Valencia lifts Twins past Royals in 10th (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 12 April 2011 11:44:23 PM. © MLB News Blog

Danny Valencia hit a bases-loaded single with one out in the 10th inning to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. While the Twins’ bullpen pitched four perfect innings, including the 10th by Dusty Hughes (1-0), reliever Robinson Tejeda (0-1) failed the Royals.

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Astros Myers continues mastery of Cubs (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 12 April 2011 11:25:22 PM. © MLB News Blog

Brett Myers kept up his dominance against the Chicago Cubs and Angel Sanchez tied a career high with four hits and the Houston Astros got a 11-2 win on Tuesday night. Myers (1-0) allowed eight hits and one run in seven innings to improve his career record against Chicago to 11-3. Houston scored three runs [...]

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Werth homers, doubles as Nats top Phils (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 12 April 2011 11:21:25 PM. © MLB News Blog

Jayson Werth tried hard not to show this performance against his old Phillies teammates meant anything special. Werth homered and doubled to lead the Washington Nationals to a 7-4 win Tuesday night in his first appearance against Philadelphia since leaving as a free agent this winter. When asked afterward about the significance of the game, [...]

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Rays drop Red Sox to MLB-worst 2-9 (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 12 April 2011 11:21:24 PM. © MLB News Blog

The Red Sox are all alone with baseball’s worst record. Their 2-9 mark matches the worst start in club history. Their status as a World Series favorite is fading. A somber Jon Lester managed to find a bright spot after the Tampa Bay Rays broke a tie for the bottom spot in the AL with [...]

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Another Setback for Feliciano; Ayala to the DL

post from Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog on 12 April 2011 11:02:36 PM. © Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog

http://twitter.com/Ledger_Yankees/statuses/57942628787961856

I wonder if Cashman will continue to blame Feliciano's woes on the Mets' "mishandling" of his left arm - passing the buck does seem to be the in thing to do nowadays.

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-feliciano-ayala-to.html

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Game 10 Overflow Thread #2 - Tied at 3

post from Royals Review on 12 April 2011 11:02:05 PM. © Royals Review

Game 10 Overflow Thread #2 - Tied at 3

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Braves Put It All Together, Shutout Florida 5-0

post from Talking Chop on 12 April 2011 11:02:02 PM. © Talking Chop

Brian McCann finally notched his first extra-base hit of the season, a 5th inning home run off of Chris Volstad.

Atlanta came into tonight's game looking to do two things: Get Tommy Hanson back on track and to find a way to finally start hitting the baseball. Consider both missions accomplished.

The Braves finally woke up the bats, crushing Marlins starter Chris Volstad to the tune of 4.2 IP, eight hits, five runs (all earned), and also tacked on two home runs.

Atlanta got the offense going early, as Martin Prado singled with two outs in the third inning. Pittsburgh Nate made his monthly appearance, doubling to right, scoring Prado. Chipper Jones then followed with a backside single to left that brought McLouth and his blonde highlights around from second to score to make it 2-0.

After Dan Uggla popped out to begin the fourth inning, Jason Heyward strolled to the plate and deposited a Chris Volstad fastball deep over the center field wall. That homer in the fourth, an absolute no doubter, was Heyward's third home run of the year already.

The Braves weren't done offensively just yet, as Prado doubled to start the fifth inning. Fredi Gonzalez then called for the no out sacrifice bunt from Nate McLouth, which moved Prado over to third. Chipper then lined out to left, driving in Prado to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead. The Braves finally chased Volstad from the game when Brian McCann connected for his first home run (and first extra-base hit) of 2011 to give the Braves a 5-0 lead.

All that offense was more than enough for Tommy Hanson, who after struggling in his first two starts of the year, threw an absolute gem against the Marlins. Concerns about a dip in his velocity were put away in the first inning, as Hanson touched 95 on the radar gun as he struck out Hanley Ramirez to end the first inning.

Hanson cruised through a relatively easy seven innings, commanding his fastball all over the strike zone and showing renewed confidence in his slider and using his change-up effectively. After recording only three strikeouts combined in his first two outings, Hanson struck out five Marlins while only walking two. This was the Tommy Hanson that has Braves fans dreaming of a dominant, top of the rotation arm with seven innings of shutout ball, with his fastball sitting 91-95 all night long.

Eric O' Flaherty, Peter Moylan, and Scott Linebrink combined to pitch a scoreless final two innings to complete the shutout. The Braves are the first team to shutout the Marlins this season.

Braves pitching also got a huge assist from the defense tonight as Alex Gonzalez made spectacular play after spectacular play out at shortstop, while his battery mate Dan Uggla flashed some great leather as well, including a couple of great turns on double plays. Even the much maligned Nate McLouth got in on the action, showing excellent range in snagging a deep liner to center off the bat of Logan Morrison. Freddie Freeman continued his great play over at first, making a great scoop of an Alex Gonzalez throw in the sixth inning.

Atlanta improves to 5-6 on the season.

WP: Tommy Hanson (1-2)

7 IP, 4 H, 0R, 5 K's, 2 BB

LP: Chris Volstad (0-1)

4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 K's, 2BB

Things to note:

-Chipper Jones' two rbi's have him one away from 1,500 for his career

-Every hitter in the lineup tonight for the Braves had at least one hit, and Freddie Freeman carries a five game hitting streak into tomorrow's game.

-Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night at 7:10 ET, with the Marlins Josh Johnson facing Atlanta's Tim Hudson.

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Hanson, HRs help Braves beat Marlins 5-0 (AP)

The Braves did it all. Pitched well. Went deep. Manufactured runs. Played some brilliant defense. Tommy Hanson pitched four-hit ball over seven innings for his first win, Jason Heyward and Brian McCann homered, and Chipper Jones drove in two runs to lead Atlanta Braves past the Florida Marlins 5-0 Tuesday night.

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Strikeout Kings

ML Leaders - SO/9 (Qualified - 2011)
14.21 Matt Garza, Cubs (6.6, 2010)
12.66 Jonathan Sanchez, Giants (9.5)
12.19 Cliff Lee, Phillies (7.8)
11.76 Jered Weaver, Angels (9.3)
11.70 Bud Norris, Astros (9.3)
11.57 Edwin Jackson, White Sox (7.8)
11.57 Tim Lincecum, Giants (9.8)
11.00 Huston Street, Rockies (8.6)
10.98 Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (9.3)
10.80 Jaime Garcia, Cardinals (7.3)

It's odd that the top guy had the lowest strikeout ratio last year of anyone on the list, although Garza did strik out 8.4/9 in 2009. How far down do you have to go to find someone below 6.6 last year? Trevor Cahill at #17 (5.4, 2010). Garza's numbers don't look all that great (0-1, 5.68 ERA, 20 H, 12.2 IP), but it's only 2 starts. The Cubs should be encouraged by the fact that he has 20 SO and 3 BB in 12.2 IP, even if he struggled in his last start.

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Giants raise about $70K for attacked fan (AP)

The San Francisco Giants have raised nearly $70,000 to help the longtime fan who was attacked earlier this season outside Dodger Stadium. The Giants announced the total Tuesday. The money will go toward the medical costs and other expenses for Bryan Stow. The 42-year-old paramedic remains in a medically induced coma.

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