Corey Hart hits a two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 2 – 0 win over the New York Mets at Miller Park. The homer ends a string of 35 consecutive scoreless innings by Mets pitching.

Matt Cain of the Giants pitches a one-hitter in defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5 – 0. The only hit is a 2nd-inning double by Mark Reynolds.

The Tigers fail to take advantage of a three-home run performance by Miguel Cabrera, falling, 5 – 4, to Ben Sheets and the Oakland Athletics. Reliever Ryan Perry is the loser. The A’s get some bad news after the game, as they announce that two-time All-Star pitcher Justin Duchscherer, who has made only 5 starts this year, needs to undergo surgery on a bothersome hip and will be out for the rest of the season.

Mike Pelfrey pitches the Mets’ third consecutive shutout over the Phillies, 3 – 0 at Citi Field. The Phillies’ hitting woes started even before coming to New York, when they were shut out for eight innings by veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield two days before facing the Mets. The Mets’ own knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey, baffled the Phils in the first game of the series, followed by Japanese rookie Hisanori Takahashi in the second game. The Mets have only swept a series with three shutouts one other time in their history, during their Amazin’ year of 1969, also against Philadelphia.

Jason Hammel of the Rockies sets a personal best with 8 strikeouts before he runs into trouble in the 6th inning of a game against the Diamondbacks. He departs with a 3 – 2 lead, but the Rockies’ hitters go on a late-game power surge, with Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs hitting consecutive 7th-inning home runs to seal an 8 – 2 win. The Rockies have won 7 of 8, keeping pace in the surprisingly competitive NL West with the San Diego Padres, who have been making headlines with a sub-3.00 team ERA, and the surging Los Angeles Dodgers, who are 17-7 in May.

The Yankees take two from the Twins at Target Field. First, in a resumption of yesterday’s game which was suspended by rain with no score, they win, 1 – 0, on a homer by Derek Jeter. They then win the regularly-scheduled game, 3 – 2, on a long ball by Nick Swisher against Jon Rauch in the 9th that gives Andy Pettitte the win. Mariano Rivera saves both wins.

The Rays are hearing footsteps, as a result of the Yankees’ wins and their own three-game sweep at home at the hands of Boston; they are now 3 1/2 games ahead of New York and 5 1/2 in front of Boston after losing 11 – 3. David Ortiz hits his 10th homer of the season – his 9th in May – against Matt Garza, while Adrian Beltre drives in 6 runs in support of John Lackey’s pitching.

The old Vladimir Guerrero seems to be back, albeit in a new uniform. In a game against the Royals, the Rangers’ DH hits two homers and a double on an inside pitch that almost hits him to lead Texas to an 8 – 7 win. Vlad is batting .347 with 12 homers and 42 RBI in 45 games after an injury-plagued season in 2009 with the Angels.

The Padres continue to surprise. Sporting the best record in the National League, their starting pitchers have been outstanding. Today, Jon Garland throws 7 shutout innings before the bullpen takes over from there to defeat the Cardinals, 1 – 0. It is already San Diego’s ninth shutout of the year.