Dan Johnson walk-off

There were two walk-off homeruns hit last night around the same time. In Tampa, Rays DH Dan Johnson finally swung the bat and connected for a walk-off against Boston Red Sox reliever Scott Atchinson for a Rays 3-2 win. Johnson had struck out looking in his first two at-bats against Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz. It was a pitcher’s duel between Buchholz and Matt Garza, who allowed a run on six hits in seven innings. After Boston had taken a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning on a Victor Martinez solo homerun off Joaquin Benoit, BJ Upton answered with a solo homerun to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning off Buchholz. The game stayed tied until Johnson’s heroics in the 10th inning. The Red Sox collected 10 hits, with Martinez and David Ortiz going 7-for-9.

In Cleveland, Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera delivered a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 10th inning off KC Royals reliever Jesse Chavez for the Indians 4-3 win. The Indians jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over Zack Greinke but he settled in to allow no runs after the 2nd inning (he went eight innings and allowed eight hits though he walked four). Rookie Jeanmar Gomez held the Indians to two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings (he allowed a Wilson Betemit two-run homerun in the 6th inning). Betemit drove in the tying run off Rafael Perez in the 8th inning and send the game into extra innings for Cabrera’s heroics.

Eduardo Nunez celebrates 1st homer

With the Rays win, the Red Sox dropped back to 5.5 games behind them in the American League East and wild card standings. The NY Yankees stayed tied with the Rays with their 12-9 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The Yankees offense jumped all over White Sox starter John Danks for eight runs in just 4.1 innings. Nick Swisher, Eduardo Nunez, and Marcus Thames all homered off Danks, with Nunez’ being his first Major League homer. The White Sox bullpen wasn’t a whole lot better. Yankees starter CC Sabathia wasn’t great but gave them enough for the victory. He allowed five runs on nine hits through seven innings (he won his AL-leading 18th game). The White Sox made the game close against Yankees relievers Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson but Mariano Rivera closed out the game with the tying run at the plate for his 26th save.

With the White Sox loss, the Minnesota Twins increased their lead in the AL Central to 4.5 games as they defeated the Seattle Mariners 1-0 earlier in the day. Nick Blackburn allowed just two hits in 8.2 shutout innings and newly acquired reliever Brian Fuentes arrived to strike out Russell Branyan to end the game. The hard luck loser was Doug Fister, who allowed a run in the 3rd inning on an RBI single from Denard Span.

Brett Myers of the Houston Astros set the franchise mark with his 27th consecutive start of six innings or more as he and the Astros defeated Johan Santana and the NY Mets 4-1. Carlos Lee provided the offense by connecting on a two-run homerun in the 5th inning (he drove in three runs). Astros rookie shortstop Tommy Manzella collected a career-high three hits.

The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to pummel the SF Giants pitching staff as they beat Barry Zito, one night after beating ace Tim Lincecum, 11-3. Zito allowed nine runs (seven earned) in just 3.2 innings and he walked five. Diamondbacks rookie starter Dan Hudson allowed just two runs on four hits through seven innings for the win (the one run coming on a Pablo Sandoval solo homerun in the 4th inning). Adam LaRoche, Mark Reynolds, and Miguel Montero drove in three runs each for the Diamondbacks. The Giants have fallen to 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild card (as the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 behind Joe Blanton’s pitching and Shane Victorino’s offense and defense). The Giants remain six games back of the Padres.

The Colorado Rockies are still in the race (though nine games back of the Padres) as they are just 4.5 games behind the Phillies for the wild card. The Rockies received solid pitching from Jhoulys Chacin, as he went seven innings while allowing just one run on four hits. Carlos Gonzalez delivered the huge blow, a two-run homerun in the 7th inning, as the Rockies beat the LA Dodgers 5-3. CarGo also collected a triple. Dodgers newly acquired catcher Rod Barajas made the game close with a two-run homerun off Huston Street in the 9th inning, but Street recovered to get Reed Johnson to fly out to end the game.

The Oakland A’s, trying to get closer to the AL West-leading Texas Rangers received a complete game shutout from Dallas Braden as the A’s beat the Rangers 5-0 to move to 8.5 games back. Braden allowed just four hits. Daric Barton provided all the offense Braden would need as he hit a two-run homerun off Rich Harden in the 3rd inning. Harden allowed four runs on eight hits in just 4.1 innings. Derek Holland did give the Rangers much needed relief as he went 4.2 one-run innings.