Rios homers to help White Sox cool off Rays, 3-1
(Yahoo! Sports)

CHICAGO (AP) — With so much riding on every game and even every pitch, Alex Rios acknowledged it’s just a little exhausting. He can breathe a little easier after this.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/rios-homers-to-help-white-sox-cool-off-rays
-3-1-yahoo-sports/

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Weaver, Trout power Angels past Rangers 7-4
(Yahoo! Sports)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — With the Los Angeles Angels needing every win they can get to stay in the playoff hunt, their ace pitcher came up with another clutch start.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/weaver-trout-power-angels-past-rangers-7-4-
yahoo-sports/

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Dodgers beat Rockies 8-0 behind Kershaws 10 Ks
(Yahoo! Sports)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw’s hip felt just fine and his pitching was solid too, keeping the Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason hopes alive.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/dodgers-beat-rockies-8-0-behind-kershaws-10
-ks-yahoo-sports/

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Martin hits 3-run HR, Yankees beat Blue Jays 11-4
(Yahoo! Sports)

TORONTO (AP) — Fired up by a furious playoff race, Yankees catcher Russell Martin is finishing the season strong.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/martin-hits-3-run-hr-yankees-beat-blue-jays
-11-4-yahoo-sports/

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Tillman, Flaherty carry Orioles over Red Sox 9-1
(Yahoo! Sports)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Chris Tillman already has more wins in 2012 than the combined total over his first three years in the big leagues.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/tillman-flaherty-carry-orioles-over-red-sox
-9-1-yahoo-sports/

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Royals Stick to Mission: Better 2013 Draft Pick
in 8 - 5 Loss in Cleveland

The quest for a better draft pick continued in Cleveland this evening. Having spent the last four games screwing over the dirty Pale Hoes by getting swept against the now-division-leading Detroit Tigers, the Kansas City Royals are in the process of executing their subversive master plan: Get Better Draft Pick. Having now dropped six in a row since being eliminated from the playoffs, there can be no argument. The Royals are losing, and they're losing with an elan that must be envied.

Despite accidentally scoring first when Adam Moore (who clearly isn't in on the plan) drove in Salvador Perez in the top of the second, the Royals still found a way to accomplish what had previously been believed to have been impossible; they lost after scoring first. Will Smith wasted little time getting the Royals back on track, yielding six earned runs while succeeding in getting pulled without recording an out in the fourth inning. Bolstered by Smith's efforts, Everett Teaford let an inherited runner score and then gave up two of his own runs in the fifth inning, bringing the Indians run total to eight runs.

Having deemed Cleveland's 8 -1 lead too big for even Chris Perez to blow--and we all know Chris Perez blows--the Royals were granted permission to score runs again. Billy Butler hung fantastical dong with Alex Gordon having singled to lead off the sixth, causing some fans to wonder what might happen if every game started that way. Of course, those fans are jerks and are not nearly close enough to the dirt to understand matters that would require time-consuming education. Gordon and Butler would be in the thick of a smattering of run scoring when Gordon again led off the eighth with his third single of the night. Butler followed with a double to left, and then Salvador Perez drove the two in with a single. That single would prove to plate the last two runs the Royals would score, assuaging The Powers That Be of any concerns about the Royals tanking it and bringing them closer to passing Toronto and Boston in the 2013 draft order.

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Astros Hang On to Beat Brewers 7-6

Tonight the Astros did everything right and everything wrong in a 7-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Coming into this game, the Brewers were fighting to squeeze into the final Wild Card playoff spot and their chances looked good. Their starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo owned a career 13-2 record against the Astros (100 innings pitched, his most against any team), for a 2.68 ERA and only six home runs allowed. Meanwhile, Astros starter Edgar Gonzalez has a 5.81 career ERA over nine seasons.

Offense:

What went right: The Astros jumped all over Gallardo, tagging him for 8 hits, 3 walks, four earned runs, and two home runs over six innings. Fernando Martinez hit his seventh double, Brett Wallace his ninth home run, Jason Castro his fourth and fifth home runs, and Jose Altuve his seventh. Gonzalez himself drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt attempt that turned into a bunt single, and Matt Dominguez had two hits and two RBI.

What went wrong: There is no way to be gentle: Justin Maxwell earned himself the Golden Sombrero; he struck out four times and looked terrible doing so. He was just lost at the plate tonight.

Pitching:

What went right: Gonzalez pitched masterfully. His only mistake led to a long solo home run by Carlos Gomez in the Third Inning. Gonzalez walked nobody and Brewers hitters seemed baffled as they continued to beat the ball into the ground. Gonzalez finished with a 9/2 GB/FB ratio.

What went wrong: The two runs allowed by Gonzalez in the sixth were only barely his fault, as they came on some bloops after a pitch bounced off Castro's foot allowing the first runner to move into scoring position. The damage could have been limited without that little oops. The biggest pitching issue was closer Wilton Lopez' serious attempt at blowing the game by allowing two runs on solid contact in the bottom of the ninth inning. Only a bang-bang-bang double play prevented the game from going extra innings.

Defense:

What went right: Matt Dominguez. The Astros third baseman had a couple fantastic defensive plays. One was a belly flop to stop a screaming grounder down the line. He leaped up so fast he had to have been time travelling, and he nailed the runner at first with plenty of time to spare.

What went wrong: Matt Dominguez. A line drive caught Dominguez in the foot late in the game, his first error of the season. FSN commentators felt the official scorer was unfair, because the liner came at approximately 239,823,985,273,958,723,958,273,598,237 miles per hour and Dominguez did not have time to get in position to catch the ball. I agree, but the error goes on the books anyway and the game was prolonged at a time when the Brewers were rallying.

Wrap-Up:

The Astros' season wraps up on Wednesday, and that means this is my final Friday night recap of the year. I've had a blast--using user comments to write some recaps, creating a 2,000-word thesis on classical music, a recap in haiku, photos of cake, scanned game scorecards, and lots of sarcasm. Thanks to all of you for the comments throughout the year, and I look forward to contributing off-season content as the Astros move into the American League.

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Duda's Blast Sinks Braves 3-1

Tim Hudson started strong but allowed a three-run, two-out, full-count home run to Lucas Duda in the top of the 7th as the Braves lost 3-1 to the Mets. On Chipper Jones night, the Braves just couldn't seem to find any sort of offensive rhythm, as Jon Niese limited the Braves to 1 run on 4 hits in 7 innings.

After a fantastic pregame ceremony that saw Hank Aaron, Bobby Cox, and many other baseball dignitaries honor Atlanta's third baseman, the Braves offense fell flat. Atlanta's offense was victimized by Mets lefty Jon Niese, who pitched a masterful game, allowing only 1 run across 7 innings. Niese only allowed 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. Atlanta's lone run came in the 4th inning, when Freddie Freeman drilled a home run to right to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Atlanta would have a few other chances to add on, but couldn't break through

Tim Hudson started for the Braves and was masterful through the early game, allowing only 4 baserunners through the first 6 innings. Hudson began to labor in the 7th, allowing a leadoff double to Daniel Murphy. After a lineout moved Murphy to third, Hudson intentionally walked Ike Davis. It looked like the move would pay off, as Hudson then struck out Jerry Hairston for the second out. But Lucas Duda battled Hudson, running the count full and fouling off 4 pitches before drilling a two-out, three-run homer to right.

The home run would be all that the Mets would need, as the Mets bullpen threw 2 perfect innings to save Niese's win. Atlanta will play the Mets again tomorrow at 7:05.

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Cardinals rout Nationals, reduce magic number to
3 (Yahoo! Sports)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nine runs in 1 1-3 innings said it all. The St. Louis Cardinals took all the suspense out of a matchup of teams on the cusp of clinchers.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/cardinals-rout-nationals-reduce-magic-numbe
r-to-3-yahoo-sports/

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Bailey pitches no-hitter, Reds beat Pirates 1-0
(Yahoo! Sports)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Homer Bailey had a certain milestone on his mind when he walked to the mound Friday night. He wound up pulling off an even bigger feat.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/09/29/bailey-pitches-no-hitter-reds-beat-pirates-
1-0-yahoo-sports/

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