Players of the Day from Sunday, May 11, 2008
American League
Kansas City's
Brian Bannister pitched 8 innings of shutout ball, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5, as the
Royals knocked off Baltimore, 4-0, on Sunday.
Bannister (4-4) didn't allow any runners past first base and threw 110 pitches, giving way to Joakim Soria, who finished up with a 1-2-3 9th inning. The win was the first for Bannister after losing his last three straight starts. It was also the first win for the Royals after twelve straight losses to the Orioles.
Notes: The Tampa Bay Rays swept the LA Angels over the weekend, finishing up with an 8-5 win in Tampa after beating the Angels by consecutive 2-0 scores. Tampa is just 1 1/2 behind Boston in the East, while the Angles yielded first place to the A's in the West. Minnesota continues to cling to first place in the Central, coming from behind to beat Boston on Sunday night, 9-8.
National League
Carlos Beltran was the hitting star again, as the
Mets downed the Reds, 8-3.
Glendale Golfs Manitoba
Glendale Manitoba Golf Winnipeg Golfs.
www.glendalegolfs.com
Beltran doubled home Luis Castillo in the first inning and socked his 3rd home run of the season - with Castillo aboard again - in the fifth. Beltran had three RBI total and scored twice as the Mets moved into a tie with Philadelphia for second place in the East. Both teams trail the red-hot Florida Marlins by three games. Florida won its seventh straight with a 5-4 win at Washington.
Notes: Get the brooms out: The Marlins swept the Nationals while Arizona was being swept by Chicago and Houston swept the Dodgers. The rare dominance by Central division teams leaves St. Louis and Chicago tied for first with the surprising Astros 1 1/2 back. Arizona remains 3 1/2 to the good over the Dodgers.
Kansas City's Brian Bannister made his first start of the season a good one, blanking the Cleveland Indians for 6 innings on 4 hits and 2 walks for a 2-0 Royals win. The 6'2" righty out of USC is in his 4th season in the majors and the Royals are looking forward to many more outings like Wednesday night's. Bannister's excellent six inning stint and 3 innings of 1-hit relief behind him helped the Royals stay tied with the White Sox and Tigers atop the AL Central at 8-6.
National League
Dan Haren earned his first win of the season with a solid seven innings of shutout ball against the visiting Colorado Rockies. The Arizona ace allowed 6 hits and a pair of walks while tying his season-high 9 whiffs. Relievers Tony Pena and Chad Qualls worked the eighth and ninth innings, Qualls picking up his 4th save of the season, as the Diamondbacks slipped past the Rockies by a 2-0 score. Haren has been espeically prone to tough luck and a lack of support, taking losses in his first three outings, even though allowing just 4 earned runs over 19 innings. The starts for Haren prior to Wednesday produced losses of 3-0, 2-1 and 2-0. Dan Haren has the oddest stats of any starter in either league: an ERA of 1.38, WHIP at 0.88 and a 1-3 record.
