The NY Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays battled into extra innings on Saturday afternoon. Both teams’ starters were solid. For the Yankees, Andy Pettitte allowed two runs on five hits in 7.2 innings while striking out ten.
Aaron Hill is mobbed by teammates
Pettitte’s only mistakes were the two solo homeruns to Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez. For the Blue Jays, Ricky Romero allowed just two runs on five hits in eight innings while striking out seven. Romero allowed a two-run homerun to Derek Jeter in the fifth inning. The score would stay tied 2-2 until the 14th inning when with one out Aaron Hill delivered an RBI single for the 3-2 walk-off victory.
Jon Niese returned to the NY Mets rotation and was solid against the Florida Marlins. Niese allowed just one run on six hits in seven innings of work. He struck out six. The Mets won the game 6-1 as David Wright hit a two-run homerun in the third inning. Rookie Mets first baseman Ike Davis went 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
Colby Rasmus is mobbed by teammates
The St. Louis Cardinals scored four runs in the first inning off Milwaukee Brewers starter Chris Narveson, but could not muster anymore runs off him. The Brewers chipped away to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning. Cardinals rookie starter Adam Ottavino allowed two runs on five hits in five innings. The game would stay tied until the 11th inning when the Cardinals Colby Rasmus delivered his third hit of the game for a walk-off victory (it was the Cardinals third straight hit in the 11th inning).
In Washington, the Nationals faced the Cincinnati Reds as both teams were throwing rookie pitchers. Luis Atilano took the mound for the Nationals and Mike Leake took the mound for the Reds. The game was a pitcher’s duel as both rookies pitched like seasoned veterans.
Atilano allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in seven innings while striking out six. Leake, who has yet to lose a game in his short professional career, allowed an unearned run in seven innings while striking out five. Leake also went 2-for-3 at the plate to raise his average to .417. Leake improved to 5-0 on the season as the Reds scored three runs in the eighth inning to win 5-1.
The Cleveland Indians are 8-3 against the Chicago White Sox this season but are just 13-30 against the rest of MLB. Mitch Talbot of the Indians allowed one run on six hits in seven innings to improve to 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA against the White Sox in three starts this season. White Sox starter Jake Peavy also pitched well as he allowed just two runs (one scoring on a controversial balk call) in seven innings.
Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox continues his dominance. Last night against the Baltimore Orioles he pitched 6.1 scoreless innings. Lester allowed just four hits. The Red Sox offense did not get going until late in the game. The game was scoreless until the seventh inning as Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie was just as good as Lester. Guthrie ended up allowing two runs on five hits in 7.1 innings.
He allowed a solo homerun to Kevin Youkilis in that seventh inning. Newly recalled outfielder Josh Reddick delivered a triple and then scored on a Marco Scutaro single in the eighth. The Red Sox busted out in the ninth inning off the Orioles bullpen for six runs, capped by pinch-hitter Darnell McDonald’s two run double. The Red Sox are now 11-0 versus the Orioles this season.
Dontrelle Willis in first dbacks game
Newly acquired starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis made his Arizona Diamondbacks debut on Saturday night versus the Colorado Rockies. Willis’ wildness was still there, but he was effective. He did not allow a run in six innings though he walked four and gave up five hits. Willis also went 1-for-2 at the plate. The Diamondbacks scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead capped by a pinch-hit two-run double from Ryan Roberts. The Diamondbacks held on for the 4-3 victory as they have now won two in a row after losing 10 in a row.