I don't like the terms "fate" or "destiny" or "magic" or anything like that….but there is definitely some Orioles magic going on in Baltimore. The Orioles were trailing the Mariners 2-0 goint into the ninth on Tuesday, and tied the game up at two thanks to a Chris Davis two-run single. Then, silence…until the 18th inning, when Taylor Teagarden hit an RBI single to make it a 3-2 game. Mark Reynolds added a run-scoring groundout to make it 4-2, and a perfect ninth from Jim Johnson sealed the deal. The Orioles now continue to lead the second AL wild card race, and are back to being tied with the Yankees at the top of the AL East standings.
Game of the Night: Marlins 4, Braves 3 (ten innings), This one won't hurt the Braves as much as a walk-off loss in 2011 did, but it's still disappointing. Atlanta trailed 3-0 going into the ninth, but Miami closer Steve Cishek just didn't have it on Tuesday night. Jason Heyward led off with a double, and Chipper Jones followed with a walk. After a Freddie Freeman strikeout, Dan Uggla singled home Heyward to make it 3-1. That brought up the struggling Brian McCann against new pitcher (and former Brave) Mike Dunn, who gave up a game-tying double to McCann. The Braves couldn't bring McCann home, and they extinguished a bases loaded, none out situation in the bottom of the ninth. In the bottom of the tenth, Jose Reyes blooped a Cory Gearrin pitch into shallow right field that fell *just* shy of the glove of Heyward, giving the Marlins a comeback win.
Pitching Lines of the Night: Nate Eovaldi was awesome in the Marlins comeback win over Atlanta, throwing eight scoreless innings and allowing just four hits, walking two, and striking out five. In the Cardinals' 4-1 win over the Astros, Kyle Lohse allowed four hits over seven shutout innings, walking two and striking out five. Erasmo Ramirez allowed two runs on four hits for the Mariners in their tough loss to the Orioles, striking out six without a walk. In Milwaukee's 6-0 win over the Pirates, Yovani Gallardo threw 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits, walking four, and striking out six. Ian Kennedy was great for the Diamondbacks in their 3-2 win over the Padres (despite an awesome play by Everth Cabrera), allowing one run on seven hits in eight innings, walking two and striking out six. Finally, a nod to Homer Bailey of the Reds, who allowed one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out four in the Reds' 4-1 win.
Hitting Lines of the Night: Miguel Cabrera continued his Triple Crown push, going 3/4 with three runs, six RBI, and a pair of homers in Detroit's 12-2 blowout win over the A's. His teammate Austin Jackson went 3/5 with three runs, one RBI, and a double. John Buck had a good game for the Marlins, going 2/3 with two runs, two RBI, a triple, and a homer. Erick Aybar went 3/4 with two runs, one RBI, and a stolen base, but this awesome play was the bright spot in an 11-3 Angels win over the Rangers. Carlos Santana of the Indians went 2/6 with two runs and a solo homer in Cleveland's 6-5 12 inning loss to the Twins.
Other Games: The Red Sox rallied back to beat the sliding Rays 7-5. The White Sox stayed ahead of the Tigers in the AL Central with a 3-2 win in Kansas City, sending the Royals to the precipice of elimination. The Giants beat the Rockies 6-3 behind Tim Lincecum. The Phillies-Mets, Dodgers-Nationals, and Blue Jays-Yankees games were all rained out, with the first being made up on Thursday and the other two being made up today, all as doubleheaders.
Today's Games: Andy Pettitte makes his return for the Yankees in game one against the Blue Jays. Kris Medlen will take on Josh Johnson in Miami, and the Braves are looking to win his 21st straight start…insanity. Jordan Zimmermann starts game one for the Nationals against the Dodgers, while Josh Beckett will start game two for the Dodgers. Brett Anderson takes on Justin Verlander in Detroit. Chris Archer will start for the Rays against the Red Sox. Cole Hamels takes on Matt Harvey in New York. Chris Sale will start for the White Sox against Bruce Chen of the Royals. CJ Wilson starts for the Angels against the Rangers. Lance Lynn will start for the Cardinals, hosting the Astros. Felix Hernandez starts for the Mariners against Joe Saunders of the Orioles, and we may get a Dylan Bundy sighting from Baltimore. Trevor Cahill starts for the Diamondbacks against Edinson Volquez of the Padres.Matt Cain starts for the Giants, hosting the Rockies.
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
