Smoltz Gets 200th Win; Ordonez Takes AL RBI Lead

Thursday's Peak Performers and Fabulous Flops American League Magglio Ordonez (right) had a big night in Detroit's 12-0 rout of the AL West-leading Angels, going 4-4 with a pair of doubles, scoring 3 times and driving in 3, to give him the AL RBI lead with 45. He passed by the idle Yankees Alex Rodriguez who has 43. While Ordonez was enjoying his plate appearances, teammate Carlos Guillen smacked a pair of home runs and drove in 5 runs in support of Jeremy Bonderman's 8 innings of shutout work. Bonderman allowed just 4 hits, walked 5 and struck out 6, improving to 3-0. The Tigers stayed 1/2-game ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central. Anatomy of a slug-fest: Tampa Bay 13 Seattle 12. The Devil Rays were aided by 9 walks issued by Seattle pitchers, but banged out 12 hits as the Seahawks knocked 18. Ichiro Suzuki went 3 for 6, including his 3rd homer, scored twice and drove in a pair, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Mariners' 2nd baseman Jose Lopez went 4-5, with his 6th home run, drove in 4 and scored twice. The Tampa hitting was more balanced with all starters except DH Jonny Gomes getting at least one hit. Ty Wiggington hit a solo home run (9) and Carl Crawford drove in 3 runs.

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The two teams used 4 pitchers each, with Tampa starter Jae Seo getting the worst of it: 13 hits, 6 ER over 5 innings. Seattle's Sean White took the loss, working just 2/3rds of the 3rd inning, giving up 6 hits, walking 3 and allowing 7 earned runs. Cleveland 10 Kansas City 3 - The Indians avoided the ignominity of being swept by the lowly Royals and stayed 1/2-game behind the Tigers in the AL Central. In addition to ending KC's longest win streak of the season - 3 games - the Tribe pitching staff got a boost as starter Jeremy Sowers earned his first win of 2007, giving up just 6 hits and 1 earned run over 7 innings. In his rookie season of 2006, Sowers was 7-4 with a 3.57 ERA. This year he's 1-4 with a 6.29 ERA, but this outing was far and away his best recent effort. Other AL Scores Toronto 5 Baltimore 4, 10 innings National League John Smoltz (right) shut down the power-laden lineup of the New York Mets for 7 innings, en route to a 2-1 win at Atlanta, reducing NY's lead in the NL East to 1 1/2 games. The win was Smoltz's 7th against just 2 losses this season, his 200th career win, and, to make it especially sweet, came against his former teammate, Tom Glavine, who needs just 5 more wins to make it to 300. Smoltz allowed 7 hits, struck out 5 and didn't walk a batter on his historic night. Smoltz, who turned 40 just 10 days ago, spent most of the 2001-2004 seasons as the Braves' primary closer, saving 154 games over that span. Along with the 200 wins, Smoltz has thrown 46 complete games, 16 shutouts and carries a career ERA of 3.26. He's also closing in on another benchmark for pitchers - 3000 strikeouts. He currently has 60 this season to give him 2838 lifetime. Start making reservations for Cooperstown. This guy's a class act. Bradon Looper continues to be one of the bright spots for the struggling world champion St. Louis Cardinals. While the Cards are mired in the middle of the NL Central pack (19-25), they are just 7 1/2 games behind Milwaukee and it's early in the season. Looper pitched 6 solid innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run as the Cards trumped the Pirates, 3-1, in St. Louis. Looper improved to 6-3.

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Arizona's rookie starter, Micah Owings pitched the first complete game of his major league career, cruising to a 9-1 win over visiting Houston. Owings needed 118 pitches (80 strikes), gave up 9 hits, 1 earned run and struck out 8 while walking 1. His record improved to 3-1 and the win got the Diamondbacks to within 2 games of LA in the NL West. Other NL Scores Chicago Cubs 3 San Diego 1 Washington 4 Cincinnati 3 - Nationals take 3 of 4 in Cincy Florida 5, Philadelphia 4, 11 innings - Marlins, Phillies tied for 3rd in NL East (23-24), 6 1/2 games behind Mets