Starting Five: Anthony Swarzak Makes It Look Easy In Debut

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That Anthony Swarzak had a pretty nice big-league debut. Swarzak pitched seven scoreless innings, becoming the first pitcher in Twins history to pitch at least seven innings in his debut without allowing a run.

Swarzak gave up just five singles and two walks. He struck out three. What's more, he did it all in front of 40,457 -- many of them Brewers fans from neighboring Wisconsin. It was the largest crowd at the Metrodome since opening day.

"That's pretty special to step into the big leagues with that performance in a jam-packed stadium," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Swarzak, a second-round pick in 2004, is probably going to be rewarded for his performance with a trip to the Twins bullpen (better than the minors). He was filling in for Glen Perkins, who is expected off the disabled list next week.

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From the Trainer's Room ...
Just when the Reds got first baseman Joey Votto back in the lineup from an ear infection, they lost second baseman Brandon Phillips. Phillips jammed his right thumb fielding a grounder in the eighth inning. The injury to Phillips forced the Reds to use catcher Ramon Hernandez at third base late in the game.

Numbers Game ...
Cardinals starters have allowed one run in 36 2/3 innings during the team's five-game winning streak, including Kyle Lohse's eight scoreless innings against the Royals. The Cardinals have pitched two consecutive shutouts against the Royals, who haven't scored in 24 innings.

In Their Own Words ...
"Right now, I'm probably the happiest .200 hitter in baseball," Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, after his ninth-inning, game-tying two-run homer. Rodriguez, who missed the first month of the season recovering from hip surgery, has only 10 hits in 49 at-bats, a .204 average, but seven of them are homers.

Advance Scouting ...
The Padres will be going for their first nine-game winning streak since 2006. They'll send Chris Young to the mound against the Cubs' Ted Lilly (4:05 PM ET). It's a big game for the Cubs, too, because they are trying to snap a six-game losing streak.