Major League Baseball, June 19

June 19, 2006

A brief look around major league baseball. ..

Philadelphia 8, Tampa Bay 5

The Philadelphia Phillies snapped a five game losing streak, defeating Tampa Bay 8-5 between a Father's Day crowd of 42,658  earlier today at Citizens' Bank Park in Philadelphia. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard homered and knocked in four runs, and Phils' closer Tom Gordon, in a game for the first time in over a week, pitched 1 2/3 shaky innings for his 19th save. The Phillies are 15-5 in games in which Howard hits the long ball. Tampa OF Carl Crawford was 2 for 5 with a homer and 2 RBI for the losing Rays.

With the Phillies getting farther away from the Mets in the NL East, the Phils are likely to start concentrating on the NL wild card race if not now, very soon.

Washington 3, N.Y. Yankees 2

Further south, Washington Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk off 2 run shot in the bottom of the 9th to lift Washington over the visiting New York Yankees, 3-2. Zimmerman, whose hitting has gotten hotter with the temperatures, hit the game winner off of Yankees losing pitcher Chien - Ming Wang spoiling his major league debut

Oakland A's notch tenth win
Oakland 5, L.A. Dodgers 3

Oakland right-hander Joe Blanton, pitching into the ninth inning, helped the streaking Oakland A's to their tenth straight win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-2 earlier today. Blanton gave way to Oakland reliever Huston Street, who pitched an inning for his 17th save. Oakland center-fielder Jay Payton and infielder Marco Scutaro each had three hits for the A's, who edged into first place in the AL west over Texas.

Cubbie Blues Continue
Detroit 12, Chicago Cubs 3

Chicago's Mark Prior made his season debut after a series of injuries that left him sidelined. The Detroit Tigers gave him a rude welcome, as they knotched 6 runs in the first inning on 3 homers. Jose Guillen had a 3-run homer in the first inning to contribute to the Tigers route. Prior didn't last 4 inning and gave up 7 earned runs. The Cubs lost their 6th in a row and are only one game ahead of the cellar Pirates. Detroit sweeps the Cubs and now holds a 1.5 game lead over Chicago's American League team, the White Sox.