Today's honorary bat boy: Steve Balboni
Willis' 4, Rockies 3. Somebody break up the Willis' (we're no longer referring to them as the "Diamondbacks"). AZ has won two straight games and Dontrelle Willis' 2nd-NL-debut went well: six scoreless innings, while Ryan Roberts pinch hit for Willis in the sixth and ripped a two-run double. Prediction: Willis goes 10-3 the rest of the season.
Reds 5, Nationals 1. This Mike Leake guy is OK. The rookie pitched seven scoreless innings to stay unbeaten at 5-0, but more importantly, 77-year old Arthur Rhodes pitched a scoreless inning to drop his ERA to 0.38, while his WHIP actually went up (.066). The Reds are a bonafide contender, mainly because no one in the NL Central is running away with anything (= terrible division).
Indians 3, Whitesox 1. Don't look now, but the Indians have won two in a row and are just a half game back of Kansas City and Seattle for worst-non-Baltimore-team in the American League. Kerry Wood, who is actually borrowing an arm from a guy named Allen (rumor), pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.
Tigers 4, Royals 2. Miguel Cabrera hit a solo home run in the sixth to snap a scoreless tie, and the Tigers added three in the eighth to stay within 3 1/2 of first-place Minnesota.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland on Cabrera:
"Great players do great things."
You're right, Jim. Also:
- Great salami makes great sandwiches
- Great match book covers make great toothpicks
- Great idiots spill great bowls of clam chowder
