The Game of Baseball: April 2008

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Yankees Win Final Home Opener At House That Ruth Built Beat Jays 3-2

The New York Yankees won their final home opener at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday as they sent their fans home happy with a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang had a very strong outing against Toronto as he went 7 innings allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits, he struck out two, and walked two. Roy Halladay had a quality start, but Wang was just a little better. Halladay also went 7 frames and gave up three runs on 7 hits, striking out 3 and giving up 2 free passes. Melky Cabrerra went deep for the Bronx Bombers. New York is now 1-0, while Toronto is 0-1.

Posted by Jeff Sack at 3:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

Dice-K Dominates As Bo-Sox Top A's 2-1

Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka was like a machine out on the mound Tuesday for the Boston Red Sox as the defeated the Oakland Athletics 2-1. Dice-K threw 6.2 innings for the Red Sox allowing just 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 9 and not walking a batter. He made one mistake, giving up a solo home run to Oakland DH Jack Cust in the second. Oakland starter Joe Blanton was almost as good, but as the old saying goes almost does not count except in horse shoes and hand grenades. Blanton went seven innings, allowed 2 runs, on 2 hits, striking out 3, and walking 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jason Varitek each had 1 RBI for Boston. The Red Sox are now 2-1, while Oakland is 1-2.

Posted by Jeff Sack at 3:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

E60: Jose Canseco Defends Allegations In 'Vindicated'

Posted by Jeff Sack at 3:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

D-Backs Hit 3 HR's, Power Past Reds 4-2

Reported By Stephen Rhodes

The formula that enabled the Arizona Diamondbacks to win 90 games last season worked like a charm on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds; three solo home runs and some solid pitching from Brandon Webb and 3 relievers got the Diamondbacks in the right direction, beating the Reds 4-2. The aforementioned Diamondbacks' homers were hit by Chris Young, Eric Byrnes and pinch-hitter Jeff Salazar while Webb (1-0) pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks and recorded 6 strikeouts; Brandon Lyon recorded his first save.

2B Brandon Phillips led the Reds, going 1-of-4 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI while Adam Dunn went 0-of-3 with an RBI; starting pitcher Aaron Harang (0-1) didn't pitch badly either, pitching 6 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, struck out 6 but gave up 2 HR's. Arizona plays Cincinnati again on Wednesday as Dan Haren (0-0) faces Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo (0-0).

Posted by Jeff Sack at 3:01 AM | Permalink | Comments

Penny, 3 Relievers Pitch Dodgers' Shutout; Blank Giants 5-0

Reported By Stephen Rhodes

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre had a near-sleepless night prior to their home opener against the San Francisco Giants Monday; he had nothing to fear at all as Brad Penny (1-0) and 3 relievers pitched 9 shutout innings, blanking the Giants 5-0 in front of 56,000 at Dodger Stadium. Second baseman Jeff Kent went 2-of-4 with a home run, a run scored and 2 runs batted in while James Loney went 2-of-4 with a stolen base.

San Francisco pitcher Barry Zito (0-1) went 5 innings, allowing 8 hits while allowing 4 earned runs; Aaron Rowand had 2 hits for the Giants. Los Angeles (1-0) plays again on Tuesday night against San Francisco as Derek Lowe will start for the Dodgers while Matt Cain will take the mound for San Francisco.

Posted by Jeff Sack at 2:53 AM | Permalink | Comments