Saturday action

Final Score: Yankees 11, Indians 2
WP: Mussina (8-7, 4.50 ERA)
LP: Byrd (10-5, 4.53 ERA)

In case you haven't figured it out? Alex Rodriguez is a pretty good baseball player. Two homeruns tonight: a 2-run shot off of Byrd in a huge Yankee 2nd inning and another 2-run homer off of Mujica (whose name is awesome) in the 8th inning. Giambi added some power off the bench as well, with a solo homerun off of Mujica in the 9th inning.

That was the big offense. The little offense says that this line-up is still a force to be reckoned with. Every starter in the game had at least one hit. In fact, every batter for the Yankees except Shelley Duncan (who didn't get an at-bat, as he came in to play 1B in the bottom of the 9th) had at least one hit. And every batter exept Duncan and Cabrera scored at least one run. Cabrera picked up an RBI though, as well as a hit to bring his streak up to 16 games on his birthday. Happy 23rd, Melky! Huge night for recent Yankee acquisition Jose Molina, who went 4-for-5.

But with all that offense, the story of the night had to be Mike Mussina's outing. It was his 100th win as a Yankee, which makes it appropriate that this was also his best start of the season. He went 7.2 innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits, no walks, and six strikeouts. It was also Mussina's third straight start without allowing a walk. His control has really settled in for these last few games. If there's any time for Moose to get hot for the Yankees, now is it.

Final Score: Red Sox 6, Orioles 2
WP: Beckett (15-5, 3.24 ERA)
LP: Olson (1-1, 4.60 ERA)

Josh Beckett became the first pitcher in the majors this season to 15 wins. At the rate he's going, it seems like last year's lack of 20-game winners won't be an issue again. Beckett nearly pitched a complete game, at 8.2 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. The two O's runs, batted in by Tejada and Millar, came in the 9th inning. Other than that, the O's offense couldn't do anything against Beckett.

Olson was okay given that he was a rookie going against a tough Red Sox line-up. He went 6.1 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Six walks too, which didn't help matters.

Final Score: Reds 8, Padres 3
WP: Livingston (3-2, 4.24 ERA)
LP: Hampson (2-3, 3.57 ERA)

Either the Padres are really slumping right now, even for their offense, or I'm going to have to stop making fun of the Reds. Germano was okay given the finger issues he had last outing. He went 5.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts. It seemed like we had a good game going until the bottom of the 7th inning. The first run of the afternoon came in the bottom of the 6th on a Jeff Keppinger double, which scored Ken Griffey Jr. That ended Germano's afternoon and brought in Meredith, who picked up the last two outs with ease.

The Padres came back to tie the game in the top of the 7th on a solo homerun from Brian Giles. But then it all went downhill in the bottom of the 7th. Long story short, Hampson didn't have a good game. He gave up four earned runs in 0.2 innings on two hits and three walks. The rest of the Reds' runs were earned by Mike Thompson (one earned, three total).

Livingston, on the other side, pitched well. He went 8.1 innings and allowed three earned runs, including the two homers to Brian Giles. Bray came in to finish the game.

Final Score: Marlins 7, Mets 5
WP: Miller (4-0, 2.83 ERA)
LP: Heilman (7-4, 3.66 ERA)

Speaking of bullpen blunders...

Good pitching match going into the 7th inning between Olsen and Glavine. Olsen went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts. All of his runs came on long-ball shots from David Wright. Two homers, a 2-run shot in the 4th inning and a solo shot in the 6th. Something about those New York third baseman yesterday...

Glavine stayed with him, going 6.1 innings and giving up two earned runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He left with one out in the 7th and one man on. Enter Mota, who earned the blown save by being charged with three runs. The Mets bailed him out with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Heilman was convinced he could one-up that. The Marlins picked up two more runs in the top of the 8th, putting the game away.

At least this NL East race is going to stay interesting?

Final Score: Diamondbacks 1, Nationals 0
WP: Webb (12-8, 2.77 ERA)
LP: Lannan (1-1, 3.00 ERA)

This is one of those final results that makes you cringe a little bit. Lannan was as good as anyone could have asked the kid to be. He pitched seven good innings, with one earned run on four hits, two walks, and one strikeout. But he happened to run into a pretty good pitcher named Brandon Webb, who pitched a complete game shutout: five hits, one walk, ten strikeouts. How about this kid Lannan's first four starts in the majors? Ejected in his debut, Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds and #756 on the line, and now reigning NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb? Lannan doesn't blow people away with his stuff, but he's got poise like Hill and Bergmann showed early in the season. Definitely someone for Nats fans to be proud of.

The only run of the game was scored in the fourth inning on a Justin Upton triple that scored Eric Byrnes from 2B. Those Upton boys are something, aren't they?

News: Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is on the 15-day DL now with a strained right hamstring. The Mets recalled catcher Mike DeFelice from AAA-New Orleans ... Speaking of hamstrings, Milton Bradley of the Padres is working on coming back from a straight right hammy of his own. He was supposed to be back in the lineup this weekend, but after some pregame workouts Bradley was feeling sore. Black decided to hold Bradley out for a little longer. He's not a definite lock to sit on Sunday, but it makes sense that they would give him another day to rest, then the off-day Monday, before bringing him back in Tuesday ... Jorge Posada of the Yankees sat out again Saturday with a sore neck that supposedly stems from some, and I'm quoting MLB.com here, "bad pillows in a Toronto hotel earlier this week." Keep away from those Canadian pillows, eh! Or should be blame the Blue Jays for sabatoging Yankee hotel rooms during their stay in Toronto? Given some of the low blows taken by Josh Towers, I wouldn't be surprised. Posada is said to have done some light hitting on the side Saturday, but no word yet on whether he'd be in the line-up to catch Pettitte on Sunday ... He's up, he's down, he's up again! A few days ago, it was believed Shawn Hill would be back pitching with the Nationals on Tuesday against the Phillies. Friday, Nats GM Jim Bowden pushed Hill back to next weekend against the Mets because the team wanted him to refine some of his secondary pitches before his return. On Saturday, Bowden again had a change of heart. It seems Hill will make the start Tuesday against the Phillies. Bowden cited wanting to put the best team on the field as the Nationals take on contending clubs in upcoming weeks ... Saturday, Jay Gibbons of the Orioles confirmed reports in The Baltimore Sun about a tear in the labrum of his left shoulder. The tear will require surgery that will keep Gibbons away from the team for the rest of the season.

As for tomorrow...

LHP Andy Pettitte (8-7, 4.00 ERA) looks to one up fellow 8-7 record holder Mike Mussina with a win over RHP Jake Westbrook (3-6, 5.00 ERA) and the Indians. Pettitte is coming off of an okay outing in Toronto. He took the win in that one, going 5.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. This will be Pettitte's first start this season against the Indians.

Westbrook's last outing in Chicago against the White Sox was quality. He won that game, going eight innings and allowing just one run on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. He certainly hopes this outing against the Yankees is better than his first back on April 17th. Westbrook was pounded in that one, lasting just 1.2 innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits, including three homeruns. (Mientkiewicz, Rodriguez, Posada)

LHP Oliver Perez (10-8, 3.31 ERA) looks to stop the bleeding against RHP Rick VandenHurk (3-3, 7.49 ERA) and the Marlins. Perez is also looking to rebound from two not-so-good starts. His last start against the Braves was especially bad: five innings with six runs on ten hits, including two homeruns. Perez's only start against the Marlins this season was a win on May 2nd. In that one, he lasted 5.2 innings and allowed one earned run (three total) on three hits with three walks and ten strikeouts.

VandenHurk is also coming off a rough outing, his against the Phillies. He took the loss, going just 2.1 innings and allowing six earned runs on five hits with five walks. VandenHurk's one start against the Mets this season was a loss, and a bad one at that. On April 19th, VandenHurk went four innings and allowed eight runs on seven hits, including two homeruns (Castro, Beltran).

Padres ace RHP Jake Peavy (12-5, 2.21 ERA) takes the mound Sunday in hopes of sealing a series win against RHP Bronson Arroyo (5-12, 4.51 ERA) and the Reds. Good outing for Peavy in his last start. He picked up the win, going six shutout innings, with just three hits and two walks with five strikeouts (low for him). In his one start against the Reds this season (May 16th), Peavy took a no decision. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. At that point in the season, his ERA was still sub-2.00. Wow.

Arroyo hasn't been as consistent as he's been in past seasons, but he's coming off a good win against the Dodgers. In that one, Arroyo went 6.2 shutout innings, allowing six hits and striking out five. No walks. In his one start against San Diego (he faced Peavy on May 16th), Arroyo took a tough loss. He went eight innings and allowed one earned run (three total) on ten hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.

RHP Steve Trachsel (5-7, 4.88 ERA) looks to win this series with the Red Sox as he takes out RHP Curt Schilling (6-5, 4.31 ERA). Trachsel (who has one of the most frightening profile pictures in the major leagues right now), is coming off of a no decision against the Mariners. He pitched 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits (one homerun) and three walks. His only start against the Red Sox this season was a no decision on May 12th. Trachsel wasn't long for that one, lasting 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs (four total) on five hits with four walks and one strikeout.

Schilling had his first start since being placed on the DL in June on August 6th against against the Angels. He took the loss in that one, going 6.0 innings and allowing four earned runs on nine hits (including one homerun). But a promising sign? Schilling didn't walk anyone. He's 1-0 with two starts against Baltimore this season. In the win on April 25th, Schilling pitched a gem: seven innings with just one earned run (Tejada homerun). In the no decision on May 12th? Not so quality. Schilling went 5.1 innings in that one, allowing four earned runs on nine hits. The offense bailed Schilling out in that one late.

Finally, LHP Mike Bacsik (5-6, 4.47 ERA) makes his first start after giving up historic #756 to Barry Bonds in San Francisco. He'll take on RHP Micah Owings (5-6, 4.96 ERA) and the Diamondbacks. Other than the homerun to Bonds, Bacsik took the no decision in the August 7th game against the Giants. He went five innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits, including two homers. Bacsik has not faced the Diamondbacks this season.

Owings is coming off of a loss against the Pirates on August 7th. He lasted 6.1 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts. In his one start against the Nationals this season, Owings' major league debut, he took the win and pitched a fantastic five shutout innings: just one hit and three walks with six strikeouts.