NL East Daily Recap from 7-30-09

Sanchez pitches Giants past Phils

McCann hits the winning shot

The Braves needed to at least salvage one game in this series to stay in reach of the wild card and the small possibility of the division.  By the eighth inning they were up 3-1 and looked on their way to that salvaged game.  It seems at that point was when the Braves skipper must have realized he left Vazquez in too long.  Vazquez went 7.1 innings but was charged with three runs in a no decision as he got a no decision.  Lucky for him, Brian McCann hit a three run home run in the 10th inning and that proved to be the difference as the Braves won the game 6-3.  Peter Moylan(3-2) worked the bottom of the ninth inning giving up a single hit to qualify for the win and Rafael Soriano struck out the side in the tenth for his 15th save of the year.  The Braves Baseball Blog has all the Braves info you need.

The Marlins were trying to make have another come from behind win, as they did late in Tuesday’s game but that didn’t happen.  Rick VandenHurk went six innings and only allowing two runs in his third start since being recalled.  After the game went to extra innings, former National and Met, Luis Ayala(0-1) gave up the home run mentioned above to McCann and took the loss.  Ronnie Paulino and Jorge Cantu had RBI’s for the Marlins and Cody Ross had a solo home run as well.  Check out FishGuts for more information on the Marlins.

Santana dominates

Game 1

In the matinee of the doubleheader the Mets and Rockies played today, Johan Santana was on his game.  Santana(12-8) worked seven mainly pain free innings while only allowing four hits, a walk and striking out eight.  The Mets offense supported him with a five run second inning with a two run double by Angel Berroa of all people.  David Wright added two RBI for the Mets who won their fifth straight game in this one.

The Rockies on the other hand have virtually nothing to write about from this game.  Starter Jason Hammel(5-6) lasted only 1.1 innings and was charged with five runs on seven hits and taxed the Rockies bullpen early in the day.  No one in the Rockies lineup had more than one hit against Santana as well.

Barmes with the big blow

Game 2

In the nightcap, Colorado came in looking to avoid a four game sweep and dropping farther out of the wild card race.  Jorge De La Rosa(9-7) was up to the task, giving up only two runs while pitching into the seventh inning.  He even helped himself in the game as he led off the top of the seventh with a double.  He would score on a Clint Barmes home run later in the inning that proved to be the difference.  Ryan Spillborghs had an RBI single in the sixth which was the first run the Rockies had scored since the series opener on Monday.  Tulowitzki added an RBI triple in the eighth for insurance.

The New York Mets sent rookie Jonathon Niese to the hill for his second start since being recalled and he did pitch well.  Going into the sixth inning he was  pitching a shut out, but it unraveled from there.  Niese(1-1) went 6.1 innings giving up four runs and six hits in taking the Mets first loss since he began their winning streak on Saturday.  Jeff Francouer got a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scoring David Wright and Fernando Tatis had a solo home run in the seventh for all their runs.  The Real Dirty Mets Blog will have all the Mets info on both games today.

Riggleman's first ejection as Nats Mgr!

The Brewers were trying during the Thursday finale of their series with the Nats to salvage a split.  They luckily sent ace, Yovani Gallardo to the hill to try to get that done, and he did just that.  Gallardo(10-7) went seven innings giving up three runs and eleven strike outs.  At one point, it looked bad for the Brewers after a three run homer, but playing small ball worked out for the team from Milwaukee.  Besides Craig Counsell and Prince Fielder home runs, the other four runs from small ball, sacrifice flies, baserunning and RBI ground outs.

The Nationals had one player produce offensively for them today, Ryan Zimmerman.  Zimmerman hit a three run home run in the fourth scoring Nyjer Morgan and Nick Johnson to provide all of the offense.  Rookie J.D. Martin(0-2) went six innings but gave up five runs on seven hits, including the two home runs as the Nats have now lost two in a row after three wins straight.  CenterfieldGate will have more on the Nats for you.