Day 6-8: second three game series
TOR@BOS: 0-6, 9-2, 3-1Game 1: Roger Clemens dominates the Toronto offense with a complete game shutout, allowing 5 hits and no walks while striking out 12. The Boston bats come alive with homeruns by Valentin and Hatcher and a total of 11 hits for 6 runs off starterJuan Guzman who takes his first loss of the season.
Game 2: In a complete reversal from the 1st game, this time the Boston bullpen melts down after starter Viola leaves the game with the bases loaded, giving up 5 hits and two runs. Toronto batters go on to hit nine more times, sending ten men to the plate in the 7th and adding another homerun by White in the eighth. The Boston offense remains quiet and will try to regroup tomorrow against Jimmy key.
Game 3: Jimmi Key nearly repeats Roger Clemens' dominating performance, allowing just two hits (inclusing one HR from Hatcher to avoid the shutout) and walking only four despite recording no strikeout over eight innings. His defense helps gain the win for the Blue Jays starter by turning three double plays.
BAL@NYY: 5-6, 9-6, 2-6 (Yes, the Yankees scored six runs in each game of the series...)
Games 1/2: Yankees and Orioles trade turnarounds, both come from behind to win one of the first two games of the series. In game 2, Steve Farr blows the save for New York in spectacular fashion, hitting Billy Ripken for a hand injury and giving up 4 runs total including a homerun. Scores are dominated by the two catchers: Yankees catcher Nokes hits two homeruns after going 2 for 17 to start the season, but to no avail as this feat is topped by the three long balls from Orioles catcher Hoiles.
CIN@SFG: 2-0, 7-3, 2-0
Game 1: pitchers duel, six scoreless innings, 5 Ks for Rijo and for the losing pitcher Swift. Most baserunners reached with two outs. Reds score first in the 7th inning after a leadoff walk to Paul O'Neill, run driven in by Sabo. Paul O'Neill adds an HR later for the 2-0 win, Norm Charlton gets the save after 8 shutout innings from winning Reds pitcher Jose Rijo.
Game 2: Giants bullpen turns a close game into a clear victory for the Reds. Giants threaten to rally in the bottom of the ninth but can't quite get there- Dwayne Henry barely hangs on and defends Swindells Win, the Giants leave three runners stranded in the last inning alone (10 total).
Game 3: Reds sweep the Giants in a close game. Belcher takes the win with six scoreless innings, allowing 3 runs. Charlton earns his second save of the season.
LAD@ATL: 1-6, 4-5, 5-1
Game 1: Atlanta starter Glavine struggled in the first, but got out of it with only one run although the bases were loaded. LA starter Candiotti saw the opposite happen: after a 1-2-3 first inning, he gave up 3 runs in the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd and one unearned run in the 4th before being taken out of the game. Although Astacio went on to pitch 4.2 nearly flawless innings for the Dodgers, giving up only 3 singles and no runs, the Dodgers offense couldn't score any more points.
Game 2: Both starters struggle and then settle down for a close game. Roger McDowell comes in with a two run lead but gives up five hits and the Braves walk off with the win.
Game 3: The Dodgers avoid the series sweep, scoring in each of the last 4 innings. McDowell closes out the game in a non-saving ninth, giving up a single but keeping it to three BF by inducing Greg Olson to ground into a DP. Butler, Sharperson and Anderson reach base three times each, showing that the Dodgers have some offense left. Strawberry returns from the DL with an unexciting offensive outing (1 for 5 and a FC), but a solid defensive performance.
Standings after eight days
AL East# | Team | W-L | Win % | Strk |
1. | Toronto | 5-3 | .625 | W2 |
1. | Boston | 4-4 | .500 | L2 |
3. | New York | 4-4 | .500 | W1 |
3. | Baltimore | 3-5 | .375 | L1 |
NL West
# | Team | W-L | Win % | Strk |
1. | Atlanta | 6-2 | .750 | L1 |
2. | Cincinnati | 5-3 | .625 | W3 |
2. | Los Angeles | 3-5 | .375 | W1 |
2. | San Francisco | 2-6 | .250 | L5 |
Batting Leaders so far (OBP/SLG/AVG), min. 20 PA, AVG 350
Terry Pendleton (ATL) 429/1000/429, 5 HR, 16 RBIChris Hoiles (BAL) 481/1000/417, 4 HR
Wade Boggs (BOS) 529/593/407
Joe Orsulak (BAL) 419/552/379
Will Clark (SFG) 476/833/389
Eric Karros (LAD) 394/516/387
Dave Winfield (TOR) 400/724/379
Bip Roberts (CIN) 514/370/370
Brady Anderson (BAL) 421/485/364, 6 SB
Ron Gant (ATL) 447/394/364, 5 SB
Paul O'Neill (CIN) 529/520/360
Pitchers with two wins
Roger Clemens, 16 IP, ERA 0.00, complete game shutout
Tom Glavine (ATL) 13 IP, ERA 0.69
Tim Belcher (CIN) 13 IP, ERA 2.08
Scott Kamieniecki (NYY) 14 IP, 2.57 ERA
Scott Kamieniecki (NYY) 14 IP, 2.57 ERA
Coming next: four days of interleague play.