Yankees 11, Red Sox 9

I hate both of the teams featured in this game, no surprise but the two big names leading to the walkoff I hate even more.  Jonathan Papelbon has actually pitched a lot better this year than last but last night was a bad bad night for him.  He blew his first save of the year when the Redsox had a 9-7 and he gave up a 2-run HR to A-Rod no less.  Those are the two guys in baseball I have more than a tough time rooting for, EVER.  Once Papelbon blew the save in NY, you just knew he was going to implode and he did just that because two batters later (after Cano reached) Papelbon gave up a 2-run walk off job to Marcus Thames who is batting .365 in limited action this year.  The Red Sox are pretty bad this year and it stems from pitching, they are now 19-20 on the year while the Yankees continue to roll but are trailing the Rays by 2 games still.  This was Phil Hughes worst start of the year for the Yankees after he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings, he’ still a beast though.

Cubs 4, Rockies 2

Aramis Ramirez is flat out playing like garbage this year.  He’s been traded, cut, punched kicked and traded again in my fantasy league and deservingly so with a .175 BA but on Monday night he delivered with a 2-run walk off HR in Wrigley Field.  Ramirez was actually responsible for driving in 3 of the teams 4 runs but this game was more of a pitchers duel throughout.  Aaron Cook of the Rockies gave up 2 runs (1ER) in 7 innings of work and Cubs starter Randy Wells gave up 1 ER in 6.2 IP.  The Cubs have really been underacheiving the entire year and like I said with the Red Sox it’s all because of starting pitching. 

Rays 4, Indians 3

WHAT A WALKOFF!  A squeeze bunt by Jason Bartlett in the 11th inning put the Indians down for good on Monday night.  After a controversial call earlier in the inning where Rays catcher Jaso (not Jason, it’s his last name anyway) was called safe on a slow roller to shortstop.  Slow motion replay later indicated he was out by half a step.  Jaso later came around to score the winning run as he moved up to 3rd on a Kapler shot to the gab.  I don’t know the exactly number but out of the Rays 27 wins they probably won 12 of those games from the 7th inning or later.  I’m not quite sure if you would normally says that’s a good team for never giving up or a bad one for always being down but I’m going to go with a GREAT team.  The Rays ‘pen pitched 5 innings of one hit ball and no runs given up.  They are now a Major League best 27-11.

Dodgers 6, Astros 2

Another Astros pitchers falls to 2-5.  Wandy Rodriguez is now 2-5 after pitching 6.2 innings and giving up just one earned run, unfortunately for him he gave up 3 unearned as well.  The Dodgers have been without Andre Ethier for 3 games now and they are 3-0 and overall they have won 8 straight.  Rookie John Ely pitched his way to his 2nd career win giving up 2 runs in 7 innings of work and striking out 8 Astros.  The Dodgers production will be credited to the Blakes’ this game.  Blake Dewitt and Casey Blake, who are both batting under .250, had two RBI a piece.  The Dodgers are now 21-17 but with Either’s return in question do they have enough to make a run at the Padres and Giants?  Only time will tell.

-Jason