Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That there have only been two complete-game shutouts pitched in the American League this year, and Zack Greinke owns both of them. Remarkably, Greinke did it again on Monday night, blanking the White Sox on six hits, striking out 10 and walking none.
In six starts this season, Greinke is 6-0 with an 0.40 earned-run average. In 45 innings, he's allowed 30 hits, with eight walks and 54 strikeouts.
Greinke has pitched well every time out, but he called this one "my favorite game of the year, if not ever."
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was sufficiently impressed.
"Best pitching performance I've seen in a long time by a major league pitcher," Guillen said. "He's got great stuff."From the Trainers' Room ...
Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel had to be carted off the field after crashing into the center field fence making a catch. Ankiel was on the field for about 10 minutes under the care of the Cardinals medical team. He gave a thumbs-up sign as he was taken off the field, indicating he was conscious.
By the Numbers ...
The Brewers beat the Pirates for the 16th time in a row, the longest such streak in the majors since the Diamondbacks beat the Reds 16 consecutive times from 2001 to 2003. The Brewers won in dramatic fashion, too. Ryan Braun, who was supposedly unavailable because of a sore back, had a two-run double to tie the game in the eighth, before Rickie Weeks hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the ninth. No team has won 17 games in a row against one opponent since at least 1990.
In Their Own Words ...
"It just comes and goes when it wants. It feels like someone kicked you in the damn side. I would be more than happy to demonstrate it on you. Just sign this waiver I already have printed up." -- Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who missed the game because of an inflamed colon. Griffey said he has had the problem in the past, and it usually lasts a day or two.
Advance Scouting...
Blue Jays lefty Brett Cecil, the team's top pitching prospect, will make his big league debut against the Indians (12:37 PM ET). Cecil, the 37th overall pick from the 2007 draft, will be the second highly-touted starter to make his debut for the Jays this year, following Ricky Romero. Cecil hasn't exactly forced his way to the majors. He was 0-3 with an 8.37 ERA in his first four starts at Triple-A this year.
