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Mets starter Johan Santana had his shortest outing of the season, lasting just 1.1 innings vs the Braves, giving up 6 runs, 5 were earned, on 4 hits and a walk and no strikeouts. He came into the game with an ERA under 1.00 and left with an ERA around 4.00.
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez likes pitching at Nationals Park, as he shut out the Astros for 7 innings, giving up just 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 8 to win his first game as a National Leaguer. In 17.2 innings thus far, he has struck out 21 and walked just 5. If he can keep the walks to a minimum, he could be a top 10 starter in the NL this season. Coming into this game, he owned a K/9 of just under 11.00 and a walk rate of 2.53.
Gonzalez's teammate Bard Lidge made things interesting in the 9th, giving up a leadoff double and a walk before getting out of the inning to earn his 2nd save of the season. Lidge and Henry Rodriguez will share the closers role until one of them blows up.
Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton missed last night's game and had an MRI on his jammed left thumb. He was seen on the DBacks bench with his thumb rapped up. A DL stint is possible, as the thumb won't heal if he is swinging a bat everyday.
More Roto Roundup after the jump:
Diamondbacks other outfielder Chris Young, who is having a great start to the 2012 season, was injured running into the wall last night, but he left under his own power. I saw the replay and it appeared that he may have jammed his right shoulder. Certainly not dislocated. If he, or Upton, miss much time, Gerardo Parra, and possibly AAA outfielder A.J. Pollock, will fill in while they are out.
Nick Piecoro, Diamondbacks beat writer from the Arizona Republic, tweeted that Pollock was scratched from last night's AAA game, and speculates as to the reason:
Well, if Pollock was scratched, it could mean Upton is headed to DL. Then again, it could just mean team was preparing for possibility.
Dodgers closer Javy Guerra struggled last night and blew his first save of the season. He gave up 2 hits and a walk and got just one out to blow the Dodgers chance of starting the season 10-1. His job is still secure in my opinion, but Kenley Jansen threw 11 pitches, 10 for strikes, with 2 strikeouts in the 8th inning last night.
Well, if you thought the Red Sox had problems before last night's game with manager Bobby Valentine inserting his foot in his mouth for the first of many times as a Red Sox manager, now they really have problems. The Red Sox went into the first of three with the Rangers on a 3 game winning streak and their best pitcher, Jon Lester, on the mound. Lester lasted just 2 innings, giving up 7 runs on 8 hits, 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. He has given up 11 runs in his 17.1 innings this season, with a 12-9 strikeout to walk ratio, and an ERA just under 6.00.
But, Lester wasn't even the Red Sox worst pitcher last night. Mark Melancon failed to get an out, and gave up 6 runs on 4 hits, 3 of which were long balls, and 2 walks. So much for Melancon closing in Boston. "Hey Jeff. This is Ben Cherington. About Brett Myers......."
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who could be a free agent at the end of the year, went 3-5 with a HR and 5 RBI last night. He improved his triple slash line to .413-.404-.804 with 5 HRs and 11 RBI in just 11 games.
Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind went 3-3 with a HR and 3 RBI last night in the Blue Jays 7-3 win over the Rays. Lind is now hitting .300-.382-.500 with a HR and 5 RBI. Was 2009 a career year for him? It certalnly looks like it was.
Well, if you had any worries about Buster Posey's health and recovery from surgery, worry no more. Posey stole his first base of the season last night, and was 2-3 at the plate as I write this.
Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy threw 3 more scoreless innings last night, giving up no hits, a walk and 3 strikeouts. The walk was the first baserunner he has allowed in his 9 innings of work this season. How soon before we see him throw more than 3 innings in a start?
Mariners pitching prospect Taijuan Walker had another excellent start in AA last night. Here is a tweet FanGraphs' Dave Cameron with the details:
Taijuan Walker in his second Double-A start so far: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Not too shabby for a 19-year-old.
Walker has the chance to be an ace starter once he reaches the big leagues, but for a 19 year old pitching like this in AA needs more attention. If his name was Strasburg, Twitter would be going down every time he pitches.