Short of seeing his professional jet-skiing career come to an end as teen, this has to be considered a heartbreaker for Sidney Ponson (above). The just-promoted Brian Falkenborg should’ve gone to third with Jason LaRue’s bunt in the 9th, but he was already behind the 8-ball after allowing a leadoff single to Austin Kearns and subsequently drilling Brandon Phillips.
Albert Pujols had the day off, presumably to read more reviews of that terrific book by Will Leitch’s wife that keeps being plugged on Deadspin.
If Cleveland has any hopes of overtaking Chicago and Detroit, they’ll need more of what C.C. Sabathia (1 ER, 5 IP) delivered today in his appearance since Opening Day. Conversely, Mark Buerhle was in brutal form, allowing 7 earned runs on 13 hits in less than 6th innings, including Travis Haefner’s 9th HR of the year.
A complete game, 5-hitter for Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke, who ran his career record against the Cubs to 4-0. Jeromy Burnitz hit his 6th HR of ’06 off Angel Guzman, and the Pirates stole 3 bases against Chicago’s Michael Barrett.
The Cubs summoned Rich Hill from Triple-A Iowa yesterday, a move that places 3 rookies (Hill, Guzman and Sean “Nude As The News” Marshall) in Chicago’s starting rotation. MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat, she of the terrific sense of humor, says “having three rookies in the rotation says a lot for the Cubs’ Minor League system.”
A’s 4, Angels 1 (top of the 6th)
Eric Chavez hit a 3-run HR to right off John Lackey in the first, his 200th career longball. Lackey and Oakland’s Jason Kendall were ejected in the visitors’ half of the 6th after the latter charged the mound and some typical rolling-around-in-the-dirt ensued.
15 of the last 25 games between the A’s and Angels have been decided by one run. That said, 25 out of the last 25 were decided by at least one run, so in the words of John Daley, bet with your head, not over it.
(ADDENDUM : A’s 4, Angels 3., bottom of the 6th. Vlad Guerrero just crushed a Brad Halsey meatball (and anything within 2 feet of home plate qualifies as a meatball when Vlad’s up) over the centerfield fence for a 2-run HR, his 7th of the year).
Padres 5, Giants 2
Former Mets OF Mike Cameron hit his first HR of the season, a 2 run shot to left off SF’s Matt Morris in the first inning. The Sultan of Surly has flied out to left twice ; he’s got 200 year old Steve Finley hitting 5th behind him, with 199 year old Moises Alou taking the afternoon off.
(UPDATE : Padres 5, Giants 3, bottom of the 8th. Austin native Scott Linebrink served up HR no. 712, a belt-high fastball to Barry Bonds just moments ago, a blast to centerfield with nobody on. Duane Kuiper often sounds like a slightly less stupid Steve Lyons, which is kind of like imagining a slightly less scummy Lee Atwater).
The Dodgers have called up Jonathan Broxton and sent Lance Carter to Las Vegas. Grady Little describes Carter’s demotion as “a case of sending your car to the shop to get it fixed,” which sounds far more encouraging than “leaving your Ford Focus by the side of the road after removing the license plates.”