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Tigers, Twins Blow Series Of Opportunities, Gerald Laird Wins It In 13th

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

Detroit Tigers' Don Kelly (32) is congratulated in the Tigers' dugout after hitting a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Scott Baker during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

Tom Olmscheid - AP

about 18 hours ago: Detroit Tigers' Don Kelly (32) is congratulated in the Tigers' dugout after hitting a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Scott Baker during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

Gerald Laird's 13th-inning home run was the difference, as the Detroit Tigers pulled out a 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the finale of a three-game series. Read more at Bless You Boys and Twinkie Town.

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Gerald Laird's 13th-inning home run was the difference, as the Detroit Tigers pulled out a 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the finale of a three-game series.

Laird's blast was one of five Tigers home runs, as Don Kelly, Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Raburn also went deep. Casper Wells hit his first career homer to tie the contest in the ninth inning for Detroit, which had dropped the first two games of this set.

Wells was batting in the lineup spot of first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who left the game in the sixth inning with left biceps tendinitis. Cabrera is considered day-to-day.

Nick Blackburn (8-9), the Twins' scheduled starter for Friday's game against Texas, gave up Laird's homer to take the loss. Minnesota's lead in the AL Central over the idle White Sox shrank to 3 1/2 games.

"It's disappointing, you know," said Twins reliever Brian Duensing. "We had a lot of chances to win the ballgame, just couldn't get it done."

Following Wells' home run, Detroit took the first lead of extra innings in the 11th, which Brandon Inge began with a double off Duensing. He reached third on Peralta's base hit and scored on Raburn's single.

But the Twins rallied off Jose Valverde (2-3) to force a tie. With two on and one out, Michael Cuddyer hit a ball to third base. However, Inge bobbled the ball and his throw to second was too late, leaving the bases loaded.

Delmon Young then sent a ground ball to second base, where Will Rhymes had trouble fielding it cleanly. Rhymes then gained control and ran to the base, but ran into shortstop Ramon Santiago. He managed to sneak his toe on the bag for one out, but the possibility of a double-play had long disappeared, and Denard Span crossed the plate to make it a 9-9 game.

After a scoreless 12th inning, Laird came up with one out and crushed a low fastball to left-center field off Blackburn.

Valverde then made the lead stick, working a scoreless bottom half for the victory. He threw the final three innings and gave up two hits and an unearned run, walked one and struck out four.

"It was a heck of an effort," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "We hung in there, had a couple miscues. We fought through it, got some huge hits...A really nice win for us. It didn't look too good, obviously, but we hung in there and we snuck one."

Valverde was the last of six Tigers relievers, who pitched seven innings and gave up just three runs (two earned). Starter Justin Verlander went six frames and allowed six runs, only three of which were earned.

Twins starter Scott Baker gave up two runs in his first two innings, but was pulled after that because of right elbow pain. The short start and the extra innings put a strain on Minnesota's bullpen, but Jeff Manship did a nice job immediately after Baker, giving up one run in four innings.

It was a back-and-forth game throughout, and the teams were tied 3-3 after the top of the fifth inning.

But in the home fifth, the Twins seemingly took control. Joe Mauer and Cuddyer singled with one out before Young batted the ball to Verlander. A missed catch by Rhymes allowed Mauer to score, and Danny Valencia followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Cuddyer. Jason Repko later singled in Young to make it a 6-3 game.

Valencia's RBI single in the seventh pushed Minnesota's lead to four, but the Tigers made up the difference in one inning.

Randy Flores began the eighth on the mound for the Twins and gave up a one-out solo shot to Peralta. Matt Guerrier then came in to pitch but surrendered a homer to pinch-hitter Raburn.

Alex Avila followed with a single before Guerrier fanned Santiago, but the inning was prolonged when J.J. Hardy's throwing error allowed Austin Jackson to reach base. Rhymes made the Twins pay for the mistake, as his two-run single evened the contest at 7-7.

But Minnesota edged back in front in the home half, when Repko worked a leadoff walk. He moved to second on a bunt and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on Alexi Casilla's single off Phil Coke.

Jesse Crain then took the mound to close the game for the Twins, but Wells took an outside slider the opposite way for a home run. The hit made it an 8-8 game, which went to extra innings after Robbie Weinhardt worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth.

The game last four hours, 47 minutes...Minnesota still leads the season series, 9-6. The teams have one more series scheduled this season: September 24-26 in Detroit...Jackson and Raburn each had three hits for the Tigers...Cuddyer, Valencia and Jose Morales led the Twins with three hits apiece.

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Phillies Post Nine-Run Seventh Inning, Hold On In Narrow Defeat Of Rockies

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley, right, celebrates his grand slam against the Colorado Rockies with teammates, from left, Ben Francisco, Jimmy Rollins and Brian Schneider in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Denver on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. The Phillies won 12-11. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

Barry Gutierrez - AP

about 16 hours ago: Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley, right, celebrates his grand slam against the Colorado Rockies with teammates, from left, Ben Francisco, Jimmy Rollins and Brian Schneider in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Denver on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. The Phillies won 12-11. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

Chase Utley's grand slam to cap a nine-run seventh inning proved to be just enough to hold off the pesky Rockies, as Philadelphia hung on for a wild 12-11 win versus Colorado in a makeup game at Coors Field. Check out more at The Good Phight and Purple Row.

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Chase Utley's grand slam to cap a nine-run seventh inning proved to be just enough to hold off the pesky Rockies, as Philadelphia hung on for a wild 12-11 win versus Colorado in a makeup game at Coors Field.

The Phillies trailed by four runs heading into the top of the seventh where they exploded for a nine-spot on the Rockies' bullpen. Utley started the barrage with a run-scoring single, Ryan Howard blasted a two-run homer and Jayson Werth made it back-to-back with a solo shot.

Ben Francisco added a pinch-hit RBI single and Utley drove a 3-1 fastball from Matt Reynolds deep down the right-field line and inside the pole for a sudden 12-7 lead. Utley drove in half of Philadelphia's 12 runs.

"I was behind in the count and you want to challenge him but never enough so that he can put that good a wood on it," said Reynolds of the game-turning grand slam. "He made me pay for my mistake."

The surge made a winner out of Antonio Bastardo (1-0), who worked through a rough inning of relief in which he gave up a run on four hits. The Phils' bullpen went on to allow four more runs as Troy Tulowitzki's RBI groundout made it a one-run game in the ninth.

Brad Lidge was able to recover after walking Todd Helton with one out by fanning Clint Barmes and getting Ryan Spilborghs to ground into a force play at third for his 19th save.

The Phillies' sixth win in seven games, coupled with the Braves' loss to the Mets Thursday, moved the spread between the clubs to two games for top billing in the NL East.

"It means a whole lot," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel of the team's successful road trip. "It should help us when we get back home. We just got through getting swept by Houston before we left and that put a sour taste in our mouth. We have to go back home and have a good homestand."

The game was a makeup date for what was supposed to be the second half of a doubleheader on May 12 that was rained out. It extended the Phils' road stay where they've won 12 of their last 14 and included a swing up the west coast through San Diego and Los Angeles.

Carlos Gonzalez continued his hot hitting with his 31st home run amid a 3- for-5 night. Chris Iannetta and Dexter Fowler slugged second-inning home runs and knocked in three runs apiece for Colorado, which has lost three straight after winning seven of eight.

A combination of Joe Beimel, Reynolds and Manny Delcarmen (0-1) making his Rockies debut were responsible for the seventh-inning meltdown. But the Phils' pen wasn't much better.

In the bottom of the frame, Chad Durbin surrendered three runs on a Jonathan Herrera RBI single and a two-run base knock by Fowler. J.C. Romero issued a one-out walk in the eighth and Jose Contreras came on to load the bases with two away before escaping on Eric Young's fielder's choice groundout.

Lidge had a rough start to the ninth when Howard botched a grounder from Fowler. Gonzalez then singled through the right side to push Fowler to third, but the Rox could only manage the one run on Tulowitzki's grounder.

Colorado was off to a fast start with a three-run blast from Iannetta and Fowler's solo pop in the second off Phillies starter Joe Blanton.

Raul Ibanez brought in Werth with a two-out base hit in the fourth to get one back off Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin. Utley lifted a sacrifice fly an inning later for a 4-2 affair.

The Rockies were back at it in their half of the fifth, though, as Gonzalez led off with a home run and Seth Smith hit an RBI single to signal Blanton's end.

Philadelphia looked primed for a bunch of runs in the sixth after loading the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney was hit on the right hand with a pitch to force in one, but Jimmy Rollins grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Colorado then filled the bags with one away in its turn but managed only Tulowitzki's infield single to score a run as Helton struck out and Melvin Mora flied out.

Blanton allowed 10 hits and six runs -- four earned -- in 4 1/3 innings, while Chacin was charged with five hits and three runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 frames...Gonzalez has six homers and 14 RBI over a 10-game hitting streak and is the first in the majors this season to have an extra-base hit in 10 consecutive games...The Phillies have won 15 times in the last 19 regular- season meetings with Colorado...Fowler, Tulowitzki and Mora each had three hits for the Rox, who had 20 overall...Philadelphia banged out 15 hits and got three from Werth, who also scored three runs...Howard hit his 25th home run of the season, the fifth straight season he's reached the mark. Utley's longball was his 12th of 2010 while Werth hit his 19th.

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Mets Lose Johan Santana To Pectoral Strain, But Hold On To Beat Braves

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

New York Mets starter Johan Santana delivers to the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at Turner Field in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

Gregory Smith - AP

about 18 hours ago: New York Mets starter Johan Santana delivers to the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at Turner Field in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

Johan Santana left after five innings, but limited Atlanta to just one run as the New York Mets avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Braves with a 4-2 win. Read more at Amazin' Avenue and Talking Chop.

New York Mets ace Johan Santana was lifted from his Thursday start against the Braves after five innings of work and 65 pitches. The reason?

Santana has a strained pectoral muscleless than a minute ago via web

Santana, to that point, had allowed just one run on three hits, and was on track to have another long and effective start. The 31 year old southpaw owns a 2.98 ERA and an 11-9 record after still picking up the win.

Nothing is as yet known as to the severity of his strain, but given the way these things usually go, Santana could end up missing a start or two, as the Mets have little reason to push him very hard.

Santana was relieved by Elmer Dessens. Read more on Santana and all things Mets at Amazin' Avenue.

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C.C. Sabathia, Jonathan Albaladejo Complete One-Hit Shutout Of A’s

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Mark Lennihan - AP

1 day ago: New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

CC Sabathia became baseball's first 19-game winner with a one-hitter over eight innings as the Yankees completed a four- game sweep of Oakland with a 5-0 win. Check out more at Pinstripe Alley and Athletics Nation.

Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - CC Sabathia became baseball's first 19-game winner with a one-hitter over eight innings as the Yankees completed a four- game sweep of Oakland with a 5-0 win.

Sabathia (19-5) now has a streak of 21 unbeaten starts at home, during which time he's gone 16-0. The streak dates back to July 18, 2009 and is the longest in franchise history since Ron Guidry posted 16 straight winning decisions at home in 1985-86.

The 19 wins matches a career high for Sabathia, who has done it three times and for consecutive years.

The stout lefty yielded only a Mark Ellis single in the second inning, issued three walks and struck out five to win his sixth straight start dating back to an August 1 loss to Tampa Bay.

New York ran its win streak to six games -- the longest streak since a seven-game run from July 3-9 -- while increasing its lead over the idle Rays atop the American League East standings to 1 1/2 games.

Curtis Granderson hit two home runs and drove in three after entering the game in the second inning for Nick Swisher, who developed stiffness in his left knee. Jorge Posada opened the scoring with a solo blast in the second.

It was the Yankees' first four-game sweep of Oakland since September 5-8, 1985.

Dallas Braden (9-10) pitched well through five-plus innings before leaving with cramping on a hot day at Yankee Stadium that saw temperatures on the field in excess of 100 degrees. The southpaw was charged with only two hits and one run with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Athletics wrapped up a 10-game road trip at 4-6.

Posada and Granderson each hit solo home runs over the first six innings to back Sabathia's efforts on the mound. Granderson's two-run shot to right off Michael Wuertz in the seventh made it a 4-0 game.

Oakland advanced a runner as far as second only once in the first seven innings when Cliff Pennington reached second on a throwing error by Posada in the third inning.

Sabathia retired 15 of the next 16 batters following the miscue before putting the first two runners on in the eighth. He hit Jeff Larish with a pitch and walked Landon Powell, but set the next three batters down in order to complete his outing.

Austin Kearns produced an insurance run with an RBI single in the home half off right-hander Justin James, who was making his major league debut.

Jonathan Albaladejo allowed the A's leadoff man to reach in the ninth but quickly recovered to get the next three in order.

Sabathia eclipsed the 200-inning mark for the fourth consecutive season... Both Granderson and Posada have 17 home runs this year. Posada ended 2-for-3 with a walk...It was also the Yankees' second sweep of the A's this season and sixth overall of 2010...Braden got the best of the Yankees at home on April 22 with six innings of two-run ball, Oakland's lone victory in 10 meetings with New York this year. He was coming off his second career shutout and fifth complete game of the season on Friday in Texas, a four-hitter in which he did not walk a batter.

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Diamondbacks Drop Padres 5-2, Give San Diego Seventh Consecutive Loss

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Sean Keeley

From right to left, San Diego Padres' Nick Hundley, Adrian Gonzalez, coach Randy Ready, Aaron Cunningham, and Ryan Ludwick watch teammates bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, in Phoenix.  The Diamondbacks scored four runs on a grand slam in the seventh inning and defeated the Padres 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ross D. Franklin - AP

1 day ago: From right to left, San Diego Padres' Nick Hundley, Adrian Gonzalez, coach Randy Ready, Aaron Cunningham, and Ryan Ludwick watch teammates bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks scored four runs on a grand slam in the seventh inning and defeated the Padres 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Brandon Allen belted his first career grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat San Diego, 5-2, to complete a three-game sweep and extend San Diego's losing streak to seven.

For game recaps and analysis, visit Diamonbacks blog AZSnakePit and Padres blog Gaslamp Ball.

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Brandon Allen belted his first career grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat San Diego, 5-2, to complete a three-game sweep at Chase Field.

It was quite a 2010 debut for Allen, who was promoted from Triple-A Reno earlier Wednesday, the first day major league rosters can be expanded.

Barry Enright (6-2) gave up two runs and nine hits over seven innings for Arizona, which has won six of its last seven games. The rookie right-hander has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his 12 starts.

San Diego starter Mat Latos did not figure in the decision after yielding a solo home run to Chris Young among four hits in six full frames. He did match a career-high with 10 strikeouts.

The defeat extended San Diego's season-high losing streak to seven games. The National League West-leading Padres began the day four games ahead of second- place San Francisco. The Giants host Colorado later Wednesday.

Will Venable grounded a two-out single up the middle to plate Everth Cabrera and put San Diego up 2-1 in the top of the seventh.

Luke Gregerson (3-7) replaced Latos on the mound in the bottom of the inning and was lifted after he failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. Mark Reynolds walked, Miguel Montero reached on an error and Gerardo Parra hit an infield single, setting the stage for Allen, who crushed a 1-1 pitch to right field for the fifth home run of his career.

The Padres had runners on first and second with no out in the eighth, but Arizona reliever Aaron Heilman fanned Chase Headley and got Nick Hundley to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Juan Gutierrez pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

The game remained scoreless until Miguel Tejada homered off Enright to open the fourth. Young, though, tied the game with a two-out blast off the left- field foul pole in the sixth.

Parra had three hits...The Diamondbacks finished with an 8-10 record against San Diego in the season series, but were 7-2 at Chase Field...Latos has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last 14 starts.

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Aroldis Chapman Touches 104, Earns First Win As Reds Rally Past Brewers

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

Photo

Al Behrman - AP

Ryan Hanigan's three-run homer fueled a six-run seventh inning, as the Cincinnati Reds beat Milwaukee, 6-1, to complete a three-game sweep at Great American Ball Park. Check out more at Red Reporter and Brew Crew Ball.

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Ryan Hanigan's three-run homer fueled a six-run seventh inning, as the Cincinnati Reds beat Milwaukee, 6-1, to complete a three-game sweep at Great American Ball Park.

The win gave first-place Cincinnati an eight-game lead over the free-falling Cardinals in the National League Central standings.

The fateful seventh began on a promising note for Brewers starting pitcher Chris Narveson, who struck out Jonny Gomes. But he was lifted in favor of reliever Todd Coffey (2-3) following a walk to Ramon Hernandez.

Miguel Cairo greeted Coffey with a double that plated pinch-runner Brandon Phillips with the tying run. Paul Janish then reached on an infield single and Hanigan, pinch-hitting for rookie phenom Aroldis Chapman (1-0), followed by giving Cincinnati the lead with a blast to left field.

Mike McClendon replaced the ineffective Coffey and couldn't record an out as well, walking Drew Stubbs and yielding a single to Chris Heisey. Zach Braddock took over on the mound and walked Joey Votto to load the bases for Scott Rolen, who ripped a two-run single to right to put the Reds up 6-1.

Coming off an electric debut on Tuesday, Chapman struck out a pair in a flawless seventh to pick up his first major-league win in relief of Johnny Cueto, who scattered five hits and one run in six innings.

Narveson had allowed two hits, walked two and fanned six through 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander also knocked in Milwaukee's lone run with a single in the fifth.

The Reds have won four straight games and 14 of their last 18 overall...Milwaukee has dropped 11 of its last 12 games versus Cincinnati.

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Nyjer Morgan Suspended Eight Games For Recent Infractions, Including Role In Brawl

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

Washington Nationals' Nyjer Morgan, center, is led off the field after a brawl during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Wilfredo Lee - AP

1 day ago: Washington Nationals' Nyjer Morgan, center, is led off the field after a brawl during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

A blowout game between the Nationals and Marlins was marred by hit batsmen and a bench-clearing brawl when Nyjer Morgan charged the mound following a pitch behind his back. Morgan has since earned an eight-game suspension. For more on everything, check out Fish Stripes and Federal Baseball.

First, some background:

Clearly, Morgan was making himself something of a target. Chris Volstad and the Marlins got some retaliation early Wednesday night, when, in the fourth inning - with the score 14-3 Florida - Volstad beaned Morgan on the hip.

Morgan, though, stole second base, and then stole third base, an unusually brash advance for a player on a team down 11. So the next time he came up, in the top of the sixth and with the score 15-5, Volstad threw a pitch behind him.

Morgan looked up calmly at first, but then threw his bat away and charged the mound, throwing a few punches at Volstad before Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez came over and clotheslined the Nationals outfielder down. The benches cleared, and while no further punches were thrown, Morgan exited by shouting profanities at the crowd. He was ejected, along with Volstad, Edwin Rodriguez, and Jose Veras.

Nationals pitcher Doug Slaten was ejected for hitting Gaby Sanchez with a pitch in the seventh, but Sanchez walked to first and Slaten left the field without incident.

Be sure to check out Fish Stripes and Federal Baseball for more coverage. Nyjer Morgan is certainly facing a world of discipline.

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Jason Kendall To Be Out 8-10 Months Following Shoulder Surgery

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

Kansas City Royals' Jason Kendall, center, is hugged by teammate Yuniesky Betancourt, back left, after driving in the game-winning run with a single to left in the 10th inning during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 3-2. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

ED ZURGA - AP

11 days ago: Kansas City Royals' Jason Kendall, center, is hugged by teammate Yuniesky Betancourt, back left, after driving in the game-winning run with a single to left in the 10th inning during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 3-2. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

The Royals have given veteran backstop Jason Kendall a very heavy workload all season long, as they've wanted his experience to rub off on a developing pitching staff. However, they're going to have to do without him for the rest of the year - and probably some of 2011, too - after a major injury was discovered in his shoulder.

#Royals Ned Yost says Jason Kendall has extensive tear in rotator cuff. Surgery Friday. Out 8-10 months. Injury happened in July.less than a minute ago via txt

That Kendall played through such an injury comes as no surprise, given his gamer reputation. However, he's also batted just .221 since the All-Star break with a .528 OPS, so it seemed to be having some effect on his bat. He and the team will hope that surgery will correct what's wrong and allow him to come back at full strength in 2011, when he'll be in the second year of a two-year contract.

Brayan Pena and Lucas May will split catching duties the rest of the way. Read more on Kendall and the Royals at Royals Review.

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Manny Ramirez Singles, Gets Beaned In Chicago Debut As White Sox Rally To Sweep Indians

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Jeff Sullivan

Chicago White Sox's Manny Ramirez swings a misses at a pitch from Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, in Cleveland. Ramirez later took a called third strike. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Mark Duncan - AP

2 days ago: Chicago White Sox's Manny Ramirez swings a misses at a pitch from Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, in Cleveland. Ramirez later took a called third strike. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run eighth inning, as the Chicago White Sox completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 6-4 win at Progressive Field. Check out more at South Side Sox and Let's Go Tribe.

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run eighth inning, as the Chicago White Sox completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 6-4 win at Progressive Field.

Alex Rios and Alexei Ramirez each clubbed a solo shot for the White Sox, who have won five of seven and moved to within 3 1/2 games of Minnesota, which sits atop the American League Central Division. The Twins host Detroit on Wednesday.

Chicago starter Freddy Garcia left after four innings with a stiff lower back. The veteran righty allowed two runs -- one earned -- on four hits, walked one and struck out two. Tony Pena (4-2) spelled Garcia and allowed two runs -- one earned -- and five hits in three innings, but still picked up the win. Despite walking two in the bottom of the ninth, Chris Sale picked up his first big league save.

Manny Ramirez, making his much-anticipated White Sox debut, singled and was hit by a pitch in four plate appearances while batting fifth in the designated hitter's role. The slugger was officially acquired in a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week.

Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI single and Jordan Brown -- recalled from Triple-A Columbus before the game -- also knocked in a run with a single for Cleveland, which has lost four straight.

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco, making his first big league start of the 2010 campaign, took a tough no-decision after yielding three runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander, who was promoted from Columbus earlier on Wednesday, struck out four and walked one. He was acquired from Philadelphia last year as part of the Cliff Lee deal and went 0-4 with an 8.87 ERA in five starts in 2009.

Trailing 4-1, the White Sox exploded for four runs in the eighth to go in front. Alexei Ramirez started the inning with a one-out solo homer and Juan Pierre followed with a walk that ended Carrasco's outing. Rafael Perez entered and retired pinch-hitter Carlos Quentin before giving way to Justin Germano (0-1), who proceeded to walk Rios before Konerko hit a three-run homer to left that put Chicago up 5-4. Manny Ramirez was hit by a pitch and was lifted for pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza, who was thrown out trying to steal second.

Alexei Ramirez's sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth off Jensen Lewis gave the White Sox a two-run cushion. Lewis was also promoted from Columbus on Wednesday.

In the home ninth Sale came on and struck out the leadoff hitter, then walked Chris Gimenez and Michael Brantley. Cabrera grounded into a fielder's choice and Sale slammed the door by striking out the dangerous Shin Soo Choo.

Rios gave the White Sox a quick lead when his first-inning solo shot just cleared the left-field wall. Then in the second, Manny Ramirez led off and grounded out to short in his first at-bat with his new club.

The Indians pulled even in the third on Cabrera's single to right. Chicago went quietly in the fourth with Manny Ramirez taking a called third strike to end the frame.

Brown's run-scoring single in the fourth gave the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Pena took over for Garcia in the fifth and the Indians put up two more. Gimenez started the inning with a double and moved to third on Brantley's base hit. Cabrera bounced into a double play that chased in a run, then later in the inning, Choo, who doubled after Cabrera's twin-killing, scored on an error by Alexei Ramirez to make it 4-1.

Manny Ramirez led off the seventh with a single -- his first hit with the White Sox -- but was erased when Mark Teahen grounded into a double play.

Prior to the game, the White Sox promoted outfielder De Aza and catcher Tyler Flowers from Triple-A Charlotte, purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Gregory Infante from Double-A Birmingham and designated right-hander Clevelan Santeliz for assignment...The Indians went 3-6 on a nine-game homestand, but despite the series sweep are still 8-7 against the White Sox this season.

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Padres Drop Another To D-Backs, NL West Lead Cut To Four Games

Posted on 31 August 2010 by Rich Ramus

San Diego Padres' Chris Denorfia reacts after he was called out on a close play against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Paul Connors - AP

2 days ago: San Diego Padres' Chris Denorfia reacts after he was called out on a close play against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Diego drops its sixth straight game and sees its lead in the NL West trimmed from a season-high 6.5 games on Aug. 25 to four. Check out more at Gaslamp Ball and AZ Snakepit.

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Ian Kennedy pitched seven solid innings and the Diamondbacks used a balanced offensive attack to defeat the reeling San Diego Padres, 7-4, in the second of three games at Chase Field.

Kennedy (9-9) allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts for the Diamondbacks, who have won two straight and five of their last six games overall. Mark Reynolds hit a two-run homer while Miguel Montero and Gerardo Parra both finished with two RBI in the victory.

Starting pitcher Kevin Correia suffered the loss for the Padres, who have dropped six straight games and saw their lead atop the NL West fall to four games over San Francisco. The Giants beat the Rockies on Tuesday night.

Correia (10-10) was charged with six runs on six hits to go along with six strikeouts and three walks in 4 1/3 frames. Nick Hundley contributed two runs batted in for San Diego.

Trailing by one run, the Diamondbacks moved ahead for good with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kennedy drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Stephen Drew singled. A groundout moved both runners up one base and a walk to Kelly Johnson loaded the bases.

A single by Chris Young scored Kennedy, chasing Correia, and, with the bags still loaded, a ground-rule double off the bat of Montero gave Arizona a 5-3 lead. Reynolds was then intentionally walked, which again filled the bases, and Parra's two-run single into center field allowed Young and Montero to cross the plate and capped the uprising.

Kennedy got three straight groundouts in the top of the sixth and worked out of trouble in the seventh. With runners on the corners and one out, Kennedy fanned Miguel Tejada and got Adrian Gonzalez to fly out.

After Blaine Boyer pitched an easy eighth inning for Arizona, Sam Demel found trouble to start the top of the ninth. Demel yielded a leadoff walk to Everth Cabrera, who then scored when Hundley doubled to the gap in left-center.

That brought Juan Gutierrez onto the mound. The right-hander struck out Scott Hairston and induced consecutive groundouts by David Eckstein and Tejada.

Gutierrez notched his fifth save.

The Padres scored twice in the top of the first inning. With Tejada on first base and one out, Gonzalez doubled to left field and Tejada scored. The next batter was Ryan Ludwick, whose single plated Gonzalez.

A two-run blast by Reynolds, his 32nd home run of the season, tied the score in the bottom of the second. Montero singled leading off and trotted home when Reynolds drilled a fastball over the wall in right-center field.

Hundley's RBI double in the fourth gave the visitors a 3-2 advantage.

Correia lost his third straight decision...The Padres, who still lead the season series with the D'Backs by a 10-7 margin, have lost six of the eight games played in Phoenix...Gonzalez has 87 RBI this season.

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