Twins bats continue to fizzle (AP)

When the Minnesota Twins left Florida to start the season, scoring runs was the least of their concerns. Eight games into the season, generating offense has suddenly become priority No. 1 for Joe Mauer and the rest of what was billed as the deepest Twins lineup in years. Gio Gonzalez pitched six sharp innings and [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/10/twins-bats-continue-to-fizzle-ap/

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Mets 8 Nationals 4 April 9, 2011

The Mets got their first home win in front of a lot of empty seats at Citi Field tonight. Carlos Beltran put on a show hitting two homers, both right-handed in the game to lead the offense. Beltran has been getting good wood on the ball so it wasn’t a surprise to see him start ... Continue Reading

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MetsReport/~3/szJTwuEJi-g/

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Rangers suffer first loss, then split DH (AP)

After having their unbeaten run squelched by a rookie pitcher, the Texas Rangers returned to form with a power-hitting display worthy of the team that owns the best record in the majors. Adrian Beltre homered to cap a six-run third inning, and the Rangers used a 13-1 rout Saturday night to gain a satisfying doubleheader [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/10/rangers-suffer-first-loss-then-split-dh-ap/

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Gonzalez, Fuentes pitch As by Twins 1-0 (AP)

Gio Gonzalez was locked in a 0-0 duel with Nick Blackburn when the Minnesota Twins opened the fifth inning with two straight singles. That’s when second baseman Mark Ellis paid him a visit, telling the young lefty to not worry if he gave up a run or two. The Oakland Athletics’ offense, Ellis told him, [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/10/gonzalez-fuentes-pitch-as-by-twins-1-0-ap/

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Narveson, Fielder lead Brewers over Cubs (AP)

Chris Narveson labored through the spring, showing little signs of the pitcher who earned the fifth spot in the starting rotation last year. After two starts, no one for Milwaukee has been better. Narveson pitched seven shutout innings, Prince Fielder drove in four runs with a career-high three doubles and the Brewers beat the Chicago [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/10/narveson-fielder-lead-brewers-over-cubs-ap/

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Giants get their rings

Manager Bruce Bochy said it best: "It's going to be my best day in professional ball."

The San Francisco Giants, fresh off a playoff-type home opener (which took 13 torturous innings to win), received their World Series rings Saturday in front of 42,000+ loving fans.

The San Francisco Symphony, decked out in black tuxedos and Giants caps, played Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" while the rings were escorted to home plate by San Francisco's finest -- riding on bikes, horses and inside vintage cars. 
Everyone from Kruk & Kuip to Amy Gutierrez, Renel Brooks-Moon and the camera men were dressed to the nines.

Staffers in tuxedos and white gloves brought the rings in black commemorative boxes, laid out on silver platters, to a set of tables behind home plate.

Kruk & Kuip then came out and introduced president and COO Larry Baer and owner Bill Neukom, as Giants legends Gaylord Perry, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie Mays looked on.

Clubhouse manager Mike Murphy, who has been with the Giants since he was a bat boy in 1958, was called out first to get his ring, followed by GM Brian Sabean.

Bochy came out next from the dugout and was the first to unveil the team's special gold-lettered jerseys and caps.  The rest of the coaching staff then got announced and came out from the dugout one-by-one to receive their rings.

Next it was time for the players to be announced. Each of them came out, in numerical order according to their jerseys. None waited long before opening the black boxes and putting on their rings.

The Giants then presented World Series rings to Mays, McCovey, Perry and Cepeda. Juan Marichal and Monte Irvin were unable to attend but will receive their rings later.

Kruk & Kuip received their rings on the air (between the second and third innings). Supposedly, even Lou Seal got a ring!

It was truly a trip through Goosebump City.

The rings themselves are comprised of 14k white and yellow gold and weigh about 80 grams total. There are three main components to the ring. On one side of the ring is a depiction of the Golden Gate Bridge, a tribute to the fans and community of San Francisco. On the top of the ring is the SF logo set in white gold with a yellow gold bezel around it. And on the third side of the ring is a depiction of the World Series trophy and banner with the individual recipient's name. There are five diamonds set in the base of the trophy, representing the five championships won by the organization prior to their move to San Francisco. There's also a mandarin garnet set inside the trophy to represent the first World Series championship in San Francisco last year.

Once the ring ceremony ended, it was time to clear the field and get ready for the game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani and rocker Sammy Hagar then came out and performed the National Anthem. Hagar was clearly shit-faced as he pulled a Natalie Gilbert and forgot the lyrics. (Somebody call Daniel Tosh; Hagar needs a web redemption.)

After the anthem, Tim Lincecum and four other bay area sports champs (Jim Otto of the Oakland Raiders, Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers, Al Attles of the Golden State Warriors, and Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A's) threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The fans also got their rings.

The Giants gave away commemorative metal key chains. It has an interlocking SF on top, between the words "2010 World Champions." One side has the Golden Gate Bridge, the other the World Series trophy.

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Fit to be Un-Tyed: Ty Wigginton's three run
double propels Rockies to win over Pittsburgh

For awhile, the game was all too reminiscent of Friday night: the score was tied three to three, the heart of the Rockies lineup came up time and time again with men in scoring position and either failed to get them home or did so in the least effective manner possible (for example, Carlos Gonzalez grounding into a double play with no outs and a runner on third, on a 3-0 pitch, no less). So, when Troy Tulowitzki and Seth Smith struck out in back to back at bats in the eighth inning, with two runners on, none out and what was looking like the Rockies last, best chance of pulling out the win in this game slipping through their fingers, you could probably understand why some Rockies fans were despairing a bit. Then, after an HBP of Jose Lopez loaded the bases, the inexplicable happened: a Rockies hitter actually came through in a big way in late innings with the outcome of the game on the line. That hitter was Ty Wigginton, whose clutch three run double with two outs propelled the Rockies to a six to four victory over the Pirates. WIgginton was filling in for Todd Helton and finished the game with just the one hit, but at least it came when it counted.

Jonathan Herrera remains a mysterious on-base machine, walking three times and getting a hit. I'm not going to knock the weapon until it proves ineffective, and so far this season, Herrera's been extremely effective. He's matured relatively late as a hitter, and to this degree his prowess is certainly unsustainable, but he continues to show that he belongs on the big stage in the MLB. Herrera led off the Rockies eighth inning rally with a walk, scoring the go ahead run. 

Dexter Fowler walked twice, scored twice and stole a base for the Rockies and Carlos Gonzalez went three for four, it just so happened that one time without a hit was particularly cringe inducing, but even that scored a run. In the negative column, Troy Tulowitzki again showed that maybe he chose the wrong Katy Perry song, with the Hot and Cold pattern continuing in frigid territory for the second consecutive night.

Greg Reynolds' last career victory was on June 17, 2008 as a 22 year old rookie against the Indians, he's going to have to wait a bit longer despite pitching well for the Rockies, limiting the Pirates to just two runs on three hits in six innings.

Ryan Doumit gave Rockies pitchers named Reynolds the most trouble tonight, hitting a two run home run off of Greg Reynolds to give Pittsburgh an early lead, and then a double off of Matt Reynolds in the seventh, eventually scoring to tie the game at three and costing G. Reynolds the chance to reappear with a W in the box score. Rafael Betancourt gave up a home run to Jose Tabata in the eighth for the Pirates fourth run. Matt Lindstrom pitched the ninth and earned his first Rockies save, filling in for the spent Huston Street.

5 - 2

Games Back: 0

Streak: Won 1

Games Left: 155

via www.fangraphs.com

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The Bullpen Implosion Is Upon Us, Astros Lose 7-5

I'll be real honest with you, Astros fans. If this team scores five runs in a game, the pitching needs to hold that lead. That's a lot of runs. Roy Oswalt would have killed for five runs in support last season.

Reliever just can't come in and give up runs in bunches like they have in the past couple of games. The same goes for Bud Norris, who was great for five innings and crapped the bed in the sixth. Still, Norris left the Astros with a chance to win, as the Marlins simply tied the game at 4-4 after his disastrous sixth inning. 

In what has been two straight redemptive starts for Astros pitchers, Norris looked good for much of this game. He allowed just five hits, four runs and two walks while striking out six. Three of those five hits also came in the sixth, when Norris gave up a double to Mike Stanton and a home run to Gregg Dobbs.

The real blows came when Fernando Abad gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning and Enerio De Rosario gave up an unearned run in the eighth. Those made the run the Astros finally eked out in the bottom of the eighth slightly meaningless (much like Friday's late inning heroics).

As I said, the pitching breakdowns late erased what was a pretty nice offensive game for Houston. Angel Sanchez continued his hot start, going 2 for 4 with with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Hunter Pence was 2 for 5 with another double as he continues to make the Cincinnati series more like a speed bump to an otherwise nice start. Even Carlos Lee got in on the action, doubling in the eighth and scoring on a Brett Wallace single.

The Astros have a young bullpen. It's a good group, but they're still young. For all the promise that Fernando Abad has shown, he needs to learn. I wonder, though, why Mills didn't run in Melancon there. The only left-hander Abad was scheduled to face was Chris Coghlan. I know Mills doesn't think of him as the typical situational lefty, but that's exactly how he's used him this season. Melancon hasn't pitched since Thursday and has yet to give up a run. I don't like second-guessing the manager, but he's certainly made me scratch my head some with his bullpen selection the past two games.

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Fish Wrap: Marlins 7, Astros 5

Well the good news is that Javier Vazquez wasn't quite as terrible in his second start as he was in his first. I mean, at least he lasted longer than 2 1/3 innings. Javy allowed four runs on eight hits through six innings on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, and got his first win as a Marlin.

If his pitching continues to improve at the current pace, I'd say we can expect Javy to look like Cy Young by mid-May.

Here's how game two of the series at MMP went down:

The Astros grabbed the lead in the first when Angel Sanchez and Hunter Pence hit back-to-back doubles. In the second, Bill Hall doubled and scored on a double from Bud Norris, who decided to help out his own cause (even though Vazquez seemed to be helping it enough for the both of them). An RBI single from Sanchez made it 3-1, Astros.

The Marlins got on the board in the second inning, and missed a major opportunity against Norris when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Mike Stanton and Gaby Sanchez walked, and Gregg Dobbs singled to load 'em up, but the Fish could only manage to squeeze one run out of the situation. John Buck struck out swinging before Donnie Murphy grounded out to score a run, and Vazquez grounded out to end the inning.

Javy settled down for a few innings before giving up a fourth run in in the fifth on another RBI hit from Hunter Pence. And then the Fish decided to turn things around. 

In the top of the sixth, Logan Morrison singled and scored on a double by Mike Stanton, and Dobbs followed that with a two-run shot to to tie the game at 4. Next inning, the Fish took the lead off of Fernando Abad, who gave up back-to-back-to-back doubles to Wes Helms, Chris Coghlan, and Omar Infante to give the Marlins a 6-4 lead.

The Fish scored again in the eighth off of Enerio Del Rosario. Gaby Sanchez reached on an error, and Dobbs doubled him home to make it 7-4. But in the bottom of the inning, the Astros got the run back against Clay Hensley. Carlos Lee doubled and Brett Wallace singled him in to put Houston within two.

Leo Nunez closed it down for his third save of the season, and the Marlins have taken the series in Houston.

The Marlins are getting really good at coming from behind. After opening day, all four of the their wins have been of the come-back variety.  Don't know whether to rejoice that they're overcoming the deficits, or worry about their luck running out. 

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Rockies beat Pirates, stay atop NL West (AP)

Ty Wigginton hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the eighth inning to give Colorado a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night, keeping the Rockies atop the NL West four straight days for the first time since 2006. With the bases loaded, Wigginton ripped a shot off reliever Jose Veras (0-1) and past [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/10/rockies-beat-pirates-stay-atop-nl-west-ap/

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