Lee homers twice but Cubs drop Pirates 5-3 | The Associated Press
Carlos Zambrano spoiled former teammate Derrek Lee's coming out party with the Pittsburgh Pirates.The Chicago Cubs ace survived six choppy innings — and one long homer from Lee — to lead the Cubs to a 5-3 victory on Monday night and send the Joe DiMaggio Grey Jersey reeling Pirates to their fourth straight loss.Zambrano (8-6) picked up his 13th career win over Pittsburgh, tied with Aaron Harang for second-most among active pitchers. The veteran right-hander struck out Yankees Johnny Damon Authentic Jersey five cheap jerseys from china and walked three while giving up seven hits. Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth to collect his 21st save."I did what I was supposed to do," Zambrano said.And did what he's always done against the Pirates, particularly at PNC Park. Zambrano improved to 8-1 all-time at the hitter-friendly yard and shook off a shaky July with his best outing — by the numbers anyway — since early Authentic Joe DiMaggio Grey Jersey June.He had trouble with his command, throwing just 66 of his 114 pitches for Replica Joe DiMaggio White Jersey strikes, but the Pirates failed to take advantage, leaving seven runners on base."Personally I feel like I've been throwing the ball good," Zambrano said. "I was able to battle and pitch six innings."Lee ended up homering twice less than 48 hours after being acquired from Baltimore, but it wasn't enough as the Pirates lost Yankees Johnny Damon Replica Jersey for Replica Joba Chamberlain Black Jersey the sixth time in eight games to slip further behind Milwaukee in the National League Central race.The 35-year-old Lee spent six seasons in Chicago but swears he doesn't have inside knowledge of Zambrano. He added he didn't Authentic Jorge Posada Black Jersey feel strange stepping in the box against Zambrano, noting he did the same last year after the Cubs shipped him to Atlanta.Maybe, but his appearance in the batter's box had an adverse affect on Chicago manager Mike Quade."It was sickening is what it was — weird has got nothing to do with it," Authentic Johnny Damon White Throwback Jersey Quade said. "We've all watched him long enough and have so much respect for him, we know he's capable of that. Just wish he'd save that stuff for someone else."The Pirates, in first-place two weeks ago, are now just one game above .500 (54-53), the closest they've been to the break-even mark in a month."It's like when you're on an airplane and the captain says, 'Buckle your seatbelt, we're going to hit some turbulence,'" said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. "We've hit some turbulence. That's all it is. No one said it would be easy."Lee certainly made it look easy. Brought in along with Ryan Ludwick to give one of baseball's weakest offenses a spark, Lee did just that. He tied the game at 1 in the fourth with Johnny Damon White Throwback Jersey a lengthy homer to left and pulled Replica Joba Chamberlain White Jersey the Pirates to 4-3 in the eighth on a two-run shot to center off reliever Kerry Wood."It was nice to Replica Joba Chamberlain Grey Jersey get some hits and contribute," Lee said. "Unfortunately they got the win so we turn the page and get Joe DiMaggio White Jersey ready to go tomorrow."Lee became Johnny Damon White Jersey the first Pirate to hit two homers in his Pittsburgh debut since Yankees Joe DiMaggio Authentic Jersey Shawon Dunston did it against Cleveland on Sept. 2, 1997.Starlin Castro had Joe DiMaggio White Throwback Jersey three hits for Chicago, which has won two straight after dropping five in a row.Ludwick, picked up by the Pirates just before the trade deadline, went 0 for 3 with a walk on a day that began with a cross-country flight from San Diego. He didn't arrive at Replica Johnny Damon White Jersey the ballpark until 5 p.m. and headed straight to the kitchen to eat rather than squeeze in some batting practice.Paul Maholm (6-11) surrendered Official Joe DiMaggio Jersey four runs on six hits in six innings, striking out three and walking three. He had little trouble through the first five innings, allowing just one run Replica Joe DiMaggio Grey Jersey on Jeff Baker's sacrifice fly but ran into trouble after reaching first on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth.Teammate Garrett Jones slashed a line drive right at Maholm as the pitcher led off first and the ball Authentic Jorge Posada GMS The Boss White Jersey drilled Maholm in the right (non-throwing) shoulder. It Yankees Joe DiMaggio Replica Jersey did more than just end the inning, it seemed to end Maholm's effectiveness even if Maholm said Replica Johnny Damon Grey Jersey the hit didn't bother him.Castro and Baker hit consecutive singles to Authentic Joe DiMaggio White Throwback Jersey start the sixth and Geovany Soto followed with a double down Authentic Jorge Posada White Jersey the left-field line. Maholm intentionally walked Marlon Byrd to load the bases with no out. Alfonso Soriano grounded to short but beat out the attempted double-play throw as Baker scored. Carlos Pena added a sacrifice fly to push Chicago's lead to three."They bunched some hits together that inning and pushed a few across," Maholm said.That was enough for the Cubs, who won their second straight Authentic Johnny Damon Grey Jersey following a five-game skid.Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez had two hits apiece for Pittsburgh. But the Pirates left seven runners on base and again failed to get Authentic Jorge Posada Grey Jersey the clutch hit they needed to try and stay within striking distance in the National League Central."We've just Official Johnny Damon Jersey got to get over it and come Official Jorge Posada Jersey back tomorrow and do what we've been doing all year, grinding it out for nine innings Authentic Joe DiMaggio White Jersey and winning," Maholm said.NOTES: The Pirates are now 12-43 in games in which they scored four runs or less. ... Philadelphia pitcher Authentic Johnny Damon White Jersey Roy Oswalt's 15 career wins is the most by an active pitcher against the Pirates. ... Chicago's nine wins over the Pirates the last two years are the fewest of any NL Central club. ... The Cubs are 48-36 all-time at PNC Park.___Follow AP Sports Writer Will Graves on Twitter at Johnny Damon Grey Jersey twitter.com/WillGravesAP
Red Sox SS Scutaro leaves game due to dizziness | The Associated Press
Red Sox shortstop Marco Scutaro left Monday night's game against Cleveland in the fourth inning with what the club called dizziness.Scutaro had attempted to turn a double play after taking a throw from Dustin Pedroia in the top of the fourth. Yankees Don Mattingly Authentic Jersey He was pinch-hit for by Mike Aviles in the bottom of the inning.Aviles, who took a called third strike, remained in the game at shortstop.It was Aviles' first at-bat with the Red Sox. He was acquired from Kansas City on Saturday night.
Cabrera's 2nd homer leads Indians over Red Sox | The Derek Jeter Grey Jersey Associated Press | As | San Francisco Examiner
Cleveland manager Manny Acta's pregame lesson about Fenway Park's quirky angles and dimensions certainly couldn't cover what Asdrubal Cabrera's homer did.
Cabrera's second two-run homer of the game, originally ruled a single off the short wall in right field and overturned by replay review, Authentic Don Mattingly Grey Jersey broke Authentic Joba Chamberlain Black Jersey an eighth-inning tie Joba Chamberlain Grey Jersey and lifted the Joba Chamberlain White Jersey Indians to a 9-6 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
"It might Replica Don Mattingly Grey Jersey be the only park," Cabrera Replica Derek Jeter GMS Grey Jersey said when asked if he thought his homer would have been out in any other ballpark.
Travis Hafner homered after Cabrera's first of the game as the Indians won for just the third time in their last 11 games.
"It all starts with Asdrubal," Acta said. "Asdrubal is the one that gets us going like he has all year."
Cabrera's homer came off reliever Daniel Bard (1-5) Official Don Mattingly Jersey and halted his scoreless innings streak at 26 1-3, longest active in the majors. It was the first run he allowed after 25 scoreless appearances.
Acta held a brief team meeting before the game.
"We have a lot of kids that have never been here, a different ballpark, just for them to really take advantage of it with extra batting practice and all that," he said. "Just let the guys know that this is fun, a couple of Replica Don Mattingly White Jersey games out and two months to go. In a way I needed to let them know we're still in Joba Chamberlain Black Jersey it, but we needed to get back to Derek Jeter White Black Strip Jersey what got us to where we're at."
After Jason Kipnis singled leading off the eighth, Cabrera hit a fly ball down the right field Don Mattingly White Jersey line that hooked around the Pesky Pole and caromed off what looked like the top of the wall to outfielder Josh Reddick. Replays appeared to show the ball hitting beyond the padding on the top of the approximately 5-foot wall and bouncing back into play off a female fan's knee. After a delay of a few minutes, the umpires came back onto the field and ruled it a home run and Cabrera finished his trot around the bases, making it Derek Jeter White Pink Strip Jersey 7-5. Matt LaPorta added an RBI double in the inning.
"I think they all knew about the Pesky Pole," Acta said. "I heard them talking about it in the dugout."
Bard was surprised that it was ruled a homer, lightly Replica Derek Jeter Black Jersey tossing the ball to the ground when the umpires came back.
"It looked like Yankees Joba Chamberlain Authentic Jersey it hit off the top of the wall and came back in," he said. "But I guess further review showed that it hit off a lady's knee, so it Authentic Joba Chamberlain Grey Jersey looks like they got it right. It's still tough to call."
Rafael Perez (4-1) pitched one inning of scoreless relief for the win.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a broken-bat two-run homer and Carl Crawford had a solo homer, double and scored two runs for Boston, Yankees Joba Chamberlain Replica Jersey which was coming off a 20-6 record in Authentic Joba Chamberlain White Jersey July — itwin month since May 2007.
The Indians started a seven-game road trip against division leaders. Replica Derek Jeter Grey Jersey After four against the AL East-leading Red Sox, they are scheduled to play three Replica Derek Jeter White Pink Strip Jersey in Texas against the West-leading Rangers this weekend.
After the Indians had grabbed a 5-3 lead in the sixth, Saltalamacchia Derek Jeter White Jersey hit his improbable two-run homer off starter Josh Tomlin in the bottom half. With the end of his bat flying down the first-base line, the ball carried into the seats in right. Indians first baseman LaPorta appeared to be staring into the Red Sox dugout in disbelief as Saltalamacchia rounded the bases.
"I still knew how short it was in right field," Tomlin said. "I was just hoping it was further down than it was."
Saltalamacchia knew where it was going, thinking it had a good chance to make it into the stands in short right.
"I hit it on the good part of the bat. I didn't even feel it off the bat and the bat kind of broke," he said. "Luckily we're in Fenway and it hit the Replica Derek Jeter Red Jersey corner there and kept going."
Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Cleveland grabbed the lead on the consecutive homers by Cabrera and Hafner Yankees Don Mattingly Replica Jersey against starter John Lackey. Cabrera hit his into the deepest part of Fenway right field, a drive that carried into the first row of seats over a short wall for his 18th of the season after Kipnis doubled. Hafner then belted his 10th into Boston's bullpen.
Lackey, who had won his last four starts for his best stretch of the season, gave up five runs and eight hits, struck out five and didn't walk anyone in 6 2-3 Replica Derek Jeter White Black Strip Jersey innings.
Boston took a 3-1 lead by scoring wholesale custom jerseys a run in the second and two in the third.
Kosuke Fukudome's RBI single made it 3-2.
Marco Scutaro, who left the game with what the club called dizziness in the fourth inning, made it 1-0 with an RBI single.
Michael Brantley's RBI double tied it in the third.
The Red Sox added two in third on Replica Derek Jeter White Jersey Kevin Youkilis' RBI triple off the center-field wall and Crawford's homer.
Tomlin allowed five runs and 10 hits in six innings.
NOTES: Boston manager Terry Francona said Derek Jeter GMS Grey Jersey Scutaro Official Joba Chamberlain Jersey was dizzy and his heart rate was elevated, but he checked out fine. They plan to look at him again Tuesday. ... Acta said RF Shin-Soo Choo, out since late June with a broken left thumb, will likely take BP on the field later this week. Acta would not talk about any rehab dates yet. "He's got a couple of steps before that," Acta said. Choo was Cleveland's top hitter the past two seasons. ... Boston utility INF Authentic Don Mattingly White Jersey Jed Lowrie, on the 15-day DL since June 17 with a strained left shoulder, started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday. ... It was the fifth time this season the Indians Don Mattingly Grey Jersey hit consecutive homers.
Dodgers RHP De la Rosa goes on DL | The Associated Press Derek Jeter Red Jersey
The Los Angeles Dodgers put right-hander Rubby De La C.C. Sabathia Black Jersey Rosa on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to elbow inflammation.The Dodgers recalled right-hander John Ely from Triple-A Albuquerque.De La Rosa was 4-5 in 10 starts for the Dodgers, posting a 3.71 ERA over 60 2-3 innings. Manager Don Mattingly said De La Rosa Authentic Derek Jeter Black Jersey had an MRI and will be evaluated further before any determination is made on his return.Ely made one start for the Dodgers in April, taking the loss after allowing four runs in 5 2-3 Replica C.C. Sabathia White Jersey innings, and was also recalled in June for a relief appearance.
Sabathia pitches Yankees past White Sox 3-2 | The Associated Press
CC Sabathia has been on a roll Official Curtis Granderson Jersey for 2? months now, racking up Yankees C.C. Sabathia Replica Jersey the innings and strikeouts while piling up the wins for the New York Yankees.The big left-hander gave up Authentic Derek Jeter GMS Grey Jersey 10 hits Monday night, matching a season high, and it may have been one of his most impressive performances to date.Sabathia pitched eight strong innings to earn his major league-best 16th win and the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Monday for their fourth consecutive victory."I thought he had to gut it up because his stuff wasn't as sharp Yankees Curtis Granderson Authentic Jersey as we've seen it in the past," Curtis Granderson White Jersey manager Joe Girardi said. "He's a true ace."Sabathia managed to wiggle out of trouble all night as the White Sox struggled to score without injured slugger Paul Konerko. They put wholesale jersey the tying run in scoring position in the Authentic Derek Jeter White Jersey fifth, sixth and seventh and came away with nothing each time."When a guy gets into scoring position off of CC Sabathia, he pumps it up," Replica Curtis Granderson White Jersey said Gordon Beckham, who finished with two hits for Chicago. "He was Authentic Curtis Granderson White Jersey hitting 98 in the Yankees Derek Jeter Replica Jersey seventh or eighth inning. It's frustrating, yeah, but we battled against him and we just came up short."Sabathia (16-5) improved to 9-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his last 10 starts, burnishing his credentials for a second AL Cy Young Award. He has pitched at least six innings in Authentic Derek Jeter Red Jersey each of his last 21 outings."I had C.C. Sabathia Grey Jersey to Official C.C. Sabathia Jersey battle a little bit and just try to make pitches," he said. "They put some good at-bats together on me, hit some balls hard and me and Cervy (catcher Francisco Cervelli) were able to get out of some tough situations."Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save in 32 chances and second in as many days.Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run homer for Chicago, Derek Jeter Black Jersey which has lost three straight games. Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski also had two hits apiece.White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy (4-5) settled down after a rough start and pitched seven effective innings. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner gave up three runs and eight hits, but still dropped his fourth consecutive decision."Tonight I tried to pace myself and I felt Authentic Derek Jeter White Black Strip Jersey a little bit better going deeper in the ballgame," Peavy said. C.C. Sabathia White Jersey "That's a great sign for me and I'm excited by it."Both teams were without their captains for the opener of the four-game C.C. Sabathia Red Jersey series. Yankees shortstop Authentic Derek Jeter Grey Jersey Derek Jeter rested with a bruised right middle finger and is expected to return to the lineup Yankees Derek Jeter Authentic Jersey Tuesday, but Konerko could miss the next couple of days with a bruised left calf.Both All-Stars were injured when they were hit by a pitch on Sunday."I can't bear any weight," Konerko said. "That's probably the main thing. Just very weak. That's very normal where I got hit. Just keep working at it."The inconsistent White Sox trail AL Central-leading Detroit by 4? Replica C.C. Sabathia Black Jersey games, and could lose more ground if they are Official Derek Jeter Jersey without their Replica C.C. Sabathia Grey Jersey best player for a prolonged stretch. Yankees Curtis Granderson Replica Jersey Konerko leads Chicago regulars with a .305 batting average, Replica C.C. Sabathia Red Jersey 25 homers and 76 RBIs.His absence was felt almost immediately.Fill-in first baseman Adam Dunn made a nice diving stop on Brett Gardner's leadoff grounder in the first, but couldn't get the ball out of his glove in Yankees C.C. Sabathia Authentic Jersey time to retire the speedy outfielder. Curtis Granderson followed with a run-scoring double into the right-field corner and came around to score when Robinson Cano's hard, one-out grounder skipped past Dunn for an RBI single.Dunn also Authentic Derek Jeter White Pink Strip Jersey struck out in each of his last three at-bats, including with a runner on to end the sixth and the eighth. He went 0 for 4 against Sabathia and is 3 for 77 with 35 strikeouts against lefties this year.The burly slugger, who signed with Chicago over the winter, once again heard more jeers from a frustrated crowd of 24,142 at U.S. Cellular Field.Granderson scored on Cano's double-play grounder to give New York a 3-0 lead in the third, but the Yankees struggled after their fast start. They recorded six of their eight hits in the first three innings.NOTES: Girardi said 3B Alex Rodriguez (right knee surgery) is expected to resume baseball activities on Thursday at the team's spring facility in Florida. ... RHP Ivan Nova will start the series finale Thursday, giving New York a six-man rotation for at least Authentic C.C. Sabathia White Jersey the next week. The move provides some extra rest for aging starters Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, and likely sets up a competition between Phil Hughes and Nova for a starting spot. Hughes is scheduled to face LHP John Danks on Tuesday. ... Peavy threw a season-high 115 pitches.____Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
Replica Brett Gardner White Jersey Morgan, Brewers rough up Carpenter, Cardinals 6-2 | The Associated Press
The Milwaukee Brewers keep winning at home, even if they're stumped over the reasons why they've been suddenly so good at Miller Park.Nyjer Morgan hit a go-ahead, three-run double to cap a five-run fifth inning off Cardinals ace Authentic Alex Rodriguez White Jersey Chris Carpenter and the Brewers rallied for a 6-2 win over St. Louis on Monday night and extend their season-best winning streak to seven.The Brewers own the best home record in the majors at 40-14 after going 40-41 at Miller Park last year."We feel like we have that extra confidence here, but for whatever reason the fans get so Yankees Alex Rodriguez Replica Jersey behind us and we feel like we're never out of anything," Brewers Replica Alex Rodriguez White Pink Strip Jersey right fielder Corey Hart said. "We always knew this was going to be a big series ... Winning the first one is huge. It gives us a little momentum going forward."Milwaukee only had one hit off Carpenter before the Authentic Alex Rodriguez White Pink Strip Jersey fifth, when the first six batters reached, including Morgan's decisive double."''Everything worked Replica Alex Rodriguez White Black Strip Jersey out," Brewers manager Replica Alex Rodriguez Black Jersey Ron Roenicke said. "You can't explain why things fell apart, basically, for them and go well for us."Milwaukee's timely hitting helped the Brewers (61-49) move 3 1-2 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central, their biggest lead of Authentic C.C. Sabathia Red Jersey the season. The Yankees Brett Gardner Authentic Jersey Brewers and Cardinals will play 11 more times this year.Zack Greinke (9-4) allowed a first-inning, two-run homer to Matt Holliday, but the Brewers offense prevailed again in the second Alex Rodriguez White Black Strip Jersey matchup this season of the former Cy Young winners after Carpenter (6-8) appeared in complete control riding a five-game winning streak.Yuniesky Betancourt singled to lead off the fifth and Casey McGehee executed Authentic C.C. Sabathia Black Jersey a hit-and-run single past second baseman Skip Schumaker to put Yankees Alex Rodriguez Authentic Jersey runners at the corners.Jonathan Lucroy's Brett Gardner White Jersey chopper went over the head of third baseman David Freese to score a run and the Cardinals' defense failed to cover first or third when Greinke laid down a bunt that loaded the bases.Hart followed with an Authentic Alex Rodriguez Black Jersey RBI single that tied it at 2 before Morgan hit his bases-clearing double to put Milwaukee up 5-2. The Brewers tacked on a run in the seventh on Ryan Braun's double off Mitchell Boggs."We find ways to scrap," Hart said. "Whether it's Prince or Yuni or Casey, it's nice to have cheap nfl jerseys different guys getting up Replica Alex Rodriguez Red Jersey there for guys."Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said it was tough to see Carpenter (6-8) get knocked around without a ball driven well."It was a mess," La Russa said. "They got five runs off not enough contact. Some of that, we could have defended better. Some of it was tough breaks."It was the first time Carpenter had Authentic Alex Rodriguez Red Jersey given up five earned runs since he lost to Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young winner, on June 11. Milwaukee is 4-0 against St. Louis at Miller Park this season and Greinke is 7-0 at home."I know when we come home we're going to play well," Roenicke said. "I Alex Rodriguez Grey Jersey still can't tell Authentic Alex Rodriguez White Black Strip Jersey you what the reasons are. It's a Authentic C.C. Sabathia Grey Jersey feeling that the guys have when they're home, they know they're going to play well Official Brett Gardner Jersey and it goes a long way."New acquisition Rafael Furcal singled to lead off the game for St. Louis and Holliday hit a two-out homer, his first since participating in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break.St. Louis loaded the bases in the Alex Rodriguez White Pink Strip Jersey fifth with one out after Greinke walked Holliday and allowed hits to Lance Berkman and Freese, but Schumaker grounded into an inning-ending double play."I couldn't believe Replica Alex Rodriguez Grey Jersey that they turned it," Greinke said. "That was real nice."Schumaker didn't think so."I was safe. That was Authentic Brett Gardner White Jersey a huge play," Yankees Brett Gardner Replica Jersey Schumaker said. "It is upsetting because it is a big play in the game."Greinke extended Milwaukee's streak Authentic Alex Rodriguez Grey Jersey of strong starting pitching by going six innings and striking out five. The Brewers rotation has allowed three runs or less in 17 straight starts dating to the second game after the All-Star break.St. Louis (57-52) was in a virtual tie atop the NL Central with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh on July 24, but the Brewers' winning streak has helped them open up a lead after St. Louis stumbled to a 4-3 mark in a homestand against the Astros and Cubs before heading on this seven-game road trip."It was the classic matchup," Schumaker said. "Greinke had great stuff going and Carp had great Alex Rodriguez Red Jersey stuff going. It is just too bad they won and we didn't."NOTES: Hart has three straight multi-hit games. ... Milwaukee sold out its fourth consecutive game and has 18 sellouts this season. ... The Brewers have won 11 of Official Alex Rodriguez Jersey their Alex Rodriguez Black Jersey last 12 at home. ... Milwaukee is 12 games above .500 for the first time since winning the NL wild card in 2008 when the Brewers Alex Rodriguez White Jersey finished 90-72. ... Brewers INF Craig Counsell popped out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth to extend his franchise-long Replica Alex Rodriguez White Jersey hitless streak to 45 at-bats.