The Giants give ace Tim Lincecum a big early lead at Coors Field, but the two-time Cy Young Award winner does not need all the help. He keeps the hot-hitting Rockies hitless until the 7th on his way to an 8 – 1 win. Colorado starter Esmil Rogers gives up 8 runs in 3 innings to remove any doubt about the day’s outcome, and the remaining tension is broken when Carlos Gonzalez singles with one out in the 7th. Lincecum leaves after giving up a run with two outs in the 8th, and Ryan Vogelsong gets the final four outs. Pat Burrell and Nate Schierholtz homer for San Francisco.

Reds P Mike Leake is arrested in a downtown Cincinnati department store when he attempts to shoplift $60 worth of merchandise. He allegedly removed security tags on six tee-shirts before walking out of the store without paying, but was caught by security cameras.

Tiger outfielder Ryan Raburn becomes the first player to hit a ball off Seattle’s Safeco Field’s retractable roof when his first-inning pop fly makes contact with one of the trusses approximately 175 feet above the playing field. The redirected foul ball, which falls between Mariner catcher Miguel Olivo and third baseman Chone Figgins, if caught, would have been the second out of the inning, according to the ballpark’s ground rules.

The Angels’ Dan Haren joins teammate Jered Weaver as the major leagues’ only four-game winners with a 4 – 2 victory over the White Sox. Weaver recorded win number 4 the previous day in the Halos’ three-game sweep of the Pale Hose. Haren’s ERA is now 1.16.

For the first time since their move to Washington, DC in 2005, the Nationals sweep a doubleheader at home. David Espinosa and Ivan Rodriguez bang three-run homers and Ian Desmond adds a solo shot in an 8 – 4 win over the Brewers in the opener; Livan Hernandez then allows only one run in seven innings and Espinosa caps his great day with a three-run triple, for a 5 – 1 win in the nitecap.

Grady Sizemore homers in his return to action after undergoing knee surgery last year, leading the Indians to a 4 – 2 win over the Orioles. The homer comes off Brad Bergesen after almost a full year on the sidelines for the former All-Star CF and sends Baltimore to its 7th straight loss. Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner also homer for Cleveland.

2011 – The Mets are swept in a doubleheader for the second time in three days as they go down, 4 – 2 and 4 – 0, to the Atlanta Braves. In the second game, Jair Jurrjens throws seven shutout innings in his return from the disabled list, while Alex Gonzalez is the hero in the opener, hitting two of the Braves’ four solo homers in support of Derek Lowe’s pitching. The Mets have now lost seven in a row.

Johnny Damon walk-off single accounts for winning run in the Rays’ 4-3 victory over Minnesota at Tropicana Field. The 37 year-old designated hitter’s accomplishment marks the first time in nine years a batter collects five consecutive game-winning RBIs.

Jhoulys Chacin hurls a 6-hit shutout as the Rockies defeat the Cubs, 5 – 0, to extend their winning streak to seven games. Chris Iannetta hits a bases-loaded triple and trots home on Starlin Castro’s wild relay throw on the play in support of Chacin’s gem.

The Cardinals rout the Dodgers, 11 – 2, with a 19-hit attack. It is the first time in 81 years that the Cardinals have gotten 14 or more hits in five straight games. Lance Berkman homers twice.