SPORTS N STUFF

TIME: 10:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: O.co Coliseum

The Detroit Tigers are certainly capable of scoring a lot of runs. They just hope to do it on a more consistent basis.

Coming off one of their best offensive performances of the season, the Tigers continue their four-game road set with the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

One night after being held to five hits in a 2-1 loss at Seattle, Detroit (16-15) matched a season high with 17 en route to a 10-6 win Thursday at Oakland. Miguel Cabrera and Andy Dirks each had four hits as the Tigers scored their most runs since a 13-12, 11-inning win over Boston on April 8.

Despite their lineup of big hitters like Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Delmon Young and Alex Avila, the Tigers are batting .255, and until Thursday ranked near the middle of the majors with 124 runs. They scored eight times in the third inning of the opener.

“We finally got it going,” said Cabrera, who had three RBIs. “Thats what we are looking for. Its not one guy. We scored a lot of runs, hopefully we can do it (Friday) and the rest of the season.”

Hitless in his previous 14 at-bats heading into the series opener, Cabrera was one of four Tigers who took extra batting practice Thursday. Hes batting .344 with 32 RBIs in 35 career games versus Oakland.

Dirks is 12 for 21 (.571) with two home runs and six RBIs in his last five games.

Detroit, though, has not won consecutive contests since a four-game run April 15-18.

“One night doesnt mean were out of our offensive woes, but thats a good sign for us,” manager Jim Leyland said. “It does get contagious. I do believe in that.”

After Max Scherzer pitched 6 1-3 strong innings, Detroits Rick Porcello (3-2, 4.91 ERA) tries for a third straight victory Friday.

The right-hander allowed one homer among four hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-1 win over Chicago on Sunday. After giving up 14 runs in 7 2-3 innings of consecutive losses to Texas and Seattle, Porcello has yielded four in 14 1-3 innings of the last two after working with pitching coach Jeff Jones to fine-tune his delivery.

“(Jones) sees a lot and hes extremely helpful when it comes to certain things like that in your delivery to consistently execute pitches,” Porcello told the Tigers official website.

Porcello is 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA in seven starts against the As, including 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA in four at Oakland.

He will try to contain ex-Tiger Brandon Inge, who hit his second grand slam in three games Thursday. Inge, who broke in with the Tigers in 2001 and was released by them April 26, is 5 for 15 with three homers and 12 RBIs in his last four games.

“Its been pretty impressive,” As manager Bob Melvin said. “Hes been coming up in big situations. Its very welcome.”

Tommy Milone (4-2, 4.42) hopes to avoid a third straight rough outing Friday when he faces the Tigers for the first time.

The left-hander was 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA before he allowed 13 runs in 9 2-3 innings while splitting his last two outings. Milone gave up five runs – four in the first inning – and a season-high four walks in five innings but still earned the win in a 9-5 victory at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

TIME: 07:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: PNC Park

The Pittsburgh Pirates havent given James McDonald much help this season.

He may not need a whole lot as the Pirates open this three-game series with the slumping Houston Astros at PNC Park on Friday night.

McDonald (2-1, 2.70 ERA) has been backed by two or fewer runs in five of his six starts, and hes yet to allow more than three runs in any of his outings.

The right-hander appears to be finally getting enough support to collect some victories. He received just two runs, but yielded one while striking out seven in 6 1-3 innings of Saturdays 3-2 win over Cincinnati. That came five days after he was backed with a season-high nine runs as he allowed three and fanned a career-high 10 to lead Pittsburgh (14-17) to a 9-3 win at Atlanta.

McDonald wasnt this effective last season when he went 9-9 with a 4.21 ERA.

“I really look forward to seeing the continuing evolution of this young man,” manager Clint Hurdle told the teams official website. “The growth he has exhibited in a years time is significant enough for you to be excited about it when he takes the mound.”

Hurdle may be excited to see McDonald take the mound against the Astros (14-17), who are hitting .195 with seven runs in losing three of four after compiling a .287 average with 14 homers over the previous 12 games – winning eight.

McDonald is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in five career starts versus the NL Central rival.

He may need to be prepared for another rough performance from his lineup, which has a .185 average with 15 runs while splitting the first six of this nine-game homestand.

The bats struggled again Thursday, mustering five hits in a 4-2 loss to Washington.

Andrew McCutchen has been one of the few bright spots with six hits in three games since returning from a bout with the flu. The center fielder leads the Pirates with a .330 average and 17 runs, and hes batting .327 with 12 RBIs in 15 home meetings with the Astros.

The Astros are trying to regroup after falling 5-3 to Miami on Wednesday.

Jose Altuve, 0 for 5 against the Marlins, has cooled significantly at the plate. The second baseman is 4 for 20 with one run in five games after hitting .409 with six extra-base hits – including two homers – seven RBIs and 11 runs in the previous 10.

Bud Norris (2-1, 4.58) is expected to get the ball as he tries to win back-to-back starts for the first time since June 2-8.

The right-hander turned in one of his best performances of the season Saturday, allowing an unearned run and three hits with four walks in six innings of an 8-2 win over St. Louis. Hes completed at least six innings in five of his six outings on the season.

“Ive been pitching deep into ballgames,” Norris told the teams official website. “I made a bigger stride last start getting through the sixth, and I know I really need to move that step and keep going forward.”

Norris is 3-4 with a 4.04 ERA in eight starts against the Pirates, going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in four at PNC Park.

TIME: 04:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Texas Rangers potent offense hadnt been terribly productive on the first two stops of the teams 10-game road trip.

All it took was a couple of games against their favorite pitching staff to inject some life into their bats – especially Josh Hamiltons.

The weather did more to stop Hamilton and the Rangers than the Baltimore Orioles, so now they get two chances Thursday to knock around Baltimore pitching after a rainout Wednesday forced a doubleheader.

Although they lost four of the first six on their trip to Toronto and Cleveland due in large part to a 4.67 ERA, the Rangers (20-10) didnt do a whole lot offensively either. They averaged 4.3 runs, batted .254 and hit four homers.

A couple of matchups with the Orioles (19-11) have made those numbers a very distant memory.

Hamilton homered in his final at-bat of Mondays 14-3 victory and went deep in his first two plate appearances Tuesday. He settled for a double in the fifth inning before homering in the seventh and eighth to become the 16th player in major league history with four homers – the first since Carlos Delgado on Sept. 25, 2003, for Toronto.

“Obviously its, other than being in the World Series, the highlight of my big-league career,” Hamilton said. “I was saying after I hit two Ive never hit three in a game before, and what a blessing that was. Then to hit four is just an awesome feeling, to see how excited my teammates got.”

Hamilton had a career-high eight RBIs and an AL-record 18 total bases in the 10-3 win.

“Amazing,” manager Ron Washington said. “Josh came out tonight, and he wasnt going to be denied.”

The Rangers slugger is batting .406 overall this season, and .447 (21 for 47) with seven homers and 21 RBIs in his last 11 games against Baltimore.

“The expectations and everything, you cant do much better than that,” Hamilton said Wednesday. “Honestly, I hadnt been nervous for a game in a long time but I was a little nervous (Wednesday). So maybe (the rainout) was a blessing in disguise.”

Hes not the only one putting up big numbers against Baltimore. Texas has outscored the Orioles 70-18 during seven consecutive wins in the series and is batting .378 with 16 home runs in those games.

The Rangers havent needed all this offense because starters Matt Harrison and Neftali Feliz have compiled a 2.77 ERA in the first half of this four-game set.

Thats a trend Colby Lewis (3-1, 2.97 ERA) hopes to continue in the first game Thursday as he tries to rebound from his first loss. The right-hander had his first poor start Friday at Cleveland, yielding six runs and 10 hits – two homers – over 6 2-3 innings in a 6-3 defeat. He surrendered more than one home run for the first time in 12 starts and had his personal six-game win streak snapped.

Lewis has made three starts against the Orioles since the start of 2010, going 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA. Mark Reynolds is 3 for 6 with a pair of homers off Lewis.

The Orioles have dropped two in a row after winning five straight but remain among the best teams in baseball.

Baltimores J.J. Hardy hit his third homer in as many games Tuesday and is 10 for 16 during that span.

Wei-Yin Chen (2-0, 2.76) takes the mound opposite Lewis following the worst of his five major league starts. After giving up four runs over 18 2-3 innings in his previous three outings, the rookie left-hander allowed four – three earned – and five hits with three walks in five innings at Boston on Friday.

Chen, who didnt receive a decision, threw 100 pitches and wasnt helped by a defense that committed three errors.

Tommy Hunter (2-1, 5.00) is scheduled to be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and pitch the second game, which will be his first start against the Rangers since they traded him to Baltimore on July 30.

The right-hander was sent to the minors after he struggled in a 9-6, 17-inning win at Boston on Sunday. He was pulled with one out in the fifth after surrendering five runs and eight hits.

The Rangers will counter with left-hander Derek Holland (2-2, 4.43), who is 0-2 with a 5.75 ERA in his last three starts. However, he turned in a strong performance Saturday, allowing one earned run in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-2 win in 11 at Cleveland.

Holland was impressive in his latest visit to Camden Yards on April 10, 2011, allowing five hits with six strikeouts in six innings of a 3-0 victory.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 8, 2012

LOS ANGELES — New Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson stepped up to a microphone set behind home plate and shouted: “Its time for Dodger Baseball!”

The Dodgers didnt disappoint.

Ted Lilly outpitched Barry Zito through six innings and Los Angeles beat the error-prone San Francisco Giants 9-1 on Monday night in the Dodgers first home game since changing ownership last week.

“It felt great. I think the fans were pretty excited to see Magic and all those guys sit in the owners seats,” said center fielder Matt Kemp, who caught the ceremonial first pitch from Brooklyn Dodgers great Don Newcombe.

“It was definitely a different atmosphere,” Kemp said. “Magics right by the on-deck circle, so I could probably give him a high-five whenever I want to.”

Lilly (4-0) allowed a run and four hits, walked two and struck out six. Its the first time the 36-year-old two-time All-Star has won his first four decisions of a season in a big-league career that began in 1999 with the Montreal Expos.

“Thats very surprising, because I know hes had some great years in some different places,” Kemp said. “Hes pitching really well right now. Hes doing a real good job of keeping hitters off-balance and making his pitches when he needs to, so were just trying to get him as many runs as we can.”

First baseman James Loney, 2 for 28 with seven strikeouts against Zito, wasnt in the starting lineup on his 28th birthday. But he came in for defense in the eighth, replacing Juan Rivera with the Dodgers ahead 4-1, and made a brilliant diving stop of Hector Sanchezs grounder up the line before tossing to Josh Lindblom at the bag to strand runners at the corners.

“We had the tying run up there and a pretty good hitter, and he made a great play there,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “If that ball gets by him, two runs are in and the tying run is at second. That turned the whole game around. The wheels just came off after that.”

The Dodgers tacked on five runs in the eighth against an injury-depleted Giants bullpen that was further undermined on Monday by the announcement of Guillermo Motas 100-game suspension for a second violation of baseballs drug policy. The rally included a two-run single by Andre Ethier, who leads the NL with 30 RBI.

Zito (1-1) gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. The hard-luck left-hander has a 2.21 ERA in six starts, but the Giants have totaled only five runs over his past three outings.

“I felt pretty good tonight. My fastball command wasnt too great, but everything else was all right,” Zito said. “There was just a lot of weird stuff going on out there tonight — infield hits, bunts — and it continued when I came out.

“Were pretty beat up as a team,” Zito added. “Obviously, were sustaining blow after blow right now, and losing Mota obviously was the latest blow. And it keeps on coming. But its a good test for us. We just need to have the momentum start to turn.”

Giants leadoff hitter Angel Pagan was 0 for 5 and didnt hit a ball out of the infield, ending his hitting streak at 20 games and leaving him tied with injured teammate Pablo Sandoval for the longest streak in the majors this season.

Kemp, who won his second Gold Glove last year, committed his first error of the season when he tried to short-hop Melky Cabreras leadoff single in the sixth and it got past him. Cabrera advanced on a wild pitch and scored the tying run on a single by Joaquin Arias, his fifth RBI in 10 games since getting recalled from Triple-A Fresno.

Kemp, who leads the majors with 12 home runs, was not in the starting lineup Sunday because of tight left hamstring — although he pinch-hit to extend his consecutivegames streak, which is currently at 394. He had two singles and a walk against Zito.

“I was just kind of taking it easy in certain situations and not trying to go too hard. I know it sounds bad, but Im just trying to be there for my team and help us win some games,” said Kemp, who went all out to track down Arias drive to the warning track in right-center in the second inning after a long run.

“I was just a little scared [to push the hamstring] because I dont want to feel that thing grab.”

Kemp greeted Steve Edlefsen with a double leading off the seventh and scored when the right-hander knocked down Riveras hard comebacker and threw the ball past third base trying to get Kemp. The Giants committed three errors overall, matching the Dodgers total. San Francisco has a major league-worst 33 errors.

Notes

Jackie Robinsons widow, Rachel Robinson, participated in the ceremonial first pitch. This was Ned Collettis 1,000th regular-season game as Dodgers general manager since taking the job in November 2005. He spent 11 seasons with the Giants, the last nine as assistant GM. Cy Young winners Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum will miss facing each other by one day because of the way the rotations are lined up. Kershaw will pitch Tuesday night against Ryan Vogelsong and Lincecum will go Wednesday night against Chad Billingsley. Before the game, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly announced that Kenley Jansen would replace Javy Guerra as his closer.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 8, 2012

PHOENIX — Lance Lynn wasnt at his best Monday night — just good enough for five scoreless innings and another victory.

The big, young St. Louis right-hander gave up three hits to become the majors first six-game winner and the Cardinals held on for a 9-6 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rafael Furcal hit the 30th leadoff home run of his career for St. Louis, the first of five home runs for the Cardinals on the night. Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday hit back-to-back homers to open the third off Joe Saunders (2-2). Allen Craig and David Freese hit home runs to start the seventh after Arizona had scored six times in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-6.

“It was nice for them to come out swinging the bats right from the top, a pretty good display of some power,” manager Mike Matheney said. “Then obviously, the ones we got later were a lot more valuable than what we thought they would be.”

Lynn (6-0), the first St. Louis pitcher to start the season with six wins since Bob Tewksbury in 1994, left with a 7-0 lead. Cody Ransom hit a two-run homer in the Diamondbacks rally.

“Were winning games while Im on the mound,” Lynn said. “Thats all that matters.”

Jason Motte gave up a pair of singles in the ninth but no runs for his fifth save in six tries.

Lynn struck out seven and walked four. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound 24-year-old has allowed six earned runs in six starts. It was his shortest outing of the season, and he acknowledged he had problems with his command.

“Tonight was a struggle,” Lynn said. “You know youre not going to have your best stuff every time out. Tonight I was able to battle through it.”

Saunders, who entered the game with a 1.24 ERA, allowed seven runs, six earned, on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.

“I just didnt have it,” he said, “plain and simple.”

The Diamondbacks, back from a 5-5 road trip, have lost three in a row and five of six. They have dropped eight of their past 10 at home.

“We havent played the way were capable of recently,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “If were going to beat this team were going to have to play a lot better.”

Furcal put St. Louis ahead to stay with a leadoff shot an estimated 441 feet onto the porch in left-center, just above the 413-foot sign. After two outs, Allen Craig singled, then scored on Freeses double into the left-field corner. The Cardinals made it 3-0 when Yadier Molina singled to right field. Justin Uptons throw to the plate was high and Freese slid under catcher Miguel Monteros tag.

Beltrans eighth home run, leading off the third, followed by Hollidays sixth home run of the season, put the Cardinals up 5-0.

They made it 7-0, with help of an unearned run, in the fourth. Tyler Green singled, then Montero threw the ball away on Lynns sacrifice bunt try. Furcal followed with an RBI single, then Holliday walked to load the bases. Reliever Brad Ziegler walked home the seventh run on four pitches.

Arizona broke through against reliever J.C. Romero, who faced five batters without an out in the sixth inning. Montero led off with a single, then Ransom hit his fourth home run of the season, a 452-foot shot into the left field seats. Lyle Overbay walked and Aaron Hill singled, then both scored on Ryan Roberts double. A.J. Pollack reached on an infield single, then Gerardo Parras bunt brought Roberts home to make it 7-5 with no outs.

Fernando Salas relieved Romero and retired the next two batters, but Monteros RBI singled up the middle cut the lead to 7-6.

Reliever Bryan Shaw gave up home runs to Craig and Freese to start the seventh as St. Louis stretched it to a three-run game.

Notes

St. Louis batters have hit back-to-back home runs four times this season. … The Cardinals Lance Berkman, on the DL with a left calf strain, says he expects to be activated on Friday. … The Diamondbacks were without first-base coach Eric Young because of the death of his father. Bullpen coach Glen Sherlock filled in at first base. … Upton batted second in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 14, 2010. He was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts before being lifted in a double switch after the fifth. … The Cardinals have scored in the first inning in each of their past seven games. … The Diamondbacks send ace Ian Kennedy (3-1, 3.23) to the mound Tuesday night against the Cardinals Jake Westbrook (3-2, 2.12). … Arizonas franchise record for coming from behind to win is six runs, accomplished six times. … The final seconds of the Phoenix Coyotes series-clinching NHL playoff victory against Nashville were shown on the Chase Field big screen.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 6, 2012

WASHINGTON — Other than an audacious steal of home, Cole Hamels had no problem shutting down the Washington Nationals.

Turns out, only his Philadelphia teammates batting performance could keep Hamels from his 11th complete game.

The left-hander gave up five hits in eight innings in the Phillies 9-3 victory Sunday night. He batted to lead off the ninth, then the Phillies batted around, scoring six runs, and Hamels was lifted for pinch-hitter John Mayberry when his spot came up the second time in the inning.

“When you start games and youre pitching well you want to finish them,” Hamels said. “But theres a window of time you have before you lose all ounce of strength and you get the stiffening up, and thats kind of what was happening.”

Hunter Pence hit a pair of two-run homers to help the Phillies snap a seven-game losing streak against Washington dating to last year and avoid a sweep in the three-game series.

Of more concern to Washington will be the status of right fielder Jayson Werth, who left after breaking his left wrist while attempting a sliding catch.

“Its a clean break,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “Hes going to be out for a while.”

Washington rookie Bryce Harper stole home in the first inning after being hit by Hamels, just the latest in an already growing list of accomplishments for the 19-year-old. Harper came up with two outs in the first and Hamels plunked him in the small of the back.

“I was trying to hit him. Im not going to deny it,” Hamels said. “Thats something I grew up watching, thats kind of what happened, so Im just trying to continue the old baseball because I think some people are kind of getting away from it. I remember when I was a rookie, the strike zone was really, really small, and you didnt say anything because thats the way baseball is. But I think, unfortunately, the leagues protecting certain players and making it not that old-school, prestigious way of baseball.

“Its just, Welcome to the big leagues, ” Hamels said.

Harper quickly shrugged off the sting, going from first to third on Werths single to left. When Hamels made a pickoff throw to first, Harper broke for home and slid in under the tag.

“I think he kind of did that for me,” Hamels said.

It was Harpers first stolen base in his eight-game major league career.

In the third inning, Zimmermann hit Hamels in the left leg with one out and a runner on first when Hamels squared to bunt. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher warned both dugouts.

After the game Harper didnt answer directly when asked if he thought Hamels was trying to hit him, but Johnson thought the move was unintentional.

“I never think its on purpose. Why would you hit him?” Johnson said. “I didnt think our guy was on purpose either.”

Hamels (4-1) cruised after Harpers run. He didnt allow more than one base runner in an inning after the first, and struck out eight against one walk.

The game was close until Philadelphias six-run ninth inning, including Pences second home run of the night and sixth this season.

“Its a game we really needed to get,” Pence said. “We did a good job today of finding a way to score runs.”

Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann (1-3) pitched into the seventh inning, giving up three runs and seven hits and walking four batters as the NL East-leading Nationals ended a four-game winning streak.

Zimmermann had not given up more than one earned run in any of his first four starts this season, but has allowed six over his past two outings. He also had not walked more than two batters in 30 consecutive starts coming into Sundays game.

Werths injury came in the sixth inning. The right fielders glove got caught underneath him and bent his wrist backward trying to grab Placido Polancos sinking liner. Werth stayed on the ground briefly before throwing the ball back to the infield. He walked off holding his left wrist.

Werth missed the entire 2006 season after an injury to his left wrist which placed his career in jeopardy. He broke the wrist in spring training 2005 with the Dodgers and played 102 games that season before undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in the wrist.

Notes

Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder) took batting practice on the field before the game as he prepares to come off the disabled list. “It felt good,” he said. “If everything continues to feel like it felt today, Ill play Tuesday.” The only other steal of home by a Nationals player was April 20, 2011, when Ian Desmond stole home against St. Louis as part of a double steal. Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said LHP Cliff Lee (strained left oblique muscle) will come off the disabled list and pitch Wednesday against the Mets. Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green and Basketball Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley were among six people inducted into the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 6, 2012

BOSTON — Chris Davis had a much better day as a designated pitcher than as a designated hitter.

In the first major-league game since 1925 in which both teams put a position player on the mound, Davis overcame an awful day at the plate by pitching two scoreless innings and getting the win as the Baltimore Orioles outlasted Boston 9-6 on Sunday in 17 innings.

Davis went 0 for 8 as the DH, striking out five times and grounding into a double play. Yet in a season full of surprises for the Orioles, the first baseman by trade delivered the biggest one yet in his pro pitching debut.

“I was like Sweet! I get to try something different today — because hitting aint working,” Davis said. “Basically, that was my first thought.”

Adam Jones hit a three-run homer in the top of the 17th off Darnell McDonald, an outfielder the Red Sox turned to once their bullpen was empty.

Boston then got two runners on to start the 17th against Davis (1-0). With a fastball in the mid-80s mph, he struck out All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez and got McDonald to ground into a double play to end a game that took 6 hours, 7 minutes.

The last time two teams brought in position players to pitch in the same game was Oct. 4, 1925, when Hall of Famers Ty Cobb of Detroit and George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns closed out the second game of a doubleheader on the last day of the season, STATS LLC said.

The last time any position player wound up as the winning pitcher was May 25, 2011, when Philadelphia infielder Wilson Valdez threw one scoreless inning in a 19-inning victory against Cincinnati.

“I was just out there trying to throw strikes and not blow the game,” Davis said. “In a game like that when everybodys battling, trying to get a win, both teams are throwing everything they got at each other. You dont want to blow it.”

Baltimore and Boston each used eight pitchers before going to Davis and McDonald.

“Just when you think youve seen it all, some days you come out here and just assume the position. That was fun,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “It was a long day, but you like to get something good out of it.”

J.J. Hardy had a career-high five hits, including two home runs, as Baltimore completed its first sweep at Fenway Park since 1994 and won its fifth in a row. The shortstop also made a relay to the plate that cut down the potential winning run to end the 16th.

Robert Andino hit a three-run shot for the Orioles, who improved to a major league-best 19-9.

Boston has lost five straight. McDonald had scored the tying run as a pinch runner in the eighth, and took the final swing against Davis.

“He had pretty good stuff. He had a lot of life on his balls — more than I expected,” McDonald said. “I dont know what was worse — giving up the three-run home run or grounding into a double play to end the game.”

Said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine: “He tried to throw it over and got hit out of the park.”

“I wish there was another option,” he said.

Boston rookie Will Middlebrooks hit his first major league home run, a grand slam that tied it at 5 in the fifth inning. Gonzalez finished 0 for 8.

Davis was having a tough day when Showalter told him to go to the bullpen and begin warming up.

“I waited as long as I could to even break it to Chris,” he said. “You dont put somebody in that position. Its like asking somebody if they want to walk somebody or not. Its not their decision, its yours.”

The first batter Davis faced was Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who struck out. After Middlebrooks flied out, Marlon Byrd reached on an error by third baseman Wilson Betemit.

Mike Aviles followed with a double, but Byrd was thrown out at the plate. Jones ran down the ball in left-center field and threw a strike to Hardy, and his relay was in time as Byrd barreled into catcher Matt Wieters.

McDonald, who pitched one inning last year in his pro mound debut and gave up two runs, took over in the 17th and walked Betemit, who was thrown out trying to steal.

Hardy doubled, Nick Markakis walked and Jones hit a drive over the left-field wall.

Boston made it 6-6 in the eighth when McDonald, pinch running for David Ortiz, scored on a sacrifice fly by Saltalamacchia.

Notes

The game was Bostons longest at home since an 18-inning victory against the Tigers on June 5, 2001. The Red Sox placed RHP Aaron Cook on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee laceration and activated LHP Andrew Miller from the DL. Middlebrooks is the first Red Sox player whose first major- league home run was a grand slam since Daniel Nava against Philadelphia on June 12, 2010. The Red Sox are last in the AL East, with the New York Yankees in fourth. This is the first time since the current division format began in 1994 that the Red Sox and Yankees were in the bottom two spots past May 1, STATS LLC said.

TIME: 04:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: AT&T Park

TIME: 08:35 P.M. EST
VENUE: Petco Park

Though it has not been easy and their closer situation continues to be a concern, the Miami Marlins should be happy with the start to their trip west.

Coming off a wild extra-inning victory, the Marlins look for a season-high fifth consecutive win Saturday night against the San Diego Padres.

After opening the trip with three straight one-run victories in San Francisco, Miami (12-14) needed 12 innings to snap an eight-game skid to San Diego with a 9-8 win Friday night. Omar Infantes double drove home Hanley Ramirez with the winner as the Marlins scored one more run Friday than they did in three games against the Giants.

Thanks to a three-run homer from Ramirez and a two-run shot from Giancarlo Stanton, Miami jumped out to a 5-0 first-inning lead. However, San Diego (9-18) scored six times in the third to take a one-run lead. The Marlins added two in the seventh to go ahead 8-7, but ex-Padre Heath Bell blew his fourth save in seven chances by allowing a run, two hits and two walks in the ninth.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said prior to the series that he intended to stick with Bell as his closer, but that could change after the veteran failed to hold a lead for the second time in as many appearances.

“Bell continues to struggle. Well check (Saturday) to see about the situation,” Guillen said “We have to do something about it. We cant be waiting anymore.”

Infante has posted consecutive three-hit games, raising his average to .325. Hes 6 for 17 (.353) with four RBIs in his last four against the Padres.

The Marlins hope scheduled starter Mark Buehrle (1-4, 3.34 ERA) can bounce back after he allowed seven runs – four earned – in a season-low five innings of a 9-5 loss to Arizona on Monday. The veteran left-hander had given up eight runs over his first four outings.

Buehrle did not struggle in his only previous appearance against the Padres on June 11, 2005, when he allowed seven hits and struck out six in 7 2-3 scoreless innings of a 2-1 loss at Petco Park while with the Chicago White Sox.

San Diego hands the ball to Buehrles former Chicago teammate Clayton Richard (1-3, 5.12), who looks to avoid a fourth straight losing start.

Richard has settled down some by allowing six runs in 13 1-3 innings of his last two starts after yielding 16 – 12 earned – in his previous two. The left-hander gave up four runs in seven innings of a 4-1 loss at San Francisco on Sunday.

“The ball-strike ratio wasnt great early but then he started throwing a lot of strikes after that,” manager Bud Black told the Padres official website.

Richard, who lost four consecutive starts twice in 2011, gave up five hits in six innings of a 3-0 win June 25, 2010, in his only previous appearance against the Marlins.

Yonder Alonso had four hits Friday for the Padres, who were coming off two straight wins over Milwaukee and their first winning series at Petco Park in 2012.

“It was a pretty long game but we were battling,” said Alonso, who has gone 13 for 32 (.406) in his last eight games to raise his average from .196 to .273.

San Diego also has an issue at closer after Huston Street left Friday with a strain near his pitching shoulder. The right-hander will undergo an MRI on Saturday.

“I dont think its major,” said Street, who has an 0.93 ERA and converted all four of his save chances this season.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 5, 2012

SAN DIEGO — Ozzie Guillen hardly had the look of a manager whose team had just won its season-best fourth straight game.

From winless ace Josh Johnson to struggling closer Heath Bell, the Miami Marlins have major issues.

“Theres a lot going on,” Guillen said. “We have a lot of concerns.”

Still, after blowing an early five-run lead, Miami managed to pull out a wild game Friday night when Omar Infante doubled in the go-ahead run in the 12th inning for a 9-8 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Infante doubled to left-center off Josh Spence (0-1) with one out to score Hanley Ramirez, who led off with a walk. It was Infantes third hit and second RBI of the game.

Ramirez hit a three-run homer in a five-run first inning, and Giancarlo Stanton also connected.

Steve Cishek (4-0), the seventh Marlins pitcher, threw three scoreless innings for the win. With a runner on second, Jesus Guzman lined out to Infante at second base to end it.

Padres closer Huston Street left the game in the 10th with a strain near his pitching shoulder. The right-hander will undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury.

“I dont think its major,” Street said. “Its not in my shoulder. Its more in my lat, up in the armpit. I think thats a positive sign.”

The Padres scored one run in the ninth off Bell, their former closer, to send the game into extra innings.

Guzman led off the inning with a pinch-hit double. Cameron Maybin tied the score at 8 on a double to right before Bell got out of a bases-loaded jam.

Bell signed a $27 million, three-year contract to join the Marlins in the offseason. He has four blown saves in seven chances.

When asked about Bells status as the teams closer, Guillen said: “Bell continues to struggle. Well check [Saturday] to see about the situation. We have to do something about it. We cant be waiting anymore.”

Ramirez and Stanton each homered in the first to stake Miami to a 5-0 lead. It was gone by the third.

After twice falling behind by one run, the Marlins scored twice in the seventh to take an 8-7 lead on RBI singles by Greg Dobbs and Infante.

The Marlins, who have had trouble generating offense, got off to a fast start when Ramirez hit a three-run shot with no outs in the first off Anthony Bass. Stanton followed two batters later with a two-run drive, a 425-foot rocket into the Padres bullpen for a 5-0 lead.

Johnson escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half but couldnt get out of trouble in the third when the Padres scored six times, including a two-out, bases-loaded triple by Bass for his first major-league hit.

Johnson is 0-3 in six starts and his ERA rose to 6.61. He allowed six runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings.

“When you throw the ball over the middle of the plate, its going to get hit,” Johnson said. “You have to set guys up and not throw the ball in the middle of the plate. Terrible.”

Johnson issued a leadoff walk to Will Venable, who scored on Chase Headleys one-out double. Nick Hundley followed with a two-out double and scored on Orlando Hudsons single. After consecutive walks, Bass sliced a ball to right field that scooted past Stanton all the way to the wall to give the Padres a 6-5 lead and knock Johnson out of the game.

The early exit taxed Miamis bullpen. Six relievers combined to allow two runs and nine hits over 9 1/3 innings.

Bass gave up six runs and six hits — just two after the first — in six innings. He had three walks, seven strikeouts, two wild pitches and a balk.

“Anthony did a great job of righting the ship, making pitches as he went along,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “A lot of pitchers cave in there, say its not their night, but not Anthony, which is really a great sign for him.”

Notes

The Padres said Bass became the first San Diego player to get his first hit with a three-run triple, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. Bass also became just the second Padres pitcher to hit a three-run triple. San Diego LHP Cory Luebke (strained left elbow) had an MRI on Wednesday but the Padres still have not revealed the results. Luebke (3-1, 2.61 ERA) met with team doctors and general manager Josh Byrnes before the game. Luebke was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to April 28. Marlins LF Logan Morrison was held out of the starting lineup with a sore right knee. Morrison walked as a pinch-hitter in the 10th. The Padres extended their contract with Double-A San Antonio through the 2014 season. Miami LHP Mark Buehrle (1-4, 3.34 ERA) will oppose Padres LHP Clayton Richard (1-3, 5.12) on Saturday night.