MIAMI – Ben Zobrist drove in four runs with two home runs, scored four runs, reached base five times, Jose Molina and Elliot Johnson had three RBIs each and the Tampa Bay Rays pounded the Miami Marlins 13-4 , Marlins starter Carlos Zambrano gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings of work.
He left the game in the third, with lower back stiffness. Zobrist hit his first home run of the evening following a visit from the Marlins trainer and manager Ozzie Guillen. Zobrist hit his second homer to right field in the fifth — another two-run shot for a 9-0 lead. Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore (3-5) struck out nine and allowed four runs in six innings.
ST. LOUIS – Carlos Beltran hit his 17th home run and Kyle Lohse allowed just three hits in 7 2/3 innings of work and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cleveland Indians 2-0 . Michael Brantley had to base hits for the Indians to extend his hitting streak to 17 games . Lohse through 105 pitches 66 for strikes and Jason Motte came on in the ninth inning for his 11th save.
DENVER – The Los Angeles Angels are starting to see the Albert Pujols they hoped they would when they signed him this winter. pools drove in four runs with a home run and a single, rookie of the year candidate Mike Trout had three hits including a two-run single and the Angels beat the Colorado Rockies 11-5. Pujols now has nine home runs on the season, all of which have come in the last five weeks. Angels starter Dan Haren pitched into the sixth inning allowing four runs on 10 hits and striking out four. From there the Angels bullpen held the Rockies to one run for the victory.
CINCINNATI – Prince Fielder‘s eighth inning RBI single put the Detroit Tigers up 3-2 and they held on for the victory against the Cincinnati Reds. Joaquin Benoit pitched a perfect eighth, and Jose Valverde a perfect ninth for his 11th save of the season. Tigers starter Justin Verlander pitched six innings and struck out nine, allowing two earned runs. He threw 127 pitches for a no decision. Fielder homered in the fourth for the Tigers, and Ramon Santiago homered in the second.
SAN FRANCISCO – Ryan Vogelsong may not be the highest-paid pitcher on the San Francisco Giants staff, but he may be one of the more consistent. Vogelsong pitched into the eighth inning to win his fifth straight decision as the Giants downed the Texas Rangers 5-2. Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli each homered for the Rangers in a losing effort.
ATLANTA – Tony Hansen turned in a strong effort and the Atlanta Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 for their sixth straight win. The Braves are now 8-1 since their long losing streak and find themselves just a game behind the Washington Nationals in the National League East. was a Batista hit his 18th home run of the yearto close a Toronto lead to 3-2, but it wouldn’t be enough. Hansen pitched eight innings allowing just two earned runs and Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save of the season.
SEATTLE – Last night the Los Angeles Dodgers were no-hit by the Seattle Mariners. Today the Dodgers had 14 hits and starter Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 in the Dodgers beat the Mariners 8-3. Kershaw allowed three runs over seven innings of work. Jerry Hairston Jr. had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in five in the victory.
NEW YORK – the New York Yankees won their third game in a row and slipped by the New York Mets 4-2 . Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson each homered for the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez had an RBI single. Phil Hughes pitched into the seventh inning allowing two earned runs and striking out six. From there for Yankee relievers held the Mets in check and Rafael Soriano recorded his ninth save of the season.
CHICAGO – Chris Sale pitched eight shutout innings, allowing four hits and walking none and the Chicago White Sox beat the hapless Houston Astros 10-1 . Adam Dunn hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to lead the offensive barrage. Gordon Beckham had three RBIs and Alejandro De Aza finished with four hits for the White Sox.
BOSTON – Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out eight batters but also gave up four earned runs and the Washington Nationals beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 . Nationals starter Geo Gonzalez pitched into the seventh inning allowing two hits and no earned runs. The Red Sox have lost five of six. The Nationals look for the sweep on Sunday of the Red Sox.
BALTIMORE – Adam Jones hit two-run homer in the 12th inning and the Baltimore Orioles walked off in victory over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4. Jones had been slumping and was in and over 18 drought when he had a base hit in the ninth-inning. Jim Thome hit his 605th career home run on the first pitch in the fourth inning for the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins and Hector Luna also homered for the Phillies.
MINNEAPOLIS – Trevor Plouffe had four RBI as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago Cubs 11-3. In his past 14 games, Plouffe is hitting .313 with six homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs. Scott Diamond threw six shutout innings for the Twins and struck out five. He did not walk a batter. Alfonso Soriano homered for the Cubs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE – Ross Ohlendorf pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief allowing just one run and striking out four to lead the San Diego Padres over the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 . Huston Street saved his fifth game of the season for the Padres.
