SAN FRANCISCO – Barry Zito pitched into the ninth inning and won his 150th career game against the Chicago Cubs 2-0 . Zito was relieved by Sergio Romo with one out in the ninth-inning. Romo got the last two outs. As Zito walked off the mound the San Francisco crowd cheered him wildly for his effort. “It feels good to have that support,” Zito said. “The fans here are obviously coming out in droves and supporting us through thick and thin. It really fires us up. That’s why we love to play at home so much.” Each team managed only four hits, but the Giants managed two runs on two base hits in the fifth inning in the eighth inning to seal the win.
WASHINGTON – they say it’s not how you start, but how you finish. Atlanta Braves starter Tommy Hanson gave up two home runs to the first two batters he faced today. Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper connected on consecutive pitches, becoming the first rookies in modern baseball history to homer in succession leading off a game, the Nats said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau. Hansen shut out the Washington Nationals over the next six innings and outpitched Nats starter Gio Gonzalez to earn a 3 – 2 victory.
PHILADELPHIA – It is safe to assume that Carlos Zambrano likes being a Miami Marlin. Zambrano homered and pitched into the eighth inning leading the Miami Marlins to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Hanley Ramirez homered in support of Zambrano’s pitching effort. Jose Reyes went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
MILWAUKEE — Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones each hit home runs to support the pitching of Pittsburgh Pirates starter James McDonald. The Pirates edged the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Sunday. Brewers slugger Ryan Braun was held out of the lineup for a second consecutive day after aggravating a right Achilles tendon injury and hurting his right hip sliding into second base on Friday night.
SAN DIEGO – Trevor Cahill threw a six-hit shutout and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 on Sunday. Paul Goldschmidt and Miguel Montero each homered to help Cahill and his second career shutout.
NEW YORK – Don’t look now but the New York Mets are sitting atop the National League east. Jonathan Niese struck out a career-high 10 in six scoreless innings and that’s the the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1. A three-run inning in the sixth help the Mets put the game out of reach. Although the St. Louis Cardinals had eight hits they were unable to do much with them.
