Ladies and Gentlemen, Tommy Hanson

Tommy Hanson is an animal.

The Atlanta Braves righty struck out a career-high 14 Houston Astros Sunday afternoon in his team's 4-1 win at Minute Maid Park. Hanson surrendered just one run on three hits, improving to 3-0 with a ridiculous 0.97 ERA in five career starts against the Astros. Pretty awesome.

Dan Uggla hit a two-run shot in the first inning off Brett Myers and Brian McCann went yard for another two runs in the sixth to give their starter all the run support he needed for the Braves sixth straight victory.

Hanson -- now 7-4 with a 2.59 ERA -- fanned five in a row early in the game before striking out last three batters he faced. Exclamation point! His 14 K's were the most by a Braves pitcher since the legendary John Smoltz had 15 back in 2005 against the New York Mets. He's now tied with Bud Norris for the most strikeouts ever in a game at Minute Maid Park.

Oh, and Tommy, lose the beard. You look 20 years older than you are, and chicks do not dig that. Besides, how many guys do you know that go by "Tommy" who have face muff? You're not Brian Wilson, man.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Welcome to the Ben Zobrist Show

Ben Zobrist met his RBI quota all in a day's work for the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday.

During a day-night double header at Target Field against the Minnesota Twins, the second baseman went 7-for-10 with two home runs and three doubles. He set a club record with eight RBI in the opener, nailing a bomb and two doubles.

That's 10 runs batted in over two games. Meanwhile, Twins third baseman Danny Valencia leads his entire team with 11 on the season. Awesome.

Zobrist, who's now driven in 25 runs so far this year, had this to say about his ridiculous day at the plate:

"I really had no idea what was happening. I just was kind of in the zone. Just trying not to think about it too much. I just felt real comfortable, obviously, in the box."

The Rays swept the rain-delayed three-game series, outscoring the Twins 29-6. They've won five straight now, and 12 of 15 after a horrid 1-8 start.

[Sweet Spot]

We Love Men Who Take Charge

Like the Chicago Cubs, for instance, who are taking charge of the NL Central. Now holding a four-game lead over the once-surging Milwaukee Brewers, the North-Siders are enjoying some hitting on the part of Alfonso Soriano and some lights-out pitching by guys like Ryan Fricking Dempster, who is 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA.

Brad Ziegler: I'm Your Set-Up Man

With his sixth recorded out Sunday, Oakland Athletics reliever Brad Ziegler set a major league record with 27 scoreless innings to kick off his promising career.

The 28-year-old right-hander who was promoted to the big leagues at the end of May, fanned three and allowed two base hits over two innings against the Texas Rangers in his otherwise perfect outing during the A's 6-5 victory.

Ziegler shattered the previous record of 25 innings set 101 years ago by Philadelphia Phillies long-gone righty George McQuillan in 1907.

[MVN] | [Athletics Supporters] | [Baseball Geeks] | [Oakland Athletics News]

Hop In the General Lee Bandwagon

Cliff Lee is still rolling, becoming the first American League hurler to 13 wins.

It wasn't pretty, but the Cleveland Indians ace lefty followed up his first All-Star start by surrendering 11 hits in his second complete game of the year for a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Triple Play? Nice Try Span

The Minnesota Twins weren't able to avoid the sweep from the Boston Red Sox Wednesday after seventh-inning umpire-related shenanigans turned an incorrectly called triple play into a seven-run fiasco which led to an 18-5 man-handling of the Twins.

Jacoby Ellsbury nailed a career-high four hits, while Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Sean Casey had three a piece to aid Boston in their season-best 23-hit game.

Eleven Reasons to Love Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee enjoyed yet another fantastic outing for the Cleveland Indians Thursday, striking out a career-high eleven San Francisco Giants over eight solid innings to earn his eleventh victory and help his club avoid a three-game sweep.

This marks the fourth time Lee has ended a three-game skid for the Tribe. At this point in time, I think it's safe to say we're all a little surprised (pleasantly or no) by the 29-year-old lefty's consistency. You know, he hasn't gone back to his sucktastic ways yet.

What's Your Fantasy?

Just a friendly reminder from the ladies who will dominate you every time...

If you are among the lucky bastards who signed up for the Babes Love Baseball fantasy league, our draft is set for tonight at 10pm Central. Bring your drinking drafting shoes and remember: hands off Henry Blanco. He's all RandBall's.

[Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball]