Cubs use 8-run 8th to beat Red Sox 9-3 (AP)

Reed Johnson hit a go-ahead, two-run double in an error-filled, eight-run eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs, wearing replica uniforms of their last series in Fenway Park in 1918, beat the Boston Red Sox 9-3 on Saturday night. The Cubs’ last visit to the 99-year-old stadium before Friday night’s 15-5 loss was in the World [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/05/22/cubs-use-8-run-8th-to-beat-red-sox-9-3-ap/

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Rockies offense sputters on road again, Brewers
win 3-2.

The Milwaukee Brewers rode the strong pitching of Shaun Marcum and a two run first inning to hang on to beat the Rockies three to two on Saturday.

The Rockies scored first thanks to a solo home run by Carlos Gonzalez in the first inning, but that was the only damage Colorado would inflict until a last gasp run in the ninth. The Brewers answered in the bottom of the first off of Rockies starter Clayton Mortensen with a Prince Fielder double that scored Rickie Weeks, and then later in the inning, a Jose Lopez error compounded the situation and allowed Fielder to score as well. Jonathan Lucroy added an insurance home run off Mortensen in the fifth, a run that proved necessary late when Seth Smith grounded home Troy Tulowitzki in the ninth.

The recipe for this loss was a solid pitching effort by the opponent, and a brutal one for seventeen hitting line from the Rockies fourth through ninth hitters. That one hit was a single by pinch hitter Jason Giambi in the ninth inning.  Add in errors by Lopez and Jonathan Herrera, and you wind up with a bitter, bitter brew to swallow.

The good to take from the game was mostly confined to some decent, efficient pitching by Mortensen and then two Matts from the Rockies bullpen (Daley and Reynolds,) the Cargo home run, and Tulo's two for three performance, including the last inning triple and a walk. Solid efforts from the aforementioned, but this particular sandwich wasn't enough to overcome Marcum and the Brewers, as there are a lot of goose-eggs between the two pieces of flatbread in the line score:

Complete Coverage >

The Rockies try to avoid the sweep tomorrow.

23 - 21

Games Back: 2.5

Streak: Lost 2

Games Left: 118

via www.fangraphs.com

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Rockies Designate Felipe Paulino For Assignment

According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have designated RHP Felipe Paulino for assignment. 

Acquired in an offseason trade with the Houston Astros for infielder Clint Barmes, Felipe Paulino was initially looked at as a #5 starter for the Rockies. During Spring Training, however, the Rockies decided that Paulino's arsenal was better suited for the bullpen, where he could unload at 100% without having to be concerned with longevity.

After a passable start to April, the wheels came off quite readily as Paulino labored through May. While month-to-month, Paulino's BB9 (arguably his greatest liability) dropped from a 5.40 BB9 in April to a 2.84 BB9 in May, the rest of his performance wasn't enough for some mild improvement in the free-pass department. 

Possibly a victim of questionable management, Paulino simply wasn't able to get the job done when the Rockies needed him, taking the role of the goat in many walkoff losses. These losses clearly affected Paulino, as his performance seemed to get worse and worse as other teams celebrated at home plate. The first couple of miserable losses seemed to be of the "ball missed gloves and/or was blooped" variety, but many of the untimely walks made those bad luck balls that much more deadly.

In Paulino's stead, RHP Greg Reynolds will be promoted to the majors as a potential long reliever and a likely starter on Saturday, given a doubleheader knocking the rotation out of alignment. Reynolds was up in the majors earlier this season when Ubaldo Jimenez hit the DL, making 2 starts to the tune of a 3.27 ERA (4.64 FIP, 4.71 xFIP) over 11 innings.

Paulino posted a 7.36 ERA (5.09 FIP, 3.37 xFIP) over 18 outings with an 0-4 record.

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Yanks hit 4 HRs to snap 6-game home skid (AP)

Mark Teixeira homered for the third straight game, Alex Rodriguez also connected and the New York Yankees went deep four times to back A.J. Burnett in a 7-3 victory over the Mets on Saturday night. Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson also homered as the Yankees evened the Subway Series at one apiece and snapped a [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/05/22/yanks-hit-4-hrs-to-snap-6-game-home-skid-ap
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Marcum wins sixth straight decision (AP)

Shaun Marcum won his sixth straight decision with eight effective innings and Jonathan Lucroy homered, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night. Milwaukee has won nine of 12 overall and has the NL’s best winning percentage at home at .714 (15-6) after John Axford survived an adventure [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/05/22/marcum-wins-sixth-straight-decision-ap/

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Open Thread 5/21: Braves at Angels

We've lost 3 in a row. Let's not make it 4.

I'm scheduling this post in advance so if the world does indeed end, it was a pleasure rosterbating with each and every one of you.

Haven't seen a lineup yet. Please be a sweetheart and post it in the comments for everyone to see. Not like any changes to the lineup will do any good, though...

Go Braves!

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Lee dominates Rangers, Phils win 2-0 (AP)

Cliff Lee threw eight dominant innings against the team he led to the World Series last year, Ryan Howard hit a solo homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Texas Rangers 2-0 Saturday night. Lee (3-4) allowed five hits and struck out 10 to earn his first win since April 14. The lefty helped the [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/05/22/lee-dominates-rangers-phils-win-2-0-ap/

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Lincecum 3-hits As in Giants 3-0 win (AP)

Tim Lincecum pitched a three-hitter, and the San Francisco Giants beat the cross-bay rival Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner allowed Ryan Sweeney’s two-out single in the first before retiring 21 straight batters, leading the Giants past the A’s for the second day in [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/05/22/lincecum-3-hits-as-in-giants-3-0-win-ap/

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High & Inside: 5/21/11

Baseball links from around the sabersphere...On Pitchers Hitting, And The Value Of Practice | Baseball NationBased on the data, regular practice does appear to give NL pitchers an advantage at the plate over AL pitchers when interleague play rolls[...]

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http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/5/21/2183368/high-inside-5-21-11

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Cubs CF Byrd beaned in head, leaves game (AP)

Marlon Byrd has left the Chicago Cubs’ game against the Boston Red Sox after being hit in the head by a pitch in the second inning. The center fielder was struck by a fastball on the left side of his head in the area of the ear flap on a 1-2 pitch from Alfredo Aceves [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/05/22/cubs-cf-byrd-beaned-in-head-leaves-game-ap/

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