Will Venable scores

The National League West leading San Diego Padres have now won 10 of 11 as they swept the four game series at Wrigley. The Padres received a dominant pitching performance from Mat Latos, as he allowed just two runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out 10. Chicago Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano was just as dominant as he allowed just one run on four hits in six innings. However reliever Sean Marshall could only get one out in the 7th inning while allowing four runs.

The fifth and final run for the Padres scored on a wacky play. With runners on second and third and one out, Chris Denorfia grounded into a force out as third baseman Aramis Ramirez threw the runner on third (Chase Headley) out running home. Catcher Koyie Hill tug out Headley looked at Will Venable on third base, but turned his back and never called time out. With no one covering home plate, Venable raced in to score.

The SF Giants desperately needed a win in the final game of their series in Philadelphia. They got what they needed with a dominant pitching performance from left-hander Jonathon Sanchez. Sanchez did not allow his first hit until Shane Victorino singled in the 3rd inning and did not allow another hit until Victorino again singled in the 9th inning. Sanchez was removed in the middle of Placido Polanco’s at-bat in the 9th inning and the Phillies collected two hits and two runs off Giants reliever Sergio Romo, but closer Brian Wilson got Raul Ibanez to fly out to end the game.

Sanchez had the Phillies offense off-balance all night as they weakly popped out, took good pitches, or were swinging at the first pitch to get themselves out. Phillies starter Cole Hamles struggled for the first time in seven starts as he allowed five runs in five innings (three coming in the first inning). Rookie Buster Posey collected two hits and two RBIs, Freddy Sanchez also had two hits, and Pablo Sandoval added a solo homerun to cap the Giants scoring. The Giants climbed to a game back of the Phillies in the wild card race. The Phillies had their 100th consecutive sellout.

The Texas Rangers continue to struggle as they lost their fourth game in a row and fifth game to the Baltimore Orioles this season. O’s rookie left-hander Brian Matusz continued the rotation’s run of three straight eight inning performances. Matusz dominated the potent Rangers offense, as he pitched eight shutout innings while allowing just five hits and he struck out six. Rangers starter Colby Lewis held the O’s scoreless until the 7th inning when the O’s scored four runs.

The Cincinnati Reds continue to win and score runs in Arizona. Last night, rookie Travis Wood returned to the Reds rotation and dominated the Diamondbacks, going 6.1 innings while allowing just one run (on a Mark Reynolds homerun) on four hits while striking out six. The Reds offense scored four runs in the 4th inning and another five runs in the 8th inning, which was needed as the Diamondbacks scored four runs in the bottom of the 8th inning. However the Reds held on for a 9-5 win, increasing their lead in the NL Central to 3.5 games over the idle St. Louis Cardinals.

The Chicago White Sox finally defeated the Minnesota Twins as they pounded out 11 runs and 21 hits (15 came off Twins starter Carl Pavano) in their 11-0 pummeling of the Twins. White Sox starter Mark Buehrle pitched seven shutout innings. Paul Konerko went 5-for-5 with a homerun, four RBIs, and three runs scored while four other players (Juan Pierre, Omar Vizquel, Mark Teahen, and Alexei Ramirez) collected three hits each.

Cliff Pennington's double

With the NY Yankees posting a 9 run 6th inning against the visiting Detroit Tigers on their way to an 11-2 victory (and Phil Hughes’ 15th win of the season), the Tampa Bay Rays needed a win out in Oakland. The Rays got to A’s starter Trevor Cahill with two homeruns (a two-run homer from Carlos Pena and solo shot from Evan Longoria), which gave the Rays a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. In that inning, Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine was removed with two men on base for reliever Dan Wheeler. Wheeler proceeded to give up those two runs and one of his own, capped by a Cliff Pennington two-run double. The A’s would hold on for a 4-3 win, sending the Rays to a game behind the Yankees in the American League East.