ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Matt Moore combined Burke Badehop and Brandon Gomes for a one hitter against the Miami Marlins and beat the in state rivals 11-0 . The Rays had been struggling to score runs recently, scoring only nine runs in their previous three games, but exploded tonight for 11 runs including 8 of those runs with two out.
Ben Zobrist extended his multi-hit streak to five games, the best of his career, including a solo home run in the 5th inning. Moore struck out eight in seven innings of work, while walking three and giving up the lone hit. At one point more retired 13 batters in a row. Moore has now won three consecutive decisions and four of his last five. Carlos Pena walked four times and scored four runs for the Rays.
MINNEAPOLIS – Martin Maldonado hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to break a tie to help the Milwaukee Brewers slipped by the Minnesota Twins 5-3. Nelson Liriano was pitching no-hit baseball into the sixth when Ryan Braun homered to center, a three-run shot to put the Brewers up 3-2 . Trevor Plouffe then hit his second home run of the evening in the sixth inning to tie the game 3-3 setting up Malonando’s dramatic home run in the ninth. Yovani Gallardo had a quality start for the Brewers and struck out seven. Liriano struck out six and allowed three run. Plouffe has now homered in four consecutive games and six out of his last seven games and raised his batting average 42 points during that stretch.
WASHINGTON – the New York Yankees came into their series with the Washington Nationals riding a six-game winning streak. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson drove in three runs, and Derek Jeter added two hits to lead the Yankees their seventh consecutive win over the Nationals 7-2 . Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez (8-3) allowed three runs and five hits in six-plus innings, walking two and striking out eight.
ATLANTA – Brian McCann and Andrelton Simmons each hit home runs to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 . Craig Kimbrel and his 19th save of the season for the Braves.
CLEVELAND – Justin Masterson pitched seven strong innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 to break a three-game losing streak.
CHICAGO – With the possibility of a trade hanging over his head, Ryan Dempster pitched four hit baseball for seven innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 . “I’m not naive,” Dempster said. “I’m not oblivious to what’s going on.”
NEW YORK – Jay Bruce hit an inside the park home run to lead the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets 7-3 . Mets outfielder Jason Bay was injured on the play when he crashed into the left-field wall. They left the game with a possible concussion. The victory was the fourth in a row for the Reds after sweeping the Indians earlier this week.
