CarGo slides into third

The Atlanta Braves stayed atop the National League East as they defeated the NY Mets 9-3. The Braves received a solid pitching performance from Jair Jurrjens, as he allowed three runs on six hits through 5.2 innings while striking out eight (though he did walk six). The Braves bullpen was solid, going 3.1 shutout innings. Offensively, the Braves banged out 14 hits with Jason Heyward collecting four hits and four RBIs (while hitting his 16th homerun) while Omar Infante, Martin Prado, Brian McCann, and Derek Lee each had two hits.

With the Braves win, the Philadelphia Phillies needed a win out west against the LA Dodgers. Instead they were again dominated by Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda went into the 8th inning for the second time in his career without giving up a hit.

Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino collected the Phillies first hit, a hard single to right field (it was a huge hit for Victorino who has not been hitting from the left side of the plate). Hong-Chih Kuo would relieve Kuroda and close out the one-hitter. Kuroda also collected his first hit of the season against the Phillies Roy Halladay. Halladay was not on on Monday, as he allowed ten hits and three runs in seven innings.

Rod Barajas first pumps Hiroki Kuroda

New Dodgers catcher Rod Barajas hit a solo homerun off Halladay to continue his torrid pace against Phillies pitching this season.

The first place Cincinnati Reds continue to stay hot as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 in ten innings. The Reds beat future MLB Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, as Jay Bruce delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Bruce also homered in the game as he went 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot (rookie Chris Valaika also went 3-for-5 batting behind Bruce). Juan Francisco of the Reds also added a pinch-hit homerun in the 6th inning.

The St. Louis Cardinals continue to slide further and further behind the Reds and the wild card leading Phillies as they lost again, this time to the Houston Astros. JA Happ of the Astros pitched a complete game two-hit shutout. Happ walked one while striking out four. Astros rookie first baseman Brett Wallace went 3-for-3 with an RBI.

The San Diego Padres also continue to slide (they lost their 5th game in a row) as they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2. The only offense the Padres received was a two-run homerun from Miguel Tejada in the 1st inning off Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders. Saunders settled down from there, going eight innings and allowing just the two runs on ten hits. Mark Reynolds hit two homeruns as he went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and Chris Young and Miguel Montero each went 2-for-4 for the Diamondbacks.

The SF Giants received great starting pitching from Jonathon Sanchez against the Colorado Rockies. Sanchez went eight shutout innings and allowed just five hits. Jorge De La Rosa was in line for the hard-luck loss as he allowed one run on four hits through seven innings.

However in the top of the 9th inning, things fell apart for the Giants. Sanchez walked leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler, ending his night, which brought on closer Brian Wilson. Carlos Gonzalez hit a broken bat fly ball to right field that Cody Ross broke in on and could not revert back fast enough.

The ball sailed over his head, with Fowler scoring the tying run and Gonzalez heading for third base. The relay throw from Freddy Sanchez hit Gonzalez and bounced into the seats, sending Gonzalez home to score the go-ahead run. CarGo again came through for the Rockies as he legitimizes himself for MVP talk. The Rockies and closer Huston Street held on for the 2-1 win and moved 3.5 games behind the Phillies for the NL wild card.

The Texas Rangers received 7.2 shutout innings from CJ Wilson, as they defeated the KC Royals 3-0. Wilson allowed just two hits and struck out six (though he walked four). Andres Blanco went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Josh Hamilton, Elvis Andrus, and Bengie Molina each collected two hits.

Evan Longoria hugs Carlos Pena after homer

The NY Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays still continue to be tied atop the American League East and wild card standings. The Yankees beat the red-hot Trevor Cahill of the Oakland A’s 11-5. Cahill allowed eight runs on nine hits through just four-plus innings. Mark Teixeira returned to the lineup to hit a homerun off Cahill, as did Robinson Cano (they went back-to-back in the 3rd inning). Marcus Thames homered for the sixth time in six games for the Yankees. Javier Vazquez earned the win with 4.2 two hit innings as he struck out six.

The Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3. Rookie Rays starter Wade Davis has been great since June, as he has not lost, and that continued on Monday night. Davis allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three. Carlos Pena crushed a three-run homerun in the 3rd inning off Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil. Pena also added a sacrifice fly. Evan Longoria contributed two more hits.