Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That Milton Bradley has often been called a five-tool player. Guess one of those tools isn't math.
The Cubs outfielder had a bad day. He caught a one-out fly ball in the eighth inning and then flipped the ball into the stands as a runner scored from third on a sacrifice fly. Bradley probably had no play at the plate, so the error was more strange than costly.
"I wasn't embarrassed," Bradley said. "I've done a whole lot of things to be embarrassed about. That's water under the bridge. The run was going to score, the fan got a souvenir. Worst case scenario."
Bradley also lost a ball in the sun and committed a baserunning gaffe, running back to third into an out. Bradley, who also had a two-run double in the game, was in a good mood after the game.
"Everybody's got to relax," he said. "We have a ton of media here, everybody has expectations that we're supposed to run away with the division. It's June, and we're [three] games out. We're right there. We talked about it today -- just have fun, relax. It's hard to get me to smile, but I had to smile today. You can't keep taking yourself too seriously. Just chill, have fun."From the Trainers' Room...
Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett, who has been out because of a strained right quad, began a rehab assignment at Class A Charlotte, starting at designated hitter. He is scheduled to play in the field on Saturday and Sunday and then be re-evaluated. The Rays got more good news on the injury front when Scott Kazmir got through a successful 44-pitch simulated game. Kazmir (left quad strain) is expected to start a rehab assignment next week.
By The Numbers...
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols became the ninth player to hit at least 20 homers in each of his first nine seasons. That's a select group, but he's likely to join an even more select group later this season. His own group, actually. No one has ever hit 30 homers each of his first nine seasons.
In Their Own Words...
"You asked the wrong guy about Wrigley Field. I'd rather play on the moon than Wrigley Field.'' -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, speaking in Milwaukee about the ballpark the Sox will visit on the North Side of Chicago next week.
Advance Scouting...
The Rockies will try to stretch their winning streak to 10 games, facing the Mariners at Coors Field (8:10 PM ET). Jason Marquis (8-4, 3.98) takes the mound for the Rockies, looking to become the first nine-game winner in the National League. For the Mariners, former closer Brandon Morrow will make his first start.
