Sunday, May 23, 2010

Gio Gonzalez Outduels Matt Cain; Chris Young Drives Home 4 for D-Backs

Players of the Day for Saturday, May 22, 2010 American League ESPN's Sportscenter anchors may have been oohing and aahing over Daisuke Matsuzaka's one-hit over 8 innings performance, but why didn't they give the same kind of notice to the 2-hitter over 8 innings thrown by Oakland's Gio González in a 1-0 win over Matt Cain and the visiting San Francisco Giants. Bias? Sure Matsuzaka pitches for the well-loved Red Sox, but where's the love for the boys by the Bay? Gonzalez actually out-pitched Dice-K and had to protect a 1-run lead from the third inning on. While Dice-K did give up just the one hit, he walked four batters and struck out five. Gonzalez allowed 2 hits, just one walk and also struck out five, which he had to do, because Matt Cain only allowed the solitary run. Matsuzaka had the benefit of a 5-0 lead after the 5th inning. Besides, the A's are just three games behind the AL West-leading Rangers, while the Sox are mired in 4th place in the AL East, 8 1/2 games back. Give Gio Gonzalez credit for a truly well-pitched game in a tight situation and a continuation of a very nice season. Thus far, the third-year starter is 5-3 with a 3.46 ERA and a WHIP of 1.19. National League After giving up six solo homers but still winning the game, 8-6, the Arizona Diamondbacks didn't want to see any balls flying out of the stadium unless they were hit by the home team on Saturday. As it turned out, neither team had any homers, but Chris Young did have a couple of run-producing hits which helped propel the D-Backs to an 8-5 win. Young did all the raking he'd need to in the first two innings, as Arizona pummeled Toronto pitching for 4 runs in each of the first two frames. Young doubled in a pair in the first and singled home two more in the second. Done deal. Arizona starter Edwin Jackson kept the Jays in the park, holding them to a solitary run over six innings before being touched up a bit in the 7th. For a team which is largely criticized for being devoid of offense, the Diamondbacks have been putting up some impressive numbers. Young's 4 RBI moved him closer to team-leader Mark Reynolds. Young has 34 on the year, Reynolds, 36. Right behind them is 1st baseman Adam LaRoche with 32. Those figures are good for 3rd, 4th and 8th in the league. The Diamondbacks go for the sweep Sunday afternoon.

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