Jason Giambi walk-off hr
Jason Giambi made sure that the Colorado Rockies won their 10th straight game. With a runner on base and two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Giambi hit a pinch-hit two-run homerun for the Rockies 4-2 walk-off victory. The Arizona Diamondbacks received great starting pitching from Ian Kennedy as he pitched six shutout innings while allowing just two hits but the Diamondbacks bullpen allowed four runs in less than three innings.
The SF Giants and San Diego Padres finished their four-game series at Petco Park. The finale marked the aces facing off: Tim Lincecum of the Giants against Mat Latos of the Padres. Lincecum was dominant in seven innings of work. He allowed one run on seven hits while striking out nine as the Giants took three out of four from the Padres to sit tied atop of the National League West standings. Lincecum also went 1-for-2 with two RBIs at the plate. Latos struggled as he allowed five runs on seven hits through just four innings (he threw 86 pitches). The Padres now head to Coors Field for a matchup with the Rockies (who sit just 1.5 games back in the NL West).
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run double off Cincinnati Reds closer Francisco Cordero in the top of the 9th inning for a Pirates 3-1 lead. The Reds loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th inning but Chris Heisey took strike three from Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan to end the game. Reds starter Johnny Cueto was solid as he pitched seven shutout innings. He allowed just three hits while striking out seven.
The Blue Jays celebrate
The Tampa Bay Rays took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 9th inning off Toronto Blue Jays closer Kevin Gregg on a BJ Upton sacrifice fly. However in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Blue Jays got to Rays closer Rafael Soriano. Aaron Hill led off the inning with a single and Adam Lind followed with a two-run walk-off homerun. Soriano threw just five pitches in the Rays 5-4 loss (in which they had a chance to retake first place in the American League East). Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum was solid as he allowed three runs on six hits while striking out six through six innings. Rays starter Jeff Niemann struggled with his command through five innings as he walked four (though he only allowed two hits).
Cliff Lee returned to the Texas Rangers after missing a start and was dominant as he defeated the visiting NY Yankees 4-1. The Rangers swept the Yankees in Arlington. Lee allowed just one run on two hits through eight innings. He was solid courtesy of 14 ground ball outs. Yankees spot-starter Dustin Moseley was solid and matched Lee until the 7th inning when the Rangers got to him for three runs. The go-ahead run for the Rangers was scored on a bunt single by Julio Borbon with a runner on third base and two outs. Rangers rookie closer Neftali Feliz was also dominant as he struck out the side in the 9th inning for his 36th save (he struck out Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, and Lance Berkman).
The Philadelphia Phillies moved into sole possession of first place with a 3-0 victory over the NY Mets. Phillies starter Roy Oswalt was dominant as he pitched a complete game shutout. He allowed four hits while striking out six. Jonathon Niese was the hard-luck loser as he allowed three runs on eight hits through seven innings while striking out six. He also went 1-for-1 at the plate with a walk.
St. Louis Cardinals starter Klye Lohse and Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson were locked up in a pitcher’s duel until the Cardinals scored four runs in the top of the 5th inning to take a 6-1 lead. Hudson lasted just five innings and was battered by two solo homeruns off the bat of Albert Pujols. The middle of the order for the Cardinals (Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Colby Rasmus) went a combined 6-for-13 with four runs scored and three RBIs. Lohse allowed two runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings. He also went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
The Cardinals moved to six games back of the Reds in the NL Central and 6.5 games back of the Braves in the wild card. The Braves hold a one game lead in the wild card over both the Giants and Padres, and a 2.5 game lead over the Rockies.