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Yankee Stadium to showcase baseball's best for the last time

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:26:28 GMT

Of course, adding even more intrigue to the event is the fact that the magical ballpark is in its final year of existence, as a brand new state of the art facility is slated to open next season across the street from the current East 161st St. & River Ave. location.

This also marks the first time that the All-Star Game has been played in a stadium's final year.

Morneau wins Home Run Derby amid Hamilton's fireworks

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:35:32 GMT

Hamilton smacked 28 homers in the first round, a single-round Home Run Derby record, which easily put him in the final with Morneau. But with the two-round totals erased for the final, Hamilton didn't settle into a groove and hit just three.

Morneau was the final addition to the Derby lineup and, ironically, had the fewest regular-season home runs of all the contestants with 14. He is the first Twins player to win the Home Run Derby, and just the third Twins player to take part in the contest. Tom Brunansky (1985) and Gary Gaetti (1989) were the others.

Pelfrey earns NL weekly honor

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:39:39 GMT

In two starts, Pelfrey allowed no runs or walks and just nine hits in 15 innings pitched. The 24-year-old right-hander also struck out 10, and won each start as the Mets went 7-0 during the time period to go into the All-Star break.

The starts continued Pelfrey's run of recent good play -- he has won his past six starts, and posted a 2.56 earned run average, improving to 8-6 with a 3.64 ERA on the season. It is the first career weekly honor for Pelfrey.

Tigers' Joyce tabbed as AL Player of the Week

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:36:18 GMT

Joyce, 24, earned the award for the first time after hitting .409 (9-for-22) with four home runs, four doubles and six runs batted in for the week. In a four-game weekend series against Minnesota, Joyce went 6-for-17 and clubbed three homers.

For the season, the Tampa native is hitting .266 with nine homers and 18 RBI in just 31 games with the Tigers.

Lee and Sheets to start All-Star Game

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:40:15 GMT

American League manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox and National League skipper Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies made the announcements at a Monday news conference, also laying out the starting lineups for their respective teams.

"There are a lot of pitchers this year that have had outstanding seasons but none match up to Cliff Lee," Francona said.

Mets marvelous again, blank Rockies to win ninth straight

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:05:26 GMT

Carlos Beltran had three hits, including a three-run homer, and Carlos Delgado added a two-run shot for the Mets, who have posted their longest winning streak since a nine-game run from April 16-25, 2000, the year they reached the World Series before losing to the Yankees. The current string is two shy of a franchise record, as the Mets last won 11 in a row during the 1990 season.

"We're playing good," said Beltran. "We're doing things right. We're pitching, we're hitting, we're getting hits with two outs. When you're capable of doing that you're going to win ball games." WithSunday's victory,the Mets (51-44) remained a half-game behind Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. The Phillies beat

Ailing Diamondbacks continue series with Brewers

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:18:21 GMT

Micah Owings was to start tonight for Arizona, but after experiencing tightness in his glute as the result of covering first base in Friday's start versus Florida, he will have his turn skipped tonight. Owings struggled during a bullpen session yesterday.

Instead, Yusmeiro Petit will toe the rubber for the Diamondbacks. The right- hander went 0-1 with a 4.70 earned run average during six relief outings earlier in the season and will make his first start of 2008 after being recalled last week.

Rockies, Padres battle again to get out of West basement

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:16:46 GMT

The Padres won the opener of this series on Monday to snap an eight-game skid while running the Rockies' slide to eight games as well. However, it was Colorado's turn on Tuesday, as it halted its losing streak with a 4-0 victory behind a gem from Aaron Cook.

Cook (11-5) yielded just five hits and struck out four batters en route to posting his first career shutout. Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras each had a hit and an RBI for the Rockies, who plated all four of their runs during the fifth inning.

Kuroda set to return for Dodgers' latest tilt with Astros

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:14:39 GMT

The club gets one player back tonight, with more coming on the horizon, when it resumes a four-game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Expected to be contenders in the National League West this year after adding Joe Torre as manager, the Dodgers instead have watched player after player land on the disabled list. The latest was outfielder Juan Pierre (left MCL) on Monday, and he joins a list that includes Brad Penny (right shoulder), Andruw Jones (right knee), Rafael Furcal (back), Nomar Garciaparra (left calf) and Jason Schmidt (right shoulder).

Role reversal: Ex-Ranger Ponson tries to halt Yankees' slide

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:13:23 GMT

Ponson was 4-1 with a 3.88 earned run average in nine starts with the Rangers before being designated for assignment on June 6 by the club after a series of transgressions.

Those include a reported incident at a bar in Florida and a poor reaction to being taken out early of a June 4 test in what ended up being his final start with the team.

Meche takes ball for KC at Baltimore's Camden Yards

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:03:17 GMT

Meche has yielded a total of just six runs -- five earned -- over a span of 20 innings in consecutive wins over Arizona, San Francisco and St. Louis. Factor in a six-inning no-decision against Texas on June 10 in which he gave up only one run, and the right-hander has produced a 2.08 earned run average through a four-start stretch.

In Friday's 7-1 home win over the Cardinals, Meche allowed just one run and six hits while issuing only one walk in seven innings of work.

Rays aim to extend division lead over BoSox

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:02:06 GMT

Tampa Bay entered this set with a slim half-game edge on the Red Sox for the top spot in the division, but the upstart Rays have extended the margin with back-to-back wins in the first two tests of this set. Matt Garza led the way for Tampa in Tuesday's matchup, with the talented young pitcher throwing seven outstanding innings to give his club a 3-1 decision.

Garza (7-4) allowed one unearned run and just five hits in his second straight dominating start. He struck out 10 Florida Marlins in a complete-game effort during Tampa Bay's 6-1 victory at Dolphin Stadium last Thursday.

Twins try to keep home success going versus Tigers

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:58:59 GMT

The American League Central contenders hope to keep that streak intact in this afternoon's rubber match of a three-game set with the division-rival Detroit Tigers from the Metrodome.

Since dropping two of three games at home to the Baltimore Orioles from June 3-5, the Twins have won nine times in 11 tries at the Metrodome and posted series victories over Washington, Arizona and Milwaukee.

Pale Hose put win streak on line vs. Tribe

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:57:55 GMT

Chicago kept up its winning ways by putting together a tremendous late comeback in Tuesday's tussle with the Tribe. The White Sox scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to pull out a 3-2 victory.

Joe Borowski (1-3) came on for Cleveland in the 10th to protect a 2-1 lead and retired the first two Chicago hitters before serving up a game-tying homer to Alexei Ramirez.

Mets send Pedro to hill in St. Louis

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:57:10 GMT

Martinez, who had major shoulder surgery last season and was limited to just five starts, began the 2008 season with a 3 1/3-inning outing against Florida on April 1. He then went back on the shelf before returning on June 3 against San Francisco.

He won his initial two decisions over three starts by mid-June, but has since lost two straight trips to the hill while allowing 12 runs and 15 hits in 10 innings against Colorado and the New York Yankees.

Cubs try to get back on track versus Giants

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:55:57 GMT

Dempster battled through his shortest outing since joining the Chicago rotation on Friday against the rival White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, yielding eight runs and seven hits in just 2 1/3 innings of work.

The 10-3 defeat dropped Dempster to 0-3 in seven road starts this season, and 9-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 17 trips to the mound this season. Dempster was unbeaten (4-0) in six starts before taking on the Pale Hose. The left-hander and former closer is 2-6 with a 4.50 earned run average and four saves in 17 career appearances (seven starts) against San Francisco.

Phillies hope to stay hot in Atlanta

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:55:00 GMT

Philadelphia swept a three-game set in Dixie from June 6-8, then handed the Braves an 8-3 loss on Tuesday in the series opener. Shane Victorino homered and drove in four runs to lead the Phillies, who won for just the third time in 12 tries, but still maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over the Florida Marlins for the top spot in the National League East standings.

Pat Burrell also homered and knocked in two runs, while starter Kyle Kendrick allowed three runs and seven hits over six-plus innings of work to record the win. The right-hander tossed six scoreless frames before allowing three runs in the seventh inning for Philadelphia, which is 3-4 on a nine-game road trip and 23-21 away from the City of Brotherly Love in 2008.

Reds send Thompson to hill versus Pirates

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:53:44 GMT

The 22-year-old, an eighth-round draft pick of the Montreal Expos in 2003, debuted with five innings of scoreless ball in the Reds' 6-0 defeat of the New York Yankees in the Bronx on June 21.

He returned six days later and suffered his first loss, allowing eight hits and four runs in five innings of a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Mariners wrap set with Blue Jays

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:52:55 GMT

Seattle has won four of five and six of its last eight games, including Tuesday's 7-6 victory over the Jays in the second test of this series. Willie Bloomquist was the hero with the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, as the Mariners rebounded from a 2-0 loss in the series opener.

Adrian Beltre finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Richie Sexson also homered for the Mariners, who are 1-1 on a seven-game homestand and 16-25 in the Emerald City this season. Yuniesky Betancourt added a pair of RBI in the win and starter Ryan Rowland-Smith surrendered three runs on four hits in just 3 2/3 innings. Brandon Morrow earned the win in relief with a scoreless ninth.

Saunders, Angels shoot for series win over rival A's

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:52:11 GMT

Saunders has been a huge surprise for the AL West-leading Angels this season, having pitched to an 11-4 mark with a 3.06 earned run average through 16 starts. He hasn't dropped back-to-back trips to the hill all season and had a personal two-start winning streak come to an end the last time out on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was reached for three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in five innings of a 6-0 defeat.

The left-hander, who sports a 4-0 record with a 2.22 ERA in four outings against division opponents in 2008, is 3-1 with a 4.24 earned run average in six career starts against the Athletics. Saunders defeated the A's on April 29 this season at Angel Stadium with eight sh

Marlins, Nationals to conclude set with midweek matinee

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:35:20 GMT

A 25-year-old Californian and former fourth-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs (2001), Nolasco is unbeaten in four starts since June 5, winning three of them while allowing 23 hits and six earned runs in 29 2/3 innings.

He was 1-3 over his first seven outings of the season, then improved his record with a 7-3 defeat of the Nationals May 9 in Washington. In that game, Nolasco gave up four hits and a run while striking out six in six innings.

Twins cool off Tigers

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:57:59 GMT

Scott Baker (5-2) earned the win after he allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts for the surging Twins, who rebounded from Monday's 5-4 loss in the series opener and have won 12 of their last 14 games. In the process, Minnesota also halted the Tigers' six-game win streak. Alexi Casilla added three hits, an RBI and a run scored in the win.

"This was big, especially within our division," said Baker. "These games hold the same amount of value as wins late in the season. We want to continue to win these games and end the first half (of the season) on a good note." Marcus Thames homered for the Tigers, who lost for only the second time in their last 10 games overall. Carl

Kent gives Dodgers a victory over the Astros

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:31:16 GMT

Russell Martin was 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and three runs scored, including a two-run homer, while Kent finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. James Loney added two hits and an RBI for Los Angeles, which snapped a two-game slide.

Chan Ho Park (4-2) picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless frames.

Rays place P Percival on DL

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:22:56 GMT

Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays placed reliever Troy Percival on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain following Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Percival, who was on the shelf earlier this season with the same injury, left Monday's 5-4 win over the Sox with two out in the ninth after aggravating the strain attempting to cover third base.

Bloomquist's RBI single in ninth lifts M's over Toronto

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:20:39 GMT

Raul Ibanez worked a walk off Scott Downs (0-2) to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position when Jose Vidro laid down a bunt.

After intentionally walking Adrian Beltre, who was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the game, Jays manager Cito Gaston went to the bullpen and Shawn Camp. But, Bloomquist greeted the reliever by lacing the game-winner into the gap in left-center.