Baseball

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Latest Headlines

Nunez’s RBI lifts Yanks over Mariners 2:40 AM

NEW YORK — Eduardo Nunez certainly will remember his first big league start.

Strasburg injured in Nats’ rout of Phils 2:40 AM

PHILADELPHIA — Rookie ace Stephen Strasburg exited early, wincing with a strained tendon in his right forearm, and the Washington Nationals went on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-1 Saturday night.

Ramirez helps Cubs beat Braves August 21

CHICAGO (AP) — Aramis Ramirez had three hits and two RBIs, Tom Gorzelanny pitched seven strong innings and the Chicago Cubs held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday. The win didn't come without another scare for the Cubs. Reliever Sean Marshall entered with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning. After striking out pinch-hitter Melky Cabrera, Brooks Conrad followed with a long fly off the center-field ivy. Derrek Lee and Alex Gonzalez came around to score. David Ross was held at third but was waved in when shortstop Starlin Castro dropped the relay throw for an error to make it 5-4. Marshall intentionally walked Omar Infante and hit Jason Heyward with a pitch to load the bases again. But he ended the inning by getting Martin Prado to ground out to shortshop. After giving up a three-run triple to Rick Ankiel in the ninth in Friday's loss, Cubs closer Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth for his 22nd save in 27 opportunites. Gorzelanny (7-7) allowed one run and seven hits. He struck out nine, walked two and retired the final six batters he faced after giving up an RBI double to Alex Gonzalez in the sixth inning. Heyward had two hits for the NL East-leading Braves, who lost for just the third time in 11 games. The Cubs ended an eight-game skid at home and won just for the second time at Wrigley Field this month. Braves starter Tommy Hanson (8-9), who came into the game with a 1.93 ERA in eight starts since July 9 despite going winless in that span, allowed five runs, four earned, and seven hits. He struck out four and walked four. He is 0-4 in his last nine starts and has not won since July 3 against Florida. Kosuke Fukudome led off the first inning with a double into the left-center gap. With two outs, Ramirez lined a single to left. Fukudome scored from second as left fielder Matt Diaz's throw was cut off by third baseman Martin Prado. Prado then had a chance to get Ramirez trying to take second on the throw, but Prado's throw was off the mark and the ball wound up in center field allowing Ramirez to advance to third. Tyler Colvin followed with a hit to second baseman Omar Infante, Infante fielded the ball in the outfield grass and his late throw went over the head of Derrek Lee at first as Ramirez scored. In the third inning, Hanson issued back-to-back walks, then Ramirez hit a broken-bat RBI single and Colvin followed with another run-scoring single. Blake DeWitt added an RBI hit to give the Cubs a 5-0 lead. NOTES: On Friday, Braves manager Bobby Cox wasn't sure that Cubs manager Lou Piniella was ready to call it quits after the season. But before the game, Piniella confirmed he's done managing after the season. "My circumstances have changed. I appreciate the fact that Bobby thinks I can still. But I'm convinced that when I take the uniform off here I'm going to be home and I'm going to enjoy my family and that's the end of it. There shouldn't be any more discussion about this because that's the way I feel," said Piniella, who missed four games earlier in the month to be with his ailing mother. ... Piniella expects C Geovany Soto to be activated from the DL on Sunday. He's been out with a sprained ligament in his right shoulder. ... Colvin finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Nunez, bullpen lift Yanks to 9-5 win over Seattle

Associated Press

Baker's seven shutout innings leads Twins over LA - 08/22/2010

Scott Baker pitched seven shutout innings, Michael Cuddyer had a bases-loaded double, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 Sunday night. Danny Valencia homered for the Twins, who took two of three from Los Angeles. Minnesota went 7-2 on its nine-game homestand to increase its lead in the AL Central to fiv

Piniella waves goodbye to half-century in baseball - 08/22/2010

After all the wins, all the losses and all those arguments, Lou Piniella clearly felt it was time to leave. Saying the final goodbye after a half-century in baseball, that was the hard part. "I cried a little bit after the game. You get emotional. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be," the Chicago Cubs manager said Sun

Financial records show Pirates win while losing - 08/22/2010

Don't feel too sorry for the cellar-dwelling Pittsburgh Pirates. Losing has been profitable. The Pirates made nearly $29.4 million in 2007 and 2008, according to team financial documents, years that were part of a streak of futility that has now reached 18 straight losing seasons. The team's ownership also paid its partners $20.4 mill

Vin Scully to return for 62nd season with Dodgers - 08/22/2010

In the autumn of his life, Vin Scully has decided to prolong summer for another year. The 82-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster said Sunday he'll return to the broadcast booth to call Los Angeles Dodgers games for his 62nd season in 2011 because "when push came to shove, I just did not want to leave." Scully, whose