Thursday baseball

Early results from Thursday's baseball action:

Final Score: Braves 7, Mets 6
WP: Hudson (13-5, 3.01 ERA)
LP: Maine (12-7, 3.53 ERA)

See what I mean about calling for those pitcher duels? Hudson did all right on his end. Six innings, three earned runs on nine hits. But still, not the star effort one is used to from him. Maine, on the other hand, wasn't good at all. 5.1 nnings, six earned runs, including two homeruns. The big blow was a 5th inning, 3-run homer to Chipper Jones. Mark Teixeira went back-to-back with Jones with a solo shot. It was an exciting conclusion, with David Wright hitting a 2-run homer in the 9th inning. All-in-all, the Mets scored three runs in the 9th off of Yates, but they weren't able to get the one more they needed against Villarreal to force extra innings.

Final Score: Nationals 3, Giants 1
WP: Hanrahan (2-0, 2.76 ERA)
LP: Misch (0-2, 4.58 ERA)

Another good outing for the Nationals rookie. He went 5.1 innings and allowed just one earned run on seven hits, four walks and two strikeouts. He was also instrumental in the Nats' victory with a double hit off of Misch in the 5th inning. Felipe Lopez followed with a two-run homer that was the difference in the Nationals' 3-1 victory. So the Nats faced some ego bruising in San Francisco, with Tuesday night's 756th Bonds homer off of Mike Bacsik (and 757 against Tim Redding), but they escape with a split of their four games. Not bad, all things considered. The Nationals have to be excited with what they've seen out of rookies Lannan and Hanrahan thus far.

The Padres and Cardinals game is just kicking off as I type this with the score still 0-0.

The Mariners and Orioles are currently in a rain delay at Camden Yards. Already an eventful three innings though. Daniel Cabrera wasn't good out of the box. By the third inning, he'd already allowed four runs, including a solo homerun to Guillen. But the O's answered big time in the bottom of the 3rd with a five-run inning, including a Tejada grand slam with two outs. Corey Patterson batted in the other RBI in the inning.

Various News: So, what's with all this drama between Chipper Jones and Alex Rodriguez? Fabricated drama, I should say, as the NY Post again shows their journalistic integrity by sensationalizing quotes from Jones Wednesday about the steroid era and how being a part of this era would reflect on any player who put up impressive numbers, whether they were users or not. Rodriguez was brought up as an example. Jones said he didn't believe Rodriguez had used steroids, but his numbers would be questioned like anyone else's - including Chipper's. This somehow turned into various New York papers leading off with headlines like "A'ROID" and "A-Rod Faces Serious Steroid Questions."

In a follow-up after this afternoon's game at Shea, Jones refused to address members of the New York media and later clarified his comments on Rodriguez and planned to call Rodriguez to clear up the misunderstanding with him. I've seen no update from the Post thus far regarding this, but it's hard to blame Chipper for pulling back because of misrepresentation.

It's official. Roger Clemens has been suspended five games and Joe Torre has been suspended one following Alex Rios' HBP Tuesday night in Toronto. Clemens nailed Rios in the back to lead off the 7th inning following two bench-clearing incidents earlier in the game following Alex Rodriguez being hit in the calf by a pitch from Josh Towers. Torre will most likely sit out tomorrow. I'd expect Clemens to appeal and push the suspension back until he will not have to miss a start because of it. The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, Larry Bowa, and Tony Pena were fined for their roles in the incident; as were Toronto's Matt Stairs, Josh Towers, and Brian Butterfield. I've never liked that the pitcher who obviously started the incident by intentionally throwing at a player just takes a fine while the pitcher who retaliates gets tossed, even with a warning. A warning should have been issued before Tuesday's game after Litsch intentionally threw behind Rodriguez.

Then again, Towers missing a start might actually help the Blue Jays with the record and ERA he has this season.

David Wells was officially released by the Padres to make room for Chris Young coming off the DL. I haven't seen any official decision on retirement, but I would assume some team out there would be interested. The one hang-up might be that Wells has said he is uninterested in doing anything but starting where, at this point in his career, people might be more interested in him as a reliever.

Dmitri Young was held out of the final game of the Nats' series with the Giants after tweaking his hamstring after his only at-bat Wednesday. Young told the media that he was pulled early Wednesday for precautionary reasons but that he expects to play over the weekend. Robert Fick was pulled fifth inning out of left field, but no word yet on if this was because of injury or simply a defensive replacement.

But possibly big news for the Nats' rotation: pitcher Shawn Hill, who has been on the DL for what feels like 2,000 years, will be making his first start back from the DL on Tuesday against the Phillies as long as nothing goes wrong in his rehab start for Columbus. If Hill can regain some of his form from earlier in the season, he'll be a big help to the Nats down the stretch.

As for tomorrow? Bring on the battle of the babies!

RHP Phil Hughes (1-1, 5.87 ERA) vs. RHP Fausto Carmona (13-6, 3.17 ERA)

Hughes showed some stamina issues in his first start back from the DL against Kansas City. He took the no decision after lasting 4.2 innings and allowing six earned runs on seven hits. It was a far cry from his no-hit effort through 6.1 innings against the Rangers on May 1st. But with the experience of a game back in the major leagues, hopefully Hughes will be ready to step up against the AL Central-leading Indians.

Not only does Carmona have one of the coolest names in baseball, but he's been a revelation for the Indians this season and is probably a strong candidate in this year's Rookie of the Year race. He's coming off of a tough luck loss against the Twins on August 5th. Carmona went seven innings and allowed just one earned run on five hits.

So much for my hope that Bedard would be pitching on FOX's Saturday baseball. LHP Erik Bedard (12-4, 3.09 ERA) actually goes Friday night in what should be a good pitching match against Daisuke Matsuzka and the Red Sox. Even with dehydration issues and a lack of command, Bedard bested Boston ace Josh Beckett in Fenway not too long ago. Now, the Red Sox travel to Camden Yards...which doesn't really change home field advantage, given how many Red Sox fans will travel to this game. Still, should be a good one.

RHP Brian Lawrence (1-0, 5.40 ERA) and the Mets host probable rookie pitcher Daniel Barone and the Marlins. It would be Barone's major league debut. Lawrence's first major league start of the season on August 2nd was a win. He went five innings and allowed three earned runs, including one homer, with no walks.

LHP Wilfredo Ledezma (3-3, 5.06 ERA) makes the spot start for the Padres as they begin a series at the Great American Ball Park against Matt Belisle and the Reds. Ledezma is filling in for David Wells, who was released this week by the Padres. He was acquired in a trade with the Braves for Royce Ring on July 31st. It will be his first start for the Padres. In fact, it will be his first start of the season. His longest outing in 2007 was back on April 22nd against the White Sox in which he pitched three scoreless innings.

LHP Matt Chico (5-6, 4.76 ERA) and the Nationals leave San Francisco behind to travel to the home of the NL West-leading Diamondbacks, to be represented Friday by former National Livan Hernandez. Chico is coming off of a no decision against the Cardinals on August 5th. He went five innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits with three walks and two Ks.

An update on games in progress: the Orioles and Mariners are now knotted at 5-5 in the bottom of the 5th. Both starters are still in the game through the top of the 5th. It's the bottom of the 5th now, one out with Patterson at the plate and Brian Roberts at first.

The Padres-Cardinals game has moved to the top of the 4th and remains 0-0. The DL is apparently no match for Chris Young. He has pitched three hitless innings, though he has allowed two walks. Pineiro has allowed three hits and no walks through 3.1 innings.