Young and Old
1. Congrats to Michael Young
Last night, in the 7th inning Michael Young doubled to right to tie Ivan Rodriguez for the Texas Rangers all-time hits mark at 1,747. Then in the 8th, with the bases loaded he singled up the middle to drive home two in the Texas 6-3 win over the Marlins.
“I’m proud to be a member of this organization,” the 34-year old Young told Evan Hunter of the Dallas Morning News. “I’m at the point where I see where this organization is headed, and I know we can do some pretty special things. I want my last hit and my last game to be with the Rangers. But the thing I want to do most here is not break records, it’s to win a championship. I want to give our fans and the people in this organization what they deserve.”
2. Ol’ man Moyer
Ol’ man Moyer,
Imagine Paul Robeson singing to Moyer
Dat ol’ man Moyer
He mus’ have sumpin’
He don’t throw nuthin’,
He jes’ keeps pitchin’
He keeps on winnin’ da games.
With apologies to Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein
At 47-years-young, Jamie Moyer (7-6) became the oldest pitcher to beat the Yankees, as he allowed just three hits (including solo homers to Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada) in eight innings as the Phils beat A.J. Burnett, 6-3.
Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth hit the Phillies’ first back-to-back homers of the season to end the Yankees’ nine-game home winning streak.
Moyer beat the Yankees at 47 years, 155 days. The previous oldest pitcher to beat them was Phil Niekro at 47 years, 122 days, according to our friends at the Elias Sports Bureau.
It was the 700th managerial win for Charlie Manuel.
3. Leake Loses
Leake loses
Clayton Kershaw (7-3) won the matchup of 22-year-old starters, giving up one run and seven hits in 7.1 innings as Mike Leake (5-1) lost for the first time as a pro and the Dodgers dumped the reeling Reds, 6-2.
Kershaw (7-3) is 6-1 in his past eight starts with a 1.82 ERA.
Andre Ethier hit a three-run homer and Manny B Manny added a solo homer and threw out a runner at the plate as he prepares for a weekend visit to Fenway.
The Reds are 3-6 on a homestand that ends today.
The combined age of the two starting pitchers was less than Ol’ Man Moyer.
4. Get well soon, Sharon!
My dear friend Sharon is suffering from a popliteal cyst. Honestly, it is something that sounds worse than it is. It is simply a swelling caused by fluid from the knee joint protruding to the back of the knee. I mention it only because it is more commonly known as a Baker cyst and that seemed to be a good way to bring up the fact that Scott Baker pitched seven shutout innings and struck out 12, as the Twins beat the Rockies, 2-1.
Jon Rauch pitched a perfect 9th for his 17th save in 19 tries
5. Timmy is fine
Timmy is swell Lassie, not in a well!
Tim Lincecum struck out 10 before Miguel Tejada hit a line drive that hit him in the back of his right shoulder as the San Francisco Giants beat the Baltimore Orioles, 6-3.
“Timmy is fine,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the AP. “There were no problems there. He worked hard, and those guys made him work. It was a gutty effort. He has that ability to turn it up a notch when it’s needed. He had some big strikeouts.”
Lincecum (7-2) actually had 10 strikeouts in his six innings of work. Lincecum allowed two runs on eight hits and four walks and threw three wild pitches, the most by a Giant in six years. It was the 23rd 10+ strikeout performance for Timmy.
Aubrey Huff and Juan Uribe went B-to-B for the Giants.
Brian Wilson recorded the final five outs for his 18th save in 20 chances.
6. Nine to Know: The Mets, by the numbers
The Mets beat Cleveland last night, 4-3.- Jonathan Niese (4-3) earned the win.
- Niese is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in three June starts.
- Mets starters are 16-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 27 games since May 17.
- All nine batters in the Mets’ starting lineup had a hit.
- In the 3rd, with one out, the Mets had six straight hits, including four consecutive doubles off loser Mitch Talbot (7-5).
- The Mets tied a season high with seven doubles, two by Ike Davis.
- New York has won 10 of 11.
- They are a major league-best 17-5 since May 21.
7. Season highs for the Tigers
Justin Verlander struck out a season-high 11 and Brennan Boesch hit a three-run homer, as Detroit picked up their season high fifth straight win topping the Washington Nationals, 8-3.
Livan Hernandez (5-4) allowed eight runs, doubling his season high, seven hits and a season-high six walks in 6 2/3 innings. The Strasburgs lost for the fourth time in five games.
8. The Strasburg Report
Stephen Strasburg, who will make his third start at home tomorrow night against the Chicago White Sox, said eating shrimp instead of sandwiches before games has been the best part about being in the majors.
Of course all shrimp tastes better when dipped in BP Cocktail Sauce.
9. Today
D-backs (26-40) @ RedSox (39-28), 6:10pm
ARI: Dan Haren (29, RHP, 7-4, 4.61)
BOS: John Lackey (31, RHP, 7-3, 4.54)
Sox putting whammy on the Celtics by starting early so that fans can get home to see Game 7 of the NBA finals.
White Sox (30-34) @ Pirates (23-42), 7:05pm
CHW: Mark Buehrle (31, LHP, 4-6, 4.93)
PIT: Ross Ohlendorf (27, RHP, 0-4, 4.95)
Rays (41-24) @ Braves (38-28), 7:10pm
TBR: James Shields (28, RHP, 5-5, 4.55)
ATL: Tim Hudson (34, RHP, 6-2, 2.43)
Phillies (33-30) @ Yankees (41-24), 7:05pm
PHI: Kyle Kendrick (25, RHP, 3-2, 4.80)
NYY: Andy Pettitte (38, LHP, 8-1, 2.46)
Nationals (31-35) @ Tigers (35-29), 1:05pm
WSN: Luis Atilano (25, RHP, 5-3, 4.34)
DET: Jeremy Bonderman (27, RHP, 2-4, 4.21)
Dodgers (38-27) @ Reds (36-30), 12:35pm
LAD: John Ely (24, RHP, 3-3, 3.38)
CIN: Bronson Arroyo (33, RHP, 5-3, 4.80)
Rockies (33-32) @ Twins (38-27), 1:10pm
COL: Ubaldo Jimenez (26, RHP, 12-1, 1.16)
MIN: Francisco Liriano (26, LHP, 6-3, 2.90)
Should be a great match-up
Mets (37-28) @ Indians (25-39), 7:05pm
NYM: R.A. Dickey (35, RHP, 4-0, 2.78)
CLE: Jake Westbrook (32, RHP, 4-3, 4.62)
Athletics (33-34) @ Cubs (29-36), 2:20pm
OAK: Dallas Braden (26, LHP, 4-6, 3.95)
CHC: Randy Wells (27, RHP, 3-5, 5.15)
Rangers (37-28) @ Marlins (31-34), 7:10pm
TEX: Dustin Nippert (29, RHP, 2-3, 4.60)
FLA: Ricky Nolasco (27, RHP, 5-5, 5.05)
Astros (26-40) @ Royals (28-38), 8:10pm
HOU: Brett Myers (29, RHP, 4-4, 3.18)
KCR: Anthony Lerew (27, RHP, 0-0)
