Sox Advance, Get Me Drunk

Big thanks to Jim Thome’s old school bat and Ken Griffey Jr.’s older school cannon for making the Chicago White Sox the 2008 AL Central winner.

Lefty John Danks tossed eight impressive innings of two-hit ball on minimal rest, seeing Junior nail Michael Cuddyer at home and Thome smoke one in the seventh to help the South Siders beat the division rival Minnesota Twins 1-0 in their nail-biting, tie-breaking 163rd game of the season.

Spring Fever

Oh my goodness, it's our very first Spring Fever post of the 2008 season.

Grapefruit League: Phillies 8, Reds 1

Jamie Moyer, who looks fantastic on the hill for a 45-year-old man, tossed three scoreless innings for the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday in their Spring Training opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

Jeremy Affeldt surrendered one run on three hits over two innings of work for the Reds, who lost after a Gary Majewski meltdown in the six-run fifth.

Spankin' new third baseman Pedro Feliz went 2-for-2 with a run-scoring double for the Phils while rookie Greg Dobbs smashed a 3-run bomb. Adam Rosales connected for Cincinnati's lone run.


Cactus League: Rockies 7, White Sox 3

Troy Tulowitzki is so awesome. The Colorado Rockies shortstop homered on his first swing of the Spring as his NL Champions beat the Chicago White Sox in their Cactus League opener Wednesday.

The Rockies' Opening Day starter, Jeff Francis pitched 2 innings, allowing an RBI single to third baseman Josh Fields in the second. Matt Holliday went 2-for-3 and pinch-hitter Dexter Fowler went 2-for-2, driving in 3 runs.

Mark Redman threw two scoreless innings for the victory and Dewon Day earned the loss after giving up three runs on three walks and two hits.

The Sox donned Northern Illinois University caps to honor the victims of the recent shooting there, then autographed them before they were returned to be auctioned off to benefit a scholarship fund in memory of the murdered students.

Cole Hamels is Awesome

After the first pitch was delayed 92 minutes by rain, the fans in Philly were going absolutely bananas. They hung on every Cole Hamels pitch - especially the two-strike counts - as the lefty's bid for a perfect game ended in the seventh inning.

The 23-year-old Hamels (6-1, 3.30 ERA) retired his first 18 batters and used his baffling changeup to strike out eleven Milwaukee Brewers (25-15), leading the Philadelphia Phillies (20-20) to a 6-2 victory and out of the basement for the first time last night. Apparently, he can swing the bat, too. Hamels had two singles for his first career multi-hit game.

Jeff Suppan (5-4, 3.25 ERA) gave up nine hits and six runs - four earned - in seven innings. J.J. Hardy had the Brew Crew's first hit, his 13th homer of the year and Milwaukee's only digit on the board.

Aaron Rowand hit a three-run shot in the second for the Phillies while Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell and Abraham Nunez each drove in a run a piece.

[MLB]

Wednesday's Babelicious Scoreboard

Fans tuned in from all across the globe to witness an outstanding pitching performance. They got one - from strikeout leader Felix Hernandez (2-0, 0.00 ERA) - rather than the expected show by Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-1, 2.57 ERA). Seattle's pitching phenom racked up 6 more K's and didn't allow a hit until J.D. Drew spoiled his no-no bid with a single on the first pitch he saw in the eighth inning.

The Mariners' (3-2) victory, a 3-0 win over the Red Sox (4-4), marked Hernandez's third complete game in 45 starts - his performance overshadowing the much-anticipated first big league matchup between Dice-K and Ichiro Suzuki.

Pirates Sweep Astros on the Road

That's right. The Pittsburgh Pirates have something to prove: that they're a decent team.

Jose Bautista drove in three runs to aid the Pirates in a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros, rallying to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.

After opening last season with six straight losses, the club is 3-0 for the first time since 2003, completing its first three-game sweep in Houston since 1991. This is special because the Pirates lost 18 of their first 23 games last year - their 14th straight losing season.

Tom Gorzelanny (1-0) allowed seven hits and three runs with four strikeouts in five innings for the win. Carlos Lee's RBI single to center field in the first put the Astros ahead 1-0 before Bautista's run-scoring double in the second tied it at 1.

Curtis Granderson Powers Tigers Past Blue Jays

Curtis Granderson hit his first career grand slam as Detroit built a nine-run lead Wednesday, almost collapsing late in the game, but held on for a 10-9 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Coming off their first pennant since 1984, and after losing Monday's opener 5-3 in extra innings, Detroit got to A.J. Burnett early in what turned out to be one of the shortest outings of his career. He gave up six runs, five hits and four walks in two-plus innings, leaving after Detroit's first six batters reached in the third.

Granderson connected for a grand salami off Shaun Marcum for his first homer of the season, capping an eight-run third with a drive that bounced on top of the right-center wall, hitting the yellow home-run line, before landing back onto the field. Then, in the seventh inning, he nailed an RBI triple off Victor Zambrano, back from elbow surgery, that tied his career-high with five RBIs in a game.

Toronto ended up with seven runs in the eighth off relievers Jason Grilli and Fernando Rodney, but the potential tying run was stranded at third when Magglio Ordonez, who lost two fly balls earlier in the inning, made a running catch to nab Troy Glaus' drive to right-center. The harsh wind became a factor late in th game, carrying a handful of easy outs away from Ordonez.

Nate Robertson, who took Kenny Rogers' spot in the rotation, allowed two runs and seven hits over 5.2 innings, exiting after Aaron Hill's two-run bomb.

Ivan Rodriguez, who was hitless in the opener, went 4-for-5 for the Tigers while Carlos Guillen added two RBIs.

[MLB]

Vladimir Guerrero The Destroyer

Vladimir Guerrero went 4-for-4, smoking the ball like it were batting practice.

The Rangers' biggest nemesis had a solo shot and two RBI singles to lead the Angels to an 8-4 victory Tuesday night. In 56 career games against the Rangers, Vlad is hitting .442, with 21 homers, 49 RBIs and 49 runs scored.

Gil Meche Outstanding in Debut

Over 41,000 fans gave Gil Meche (1-0) a well-deserved standing ovation Monday, forgetting all about the criticism they may have given the organization for dishing out a $55 million contract to the 28-year-old righty this offseason.

Meche went 7.1 solid innings, leading his new Kansas City Royals team to a 7-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox and an incredibly ineffective Curt Schilling.

After a shaky first inning, Meche gave up six hits and one run, striking out six and walking only one in the longest outing by a Royals Opening Day starter since Bret Saberhagen in 1988.

I've Got A Fevah and the Only Cure is More Baseball

American League Batting Champ Joe Mauer returned to the Twins' lineup Saturday following a stress reaction in his left leg, just in time for Minnesota's final spring victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 6-4 win in front of a sellout crowd of 8,029 at Hammond Stadium.

The All-Star catcher hit a three-run double in the third that scored Jason Bartlett, Luis Castillo and Nick Punto, who returned from a strained right groin.

Spring Fever: Padres Cream Rangers

Padres 24, Rangers 7

That's not a typo. The Texas Rangers actually allowed the San Diego Padres to score 24 runs on Tuesday.

Greg Maddux looks as ready as he'll ever be to begin the season, after his longest outing of the spring. The veteran gave up four hits and struck out five over six innings, while the Padres nailed a spring-high 25 hits.

Texas' pitching might need some work, however. With 30 mph gusts of wind, your starters better have some control and location. Kevin Millwood gave up 12 hits and nine earned runs over 4.1 innings and reliever Eric Gagne allowed four runs and five hits in one 20-pitch inning. Lefty reliever Ron Mahay got just one out while getting roughed up for seven runs of his own.

Russell Branyan had four hits and five RBIs for San Diego, including his fourth and fifth homers of the spring. Adrian Gonzalez and Terrmel Sledge each had three hits, with Gonzalez hitting his fifth spring homer and driving in three runs.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Astros @ Mets

Astros 11, Mets 3

New York Mets righty Mike Pelfrey allowed four runs and six hits in five innings of an 11-3 loss to the Houston Astros Sunday, the day he was notified by manager Willie Randolph that he had made the starting rotation. Pelfrey struck out two and walked one and before Sunday's start, had allowed only two earned runs in 14 innings.

Randolph announced that John Maine, Oliver Perez and Pelfrey will fill out the three remaining spots in the rotation behind Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez, but did not say what order they'd be in. This news comes one day after Pelfrey's chief competitor, Chan Ho Park, was moved to the bullpen.

Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge was hit on the right hand by a ninth-inning Matt Albers pitch and left the game, but tests revealed only a bruise. He was prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine, ice and a few days off.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez remained in the game after feeling some discomfort in his left foot and went three innings, allowing three runs - two earned - and four hits. He struggled with location, walking four batters and striking out two.

Mike Lamb went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the Astros.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Braves @ Phillies

Braves 7, Phillies 4

Kyle Davies, hoping to remain one of the Atlanta Braves' starting five, allowed three hits and a run over six innings in the Braves' 7-4 win over the Phillies. He walked one, struck out four and is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA through four spring starts.

Davies, competing with Mark Redman and Lance Cormier for the last two spots in the rotation, has changed his delivery up a bit on the advice of pitching coach Roger McDowell. The right-hander has been holding his arms low instead of over his head at the start of his delivery, adding more comfort while standing over the rubber.

After posting a 7-6 record as a rookie in 2005, Davies slumped to 3-7 with a 8.38 ERA last season after suffering a severe strain to his right groin on May 15th, missing 94 games following surgery.

Cormier is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and Redman has a 4.50 ERA in three starts - considered the favorite for the fourth spot in the rotation. Davies is making the choice difficult, however.

Brett Myers, who allowed six runs in 6.1 innings for the Phillies, said he was honored to get the ball for the April 2nd game. "It means a lot to be categorized with those guys, but any of our guys could be put in the ace spot and be able to perform. We have a good staff."

Newcomer to the Braves' relief corps, former Pirate Mike Gonzalez, struck out two in a scoreless inning after struggling earlier this spring with a 7.00 ERA.

In other news out of Philadelphia: right-hander Freddy Garcia and catcher Carlos Ruiz will both be examined by team physicians on Saturday after experiencing shoulder soreness Wednesday.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Cardinals @ Dodgers

Cardinals 13, Dodgers 0

Anthony Reyes pitched six innings and lowered his ERA to 0.56 Tuesday night in the St. Louis Cardinals' 13-0 whoopin' over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reyes, who beat Detroit's Justin Verlander in last year's World Series-opening matchup of rookie starters, allowed four hits, striking out one with one walk. Most impressively, he needed just five pitches in the sixth inning.

The Cards held the Dodgers to just six hits, and Chris Duncan hit his third longball in three games against Los Angeles. Preston Wilson doubled three times.

Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson, who is vying for the fifth rotation spot, allowed four runs and five hits in five innings, striking out one and giving up a home run to Yadier Molina with two outs and a runner on base.

The Dodgers have been outscored 27-1 in three straight losses, now.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Cubs @ Brewers

Cubs 11, Brewers 7

The Milwaukee Brewers' rookie third baseman, Ryan Braun, hit his fifth home run of the spring, tying for the Cactus League lead, but was sent back to minor league camp Monday after his team's 11-7 loss to a Chicago Cubs split squad.

As a 2005 first-round draft pick, he has a good bat, but some real shaky defense, committing his fourth throwing error in the seventh inning. Braun's five longballs came in four games - and he made a throwing error in each one. He will most likely begin the season as the everyday third baseman for AAA Nashville.

Cubs prospect Felix Pie had three hits to raise his spring training average to .370, Daryle Ward drove in four runs with a pair of two-run doubles and Jacque Jones hit a three-run homer to lead Chicago.

The Cubs scored five times in the first inning off Milwaukee prospect Yovani Gallardo. Pie's one-out triple in the fifth started a two-run rally.

Bill Hall hit a two-run homer for the Brewers.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Twins @ Phillies

Twins 4, Phillies 3

Johan Santana has struggled to find his changeup recently, but it's all there now. The American League Cy Young Award winner allowed just one hit in five shutout innings, helping the Minnesota Twins beat a Philadelphia Phillies split squad, 4-3 on Sunday. He walked three and struck out two, lowering his spring ERA to 0.64.

The reigning AL MVP, Justin Morneau, who ended his home run drought on Saturday, homered again for Minnesota and is 5-for-6 in his last two games.

The Phillies didn't bring any regular starters to Fort Myers other than outfielder Shane Victorino, who went 1-for-3 with a single, hitting .432 this spring.

Before the game, the Twins informed Denard Span, the likely heir apparent to Torii Hunter in center, that he had been optioned to AAA Rochester.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Cubs @ Mariners

Chi Cubs 9, Seattle 3

Alfonso Soriano had a triple and two singles in a 9-3 win over a Seattle Mariners split squad, all but proving he has what it takes to be the Cubs' everyday center fielder.

With Cha Seung Baek pitching, Soriano led off with a single, then took third when Jacque Jones doubled down the left-field line. After Baek struck out Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, Cliff Floyd, easing back into the game after an October surgery to remove bone spurs from his left heel, smacked one over the wall in right for his first home run of the spring.

The Mariners scored two runs against Cubs starter Ted Lilly in the second - one on an RBI single by Wladimir Balentien and the other on a throwing error by shortstop Cesar Izturis.

Ramirez hit his second homer of the spring, a two-run shot in the third inning against Baek, who pitched three innings, giving up seven hits and six runs, striking out four Cubs.

Lilly pitched 3.2 innings, giving up four hits and two runs - one earned - walking one with one strikeout.

Bryan LaHair was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk for the Mariners.

Injury Update: Kerry Wood hasn't pitched since Sunday and will miss at least a couple more days, according to Lou Piniella. He has a strain in his right triceps, an injury he suffered while overstriding on the mound during Sunday's game.

Mark Prior, also rehabbing from shoulder problems, will face minor-league hitters Friday in an intrasquad game. He has struggled through two spring starts, without the faintest idea whether he'll be ready for the Cubs' opener - which could mean no spot on the active roster.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Athletics @ Giants

Athletics 7, Giants 4

Armando Benitez, recovering from knee injuries, threw another scoreless inning with one strikeout in the San Francisco Giants' 7-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night. Benitez blew eight saves last season while dealing with arthritis in his knees and the wrath of fans in the Bay area.

The Giants tried to get rid of him this offseason, but his $7.6 million salary and bad knees made it impossible. If he shapes up, he could either close or be used for trade bait.

Speaking of knees, Oakland outfielder Milton Bradley messed up his right one while taking his base on a wild pitch. With outfielders Mark Kotsay and Bobby Kielty already on the DL, this is not something the A's can afford. Bradley remained in the game and scored on a double, but came out in the bottom half of the inning with some soreness in the knee.

Giants' starter Noah Lowry struggled with his control and mechanics, walking five batters in four innings and allowing three runs and three hits while striking out five.

Dan Haren struggled as well, allowing three runs, four hits and two walks in 3.1 innings with two wild pitches.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Reds @Pirates

Reds 9, Pirates 8

Eric Milton allowed four runs and seven hits, striking out three and walking one in 3.2 innings for the Cincinnati Reds in their 9-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

Eight Reds hurlers combined to strike out 10 hitters and walk three while reliever Todd Coffey fanned all three batters he faced.

The Reds scored four first-inning runs off of Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny, who has allowed 10 earned runs in only 6.1 innings this spring. Centerfielder Josh Hamilton, Rule 5 draft pick/recovering drug addict, singled home a run in the first inning, adding two more singles while improving his average to .538.

Gorzelanny finally settled down and held the Reds scoreless in his last two innings of work, striking out the side in the third inning.

With Cincinnati down 8-6 in the eighth, shortstop Juan Castro hit a two-run bomb off of Pirates reliever John Grabow. Jerry Gil doubled then scored the winning run.

Former Pirates reliever Brian Meadows retired Pittsburgh in order to earn his first save.

[MLB] | [MiLB]

Spring Fever: Magglio's Headache

You'd think with all of those luxurious locks, Magglio Ordonez's melon would always be protected.

Think again.

Maggs was smoked in the side of the head by a Josh Beckett breaking ball in the third inning of their exhibition game on Saturday, sending the Detroit slugger to the hospital.

This nearly sparked a brawl between Detroit and Boston, considering Beckett had already nailed new Tiger Gary Sheffield in the first inning, forcing him from the game to be treated at a hospital as well.

Eric Hinske's grand slam off Justin Verlander highlighted Boston's five-run first inning and perhaps fueled whatever fire there may have been. The reigning Rookie of the Year, who obviously struggled to keep the ball down, was roughed up for six runs on five hits and walked two batters, but didn't actually hit any.

Detroit reliever and avid moustache-sporter, Todd Jones, threw behind new Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew in the fifth, which finally cleared the benches and bullpens.

Players hung around near home plate, talked a whole lot of smack, and threw about 0 punches.

Jones was then tossed right along with Detroit manager, Jimmy Leyland.

Sox reliever Travis Hughes got in on the action too - hitting Chris Shelton with a pitch in the eighth.

After Detroit's 7-6 loss, Magglio could be seen sitting in the clubhouse with a bandage that covered most of his head, mumbling and groggy, but not drooling. He declined to comment.

[Detroit Tigers]

Spring Fever: Marlins @ Dodgers

Marlins 2, Dodgers 1

Derek Lowe and Anibal Sanchez, the two most recent owners of major league no-no's, were both sharp in the Florida Marlins' 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Each pitched three good innings, with Lowe allowing 1 hit and no runs off 10 batters while Sanchez allowed one run - a Nomar Garciaparra homer - struck out four and didn't walk a batter in his second spring start.


With #2 starter Josh Johnson out for at least two months with nerve irritation in his pitching arm, Sanchez is contending with Scott Olsen and Ricky Nolasco for the spot behind opening day ace Dontrelle Willis.

Miguel Cabrera was 3-for-3 with a two-run single as the Marlins scored two runs in the sixth inning.

[MLB] | [MiLB]