Tuesday baseball

What you missed, in a nutshell:

- After bailing out his team plenty of times this season, it was nice for Johnny Damon to return the favor for Andy Pettitte. Yankees def. Red Sox 5-3.

- In case you haven't been paying attention, Baltimore's bullpen kinda sucks. 11-run 8th inning. What now, Angelos? Devil Rays def. Orioles 15-8.

- Speaking of bullpen malfunctions, the Mets' bullpen is trying to make me eat my words about their team winning the NL East already. Phillies def. Mets 4-2.

- Vin Scully was far too amused by Felipe Lopez's recent blunders at SS. But at least, I'm assuming, Bergmann made it through his first return from the DL unscathed. Dodgers def. Nationals 4-3.

- What were they saying about another Cy Young for Brandon Webb? Padres def. Diamondbacks 6-4.

Other results of note: Indians def. Twins (6-5), Royals def. Tigers (6-3), Angels def. Mariners (10-6), Marlins def. Braves (4-3), Cubs def. Brewers (5-3), Cardinals def. Astros (7-0)

The baseball season is heating up. Are we having fun yet?

News: Mike Mussina is officially out of the Yankees' rotation, at least for his next start. In a somewhat surprising move, it will be rookie Ian Kennedy making the start for the Yankees on Saturday against the Devil Rays. Kennedy is believed to have the best stuff of any of the options in the Yankee system, but this will be his first appearance in the majors. And as an arm with even less experience than Phil Hughes in the minor leagues, I'd expected the organization to want to cap his innings. What, no love for Kei Igawa? *crickets chirp*

As for tomorrow...

RHP Roger Clemens (5-5, 4.34 ERA) has a tough task ahead of him as he and the Yankees take on Cy Young candidate, RHP Josh Beckett (16-5, 3.21 ERA) and the Red Sox. Clemens is coming off of a no decision against Detroit on August 24th. He wasn't good in that one (though a four hour rain delay could have had something to do with it), going five innings and allowing six runs on six hits (1 HR) with three walks and three strikeouts. This will be Clemens' first start against the Red Sox this season.

Beckett picked up his 16th win of the season on August 24th when he defeated the White Sox. He was okay but not as dominant as he's capable of being, going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits (1 HR) with three walks and four strikeouts. In two starts against the Yankees so far this season, Beckett is 1-0. His last start against them, on June 3rd, was a no decision. Beckett went 6.1 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts. He hasn't allowed a homerun to a Yankee batter yet this season, and he has not lost a game since July 31st.

RHP Greg Maddux (10-9, 3.90 ERA) and the Padres look to tie the Diamondbacks in the NL West standings as they take on RHP Micah Owings (6-7, 4.69 ERA). Maddux is coming off of a win against the Phillies on August 24th. He went seven innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with no walks and one strikeout. Maddux's only start against Arizona this season was a loss on July 13th. He lasted just four innings in that outing, allowing four runs on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Owings is coming off of a loss against the Cubs on August 24th. He lasted six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Owings took a no decision in his one start of the season against San Diego. Back on August 1st, Owings went six innings and allowed one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

LHP Oliver Perez (12-8, 3.34 ERA) will try to put the Mets back on the winning trail as he takes on LHP Jamie Moyer (11-10, 5.16 ERA) and the Phillies. Perez won his August 24th start against the Dodgers in dominating fashion. He went seven shutout innings and allowed three hits with five walks and six strikeouts. Perez took the loss in his one start against the Phillies this season. He lasted just 2.2 innings in that one and allowed three runs on one hit with seven walks and two strikeouts.

Moyer is coming off of a bad loss against San Diego on the 24th. He went just 4.2 innings and allowed six earned runs (eight total) on ten hits (3 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts. In two starts against the Mets so far this season, Moyer has an 0-1 record. Moyer went seven innings in his June 5th start against the Mets with two runs on eight hits, two walks, and one strikeout. Moyer has not allowed a homerun to a Met so far this season.

RHP Shawn Hill (3-3, 2.31 ERA) looks to stop the bleeding for the Nationals as he takes on Cy Young candidate, RHP Brad Penny (14-4, 2.65 ERA) and the Dodgers. Hill is coming off of a dominant outing against the Rockies on August 24th. He went seven innings and allowed one run on just four hits with no walks and five strikeouts. But because he pitches for the Nationals, the team found a way to lose that game and give him a no decision. This will be Hill's first start of the season against the Dodgers.

Penny is coming off of a loss at Shea on August 24th. He went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits (1 HR) with four walks and two strikeouts. Penny won his one start against the Nationals this season. In that outing, he pitched 6.1 shoutout innings with four hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.

RHP Steve Trachsel (6-8, 4.61 ERA) is praying for a complete game as he takes on RHP James Shields (10-8, 4.09 ERA) and the Devil Rays. Trachsel is coming off of a tough luck loss against the Twins on August 23rd. In that one, he went 7.1 innings and allowed one earned run (two total) on four hits with two walks and zero strikeouts. In two starts against the Devil Rays this season, Trachsel is 0-1. His last start, on July 26th, was a no decision. Trachsel lasted 4.2 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits (2 HR - Pena, Wigginton) with three walks and three strikeouts.

Shields is coming off of a fantastic start against the Athletics. He took the win on August 24th, going 8.1 innings and allowing two runs on nine hits (1 HR) with one walk and eight strikeouts. In three starts against Baltimore, Shields is 0-1. His last start, on August 3rd, was a los. He went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs on six hits (1 HR - Huff) with three walks and six strikeouts.

Other games of note:
Angels @ Mariners (Weaver vs. Hernandez)
Braves @ Marlins (Carlyle vs. Willis)
Twins @ Indians (Santana vs. Sabathia)
Brewers @ Cubs (Sheets vs. Zambrano)
Cardinals @ Astros (Wells vs. Oswalt)
Tigers @ Royals (Miller vs. Greinke)

Some huge pitching matches in there. Weaver vs. Hernandez should be a good game with two young starters. But the match of the night has to be Johan Santana vs. C.C. Sabathia. Two Cy Young candidates, each searching for his 15th win.