Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That Alfonso Soriano and Fernando Tatis each hit game-winning grand slams, but they've got nothing on Josh Willingham. The Nationals' outfielder hit two grand slams -- in consecutive innings, no less -- to almost single-handedly beat the Brewers.
Willingham became just the 13th player to hit two grand slams in one game, the first since Bill Mueller did it for Boston in 2003. With eight RBI, Willingham tied the franchise record set by Tim Wallach with the Expos in 1990.
More dramatic but less historic, Soriano hit a slam in the 13th inning to give the Cubs a 5-1 victory over the Astros. It was the first walk-off grand slam for the Cubs since 1993. Tatis hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth, snapping a tie in the Mets' victory over the Rockies. The last pinch-hit grand slam for the Mets was in 2000.
Oddly enough, Tatis is one of the other 12 players to hit two grand slams in a game. Tatis hit both of his in the same inning, on April 23, 1999.
From The Trainer's Room ...
Braves' right-hander Tim Hudson, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, pitched four scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday night. Presumably Hudson is only a couple minor-league starts away from being ready for the majors, but the Braves' rotation is set with Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez.
"Obviously we have a lot of great pitchers on our club," Hudson said. "Hopefully I fit in there somewhere."Numbers Game ...
Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate for the ninth time in his career on Monday at Tampa, most among active players, according to Baseball-Almanac.com. Eddie Murray holds the all-time record, at 11. Mickey Mantle did it 10 times.
In Their Own Words ..."I can hardly remember the last time we won a game. When you're losing like that, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. You can't sleep, and you don't want to eat. You lose your appetite. I'm eating something tonight." -- Reds manager Dusty Baker, whose team snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Padres.
Advance Scouting ...
Ryan Dempster returns to the mound for the Cubs, facing the Astros at Wrigley (8:05 PM ET). Dempster came back about a week earlier than expected, after breaking his right toe during an on-field celebration. The Astros will counter with Roy Oswalt, who is 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA over his past 10 starts. The Cubs have won five games in a row.
