The Rockies need six pitchers to do it, but shut out the Padres, 3 – 0. Clayton Mortensen gets things started with six scoreless innings, four relievers work the 7th and 8th, and Huston Street takes care of the 9th for his 16th save.

ByTom

The Rockies need six pitchers to do it, but shut out the Padres, 3 – 0. Clayton Mortensen gets things started with six scoreless innings, four relievers work the 7th and 8th, and Huston Street takes care of the 9th for his 16th save.

The Reds send the Cubs to their 7th consecutive loss with an 8 – 2 win powered by Jonny Gomes’ three-run homer, part of a four-RBI night. Mike Leake prevails against Matt Garza, who gives up four runs in his return from the disabled list.

ByTom

The Reds send the Cubs to their 7th consecutive loss with an 8 – 2 win powered by Jonny Gomes’ three-run homer, part of a four-RBI night. Mike Leake prevails against Matt Garza, who gives up four runs in his return from the disabled list.

The Brewers beat Florida, 7 – 3. It marks the Milwaukee Brewers’ 1,000th win since joining the National League. They become the first franchise with 1,000 wins in both of the major leagues.

ByTom

The Brewers beat Florida, 7 – 3. It marks the Milwaukee Brewers’ 1,000th win since joining the National League. They become the first franchise with 1,000 wins in both of the major leagues.

In the 2011 amateur draft, Pittsburgh, picking first, selects right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole from UCLA. The choice is somewhat surprising as Cole’s college teammate, Trevor Bauer, who is picked 3rd by Arizona, had a much better season this year. Sandwiched between the two Bruins is Danny Hultzen of the University of Virginia, picked second by Seattle. Cole had previously been picked 28th overall in the 2008 draft, by the Yankees, but declined their offer.

ByTom

In the 2011 amateur draft, Pittsburgh, picking first, selects right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole from UCLA. The choice is somewhat surprising as Cole’s college teammate, Trevor Bauer, who is picked 3rd by Arizona, had a much better season this year. Sandwiched between the two Bruins is Danny Hultzen of the University of Virginia, picked second by Seattle. Cole had previously been picked 28th overall in the 2008 draft, by the Yankees, but declined their offer.

The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks, 9 – 4, in 11 innings in a wild game at Chase Field. The Nats score 5 runs off Joe Paterson in the 11th to win the game, highlighted by Michael Morse’s grand slam which follows a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel. But before that, the game features four batters hit by pitches, and as many ejections. Nats starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman are the first to be tossed after Marquis plucks Justin Upton in the 6th; warnings had been issued by home plate umpire Rob Drake when D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy had hit Jayson Werth the previous inning. In the 8th, Arizona’s Esmerling Vasquez hits Danny Espinosa and is also sent off, as is his manager, Kirk Gibson. The Nationals take a 4 – 0 lead after that, thanks to a three-run homer by Wilson Ramos, but Kelly Johnson hits a solo shot off Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the 8th, and closer Drew Storen fails to record an out in trying to save the game in the 9th, allowing all four batters he faces to reach base; three of them score, sending the game into extra innings.

ByTom

The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks, 9 – 4, in 11 innings in a wild game at Chase Field. The Nats score 5 runs off Joe Paterson in the 11th to win the game, highlighted by Michael Morse’s grand slam which follows a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel. But before that, the game features four batters hit by pitches, and as many ejections. Nats starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman are the first to be tossed after Marquis plucks Justin Upton in the 6th; warnings had been issued by home plate umpire Rob Drake when D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy had hit Jayson Werth the previous inning. In the 8th, Arizona’s Esmerling Vasquez hits Danny Espinosa and is also sent off, as is his manager, Kirk Gibson. The Nationals take a 4 – 0 lead after that, thanks to a three-run homer by Wilson Ramos, but Kelly Johnson hits a solo shot off Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the 8th, and closer Drew Storen fails to record an out in trying to save the game in the 9th, allowing all four batters he faces to reach base; three of them score, sending the game into extra innings.

For the second straight game, Albert Pujols hits a walk-off home run in extra innings as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 3 – 2. Pujols hits a solo shot off Rodrigo Lopez in the 10th, after doing the same off Jeff Samardzija in the 12th inning of yesterday’s 5 – 4 win. Ryan Theriot sets the stage for Pujols’ heroics by driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz from first base with a two-out, 9th-inning double off Carlos Marmol, also extending his hitting streak to 19 games in the process. No National Leaguer had hit walk-off homers in consecutive extra-inning games since Ron Santo in 1966.

ByTom

For the second straight game, Albert Pujols hits a walk-off home run in extra innings as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 3 – 2. Pujols hits a solo shot off Rodrigo Lopez in the 10th, after doing the same off Jeff Samardzija in the 12th inning of yesterday’s 5 – 4 win. Ryan Theriot sets the stage for Pujols’ heroics by driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz from first base with a two-out, 9th-inning double off Carlos Marmol, also extending his hitting streak to 19 games in the process. No National Leaguer had hit walk-off homers in consecutive extra-inning games since Ron Santo in 1966.

The Red Sox need 14 innings to put away the A’s, 9 – 8. The A’s score 4 runs in the top of the 9th to tie the game, leading to the ejection of both P Jonathan Papelbon and C Jason Varitek, after 2B Dustin Pedroia misses a potential game-ending double play ground ball. Ryan Sweeney’s 11th-inning sacrifice fly puts the A’s ahead, but the Sox tie it right back on back-to-back doubles by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury. J.D. Drew ends the game by singling in Carl Crawford with two outs in the 14th after striking out four times in his previous four at-bats. Guillermo Moscoso, the A’s 9th pitcher of the game, takes the loss.

ByTom

The Red Sox need 14 innings to put away the A’s, 9 – 8. The A’s score 4 runs in the top of the 9th to tie the game, leading to the ejection of both P Jonathan Papelbon and C Jason Varitek, after 2B Dustin Pedroia misses a potential game-ending double play ground ball. Ryan Sweeney’s 11th-inning sacrifice fly puts the A’s ahead, but the Sox tie it right back on back-to-back doubles by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury. J.D. Drew ends the game by singling in Carl Crawford with two outs in the 14th after striking out four times in his previous four at-bats. Guillermo Moscoso, the A’s 9th pitcher of the game, takes the loss.

Matt Kemp hits a pair of homers, including an 8th-inning grand slam, in an 11 – 8 Dodgers win over the Reds in Cincinnati. However, Los Angeles needs an 11th-inning single by Jamey Carroll to take the lead, his fourth hit of the game, to start a four-run rally against Carlos Fisher. The Dodgers are down 5 – 0 in the early going before Kemp and Carroll get to work. Rookie Javy Guerra earns his first big league win.

ByTom

Matt Kemp hits a pair of homers, including an 8th-inning grand slam, in an 11 – 8 Dodgers win over the Reds in Cincinnati. However, Los Angeles needs an 11th-inning single by Jamey Carroll to take the lead, his fourth hit of the game, to start a four-run rally against Carlos Fisher. The Dodgers are down 5 – 0 in the early going before Kemp and Carroll get to work. Rookie Javy Guerra earns his first big league win.

Jason Vargas tosses a four-hitter for his first career shutout as the Mariners defeat the Rays, 7 – 0. Adam Kennedy and Miguel Olivo hit back-to-back homers off Andy Sonnanstine in the 5th inning to ice the win, following Justin Smoak’s 1st-inning blast.

ByBaseball

Jason Vargas tosses a four-hitter for his first career shutout as the Mariners defeat the Rays, 7 – 0. Adam Kennedy and Miguel Olivo hit back-to-back homers off Andy Sonnanstine in the 5th inning to ice the win, following Justin Smoak’s 1st-inning blast.