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 were two particularly thrilling games Monday -- of totally different ilk.
The Cardinals and Brewers, who entered the game tied for first in the NL Central, played a classic pitchers' duel. St. Louis' Chris Carpenter (0.00 ERA in 23 innings this season) took a perfect game to the seventh, but Yovani Gallardo matched the zeros. Then Milwaukee scored a run off Kyle McClellan in the bottom of the 10th to win 1-0.
Later, the Indians rallied from a 10-run deficit against the Rays, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the ninth for an 11-10 win. Cleveland benefited from five walks in the ninth inning, including three straight by Jason Isringhausen before Victor Martinez snapped a 0-for-18 slide with the game-winning, two-run single.
"I definitely wasn't going to be an easy out for him, especially when he's having trouble throwing strikes," he said.Almost lost in Tampa Bay's collapse was the shaky performance of ultra-prospect David Price, called up to replace Scott Kazmir in the rotation. Price walked five in 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, striking out six and throwing 100 pitches.
From the Trainer's Room ...
Pirates closer Matt Capps was struck near the elbow by a liner from the Cubs' Geovanny Soto and could be headed for the DL.
Results of the X-rays are expected today.Numbers Game ...
"We're hoping for the best," [manager John] Russell said.
With one out in the ninth, Soto returned a 94-mph fastball with such velocity -- "probably 110 mph," by pitching coach Joe Kerrigan's estimate -- that Capps had time only to pull his arms inward to protect himself. The ball caromed squarely off the elbow and all the way to the railing by the Cubs' dugout on the third-base side.
Capps staggered off the mound, wobbling and circling as athletic trainer Mike Sandoval and Russell rushed onto the field.
"It was like shock-trauma," Kerrigan said.
In a 17-3 walloping of the Angels, the White Sox matched their run total from the previous five games. Chicago's 24 hits came after going 12 straight games without reaching double figures.
In Their Own Words ...
"He's growing all the time. He's growing as a professional, he's growing as a pitcher, and you like to see that. He's doing less and less overthrowing. He's not like a bull in a china shop. He's staying poised, and he's just continuing to pitch instead of trying to overthrow it 100 mph." – Detroit manager Jim Leyland on ace Justin Verlander, who on Monday was dominant for the sixth straight start. In that span, Verlander is 5-0 with a 0.85 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings.
Advance Scouting ...
Zack Grienke faces a pitcher about as hot as he is as the Tigers visit the Royals (8:10 PM ET). Detroit's Edwin Jackson -- an overlooked offseason pickup that has worked out quite well -- has won three straight starts, with a 1.64 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 22 innings. Over the same time, Greinke is 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 21 innings.
