ST. LOUIS -- Kelly Johnson returned to the D-backs' lineup in grand fashion on Friday night.Johnson, who was back as a starter after Cole Hamels Jersey sitting out on Thursday, launched a grand slam Phillies Cole Hamels Jersey in the seventh inning to break open a tie game and propel the D-backs past the Cardinals, 7-6, at Busch Stadium. Johnson's second grand slam of the year -- the fourth of his career Adrian Gonzalez Jersey -- sailed 384 feet into the Cards bullpen, silencing the crowd and sending the D-backs to their second straight win. The ball just made it over the wall and past a Ryan Howard Jersey leaping Lance Berkman. Johnson, however, wasn't sure if the ball had a chance to leave the park after Authentic Adrian Gonzalez Jersey he made contact."I thought it was a sac fly the whole way," Johnson said. "I didn't think that Carl Crawford Jersey it was going to go, but I'll take it."Juan Miranda started the rally with a single, Gerardo Parra walked and pinch-hitter Ryan Roberts singled to set the stage for the second baseman's clutch hit off Cards starter Kyle Lohse. The Cardinals had a left-handed reliever warming in the bullpen when Johnson came to the plate, and after a visit to the mound from pitching coach Dave Duncan, the right-handed Lohse stayed in the game. The Cards' decision to stick with their starter certainly turned out in the D-backs' favor. "I thought he had the weapons to get Johnson," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "Didn't work, bad decision."Johnson admitted he was surprised to see Lohse back on the mound."It Cliff Lee Jersey just felt like one of Phillies Roy Halladay Jersey those situations where generally a move is made," Johnson said. "When I was digging in and [the catcher] goes out there, I was expecting to see Tony making a move. It worked out for us."It looked like Johnson's grand slam had put the game out of reach, but Authentic Carl Crawford Jersey the Cardinals stormed back and scored three runs in the eighth to pull within one, 7-6. However, Sam Demel entered the game with two runners on base and struck out David Freese to stop the bleeding."He got the job done and got the last big out," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.David Hernandez converted his fifth straight save as he continues Red Sox Carl Crawford Jersey to produce in the closer's role this month with J.J. Putz on the disabled list. Hernandez has made the transition from setup man to closer look rather smooth and said he tries to take the same approach to closing a game as he does when pitching in the eighth."I just try to treat it Authentic Ryan Howard Jersey like the eighth inning," Hernandez said. "Basically, it's the same situation, just one inning later. But you still have to get three outs."Ian Kennedy started for the D-backs and went six innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. The right-hander struck out three against two walks before Authentic Roy Halladay Jersey he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh with his pitch count at 100. "I wasn't feeling that great, but the offense was what really brought me back into the game," Kennedy said. Kennedy gave up a home run to Lance Berkman in the second when the All-Star right fielder drilled a 1-0 pitch 377 feet to right field. Berkman leads the National Red Sox Carlton Fisk Jersey League with 24 homers.The right-hander found himself in a bit of trouble in the third, loading the Authentic Cole Hamels Jersey bases twice in the frame. But the right-hander was able to pitch his way to minimal damage, and allowed two runs via a sacrifice fly and a double. It was the only speed bump of the night for Kennedy, who retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced."I needed to find something just to grind through it and tonight was one of those games where you don't feel very well Red Sox Adrian Gonzalez Jersey but you have to get through it just to get six innings in," Kennedy said. Lohse was tagged for seven earned runs on seven hits in 6 Phillies Ryan Howard Jersey 2/3 innings. He retired the first 10 D-backs he faced, though, and was cruising along until the fourth inning.Stephen Drew doubled for the D-backs' first Roy Halladay Jersey hit, and after a walk Chris Young belted a two-run triple past the outstretched glove of left fielder Matt Holliday. Miguel Montero singled to score Young, knotting the game at 3-3. With the win, the D-backs clinched their fourth consecutive winning road trip.

CHICAGO -- A hit that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had been waiting much Dustin Pedroia Jersey of this season for finally gave his team a victory on Saturday that it had been waiting for even longer.With shortstop Alexei Ramirez delivering a walk-off, two-out RBI single, the White Sox defeated Kevin Youkilis Jersey the Twins, 4-3, marking their first victory over Minnesota in their last 10 meetings dating back to Aug. 19, 2010. The White Sox jumped out to another first-inning lead at U.S. Cellular Field, their second in as many nights, but needed to erase two separate Minnesota leads en route to snapping their four-game losing streak."It was a Authentic Carlton Fisk Jersey great ballgame," Guillen said. "Now, finally, we got the big hit. We got a big hit and that's the Josh Beckett Jersey reason we won."I do concentrate more with men in scoring position," Ramirez said through bullpen coach Juan Nieves. "Every pitch that's a strike, you try to make good contact. Ozzie has confidence in me and I appreciate where I'm Red Sox David Ortiz Jersey hitting and try to take advantage of it."One day after jumping out to a 5-1 first-inning lead, the White Sox again struck early, taking a 1-0 lead on Red Sox Josh Beckett Jersey a solo home run off the bat of Ramirez, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Similar to Friday night, though, they couldn't hold the lead, allowing the Twins to score three unearned runs against starter Mark Josh Hamilton Jersey Buehrle, who otherwise dominated Minnesota.Buehrle picked up a no-decision, allowing the three unearned runs on four hits, while recording eight strikeouts, which were the most he's had since Aug. 8, 2008, when he also struck out eight against the Red Sox. It was the left-hander's 13th consecutive start of allowing no more than three earned runs and his fifth outing of at least seven innings in his last six starts."Today was one of those days where everything was working," said Buehrle, who threw 119 pitches. "You get to 120 pitches, usually you're kind of ready to be done, but I told [pitching coach Don Cooper] I felt so Red Sox Kevin Youkilis Jersey good -- obviously knowing it wasn't going to happen -- but I felt like I could have went back out there. I felt that strong."Instead, the White Sox handed the ball over to reliever Jesse Crain, who needed just five pitches to throw a perfect top half of the ninth inning, setting up Authentic David Ortiz Jersey the dramatic victory.A.J. Pierzynski, who entered the game in the eighth inning after catcher Ramon Castro broke his right hand, doubled to right-center against reliever Jose Mijares to start the bottom of the ninth. After back-to-back flyouts, left fielder Juan Pierre worked a walk before Ramirez ended the game on a single to center against Alex Burnett, with Pierzynski beating the throw home from Ben Revere."If the guy makes a great throw, then he throws you out, but you've gotta go," Pierzynski Authentic Josh Hamilton Jersey said. "We all know Carl Yastrzemski Jersey I don't have the best speed in the world. Luckily Revere kind of threw a couple-hopper to Joe [Mauer] and gave me Red Sox Dustin Pedroia Jersey a chance to get in. But [Pierre] had a great at-bat, Alexei had a great at-bat and he got the hit. It was nice to win.""We had it set up pretty good," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "They just got some hits when they had to. We made some good pitches to get out of a couple jams, but didn't make enough. They tied it up and then got a big hit from Ramirez. He's a really tough out."The Twins appeared to be on their way to a 10th straight victory in the series after scoring their third unearned run of Rangers Josh Hamilton Jersey the game in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie.  Left fielder Jason Repko started the inning with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a passed ball when Castro had trouble tracking the ball, which struck his bare hand. Castro, who knew immediately his hand was broken, said he didn't pick up the ball until the last second when Alexi Casilla pulled his bat back from a bunt attempt. Castro said after the game that he was unsure if he would need surgery at this point.Casilla then put the Twins ahead with a sacrifice fly in that same at-bat. But before Castro's replacement could start the game-winning rally in the ninth, outfielder Carlos Quentin had a two-out single of his own in the bottom of the eighth that David Ortiz Jersey drove in Pierre, again tying the game at 3."They've done it to us all year and that's how they've been beating us is Authentic Kevin Youkilis Jersey by getting two-out hits," Pierzynski said. "Carlos got a huge one off [Joe] Nathan. I got a hit, but other than that, everybody else did a whole lot Authentic Josh Beckett Jersey more out there today than I did." Even with the win, which improved the club's record to 44-47, the White Sox are just 8-15 this Authentic Dustin Pedroia Jersey season against the American League Central.

WASHINGTON -- Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez entered this season looking for at least a repeat of 2010. Now he'll be happy with a reversal.An injury-induced slump that marred his first two months far behind him, Jimenez turned in arguably his best start of the season by striking out eight and holding the Nationals to five hits in eight innings of a 2-1 victory.The Rockies, who came to Washington on a season-worst five-game losing streak, have taken the first two in the final three-game series before the All-Star break. They will go into Sunday afternoon's series finale looking for their second Authentic Cody Ross Jersey road sweep of the season -- the first since taking four from the Mets April 11-14.Todd Helton drove in both runs Saturday, one on his 10th home run of the season. Victory wasn't assured until Huston Street (26 saves in 28 chances) forced a Jayson Werth double-play grounder with runners at the Rangers Michael Young Jersey corners to end the game.But above all, the Rockies' ace is truly here.Jimenez (4-8) went 0-5 with a 5.86 ERA in his first nine starts, which were interrupted by a cut Giants Brian Wilson Jersey thumb cuticle that cost him two starts, and marred by nagging leg muscle injuries suffered during Spring Training. Since then, pitching with little run support, he is 4-3 with a 2.52 ERA in eight Authentic Michael Young Jersey starts -- with 50 strikeouts to 11 walks, and 48 hits allowed in 53 2/3 innings.Last year, Jimenez went 15-1 with a Rangers Nelson Cruz Jersey 2.20 ERA in the first half, and started the All-Star Game for the National League. Partly because of slumps, and partly because of untimely miscues by his defense and bullpen, he was 4-7 with a 3.80 ERA the rest of the way.With the Rockies finishing Saturday 7 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Authentic Lan Kinsler Jersey Giants, but hoping for a second-half run like they've Giants Buster Posey Jersey had in past seasons, this would be a fine time for Jimenez to pitch the second half the way he started last year."I'm 100 percent; everything is back to normal," Jimenez said. "I just have to find a way to keep the speed and the location Authentic Nelson Cruz Jersey at the same time."If I have to choose [the time], I'm going to choose the second half. Why not?"Jimenez retired the first 13 Rangers Lan Kinsler Jersey batters he faced, finishing the third and fourth innings with 97-mph fastballs, one to strike out losing pitcher Jason Marquis (7-4), the other resulting in a weak Ryan Zimmerman grounder. He also froze Zimmerman with a 96-mph fastball -- after dropping to a sidearm angle -- for a strikeout to open the seventh, and then punched out pinch-hitter Matt Lan Kinsler Jersey Stairs with a 95-mph heater in the Authentic Brian Wilson Jersey eighth for a third strike.
Jimenez's first win of the season was a four-hit Brian Wilson Jersey road shutout of the Dodgers on June 1, but even in that game his pitch action did not compare to what it was Saturday night."That was Ubaldo Jimenez of a year ago," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "He was in complete control from the outset."Jimenez had some help from shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, in his return from missing four games with a right quadriceps strain. Tulowitzki went to his right to backhand Jesus Flores' grounder in the fifth, leaped and threw across his body to second base to start an inning-ending double play. Tulowitzki went 1-for-3 at the plate.The Nationals finally broke through with a run in the sixth. Ryan Spilborghs, playing center field because of Carlos Gonzalez's sore right wrist, couldn't corral Ian Desmond's hit, resulting in a triple for the Washington shortstop. Desmond then scored on Rick Ankiel's grounder.In the eighth, with two on because of infield singles, Jimenez worked Danny Espinosa into a flyout to left fielder Ty Wigginton in foul ground."He's filthy," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "He's one of the best pitchers Buster Posey Jersey in the league. We've been swinging the bats pretty good, but he calmed us down Authentic Buster Posey Jersey quite a bit. I think we outhit them [7-6, counting two hits off Street in the ninth], just couldn't score."Helton's home run was his 921st career extra-base hit, which moved him ahead of Willie McCovey and into a tie for 53rd place all-time with Harold Baines and Goose Goslin. Helton added an RBI on a groundout in the fifth. Spilborghs singled to open the inning, but Nationals left fielder Laynce Nix threw him out trying to score on a Mark Ellis double into the left-field corner.In the eighth, Helton knocked his 544th career double to move ahead of Hall of Famer Willie McCovey and tie Harry Heilman for 24th place all-time on that list. But Nix robbed the Rockies again by diving for a Tulowitzki line drive and doubling Helton Nelson Cruz Jersey off second.Street survived a ninth-inning leadoff single by Zimmerman, who reached because Tulowitzki slipped after fielding the ball and didn't make the throw in time, and a one-out, broken-bat single by Michael Morse that put runners at the corners.But Street, who fanned Nix on a slider in the dirt in between, forced Werth to ground to Giants Cody Ross Jersey Tulowitzki for the game-finishing double play that gave Jimenez the victory he deserved."It's big for Jimenez to get the win -- not just for the team to get the win," Street said. "We all pretend like we're not results-oriented. Michael Young Jersey But at the end of the day, you have a start like that, when you walk off the mound, you deserve a win."

CLEVELAND - Jose Bautista didn't need a 10th-inning homer to assume ownership of a Blue Jays record that stood for 24 years, but his team needed it to beat the Indians.Bautista Authentic Matt Cain Jersey slugged two solo home runs on Saturday night, passing George Bell for most homers by a Blue Jay before the All-Star break, and Toronto made it back-to-back wins at Progressive Field, topping the Giants Freddy Sanchez Jersey Tribe, 5-4."And Jose, once again, when we need it the most," Toronto manager Tim Lincecum Jersey John Farrell said, "after the unfortunate ninth inning, he steps up in the 10th against a very good Cubs Ryne Sandberg Jersey closer with good stuff and just squared a ball up at a time not only when it was much needed, but he steps up at the biggest moments of the game."Bautista entered the game with 29 homers, the same number Bell hit in 1987. His first tater, which came in the third inning, put the versatile Bautista Authentic Freddy Sanchez Jersey all alone atop Toronto's all-time list."It's a great thing to do, something that obviously Freddy Sanchez Jersey will look good on the back of my baseball card," Bautista said. "But I'll enjoy those things in the offseason."The second homer pleased Bautista a little more because that was the one that won the game. Right now, Bautista's focused on team results, not his own numbers. That may be one reason why he plays so loose, even in pressure spots."I don't think it Giants Tim Lincecum Jersey makes that much difference if the situation is big or not," Bautista said. "I'm just comfortable, pretty much for every at-bat right now. I'm not saying I always feel I'm going to get a hit, but Cody Ross Jersey I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel like I'm seeing the ball well, and I'm balanced."Bautista has 31 homers in 83 games. With Sunday's series Cubs Starlin Castro Jersey finale still ahead of him, Bautista has one more game to build on Giants Matt Cain Jersey Bell's mark, which was Giants Pablo Sandoval Jersey achieved in 84 games."I don't know that there's a player we've been around who you love to see play the game more than him -- the energy, the enthusiasm, the awareness, obviously the performance speaks for itself," Farrell said. "He plays the game like he plays in his backyard. His talents are extraordinary, and he has the freedom about him that allows him to do such things in key spots."Bautista led off the 10th, and facing Indians closer Authentic Pablo Sandoval Jersey Chris Perez Pablo Sandoval Jersey (2-4), placed his second homer of the night where he hit the first one, just over the fence into the left-field bleachers."That's why he's our best player," Farrell said. "He comes through at moments like that, not just when you're Authentic Tim Lincecum Jersey down three or four or up three or four. It's at critical junctures of the game. I think that's just because of his presence of mind."Perez missed a spot, and Bautista made him pay."Bautista just beat us," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "Chris tried to go away, and the ball just ran out over the plate. The way he's going right now, he doesn't even foul off pitches. He just squares up and hits them out."He's not fouling them off. Right now, he's reminding me of Matt Cain Jersey the way Barry Bonds was when he was in his prime. You make a mistake, and he won't foul them off. He just hits it out. He won't even hit it off the wall or anything like that. It's pretty Starlin Castro Jersey impressive."Jon Rauch (3-3) had a chance to close it out for Toronto in the ninth, but Travis Buck's RBI double sent the game to extras.Shawn Camp retired the side in the bottom of the 10th, picking up his first save of the season.Rauch's failure to close the game out kept Brandon Morrow, who pitched eight innings of three-hit ball, from winning his fourth consecutive decision.Morrow's lone blemish was Grady Sizemore's sixth-inning home run, a two-run shot that tied the Authentic Starlin Castro Jersey game at three. From there, Morrow buckled down. Cleveland managed just one baserunner in the final four innings Morrow pitched."I was throwing the ball well," Morrow said. "It's obvious that when I get ahead of guys, I can be pretty dominant. The two walks hurt, but after that, I cleaned it after that. I wasn't giving out any more free passes and put up four zeroes after the home run."

MIAMI -- When Hanley Ramirez moved into Cubs Carlos Pena Jersey the cleanup spot, it didn't just boost the 27-year-old shortstop. It has also given the Marlins as a team a big lift.Staying hot while hitting fourth, Ramirez had three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs on Friday night as the Marlins defeated the Astros, 6-3, in front of 17,044 at Sun Life Stadium.The Cubs Matt Garza Jersey Marlins have now won three straight for the first time since sweeping the Giants at AT&T Park May 24-26.Since interim manager Jack McKeon placed Ramirez in the cleanup spot on June 21, the Marlins are 9-7.McKeon moved Ramirez to the middle of the order in hopes of making the three-time All-Star happy. Based on his Authentic Ryne Sandberg Jersey production, the shortstop appears to be delighted. Ramirez is now batting .400, with four homers and 18 RBIs since June 21."I don't know if I heard it or read it, but something along those lines, he said that's what made him happy," McKeon said. "So fine."Along Ryne Sandberg Jersey with the re-emergence Authentic Alfonso Soriano Jersey of Ramirez, Marlins veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez (5-8) has also been rejuvenated as Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey of late.Since giving up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings to Arizona on June 11, Vazquez has been on an impressive roll. In his five starts since, Vazquez is 2-2 with a 1.19 ERA over 30 1/3 innings.Leo Nunez polished off the final two outs of the ninth in relief of Burke Badenhop for his 24th save in 27 chances. Mike Stanton Matt Garza Jersey delivered two RBIs on a night the Marlins scored five runs off the Astros' Carlos Zambrano Jersey right-hander Jordan Lyles (0-4).Vazquez allowed two unearned runs on six hits with four Cubs Carlos Zambrano Jersey strikeouts in seven innings.After the Astros grabbed a first-inning lead, Ramirez pulled the Marlins even with a two-run homer to right-center in the first off Lyles.Bryan Petersen walked Authentic Carlos Zambrano Jersey to open the first, and with two outs, Ramirez connected on his eighth homer of the season.In the third inning, a pair of two-out hits put the Marlins in front, 3-2. Gaby Sanchez doubled, and scored on Ramirez's RBI single to center.One change Ramirez has made to the end of his swing, is having a prolonged follow-through. On hits that go into the outfield, Ramirez extends the Kosuke Fukudome Jersey bat with his left hand, holding it up high as he runs toward first base.The "Hanley Through It," Carlos Pena Jersey is what Ramirez calls it. Some may see it as showboating, but Ramirez says he isn't doing anything to show anybody up."That makes me stay through the ball," Ramirez said.The "through it" style has already gained the approval of Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard."Ryan Howard told me the other day, 'That's good, because you're not shortening your swing,'" Ramirez said.Staying through the ball is something Ramirez is practicing with hitting coach Eduardo Perez."I always Authentic Matt Garza Jersey do that," Ramirez said. "That's one thing [Perez] told me, 'You've got to finish your swing up. When you finish with your swing up, that Cubs Kosuke Fukudome Jersey means you are swinging through the ball.' I just stay through it the whole time. I'm not trying to show anybody up. I'm trying to stay through the zone."Everybody has to find a way to do their job on the field. If you don't do your job, you're not going to be part of Authentic Carlos Pena Jersey this team. You're going to be somewhere else. I'm just trying to do my job. I don't want to offend anybody."The Marlins broke through with two more runs in the fifth inning, grabbing a 5-2 lead."I wasn't the same person out there tonight," said Lyles, who gave up five earned runs in six innings. "I don't know what it was. Overall, I didn't have my stuff, and I didn't make a pitch when I needed to. I had guys on base all Cubs Alfonso Soriano Jersey day."A key moment in the inning came when Logan Morrison worked the count full before drawing a bases-loaded walk."The thing that is satisfying is seeing the guys do the little things," Alfonso Soriano Jersey McKeon said. "I was delighted with Morrison walking with the bases loaded. That's how you win ballgames. Normally, with 3-2, they're swinging no matter where the ball is at. He was very patient. I told him, that might have been the key run of game. It made it [4-2]. That's when you start playing winning baseball."Stanton delivered a sacrifice fly to left field on a ball that he just missed swatting for a grand slam.The Astros grabbed a two-run lead in the first inning, capitalizing on Michael Bourn's speed to get the inning going.Shut out, 5-0, and limited to two hits on Thursday, the Astros had three-hits in a two-run first inning.Vazquez actually had a hard-luck first frame, as he gave up a pair of unearned runs while allowing one hard hit ball.Bourn beat out a slow grounder to shortstop for an infield single to open the game. With one out, Hunter Pence reached first when second baseman Omar Infante was charged with a throwing error while trying to get a forceout on Bourn at second.Jeff Keppinger flared a two-out RBI single to center, and Brett Wallace followed with a run-scoring single to center.Vazquez was able to settle down and get through seven innings on his way to his fifth win."I was just trying to forget what was happening," Vazquez said. "You kind of have to forget all that stuff, and just keep your team in the game."

All it took was a rehab trip to the minor leagues to get San Francisco’s left-hander back on track.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 07: Barry Zito #75 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park on July 7, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 07: …
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Series Phillies Cole Hamels Jersey at a Glance

    Roy Halladay Jersey San Diego 5
    San Francisco 3
    Mon, Jul 4 - Final
    San Diego 5
    San Francisco 3
    Tue, Jul 5 - Final
    San Diego 5
    San Francisco 6
    Wed, Cole Hamels Jersey Jul 6 - Final 14th
    San Diego 1
    San Adrian Gonzalez Jersey Francisco 2
    Thu, Jul 7 - Final

Zito won his third straight start, allowing one run and four hits over eight innings, and the Giants held on to beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Thursday night.

“Whenever you go to the lower levels in the minor leagues you remember the process to get here,” Zito said. “You forget sometimes after being here for so many years that there’s a huge line of guys behind every Phillies Roy Halladay Jersey one of the guys in here that are waiting to take somebody’s job. So you go down there and you enjoy the game a little more.”

It hadn’t been much fun at all for Zito after he signed a seven-year, Authentic Cole Hamels Jersey $126 million contract in 2007. He averaged 10 wins a season, had a 4.45 ERA with the club heading into this season and was being talked about as the odd man out in the Giants rotation after impressive starts by youngsters Ryan Vogelsong(notes) and Madison Bumgarner(notes).

Now the argument could be made that Zito is San Francisco’s hottest pitcher.

Zito had a season-high seven strikeouts, did Carl Crawford Jersey not walk a Authentic Adrian Gonzalez Jersey batter and retired 14 of the final 16 hitters Red Sox Carl Crawford Jersey while beating the Padres for the first time in nearly three years.

“More than anything it’s the confidence he’s going out there with,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “I think he’s got a better perspective on baseball in general. He’s just getting back to going out there having fun and competing and not putting that added pressure on himself.”

Zito, who last pitched eight innings in a 1-0 win over the New York Mets on July 16, 2001, left to a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at AT&T then watched Brian Wilson(notes) clinch the win with his 25th save in 29 tries.

Eli Whiteside(notes) homered and Pablo Sandoval(notes) extended his career-high hitting streak to 18 games while helping San Francisco to its second straight win over its division rival after losing the first two games of the series.

Ryan Ludwick(notes) homered for San Diego, who fell to 3-4 Ryan Howard Jersey on its 10-game road trip.

Zito (3-1) had gone 0-6 with a 5.79 ERA in his nine previous starts against the Red Sox Adrian Gonzalez Jersey Padres before his most impressive outing of the season helped the NL West-leading Giants to their fourth win in the last Authentic Roy Halladay Jersey nine games.

“We had some good swings, he just had us off balance,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “It’s what he does. I’ve been watching Barry since his rookie year and his style hasn’t changed. The only thing different I can see is Red Sox Carlton Fisk Jersey maybe three or four miles off his fastball.”

Zito’s solid outing helped San Francisco to its 50th win, the first time the Giants have reached that milestone before the All-Star break since 2003.

Zito breezed through the first three innings before Chris Denorfia(notes) singled leading off the fourth. Denorfia stole second and advanced to third on Jason Bartlett’s(notes) single.

Bartlett was thrown out trying to steal second and spiked San Francisco’s Bill Hall(notes), knocking him out of the game with a laceration on his left leg. Emmanuel Burriss(notes) replaced Hall and promptly caught Chase Headley’s(notes) popup to left, and Zito struck out Ludwick to end the inning.

The Giants, who dropped three straight before beating San Diego a day earlier on Nate Schierholtz’s(notes) walkoff home run in the 14th inning, gave Zito just enough support.

Whiteside homered leading off the third, only the second given up this season by San Diego starter Cory Luebke(notes). It was also the first run Authentic Carl Crawford Jersey Luebke (2-3) allowed since moving into the rotation after beginning the year in the bullpen.

“It wasn’t a terrible pitch but he stayed back and hit it out of the park,” said Luebke, who matched his season-high with eight Authentic Ryan Howard Jersey strikeouts. “In retrospect it probably wasn’t the right pitch to throw, but that happens.”

Miguel Tejada(notes) doubled off Cliff Lee Jersey Luebke in the sixth, took third on Sandoval’s hit and scored on Pat Burrell’s(notes) soft single to right to make it 2-0.

In his first career outing against the Cleveland Indians in May, Jo-Jo Reyes(notes) picked up his first victory in three years. When he faces the Indians this time, the Toronto Blue Jays left-hander goes for his first win in three weeks.
Series at a Glance

    Toronto 4
    Cleveland 5
    Thu, Jul 7 - Final
    Toronto at
    Cleveland
    Fri, Jul 8 - 7:05 pm ET
    Toronto at
    Cleveland
    Sat, Jul 9 - 7:05 pm ET
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    Cleveland
    Sun, Jul 10 - 1:05 pm ET

The Blue Jays will try to snap a three-game skid to Authentic Josh Hamilton Jersey the Red Sox Kevin Youkilis Jersey AL Central-leading Indians on Friday night at Progressive Field following a stunning defeat in the series opener.

Trying Authentic David Ortiz Jersey to avoid becoming the first pitcher in major league history to Red Sox David Ortiz Jersey go winless in 29 starts, Reyes (3-7, 4.85 ERA) threw his Authentic Dustin Pedroia Jersey first Carl Yastrzemski Jersey career complete game in an 11-1 win over the visiting Indians (47-39) on May 30.

It was the left-hander’s first victory since June 13, 2008, while Red Sox Dustin Pedroia Jersey with Atlanta.

Reyes enters this contest with an 0-2 record and 8.40 ERA Dustin Pedroia Jersey in his last three outings after surrendering four runs over six innings of Sunday’s 7-4 win over Philadelphia. Reyes settled down after giving up four runs in the second Rangers Josh Hamilton Jersey inning, but he was far from having his best stuff.

“He wasn’t as sharp. Maybe a little bit of dead arm. A little bit of lack of life through the zone. That happens,” manager John Farrell told the Blue Jays’ official website. “But Jo-Jo kept us in the game.”

The Blue Red Sox Josh Beckett Jersey Jays (42-47) were two outs from Josh Beckett Jersey winning Thursday, but Travis Hafner’s(notes) walkoff grand slam capped a five-run ninth and sent Toronto to its third straight loss and eighth defeat in 11 games.

“That’s a gut-wrenching loss,” Farrell said.

It was Cleveland’s 20th comeback win.

“That was an amazing comeback,” said Indians manager Manny Acta, who team has won nine of 11 in this matchup. “Before that, it was eight of the most boring innings all season.”

Cleveland will go for its sixth straight victory at home against the Blue Jays with Mitch Talbot(notes) (2-5, 5.60) on the Kevin Youkilis Jersey hill.

The right-hander, 1-5 with a 6.86 ERA in Authentic Josh Beckett Jersey eight starts since returning Authentic Carlton Fisk Jersey from a right elbow strain, has struggled early in his outings. Twenty of the 33 runs he’s allowed have come in the first three innings of his starts.

“I’m going to have to go to (Pitching coach Tim Belcher) Belch and see what he’s seeing,” Talbot said after giving up six runs in four innings of Sunday’s 7-5 loss at Cincinnati. “… I don’t know what to do right now.”

Not many pitchers do lately when facing Toronto’s Jose Bautista(notes). The David Ortiz Jersey All-Star is batting .407 (11 for Josh Hamilton Jersey 27) while homering in five of seven games this month. Authentic Kevin Youkilis Jersey His solo shot in the ninth inning Thursday was his major league-best 29th - tying George Bell’s 24-year-old club record for homers before the All-Star break.

Bautista is 2 for 7 with a homer off Talbot, who yielded one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 victory at Toronto on May 31.

There’s a chance Indians rookie third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall(notes) could be out the rest of this series after getting hit by a pitch from Carlos Villanueva(notes) on Thursday and suffering a facial contusion.

“It’s so cliche. Now guys have a meeting and you go out and win,” Tony Gwynn Jr.(notes) said after the Dodgers won 6-0 Thursday night. “It definitely wasn’t rah-rah. You can very easily fall into accepting losing. The meeting was called so it didn’t get to that Rangers Nelson Cruz Jersey point.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Angel Pagan #16 the New York Mets gets under Authentic Nelson Cruz Jersey a fly ball for the catch during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Rangers Michael Young Jersey at Dodger Stadium on July 7, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Mets 6-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: An…
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    Wed, Jul 6 - Final
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    LA Dodgers 6
    Thu, Jul 7 - Final

Clayton Kershaw(notes) scattered five hits over eight innings and the Dodgers parlayed extra-base hits by Matt Kemp(notes), Juan Uribe(notes), Aaron Miles(notes) and Dioner Navarro(notes) into a five-run sixth inning that ended the Mets’ four-game winning streak and kept them from sweeping the Dodgers for the first time in four games at Chavez Ravine.

“It felt really good, especially with the stadium packed,” said Kemp, who spoke at the meeting. “We’d been seeing a lot of yellow seats out there.”

Kershaw (9-4) struck out nine and Buster Posey Jersey walked two in his last start before the All-Star break. The left-hander, who will pitch in his first All-Star game next week in Phoenix, came within one strikeout of his fourth straight double-digit game, something that hadn’t been done by a Dodgers pitcher since Hideo Nomo in1995.

“We definitely Authentic Michael Young Jersey needed a win. We hit well, played defense well,” he said. “Everybody Authentic Cody Ross Jersey is a little bit happier. Maybe this will spark us back to the good old days.”

Kershaw got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by striking out Ronny Paulino(notes) to end the inning after getting a visit from manager Don Mattingly.

“When we had the bases loaded, he threw me a filthy curveball on a 2-2 count after throwing me four fastballs about 94-95,” Paulino said. “He’s a power pitcher and he knows how to pitch in and out and use his changeup and curve when he has to, even behind in the count. He’s tough to guess against, so you have to focus on getting good pitches to hit and hope he’ll make a mistake that you can take advantage of.”

The crowd cheered when Kershaw stayed in the game.

“I’ve blown the game twice when he’s come out and left me in. I was due,” Kershaw said. “I threw too many pitches in the eighth and labored a little bit. My fastball command wasn’t that good, so it was definitely Brian Wilson Jersey good to get out of it.”

The Mets loaded the bases again in the ninth Michael Young Jersey against Kenley Jansen(notes) before Hong-Chih Kuo(notes) got the final two outs.

Dillon Gee(notes) (8-3) gave up five hits and six runs—five earned—struck out two and walked one to lose his second straight.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes(notes) went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained left hamstring that will cause him to sit out the All-Star game, although he will still attend. Manager Terry Collins hopes Reyes can return by July 22, when the Mets open a series at Florida.

After scoring just five runs Lan Kinsler Jersey in losing the first three games of the series, the Dodgers went on a roll in the sixth inning, sending nine men to the plate.

Gwynn singled to lead off, stole second and continued to third on a throwing error by catcher Paulino. After Jamey Carroll(notes) grounded out, Andre Ethier(notes) walked. Gwynn and Ethier scored on Kemp’s RBI double to left field.

Uribe’s ground-rule double scored Kemp before Miles’ RBI double brought Uribe home. Navarro’s triple into the right Giants Buster Posey Jersey field corner scored Miles.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead on Miles’ sacrifice fly in the second. Uribe was hit in the left elbow by a pitch with one out. Gee knocked down James Loney’s(notes) comebacker, tried for the force at second and made Giants Brian Wilson Jersey a throwing error that allowed Uribe to take third.

Uribe and the throw from left fielder Jason Bay(notes) got to the plate at the same time and umpire Greg Gibson called Uribe safe, even though the TV replays showed Paulino tagged Uribe’s right knee before his leg touched the plate. Collins vehemently argued with Gibson to no avail.

“It’s a tough call because it was a bang-bang play,” Paulino said. “I moved right in front of the plate when the ball got to me, but he must have thought that I was behind the plate and Authentic Buster Posey Jersey that he touched the Authentic Brian Wilson Jersey plate first.”

Gibson was involved in a blown call at first base on Wednesday night. Ethier hit an opposite-field RBI single through the left Nelson Cruz Jersey side and Kemp followed with what appeared to be a double-play grounder to shortstop. But Gibson ruled Kemp beat the relay, bringing Collins out of the dugout for a brief argument.

TV replays also showed Gibson got that one wrong. Carroll took third on the fielder’s choice grounder and Rangers Lan Kinsler Jersey scored Authentic Lan Kinsler Jersey on Uribe’s sacrifice fly—which would have been the third out.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Josh Hamilton(notes) and the Texas Rangers were devastated Thursday night after a fan fell from the stands trying to grab a ball tossed by the All-Star center fielder and later died.

“It’s sad, it’s very sad,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said following a 6-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Emergency workers tend to a man who fell out of the stands while trying to catch a baseball tossed his way during a game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers said the fan died after the fall of about 20 feet.
Emergency workers tend to a ma…
AP - Jul 8, 12:03 am EDT

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    Sat, Jul 9 - 8:05 pm ET
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    Sun, Jul 10 - 3:05 pm ET

A man attending the game with his young son fell about 20 feet to the ground, the Rangers and Arlington fire officials said.

The accident occurred in the second inning after Oakland’s Conor Jackson(notes) hit a foul ball that ricocheted into left field. Hamilton retrieved the ball and tossed it into the stands. Replays on Oakland’s television broadcast show the man reaching for Starlin Castro Jersey the ball and apparently catching it before tumbling over the rail.

“We spoke to the ballclub, they understood what has happened and we spoke to Josh,” team president Nolan Ryan said. “I think as any of us would be, Josh is very distraught over this, as the entire team is.”

The Rangers clubhouse was closed to reporters after the game.

Hamilton, the reigning AL MVP, drove in four runs and was selected earlier this Giants Matt Cain Jersey week to start his fourth consecutive All-Star game next week. Washington said he would wait before determining if Hamilton would play against the A’s on Friday night.

“I think we’ll deal with that tomorrow when he gets here, to see how he feels,” Washington said.

A very somber Ryan called it a tragic Giants Tim Lincecum Jersey accident.

“As an organization, and as our team members and our staff, we’re very heavy-hearted about this,” Giants Freddy Sanchez Jersey Ryan said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”

TV replays showed the man, whom the Giants Pablo Sandoval Jersey Rangers and fire officials Matt Cain Jersey didn’t identify, falling head-first and landing behind a 14-foot-high wall supporting Authentic Starlin Castro Jersey a video board for replays and scores. The area where he fell is out of sight from the field.

“When you think you’ve had a bad day, something like that puts things in perspective. It’s just devastating,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “I don’t even know what to say. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim Lincecum Jersey the family.”

The visitor’s bullpen at the stadium is Pablo Sandoval Jersey in left-center field. Athletics reliever Brad Ziegler(notes) was in tears after the game when he found out the man had died.

“They had him on a stretcher. He said, ‘Please check on my son. My son was up there by himself.’ The people who carried him out reassured him. ‘Sir, we’ll get your son, we’ll make sure he’s OK,”’ Ziegler said. “He had his arms swinging. He talked and was conscious. We assumed he was OK. But when you find out he’s not, it’s just tough.”

There was an audible gasp in Freddy Sanchez Jersey the stands when the man tumbled over the rail, eerily similar to an accident last July when a man fell about 30 feet from the second-deck of seats down the right-field line while trying to catch a foul ball. That fan, Tyler Morris, suffered a fractured skull and sprained ankle.

It is the second fatal fall at a MLB ballpark this season. In May, a 27-year-old man died after he fell about 20 feet and struck his head on concrete during a Colorado Rockies game.

Derek Holland(notes) (7-4) rebounded from his shortest outing ever with a four-hitter for his third career shutout. He struck out seven and walked two while allowing only four singles. The left-hander had allowed Cubs Starlin Castro Jersey five runs and four hits while getting only two outs in his previous start Saturday night against Florida.

“Obviously, he was outstanding,” Washington said. “He came out and pounded the strike zone from the very first pitch. He never looked back and stayed focus.”

Hamilton drove in a run in each of his first four at-bats, putting Texas ahead to stay with an RBI groundout in the first. The outfielder added a run-scoring single in the third before two sacrifice fly balls after Authentic Pablo Sandoval Jersey that.

This was the makeup of a May 11 game that was rained out after Texas built a 7-0 lead through four innings.

Rich Harden(notes) (1-1) gave up five runs and eight hits over five innings in his second start of the season for the A’s.

“(The game) didn’t really matter Cody Ross Jersey after what happened,” said Harden, who was with Texas last season. “It’s horrible. You try to refocus. You have a job to do. But it’s hard to ignore that.”

Before the Rangers batted in the second, manager Washington spoke briefly with one of the umpires. Michael Young(notes), who was leading off the inning, could be seen talking to A’s Authentic Matt Cain Jersey catcher Kurt Suzuki(notes) and pointing toward the area where the previous accident happened.

Holland struck out four Cubs Ryne Sandberg Jersey of the first six batters he faced, getting all three outs in the first on strikes.

After Suzuki’s single in the fifth, Holland retired 10 consecutive batters without a ball leaving the infield before giving up a pair of singles and a walk in the ninth.

It was the 10th time this season that Oakland was held scoreless.

Holland threw a five-hit shutout at Cleveland on June 4. Authentic Freddy Sanchez Jersey He was 1-3 in his five starts until Thursday night.

Mitch Moreland(notes) had a grand slam wiped out when the May 11 game was rained out and none of the stats counted.

Moreland had a double and a single in the makeup. He led off the Texas fourth with his double and scored on a single by Mike Napoli(notes) that made it 3-0.

The right-hander was clinging to a one-run lead against Ryne Sandberg Jersey the Kansas City Royals with two outs in the seventh inning, and a pair of singles had put runners on first and second. The bullpen gate was swinging open and Scherzer knew that his night was done.
Detroit Tigers ' Don Kelly (32) is congratulated by teammate Miguel Cabrera (24) after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, July 7, 2011. The Tigers defeated the Royals 3-1.
Detroit Tigers ' Don Kelly…
AP - Jul 7, 11:27 pm EDT

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“I want the ball,” Scherzer said after watching the Detroit bullpen hang on for a 3-1 victory on Thursday night. “In that situation, I still had plenty in the tank. I understand why he made the move, he wanted the lefty-lefty matchup, but of course I want the ball.”

Instead, Phil Coke(notes) sprinted in from right field to retire Mike Moustakas(notes) and end the threat.

Joaquin Benoit(notes) survived a leadoff single by Brayan Pena(notes) in Alfonso Soriano Jersey the eighth inning, Don Kelly(notes) homered in the bottom half to give the Tigers Authentic Alfonso Soriano Jersey a two-run cushion, and All-Star closer Jose Valverde(notes) hung tough through a wild Authentic Carlos Zambrano Jersey ninth inning for his 22nd save in 22 chances.

“It is what it is,” said Scherzer (10-4), who finally joined teammate Justin Verlander(notes) in reaching the double-digit win plateau before the All-Star break. “I want the ball, and really, that’s the way it’s got to be. If I don’t want the ball in that situation then something’s wrong.”

Leyland said he was simply trying to protect Scherzer, who had thrown only 88 pitches.

“I wasn’t Carlos Zambrano Jersey going to let him get hurt,” Leyland said. “After pitching that good, I wasn’t going to let him make one mistake and somebody hits a three-run homer.”

Valverde gave up a two-out walk to Eric Hosmer(notes) and an infield single to Jeff Francoeur(notes) in the ninth inning, but the animated reliever came back to retire Moustakas with the tying run on second base, marching off the Authentic Matt Garza Jersey mound with an emphatic fist pump after Detroit’s second straight win.

Moustakas went 0 for 4 after a 0-for-11 series against the Chicago White Sox.

“I’ve been putting some good at-bats together lately. I’m just not getting the results Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey I want right now,” said the rookie third baseman. “The time’s going to come when these fly balls will start turning themselves into line drives and then home runs, hopefully, and the RBIs will start coming.”

The Royals’ inability to score squandered the best start of Danny Duffy’s(notes) young career.

The 22-year-old left-hander, who many pundits consider a future ace, allowed two runs and four hits over six stellar innings. Duffy struck out six and walked only one while Cubs Alfonso Soriano Jersey throwing 65 of 102 pitches for strikes—but still lost for the fourth time in his first five big league decisions.

“He threw the ball great tonight. Really did a nice job,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

In fact, the only major mistake he made was a 1-2 delivery to Raburn with two outs in the second inning that went soaring into the Kansas City bullpen. The two-run shot brought home Miguel Kosuke Fukudome Jersey Cabrera(notes) and gave Scherzer and Carlos Pena Jersey the Matt Garza Jersey Detroit bullpen just enough run support.

“It was down but Authentic Carlos Pena Jersey he went and got it. It just must have been the exact coordinates on the map that he was thinking it was going to be at that point in time,” Duffy said. “I wasn’t finding the zone very well in that inning. It was just a tough inning. Cubs Kosuke Fukudome Jersey It’s a shame it happened the way it did.”

The Royals optioned Duffy to Triple-A Omaha after the game so that he could keep pitching on a regular schedule during next week’s Cubs Carlos Zambrano Jersey All-Star break.

“He kept us in the game,” Yost said. “He did what we want.”

The Cubs Matt Garza Jersey Royals just couldn’t help him out at the plate.

They Authentic Ryne Sandberg Jersey scored their only run in the fifth, when Hosmer shot a pitch down the left-field line for a leadoff double. He advanced to third on Francoeur’s fly ball before Cubs Carlos Pena Jersey scoring on Moustakas’ groundout.

“It’s nice,” Scherzer said. “It’s nice for the team to come in and win the first game of the series.”