The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.
Still got it: Alex Rodriguez sometimes hears about how he's not clutch, or he's too old, or he's not Centaur enough for this game anymore. Poppy seeds! A-Rod's still got it, so much that he tied Lou Gehrig for most career grand slams with 23 on Tuesday night, going deep with the key home run in a 6-4 comeback victory for the New York Yankees. The Bronx visitors put up all of their runs in the eighth inning against the beleaguered Braves, who had been cruising through seven with a four-run lead behind lefty Mike Minor. A-Rod's blast came against Jonny Venters. Later on, side-armer Cory Gearrin (the poor laddie) surrendered a go-ahead two-run shot to Nick Swisher. Have an eighth inning, you damn Yankees! CC Sabathia, who allowed three runs in the first to put New York in a hole, actually stuck around long enough to pick up the personal victory. It also should be noted that Zooperstar Lou Gehrpig still holds the all-time RBI record for inflatable mascots over Alex Frogriguez.
More Mad than Bum: There's not much left to do when you strike out 12 and hit your first major league home run, as Madison Bumgarner of the Giants did in a 6-3 victory against the Astros. Bumgarner's solo blast, which came in the third against Bud Norris and tied the score, also was the first homer by a Giants player at home since May 14. Here's an idea: Move home plate out, so the fence in left at AT&T is more reachable and McCovey Cove in right is in play. Let the outfielder get wet. Giants manager Bruce Bochy described Bumgarner as having "incredible power" for a pitcher, so he doesn't need the help, apparently. Bonus footnote: This would be an interleague game next season when the Astros defect to the AL, but it was the only NL game of the night.
Buckle down: Miami's Jose Reyes led off the bottom of the first with a triple, but he didn't score. Boston's Clay Buchholz wouldn't let him, striking out the next three batters, and the Red Sox would hold on for a 2-1 victory at Marlins Park. Kelly Shoppach and Mike Aviles each drove in a run, and Buchholz struck out nine.
Giving the business to the Rally Monkey: Dodgers slugger and fallen Angel Juan Rivera sneaked the Rally Monkey into Dodger Stadium and it helped him hit a tie-breaking three-run homer during an eighth-inning rally that spawned a 5-2 victory. Right-hander Jerome Williams stayed a little too long. Perhaps Angels manager Mike Scioscia was fixated on his bobblehead doll the Dodgers were giving away and was distracted from making a pitching change. Umpire Joe West appeared to miss a call on a stolen base by Dee Gordon that, if called differently, would have stopped the Dodgers rally and allowed the Angels to escape the eighth with a 2-1 lead. L.A. is first to 40 wins.
What in the name of Ty Cobb are you DOING?: Jhonny Peralta made two throwing errors in the eighth inning and, believe it or not, the Cubs cashed in and went on to beat the Tigers 4-3. This error extended the inning and the Cubs went ahead on this one — although, if you look at the replays, the Tigers might have gotten the shaft from the umpires. If relief pitcher/Video Technician Phil Coke is to be believed, the second call was really egregious. Via the Associated Press:
Coke (1-3) was ready when reporters entered the visiting clubhouse, showing a replay of Castro's ball that showed Prince Fielder kept his foot on the base when he pulled in Peralta's second errant throw.
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Quote of the Day: ''I knew for a fact the guy was out at first base, because there's no way that his body came off the bag with the ball not in his glove. There's no way. He's pushing off of the bag to get to the ball." — Coke (no smile).
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Photo of the Day: "Scrabble" gets his brain scrambled.
Marc Rzepczynski of the Cardinals tries unsuccessfully to spell his own last name in his head during a 6-1 victory by the Chicago White Sox. And Gatorade cups everywhere.
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Three Facts for the Water Cooler:
• Oakland's Brandon Moss has three home runs and five hits total since coming up from the minors a week ago. Moss hit two in the A's 8-5 victory against the Rockies. One landed in the Larry Walker Upper Deck at Coors Field, the first to do so this season and the 32nd in history. The Rockies are 0-7 in interleague play (Bonus Fact!).
• Brian Roberts of the Orioles appeared in a major league game for the first time in 13 months as he recovered from a concussion. He went 3 for 4 with an RBI, plus an emotional lift, in an 8-6 victory against the Pirates.
• Colby Lewis retired the first 16 batters and pitched a four-hitter for the Texas Rangers in a 9-1 victory against Arizona. It was his second straight complete game.
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