Indians 5, Diamondbacks 4

Moving the Needle: Kelly Johnson‘s triple ties the game, but Orlando Cabrera’s homer puts the Indians back ahead, +.404 WPA each. If there’s anything better than having a tie atop the WPA leader board, it’s having a big-time tie at the top. In the bottom of the eighth Johnson laced one into the gap in right-center, bringing around Wily Mo Pena all the way from first. That tied the game at four. A half inning later, with closer J.J. Putz on the mound, Cabrera laid into one and put it just over the wall in left, putting the Indians back ahead.

Notables

Lonnie Chisenhall: 2 for 4, 1 2B. He led off the fifth with the double down the right field line, and advanced to third on a single, but the Indians couldn’t bring him around to score. Then in the sixth he came up with runners on first and second in a tie game, and he grounded one past the diving Johnson at second to put his team ahead. That’s about as nice a debut as you can hope for. I think we’re all going to enjoy watching this Lonnie Chisenhall kid — if for no reason other than he has a fun name. Lonnie Chisenahll.

Asdrubal Cabrera: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 HR. He now has 80 fewer PA than 2010, but has four more doubles (20) and 10 more homers (13). ::pats self on back, Barry Horowitz style::

Also in this issue: Angels 4, Nationals 3 | Tigers 4, Blue Jays 2 | Cubs 7, Rockies 3 | Dodgers 15, Twins 0 | Padres 4, Rays 3 | Braves 3, Mariners 1 | Reds 5, Rays 0

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Tigers 8, Diamondbacks 3

Moving the Needle: Miguel Cabera’s two-run single gives the Tigers the lead, +.499 WPA. For the first six innings Jhonny Peralta’s homer stood as the only run. Then the Diamondbacks broke through for two runs, taking the lead. An inning later the Tigers would get it all back. A pair of two-out walks to load the bases is a bad sign and it is made all the worse when Cabrera is the man due up. On a 2-1 pitch he pulled one into left, bringing around two runners and giving his team the lead back. Cabrera’s hit was the first in a string of five straight singles that led to a big inning for the Tigers.

Notables

Jhonny Peralta: 3 for 4, 1 HR. The homer was mentioned before, but Peralta deserves mention for his two-hit, two-RBI day as well.

Joe Saunders: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. He takes a lot of crap, because 1) he was the most recognizable name in the Dan Haren trade last summer, and 2) he’s not good. He pitched well in this one, however, which gives good occasion to mention that Tyler Skaggs, not Saunders, was the centerpiece of the Haren trade.

Also in this issue: Orioles 7, Reds 5 | Mariners 2, Marlins 1 | Nationals 2, White Sox 1 | Rays 14, Astros 10 | Dodgers 3, Angels 2 | Royals 6, Cubs 3 | Brewers 6, Twins 2 | Yankees 6, Rockies 4 | Phillies 3, A’s 1 | Mets 8, Rangers 5 | Red Sox 4, Pirates 2 | Blue Jays 5, Cardinals – | Padres 4, Braves 1 | Giants 3, Indians 1

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Giants 2, Twins 1

Moving the Needle: Michael Cuddyer gives the Twins a fighting chance in the ninth with an RBI double, +.212 WPA. The Twins were getting absolutely nothing done off Tim Lincecum, but they finally broke through against closer Brian Wilson. Alexi Casilla walked to start the inning, and Cuddyer whaled a double into the left-center field gap, his third hit of the day. The hit scored Casilla and put the tying run in scoring position with none out. But Wilson took over from there, striking out Delmon Young before getting a fly out and a ground out to end the game.

Notables

Tim Lincecum: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K. That’s his third start of the season with at least 12 strikeouts.

Brian Duensing: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. It was a valiant effort, but when Timmy’s on you need to be perfect as well in order to match him inning-for-inning.

Also in this issue: Diamondbacks 5, Royals 3 | Nationals 1, Mariners 0 | Mets 4, A’s 1 | Cardinals 12, Phillies 2

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Again, sorry for technical difficulties with the graphs.

Angels 6, Marlins 5

Moving the Needle: Mark Trumbo’s single puts the Angels ahead in extras, +.361 WPA. While Trumbo’s single deserves attention, it was really a sequence in the late innings that defined this game. Down 4-3 with runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh, Hanley Ramirez drove in the tying run. The Angels took the lead back a half inning later on a double and a single, and then the Marlins got a Mike Stanton triple and a DeWayne Wise single to tie it back up in the next half inning. The ninth went by without incident, which gave the Angels an opportunity to strike in the 10th. Bobby Abreu started off with a walk, and, after advancing on a groundout, scored on Trumbo’s single that snuck by Hanley.

Notables

Mike Stanton: 3 for 5, 1 3B. Again, I ask why he is batting behind Greg Dobbs. Sometimes lineup order makes so little sense.

Howie Kendrick: 2 for 5, 1 3B. Speaking of batting order, he hit sixth while Vernon Wells hit fifth and Torii Hunter hit third.

Also in this issue: Padres 5, Red Sox 1 | Braves 5, Blue Jays 1 | White Sox 4, Cubs 3 | Yankees 4, Reds 2 | Reds 10, Yankees 2 | Indians 4, Rockies 3 | Diamondbacks 3, Royals 2 | Angels 6, Marlins 5 | Astros 5, Rangers 3 | Tigers 7, Dodgers 5 | Rays 6, Brewers 3 | Nationals 2, Mariners 1 | Mets 3, A’s 2 | Pirates 5, Orioles 4 | Phillies 4, Cardinals 0 | Giants 5, Twins 1

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Nationals 6, Mariners 5

Moving the Needle: Wilson Ramos’s three-run blast ends the game, +.913 WPA. Hooray for vertical WPA lines. The Mariners entered the bottom of the ninth with a 5-1 lead and Brandon League on the mound. An error started the inning, and a walk made things worse. But a double play seemed to put a damper on any potential rally. But three straight singles made it a 5-3 game, setting up Ramos, who hit a hanger a long way out to left-center to send the Nationals home winners.

Notables

Nationals offense: 7 for 31, 1 HR. They had three hits in the first eight innings, and four in the last one.

Adam Kennedy: 3 for 5, 1 2B. He continues to contribute, which ranks among the more unexpected developments of the season. Who would have thought that Dustin Ackley’s promotion would affect Chone Figgins rather than Kennedy?

Doug Fister: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K. At 99 pitches, do you think he wanted to come out for the ninth? Do you think that the result amplified that feeling?

Also in this issue: Padres 5, Red Sox 4 | Braves 5, Blue Jays 1 | White Sox 3, Cubs 2 | Marlins 5, Angels 2 | Rockies4, Indians 3 | Dodgers 6, Tigers 1 | Diamondbacks 7, Royals 2 | Brewers 5, Rays 1 | Rangers 5, Astros 4 | A’s 7, Mets 3 | Pirates 9, Orioles 3 | Phillies 10, Cardinals 2 | Twins 9, Giants 2

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Braves 2, Blue Jays 0

Moving the Needle: Tim Hudson picks himself up with a homer, +.336 WPA. The Braves managed just six hits in this game, including two doubles, but they just couldn’t cash in their runners. They were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position when Hudson came to bat in the seventh, with a runner on third and two outs. That’s when he took complete control of the game. On the first pitch he lined a shot out to left, giving his team a 2-0 lead.

Notables

Tim Hudson: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 16 GB. The Braves came up a little short with just six hits, but the Blue Jays managed only two all game. The only reason Hudson ran into any trouble at all was because of an error to lead off the second. In the third he retired the side on four pitches, inducing three ground balls. After the second, the Blue Jays didn’t put a single ball in the air. Even without the complete game it ranks among Hudson’s best starts of the year, and that doesn’t even factor in his offensive contribution.

Ricky Romero: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K. It wasn’t his best start, but Romero did nearly all he could to hold down the Braves. Unfortunately for him, it was Hudson’s night.

Also in this issue: Red Sox 14, Padres 5 | Cubs 6, White Sox 3 | Yankees 5, Reds 3 | Rockies 8, Indians 7 | Angels 2, Marlins 1 | Rangers 8, Astros 3 | Dodgers 4, Tigers 0 | Rays 8, Brewers 4 | Orioles 8, Pirates 3

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Cardinals 5, Royals 4

Moving the Needle: Skip Schymaker hits one for Albert, +.426 WPA. The Cardinals entered the ninth with a 4-3 lead, with the 8-pitcher-1 spots coming up. In one of those moments where we remember why we love baseball, Fernando Salas surrendered a homer to Alcides Escobar, who hadn’t hit one since September 4th of last season. It was a no-doubt shot, too, into the left field corner. Salas retired the next three straight, which came in handy the next inning when Schumaker slammed a sweet, delicious cookie over the wall in right-center. It was his first career home run off a left-handed pitcher (390 PA).

Notables

Albert Pujols: 3 for 3, 1 HR. That was his eighth homer in June. Of course, the story was the wrist injury he sustained. That could keep him out for a few weeks, which is just something that the Cardinals, now tied atop the NL Central, simply do not need.

Also in this issue: Red Sox 12, Brewers 3 | White Sox 8, Diamondbacks 2 | Indians 5, Pirates 2 | Braves 4, Rangers 2 | Twins 5, Padres 4 | Yankees 10, Cubs 4 | A’s 2, Giants 1 | Reds 2, Blue Jays 1 | Mariners 2, Phillies 0 | Tigers 9, Rockies 1 | Rays 1, Marlins 1 | Dodgers 1, Astros 0 | Orioles 7, Nationals 4 | Angels 7, Mets 3

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Twins 5, Rangers 4

Moving the Needle: Alexi Casilla walks off with a single, +.389 WPA. Trading homers back and forth worked for the Twins and Rangers, at least through eight innings. Josh Hamilton and Delmon Young got the ball rolling, homering in the first and then the second. Michael Cuddyer, however, struck gold when his three-run shot put the Twins up 4-1. A half inning later, the Rangers manufactured a pair, and then in the eighth tied it on, yes, a Nelson Cruz homer. Luke Hughes set up the walk-off in the ninth with a leadoff double, and with two outs Casilla drove him in with what would have been a double to the left field corner.

Notables

Delmon Young: 3 for 4, 1 HR. That’s his first homer since May 22nd. Even more troubling, he has only two doubles in the interim.

Nick Blackburn: 7.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 6 K. No, it wasn’t a great start, even though only two of the runs were earned (still don’t like the earned run rule). But it seems that every time I look at his pitching line he has five or six Ks in six or seven innings. Yet his strikeout rate is only barely above his career average. Confirmation bias ahoy.

Also in this issue: White Sox 9, A’s 4 | Rockies 9, Dodgers 7 | Tigers 4, Mariners 1 | Braves 3, Marlins 2 | Royals 3, Blue Jays 2 | Cardinals 9, Astros 2 | Twins 5, Rangers 4 | Mets 4, Brewers 1 | Red Sox 8, Yankees 3 | Cubs 4, Phillies 3 | Diamondbacks 2, Pirates 0 | Padres 7, Nationals 3 | Reds 3, Giants 0

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Normally I put the biggest WPA swing on top, but I’m making an exception here, because I enjoyed this one that much.

Brewers 7, Mets 6

Moving the Needle: Nyjer Morgan caps the late-inning madness with a walk-off double, +.389 WPA. If you have MLB.tv and a few minutes today, I suggest entertaining yourself by watching the eighth inning of this game. It started with a 2-1 Brewers lead, but ended in a 6-6 tie. That meant the Brewers had to battle back in their half of the inning. They finished that comeback in the ninth when Morgan doubled into the right field corner, scoring Craig Counsell. While that was an exciting and energizing end, the real story was in the eighth.

Notables

Randy Wolf: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K. He got out before it got ugly. That one run? He balked it in.

Ryan Braun: 3 for 4, 2 2B. One of those doubles drove in two in the eighth, bringing the Brewers to within two.

Prince Fielder: 2 for 3, 2 HR, 1 BB. The second homer drove in the tying runs in the eighth. It was a moonshot no-doubter — one of the simple pleasures in the life of a baseball fan. Those were his 16th and 17th homers, which now tie him with Jay Bruce, Carlos Quentin, Matt Kemp, and Curtis Granderson for third in the league.

Ronny Paulino: 4 for 4, 1 HR. His homer in the eighth put the Mets up big. The inning also included a Jose Reyes single and stolen base, and a Carlos Beltran RBI double.

Also in this issue: Rays 4, Angels 3 | Cubs 4, Reds 1 | Orioles 3, A’s 2 | Braves 3, Marlins 2 | Mariners 7, White Sox 4 | Astros 4, Cardinals 1 | Twins 3, Indians 2 | Blue Jays 9, Royals 8 | Phillies 2, Dodgers 0 | Red Sox 11, Yankees 6 | Pirates 3, Diamondbacks 2 | Rangers 7, Tigers 3 | Rockies 5, Padres 3 | Giants 3, Nationals 1

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Cardinals 7, Astros 4

Moving the Needle: Jake Westbrook helps his own cause with a three-RBI double, +.301 WPA. The Cardinals jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Lance Berkman smacked a two-run homer, but the Astros got both back when Carlos Lee did the same in the bottom half. That takes us to the fourth, when Westbrook came up with the bases loaded. He laced one into the gap, and although it didn’t get to the wall it was still deep enough to bring around all three runners (there were two out), giving the Cards a 5-2 lead, which was just the cushion they needed.

Notables

Albert Pujols: 1 for 4, 1 HR. That’s four straight with a homer for Albert.

Also in this issue: Rays 4, Angels 1 | Reds 8, Cubs 2 | Orioles 4, A’s 0 | Braves 1, Marlins 0 | White Sox 5, Mariners 1 | Indians 1, Twins 0 | Mets 2, Brewers 1 | Blue Jays 8, Royals 5 | Dodgers 6, Phillies 2 | Red Sox 6, Yankees 4 | Pirates 8, Diamondbacks 5 | Tigers 8, Rangers 1 | Padres 2, Rockies 0 | Nationals 2, Giants 1

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