2    
COL     63  74 .460   10.0   68    -5    

Wildcard Standings
American League
MIN     79  57 .581    0.0
CHA     79  58 .577    0.5

National League
 SD     71  66 .518    0.0
PHI     70  68 .507    1.5
FLA     69  68 .504    2.0
 SF     69  69 .500    2.5
CIN     68  70 .493    3.5
HOU     67  71 .486    4.5
ATL     66  71 .482    5.0

Game of the Day

In addition to Chase Utley hitting a walk-off HR in the bottom of the tenth to win the game and keep the Phillies only 1.5 GB in the Wild Card race, Ryan Howard hit his MLB-leading 53rd HR, Cole Hamels retired the first 17 Houston batters, and Roger Clemens exited with a strained right groin.

HOUSTON (2) VS PHILADELPHIA (3) - FINAL IN 10 INNINGS 

HOUSTON                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
C Biggio 2b             4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .255
C Burke lf              4  0  1  0   0  2   0  .285
L Berkman 1b            4  0  0  0   0  1   0  .304
J Lane rf               3  0  0  0   0  1   0  .210
 D Wheeler p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 T Miller p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 b-M Lamb ph            1  0  0  0   0  1   1  .307
 C Qualls p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 H Quintero c           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .250
A Huff 3b-rf            4  1  2  1   0  2   0  .253
 W Taveras pr-cf        0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .276
E Bruntlett cf-rf       3  0  1  0   0  1   0  .260
A Everett ss            3  0  0  0   0  2   1  .236
B Ausmus c              3  0  0  0   0  0   0  .228
 c-O Palmeiro ph        1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .216
 D Borkowski p          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
R Clemens p             1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .048
 a-C Jimerson ph        1  1  1  1   0  0   0 1.000
 R Springer p           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 M Ensberg 3b           1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .230
Totals                 33  2  5  2   0 10   4

a-homered to center for R Clemens in the 6th;  b-struck out swinging for T 
Miller in the 9th;  c-grounded to first for B Ausmus in the 10th.

BATTING: 2B - A Huff (7, R White). HR - C Jimerson (1, 6th inning off C Hamels 
0 on, 2 Out), A Huff (8, 8th inning off C Hamels 0 on, 0 Out). S - A Everett , 
E Bruntlett. RBI - C Jimerson (1), A Huff (28). 2-out RBI - C Jimerson. Runners 
left in scoring position, 2 out - O Palmeiro 1, M Lamb 1, M Ensberg 1. Team LOB 
- 3. 
 
BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (10, 2nd base off M Smith/C Coste). 
 
FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Everett-C Biggio-L Berkman). 
 
PHILADELPHIA           ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
J Rollins ss            5  0  1  0   0  2   1  .280
S Victorino cf          4  1  0  0   1  0   1  .292
C Utley 2b              4  1  1  1   0  2   1  .307
R Howard 1b             2  1  1  1   2  0   0  .309
P Burrell lf            3  0  0  0   0  2   3  .257
 b-J Thurston ph        1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .267
 R White p              0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
J Conine rf             3  0  1  1   0  1   0  .261
C Coste c               3  0  0  0   1  0   3  .331
A Nunez 3b              3  0  0  0   0  0   0  .197
 c-D Dellucci ph        1  0  0  0   0  1   3  .292
 C Roberson lf          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .194
C Hamels p              2  0  1  0   0  0   0  .143
 a-R Simon ph           1  0  0  0   0  1   0  .500
 R Madson p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .182
 M Smith p              0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 d-J Hernandez ph-3b    1  0  0  0   0  0   3  .275
Totals                 33  3  5  3   4  9  16

a-struck out swinging for C Hamels in the 8th;  b-bunt popped out to third for 
P Burrell in the 9th;  c-struck out swinging for A Nunez in the 9th;  d-popped 
out to first for M Smith in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - J Conine (2, C Qualls). HR - R Howard (53, 6th inning off R 
Springer 0 on, 2 Out), C Utley (25, 10th inning off D Borkowski 0 on, 2 Out). 
RBI - J Conine (3), R Howard (134), C Utley (84). 2-out RBI - R Howard, C 
Utley. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Utley 1, J Hernandez 2. GIDP 
- C Coste. Team LOB - 7. 
 
BASERUNNING: SB - J Rollins (33, 2nd base off T Miller/B Ausmus). 

----------------------------------------------------
    HOUSTON         - 000 001 010 0  --   2
    PHILADELPHIA    - 000 101 000 1  --   3

Two outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
R Clemens                     5       1   1   1   2   6   0   2.27
R Springer                    1       1   1   1   0   0   1   3.86
D Wheeler                     1 1/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   2.64
T Miller                        2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   3.43
C Qualls                      1       1   0   0   2   1   0   4.19
D Borkowski (L, 1-2)            2/3   1   1   1   0   0   1   4.15

PHILADELPHIA                 ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
C Hamels                      8       3   2   2   0   8   2   4.33
R Madson                        1/3   1   0   0   0   0   0   5.79
M Smith                         2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   0.00
R White (W, 3-1)              1       1   0   0   0   1   0   5.00

IBB - R Howard (by C Qualls), C Coste (by C Qualls). HBP - C Utley (by R 
Clemens); J Conine (by R Clemens). Pitches-strikes: R Clemens 71-42; R Springer 
16-10; D Wheeler 24-15; T Miller 8-5; C Qualls 20-9; D Borkowski 15-7; C Hamels 
99-68; R Madson 7-5; M Smith 13-8; R White 14-11. Ground balls-fly balls: R 
Clemens 5-4; R Springer 1-2; D Wheeler 1-2; T Miller 0-1; C Qualls 0-2; D 
Borkowski 0-2; C Hamels 9-7; R Madson 1-0; M Smith 1-0; R White 2-0. Batters 
faced: R Clemens 19; R Springer 4; D Wheeler 5; T Miller 2; C Qualls 6; D 
Borkowski 3; C Hamels 27; R Madson 2; M Smith 2; R White 4. 
 
UMPIRES: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Kevin  Causey. 

T--2:54. Att--44,674. 
Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, left to right.

The following graph tracks the game’s Win Probability, courtesy of Fan Graphs.

Yesterday’s Home Runs

The following stats are provided by Hit Tracker, which logs the projected distance of each home run (if it were to land uninterrupted at field level) and its “standard” distance, which is corrected for weather conditions. You can read their daily updates at the Hit Tracker Blog.

On Sunday, Sept. 3, Colorado’s Matt Holliday crushed the longest home run of the season at Dodger Stadium, and the 5th longest overall of 2006, a 475 footer to left field off L.A.’s Elmer Dessens. Holliday’s massive blast came off the bat at a robust 116.7 mph, and had a standard distance of 440 feet. The wind, hot temperature and altitude at Chavez Ravine added +19, +13 and +4 feet respectively, turning a solid homer into an eye-popper! What makes it even more impressive, Holliday hit his 475 foot homer off a breaking ball that was traveling about 75 mph! It probably helped that Holliday got to hit a dry, non-humidor’ed baseball…

 #  Hitter                   Pitcher                True Dist.  Std. Dist.
 8  Borchard, Joe  FLA       Gonzalez, Enrique  ARI    441        459
12  Johnson, Reed  TOR       Sabathia, C.C.  CLE       443        456
43  Pujols, Albert  STL      Ortiz, Ramon  WAS         452        455
 1  Jimerson, Charlton  HOU  Hamels, Cole  PHI         445        444
 1  Tulowitzki, Troy  COL    Williams, Woody  SD       442        441
 5  Garko, Ryan  CLE         Downs, Scott  TOR         408        429
21  Byrnes, Eric  ARI        Moehler, Brian  FLA       413        424
15  Branyan, Russell  SD     Martin, Tom  COL          413        417
 5  Luna, Hector  CLE        Marcum, Shaun  TOR        387        406
14  Helton, Todd  COL        Williams, Woody  SD       399        405
 9  Cano, Robinson  NYY      Burgos, Ambiorix  KC      409        404
25  Utley, Chase  PHI        Borkowski, Dave  HOU      417        402
12  Giles, Marcus  SD        Fogg, Josh  COL           417        401
 4  Cruz, Nelson  TEX        Zito, Barry  OAK          400        400
20  Hillenbrand, Shea  SF    Weathers, David  CIN      396        398
16  Huff, Aubrey  HOU        Hamels, Cole  PHI         408        396
17  Posada, Jorge  NYY       Gobble, Jimmy  KC         398        394
21  Aurilia, Rich  CIN       Hennessey, Brad  SF       388        394
 7  LaRue, Jason  CIN        Hennessey, Brad  SF       387        393
12  Barfield, Josh  SD       Fuentes, Brian  COL       378        391
 6  Navarro, Dioner  TB      Bonser, Boof  MIN         388        387
 5  White, Rondell  MIN      Corcoran, Tim  TB         383        383
 1  Ortiz, Ramon  WAS        Sosa, Jorge  STL          380        383
 1  Pena, Carlos  BOS        McCarthy, Brandon  CWS    410        382
11  Kinsler, Ian  TEX        Witasick, Jay  OAK        384        382
22  Uggla, Dan  FLA          Medders, Brandon  ARI     368        379
22  Kearns, Austin  WAS      Marquis, Jason  STL       373        378
22  Bonds, Barry  SF         Harang, Aaron  CIN        388        377
53  Howard, Ryan  PHI        Springer, Russ  HOU       388        369
16  Alou, Moises  SF         Harang, Aaron  CIN        359        365
19  Ordonez, Magglio  DET    Washburn, Jarrod  SEA     380        363
38  Thome, Jim  CWS          Tavarez, Julian  BOS      366        359
31  Wells, Vernon  TOR       Sabathia, C.C.  CLE       348        348
 3  Cruz, Nelson  TEX        Zito, Barry  OAK          247        248+

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 Wes Timmons        3B  4  2  0  0  2  1  0  4 RBI
CHW AAA Ernie Young        1B  2  2  1  0  1  0  0   
DET AA  Kelly Hunt         1B  5  3  0  0  2  0  1   
LAA A+  Nate Sutton        2B  7  5  1  1  1  0  0  .556 OBP during past week
NYM A   Sean Henry         CF  4  3  0  0  2  0  1  4 RBI
NYY AAA Russ Johnson       LF  4  3  1  0  1  0  0   
PHI AAA Gary Burnham       DH  5  4  1  0  1  0  0  6 RBI
SD  AAA Luke Carlin         C  5  4  1  0  1  0  1  3 runs scored
SD  AAA Luke Allen         1B  4  3  0  0  1  0  1  3 runs scored
SF  A+  Tim Hutting        SS  4  3  1  0  1  0  0   
 
ORG LVL PLAYER             IP   H  R ER SO BB HR  Notes
CHC AA  JR Mathes          9.0  6  1  1  4  1  0   
CHW A   Jason Rice         6.0  3  0  0  5  2  0   
CIN A   Travis Wood        7.0  2  1  1  4  3  1   
CLE A-  Erik Stiller       7.0  2  0  0  4  0  0   
DET A   Matt O'Brien       7.0  5  0  0  4  1  0   
DET AA  Virgil Vasquez     8.0  3  0  0 10  2  0   
NYM A-  Tobi Stoner        7.0  4  2  0  7  1  0  1.22 ERA over past month
NYM AA  Philip Humber      6.0  2  1  1  4  0  0   
NYY AAA Steven White       7.0  3  1  1  9  4  0   
PIT AAA Shane Youman       6.0  2  1  1  4  0  0      

Player News

Player news items are provided by CBS SportsLine.com.

Ramon Ortiz came within three outs of pitching the majors’ first no-hitter in more than two years Monday, but it was his eight-inning shot to the bullpen beyond the left-field fence that had him practically giddy after the Washington Nationals’ 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. “When I see that ball’s a homer, I say, ‘Yes!’ It’s unbelievable. I can’t sleep tonight,” Ortiz said. “I can’t wait to go to my house to watch the TV and watch how hard we hit the ball.” He went 8 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and an earned run off an Albert Pujols home run. He walked three and struck out five in the outing.

Chuck James pitched one-hit ball for eight neat innings, shutting down the New York Mets and leading the Atlanta Braves to a 5-0 victory Monday night. “Unbelievable. Even though it said one hit on the board, it was probably about a 12-hitter,” James said. “I think everybody on the field was probably on their belly at one time today.” The 24-year-old left-hander walked three and struck out one in winning his fourth consecutive decision. He threw 108 pitches, 64 for strikes, in his 13th big league start.

Tests determined that Marcus Giles has a healthy heart and he can keep playing baseball, a huge relief to the Atlanta Braves and their second baseman after he was told he might have a heart defect. Giles was en route to Shea Stadium on Monday evening to rejoin his teammates, who played the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series.

Boston welcomed back left fielder Manny Ramirez, catcher Jason Varitek and right fielder Trot Nixon to its lineup Monday night against the Chicago White Sox.

Carlos Beltran had an MRI exam Monday that confirmed his left knee is only bruised, and the New York Mets’ center fielder expects to return to the lineup soon. “No major injury, just have a bruise at the top of my kneecap,” Beltran said, adding that he was “happy” with the results. Beltran missed his second consecutive game Monday night, a 5-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves. But he took batting practice and said he feels more pressure than pain in his knee. “I’m just going with what I feel. If I feel like I’m ready to go, I will be out there,” he said.

Mariano Rivera will miss the New York Yankees’ three-game series with Kansas City this week because of a muscle strain near his right elbow but could be back by the weekend. Rivera pitched last Wednesday and Thursday against Detroit, then missed the series against Minnesota. “I want to stay away from him,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said Monday. “We’re going to try to push it as long as we can. We’re progressing, and it’s feeling better. But I guess the longer we can keep him down, the better it will be.”

Barry Bonds’ 730th homer landed in the first row of seats in right-center field in Cincinnati Monday. Ken Griffey Jr. and Ryan Freel both jumped and reached into the seats, but couldn’t catch it. Griffey twisted his right ankle when he planted his cleats in the padded wall. He left the game immediately, limping slightly.

Chase Utley’s home run with two outs in the 10th inning gave the Philadelphia Phillies a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Monday.

Cole Hamels was absolutely fantastic against Houston Monday, retiring the first 17 batters and pitching like the future ace the Phillies expect him to be. The hard-throwing lefty was working the corners and getting strikes on fastballs, then finishing batters off with offspeed pitches.

Boston recalled LHP Javier Lopez from Triple-A Pawtucket Monday.

Manager Terry Francona, on the possibility of Curt Schilling (latissimus) taking his next turn in the rotation, said, “I don’t think he looks very encouraging.”

Jermaine Dye left Monday’s game at Boston in the seventh with tightness in his back.

Jim Thome hit his 38th homer of the season Monday at Boston, a drive into the seats above the Green Monster.

Chicago returned to Fenway Park for the first time since eliminating the Red Sox in last year’s playoffs, and starter Jon Garland left in position to get what would have been his major-league leading 17th win. He gave up one run and five hits in six innings.

Julian Tavarez, starting for Boston because Curt Schilling has a mild strain on his right side, gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Bouncing off the mound on nearly every grounder and pointing to first excitedly as his fielders made plays, he got 14 outs on grounders. Tavarez was just happy to get the opportunity to start for Boston’s depleted staff. Jon Lester was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma one day after David Wells was traded to San Diego. Tim Wakefield is also sidelined with a fractured rib. “They might give me another chance,” Tavarez said.

The Mets will recall OF Lastings Milledge, LHP Dave Williams and RHP Brian Bannister from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, and purchase the contracts of C Kelly Stinnett and OF Ricky Ledee from the Tides. New York also will recall RHP Philip Humber from Double-A Binghamton and place RHP Steve Schmoll (right hamstring) on the 60-day disabled list.

The Colorado Rockies recalled catcher J.D. Closser and purchased the contract of right-hander Nate Field from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday.

Atlanta took advantage of a season-high seven walks by Steve Trachsel (14-6) to beat the Mets Monday. Still, Trachsel, who walked five in an April 30 loss at Atlanta, didn’t think his command was off by that much. “They had a very good plan, and the plan that we used probably wasn’t very good,” Trachsel said. “It’s just one outing. I think it’s more indicative of me and the Atlanta Braves than it has to do with anything else.”

Cliff Floyd was scratched from the lineup against Atlanta Monday with a sore left Achilles’ tendon. The oft-injured Floyd was on the disabled list from Aug. 9 to Sept. 1 with tendinitis in his left foot. Michael Tucker started in left field in his place.

In the meantime, right-hander Mike Mussina will be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and start against the Royals. Mussina (13-5) went on the DL on Aug. 23 because of a strained right groin. “Ready to go,” he said, adding he’d felt no boredom from the inactivity. “I’m a pitcher. I’m used to sitting around and doing nothing.”

The Braves optioned right-hander Anthony Lerew to back Triple-A Richmond Monday, two days after he was called up.

The Mets hope to get RHP Pedro Martinez (strained right calf) back around the middle of next week. Manager Willie Randolph said Martinez will get no more than three starts the rest of the regular season.

Reds closer Eddie Guardado will throw in the bullpen Tuesday, the first time he has tested his sore left forearm since he went on the 15-day DL on Aug. 20. “It feels better,” he said Monday. “It’s not going to be 100 percent until it gets fully rested over the winter, but I can deal with the pain I’ve got right now.”

Aaron Harang allowed only six hits in eight innings in a no decision against the Giants Monday. He struck out nine batters.

Texas C Rod Barajas missed his fourth straight game with a strained back. Gerald Laird started in his place again at Oakland Monday. Laird went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Barry Zito (15-9) walked three batters in the first inning against Texas Monday, ending a stretch of 20 straight games in which Oakland’s starters hadn’t given up more than two walks. Zito lost to the Rangers for only the fifth time in 30 career starts.

A’s 1B Dan Johnson, called up Thursday, earned another start against Texas Monday after hitting a grand slam in Sunday’s 10-1 win over the Orioles.

Robinson Tejeda (4-3) took a shutout into the seventh against Texas Monday. He allowed 10 hits, struck out one and walked two in 6 1/3 innings.

Frank Thomas singled in Oakland’s only run — it was unearned — in the seventh inning against Texas Monday, and the Big Hurt tied Fred McGriff for 36th on the RBI list at 1,550.

Rookie Nelson Cruz hit an inside-the-park homer and a three-run shot on the way to a career-high five RBI at Oakland Monday. Cruz, a former Oakland farmhand, had his first career two-homer game as the Rangers battered Barry Zito to end the lefty’s three-start winning streak.

Boof Bonser allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings to help Minnesota beat Tampa Bay 2-1 on Monday, continuing the Twins’ domination of the Devil Rays. Bonser (4-5) allowed five hits and had six strikeouts.

Tampa Bay recalled C Shawn Riggans and purchased the contract of RHP Juan Salas from Triple-A Durham on Monday. The Devil Rays also plan to reinstate RHP Jae Seo (strained left groin) from the disabled list to start Tuesday’s game.

The Twins recalled OF Josh Rabe from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

Tampa Bay LHP Scott Kazmir (sore left shoulder) expects to resume playing catch on Wednesday. It hasn’t been determimed if he’ll pitch again this season.

Minnesota 2B Luis Castillo was back in the lineup Monday at Tampa Bay after missing the previous four games with a sprained right ankle.

San Francisco Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was hit on the back of the left wrist by Aaron Harang’s up-and-in fastball on Monday, forcing him to leave a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Alfonzo dropped his left arm, walked away from the plate and slid to his knees in pain after he was hit. He winced as a trainer looked at the wrist, and left the field for further examination. X-rays found no fracture. He was listed as day-to-day.

Travis Hafner — Cleveland’s leader in home runs and RBI — missed his third straight game with a bruised right hand Monday at Toronto. He’s day to day.

Minnesota right-hander Brad Radke, who has a stress fracture in his right shoulder, rejoined the team for the start of a three-game series at Tampa Bay. Radke’s injury, to the glenoid area of the shoulder joint, is a rare condition and was not detected in previous exams, the Twins said Friday. Dr. Dan Buss recommended that he not throw for two-to-three weeks. “The next step is not to do anything for the next couple of weeks,” Radke said. “Just let it rest and see if it will heal on its own. Hopefully it will heal sooner than later.”

Troy Glaus (sinus) was able to play in Monday’s game vs. Cleveland. He went 1-for-4 with a single in the game.

Lyle Overbay (illness) came on as a defensive replacement Monday vs. Cleveland.

The Marlins recalled RHP Jose Garcia from Double-A Carolina and RHP Randy Messenger from Single-A Jupiter. Manager Joe Girardi said the team will likely add two more players Tuesday.

Randy Messenger (2-7), recalled before Monday’s game vs. Arizona from Single-A Jupiter, pitched a perfect sixth inning.

Joe Borowski pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 33rd save in 38 chances.

Ryan Howard hit his major-league leading 53rd homer against Houston Monday. Howard’s 53rd homer of the season off Russ Springer in the sixth knocked off the facing of the second deck in right field. Howard also extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Phillies recalled LHP Matt Smith from Single-A Clearwater and he pitched a scoreless ninth. Smith was acquired from the Yankees as part of the Bobby Abreu deal. Smith made two appearances at Clearwater and struck out all six batters he faced.

Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with a double and a homer at Philadelphia Monday.

Arizona’s Enrique Gonzalez (3-7) took a one-hitter into the sixth Monday, but lost his fifth consecutive decision and remained winless in his past nine starts. Gonzalez allowed only one hit in the first five innings, then gave up six in the sixth.

Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer Monday, his 22nd, and broke Jeff Conine’s franchise record for RBI by a rookie with 81.

Brian Moehler, making a spot start with rookie right-hander Ricky Nolasco sidelined by a sore hamstring, allowed seven hits and five runs in five innings. Moehler’s ERA in 17 starts this season rose to 6.95.

Pirates SS Jack Wilson missed his 10th straight game Monday at the Cubs with symptoms from an inner ear infection.

The Cubs still aren’t sure when RHP Wade Miller will make his season debut. Acquired in the off-season after shoulder surgery, Miller has been struggling to find “zip” in his pitches, Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

Cubs C Michael Barrett was still in the hospital Monday morning for a follow-up procedure after having surgery Saturday night to stop bleeding in his scrotum. He is on the 15-day DL after getting hit in the groin area by a foul tip on Saturday.

Salomon Torres got his second save in the last three days Monday at the Cubs. He previously hadn’t picked up a save since Oct. 2, 2005.

Paul Maholm (7-10) gave up four runs, three hits and three walks in five innings, retiring 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced, at the Cubs Monday.

Los Angeles recalled LHPs Eric Stults and Tim Hamulack from Triple-A Las Vegas and purchased the contract of RHP Giovanni Carrara from Single-A Vero Beach before Monday’s game.

Geoff Jenkins, making only his fifth start since manager Ned Yost benched him Aug. 11, singled against the Dodgers Monday. He finished 2-for-3.

Greg Maddux lost his first decision since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Milwaukee Brewers broke a 10-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory on Monday.

Manager Grady Little said the chances of RHP Chad Billingsley pitching in the team’s series against the NL-leading Mets beginning Friday in New York are “very slim.” Billingsley sustained a mild strain to his left oblique muscle on Sunday.

Jason Marquis gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings Monday at Washington. He walked one and struck out four, but emerged as the loser because Ramon Ortiz nealry pitched a no-hitter on the other side of the ball.

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano left Monday’s game against the Pirates after 1 1/3 innings with lower back stiffness. It was the shortest outing of his career. After a meeting with the trainer on the mound, Zambrano (14-6) left the game trailing 5-0. He gave up four earned runs, four hits and four walks and lost for the first time in five starts.

St. Louis CF Juan Encarnacion sat out with a sore hip. John Rodriguez started in right field, with Preston Wilson moving to center.

Gary Bennett (back) was able to play in Monday’s series opener at Washington.

Jarrod Washburn (8-13) lost for the second time in six starts Monday, giving up six runs on six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. “I think I threw the right pitches, just not in the right spot,” said Washburn.

A first-inning run was the only thing the Mariners got in seven innings against Tigers starter Nate Robertson on Monday. Robertson (12-11) allowed one run, eight hits and two walks. He had four strikeouts, all from Adrian Beltre, while improving to 2-5 in his last seven starts. “He was getting the ball up early, but then he started pounding it down and getting groundballs,” manager Jim Leyland said. “He made pitches when we needed him.”

Magglio Ordoñez hit a two-run homer in the first inning and the Tigers went on to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-2 Monday afternoon. “We don’t need him to carry us,” Leyland said after the game.

Adrian Beltre went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts Monday, one short of Miguel Olivo’s franchise record.

The Tigers did not activate LHP Mike Maroth as expected Monday.

Roger Clemens left Monday’s start against Philadelphia because of a strained right groin after allowing only one hit in five innings. Clemens felt something on the next-to-last pitch he threw in the fifth inning. “I feel better. The tenderness I felt has relaxed,” he said. “I’m still on for Saturday unless something changes. We’ll give it a chance to heal and see what happens.”

The Cubs activated pitcher Carlos Marmol from the 15-day disabled list and recalled infielder Scott Moore from Triple-A Monday.

RHP Brad Penny, who has an NL-leading 15 wins, is expected to get six more starts during the regular season. The Dodgers haven’t had a 20-game winner since Ramon Martinez went 20-6 in 1990. “You always want to win every game you pitch, but I’m not really thinking about 20,” Penny said. “My main goal was just to stay healthy all year. I’d much rather pitch in the postseason.”

Manager Grady Little said LHP Mark Hendrickson, 1-6 with a 4.99 ERA since being acquired by the Dodgers in July, would remain in the rotation for now and start Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

3B Garrett Atkins extended his hitting streak to 11 games on Suncay vs. the Dodgers. He’s 23-of-44 during the streak to raise his batting average to .323.

Jason Bay was 2-for-12 with eight strikeouts in the weekend series vs. St. Louis, but manager Jim Tracy said he wasn’t worried. Both of Bay’s hits came in the series finale Sunday. “We all go through things like that,” Tracy said. “Any of us that have ever walked to the plate, we go through things like that. You figure it out, that’s what you do.”

RHP Bob Wickman had his consecutive saves streak snapped at 15 games in the opener of a Sunday’s doubleheader. He came back to save the nightcap, though.

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