Jon Lester Out-Duels Tigers' Max Scherzer in 2-1 Red Sox Win; Homer Bailey Hurls Reds to 1-0 Victory over Cardinals

Players of the Day for Tuesday, September 3, 2013

American League

Jon Lester

In what appears to be a playoff preview, the Red Sox evened their series with the Tigers at a game apiece as Jon Lester out-dueled Max Scherzer for a 2-1 win.

Winning for the third time in his last four starts, Lester, 13-8, scattered eight hits over seven innings, allowing the Tigers only run to score in the second inning.

The Red Sox came back with two runs off Scherzer, who was seeking his 20th win, in the fifth, when Will Middlebrooks singled with two outs, bringing home Jonny Gomes and Stephen Drew.

Lester fanned nine and didn't walk a batter. Both starters threw 111 pitches.

The win kept he Red Sox 5 1/2 in front of Tampa Bay in the East, with the best record in the AL at 83-57. The Tigers have a 7 1/2 game bulge in the Central over second place Cleveland.

Game three of the series is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT, Wednesday at Fenway Park.

National League

Homer Bailey

Homer Bailey allowed just two hits - both by St. Louis leadoff hitter, Matt Carpenter - over seven innings, sending the Reds to their second straight victory over St. Louis, in game two of their four-game series, by a 1-0 score.

Bailey started out the game in rough fashion, opening up the game by giving up a single to Carpenter and walking Carlos Beltran. After fanning Matt Holliday, he induced a double play to end the inning. In the second, Bailey plunked Jon Jay with one out in the second and gave up Carpenter's second single with one down in the third, but he was perfect after that, setting down the next 14 batters in order before turning the ball game over to the Reds' relievers.

Bailey fanned eight and issued just the one walk to Beltran in the first inning, improving to 10-10 on the year. Only he and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum have thrown no-hitters this season, both coming in July. Bailey shut down the Giants, 3-0, on July 2nd, inspiring Lincecum to do the same to the Padres on July 13.

The loss dropped the Cardinals two games behind the Pirates in the NL Central, while the Reds remained 3 1/2 back. Pittsburgh guaranteed itself a winning season with their 81st win, a 4-3 victory at Milwaukee. The Pirates last winning season was 1992.

The Reds host the Cardinals in game three of the series at 7:10 pm EDT on Wednesday night.

Today's Trivia: Who led the National League in hits more times, Pete Rose or Tony Gwynn? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Pete Rose became the all-time hits leader in 1985.

Homer Bailey Shuts Down Brewers as Reds Roll, 9-1; Chris Davis Belts #45, Goes 4-for-5 in Oriole Victory

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 18, 2013

American League

Chris Davis

It wasn't until just after midnight Sunday that the Boston Red Sox fell to the Yankees, 9-6, but earlier in the day, the Orioles had topped the Rockies, 7-2, the net result a full game pick-up in the standings for Baltimore, still in third place, 4 1/2 games behind front-running Boston.

Chris Davis had another MVP-like game, going 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, his 45th home run of the season, three runs and two RBI, staying five ahead of Detroit Miguel Cabrera in home runs and five behind him in RBI, at 115.

The Orioles wrapped up their home series, winning two games to one, and prepare for their crucial series with second place Tampa, starting Monday at 7:05 pm EDT in Baltimore.

National League

Homer Bailey

Cincinnati is making some serious noise in the NL Central division, winning nine of their last 12 to pull to within 2 1/2 games of division leading Pittsburgh, their latest triumph a 9-1 stomping of the Brewers to complete their four-game series in Milwaukee with a 2-2 split.

Reds' starter, Homer Bailey, was in top form, allowing three hits over eight innings of work, walking one and striking out eight, the Brewers only run coming on a solo homer in the fifth off the bat of left fielder Khris Davis.

The win was the third straight for Bailey, from four starts, throwing 82 of 118 pitches for strikes, improving his record to 8-10.

Heading back home, the Reds open a four game series with Arizona starting Monday night at 7:10 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: Who lead their league in strikeouts more times, Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Babe Ruth set the mark for most total bases in a season at 457 in 1921.

Homer Bailey Tosses First No-Hitter of Season in 3-0 Reds' Win; Kendrys Morales Drives in Six as Mariners Sink Rangers

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 2, 2013

American League

Morales: 3-5, 6RBI

Because of the way they're playing, the Oakland A's don't really need anyone doing them favors, but Kendrys Morales and the Seattle Mariners did so anyway, boosting the A's back into the top spot in the AL West by taking down the Texas Rangers, 9-2, in the opener of a three-game series in Texas.

While the Mariners were bombing the Rangers, Oakland did their part, defeating the visiting Cubs, 8-7, resulting in a 1/2 game lead in the division.

Raul Ibanez socked his 20th home run for the M's, but the real damage was done by Morales, who hit a solo homer right behind Ibanez in the first inning, then delivered a three-run blast in the fifth, followed by a two-run single in the sixth for a 3-for-5, six RBI game.

The Mariners' good deed didn't help them much, however. They are mired in fourth place in the division, 12 1/2 games back of the A's. They'll try to improve on that when they face the Rangers again on Wednesday night, at 8:05 pm EDT.

National League

Bailey: No-hitter

The last time a major leaguer threw a no hitter was on September 28, 2012 and it was Homer Bailey on the mound in Pittsburgh, leading his Reds to a 1-0 win.

On Tuesday night, Bailey was home in Cincinnati, at a place he feels most comfortable, the pitching mound at Great American Ball Park, facing the World Champion San Francisco Giants in game two of a four-game set.

The Giants didn't look very much like world-beaters, however, as Bailey set them down in routine fashion, throwing the first no-hitter of the season in a 3-0 victory.

Tossing his second career no-hitter, Bailey was in complete command, striking out nine while issuing just one walk, that to Gregor Blanco, leading off the seventh inning.

Bailey (5-6, 3.57) needed just 109 pitches for the mound gem, throwing 74 for strikes, getting ahead of 19 of 28 batters by throwing first pitch strikes, a key to the outstanding performance.

The win was a boost for the Reds, as both the Pirates and Cardinals lost. The Reds trail Pittsburgh by four games. The second place Cardinals are two games out.

Game three of the series begins at 7:10 pm EDT Wednesday night.

Today's Trivia: Which pitcher hold the record for most career no-hitters and how many did he throw? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins set the major league record of 716 at-bats in 2007. Rollins played in all 162 games, hit 30 homers, led the league with 20 triples, drove in 94 and scored 139 runs and won the NL MVP award.

Nate McLouth, Miguel Gonzalez Lead Orioles; Homer Bailey Goes Six Scoreless for Reds

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 30, 2013

Grapefruit League

Miguel Gonzalez

Wrapping up exhibition season, the Orioles celebrated their Grapefruit League championship by pounding on the Mets in a 7-1, 1-hit victory.

Nate McLouth

Nate McLouth socked a pair of solo homers to supply more than needed runs for starter Miguel Gonzalez, who gave up the only hit by the Mets, a single by Marlon Byrd, who came around to score on Ruben Tejada's sacrifice fly.

Gonzalez worked the first five innings, fanning five while issuing just the one hit and one walk. Five Oriole relievers proceeded to the mound thereafter to finish off the Mets - and Spring training - in hitless fashion.

The Orioles finished up with a 19-9 record, 2 1/2 games better than the Tigers and Braves.

Bailey: 6IP, 1H, OER

Cactus League

Cincinnati didn't have a very successful exhibition season in terms of wins (13-20), but they managed to finish up in good style, with a 7-0 blanking of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Homer Bailey worked six innings for the victory, his second win with one loss, shutting out the D'Backs on one hit while striking out seven

Baily had a modestly successful 2012 with the Reds, going 13-10 in 33 starts. His 3.38 ERA spanned 208 innings. He is expected to have another solid season as the Reds try to win the NL Central again. They won it by nine games over the Cardinals in 2012.

Saturday marked the end of Spring Training for all major league clubs. On Sunday, the Rangers visit Houston to kick off the regular season as the Astros have defected from the NL Central to the AL West, so it's an AL opener.

The Astros haven't been competitive in the NL Central for the better part of two decades, so they were the likely team to be booted from the NL to even up the leagues at 15 teams each, with five teams in each division. Houston, with its record of fantastic failure in the NL, can now begin to set records for mediocrity in the AL West. We wish them luck.

More clubs will be in action on Monday, April 1, with 12 games on what is the official opening day.

Brett Lawrie, Adam Jones Star as Jays Down O's; Homer Bailey Shuts Down Pirates as Reds Cruise

Players of the Day for Tuesday, May 29, 2012

American League

As May slowly turns to June and a long hot summer of baseball commences, it's getting a bit streaky in the American League.

Brett Lawrie

In the West division, the Angels took a 5-1 win over the Yankees to extend the longest current winning streak in the majors to eight games. The Angels now trail Texas by 5 1/2 and are 3 1/2 clear of third place Oakland, losers of seven in a row.

Winners of seven straight, the White Sox have assumed command by 1/2 game over Cleveland in the Central division. In the East, first place Baltimore has lost four straight and are tied with Tampa Bay, though the Rays haven't taken advantage of the Orioles' losses, as they've lost two in a row, but are tied for the top spot. The Yankees have also lost two consecutive games - to the Angels - but, Toronto and Boston have each won their last two, making the Al East baseball's most competitive division, with all teams over .500 and within 3 1/2 games of each other.

Adam Jones

The latest of those two straight Toronto wins came last night, as the Blue Jays held on for an 8-6 win over Baltimore and will look for the sweep Wednesday at the Rogers Centre. Brett Lawrie, recently returned from a suspension, got his bat working with a 3-for-4 effort (two singles and a double). Lawrie, who played in 46 games for the Blue jays last season, so is still technically a rookie, drove in three runs and scored three times, personally accounting for six of Toronto's eight runs.

Toronto scored all of its runs by the fifth inning and had an 8-1 lead, but the O's battled back gamely, getting three in the sixth and two more in the ninth, on Adam Jones' 2-run shot in the ninth, his 16th homer of the year. Jones had a solo homer in the first, but his teammates didn't provide enough extra offense, falling short as Jones went 3-for-3, drove in three and scored three times.


National League

Homer Bailey

Having won nine of their last 11, including Tuesday's 8-1 rout of Pittsburgh, the Reds have taken command in the Central division of the NL, 1 1/2 games up on St. Louis.

The Reds' recent surge has been fueled mostly by exceptional pitching. Reds' hurlers have allowed opponents three or fewer runs in seven of their last nine wins, including a four-game sweep of the Braves in which Atlanta scored just eight runs.

Homer Bailey has picked up three wins during the current hot streak, and was on the bump Tuesday, throwing a complete game - the second of his career - at the Pirates, allowing just four hits and one earned run. Bailey needed only 103 pitches to keep Pittsburgh batters in check, as he fanned five and issued only one walk.

After a rough start to the season, Bailey's three straight wins have him above water, at 4-3. During his personal win streak, Bailey has allowed just six earned runs, over a span of 21 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati will be looking to complete the sweep when they conclude their series in Pittsburgh Wednesday night.

Overbay's Two Homers, 7 RBI Crush Red Sox; Homer Bailey Extends Reds' Lead

Players of the Day for Friday, August 20, 2010 American League The hits just keep coming from the Toronto Blue Jays. On Friday, the Jays made the Jon Lester and the Red Sox the latest victims in their batting assault through the American League, pounding out 20 hits in a 16-2 romp at Fenway Park. Lester pitched only into the 3rd inning, as he gave up five runs in the first, one in the second and was credited with three more in the third. He gave up eight hits, three walks and nine runs, his chief torment being Lyle Overbay, who smacked a pair of three-run homers off the Boston lefty. Overbay wasn't done after Lester departed. He singled and scored in the 6th inning and singled home another run in the 8th. His line for the night, 4-for-5, 3 runs, 7 RBI, with a pair of dingers. Not too shabby. The Jays continue to terrorize opposing pitchers, leading the majors with 187 home runs and a .458 slugging percentage. With 121 games already in the book (64-57), the Jays probably won't crack the major league mark of 264 home runs in a season, set by the Seattle Mariners in 1999, though they are on pace to come pretty close. They should finish up with about 250, though nobody is ruling out that they could hit two per game on average, setting a new standard. National League It was just a week ago that St. Louis took three straight from the Reds and wrested control of the NL Central, leaving Cincinnati with a one-game lead in the divisional race. Since then, the two teams have gone in opposite directions, however, with the Cardinals losing five straight while the Reds have put together a seven -game win streak. The Cards, who have had three days off in the past nine, haven't responded well to the extra rest. After taking the opener of their three-game series against Chicago, they lost the next two, then dropped two straight to the Brewers and on Friday were on the losing end of a 6-3 score against the Giants. Making matters more troubling is the fact that all of the losses have come at home. While the Cardinals were trying to figure out what happened, the Reds took three straight from the Marlins at home, then went on the road and swept three from Arizona, and on Friday went into Dodger Stadium - where they had lost 12 straight - and came away with a 3-1 win, mostly on the strength of Homer Bailey's seven solid innings. Bailey, pitching in place of suspended starter Johnny Cueto for the second time in a week, allowed four hits and one earned run. He struck out six and walked a pair of batters. Bailey, who hadn't pitched since May 23, shut out Florida on Sunday for siz innings and returned with another strong performance Friday night. Cueto's suspension has ended, and the Red's fiery right-hander will go to the mound on Saturday against the Dodgers. The Reds' have put together their longest win streak of the season at just the right time, with the Cardinals struggling and the top spot in the division theirs for the taking. In just a week they've opened up a 4 1/2 game lead on the Cards, after a grueling three months in which neither team could establish anything better than a three game lead.

Holland, Hamilton Rock A's; Bailey Tosses Shutout at Pirates, Reds within 1 game of Cardinals

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 12, 2010 American League Could this be the beginning of the end for the Oakand A's? After knocking off the Rangers in the first game of their 3-game set on Tuesday, the A's ran smack into a tough lefty Wednesday afternoon in Arlington by the name of Derek Holland (left). Called up for his first major league start of the season after going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA in six starts for Oklahoma City, Holland stymied the A's on 5 hits over 6 innings, striking out 7, allowing just one walk and no runs. Last season Holland went 8-13 with a 6.12 ERA in 33 games for Texas, but he's retooled his game to become part of the Rangers' starting rotation. With the 10-1 win, the Rangers snapped a tie for first place in the AL West with the upstart A's. Texas now owns a 1-game advantage, with the rubber game Thursday afternoon. On the offensive side of things, the Rangers racked up 5 homers against A's hurlers, including Josh Hamilton's (right) 7th of the season, a 2-run, 5th inning shot that put the Rangers ahead, 4-0, adding to the disdain for Oakland pitching. Hamilton added a couple of singles on the day, going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and a couple of runs scored. Hamilton's off to a pretty steady start, batting .285 with the 7 homers and 23 RBI. National League Something's happening in Cincinnati, and it's affecting their pitching staff in wonderful ways. Maybe it has something to do with playing the Pirates, but a day after Johnny Cueto tosses a 1-hitter for a 9-0 Reds' win, Homer Bailey comes out and throws a 4-hit complete game for another Reds win, this one by a 5-0 score, sweeping the Pirates in Pittsburgh, and quietly creeping to within one game of Central division-leading St. Louis. Bailey picked up his first win of the season against 2 prior losses and notched the first complete game and first shutout of his brief career. Bailey has started just 44 games in four partial seasons with the Reds. Needing only 90 pitches, Bailey scattered the four hits without giving up a walk while fanning six different Pittsburgh would-be hitters. The Reds get a day off Thursday, as the Cardinals finish up their series with Houston before the two meet up for a crucial three-game series in Cincinnati beginning on Friday. If Cincy can manage to take two of three from the reigning division champs, they would be either 1/2-game ahead or behind, depending the outcome of the Cardinals' Thursday game. A Reds sweep would give them the outright lead regardless. Should be a fun weekend for NL Central fans. QUICK HITS: Might as well call him Andre the Giant (or Giant killer?). Andre Ethier is feasting on National League pitching early this season. Bashing his 11 home run this season in Wednesday's series-sweeping 6-3 win over Arizona, Ethier now leads the NL Triple Crown categories outright with a .385 batting average (his 1-for-4 effort dropped him down from .390), 11 dingers and an eye-popping 37 RBI. The sweep got the Dodgers back to a respectable 17-17 record, though they still trail the Padres by 4 1/2 games in the NL West.