CC Sabathia pitched 8 2/3 innings and only gave up 1 ER in the 3-2 win over Ervin Santana and the Angels. A-Rod (10) and Cano (12) provided bombs to left and right. Dan Haren was supposed to start but was scratched with back-stiffness. I’m sure CC and the Yanks were happy not to face Haren.

In the pitching matchup of the day, neither Josh Becket or Trevor Cahill were anything special. Cahill lasted 7 innings and gave up 5 runs with 8K. Beckett lasted 6 and gave up 3 runs with 4K. Neither got a decision, as the game lasted til the 14th inning when JD Drew drove in Carl Crawford. Crawford was 4-7, scored 3 runs and stole his 8th bag. 

Miguel Cabrera (12) helped out Justin Verlander in the 9th with a 2-run shot to give the Tigers the win. Verlander tossed 8 strong, gave up 2 ER and had 7K.

Heath Bell notched his 7th straight save and has only given up 2 hits and 1 run during that stretch.

Joe Saunders pitched a gem against the Nationals (7IP, 2H, 0R, 5K) for his 3rd straight win. JJ Putz got his 17th save.

Things were looking good for Jair Jurrjens winning his 8th game, but it all fell apart in the 7th inning, when the Mets went on a 5-run rampage. The brighter storyline though is Dillion Gee, who is now 6-0! Gee shutdown the injured and struggling Braves offense to the tune of 7 innings, 4 hits and zero runs.

Yovani Gallardo, did win his league-leading 8th game (tie with Kevin Correia) and 6th win in a row. In the last 6 games, Gallardo has a 1.32 ERA and averaging 8.56 K/9.

The Rangers pitchers keep on winning in dominating fashion. Last night, Derek Holland pitched a shutout, only giving up 5 hits. For the 2nd straight night, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz both homered. The Rangers look for the sweep in Cleveland.

Madison Bumgarner still can’t get the run support he needs and is now 2-7 on the year. He pitched 7 innings and only gave up 1 earned run in the 2-1 loss to Jhoulys Chacin and the Rockies. Over the last 8 games, Bumgarner is 2-4, but sports an amazing 2.03 ERA and 7.27 K/9. Every one of those starts has been a “quality start”.

Rookie Jeremy Hellickson is out to prove he is one of the league’s elite pitchers. Hellboy won his 7th game of the year, holding Seattle to 3 hits and 1 run. He shutdown Cleveland in his previous start, only allowing 3 hits and no runs.

In a mini battle royal, the Dodgers topped the Reds 11-8 in 11 innings. Clayton Kershaw saw the brunt of the runs (6), but did strikeout out 9, giving him 96 and the most in the majors. Matt Kemp hit 2 dingers and drove in 6, putting him on top of the NL RBI board with Jay Bruce. Joey Votto hit his 8th homer of the year and although the power has yet to fully come into swing, he is leading the NL with a .341 average.

Today's pitching matchups to watch are: Chris Narveson @Anibal Sanchez, Roy Halladay @James McDonald, Jason Marquis @Ian Kennedy, Jordan Lyles @Mat Latos, Jason Hammel @Ryan Vogelsong, & Bartolo Colon@Joel Pineiro.